Self-Care During COVID-19 Shut Down

By: Megan Parr and Emmalee Sclease

Seniors know first-hand the pain our school struggled with during fourth quarter, a time of self-isolation and quarantine.

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, one in every five teens has a mental health issue, so it is important to remember that you are not alone in these difficult times and your peers are feeling a lot of the same things that you are.

“I don’t think anyone could have predicted having a pandemic in 2020 let alone senior year,” Samantha Fredriksen said. “I wish I knew it was the last day I was going to see [my friends]… that’s what I keep thinking about.”

Fredriksen was hardly alone in how she felt. “As of right now I have accepted that my senior year is over but at the beginning I was having a really hard time with it,” Red Mountain senior Kayla Brown said. “I was crying almost everyday for the first two weeks and I was reaching out to classmates and explaining how hard this was for me.”

Overtime, Brown started to feel relief when she found a solid routine and reached out to others. “It is still hard for me to accept, but I’ve been trying to take it one day at a time and just take care of myself,” Brown said. “I’ve created a routine where I get up, workout, eat breakfast, take a shower, do my schoolwork, and afterwards, relax and try to get my mind off of all the negative stuff in the world.”

Making a routine that includes exercise can help students stay organized and eliminate some stress. Exercise keeps you physically healthy, but it also keeps you mentally healthy.

“Exercise not only changes your body, it changes your mind, your attitude and your mood,” P.E. Coach Jackie Kennedy said.

In addition to working out, the class of 2020 will find new ways to persevere through emotional setbacks.

“At the end of any significant challenge you have either persevered or allowed yourself to be defeated,” Mr. Wasilewski said. “While this pandemic has occured at a time devastating to our senior class, I feel that there is immeasurable value in the learning opportunities that will come out of this.”
Emotional intelligence is one take away seniors can gain from this process.

“I believe that the class of 2020 will graduate more mentally and emotionally equipped for life’s inevitable struggles than any class before them,” Mr. Wasilewski said.

Learning how to cope during a pandemic was within reach for seniors who had their peers, counselors and educators right beside them trying to do the same thing.

Mental health issues are real for teenagers and nothing to be ashamed of. The key for overcoming these hardships is to remember that you are not alone and the school is there to help.

“The amount of love I have felt through all of this from the school is amazing and it really shows me that our school doesn’t just care about our education, but our mental health as well,” Brown said. “They really have made this easier for me and I am beyond grateful for that!”

It is important to practice self-care during this transition out of high school. Seniors are lucky to have adult supporters on campus who are rooting for them.

“The Class of 2020 is making history,” Ms. Bianchi said. “You have been thoughtful global citizens, looking out for the health and safety of others.”
Bianchi among others wish the best for our 750 seniors.

“May you take pride in the way you treated each other through sacrifice, support, flexibility, and compassion,” Bianchi said. “You are good humans and exemplify courage, respect, and influence beyond Red Mountain. May your Red Mountain memories last forever.”

Tips for Self-care

As of right now everyone is trying to get used to our new techniques for learning, such as online school, but trying to keep up and figure out how to do all this when being stuck at home can be very stressful. Here are some trick and tips that we learned along the way:

Breathing
One easy way to lower the stress is by slowing your breathing. There are many tricks to doing that one way is finding something relatively square shaped and running your eyes along the sides. Dedicate two sides attached at an edge to breathing out and the other two to breathing in. While your eyes are running along the ‘breathe in side’ you breathe in and repeat with breathing out on the ‘breathe out sides’.

Focus on Your Senses
Another trick to help if you’re feeling super anxious is focusing on your senses and using mindfulness. You can do this by locating 5 things you can see, 4 things you can hear, 3 things you can feel, 2 things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. This can be done easily and quickly by just taking a moment and focusing on your surroundings.

Exercise
In a neuroscience study conducted at Harvard in 2019, Karmel Choi found exercising for just 15 minutes a day helps promote neural growth, less inflammation, and an overall calm state of mind, due to new activity patterns within your brain.

Google New Tips
You can find many other helpful tricks like these by going into google and looking up things like “Tricks to help calm down when feeling anxious”, or “Tricks to keeping yourself mentally healthy in self isolation.” In these stressful times, just remember there are always tricks to help ease the stress and that Red Mountain counselors are always open to listen and talk to you.

Rocky Year Proves Red Mountain Seniors are Unstoppable

Red Mountain’s senior year came to a screeching halt amid the statewide COVID-19 school shut down. Feeling anxiety, stress and isolation, seniors mourn missing prom, senior parties, and even graduation. Luckily, Red Mountain has big movers and shakers at the school, ready to step up to warm the hearts of their peers and communities.

Roar Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Juliana Head earned AIPA’s AZ’s Journalist of the Year Award in 2019. The next commander in chief, Junior Aidan Current, did not skip a beat to follow in his predecessor’s footsteps. He and his journalism team dedicate their quarantine time to creating a 16-page magazine, commemorating their seniors who are mourning their senior “lasts” that will not happen.

The magazine will cover March, April and May news, sports, arts & leisure, opinions and service learning accomplishments. Bio-med senior Jessica McKissick and her friends make over 300 masks for the hospital. AZ’s CTE US Presidential Scholar Isabella Moya continues her research to keep waterways healthy and serve AZ communities. Students are writing letters to the elderly, helping to teach their younger siblings and connecting with each other to spread positivity and cheer.

Ultimately the class of 2020 proves that they are the generation that will rise up and make the best of their circumstances. In a Senior survey made by Roar magazine, out of 155 seniors, 62% feel horrible to miss their prom. 74% said their families have to leave the house to work, so they are working on helping with chores and dinner to give some support to their families.

“My mom is a nurse so I have been making sure to thank her everyday by doing the dishes so she doesn’t have to worry about it after a long day at work as she means so much to me and works so so hard, “ senior Jami Wilcox said.
While only 40% say they are mostly optimistic, another 60% feel like they are experiencing stress from the adjustment. Ultimately, the goal of the magazine is to commemorate the class of 2020, acknowledging the unexpected perseverance students show to stay positive during these trying times.

At the moment, students are not allowed on campus as Mesa Public Schools continues to decide what to do for senior graduation and yearbook distribution.

“The only thing I can wish for all of my students at my school is that they find their loving teachers online and find ways to connect,” Yearbook Adviser at Red Mountain High School Amanda Cline said. “You are not alone, Red Mountain- dream big and stick together.”

One of our senior basketball players and AP Capstone student at Red Mountain, Cassidy Duncan, said it best by quoting Ayn Rand: “The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.”

To watch a video from Roar Magazine’s EIC, please click here: https://youtu.be/k0CL64KuLtU

Yearbook: We need your help, seniors!

Seniors! Yearbook Editor Simone Newman shares her heart and requests for seniors to jump in and have some fun while Roar Magazine and Yearbook create a beautiful magazine for seniors about seniors. We rock even when we are home!

To watch Simone’s message, please click here: https://youtu.be/hDFfq0uxLX4

Auto Motives

     Automotive is one of those programs that you stumble over at Red Mountain. Auto teacher Micheal Thomas runs a very intensive hands-on class with an Auto Club on Thursdays. Although you may not want to be a mechanic, knowing some basic car maintenance is highly suggested. Junior Cerrick Skoglund said, “I joined the class because I figured it would be a good way to learn some life skills.” There are a variety of reasons to take automotive. Sophomore Aiden Kleinmen wanted to join “because I wanted to know about how cars work.” Learning more of the basics can help you if you find yourself in dire situation. For more information, make an appointment with your counselors or visit Mr. Thomas.

Tech a Look at This!

 When you’re your computer freezes while you’re writing an essay, who are the superheroes who swoop in to save the day? It’s Tech support. Everyday these modern day marvels work hard to help solve your tech problems from their home in the commons. These students have worked above and beyond both in the summer and during the school year to make sure the tech in our school runs smoothly.

     These students have become masters of their crafts.

     “I enjoy working with computers. It’s simple once you get used to it but you’re always learning new things ” Senior Mason Manetta said.

Mason Manetta working to fix another student’s computer.

(Featured Photo by Miles Solis)

The Game of Home Entertainment

     August 29, 1997- Netflix was born; sixteen years later, this baby company would take down the largest entertainment provider Hollywood had at that point ever seen. After taking the throne, the king reigned supreme- with services like Hulu and HBO never coming close to bringing it down. However, on November 12, 2019, The Walt Disney Company- one of the largest entertainment corporations in the world -launched their own streaming service, Disney+, worldwide as a means of expanding their platform. Having taken the internet by storm, consumers are left with only one question- What does this mean for Netflix?

     Netflix had started out like any other company- small, gaining its ground, taking on an industry that eats companies like this alive. At the time, Blockbuster was the king that sat on the throne- dominating the home-video industry with billions in revenue. However, the founders of Netflix, Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings, invested in something that would not just forever change the industry, but be the start to the end of Blockbuster- the Internet. On April 14, 1998, Netflix launched the world’s first online video rental store- having the same buy-or-rent-with-a-late-fee system that Blockbuster used, but with the convenience of doing it from one’s own house. No more did people have to stand in lines on a Friday night as everyone glutted themselves into the store to get their movies for the weekend. It was the shot heard around the world for the industry- there was no going back.

     From there, Netflix thrived. From their release of the monthly subscription system that eliminated late fees, to their being able to turn down Blockbuster when they tried buying them out for $50million, to their new customer recommendations algorithm. Netflix had a few bumps, but they weren’t slowing down. Sixteen years after its birth, Netflix seized the throne from Blockbuster in 2013. Netflix from there reigned over the home-entertainment industry. Out of the students surveyed at Red Mountain, 67.9% currently use Netflix with 88.5% of them being satisfied with the streaming platform.

     However, every king has their mistakes. With shows like The Office- their most viewed show according to People Magazine -leaving their platform in 2021, their consumers aren’t happy. Netflix’s original television shows that have gained a staggering fan base- such as Stranger Things, Orange is the New Black, and Riverdale -have put Netflix into a reported debt of $3.5 billion according to Forbes reporter Stephanie Denning. And with every season of their television shows taking around a year to produce, this in itself could cause subscribers to lose interest in Netflix’s service. An already reported 11.5% of students surveyed at Red Mountain are not satisfied with the Netflix streaming platform.

However, with the launch of Disney Plus on November 12, 2019, those prior mistakes that Netflix has made might bring greater damage than once thought. Over the years, The Walt Disney Company has bought out other entertainment companies such as Hulu, ESPN, Marvel Studios, Pixar, Lucasfilm, Fox, National Geographic, and ABC. All of these services except ABC are available on Disney Plus- and with Disney having a reported revenue of $22.45 billion just in 2016 alone according to Business Insider, funding original television shows will not be an issue.

Disney Plus has already created original shows for their platform themed around beloved franchises that Netflix simply cannot create. Shows set in the Star Wars Universe, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Disney Channel Universe, and even National Graphic Originals have already been produced and set in motion. And with the Internet and media already showing love for the Star Wars original The Mandalorian, the plot thickens in the battle for the throne.

And with those original shows almost guaranteeing to catch the eyes of fans comes the added benefits of pricing. Netflix offers three subscription plans according to Business Insider. The most basic plan is $8.99 a month which allows one account for one device, the next one up is the $12.99 plan in which two devices in HD are available, and the Premium plan is $15.99 a month which four devices can be streamed at once in HD/4K Ultra HD. However, Disney PLus offers prices that can very easily compete. Their basic plan- which offers regular Disney classics, originals, etc. -costs $6.99 per month, prices that Netflix had never at any time offered. While their Bundle Pack costs $12.99 per month which includes all or regular Disney Plus and gains consumers free access to Hulu and ESPN. Disney also offers a one time payment of $69.99 for a whole year of Disney Plus access.

Prices like those with content that Disney Plus offers means huge competition for other streaming services. Netflix’s long time rival Hulu had already been bought by The Walt Disney Company in 2017. And with other rivals such as Amazon Prime offering $8.99 per month and HBO Now offering $14.99 per month, the plot thickens for who is next to take the throne of the home entertainment industry. Out of the students surveyed at Red Mountain, 59% plan on purchasing their own subscription to the new service.

However, like the king rival Netflix has done, Disney Plus has made some moves that might be cause for concern regarding dissatisfaction with customers. The Hulu subscription that comes with the Disney Plus Bundle Pack is not ad free. If consumers really want ad free Hulu, then they need to purchase a separate subscription to Hulu for $11.99 per month on top of the $12.99 per month Bundle Pack. And even though Disney Plus will credit consumers $5.99 every month for doing this, the need for extra money spending and general inconvenient extra steps might be something that keeps subscribers from purchasing the Bundle Pack all together. Out of the students surveyed at Red Mountain, 41% stated that they will not be purchasing Disney Plus.

However, the game is set, and the competition has been started. Netflix has already retaliated by signing a deal with children’s television producer Nickelodeon. The deal allows Netflix to produce original animated films and in partnership with Nickelodeon to be broadcasted on their service. Currently, Disney Plus is approaching their first month of publicity. And so far the service has gained extreme attention from fans and the media. Only time will tell who will ultimately rule the home entertainment industry. Both have their strong suits and their downfalls. But one thing is certain, there can only be one king.

(featured photo courtesy of techradar.com)

RMTV

Behind the fun and memories, RMTV is always there to capture Red Mountain’s big moments. RMTV is a CTE program that films events in and out of school to post online and add to announcements for families and students to watch live or after the event ends. 

     “It’s being able to capture a football player’s smile after they make their first touchdown of the season,” said senior and Technical Producer, Erin Lyons, “Or capturing memories for people to look back on when everything is over with.”

     You can spot them on the sidelines of a field, in the back of the auditorium as they live stream sports games, plays, concerts, and assemblies. “You have to be there whenever you are needed,” said senior and Executive Producer, Eric Rich, “But no matter how difficult the client may be, it’s always worth it because my team members are my best friends.”

     These students put in over 2,000 hours of work, an amount that can not even be recorded on service cards, all because of their dedication. When asked about their most memorable event, every member responded with “Rampage.” Rampage is an all-day track event where all schools come to Red Mountain every year to compete in an array of track and field activities. “Besides the huge amount of work that Rampage itself takes, one of the most memorable parts is the long morning. It has become a ritual to us, we go to Waffle House at 2 AM before we get to school at 4 AM and finish setting up at 9 AM to being the long day of filming at 10 AM,” said senior and Technical Director, Carson Jackalone.

     It takes hours upon hours just to set up their over $2,000 worth of equipment to be accountable for the students, families, and staff of Red Mountain High. Want to see more? Follow them on Instagram @redmountaintv or watch their videos on YouTube by searching RMTV. If you are student, tune in to RMHS announcements every day on Canvas or YouTube to see updates on schoolwide sports events and more.

(Featured Photo by Reilly Rich)

FFA Never Sleeps

Always on the move, FFA is assembling two different events within hours of the next one. On the same day October 19, 2019, FFA held two events back to back, one being their first car wash at Higley & Brown from 8:00-10:30am to raise funds for their trip to Indianapolis and a day volunteering at Mountain Bridge Community at Brown & Mountain Bridge Road from 12:30-6:30pm as a part of their regular program.

     FFA engaged in Halloween activities and games to help children have fun in a safe and friendly environment. 

     “It was a joy to spend time providing service for our local community, and the smiles on the children’s faces made it that much more worth it,” said senior Michael Stehl.

     Also, going back and forth between events allowed the chapter to have exponential bonding time as a team and friends. 

     “I love getting  to spend time with my students to watch them grow as a person while they help our community grow,” said advisor, Jennifer Cervantes, Advisor.  

     Even though they were continuously on the run, the students excitement never seemed to end. 

     “I thought I was not going to make it through the day, but getting to see the joy I brought to children made me want to stay even longer,” stated sophomore Tatum Carney.

     FFA dedicates most of their time to serving others within the community no matter the circumstances. If you want to know more about FFA follow their Instagram @redmountainffa or visit the clubs and activities page at mpsaz.org/rmhs

(Featured Photo by Aidan Current)

Good Doers

National Honor Society is not given any recognition for how presentable high schools, like Red Mountain, look. The students clean up and make the school presentable looking during their own time, simply for the fact that they want to attend a presentable school. The National Honor Society, a club of people who were recognized for doing acts of service for others, meets every Thursday during the first half of lunch at 12:25 in room 252, they discuss how to better the school and what new service projects to do. Many do not know that NHS travels frequently to other schools, just to help them pick up around campus. 

     “NHS has involved me more in the school and with the community around me,” junior Alexandar Dobyns said. “NHS develops character and helps people become the best version of themselves.” Dobyns said. While some people only do service to get the hours, others, like Alexandar do it because they genuinely enjoy seeing people happy. 

     “NHS is an organization that brings together the most dedicated and hard working students at Red Mountain, in order to help the school and community grow around us.” junior Amanda Adams said. “This club provides scholarships, brings a positive light to the school, and plans behind the scenes dances and activities that students love to attend.” Adams said. Students like her, who truly put their all into the given tasks help so many wonderful people benefit, just by donating a bit of their time to do service.

     “NHS focuses a lot on giving back, serving the community, and creating real connections and memories with kids,” senior Reily Rich said. “Service projects and events are set frequently for NHS to run which is a lot of time and work, but it is super fun and rewarding,” Rich says. NHS is a great club that helps impacts many youth and older people’s lives in the most positive way possible. 

(Featured Photo by Taylor Johnson)

Why Standardized Testing?

Taking standardized tests tend to cause the students to become stressed with over studying and over working in order to perform well. Standardized testing is a time where students from schools everywhere during multiple times of the year tend to become more stressed, so is there any importance of taking them just to show a simple score. 

     “I don’t think that it’s an effective way to determine every students knowledge,” junior Alicia Lamon said. “There are many factors that affect someone’s test scores.”

    Many students tend to perform different on standardized tests because of stress or anxiety levels. This can cause them to not perform as well as they probably could even if they know everything about the topic being tested. 

     “A main purpose of taking standardized tests is to have something to rank schools with,” freshman Ethan Gomez said. 

     Schools are given ranks based off of how well their schools tests on certain exams. However, some students could bring the scores down if they usually perform badly on standardized tests, so the school could be better at teaching and it’s just the state testing that brings their name down. 

     “Standardized testing helps improve grades by extra credit,” junior Alaura Goodsell said. “It strengthens the knowledge of the subjects being taught.”

     Some teachers will put in the scores for the test as extra credit, which can help boost up their percentage. Having the tests will bring more knowledge to the student then they originally thought. 

     “These tests help you see how far you’ve grown,” junior Aiyana Phillips said. “It shows where you might need improvement as well.”

     Having standardized tests gives the students and teachers an overall idea of how far you have come, but also where you might need to pay more attention.

(Featured Photo Courtesy of Nchole Yeo/Flickr)