Recent Scores
  • Dec 2 / Varsity Boys BasketballRock Canyon High School - 54, Mountain Vista High School - 49
  • Dec 2 / Varsity Girls Swim and DiveRock Canyon High School - 1st place, Big Cat Brawl Meet -
  • Dec 1 / Varsity Girls BasketballRock Canyon High School - 57, D'Evelyn High School - 41
  • Dec 1 / Varsity Boys BasketballRock Canyon High School - 59, Grandview High School - 54
  • Nov 29 / Varsity Boys BasketballRock Canyon High School - 85, Rampart High School - 54
  • Nov 29 / Varsity WrestlingRock Canyon High School - 11, Valor Christian High School - 57
  • Nov 29 / Varsity Girls BasketballRock Canyon High School - 71, Rampart High School - 30
  • Nov 10 / Varsity Girls VolleyballRock Canyon High School - 3, Cherry Creek High School (State Tournament) - 2
  • Nov 10 / Varsity Girls VolleyballRock Canyon High School - 0, Chaparral High School (State Tournament) - 3
  • Nov 10 / Varsity FootballRock Canyon High School - 14, Ralston Valley High School - 42
Rock Canyon High School's Student Newspaper

the Rock Online
Saanvi Kirdak ‘26, Ihita Kataru ‘26 and Mai Intongkam ‘26 sit side by side under the 8000s pod’s stairway and read “A Raisin in the Sun” during Honors English II Nov. 30. “A Raisin in the Sun,” a play written by American writer and playwright Lorraine Hansberry, depicts the lives of an African American family during the 1950s residing in Chicago. Students grouped up with their tablemates and assigned themselves roles from a list of characters in the play. The class was then divided into two halves, one remaining inside the classroom to read and the other going outside into the halls. Along with participating in reading with their peers, students also analyzed the text and completed annotation assignments. “I like this activity because it allows me to spend time with my friends and I’m learning at the same time,” Kataru said.
The Week in Photos: Nov. 25-Dec. 1
A graphic introduces the election results and article.
UPDATE: Review the Results with Post-Election Day Information
Grabbing onto climbing holds, Kayden Ozdemir ‘24 attempts climb 30 during the first competition of the climbing season, arranged by American Scholastic Climbing League, at Denver Bouldering Club South Nov. 11. Ozdemir’s highest ranked completed climb was number 28. He finished in second place within the individual category. “I feel a little bit gutted not being able to complete [climb 30], but with the progression of the season comes more learning opportunities, not just for myself, but the team, too,” Ozdemir said. “It definitely is one of the best feelings, throwing great attempts down at the hardest problems in the set.”
The Week in Photos: Nov. 11-Nov. 17
Black & Gold Yearbook Photography Editor Hannah Rozen ‘25, The Rock Online Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Claire Bauer ‘24 and Social Media Managers Elly Brooks ‘25 and Sanaa Sow ‘25 celebrate the publications’ national wins with a photo at the National Student Press Association (NSPA) Boston Convention Nov. 4. In total, The Rock Online and Black & Gold won 11 national awards, including two first place national wins from Bauer in Sports Game/Action Photo of the Year and in Photo Slideshow of the Year. “I can’t even begin to describe how I feel about the awards. Not only was I incredibly happy and humbled to receive my six national awards, but I am so, so proud of my fellow staffers who won awards, and honestly proud of the whole staff. They’re all amazing and fully deserve these awards,” Bauer said. “Our trip to Boston was incredible. We all learned so much from the sessions we attended and the people we met, whether that was other students and advisers or reporters and professors from top-notch groups. We were excited to represent Canyon, the district and Colorado as a whole so well.” Read the full story here. Reporting by Sanaa Sow
Achieving Awards
Zoology teacher Nikki Dobos dissects a frog during her second-period Zoology class Nov. 8. Zoology students dissected frogs and found things such as their eggs and past meals inside them. The class had five different dissections throughout the semester to learn about biodiversity and phyla. “I like teaching kids about animals and facts about animals they didn’t know before, but also the importance of biodiversity,” Dobos said. “I think more students should take [Zoology], especially if you love animals and dissections because you can learn more than just general [animal] knowledge.”
The Week in Photos: Nov. 4-Nov. 10
Varsity girls volleyball captain Addie Waller ‘24 hugs her teammates Julia Holmes ‘24, Gannon Figueroa ‘24 and Lindsay Heyliger ‘24 after winning in Regionals on Nov. 3. The team beat Lakewood and Denver South High Schools to qualify for State.
The Final Home Swing
Utah Valley University baseball commit Adam Smith 24, University of California San Diego baseball commit Austin Bowker 24 and St. Mary’s University MN basketball commit Daniel Cabeen 24 and more sign their letters of intent to play collegiate sports during Signing Day Nov. 8. Smith and Bowker were the only two baseball players to commit, and Cabeen was the only basketball player to sign.
Decided, Committed, Signed
Jonathan Gunther ‘25 swings the bat at the Unified wiffle ball game at Chaparral High School Oct. 3. Wiffle ball allowed each athlete to play at a similar level to the others, even though some could hit the ball farther than others.
Wiffle Ball This Fall
Varsity runner Dylan Laity ‘26 and fellow team members warm up with the state-qualifying Jaguar cross-country team before the final race of the 2023 season. The team jogged the race course together before racing.
Eat Our Dust
Varsity softball captain and shortstop Sydney Boulaphinh ‘24 swings to hit the ball during the fifth inning Oct. 3. Boulaphinh committed to play Division 1 collegiate softball for Stanford University during her junior year. This season was one of the worst seasons in Rock Canyon history, Boulaphinh said. I think this team had a lot of expectations and relied on many people to carry, and that never happened. I believe most of the games we lost, we could’ve won. It’s the little things that matter--when it came down to who got to 21 outs first, we weren’t the team.
Day in the Life: Game Day for Varsity Softball
French teacher Dayna Moore helps Sydney Boulaphinh 24 with her indirect objects worksheet during Access Nov. 16. Moore disliked not teaching students face-to-face during the Covid-19 pandemic. I cannot teach online. I like having connections with my students and I like playing games in class, Moore said.
FRIDAY FACULTY FEATURE: Mysteries of Madame Moore
Saanvi Cooduvalli ‘26 studies Honors Chemistry in room 4101 Nov. 9. Many students sat in the high chairs and studied material from their chemistry courses as well as completed homework from other classes. Honors Chemistry teacher Kerry Reilly went around assisting students who had questions about their assignments and quizzes. “The chemistry room is very refreshing,” Cooduvalli said.
Study Spot or Flop?
This graphic depicts the log-in screen of College Boards new digital testing platform Bluebook which is replacing all of College Boards traditional pencil-and-paper exams.
Out With The Old, In With The New: Meet College Board’s “Bluebook”
Brady Kempf ‘24, Dylan Owens ‘24 and Alex Kohl ‘24 work together to complete a study guide for math on Aug. 28. Many students have visited teachers for help during Access like Mrs. Hunt, who teaches algebra. It usually depends on the assignment, but I enjoy working in a group because we can all bounce ideas off each other and help everyone understand the subject,” Kohl said.
Strategy and Sociality
A graphic introduces the next piece in the column Odds and Ends. Contact Ally Kelley!
Odds and Ends: Screaming Sirens or Soft Speech?
Battle of the Bands starts at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20. The event takes place at the Skylark Lounge and there is a $15 entrance fee. A QR code leads participating bands to a sign-up sheet. Media courtesy of Happy Crew
Battle of the Bands
A photo and title introduce Adis Recipes, starting with Dalgona coffee.
Adi’s Recipes: Fresh Dalgona
A close-up of Ella Heimers 25 sketch, 2-D Gorillaz.
Singer, Sketched
Kyle Walsh’s 25 car sits on the side of the road with dents all over from the storms hail June 22. No windows were cracked or broken. “When we realized we needed to take shelter, every spot was already taken so we had to huddle with a group under the trees,” Walsh said. “All I could hear was the thunder and people screaming. Everyone was getting pelted on their backs from the hail. It left marks.”
Having “Faith in the Future”
Stella Catalano ‘24, playing Irena Synkova, checks for a tattooed number on the wrist of Lily Moon ‘24, playing Raja Englanderova during the final dress rehearsal of the fall play “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” Sept. 26. Opening night took place 7 p.m. Sept. 28, followed by two more nights of the play Sept. 29 and 30. Tickets were $5 for students and $7 for adults. The play followed Jewish children and families in Prague during the Holocaust, and featured real characters, pictures and poems. “Being the lead has been absolutely insane. I want to accurately represent these stories and honor every individual that’s mentioned in the show, and I’m beyond honored that I get to tell these stories,” Moon said. “Take note of the meanings you see in this play. There are so many interpretations, and take yours to heart. This story is one that needs to be heard, and I hope the audience can really learn from our telling and grow from what they see.”
“I Never Saw Another Butterfly” Takes the Stage by Swarm
Zoology teacher Nikki Dobos dissects a frog during her second-period Zoology class Nov. 8. Zoology students dissected frogs and found things such as their eggs and past meals inside them. The class had five different dissections throughout the semester to learn about biodiversity and phyla. “I like teaching kids about animals and facts about animals they didn’t know before, but also the importance of biodiversity,” Dobos said. “I think more students should take [Zoology], especially if you love animals and dissections because you can learn more than just general [animal] knowledge.”
The Week in Photos: Nov. 4-Nov. 10
A graphic introduces the next piece in the column Odds and Ends. Contact Ally Kelley!
Odds and Ends: Screaming Sirens or Soft Speech?
A bright chemical flame bursts from the “Mole Cannon,” fired by Colin Sun ‘26, during Kerry Reilly’s Honors Chemistry class in the 4000s Oct. 24. Chemistry students celebrated Mole Day on Oct. 23 and 24 through a variety of labs and activities including sidewalk chalk, mole making and the firing of the moles from the cannon. “It felt awesome! I felt confident, and I felt powerful,” Sun said.
The Week in Photos: Oct. 21-Oct. 27
A close-up of Ella Heimers 25 sketch, 2-D Gorillaz.
Singer, Sketched
Reva Mehrotra ‘26, Ridhi Bandla ‘26, Puja Kotapati ‘26 and Bianca Saju ‘26 pose with CEO of Lady Trailblazer Inc. and Program Facilitator Carletta Stewart at the Girls’ Persist award ceremony May 16. At the ceremony, members received certificates recognizing their participation and achievements in the club. “Girls’ Persist has helped me gain confidence in my ability to speak to people even if I’m not as prepared as I wish I was,” Kotapati said.
Girls’ Persist: The Rise of Something New
A graphic introduces the second article of the column “Mental Health Mondays.”
Mental Health Mondays: Students and Social Media
Cash Geist ‘27 sketches out an idea for a 3D art piece in his sculpture class during seventh period Sept. 12. Lindsay Hubbard’s class worked on their polymer clay projects, where they were assigned to use a piece of trash or old material to make it seem like it came back to life. “My favorite part has been experimenting with the clay,” fellow classmate Mackenzie Lawson ‘26 said. “I’m still deciding what exactly I’m going to make but I’m really excited to see how my project turns out.”
OPINION: Science vs. the Arts
Assistant Principal Mandi Zimmerman uses car markers to write messages in support of passing 5A and 5B on cars in the upper lot during Parent Teacher Conferences Oct. 12. As Assistant Principals, Zimmerman and Karli Bloom did not need to meet with parents, painting an estimated 40 cars. Teachers and parents marked their cars with sticky notes if they wanted their cars painted. On the evening of conferences, Ms. Bloom and I were not officially working that evening, we had prearranged absences. We were using our personal time to write on the cars with Mr. Abners permission, Zimmerman said.
Editorial: Make or Break Vote Takes Place This Tuesday
Sophia Miller 25 poses for a creative photo. The text and darkness convey the negative emotions and thoughts given to us by others. In a world full of negativity, these ideas ingrain themselves into our lives and contribute to the isolation so prevalent in everyday life.
OPINION: The Worst Mistake Humanity Has Made
The Secret Of Life column logo, created with Canva.
The Secret of Life: Planners, Plans and More Planning
Rock Canyon High School's Student Newspaper

the Rock Online
Rock Canyon High School's Student Newspaper

the Rock Online
Elly Brooks

Elly Brooks, Social Media Manager

Hi, my name is Elly, I'm a junior and this is my second year on staff. I am Social Media Manager and I am very excited to be on staff this year. I love working on stories and taking photos to help capture people's emotions. I am excited to work with everyone on staff, get better with cameras and explore new ideas on how we can improve our social media. I enjoy hanging out with my friends and family. I love reading and surfing!

All content by Elly Brooks
Allie Moroni ‘25 writes a peer review for Peter DeFilippo’s third period AP Language and Composition class Nov. 10. The class was instructed to present their “The Best” presentations to help them work on their argument skills for the argumentative essay they will be learning in the coming weeks. “I was writing my peer review form for the people that were presenting. I gave a presentation about why ‘The Office’ is the best show. I feel pretty good about it because my slides were fun and I know a lot about the show since I’ve watched it a bunch,” Moroni said.

[Photo] The Week in Photos: Nov. 4-Nov. 10

November 12, 2023
Assistant Principal Mandi Zimmerman uses car markers to write messages in support of passing 5A and 5B on cars in the upper lot during Parent Teacher Conferences Oct. 12. As Assistant Principals, Zimmerman and Karli Bloom did not need to meet with parents, painting an estimated 40 cars. Teachers and parents marked their cars with sticky notes if they wanted their cars painted. On the evening of conferences, Ms. Bloom and I were not officially working that evening, we had prearranged absences. We were using our personal time to write on the cars with Mr. Abners permission, Zimmerman said.

Editorial: Make or Break Vote Takes Place This Tuesday

by Claire Bauer, Elly Brooks, and Sanaa Sow
November 4, 2023
Izzy Orner ‘25 jumps to the next grip during the National Bouldering Championship in Seoul Aug. 27. The National Championship became Orner’s number one priority when she got the chance to compete. “My favorite part about competing was the energy in the crowd for everyone on the wall,” Orner said.

Climbing Her Way to the Top

by Elly Brooks, Social Media Manager
October 22, 2023
The 3000s pod represents Texas, with designs such as Buc-ee’s, a Texan convenience store/gas station Sept. 22. For Wednesday, Sept. 20, students dressed up in Western-themed clothes for one of Homecoming’s spirit days. “Its really impressive and its clear that they put a lot of work, time, effort and thought into what they create. My favorite this year is the entrance to the 3000s pods because I like the Buc-ees gas station design. Im blown away every year,” English teacher Peter Deflippo said.

Take a Ride On a Road Trip

September 23, 2023
The schedule for tomorrows classes and Homecoming Assembly.

Homecoming Assembly Schedule

by Elly Brooks, Ally Kelley, and Claire Bauer
September 20, 2023
Isabelle Piche 24 and Collin Naibauer 24 smile at the top of Red Rocks Amphitheatre after completing the Red Rocks 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb Sept. 11. The two students and their Fire Science peers joined hundreds of citizens in doing nine laps around the amphitheatre to complete a distance similar to the 110 floors first responders climbed up the World Trade Center on the day of the attacks. Others should definitely consider doing the climb because it’s a very eye-opening experience with the amount of adults, children, firefighters, paramedics, police and other people [who] come together to honor something so tragic, Piche said.

Never Forget: How Fire Science Students Honored 9/11

by Sanaa Sow and Elly Brooks
September 11, 2023
Student Council Student Body President Abigail Williams ‘24 and Student Body Vice President Cale Maguire ‘24 talk about the upcoming year and the Back-to-School Dance Aug. 18. The dance was held in the gym Aug. 18 from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. The theme was Barbie, with students encouraged to dress up in pink or dress as Barbie and Ken characters. Through these past four years of high school, one thing I always take away from school assemblies is the feeling you have after walking out of the gym. Every assembly we try to make better than the previous one, Williams said. Whether that be adding more music, incorporating more sports/clubs, or even members from the audience. Just know that at every assembly, the energy is gonna keep getting bigger and better.

[Photo] Back and Boppin’

August 27, 2023
Danielle Harrison poses with her dog on a hike in Colorado. I would recommend for teens to go to Chatfield Park and have a fun beach day, Harrison said.

Summer Fun in the Sun

by Elly Brooks and Claudia Llado
May 29, 2023
A graphic displays the Rocky Mountain Columbine flower, often used to honor or remember Columbine High School after the school shooting that took place 24 years ago.

24 Years Later: The Lasting Impacts of a Tragedy

by Elsa Swanson and Elly Brooks
April 20, 2023
Braden McCollam 23, playing Franklin Hart, hangs off a pole as he is carried across the stage by fellow cast members at dress rehearsal for the spring musical March 27. Opening night took place at 7 p.m. in the auditorium March 29. This role is definitely a lot different than the ones Ive had before because its really mean and Harts a really bad person. Its definitely a new challenge but its something I really enjoyed to try and tackle, McCollam said. This is my last show at Rock Canyon, so I think theres just something special. Im excited to get to spend it with the people Ive built relationships with these past four years and see the show come together.

A Production in Quotes, “9-5: The Musical”

by Elly Brooks, Elsa Swanson, and Claire Bauer
April 2, 2023
Athletic Training teacher Grace Sims adjusts the leg of the athletic training skeleton Feb. 22. She explained how special the human skeleton is. “I love it because it shows all different parts of the body, bones, muscles, and blood vessels,” Sims said.

FRIDAY FACULTY FEATURE: Grace Sims’ Escapades in Athletic Training

by Elsa Swanson and Elly Brooks
March 10, 2023
Healthy Decisions and Adventure Experience teacher Christina Marcilliat sits on her chair, talking to some of her students before class starts Feb. 22. Marcilliat explained that she didnt know she was going to go into teaching, but found a love for it when in college. “My degree is in health and I kind of fell into teaching and realized I really liked it,” Marcilliat said.

FRIDAY FACULTY FEATURE: Explore the Inner Workings of Christina Marcilliat

March 3, 2023
Tyce Shelburn 26, Cooper Ueland 26 and Preston Duman 26 cheer as a varsity basketball player scores a three-pointer at the home game against ThunderRidge High School (TRHS) Jan. 27. The student section theme was a “white-out.” “The basketball games are super fun and the student section is always fun doing all the crazy chants,” Shelburn said.

The “Best Student Section in Colorado:” Love it or Hate it?

by Elly Brooks, Social Media Manager
February 19, 2023
MJ Mejia ’25 works on math homework while listening to her favorite song, “Neighbors” by J. Cole, during her off period Nov. 17. Mejia has always kept up with her tradition of listening to music while she works on homework throughout the years. “It helps me concentrate and it keeps me calm and it makes me happy,” Mejia said.

School Day Song Suggestions

by Elly Brooks, Social Media Manager
December 7, 2022
English teacher Peter DeFilippo reads a book and works on his computer Aug. 30. DeFilippo prepared a slideshow for his next class, literature of film. My two favorite movies are The Lord of the Rings and Speed Racer, DeFilippo said.

FRIDAY FACULTY FEATURE: Peter DeFilippo’s Passion for Movies

by Elly Brooks, Social Media Manager
September 30, 2022
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the Rock Online

Rock Canyon High School's Student Newspaper
Rock Canyon High School's Student Newspaper

the Rock Online
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