Rock Canyon High School's Student Newspaper

the Rock Online
Three, Two, One - We're Done
Three, Two, One – We’re Done
As of May 2025, College Board will be changing 28 AP exams to either hybrid or fully digital tests. 13 of the school's offered AP exams will be fully digital, and 11 will be hybrid digital.
Time’s Ticking
Spring arrived on March 20 and warmer temperatures are expected in April and May. According to nbcnews.com in Spring the sun's rays are more concentrated than they are during winter, which creates warmer temperatures and less snow. “Spring is my favorite season because the temperatures get warmer but not too hot so its a great temperature,” Sienna Russo ‘27 said.
Do Not Fear, Spring is Here
From Feb. 14 through March 8 three French exchange students attended classes.
The Exchange Experience
State President Medha Kuntamukkla ‘25 gives out a backpack at the HOSA Store Feb. 18. Backpacks and water bottles were free for SLC attendees and exchanged for red tickets given to students at the beginning of the conference. Other HOSA merchandise was available for purchase and could be bought throughout the conference. “I had to make sure everything was running smoothly and be there as support for the members,” Kuntamukkla said. “If they had any questions, I would direct where to go, and also just helped out with registration, making sure all the chapters were checking in okay and they were all getting their rooms.”
Healthcare of Tomorrow
After earning a position on the State Officer team, Jonathan Duong ‘26 hugs Sen Yakandawala ‘26 following the conclusion of the closing ceremony Feb. 15. Duong will serve as the 2025-2026 State Treasure and aims to provide more resources and connections to small TSA chapters as well as improve navigation for members at events like the state conference. “I was so glad and proud to be there with him,” Yakandawala said. “It was easily one of my favorite moments of the state conference.”
Innovators in Action
The Highlands Ranch Co-op Swim & Dive team poses for a photo after competing in the Continental League championship May 1. The team secured their 12th league championship within 14 seasons, and had multiple swimmers place within the top ranks of individual events. (Media by courtesy of Melissa Krol and Erin Backman)
Co-op boys swim team Jags bring home commendations and wins
The winter guard team makes fifth place at the state championship finals in the Denver Coliseum, March 30. The team performed to Barnes Country's “Glitter and Gold,” lead by coaches Margo Sanford, Blair Bickerton and Anna Orgren. In their class there were a total of nine groups participating, and the top five who made it to finals received a plaque. “[Walking onto the stage] is very nerve-wracking, but also very exciting as well. When you first start color guard there's a lot of anxiety and uncertainty when you first perform in front of an audience, but once you've done it for a while, it starts to become the best part of the season,” Ella West ‘25 said. “It's very fulfilling to see an audience react to something you've put your heart and soul into.”
Shining and Spinning Through the Season
Graphic depicts the NCAA Tournament bracket.
The Final Four Showdown: March Madness
Varsity Guard Brooke Harding ‘25 goes up against Cherry Creek High School Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. Harding finished off this season with a total of 380 points and will be attending Colorado Mesa University next year for basketball. The game ended in a 69-55 L. “Every win is definitely a team win. No game is won because of one person. We all need each other, and it’s amazing that we are all close because it definitely helps our chemistry,” Harding said.
Day in the Life of a Varsity Girls Basketball Player
During girls tennis tryouts Feb Anika Kaja ‘28 hits the ball while working on her forehand hits. “I thought the tryouts were really fun and I got to show my talents,” Kaja Said.
Girls Tennis Tryouts 2025
Graphic for podcast episode Insights Unfiltered: A Conversation with Nick Artinger
Insights Unfiltered: A Conversation with Nick Artinger
Thirty-nine French students participated in Le Grand Concors, a National French Contest sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French, showcasing their skills in various aspects of the French language from Feb.14 to April 8. The annual competition evaluates participants on their oral proficiency, written expression and listening comprehension abilities.“I like to practice French outside of school and get practice quizzes, then I do the extra practice that my teacher assigns. I feel really good and proud of myself for getting first place and it's like one of my bigger accomplishments for the school,” Keren Bantshi ‘26 said.
French Students ranked nationally in Le Grand Concours
This picture depicts the symbol representing Autism Spectrum Disorder according to Autism Learning Partners.
It Really is a Spectrum
Varsity Guard Brooke Harding ‘25 goes up against Cherry Creek High School Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. Harding finished off this season with a total of 380 points and will be attending Colorado Mesa University next year for basketball. The game ended in a 69-55 L. “Every win is definitely a team win. No game is won because of one person. We all need each other, and it’s amazing that we are all close because it definitely helps our chemistry,” Harding said.
Day in the Life of a Varsity Girls Basketball Player
At the 2024 AAU Junior National Championships in Orlando, Florida, Riva Linga ‘28 takes the court as a middle blocker for Relentless Volleyball Club (RVC) on the 14 Z’s Nationals team, which proudly secured 64th place out of 186 teams nationwide.
Overcoming the Struggles: How Injured Students Navigate the Challenges of School
Half night sky and half day sky with clock, cloud sun and moon.
Spring Forward or Spring Fail?
Discrete Math/Prob & Stat, Geometry and Algebra 1 math teacher Rachel Carmody grades her fourth period students’ quizzes during access Feb 11. Carmody has been teaching for 19 years in total, but she started here in 2019-2020 during the pandemic. “I don’t take it personally if someone doesn’t like math, it's not everybodys’ jam,” Carmody said.
Math, Motherhood and Movement with Rachel Carmody
Episode XI, The Summer Spiel, covers various new hot topics, being the first episode of the 2025-2026 school year.
The Glitch Podcast Episode XI: The Summer Spiel
Episode X covers various new hot topics, being the last episode before Summer vacation.
The Glitch Podcast Episode X: Delays, Doom, Departure
Three, Two, One - We're Done
Three, Two, One – We’re Done
This quiz makes you question which book genre you are. Take this quiz to find out.
What Book Genre Are You?
This episode covers the fine details of Mario Kart World, discussions about “A Minecraft Movie” as well as game remakes and adaptations.
The Glitch Podcast Episode Nine: Mario Kart, Minecraft and More
This episode covers the fine details surrounding the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, featuring English teacher Peter DeFilippo
The Glitch Podcast Episode Eight: Direct Deep Dive
This image depicts the area of “Limgrave” from Elden Ring. This is one of the first vistas that players see as they start their journey through the “Lands Between”.
Pixel Perfect: By the Grace of Gold
April marks the 25th anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, created by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC). This month is to spread awareness of the harassment, assault and abuse that happens around the world. The symbol that represented the month was a teal ribbon; however, some survivors of assault create different symbols and movements like the TikTok trend in 2022, where survivors would tattoo Medusa on their body, in honor of her backstory in Greek Mythology. “I don't think [this month is known] at all. I rarely see anybody talk about it. I rarely see much of an emphasis on posting it online, or much discussion about it, and I feel like there needs to be way more discussion,” an anonymous source said. “I think just validating every experience that a person has gone through, regardless of the degree of it, the severity, is an essential step into making sure that people are aware that this is a very real problem in a society and that we need to do better in addressing it.”
Not My Fault
Lesbian Visibility Day is April 26, and it’s a holiday to celebrate the lesbian community of the world. Lesbian Visibility day was established in 2008 by many queer activists and organizations who sought to raise more awareness for lesbian history and culture. “So this is why during Lesbian Visibility [Day] we celebrate and center all lesbians, both cis and trans, while also showing solidarity with all LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary people,” Linda Reily, in an article written by her, said.
Lesbihonest About Lesbian Visibility Day
This graphic depicts the stress and responsibilities of students who are taking on more than they can handle. Whether it’s a job, a sport, an activity, volunteering, school or home life, there are a plethora of things that students are expected to handle, even if it affects their mental and physical health.
How Much Is Too Much?
This is a generative AI image made by Adobe Express depicting colorful flowers emerging from a tissue box, a sunset and another tissue box.
Bring Tissues, Spring Sneezies on the Rise
Graphic depicts the student parking lot during the day April 18.
The Lot Thickens
Episode XI, The Summer Spiel, covers various new hot topics, being the first episode of the 2025-2026 school year.
The Glitch Podcast Episode XI: The Summer Spiel
Episode X covers various new hot topics, being the last episode before Summer vacation.
The Glitch Podcast Episode X: Delays, Doom, Departure
April marks the 25th anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, created by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC). This month is to spread awareness of the harassment, assault and abuse that happens around the world. The symbol that represented the month was a teal ribbon; however, some survivors of assault create different symbols and movements like the TikTok trend in 2022, where survivors would tattoo Medusa on their body, in honor of her backstory in Greek Mythology. “I don't think [this month is known] at all. I rarely see anybody talk about it. I rarely see much of an emphasis on posting it online, or much discussion about it, and I feel like there needs to be way more discussion,” an anonymous source said. “I think just validating every experience that a person has gone through, regardless of the degree of it, the severity, is an essential step into making sure that people are aware that this is a very real problem in a society and that we need to do better in addressing it.”
Not My Fault
This episode covers the fine details of Mario Kart World, discussions about “A Minecraft Movie” as well as game remakes and adaptations.
The Glitch Podcast Episode Nine: Mario Kart, Minecraft and More
This episode covers the fine details surrounding the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, featuring English teacher Peter DeFilippo
The Glitch Podcast Episode Eight: Direct Deep Dive
This episode of the Glitch Podcast covers recent BAFTA awards nominations and charitable actions by Bethesda.
The Glitch Podcast Episode Six: BAFTAs and Bethesda
Rock Canyon High School's Student Newspaper

the Rock Online
Rock Canyon High School's Student Newspaper

the Rock Online
From Feb. 14 through March 8 three French exchange students attended classes.

The Exchange Experience

by Rosie Benson, Chief Operations Editor
March 31, 2025
Black & Gold Yearbook Editor-in-Chief Chloe Farson ‘25 works on a winter trends and events page for the yearbook during period four in room 4113 March 25. The deadline for the final version of the yearbook is this Friday, March 29. “Although I’m quite nervous and stressed about [the deadline], I’m looking forward to seeing the finished product more than anything,” Farson said. “I’ve found our book to be extremely unique from ones in past years, and it’s been so beautiful to work on. It’s wonderful to see it truly begin to come together, even though we don’t necessarily have all the time in the world to make it perfect.”

The Week in Photos: March 23-March 29

by Staff
March 31, 2024
Ravi Khotra ‘26 consults Avi Khanna ‘26 on last-minute updates for their presentation at Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Districts at Arapahoe Fairgrounds Feb. 7. If the group placed in one of the top four positions for their competition, they will progress to FBLA State, which is held at the Gaylord Hotel in April. “I think FBLA is a great club to join because of the experiences at State and Nationals,” Khotra said.

The Week in Photos: Feb. 3-Feb. 9

by Staff
February 11, 2024
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

by Staff
October 28, 2023
French teacher Alexis Savas stands in front of the 8000s pod staircase. Savas teaches both French and Spanish, and has traveled to 47 countries. "I really liked the architecture of Spain. And I liked the culture and ambiance of France," Savas said.

FRIDAY FACULTY FEATURE: Alexis Savas’s Travels

by Elsa Swanson, Reporter
November 11, 2022
Memories from Morocco

Memories from Morocco

by Michaela Ham, Editor in Chief
March 31, 2017
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