ROCKLIN VS. DEL ORO - My High School Journalism

dealing with grief 

INSIDE: 

new fiction feature 

ROCKLIN VS. DEL ORO 

The Rivalry Continues Feb. 14th 

Page 12 

The 

R o c k l i n H i g h S c h o o l 

February 2007, Volume 13, Issue 2 

Inside: CAD takes gold

The Flashrocklin 

high school 

February 2007 Volume 13, Issue 2 

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10 

12 

14 

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In thIs IssUE 

rivalry 

def: a constant hope to defeat or prove superior 

FEbrUary ContEnts FEbrUary ContEnts FEbrUary ContEnts FEbrUary ContEnts 

In the industry 

CAD/CAM students success 

'Growing up too soon' 

How students deal with the loss of loved ones 

sports 

Reviewing winter, previewing spring 

heart of the rivalry 

Spending game day behind enemy lines 

Early rhs 

A look back, from those who have been here 

from the beginning 

Guest Fiction: the Flower Fields 

Senior Jeff Moyers lets his creativity flow 

'From the tropics to suburbia' 

Moving from Hawaii to Rocklin 

Post secrets 

Back by popular demand 

Flashing weekly at: 

http://my.highschooljournalism.org/CA/rocklin/ 

In this issue we take a look at the roots of 

Rocklin High School's culture. In 'Rocklin 

High from way-back-when,' we examine 

the original geography and dynamics of 

RHS when it first opened back in 1993. 

We investigate the root of the Del Oro- 

Rocklin rivalry in 'Thunder vs. Eagles.' 

For additional research we conducted 

an experience piece, 'Because I've been 

there,' where we spent a game day at Del 

Oro to examine the cultural differences. 

We also took this opportunity to examine 

the history of our students, from those 

who have moved here from Hawaii in 

'From the tropics to suburbia' to how some 

have been forced to deal with the loss of 

a parent in 'Growing up too soon.' We 

hope to provide a deeper insight into what 

Rocklin High is, and how it became such. 

The Flash Staff 

The Flash is produced by students for students in attempt to 

educate, inform and entertain its audience. Journalism students 

have the final authority for any content found in the publication. 

The Flash staff encourages letters regarding content to constitute a 

constructive avenue for student opinion. Letters should be directed 

to the newspaper's email, rhs_flash@yahoo.com. 

Editorial board 

Audrey Burtner Co-Editor-in-Chief 

Nathalie Rayter Co-Editor-in-Chief 

Katie Kilbourne Web Editor 

Lexie Gibbs Opinion Editor 

Daniel Herberholz Sports/Photo Editor 

Lauren Coiner Design Editor 

Kyle Myers Entertainment Editor 

Kelsey Drake Advertising Editor 

Casey Nichols Adviser 

staff Writers 

Evan Adams, Megan Cardona, Alexis Coopersmith, Casey Cutts, 

Amber Diller, Ashley Fowler, Joanna Graves, Andrew Morales, 

Courtney Morgan, Caitlin Reilly, Julie Ruocco, Cory Ruth, 

SMegan Taaffe, Ashley SorciMallory Valenzuela

4 November 2006 rhs_flash@yahoo.com 

get a job 

FeaTures 

or create your own 

3 Steps to starting 

a small business 

Organize yOurSelf 

• Set up a planning notebook to 

keep track of appointments, 

things to do, calls to make, errands 

to run, shopping, etc. 

gather infOrmatiOn 

• Spend a few weeks researching 

home-based businesses. 

A library or bookstore can 

provide numerous books on 

business basics, and on the 

specific type of business that 

interest you. 

write a buSineSS plan 

• A good business plan should 

include a description of what 

you are selling, who the 

prospective customers are, 

how you plan to promote, and 

how much money is need for 

start-up costs 

As holidays end, so do seasonal jobs 

Caitlin reilly 

Information from eqmoney.com 

Staff writer 

‘Tis the season’? With all 

the holiday joy, employees 

frantically wanted to control 

the outrageous shoppers. 

Many stores put up the last 

resort for help, the “Now 

Hiring” sign in their window. 

Out of all the local stores, 

Crate & Barrel and KB Toys 

seem to have most interest 

among high school students. 

These seasonal jobs 

typically begin around 

Thanksgiving and finish 

toward the end of January. 

This is when the employee 

is laid off, although it is 

Cory ruth 

Staff writer 

Maybe it’s your best 

friends’ birthday. Maybe it’s 

a week before Christmas. 

Or maybe it’s summer and 

you just have nothing better 

to do. No matter that time of 

year or what the occasion is, 

teenagers are always needing 

extra cash. 

While most invest their 

time in mediocre desk jobs, 

working retail, or waiting 

tables, few rise to the occasion 

of starting their own business. 

Making a name for 

yourself is tough, take it from 

sophomores Chris Africa 

and Matt Kilbourne, who 

started their own business 

“pimping people’s golf carts” 

by lifting them, painting them, 

putting bigger tires on them, 

installing lights, stereos, and 

backseats. 

The carts usually take 

rare if the employee is 

not already informed that 

their job will end once the 

mob scene quiets down. 

Junior Lona Iocano was 

recently hired at Crate & 

Barrel for the winter season. 

One reason why many teens 

are interested in this job 

opportunity is the high pay. 

Crate & Barrel pays $9 an hour 

which is very high compared 

to current minimum wage. 

“Its fun working 

there and plus I get 

discounts,” said Iocan0o. 

Stores will raise their 

hourly pay to attract more 

employees. Running a store 

is difficult without enough 

anywhere from three weeks to 

two months to construct and 

they sell at prices ranging from 

$1000 to $2600. They maintain 

their business through www. 

placercountycustoms.com. 

Chris Carstens and 

Christian Savage, both 

seniors, film about two plays 

a month. They also do disk 

duplication and tape to DVD 

transfers. They mostly film 

the plays at Rocklin but also 

do many at Fin Hall and other 

places. They have their own 

website, where they have 

coined themselves as the 

Theatre Video Guys at www. 

helpers, so a higher pay 

solves the problem for some. 

Iocano also said, 

“Most get hired till the end 

of January but you can 

get hired on afterwards.” 

For the most part, seasonal 

jobs stop around January 

or early February, but many 

stores add in the possible 

factor of keeping employees 

after the season is over. 

KB Toys, another popular 

choice, interested one group 

of friends in particular. Andrew 

Garner, Rob Scherer, Janelle 

Lenhard, Collin Chavez, and 

many of their friends got 

jobs there for the season. 

“We get paid the regular 

tvgtapes.com 

While some businesses 

boom such as Robbie 

Wannamakers’ computer 

building projects and Clifton 

Dudley’s lawn mowing services 

over the span of 6 years, some 

are not so lucky out there in 

the “corporate world.” Take 

it from sophomore Zach Ray 

who made an attempt to start 

his own T-Shirt business. He 

started by spray painting each 

shirt and unfortunately no one 

bought them. What did he do 

with all the leftover memoirs of 

his failed industry? He burned 

them. 

So take it from these 

students at Rocklin High, 

starting your own business 

may be grueling and tough 

work, but just look at the 

benefits. One day, you too 

could have your own website, 

start making a name for 

yourself (not to mention being 

placed in the The Flash...) and 

maybe make some money 

along the way. 

$7 an hour. And its fun 

selling toys,” said Garner. 

Junior Marissa Graves 

holds a seasonal job at Target. 

Graves says she works 

because "it's my favorite." 

No matter what the 

store is, all stores need 

extra help during this time 

of the year. Customers are 

coming and going like there 

is no tomorrow in a rush 

to return, exchange, buy. 

20% 

of students polled 

held a seasonal job

audrey burtner 

rhs_flash@yahoo.com 

FeaTures 

Gold medals 

Success in the classroom, success in the future 

Co-Editor-in-Chief 

While many electives on campus 

will entertain you through your high 

school career, very few prepare you 

for an occupation afterwards. 

In this class, students work to 

prepare sketches and AutoCAD 

drawings, which leads to the machining 

of parts. Senior Rebecca 

Fahey who has been in the program 

four years feels that the best 

part is the “hands on training in 

technology.” 

The CAD/CAM program is taught 

by Ms.. Alison Cardona who promises 

that she can “turn you out of 

here in two to three years job-ready 

to make 10 to 20 dollars an hour.” 

Cardona is constantly receiving 

requests from employers for students 

who have taken her course. 

Kevin Hill, who graduated last year, 

has gone directly into industry. 

Senior Jason Bertels entered 

the program because he wants to 

be an engineer and is now working 

as an intern with the City of 

Roseville.This course also helps to 

ready students for engineering and drafting 

programs at state colleges which is 

evident by the dozen students that have 

gone into engineering at Cal Poly after 

taking these courses. In fact, professors 

at Cal Poly’s school of Engineering are 

teaching some of the curriculum Cardona 

created. 

If planning on attending Cal Poly’s engineering 

program, at least one year of 

high school drafting is required. 

In addition to applied science and 

third-year math credit, students enrolled 

in CAD 2 or above are eligible for Sacramento 

State credit for their Engineering 6 

or 7 classes. Thirty one students first semester 

received this credit. Rocklin also 

has articulations with Sierra College and 

American River College. 

Along with the course comes an optional 

co-curricular club, SkillsUSA. While 

all the training is done during class, this 

club competes in regional, state, and national 

competitions. 

Since 2001, Rocklin High School has 

won 192 medals, had eight state champions, 

one national champion, and had an 

additional four students who have placed 

in the top ten at nationals. 

While a common misconception may 

be that math and science knowledge is 

November 2006 

Top Left: Senior Danielle Steinmetz competing 

in the Technical Combination Drafting contest. 

Above: Spenser Estrada (06), Chris Ware 

(08), Jeff Diamond (08), Thor Kiessling 

(06), Becca Fahey (07), Jason Bertels 

(07), Tim Cardona (07) at the awards ceremony 

waiting for their contests to be called. 

Left: Chris Ware (Silver medalist), Becca 

Fahey (Gold medalist and reigning State Champion), 

Lodi HS student (bronze medalist), Gus Bernal 

(Engineer-Lawrence Livermore Labs, Contest 

coordinator) during award ceremony. Fahey is the 

reigning state champion in Techinal CAD until April. 

Photos Courtesy of Alison Cardona 

5 

necessary, such is not the case. “If you 

can add, subtract, and divide by two, I 

can teach you the rest,” says Cardona. 

“Whatever road block is preventing 

you [from taking this course], I can teach 

you,” Cardona said. 

After working in the engineering industry 

for thirteen years and hiring and 

firing people, Cardona decided to teach 

so that there would be more industry-prepared 

people. 

Last year, she won the State Adviser 

of the Year Award during the SkillsUSA 

state competition. The California Association 

of SkillsUSA has nominated her as 

this year’s National Adviser of the Year.

6 November 2006 The Flash 

FeaTures 

5 

Stages 

of Grief 

The Kübler-Ross Model 

of grieving was introduced 

by Elizabeth 

Kübler-Ross in 1969 in 

her book, "On Death 

and Dying." 

1. Denial 

Thoughts: "This can't 

be real. There must 

be a mistake." 

2. Anger 

Thoughts: "Why is this 

happening to me?" 

Anger at God, deceased, 

or oneself. 

3. Bargaining 

Thoughts: "Just 

let my mother live 

through my graduation." 

4. Depression 

Thoughts: "I can't 

bear all this pain and 

stress. I can't let my 

family go through this. 

It hurts too much." 

5.Acceptance 

Thoughts: "I am ready 

to accept this. I can 

deal with my father's 

death now without bitterness." 

Source: Wikipedia 

Growing Up Too Soon 

nathalie rayter & 

Courtney Morgan 


& Staff Writer 

High school at best is difficult for 

many. But when home life drastically 

changes, coping with the obstacles 

confronted as a teenager can 

be arduous and bittersweet. A 

significant amount of students at 

Rocklin High School have lost 

parents, and are left reeling from 

the aftershock of loss. 

“On August 22 [of 2006], two 

minutes after I finished school, 

my dad died,” said freshman 

Lauren Bloemker. “He had 

met his goal, though, of 

making it through my 

first day of high 

school.” 

Lauren’s dad 

was diagnosed 

with colon 

cancer six 

years earlier, 

but he reached 

remission. Sadly, in April 2004, he was 

diagnosed with lung and brain cancers. “He 

went through chemo and radiation and had 

two surgeries on the lesion in his brain,” Lauren 

explained. “The doctors were going to remove 

the lung that was infected by the tumor, but 

the other lung was too infected and weak to 

support him.” 

“It’s hard because parents are supposed 

to take care of you, but I had to take care of 

him a lot. I had to feed him and give him his 

medications. I wound up staying with him 

overnight a lot.” 

Time has made it a little easier to deal with, 

but Lauren’s coping process has still been 

trying. “[Coping has been okay,] because in 

eighth grade, I had more homework, but this 

year there is not so much. I ended up lying 

around a lot and I used to go to the gym once 

a week, but I stopped. Now I am starting to go 

back.” 

Her father’s death has taught her a few 

things she says she’ll keep with her. “I have 

more patience, more understanding. I’m more 

sensitive now. If people say things 

like, ‘My dad is so stupid!’ I 

just say, ‘Well, at least you 

have a dad.’ I’ve learned 

just to appreciate 

everything you have 

and not to take 

things for granted.” 

Senior Erika 

Sword has also 

dealt with a 

l o n g - 

term 

illness 

in her family. “One and a half years ago in 

February, my sophomore year, right after we 

moved here, my stepdad, Mike, got sick two 

weeks before my birthday. He had a brain 

tumor.” 

Erika’s life over the next few months was 

tumultuous and difficult. Mike was hospitalized 

in Los Angeles, from which area they had 

moved to Rocklin. 

Her mom spent a lot of time at his side, 

and was not home for stretches of time. “My 

mom’s cousin Frank came and lived with us; 

I had never really known him before. I have a 

brother and a sister, and I had to step up to take 

care of them. I had to sacrifice a successful 

transition and my social life.” 

“Senior year’s been really tough. Mike was 

a politician, a business man, and the mayor of 

our town. Since he died, he’s not been there 

to help me with all the connections he had and 

the things he knew. Applying for college and 

scholarships and all of that has been really 

hard because I don’t have him to help,” Erika 

Photo illustration by Janine Morton.

hs_flash@yahoo.com 

FeaTures 

The loss of a parent has robbed some 

RHS students of childhood's twilight 

said, tears welling up in her eyes. 

The absence of her stepfather still affects 

Erika’s life, even in small ways: “One time 

in yearbook, a song came on the radio that 

played at [Mike’s] funeral. I couldn’t take it, so I 

just got up and walked out of the room. I sat [at 

the top of the amphitheater] and just bawled. 

Ana Ford came out and asked me if I was OK. 

Ana is one person who is always there for me 

and she is so supportive.” 

But, she says, she’s really bonded with her 

mother in the process. “My mom and I are a 

lot closer. She’s is such a huge inspiration for 

me. She would randomly get in the car and 

drive for six hours just to see us. She is a really 

strong person, so it was hard to see her cry so 

much. But it makes me realize that I have the 

best mom ever.” 

Yet not every loss occurs over a prolonged 

period of time; some are sudden. “My dad 

died when I was going into my freshman year,” 

said junior Rob Scherer. “We were in Santa 

Cruz on a family vacation and he had to get 

up early one morning because he was meeting 

someone. He got out of the shower and said 

he felt like he had heartburn, but it turned out 

to be heart attack. [My brother] Reed and I 

performed CPR on him immediately.” 

Like Lauren and Erika, Rob had to deal with 

loss while adjusting to a new school “[Coping] 

was hard because I already had that to deal 

with. Kids started finding out and that was 

hard too,” he explained. 

“Life’s different because of the maturity factor 

– I felt like I was growing up too fast for being 

such a young kid. I have more respect and 

sympathy for people who are going through 

the same thing. In a positive way, it’s helped a 

lot. It’s shown me something that’s real.” 

Time is fleeting, and, said Rob, “I need to 

get the most out of life and I’m thankful for what 

I have everyday. I appreciate the people that 

are with me today because you never know 

what tomorrow will bring. 

Mandie Martinez, a junior at RHS, has lost 

two parents in her 17 years. “I was seven when 

I lost my mom to diabetes,” she said. “But it 

really didn’t hit me until I was older. Losing my 

mom so early, I didn’t know how to relate to my 

stepmom. I pulled more toward my dad. But 

we got really close around when she got sick.” 

“When I was 15, my stepmom got sick. She 

had a brain tumor, a glioblastoma, so it was 

cancer,” Mandie explained, drawing her breath 

in. “It was different than if, say, she got in a car 

accident or something because I had to watch 

her suffer with all that cancer brings. I helped 

with her care, but that was hard because I 

had no social life and it was difficult to handle 

everything else in my life.” 

Shortly after, her stepmom passed away. 

“I found out in psychology, which was kind of 

ironic, and I got home at about 10 that day. I 

had to say goodbye there. At 16, I was already 

writing a eulogy and obituary for the paper. 

That’s something that I didn’t think I’d be doing 

for a long time from now. I helped my dad plan 

everything for the funeral and the gravestone.” 

Mandie says that the most important thing 

to do is to not agonize over the little things. 

“There are bigger things in life. I’m still grieving 

for [my stepmom] and my first mom. I’ll never 

get motherly advice. She’ll never be there for 

the monumental stuff like graduation or my 

wedding; she won’t be there to give me advice 

on girl stuff.” 

Mandie is now thinking of starting a support 

group for teens who have lost loved ones. “I 

want to do it because sometimes you can’t 

talk to your therapist or your parents about the 

situations you’re in. I think a support group 

would touch on these emotions without people 

who might not understand.” 

Tim Wirth, counselor for the Class of 2010, 

said that when a student suffers a loss, “We 

[the counselors] are here for students to help 

with traumatic events in life. Most of the time, 

students have outside help and we try not to 

step on that.” 

According to Wirth, “Students usually don’t 

come to us, but we hear about a loss through 

email, or information is tipped off to us, or 

someone will say “Did you hear about….” We 

will take the steps to contact that student to 

make sure they are okay.” 

“As a kid, your parents are always 

supposed to be there for you. It’s natural for 

them to die before you, but it’s not something 

you expect until you’re an adult. One thing 

some students don’t realize is that grieving 

is a long process. It takes long time to get 

through, but I think it’s reassuring to some 

students to know that people are willing to 

give them a break.” 

What You 

November 20067 

Should Say to 

Someone who 

is Grieving 

"I'm sorry for your 

loss." 

"I'm here to listen 

whenever you need 

to talk." 

"What can I do to 

help you right now?" 

"How is your family 

managing?" 

"It's okay if you don't 

want to talk to me 

about this." 

What You 

Shouldn't 

Say to 

Someone who 

is Grieving 

"You'll get over it 

with time." 

"I know how you 

feel." 

"It's God's will. This 

was supposed to 

happen." 

"Keep your chin up." 

"You know they're in 

a better place now." 

Source: funeral-poems. 

com

8 

February 2007 

One 

Katie Kilbourne 

Web editor 

If squeezed, it will fold in your hand. 

If pulled, it will stretch until it snaps. If 

thrown on the ground, it will stay in one 

piece and bounce. 

No, it isn’t a bouncy ball. It is a plastic 

white bracelet and it represents a brand 

new kind of organization ready to save 

hundreds of lives suffering from AIDS 

and poverty. This organization is ONE 

and it is ready to “Make Poverty History” 

by rallying supporters one person at a 

time. 

“Over three million Americans and 

millions of people around the world are 

wearing the white band, the international 

symbol of the Global Call to Action Against 

Poverty,” according to ONE (one.org). ONE 

also believes that, “allocation another 

ONE percent of the US budget 

[approximately two billion dollars] 

toward providing basic needs l i k e 

health, education, clean water, and food 

would transform the futures and hopes 

of an entire generation in the world’s 

poorest countries.” 

So why don’t more Americans know 

more about this life saving organization? 

How has the “white band” not become a 

symbol of teenagers daily lives like the 

“Livestrong” bracelets were not too long 

ago? 

OpiniOn 

an organization ready to make poverty history 

The only group 

on campus 

with a "crown" 

“I joined because of the cause,” said 

senior Haylee Groves who originally 

heard about ONE on the television. “All 

of the money from the products will help 

with the poverty in Africa and all over 

the world. Overall, I think my peers are 

just uninformed [for not knowing about 

ONE].” 

photo courtesy of one.org 

Another senior and ONE supporter, 

Alex Clundt, has her own personal 

reasons behind joining this organization, 

“I think that if the word got around and 

more people were to join, it would spread 

the word and we would be able to solve 

the problem,” said Clundt. “The media 

covers more national and local news. If 

media were to cover more, people would 

know more.” 

With the number of supporters 

increasing every minute, the website 

demonstrates through a electronic “toll” 

of how Americans and people all over the 

world are signing on to make a difference 

The Flash 

in the fight against poverty. 

Each time a person signs up with their 

first name, last name, and email address 

on one.org, they are adding their voice to 

the “fight against poverty.” With almost two 

and a half million supporters, their voices 

are not being unrecognized. Recently, 

Congress took action and passed a trade 

legislation which is one step in the right 

direction for ONE’s cause. 

By renewing the “third country fabric” 

provision, Americans are stepping up 

in the fabric industry by saving 150,000 

jobs. This allows African apparel factories 

to import fabric and then export clothes to 

the United States. By doing this, it creates 

a way for people to work themselves out 

of their impoverished lives. 

This would not have been possible 

without the number of ONE supporters 

making their voices heard everyday. 

Many people want to find a way to help 

the world in some way: This organization 

allows people world-wide to voice their 

concerns on their fellow human beings. 

By joining, you are creating a voice to be 

heard to stop poverty. 

By joining, people are able to live 

without fear, without anxiety, and without 

doubt that people truly care about human 

kind. 

Rocklin High's yearbook has earned a Crown Nomination 

for the fifth straight year from Columbia Scholastic Press 

Asssociation. This places the book in the top five percent 

in the nation. Plus, 10 students won state awards! 

Got yours? 

Yearbooks are now $65 for everyone, and they 

will be $70 at distribution. A limited number have 

been ordered. Don't be left out May 31 when 

books are distributed. Check in M-5 for info.

hs_flash@yahoo.com The Flash 

photo 

Monica Chazen 

Caitlin Mitchell 

Kyle D'Amico 

Daniel Herberholz 


33x 


three sports 

three shots 

9 


Kyle D'Amico 

Monica Chazen

10 February 2007 The Flash 

sports 

Casey Cutts 

Staff writer 

Track is a no-cut sport meaning that find out that they are capable of 

With all of the pressure put on by filing the proper paper work, paying a doing things that they never have 

cut sport athletes and coaches, transportation fee, and keeping yourself done before.” 

wouldn’t it be nice to be able to academically eligible you get to compete Without constant pressure to 

have all of the rewards from a cut-sport and practice. One of the great advantages win track creates a much more 

without the pressure of being cut from the 

of a sport like Track or relaxed teaching based, learning 

team or concerns of playing time? Enter 

swimming is that there oriented atmosphere both in prac- 

in RHS Track Coach Matt Bumgardner. 

is “less pressure to tice and at meets. “Athletes come 

Student athletes gain a lot from sports 

‘win.’" Pressure comes out less polished then sports like 

in high school, developing qualities that 

from the athlete, peer basketball” which creates more of 

will help to make them more successful 

expectations, and a challenge for coaches then what 

later on in life. Yet, some kids just aren’t 

parents but less from ‘cut-sport’ coaches face. 

driven enough to partake in a sport such 

coaches.” said Bum- Track helps to balance out the 

as basketball that trains eleven months 

gardner. “Track is not gap between those who live for 

out of the year. That and making a team 

a sport that athletes sports and those who are just 

with such few spots available make roster 

regularly grow up par- looking for a good time while still 

spots a scarcity. Enter in the Rocklin high 

ticipating in, so it is ex- competing, and seeing just how 

school track program. 

citing to see athletes far they can jump, run, or throw. 

FACES 

Isabella Lopez Staff writer 

of the 

Track&Field 

Jesse Deaver frosh boys basketball 

position: center; # and why: 50, after David Hansborough 

and David Robinson; athletic history: 

soccer, baseball, volleyball, basketball; motto: “don't 

worry about what everyone else thinks, it's just you” 

Jordyn Willie frosh girls basketball 

position: post; history: "I've played since 2nd grade, with 

a lot of the same girls"; favorite moment this season: “one 

player always falls, so we laugh with her about getting hurt" 

ATHLETES 

Boys GOLF 

aaron 

Fortier 

wrestling 

leadership: captain 

"I help start practice going, 

call out the runs, and lead 

the stretches; favorite part: 

"leaving it all out on the mat"; 

history: "I started in 7th grade, and I've done it every year. 

Wrestling is really important to me"; motto: "seize the 

day" 

ick Schafer stands a mere 4’11” inches tall, but that 

Ndoesn’t stop him from playing golf with fervor. It all 

started at the age of two when his great-grandmother gave 

being on the team,” Mr.. Stewart said. Nick is just one who 

will have to make that change. 

“I like Nick’s chances for making the team. He’s definitely 

played a lot of golf in his life and he seems determined and 

him a cut down seven-iron. Nick joined the golf club and cool-headed, which are good characteristics for a golfer,” 

practiced hitting plastic golf balls several hours a day. For Stewart said. 

golf and Nick, it was the beginning of a new love affair. 

However, golf is not Nick’s top priority. 

Nick is a freshman and plans to try out for the school golf 

“Academics are most important,” he 

team this month. He travels around the greater Sacramento said. “If you do well in school, you have 

area to practice, as well as for tournaments. On occasion, a better chance of doing well in life.” 

he travels even further, to places such as Miami, Florida. 

Nick’s long-term golf plan is to 

This year the Rocklin High golf team should be strong. 

Mr. Dave Stewart, the boy’s golf coach said that “there are 

many good teams from other schools but we’re 

going to have a good team this year. I’m excited 2006 

for the possibilities.” 

Section 

Returnees: 

Phil Johnson, Sr. 

Bryan Trimble, Sr. 

Sam Joslin, Sr. 

become a 

t o u r i n g 

professional 

golfer. 

One transition that new players on the team Finish: 

will have to make is playing golf for their school 

and team. “It is a big change playing for your 

team instead of yourself when you’ve been 2nd 

Kevin Turner, Sr. 

Kyle Chatelain, Jr. 

Nick Brown, Jr. 

playing for yourself for your whole life, prior to 

Skyler Mills, So.


sports 

Constructive Criticism 

Evan adams 

Column 

they win. But if the defense 

isn’t meshing on a given night, 

they will almost surely lose. 

For example, earlier this season, 

Rocklin’s defense held 

Encina High to only 15 points. 

Hopefully, Rocklin can finish 

the season strong with 

both their offense and defense 

The girls’ basketball season 

is heading down the home 

stretch. Somehow, Rocklin 

High’s team has not been doing 

as well as they wanted. 

After reaching playoffs for 10 

straight years, the girls are not 

winning as expected this year 

and in jeopardy of ending that 

streak. 

The team started out quite 

slow, losing a lot of close 

games. In fact, Rocklin lost 

the first two games of the season 

by one point each. Coach 

Frank Shields sees the positives 

in the situation though. 

“The team is playing better 

and better as the year goes 

on.” 

This year’s team is very 

young, feeling the loss of six 

seniors from the ‘06 squad. 

The team needs time to develop 

and adjust to playing 

with one another. 

The team consists of three 

sophomores and three juniors 

who over this season 

will grow and learn, improving 

greatly for next year. The star 

dual @ Roseville, divisionals Feb 16-17 @ Ponderosa, Masters Tournament Feb 23-24 @ Stockton 

THE 

Grid 

asking Rocklin High athletes 

Culture 

Karl Cannon 

jv boys basketball 

Caitlyn Dow 

jv girls basketball 

Mikey Lang 

wrestling 

among the younger players is 

definitely junior Kelsey Elston, 

who is carrying Rocklin on her 

shoulders. She is scoring and 

rebounding with ease, often 

achieving double-doubles. 

Early in the season sophomore 

Emily Shields stepped 

up, leading the team in assist. 

The team has been improving 

offensively as the season proceeds 

with seniors Billie Roberts 

and Alisha Scott stepping 

up in scoring. Although the 

offense is improving, the defense 

needs to return to its 

early season form. 

The Thunder seem to win 

and lose with their defense, 

not their offense. If the girls 

are able to hold the opponent 

to under or around 40 points, 

TV show 

addicted to 

I don't watch TV 

during the week 

Grey's 

Anatomy 

Favorite 

shoe brand 

anyone who can 

make a shoe 

that fits my foot 

Law & Order Adidas 

2007 will 

be... 

the best year 

of all time 

one of the 

best years of 

my life 

favorite 

NBA team 

Los Angeles 

Lakers 

Kings. No, 

wait, I don't 

do basketball 

Most visited 

website 

addicting 

games.com 

Ug 

one word? 

Kings Google 

great 

The California 

Wrestler's 

website 

February 2007 

2164 Sunset Blvd., #206 

Rocklin, CA 95765 

(916)773-5550 

boys basketball: Feb 2 @ Oakmont, Feb 9 vs Nevada Union, Feb 14 @ Del Oro, Feb 16 @ Woodcreek; 

girls basketball: Feb 8 @ Nevada Union, Feb 13 vs Del Oro, Feb 15 vs Woodcreek; wrestling: Feb 3 dual @ Folsom, Feb 10 

the questions that matter 

Last movie 

watched 

Pirates 2. It was 

alright, but I still 

had some 

questions 

Lakehouse. It 

was good, but 

confusing 

Lady In The 

Water. It was 

really weird 

11 

playing at top form. The pressure 

for this to happen will 

ride with the seniors, who will 

need to lead the team not only 

on but also off the court. 

We’ll just have to wait and 

see if Coach Shields early 

season prediction will pan 

out. 

15% off for RHS students with ID cards 

1$ will be donated to the Rocklin High School Booster Club 

for each boutonniere and corsage ordered. 

the question I would 

ask in this survey 

Why do we take 

English as a class? 

I don't know. Favorite 

board game. I would 

say Monopoly 

What person in your 

sport do you idolize? 

For me, it's Dan Gable

12February 2007 rhs_flash@yahoo.com 

Features 

Thunder Vs. Eagles 

Casey Cutts 

an up close and personal look at the legendary rivalry 

Staff writer 

Just six miles separate one of the biggest rivalries in 

the San Joaquin Section. Whether it’s football, tennis, 

basketball; even API scores are a source of tension 

between Rocklin and Del Oro. 

Del Oro comes from a rich history of sports dating 

back to the 50’s. Meanwhile Rocklin is a relatively new 

school that recently has challenged the prestige and 

history of the Golden Eagles. 

Every great rivalry shares several main trends; 

location, history, and one main meeting or event that 

sets in stone a heated rivalry. For example, the trading 

of Babe Ruth from Boston to New York back in the 

early part of the 20 th century set the stage for ‘the 

curse’ and the hatred of the two cities. It never seems 

to matter what kind of year either team is having. If it’s 

a rivalry game, the intensity, passion, and tension are 

always there. 

The feud first began back when Rocklin first had 

varsity sports, 1997. There wasn’t balance to the 

rivalry then. In ‘98 Rocklin and Del Oro met three 

times during the boy’s basketball season. The first two 

in the usual SFL fashion, with the third at ARCO Arena 

for the Division III section championship. The stage, as 

well as the stakes, made that one of the most intense 

games the rivalry has seen. The Eagles 

took down the Thunder, and were crowned 

champions. 

More recently, the Thunder and Golden 

Eagles faced each other in another section 

championship. The 2005 regular season 

football match up drew an estimated 6,000 

people, and the Eagles took the game and 

eventually the SFL title. Soon after, the two 

met for yet another section championship 

game, this time in football. After the Thunder 

seemingly had taken control of the game 

in the first half, a determined Eagle squad 

eventually took the game late in the fourth 

quarter. Yet again Thunder fans were sent 

home, let down and disappointed at the 

hands of the Golden Eagles. 

Perhaps the most interesting part of this 

rivalry is the amount of crossover there is 

between schools. Current Del Oro head 

varsity football Coach Casey Taylor coached 

football at Rocklin prior to his acceptance of 

the Del Oro job. Rocklin loses students to 

Rocklin boys 

basketball 

@ Del Oro 

Feb. 14 

7 p.m. 

Del Oro all the time, as well as the other way around, 

adding to the fuel on the fire. 

Last year the ‘Thunderdome’ was filled to capacity and 

turned away some 200 people who were waiting to see the 

rivalry go to the hardwood as the boy’s basketball teams 

battled for first place in the SFL. The gym was abuzz of 

anticipation as the D.O football team brought along they’re 

section title banner, while Andrew Dean set up camp in 

the middle of the D.O. cheering section. A clash of ‘Stick 

Rocklin’ and ‘Stick With Rocklin’ shirts didn’t help to ease 

the tensions created by the rivalry. 

Prior to last year the rivalry had almost been forgotten 

as Rocklin had been down in football and D.O had been 

down in basketball, two of the main sports featured in 

the heart of the rivalry. But, with both school competing 

for league titles in both sports the rivalry was back in full 

force. 

While the rivalry was still present, and both schools 

always had extra motivation every time they met, there 

was never that added enthusiasm from the students and 

fans like there was back in 1998 when it all began; the 

same enthusiasm that was rekindled last year. 

Now once again basketball season has brought one of 

the last great rivalries in Northern California back to the 

fore front of high school sports, and we are all witnesses 

to the drama that will soon ensue.


FeaTures 

February 2007 

Because I've been there... 

Del Oro High School 

Lauren Coiner 

Design Editor 

And I took Audrey Burtner with me. 

The day started out normally enough, 

other than me being out of bed at 5:50 

instead of the normal 6:45. It was game 

day, and I was going way, way behind 

enemy lines. 

Built in 1959, Del Oro High School has 

been a longtime rival of the blue and white. 

From the football section championship 

game against the Eagles to last year's 

insane basketball win at Rocklin, games 

against Del Oro have always had record 

breaking fan turnouts. 

So, 7:25 a.m. comes around, and I’m 

trying to peel the RHS parking permit off 

my car windshield without anyone around 

seeing, and really wishing I had sprung 

for that vanilla latte on the way to Del Oro 

High School, home of the Eagles. Audrey 

and I have our mouths hung halfway open 

as we count the “Stick Rocklin” shirts that 

walk past, and I’m really beginning to 

think we picked the WORST day to come 

play friendly ambassador. 

We were instructed by administration 

the day before to report to the leadership 

classroom when school starts, and that 

the activities director would help us from 

there. Trouble was, neither Audrey nor 

I had any idea where the leadership 

classroom was. So we wandered onto 

campus, sticking out like sore thumbs, 

feeling like the only kids on campus not 

wearing yellow and gold. 

We went to the cafeteria, the theatre, 

a random hallway, and finally a janitor 

showed us the way to the attendance 

office, and in turn, the kind lady in the 

attendance office pointed us to the 

leadership classroom. We still felt lost, but 

not nearly as confused as we had before. 

At least we had gotten the exploring out 

of the way. 

Because it’s me, I wasn’t at all 

surprised when of course we walked 

into an extremely serious meeting in the 

leadership classroom. We then had to 

walk past all the people sitting around a 

long table talking in grave voices, noisily 

take down chairs from on top of the table 

and take a seat. When I finally got a 

chance to look around, the colors hit me 

in the face. Lime green and orange walls 

with teal chairs, made this the brightest 

classroom I had ever walked into at 7:45 

in the morning. The mix of getting up an 

hour earlier than usual, being intimidated, 

being lost, and interrupting a serious 

procession hit me just about then, and all 

I had left in me was enough energy to 

lean over and put my head in my hands. 

And it was only 7:45 a.m. 

After the meeting was adjourned, 

Audrey and I introduced ourselves to the 

Mr. Thompson of Del Oro, Mr. Barker. 

Barker, in turn, introduced us to block 

ones leadership class. We seemed to get 

nothing but blank stares from the class, 

until the phrase “They’re from Rocklin,” 

came up. Then slowly nervous giggles 

came from the table in front of us, and 

three girls slowly started zipping up 

their jackets to cover the infamous “Stick 

Rocklin” shirts. 

That reaction wasn’t exactly typical. 

In the second block algebra 2 class we 

walked into, upon hearing that we were 

from Rocklin High School, one boy 

actually opened up his jacket and shoved 

his chest out like a male gorilla claiming 

his territory. “Stick Rocklin” was shoved 

into my face and I took a step back, 

clearly submissive. I was on their turf, 

and not looking to get into a fist fight with 

a sophomore boy. 

When these shirts first came out, there 

13 

was a lot of controversy. Feeling the need 

to explain the friendly intentions behind 

the shirts, Mr. Barker sat Audrey and I 

down and explained the story behind the 

shirt. 

Del Oro was longtime rivals with 

Placer High School until a few years back 

when Placer sports started going down 

hill, and the realization that Placer would 

be leaving the league hit Del Oro. Rocklin 

had become the Eagles biggest rival, 

and something had to be done to pump 

up the school against this new opponent. 

One of the Eagle football coaches not 

only graduated with the first graduating 

class at Del Oro, but even scored the 

Eagles their very first touchdown. About 

17 years ago, said football coach came up 

with the phrase “Stick Placer,” referring to 

a particularly good football tackle. When 

Placer left the league, Rocklin became 

the only rival, and an “insert name here” 

attitude ensued. Rocklin replaced Placer, 

and “Stick Rocklin” became the new 

phrase to scream, write on your car, and 

even print on shirts. 

“The rivalry is fun for me,” said Vice 

Principal and Ex Athletic Director Dan 

Gayaldo, “I was Mr. Benzel's high school 

football coach. At the end of the day, most 

of the players are lifelong friends.” 

With such a friendly administration, 

and mostly tolerant smiles coming from 

most of the students, I have only good 

things to say about the day I spent at 

Del Oro, and can’t wait for the basketball 

game, on Eagles turf. 

Did I decide as a whole, I like Del Oro 

High School? Yes. Does this mean I won’t 

be screaming my lungs out, and joining 

in on the “Start The Tractor!” cheers when 

w e ’ r e 

winning by 

twenty at 

the end of 

the game? 

No way. 

It’s all in 

the name 

of rivalry. 

S t i c k 

Del Oro.


Features 

APs have been 

at Rocklin HS 

since its opening 


Daniel herberholz 


& Sports Editor 

Mr. Douglas was right. “The opening line 

of this article is going to be, ‘So they really 

are demented!’” 

Assistant Principals Mark Douglas and 

Mary Anne Knox have been at Rocklin High 

since its commencement in the autumn of 

1993. Interestingly, though, their roles have 

changed significantly. 

“I taught English at Springview [Middle 

School]. I actually taught Officer Osborne 

seventh grade English!” Knox explains. “I 

became the district librarian.” Knox started 

off in the library at RHS. 

“I was on the Speculation Committee for 

RHS. In the planning, we started with senior 

year and worked backward, figuring out how 

to get there,” she said. 

Douglas had taught and coached football 

in Santa Ana for five years prior to arriving at 

Rocklin. He came to RHS in the first year for 

a triad of reasons: to coach football, to teach 

science, and to direct student activities. 

Douglas became an Assistant Principal 

in the third year RHS was open. Before this, 

however, he held the position of Activities 

Director, currently occupied by math teacher 

John Thompson. “A lot of people don’t know 

that! I trained him,” says Douglas. “You’d 

never see me do what Thompson does at 

rallies.” 

However, Knox sees their differences as 

superficial. “Thompson and he are actually 

clones.” 

On a walking tour of the campus, Knox 

and Douglas are relaxed and nostalgic. 

Despite interruptions by the walkie-talkies 

they always carry at their sides, the APs are 

articulate in their recollections of Rocklin’s 

earlier days. 

“I remember my first suspension. It was 

my first administration day…[they] had told 

me it would be uneventful, and I had nothing 

to worry about. A kid had pantsed a girl in the 

library, and [principal’s secretary] Mrs. Dyer, 

who’s still here, said, ‘Who pantses a girl?’” 

Rocklin High from way-back-when 

The 

floor of 

the gym 

used to 

have male 

and female 

figures similar 

to those on 

the mosaic 

over the library. 

Douglas said, 

“The female 

character has 

never been 

as popular.” 

The 

stadium 

was sodded 

in the spring 

of 1994. Prior, 

football games 

were at Sierra 

College. 

Assistant Principal Mark 

Douglas's mug photo 

from the 1994-1995 

yearbook, when he 

taught Science and ASB. 

In the 

spring of 1994, a bomb scare was 

called in, and a swim team tournament had to be 

cancelled. The student who was responsible for 

the call was expelled. 

When 

RHS opened, 

cows grazed on 

the ridge above the 

football stadium, where 

the Whitney Oaks 

development is 

now. 

Aerial view of Rocklin 

High circa 1994. Image 

provided by principal's 

secretary Ellen Dyer. 

Five 

senior 

classes paid for 

the Senior Lawn: 

2000, 2001, 2002, 

2003, and 2004. The 

amphitheater (which 

at the time had no 

picnic tables) didn't hold 

everyone, and Rocklin 

was growing by the 

hundreds every year. 

Seniors wanted a 

place of their 

own.


Features 

The Flash takes a look back at the early years at Rocklin High School, from 

cows grazing to an academy system to the paths of our assistant principals. 

Originally, 

Victory High School was just 

a couple of temporary buildings in the 

parking lot, known affectionately as 

"Parking Lot High." 

A 

barbed-wire fence 

bounded the campus. One of 

the original discipline techs would 

chase truant students thought the 

burrs and mud beyond the fence in 

hot pursuit that often failed. 

The J, 

K, and L buildings were not built 

until a couple of years after the school opened. 

nothing was back here but dirt. 

The Vbuildings 

were not put 

in until later. 

The 

darker half 

of the parking 

lot was originally 

unpaved. 

The 

mosaic 

at the 

top of 

the library 

was a gift of 

the classes 

of 1998 and 

1999. It was 

designed by Mr. 

Knorzer and 

his students, 

and features 

two characters 

that once 

appeared 

on the gym 

floor. 

Assistant Principal Mary 

Anne Knox's mug photo 

from the 1994-1995 

yearbook, when she was 

a librarian for the district. 

February 200715 

Rocklin High 

dynamics have 

evolved much 

since 1993 


Daniel herberholz 


& Sports Editor 

Rocklin High School has changed a lot 

since opening in 1993. 

Upon its debut, RHS was split up into 

four teaching teams, similar to the academy 

systems at Granite Oaks and Spring View 

Middle Schools. In keeping with the theme 

of “Thunder” and weather occurrences, the 

four teams were called Cirrus, Cumulus, 

Stratus, and Nimbus, after different types of 

clouds. 

Mr. Douglas says, “Students didn’t mix 

except within their own team apart from in 

PE and electives.” 

In the second year, the school had a 10day 

rotating schedule; students could take a 

total of seven classes (there weren’t enough 

students to have eight classes at this point), 

and there were five different types of days 

that could be scheduled. In comparison, 

our current Blue-Silver schedule is much 

simpler. 

Like now, there were two lunches in 

the schedule. However, the lunches were 

split up by grade level. First lunch was for 

freshmen and sophomores, and the second 

lunch was for juniors only (there were still no 

seniors at RHS). 

The original graduating class of 1997 

“were upperclassmen for four years,” says 

Mrs. Knox. “There were some excellent 

students in this group, as well as some not 

so excellent students.” 

According to Douglas, “20% of the school 

was on the football team.” 

In the second year, the Associated 

Student Body constitution was penned. 

Excalibur, the lightning bolt used to direct 

spirit at rallies, was an idea stolen from 

another school, whose spirit stick was made 

out of an oak tree. The original Rocklin 

Excalibur was actually made of wood and 

painted silver, whereas now the stick is 

made of metal.


FicTiOn 

The Flower Fields 

Starting 

Jeff Moyers 

Guest Writer 

I saw him standing on a beaten road, a solitary silhouette 

outlined against an ominous blue sky. 

Crows darted toward the tapered corners of the world, 

exhaling bittersweet melodies in salutation to my presence. 

Dark brown silk that alleged to be hair flowed like the mane 

of a man on a mission- permissively to the elements, only 

enough so that he could move forward in his 

own machinations. Dark brown eyes served 

the same purpose, narrowing in perception, 

continually making calculations that were as 

wild and wanton as opening the ancient jewel 

encrusted box of worldly plague. Never once 

did his gaze fall upon me; always, always to 

brink of heaven’s intersection with her mighty 

earth. 

“Hey,” I said pleadingly as I rapidly 

approached, a bit frantic in demeanor. 

“Hey, where am I?” 

I pulled only a portion of his attention, 

as when he turned, he was looking through 

me as if I were an open window. A moment 

passed in this fashion and his features took 

on a bearing of clarity. 

“Excuse me,” I repeated impatiently, “can 

you help me?” 

He waited a moment, and then replied with bitter resistance, 

“What do you want?” He maneuvered around the interruption, 

and his eyes began to wander, searching for some phantom 

haunting the threshold where the road met the sky. 

“I don’t know where I am. I’m lost.” 

“Look around,” He said curtly. 

I weighted my eyebrows toward him, but it was futile; I was 

trying to pierce a stone with a needle. In spite of my distaste of 

our exchange, the words he spoke echoed in my mind. Forfeiting 

nothing, I surveyed the world around me. 

The road havened only the two of us. The sky overhead was 

all encompassing and astoundingly blue, quilting the emerald 

world underneath like a smiling child beneath the touch of an 

urbane blanket. On either side of the road, for as far as my 

vision would permit, were lush green hills, rolling lazily into one 

another under a gentle sun. 

“This is incredible,” I said with wide eyes, awed. 

My wonder was met with silence, or, as I was beginning to 

perceive it, undeserved indifference. “Hey,” I flared, after I had 

composed myself. “Are you gonna help me or…” I could sense 

his irritation at the unwanted diversion that I had become. 

“Look.” He turned to face me, his brown hair gently lifted 

by a light, passing breeze, perhaps the finger of the phantom 

he was searching for. He shut his eyes and inhaled deeply, 

as if catching a scent. He then spoke, “I don’t have any of the 

in this issue, The Flash will be serializing in three parts 

"The Flower Fields," a story written by RHS student Jeff Moyers. 

Look in our next two issues for the rest of the piece. 

answers you’re looking for. Now you can come with me or stay 

here by yourself.” Clearly, he would not be detained any longer 

and he began to walk. 

Only I could see it. There was a man sitting cross-legged in 

nothingness. He, too, was nothing, a shadow in a world where 

minute details were meaningless. About his lap sat the pieces 

of a blue vase that lay in glorious ruins- with steady fingers, he 

pieced the object back together. The work was largely successful 

until he raised up a particular piece 

from the hundreds. It was white, 

irregular at the corners, and did not 

seem to belong; surely it would not 

fit. 

Nimble fingers asserted the piece 

amongst its dissimilar brethren. 

I knew I would follow. 

My hands were thrown up as I 

disgustedly conceded, “Fine. Who 

are you and what exactly are you 

looking for?” 

“The flower fields.” 

“The flower fields? What the f--- 

are you talking about?” My patience 

had reached the breaking point. 

Nothing made sense. I couldn’t 

remember anything before seeing his outline on the road. 

He started walking, and he motioned for me to follow by 

lifting his right arm and beckoning to me by gently swaying his 

hand forward. Side by side we moved and he continued to trace 

the looming distance with his gaze. 

There was no measure of time, save for our footfalls on hard 

earth, and I asked tentatively through the silence, “So… flower 

fields? Any ideas? What do we know?” Speaking quelled the 

tension in my stomach. 

I felt his disposition grow warmer as he realized his goal had 

become my own. “I don’t know much,” he said, “except for the 

fact that I want to be in them. I can’t explain it, but I need to lay 

down in the flower fields. You’ll understand too, when you get 

there.” 

I nodded, appreciating the difference in reception. It made 

the air more bearable. “Ok, so how do we go about it?” 

He shrugged in reply, smiled mysteriously and proceeded to 

say, “I guess we’re doing all we can.” 

“What?” He was talking circles. 

“Well, what more can we do? We’re in the same boat; I don’t 

know any more than you.” 

I felt myself spark a little and I asked the question at the 

forefront of my mind, “Hey, what’s your name? Didn’t I ask you 

who you were?” 

“I’ve been thinking about that,” he responded, “and I can’t 

remember it.” 

I realized I was in the same dilemma. I couldn’t remember


my own name. 

“How strange. I can’t remember either. What the 

hell's going on here?” I echoed, frenzy rising anew. 

“Hey,” he said, catching my tone and stopping me 

before I went hysterical. “Relax. How important is a 

name in the grand scheme of things, anyways?” 

“How are you so at ease with any of this? It’s 

important- knowing these things is just... important.” 

People were supposed to have names and that was 

the way it was. 

We both stopped walking. I looked 

around, trying to find some indication 

of where we were. The surrounding 

country looked somewhat different. A 

measure of progress. 

“Fine,” I said, looking at the ground and spitting, “I’ll just 

call you Nobody.” 

So Nobody and I began down that dirt road that stretched 

ahead for as far as the eye could see, surrounded by a sea of 

rolling green hills, and without a single flower in sight. 

---------- 

He raised his head up from his desk. The smell of lavender 

was sweet, powerful and intoxicating. A slight pool of drool 

settled tranquilly on his exam, still incomplete. 

The walls were tan, the windows sparse. The clock was 

ticking above the whiteboard. Outside, he could hear birds 

chirping. He could see the sun shining. 

He took the jersey off his shoulders and set it on the corner 

of his desk. It had just been returned to him. He gave his 

characteristic half-smile to a girl tossing her golden-brown hair, 

shining like the thread of heaven in a ray of afternoon sun. 

The corner of the desk stood like the base of a monument. 

The jersey was white, with blue traces and a large print number 

‘12’ in the middle. It was the source of the aroma in this instance, 

but he could swear he had detected it a million times before, and 

those experiences were just out of the reach of his memory, as 

if they had transpired somewhere else, a long time ago. 

He brought his mind into painful focus, greatly resenting the 

task at hand. Still, he pushed through. Poetry, he imagined, 

would be more enjoyable if it weren’t followed by an essay for 

which he would probably receive low marks. Besides, he was 

preoccupied in a more aesthetic sense. 

---------- 

As we walked, dust gently rolled off the road like mist over a 

cold bay. In the distance, I spied the smallest little dot of black 

moving left to right and back again. Nobody, or I should say my 

companion, lacked the presence of mind to notice it. He was 

staring off elsewhere, straining his eyes to see further. 

Time passed as distance did and the tiny dot grew more 

descript. It was a kitten, entirely black. It was playing on the 

road, and batting at a speck of purple pastel. 

A flower. 

“Here, kitty, kitty,” I called, with honey in my voice, eyeing the 

flower as if I had never seen one before. 

I understood the fickle nature of cats, and I figured it'd be a 

long shot even if the thing had known me its entire life. But, after 

FicTiOn 

February 200717 

a miniscule belch, it came trotting toward me. 

I kneeled down and outstretched my hand. 

Nobody stopped as well, and surveyed the 

surrounding fields. He had not noticed the flower in 

the kitten’s mouth. 

It dropped the thing just out of my 

reach, and looked up at me. I started to inch 

forward, careful not to startle it… 

“What?” 

I fell backward. “Well, what do you want?” 

“Holy s---!” I back-pedaled on my elbows, 

feeling the road wreak havoc on them. 

Nobody looked over at me on the ground, and 

then to the kitten, and finally to the flower, which 

prompted a fire in his eyes. Without tact, he stepped 

forward. “That purple flower… where did you get 

it?” he demanded sternly. 

The kitten looked at Nobody. “What, this?” It 

batted at the flower with a fuzzy paw, knocking it into a caressing 

breeze. 

What followed was nothing short of incredible. As if touched 

by an invisible partner, the flower danced, and beautifully so. 

It turned in beat to a long forgotten melody that haunted the 

soul because the mind simply could not perceive its inherent 

magnificence. Round the ballroom that was the wind the petals 

swayed, adhering to no structure but that of being, and being 

something intricate and of a grace that never existed but now 

existed eternally. 

I couldn’t say if Nobody heard it – or felt it, as the case may 

be- as I did. I couldn’t even pry my greedy gaze from it to see if 

he was watching. The flower landed gently and unceremoniously 

in the dirt, and the little black kitten looked up, slightly confused. 

He offered, “You can have this.” 

“No, no, no,” Nobody said, raising one 

hand to rub his temple, “where did you get 

it?” 

It was as if I were the only sane creation 

on this plane of existence. I said incredulously, 

“The f------ thing is talking!” 

“Shut up!” they said in unison. Nobody followed 

up fiercely, clearly ready to carry the banner, 

“Well?” 

The kitten sat down, as if it were about to recite 

a long story. “It came to me on a breeze blowing 

from…” he pointed to his right, or our left, “…over 

there.” 

Immediately, Nobody seized the flower and 

looked in the indicated direction. He brought it to 

his nose and inhaled, and then outstretched it to me. 

After all, I was still on the ground. 

“Doesn’t it smell like…” 

“Lavender?” 

The kitten nodded in agreement, “I wonder where 

it came from?” 

I rounded on Nobody, “How are you ok with this? The thing 

'Flower Fields' continued on page 18.

18February 2007 The Flash 

FicTiOn 

"Flower Fields": cont. from page 17 

is talking! It’s more articulate we are! It’s a f------ cat!” 

He narrowed his eyes in reaction, “All I care about is the 

flower fields. I’m willing to overlook everything else. You need to 

relax and just let things be.” 

The kitten considered these words, traced me with its 

eyes, and then nodded again. “He’s right, you know. Master 

Sun said…” 

I shook my head and sighed in disbelief. This was getting 

ridiculous. I sighed. “You can read, too.” 

He replied affirmatively, “Indeed…” He then cautiously 

added, “and in its original language, what’s more.” Round eyes 

looked at me apologetically. 

“Where did you come from, then? I assume you are a… boy 

kitten?” 

He rolled his eyes and spoke with condensation- just enough 

to be charming and not offensive. “Yes, I’m a ‘boy kitten’.” He 

glanced over his shoulder, “And I came from that way, in the 

same sense,” he raised a paw toward us, “that you came from 

that way.” 

“Great, I’m in the middle of nowhere with Nobody and his 

pet.” 

“I have a name, you know,” the kitten interceded. “And I have 

never seen that man before in my life.” 

He turned away and began bathing himself disinterestedly. 

“Wait,” I sighed in defeat, “I’m sorry. What’s your name?” 

“I am Toshiba.” 

“Toshiba…?” He was still looking to the direction from which 

the breeze had carried the flower. 

---------- 

Half time in the locker room and number twelve’s heart was 

beating like a war drum. He could feel it thumping beneath his 

shoulder pads and white jersey. 

In a swirl of light, time faltered and now he was kneeling on 

the field, after the battle is hard fought and lost. Two knees were 

down, and the lights were shining on him. It was cold out, but 

he couldn’t feel it. He was praying under those lights and on that 

fifty-yard line, in a way truly unique to his character- somber, 

earnest and rare in occurrence. 

He felt a touch and was brought back to earth. Someone was 

hugging him. “Jeff, you’re fun,” spoken lightly and with giggles. 

“Thanks,” is all he could think to say. 

The smell of lavender was fading, and fading fast. He felt a 

sense of urgency, but he didn’t know what to do. 

In the end zone sat another player. He glanced over at him, 

situated under the goal post. 

“What it is, Mo?” 

“Ah wutsup. What it is, Ro?” he answered in routine. 

He smiled at his good friend, number four, his brother in 

arms. 

“I ain’t leavin’, man!” said Ro smiling without his usual 

swagger- there was sadness, a gravity to his expression.. 

“I know,” said Mo. After a moment, he said with pristine 

clarity. “Come on, RJ, its time to get going.” Deeper truth rang 

like a bell in the air between them, for only a moment. He pulled 

his brother up; they hugged and 

proceeded to walk to the middle of 

the field. 

“J-Mo!” From across the hash 

mark, another brother called. 

They met somewhere in 

the middle. Number thirty 

three. He had to bend 

down to hug this one, pads 

and all. 

“I can’t believe this is it,” 

number thirty three said. 

“I know, bro…” is all twelve would say. 

“Night train,” he says to number seven, standing quietly to his 

right, hugging him as well. “Brother, teammate, friend.” Silence. 

He walked to and hugged number six, his wounded brother, 

injured from a previous battle. The crutches he was standing on 

had absorbed the cold from the night.. There were no words 

spoken. Reality was present. Reality was a blur. 

“Hey man,” is all he could hear as he hugged one of his 

friends who had made her way from the stands. She was toting 

a number four jersey and an air of understanding. No soul would 

reiterate the gravity of what had just taken place. 

“It’s just the way it goes…” Composure came so easily, and 

he doubted whether or not anyone had registered him as offbalance, 

if only for a passing moment. 

He had to believe God would take care of his creatures; he 

had believed it for so long before, those hot summer practices 

when he felt his body could go no longer, but somehow it had, 

often due in part to a well placed breeze passing by. War paint 

was made to be smeared with sweat. 

Finally, the comrades are done. Few words were exchanged 

in passing with coaches. The field was empty, the lights were 

shining and he was alone. He made sure he would be the last 

one off, in the same way he made sure he was the last one to call 

out the post-battle team break. He recognized the significance 

of this little game called football and how it had moved him, and 

he knew that, at last, his time had come. He stared at that empty 

field for what seemed like eternity. The lights began to shut off. 

“J-Mo!” called number thirty three from behind the chain link 

fence that separated the stadium from the rest of the school. 

Number four, standing next to him in the darkness, said as 

well, “Come on Jeff,” while waving him on. 

He felt the essence of life was speaking through two people 

on the same journey. He would answer their call, and walk with 

them not only to the locker room, but to the next stage of being 

a man- life after varsity football. But first, he would turn around 

and watch for a moment, the haunting image forever burned into 

the lens of his mind’s eye; as the infamous game lights were 

shutting off for him one last time, the haunting silhouette of a 

stat girl appeared, running across the field toward the sidelines 

to retrieve her clipboard, a wild phantasm drifting through an 

ethereal plane. 

There was only the faintest trace of sweet lavender in the 

cold air now.


FeaTures 

February 2007 19 

From the tropics.... 

Mallory Valenzuela 

alexis Coopersmith 

Staff writer 

“I LOVE SUBURBIA!” 

Now, you wouldn’t expect 

this to come from Rocklin 

High School junior Asia 

Larkin. This vibrant 

and cultured teen 

from Hilo, Hawaii- 

a small town with 

an annual “Merrie 

Monarch” festival 

and people 

c e l e b r a t i n g 

ancient and 

m o d e r n 

h u l a 

Staff writer 

“I spent 14 completely 

beautiful years of my life 

there.” 

Kristine Tagorda is native 

born Hawaiian. She lived a 

laidback lifestyle full of snorkeling 

and hanging out on the 

beach for the majority of her 

life. Then she moved to Rocklin. 

Tagorda was born on the 

island of Maui, where most of 

her family still lives today. She 

had to move to Rocklin right 

before her freshman year of 

high school because her dad 

was offered a position in California. 

“I don’t really mind living 

here, but my sister and my 

performances-can say she 

likes Rocklin and Hilo equally. 

Asia moved to Rocklin in 

August of 2006. “I moved to 

Rocklin because my grandma 

is sick. It was also because of 

my parents’ business, and 

to be closer to family.” 

As a past resident 

of Hawaii, which 

many of us envision 

being “paradise,” Asia 

says she misses the 

Hawaiian sun and 

culture the most. 

“When I 

was back in 

Hawaii, I 

would go 

down to 

... to suburbia 

mom hate it. It is really different 

for my dad because 

he lived in Hawaii his whole 

life. We don’t really have any 

family here, so sometimes it’s 

hard. They’re really important 

to us and I miss them a lot,” 

said Tagorda. 

In Maui, Tagorda enjoyed 

most average Hawaiian activities. 

She was always at the 

beach and loved to snorkel. 

There are two malls on the island 

that people would meet 

up at every Friday and Saturday. 

“My best memory of Hawaii 

was when I went 

to the island Molokini. 

I went snorkeling 

and swam 

with turtles. I 

this river behind my school. It 

was just like a hobby of mine, 

since it was like a hangout 

spot. But tourists were dumb, 

since there was this one time 

a rescue helicopter came. 

Dumb tourists…” 

Adapting to suburban 

Rocklin has been a 

unique challenge for Asia, 

nonetheless. 

“There are a lot of white 

people here. There are like, 

only twenty white people back 

home, so it’s exactly opposite. 

So there’s a lack of diversity. 

And everyone thinks I’m 

Mexican!” 

“And the people in Rocklin 

are meaner. There are some 

wasn’t really scared but then I 

realized the ground was so far 

below me and I got really nervous. 

I just fainted right there 

in the water,” said Tagorda 

Moving from Hawaii to 

California has been a major 

c h a n g e for Tagorda. 

“ H a - 

w a i i 

is so 

really mean ones…” 

Oddly enough, Asia is 

also afraid of the ocean. Yes, 

a past Hawaiian resident, 

afraid of the ocean. However, 

there may be logic behind this 

fear-perhaps she has a fear of 

drowning and dying-but Asia 

explains… 

“So many people are 

stung by JELLYFISH!” 

Despite this being her first 

year at Rocklin High School, 

Asia comes to school with 

an enthusiastic attitude. With 

her past behind her and her 

Hawaiian spirit guiding her, 

she looks forward to this new 

beginning. 

laidback. The environment 

and lifestyles are so different 

from California. School is a 

major change too. The education 

level here is so much 

more advanced. I like it though 

because living in Maui limits 

your chance of getting into a 

good college,” said Tagorda. 

After two years of living in 

California, Tagorda is finally 

getting used to the Cali lifestyle. 

Although she misses 

her home, she does not plan 

on ever moving back to Hawaii. 

Tagorda said, “It would 

be great to move back, but I 

doubt I ever will. I like California; 

I just really miss 

the weather!”

20 

Kyle Myers 

February 2007 

Entertainment 

Among the greatest questions 

posed by the prospect of a Valentine’s 

date is not where to go, or who with. No, 

the true question is what music truly 

sets the Valentine’s Day mood. Spinning 

something by Slayer or Too Short, 

though stylish, often spoils the romantic 

ambience of the situation. 

So what songs are tailored for 

the romantic Valentines setting? All 

depends upon your date’s preference. Is 

your date more partial to When a Man 

Loves a Woman by Michael Bolton, or 

Lets get it On by Marvin Gaye? 

Lying is the Most Fun a Girl can Have 

Interested? Visit http:// 

www.findgift.com/holidays/Valentines-Day/broken-and-bitter/ 

for gifts for 

your friends! 

if you're interested 

FeaTures 

Valentine's music: Is love in the air? 

Without Taking her Clothes Off by Panic at 

the Disco, Suggested by Jessica Miller 

The Pokemon Theme Song, suggested by 

John Pal 

Knights in White Satin by Moody Blues, 

suggested by Jason Lester 

Low by Cracker, suggested by Wayne Inger 

Rock You Like a Hurricane by The Scorpions, 

suggested by Ian Adell 

Razor Blade Romance by Him, suggested by 

Cassy Bradburn 

Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy by Queen, 

suggested by Alex Giddings 

Smack That by Akon, suggested by Mrs. 

Ramos 

Baby It’s Cold Outside by Leon Redbones, 

suggested by Mr. Grace 

Tango de Roxanne of the Moulin Rouge 

How do you choose to spend V-day? 

Lexie Gibbs 

If you look at any Opinion basic Editor calendar, it 

seems that there is a holiday for almost 

anyone. There is Mother’s Day, Father’s 

Day, and there is even a Grandparent’s 

Day (yep, that’s right), and, let’s face it, 

every other day of the 

year is teenager day. 

Then, every year after 

the holiday season, 

there is that one day of 

the year that can make 

your heart melt, or it can 

make you cringe. 

Valentine’s Day can 

be considered the most 

romantic day of the year. With the steady 

flow of flowers, chocolates, and stuffed 

bears with hearts on them, what’s not to 

love? That is, of course, unless you don’t 

have a love to share it with. Over the 

years, V-Day has become the epitome 

of a Hallmark holiday, and has also been 

branded as “Single Awareness Day” by 

those who do not have a Valentine. 

The gift exchange is to support 

the name of St. Valentine, and showing 

affection for a loved one. Hallmark also 

offers hundreds of Valentine’s Day cards 

to give out. But if one does not have a 

significant other to swap presents with, 

the holiday is a total bust. Since there is 

a holiday that celebrates couples, what 

about the people who choose to remain 

available, or those who 

have recently broken up? 

For those who are 

against the entire day, 

there is optimism that 

comes with those feelings. 

There are certain websites 

that offer gift ideas to 

distribute to those who 

have recently broken up. 

They offer “creative gift ideas for the 

broken and bitter” (FindGift.com). Ideas 

include almost everything from a “manbashing” 

punching bag to a “You Go Girl” 

encouragement bracelet. 

Avoiding Valentine’s Day is almost 

inevitable, but why not support the name 

of St. Valentine and try to enjoy yourself? 

With the gift ideas for girls, do a mini gift 

exchange between friends, go out, and 

take lots of pictures. Who knows? This 

could be the best Valentine’s Day ever. 

The Flash 

soundtrack, suggested by E. Hines 

You Got it Bad by Usher, suggested by 

Terrance Thomas 

Tainted Love by Soft Cell, suggested by John 

Felner 

Suffice it to say that playing some 

of the suggestions have the potential to 

make your date’s day, or to inspire his or 

her wrath. Keep in mind the mood you 

want to set along with the personality of 

your date and you should do well. And 

unless you have a six pack, playing “I’m 

Too Sexy” may be a poor idea 

RHS Students give their 

feelings on Valentine's 

Julie ruocco 

Staff Writer 

What is your favorite part of Valentines Day? 

“Love is in the air,” Cameron Brown, 12 

“The Hearts-a-Fire dance,” Brittany Lewis, 10 

What is your least favorite part? 

“Not having a boyfriend,” Andra Stetson, 11 

“Not being in a relationship and being able to 

share the holiday, Tanya Sukkari, 9. 

What is the best gift you have gotten/given? 

“My favorite gift was three silver rings that 

were given to me by my boyfriend,” Tanya 

Sukkari, 9 

What would be your perfect Valentine’ date? 

“A trip to Disneyland!” Andra Stetson, 11 

“Dinner and a movie,” Cameron Brown, 12 

If you don’t have a valentine how do you 

celebrate the holiday? 

“With my friends or family,” Hedi Siler, 9 

“Sit at home and watch movies with friends,” 

Brittany Lewis, 10


Mallory Valenzuela 

Staff writer 

FeaTures 

Students building up anticipation for 

Megan Cardona 

Staff writer 

This is the time of the year that should 

be known as “The most wonderful time of 

the year”. Well, maybe not for all of us. 

Others may see this time of the school 

year as nerve-racking, maybe even 

nauseating. Yes, Hearts-a-Fire is around 

the corner and everyone is gearing up for 

this special evening. What many students 

are awaiting is one of the biggest aspects 

of this dance, a date. 

Girls asking guys to the Hearts-A-Fire 

2007 dance seems out of the question. 

“I don’t really have a plan for Hearts-a- 

Fire just yet. I would like to be asked in 

a somewhat romantic way. I don’t think I 

would want to be the one asking though.” 

Sophomore Stephanie Fitzugh explains. 

Every Hearts-a-Fire dance is planned 

around couples, and romantic, formal 

evenings. Of course, single students 

November 2006 

Live performance scheduled for Hearts-a-Fire 

With the next semi-formal 

dance, “Thoughts of Loving 

You” Hearts-A-Fire 2007 on 

Feb. 10, sophomore class officers 

and the Activities Committee 

in ASB have been in full 

force planning for this event. 

There has been a brand-new 

addition to this dance and it 

is, beyond doubt, bringing the 

aspect of a “live performance” 

many have been anticipating 

for quite some time. 

With no precedence and 

making Rocklin High School 

history, sophomores Jeremy 

Crooks and Josh Ramos, 

and seniors Angelo Maniego 

and Michael Felias have been 

chosen to perform the theme 

song “Weak” by SWV. Pressure 

has been put on all four 

to make this performance a 

success, as this will not only 

be the last slow song, but also 

the final song of the night. 

might feel a little out of 

place at this dance. “I don’t 

know if I want to go to the 

dance without a date, that 

might be a little awkward.” 

Amanda Bruns says. 

On the other hand, 

some singles don’t let the 

theme of this dance ruin 

“[The song] is about someone 

that you love, like you get 

weak in the knees and you 

get shy,” says Maniego. 

Felias adds, “Yeah, [it’s like 

suddenly] you’re shy, so in order 

to get in the mood while 

practicing, we tried thinking 

of our dream girl. But we 

were like, forget this! WE’RE 

ALL SINGLE! WE ALL NEED 

DATES!” 

Practicing day and night to 

master “Weak” has been on 

Maniego’s mind for weeks. 

Preparation has been of 

paramount importance to the 

group’s success.“I’ve been 

listening to the song over and 

over, and I sing in the shower 

all the time,” says Maniego. 

“I’ve gone to all our practices, 

and we’ve been practicing 

everyday since we’ve 

been told, just to beat it in. 

And it’s important to listen to 

60% of 

students 

unsure of 

plans 

25% have 

a date 

their fun. “I don’t see why people don’t go 

just because they don’t have a date. They 

lose out on their high school memories 

that they will never get back,” Junior 

Austin Rocha expresses. 

People planning the dance, and their 

personal plans, have the most stress. 

“Thoughts of Loving You,” is the theme 

of this 2007 Hearts-a-Fire dance. The 

color schemes for the dance are ivory 

and purple, which is supposed to have 

5% 

no 

Hearts 

21 

the feeling of midnight. Pinks and 

reds are just too predictable for 

this dance. The song of the dance 

will be “Weak,” by SWV. 

“Planning the dance is 

definitely more stressful than 

making plans for my personal 

agenda.” Junior Marissa Graves, 

who helps plan details of the 

dance, said. 

The backdrop for the pictures will 

be a beautiful secret garden. There will 

be a water fountain filled with flowers 

floating on top of the water. Some other 

decorations students will see in their 

picture background are step stones, a 

bench, trees, and a gate. The lobby will 

be dolled up with candles and flowers, 

giving the atmosphere a very romantic 

and calm feel. T 

10% in 

groups 

date 

A Fire 

each other. Half of singing is a bass. I want to see every- 

really being able to underone’s reaction, and if we’re 

stand, because anyone can good, have that impact.” 

sing. So the other half is [be- Maniego adds, “It’s a way 

ing] really able to express it,” for me to show my Filipino 

Felias says. 

pride! To end senior year with 

The group has faced chal- my mark, like, Angelo was 

lenges and struggled at times. here! It’s more for tradition 

Nonetheless, they have been though, and since it’s never 

able to pull through.“We didn’t been done in Rocklin High 

have any sheet music, so School history.” 

we had to sing and hear the With the dance not far 

song only by ear. It was sort away, Maniego and Felias 

of short notice, and we had hold their heads up high. As 

problems with harmonizing an opportunity to showcase 

and the tempo,” says Felias. their talent, they hope to en- 

Despite the pressure and courage others who can sing 

work being put on the group’s to continue on with this new 

shoulders, Maniego and Fe- tradition. 

lias both feel that performing Maniego says, “I don’t 

at Hearts-A-Fire was not just have any regrets [by agree- 

10% 

about being asked to sing, ing to sing]. Man, it was fun 

but to leave a lasting impres- and cool.” 

sion as seniors. 

Felias agrees. “No regrets. 

Felias says, “I did it to sing, That’s kind of how I live my 

it’s what I do. And they needed life, with no regrets."

22November 2006 rhs_flash@yahoo.com 

Features 

Anticipating success for the Winter Musical 

Megan Taaffe 

Staff writer 

“It’s got a bit of romance, big jazzy 

numbers, big show stopping songs, and 

interesting characters!” 

That’s right, if you haven’t guessed 

by the description given by sophomore 

Kate Rose, she was talking about the 

upcoming RHS musical “42 nd street”. 

“It’s about a bunch of performers 

on Broadway, and a new starlet comes 

about named Peggy,” said Rose. “There 

is usually practice almost everyday after 

school until five, although sometimes it 

depends on what your part is. I’m looking 

forward to being in musicals next year 

when I will be a junior because they 

always pick good musicals.” 

Seniors Ari Frink and Richie Ferris, 

who share the part of Julian, are looking 

forward to their last musical. 

“We both play the same part as 

director of the play within the play. We are 

It’s a day most seniors 

dream of. The day where they 

can stand on stage in front of 

all their family and peers and 

hear their name announced 

over the loud speaker. The day 

they smile for the cameras, 

and show off the tiny piece 

of paper that sums up their 

whole high school existence. 

Their graduation day. 

Most seniors count down 

the days until they get to 

walk the stage. However, the 

countdown for two seniors 

from the class of 2007 is 

noticeably shorter due to 

their decision to graduate 

at semester. Both Elizabeth 

Barraco and Chad Fautt made 

the decision to move on from 

high school at the semester 

Sophomore Joe Lopez and Senior Ari Frink 

practicing their lines. 

Photo by Caitlin Perkins 

excited to be the lead, but it’s also kinda 

depressing. It’s exciting because we get 

to leave our mark as seniors,” said both 

Ferris and Frink 

“Basses are best. Sopranos suck. I 

love alliterations!” adds Frink. 

Seniors leaving is always hard, 

and pursue other goals. 

According to Mrs. Cindy 

Cutts, the head career 

technician, graduating early 

usually implies the students 

know where they are heading. 

“Usually the students 

graduating early have specific 

goals and they are eager to 

move on and get started with 

there lives.” 

The choice to graduate 

early is different for each 

student. For Barraco it was 

just time to move on. “I want to 

move out into my Dad’s house 

and I want to get my life kick 

started. I figured it was just 

time for me to move on and 

getting on with life is the next 

step.” 

While graduating early 

can be a great way for kids 

to get a jump start on their 

future, it also should not be 

taken lightly. There are some 

dangers which some students 

tend to overlook. 

“In making the decision 

to graduate early students 

should be sure to talk to the 

transfer counselors at different 

colleges and make sure they 

are still eligible to apply.” Cutts 

warned. “Some students go to 

Sierra for spring semester and 

expect to go to college that 

next fall, only to realize the 

colleges won’t accept them 

without sixty credits at Sierra 

which you can’t achieve in just 

one semester.” 

However, Barraco is 

convinced that graduating 

especially for their teachers. 

“The musical is going really well. It 

gets emotional because you get attached, 

especially to the students I’ve had for four 

years. I get to a point in the year where 

it’s like, oh no, slow down!” said theater 

teacher Cinny Toepke. 

“As the actors grow up they become 

more self confident, and as their self 

confidence grows, they can take risks, 

become more silly, and just cut loose. 

They also for the most part become 

more open minded, which leads to better 

actors. They’re not just in a balloon of a 

world. Overall, I really love the energy in 

this musical. Slow doesn’t even exist in 

this show, which I think the audience will 

love,” said Toepke. 

Silliness, constant excitement, jazzy 

numbers, interesting characters, and 

romance… this musical sounds like one 

Two seniors graduate at semester 

Joanna Graves 

Staff writer 

early is the best decision she 

could make for herself. “You 

know when there is nothing 

left for you to conquer. That’s 

when you know it’s time to 

move forward.” 

For most seniors the last 

semester of high school is 

the greatest. The one in which 

the most memories are made, 

and the least school work is 

accomplished. It’s the time 

of reflection and fun. Most 

seniors wouldn’t trade it for 

the world, but Barraco feels 

she won’t be missing out. “I’ll 

be coming back for Senior 

Ball and all the activities. I 

just needed to get out of here 

early. It was just something I 

knew I needed to do.”

November 2006 rhs_flash@yahoo.com 23 

Features 

Senior preparing to gradutate from ILS 

Alexis Coopersmith 

Staff writer 

Taren sits sipping on hot 

chocolate as she thinks hard 

about the question. She looks 

around the room as if to find 

the answer. 

“I think Pam is my 

favorite teacher. I like her… 

sometimes,” Taren jokes. “She 

is my favorite and I love her.” 

“Do I smell pretty?’ wonders 

Pam Wentz. 

“Only in the mornings.” 

“Am I your favorite because 

I buy you things?” 

“Yep.” 

“Ha! I never buy you 

anything! You’re lying.” 

“Not true. You buy me 

Starbucks.” 

Taren Beamer is a senior at 

Rocklin High School. She is the 

average high school student 

that likes music, movies, 

football, and dance. Beamer 

does not let the fact that she 

has Down’s Syndrome get in 

the way of being a regular, 

independent senior at RHS. 

Beamer has been involved 

in the Independent Living Skills 

program all through her high 

school career. ILS is a program 

designed to fit student’s 

certain or special needs and 

focuses on teaching important 

life skills. Each student has 

an individual education 

plan with specific goals 

determined by the parents, 

general and special education 

teachers, the student, and the 

administration. All students are 

taught math, science, English, 

and social studies, as well as 

Community Based Instruction, 

cooking, pre-vocational skills, 

and social skills. 

“As a senior, Taren is more 

independent than many other 

ILS students. She is capable 

Photo by Amanda Palm 

of taking electives without ILS 

staff support,” said Wentz, 

Rocklin ILS teacher for four 

years. 

Beamer is also involved in a 

summer program called Camp 

Lotsafun. She spends her 

summers there doing various 

activities such as taking guitar 

and singing lessons. 

“I really like going to Camp 

Lotsafun. There is a water 

park; we watch movies, 

sing camp songs, and roast 

marshmallows,” said Beamer. 

Beamer has many hobbies 

that keep her busy outside 

of school. She plays on the 

computer, goes to basketball 

games and all football games. 

She has been in the RHS dance 

program since her sophomore 

year and takes part in the 

dance show every year. She 

loves Lindsay Lohan, going to 

the mall, and designing clothes 

and jewelry. Her family often 

goes boating and waterskiing. 

Beamer also 

loves dances, 

e s p e c i a l l y 

Sadie’s and 

Hearts-a-Fire, 

and plans 

on attending 

Senior Ball this 

year. 

“The ILS 

teachers try to 

attend many 

major functions 

with our 

students, like 

football games, 

dances, plays, 

etc. It helps 

gives our 

students an 

o p p o r t u n i t y 

to have all 

the high school experiences 

everyone else enjoys,” said 

Wentz 

She has two brothers, 

both of which graduated 

from Rocklin High. Brandon 

Beamer was ASB president 

in 2001, and both brothers 

have gone off to prestigious 

colleges. Her father also used 

to be the voice announcer for 

all RHS football games. 

Beamer also spends a lot 

of time at work. She has a job 

at Best Buy, where she does 

much of the organization and 

she helped people pick out 

Christmas gifts. Her dad also 

works there. She wants to 

soon work at a bookstore. 

“Taren having a job is part 

of the work ability program. 

It is like the ROP program, 

in that it pays to get a job 

somewhere such as the Dollar 

Tree or Ross,” said Wentz. 

After high school Beamer 

plans on moving out and living 

in her own apartment. She 

looks forward to it because of 

her independent nature. She 

will also be attending Sierra 

College to study history. 

At Sierra College, there is 

a continuation of the ILS 

program that Beamer will be 

taking. They continue to teach 

functional academics as well 

as vocational skills that greatly 

promote independence. 

In addition to a campus 

classroom, the Sierra College 

program has an apartment 

they have turned into a 

classroom so the students 

can learn life skills in a natural 

setting. 

“Soon I will be going to 

college and living alone. I am 

very nervous and afraid, but I 

don’t care because I want to 

be alone,” said Beamer. 

Beamer believes that the 

most important thing to know 

to get through high school is to 

always be honest and friendly 

to everyone. 

“I don’t really like freshman, 

but I would still like to help 

them find good classes. And 

make new friends. They can’t 

be shy,” said Beamer. 

Wentz said it best when 

explaining how everyone 

should get to know her 

students and embrace the 

diversity of the RHS campus. 

“ILS students are just like 

everyone else. They may 

learn differently, but they have 

dreams and desires that are 

very similar to all other RHS 

students. Take the opportunity 

to get to know them and see 

for yourself.” 

Because, in the words 

of Taren Beamer, “I’m a 

superstar!”


the Flash 

Fortunately, its so NOT 

the end of the world... 

Let’s face it, embarrassing moments are unavoidable. And there’s nothing we can do about it. It is easy for 

amber Diller 

me to remember my most awkward moment. I was doing my cheer routine at the Homecoming Rally in front 

of the entire school, and I stood up a couple of counts too early. This may not seem like a big deal, but when 

the whole cheer squad was squatted down, and I stood up smiling, I wanted the gym floor to open up and 

swallow me. I felt like everyone was laughing, and yet if I stopped dancing to wallow in my misery, it would have 

made things even worse. At least I know that I’m not the only one at Rocklin High who has these moments. 

“I was cheering 

at a basketball 

game and Mikey 

Van Horne landed 

between my legs. 

I was in my skirt!” 

–Kelsey Smith. 

“I was at a choir 

concert and as 

I was walking, 

I tripped over 

a microphone 

wire and all of 

them fell down!” 

-Rosie Perrot. 

“I was in geography 

and somebody 

told me that 

my underwear 

was showing. I 

thought it was 

just my tights, 

and when I lifted 

my shirt to show 

them, my underwear 

WAS totally 

hanging out and 

everybody saw.” 

–Sarah Stinchfield. 

Staff writer 

“I was walking onto campus 

and security stopped me. Norm 

thought that I was a student.” 

-Sra. Sellers. 

“I was looking at my cell phone and not 

paying attention to where I was going. I 

ran into a pole and dropped my phone.” 

–Amanda Kettenhofen. 

“I was sitting on the 

edge of a lunch table 

bench. It closed up 

and I fell on my face 

on the ground. I was 

wearing a short skirt 

and couldn’t figure 

out how to get back 

up.” –Alyssa Benny. 

“I was sitting in 

class and one 

of the ceiling 

tiles fell out and 

hit me on the 

head!” -Emmy 

Timpano 

“When I was just a 

young buck I bought 

some shorts that were 

kind of too big. I was 

walking around school 

and they just, you 

know, fell. Everybody 

saw.” –Zack Moss. 

“I had to go pee really bad, so I ran 

into the bathroom and went. When 

I walked out of the stall there were 

two girls staring at me, and I realized 

I was in the girls’!” –Tyler Garrison. 

“While I was running down the track in the rain 

by the football players, I slipped and my sweats 

ripped.” -Whitley Locks.


Student Spotlight 

...brought to you by ASB 

The Flash 

February 2007 

25


the Flash 

PostSecret 

a look at the lives of Rocklin High students 

^ 

SECRET


The Flash 

Lauren Coiner 

Design Editor 

February 2007 

27 

Updated every Sunday, www.postsecret.com is an amusing way to pass the 

time on a Sunday night when you really should be doing your homework. We 

like to think my version is equally enticing. Whether you spend the class period 

in chemistry daydreaming about what your secret is (or who), or whispering dur- 

ing that horrendously boring movie in English about who, exactly, you believe 

thinks Mr.. Sturgeon is, um, good-looking. We take delight in the fact that my 

page just might give you a reason to giggle for 5 or 10 minutes during the 7 

hour school day. Without you, however, postsecret cannot exist. As 14-18 year 

olds, we all have secrets. It's time Rocklin High knew about them. So drop into 

M-5, grab a slip, and share away. Don’t put your name anywhere on it, we want 

these to remain completely anonymous. If they’re clearly obscene or untrue, 

I wont use them. So keep ‘em clean, keep ‘em juicy, and keep ‘em coming. 

Just drop the completed slips in my box in M-5. Can’t wait to hear the truth!

F 

N& U 

GAMES 

SUDOKU 

The object is 

to insert the 

numbers in 

the boxes to 

satisfy only one 

condition: each 

row, column and 

3x3 box must 

contain the digits 

1 through 9 

exactly once. 

s c u a v s a m l d h d g y k i x m p s f n t k s g c c q v 

n e m w l f g h b q g i x v w n v r p s f u a n u i x r c g 

p f i x w r l b j w j h l v a f t o v i j i c c p f w l n o 

o t j l c d f q q n h c p l y k u o d q r o r u h o e c d e 

h b i p z v l r s w v c t p m b i o b q i s h x n j a w p p 

d l f m x z e a n k k q s u o a k v p z t f h t k q a n n j 

v m m d b c i u y n b h v w c z n q f f o m b o a r s c f e 

i f i p a e d r y a e z o r a m i c x n k v n z j q b p k u 

q f t l b d r z g v s t t r z z x k n j q i f a f g b x e q 

e x p n n n h w p v f t w n b o u b p p y k w k r i e r e x 

w a v k n u s i o f p t y k f n e q c k g i l t s u l n r f 

b u v c n g y l u l v e c z u b m y d v c n s f u w i k c g 

n k d l s k j e v v v e l l i v e s o r o g h f m l p s d t 

p g a e i h n h p c u e u o a o x u s a v s n b k q w e o b 

z y q v t b o q x w k i s f b u n w k u u g r c m r a i o v 

x u a c h j g o m f y k q b r o k m i j d c o k b u e d w z 

q y b x e m d t p w n h e p x k o g k q g r c a q y e o z i 

t u n c p c p d y e k y w i h n s u z g g e h c g o f l b v 

s p c i u p q f v o m p b w t x u n m b k f l l m q r s i j 

x e x d x n q m t w m i n e r s m e u l y t m a r m w l y m 

t m l f y w u g a a h f y y q w b v x f a h h z k b i b s g 

y p b g u a a b b j t t m r a p o a h e k i h f j h a j r z 

u x w i a h c j t n a a s a p j u d x b b z w u b j n a s d 

y t o i o e q r w m k s y l t s z a o r o l e d o b n e p z 

z a o t h u n d e r x r c g k y r u w t m m t l x i k u b f 

c h e d x f k t n g y e n j p k p n t a b m a v t a s f o a 

e s q h e j d t d p f g h l c l l i o m q i d e i n s y k i 

m h h x h n a q i z g i i o w i i o b v y d b v g x z k k b 

w e f p q t w q q p c t y f x i v n t t m a q z m n c e j s 

d c l a y x s l d f n b i r e a x t w w y b j s d a o i e o 

SFL Rivals 

Rocklin 

Thunder 

DelOro 

Eagles 

Roseville 

Tigers 

GraniteBay 

Grizzlies 

Woodcreek 

Timberwolves 

NevadaUnion 

Miners 

Oakmont 

Vikings 

Sports Photography

ROCKLIN VS. DEL ORO - My High School Journalism

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