Claire Bauer, Editor in Chief
Hey! I’m Claire and I’m a senior. This is my third year on staff–as a freshman, I freelanced, then I joined in my sophomore year and became Social Media Manager before becoming Editor-in-Chief as a junior. This year, I’ll continue my role as Editor-in-Chief, and hope to continue to find new topics to report on and new forms of media to try out to make the most of my final year on staff. In my free time, I enjoy reading, taking photos, hiking, camping, traveling and hanging out with friends and family. I’m a part of National Honor Society (NHS), French National Honor Society (FNHS), National English Honor Society (NEHS), Rho Kappa National Honor Society, Quill & Scroll International Honorary Society, Interact Club, Gifted & Talented Student Board and Link Crew. Feel free to reach out with any questions, story ideas or to just say hi!
![On Oct. 30, 24 Eco Club members took a tour of the school’s solar panels on the roof. They were guided and taught by an employee from E Light Electric, the company that maintains the school’s solar panels, and learned about how the panels are maintained and cared for. “I was definitely very excited about being on the roof in general,” Eco Club member Olivia Fang ‘26 said. “[It was exciting to] learn more about solar panels and how they work and how they supply energy to our school.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/RCH_2632-1200x800.jpg)
![Math teacher Austin Bennett observes seventh period students step to the board to solve Equation of Circle problems May 2. Bennett has been teaching for a total of four years, with only two of those years spent as a Jag. He hopes after his time as a high school teacher to become a professor. "[College math] is more challenging, and it's good to challenge yourself," Bennett said.](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_0147-1200x900.jpg)
![Varsity girls soccer midfielder Leah Sheahan ‘24 hugs a friend during the Senior Night celebrations before the home game against Mountain Vista High School (MVHS) at Echo Park Stadium April 29. During Senior Night, seniors were given flowers and the opportunity to walk out and take pictures with their family as their future plans and favorite memories were announced over the speakers. The Jags tied 0-0, losing the Continental League Championship. “We were obviously the stronger team but just couldn’t find a way to score, but otherwise our connection and our intensity was really high so I’m proud of that. We just have to find the net,” defense midfielder Clara Geuzaine ‘24 said. “[Losing League] wasn’t the best. It’s better than last year and like, I know our team and we are doing really good. I don’t want to jinx it but like hopefully [we’ll do] good [in playoffs].”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Copy-of-DSC_4277-1-1200x868.jpg)
![In room 4101, Natalie Patterson ‘26, Ariana Magor ‘25 and Celina Salazar ‘25 create a poster in science teacher Kerry Reilly’s Chemistry Honors April 18. The three completed a worksheet and drawing to explain the implosion of a tank for their unit on gas laws. “At the start of class, we watched a video of the tank imploding,” Patterson said. “I think [making a drawing] is something new. I like more artsy activities.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_5019-1200x900.jpeg)
![During Access, Clara Benko ‘24 and Ella Bearman ‘24 push their pins into the post-grad plan map in the Counseling Office April 23. Benko committed to Davidson College in North Carolina with an undecided major and Bearman committed to Wheaton College in Illinois with a major in English Literature and a minor in French. “[College] feels real now, which is kinda freaky but I’m really excited for college,” Bearman said. “Their English program [excited me most]. Their English building looks like a castle which is really fun."](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2440-946x1200.jpg)
![As the referee blows the whistle to start the match, varsity wrestling captain Noah Jadd ‘26 faces off against Boulder High School wrestler Abe Pomeroy ‘25 in his first match on day one of State Feb. 15. Jadd wrestled in the 144 weight class and lost 20-8, sending him to the first round consolation matches that took place Feb. 16. In his consolation match, Jadd wrestled Chaparral High School wrestler Dominic Cordray ‘25 and lost 5-3, which eliminated him from the tournament. “I was not happy with the outcome I had, but I’m glad I made it to State. I think [in] my first match, I didn't come out with the fire I usually have but I tried my hardest my second match. I tried my best with everything so I'm not super disappointed,” Jadd said. “[The support] made me feel really great, it added a little bit of pressure but I also felt at home with everybody and having friends and family and stuff [at State]. [Next year], I want to do better. I want to be back here and I want to go farther. I want to get on that podium.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DSC_9341-1-1-1200x907.jpg)
![French National Honor Society (FNHS) members Greer Bezemek-Aguilar ‘25 and Ella Bearman ‘24 play Mario Kart in the arcade at Monster Mini Golf Feb. 9. FNHS students played mini golf and arcade games with French exchange students from noon to 2:30 p.m. as a way to get to know them and welcome them to the U.S. Eight exchange students will spend three weeks attending classes, practicing their English and learning about American culture by staying with host families and shadowing students around the school. “I was a little nervous going in to [meet] them. I’m not great with socializing with strangers but it was fun. They all seemed really nice,” Bearman said. “I’m looking forward to getting to know them better and learning about cultural differences in the American and French high school experiences.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_0530-1-e1708320411515-1067x1200.jpg)
![Grabbing at the exercise bands, Jonas Thelander ‘24 pulls Emmet Dunham ‘25 back from grabbing dodgeballs during Hungry Hippos Jan. 19. Before the game began, participants were tied together with the bands and had to take their shoes off. “I enjoyed being apart [the game]. I didn’t really know the rules, so I was just trying to grab as many as I could,” Thelander said.](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSC_0698-1-1-1200x829.jpg)
![Shooting guard Mac Terry '24 runs alongside a Falcon guarding him near the end of the fourth quarter Jan. 13. With three minutes and 45 seconds left on the clock, the teams were tied 57-57. "[The hardest part was that] they’re full-court press team. They're just putting on pressure the whole time, so getting the ball off the court and just finding my open teammates [was hard]," Terry said.](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSC_0376-1-1-1200x904.jpg)
![Principal Andrew Abner, the varsity poms team and Athletics Director Tom Brieske smile with the State trophy and poster after being announced as State Champions Dec. 9. This was the team’s sixth state championship win in school history. “When they announced us [as] the winners, we were all so excited and relieved that our work had paid off. Our next step is Nationals,” varsity poms dancer Harper Rank ‘25 said.](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Team-w_-Abner-and-Brieske-1-e1703101639674-1200x944.jpeg)
![Amelia Solano ‘25 cuts her homemade Bûche de Noël, also known as Yule Log cake, during Alexis Savas’s second period French 5 Dec. 11. Five of 10 students in the class brought in cakes as part of an optional extra credit competition. Solano’s cake, composed of chocolate sheet cake, chocolate ganache, raspberries, white chocolate chips and chocolate shards, won first place in the “Appearance” category. Votes were cast by teacher judges and classmates. “I spent about half a day on my [cake] because I’m a perfectionist. I was very proud of my decorations and I had worked really hard, so winning was very rewarding and I appreciated everyone’s compliments on my bûche,” Solano said. “I loved the whole competition and I really appreciate how Mrs. Savas allows us to do this to connect to French culture.” Reporting by Claire Bauer](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_1819-e1702843049909-1006x1200.jpg)
![Chinese National Honor Society (CNHS) Co-President Annie Gao ‘24 uses a paintbrush and colored water from a calligraphy kit to paint Chinese characters onto a sheet during a CNHS activity after school Nov. 27. Each month, CNHS hosts a meeting that features a lesson on the language, culture and more, followed by an activity relating to that lesson. “I think [calligraphy] is a really cool art form, like especially in more traditional Chinese art you see a lot of calligraphy, so it’s just kinda cool to connect back with our cultural roots,” Gao said.](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AE563483-43FC-4D7C-BF86-06A3337FD9DC-1102x1200.jpeg)
![Joey Fordham ‘25 purchases a candy gram from Interact Club Treasurer Claudia Llado ‘24 as a part of the “Boo for Wildfires” fundraiser during first lunch Oct. 24. Candy grams, consisting of a piece of candy and a note that will be hand-delivered to recipients Oct. 31, were sold for $2 each. Candy grams will continue to be sold in the Commons during Access and both lunches through Oct. 27. All proceeds go to Maui wildfire relief and recovery efforts. “[I bought one] for Mrs. Dale, from Andrew. I feel like it’s funny to make it from someone not me,” Fordham said. “I like the idea of all the proceeds going to the wildfires, I think that’s a really good cause. Who doesn’t love a little lollipop?”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG_0577-1115x1200.jpg)
![Varsity softball catcher Karley Hackert ‘25 catches a ball during the second inning in the home game against Chaparral High School Oct. 3. Before the game, the team celebrated Senior Night. Sydney Boulaphinh '24, Julia Hay '24 and Ally Cartwright '24 received flowers and a rock painted with their name and number to celebrate their last home game with the team. Then, younger players took turns giving speeches, and the seniors sang the national anthem. The final score of the game was 10-20 L. “The [painted] rocks [have] been a tradition to remember all the past players. By leaving the rocks on the field, they know they will always be a part of Rock Canyon,” Boulaphinh said. “The team was very emotional due to it being our senior game and it was hard to refocus. I went all out for our last home game and the team tried their best. They fought for the seniors.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSC_1302-1-1-1-1200x870.jpg)
![Students line up at the Kona Ice Truck during first lunch Sept. 18. The truck sold ice and syrup during both lunches, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. "[The truck] is fun, but I think it could be a little cheaper. I don't think it's worth like $5," Parker Sarro '27 said.](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/IMG-9500-1200x900.jpg)
![Varsity boys soccer captain and center back Owen Creeden ‘24 smiles as he high-fives his teammates before the start of the home opener game against Arapahoe High School (AHS) at Echo Park Stadium Sept. 5. During the first half, AHS scored the only point of the game. The Jags lost 0-1 and now have a win/loss record of 1-3. “I was disappointed after the Arapahoe game. I thought I played decent, but have lots of room for improvement. The team struggled. I think lots of us were playing for ourselves and not [for] the team,” Creeden said. “We are not playing at the level I thought we would be at. We worry too much about ourselves and not the team. I am angry about the [win/loss] record but I’m looking forward to hopefully turning the season around, with League play starting this week.” The next game will take place against Heritage High School (HHS) at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 12.](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSC_4241-1-1-1200x984.jpg)
![Reagan Kerstiens ‘24 works with Ella Bendle ‘24 to brainstorm school spirit events at the inaugural Continental League Fall Super Summit at Chaparral High School Aug. 26. The summit ran from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and consisted of free breakfast, three 40-minute morning sessions, lunches from truck lunches and a final fourth session for each school to discuss what they learned that day. Over 55 Jaguars attended. “We went around listening to different speakers or student-led discussions. The first one talked about advertising and how schools have different strengths. Then, I went to a business panel with a few speakers, most of them in the construction industry, talking about the struggles of running your own business and the importance of networking. There was also a speaker, he was ex-military, telling us some of the important characteristics of leaders,” Kerstiens said. “I think [the summit] was a good opportunity, I’m glad I got to learn some new things.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/IMG-9184-1007x1200.jpg)
![Varsity girls soccer outside back Olivia Barrett ‘24 hugs varsity holding midfielder Gigi Fiorelli ‘25 after losing to TRHS May 25. The final score of the game was 1-0, leaving the Jaguars in second place. “This year, it took a long time for everything to start coming together. We had a really tough season. Because we were a 17-seed, we had to upset every game we played, because we only played higher-ranked teams than us. The last thing we expected was to make it to Finals, [it] was crazy and made me nervous and emotional,” Barrett said. “Every single person on the team was incredibly disappointed in Rock Canyon. We don’t need a crowd at every game, but when you make it to State and only have about 20 people there, it’s an awful feeling. We were really embarrassed when student sections [for opposing teams] in the playoffs were five times the size of ours. Everyone felt let down. It’s hard to approach next season—everyone is very emotional, and we are getting a whole new coaching staff which will be a huge adjustment. We [will] go into next season with a good attitude and play the hardest we can.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/DSC_9019-1-1-900x638.jpg)
![Student Council member Rachel Geis '23 rolls paint onto Brayden Duman '23 at the Senior Wall hand-painting event May 12. Although finals for seniors took place May 8 and 9, seniors were required to come back to school between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. May 12 for Senior Checkout, followed by the handprints. "It felt extremely sad," Duman said. "I loved my time at [Rock Canyon] and had some of the best memories. It feels sad to be graduating, yet exciting for a new chapter in my life. I look back and I'm extremely grateful for the memories, teachers and friends. I learned more than I thought I would and will always support [Rock Canyon]."](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_4924-900x772.jpeg)