Meow Wolf’s third location is in Denver, and you should find time to visit.
By Rachel Webster
Opening the third location in the country on September 17, 2021, Meow Wolf is a unique art excursion for everyone. After booking tickets in advance, you arrive at the oddly shaped 90,000 square-foot building located smack-dab in the middle of highway ramps.
Senior, Ewan Gregory, who visited Meow Wolf on opening week, said about his experience: “This exhibit is really unique from its other locations in Santa Fe and Las Vegas. I imagine the strange location wedged between the highway intersection will be a considered a Denver landmark in the years to come.”
Outside, you go through security–which takes a max of ten minutes–and through the doors of art. For only three dollars, you can add on to your experience and buy a card, which takes you through the storyline of the artistry. Once you are ready, you go up an elevator and into an alien dimension. You can see rooms upon rooms full of artistry that must’ve taken years to develop. If you purchased the card, you can stop at devices that give you gems that you collect throughout your experience.
“The exhibit itself is sensory overload. With three completely different environments and hundreds of different art mediums and styles, it will take more than one visit to wrap my head around all that was there,” Gregory (12) states. “One second you’re looking at dioramas in repurposed speakers, the next you’re looking at a full forest full of psychedelic creatures and incredible lights and colors.”
One of the worlds inside Meow Wolf Denver.
You can spend any amount of time you want within the excursion up until they close for the day. Colorado residents only have to pay $35 in order to experience nothing like you’ve ever seen before. Already going once, Gregory comments, “I would definitely recommend checking it out. There’s only three locations in the world, and Denver is lucky enough to be one of them.”
You can stop your excursion anytime and return back to our world. When you’re in our world, you can get food and drinks and return to your excursion anytime. Many people consider this to be an immersive and transformative experience. “It ‘s a great place to appreciate local art and get lost in strange new worlds,” Gregory adds.
If you are interested in exploring this unique art excursion, their hours are 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday, and 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. You can visit their website at https://meowwolf.com/visit/denver for more information and to reserve your tickets.
An exploration of some of Legend’s bands including Homeland and Undissassembled.
By Josh Ilano
“Let there be sound.” There was sound. “Let there be light.” There was light. “Let there be drums.” There was drums. “Let there be guitar.” There was guitar. “Oh, let there be rock!”
“Let There Be Rock” by AC/DC
Music is the lifeblood of Legend. Whether it be the rhythmic b-a-n-a-n-a-s chanted at football games, the orchestra brushing sweet melodies at our concerts, or our vivacious home-grown bands.
Every high school has their cover band, but it takes true artistry to make something great. It has never been easier to play around with Garageband presets on an iPhone, look up a Youtube tutorial, and begin a musical pilgrimage. This democratization of sound has ushered in an era of music like no other. We’re seeing Frank Ocean influence Ska and glockenspiels appear in Midwestern Emo. Colorado (especially the Denver-Metro area) has always been blessed with bold independent bands like Khemmis or The Sickly Hecks and venues like The Bluebird or The Gothic. A sentiment that has explicitly permeated into Legend, which has fostered a tribe of exceptional voices in the DIY-music-space, spearheaded by the bands Homeland and Undissassembled.
Homeland is a math-rock band started by Brendan Herrod (class of 2020) on bass, Benji Bennick (class of 2020) on lead guitar, current senior Evan Brinkerhoff on rhythm and vocals, and Noah Sondrol on drums.
In recent memory, Homeland flexes their music theory skills in their latest single, “Better Off” (available on Spotify & Apple Music) with a 6/4 time signature and unpredictable baseline. “Better Off”is a valiant debut— an upbeat breakup song in the same vein as Haiti’s Kaiyote with a tinge of Joy Again. Brinkerhoff’s buttery timbre lifts the song to an almost ethereal state, intersected by Benji Benick’s soaring guitar solos. Homeland has a tone, style, and presence that is simply unparalleled.
Here’s what frontman Evan Brinkerhoff had to say on the DIY-music scene: “Parker has an unusual amount of really good musicians. It has WAY more mediocre musicians, but the chunk that are actually really good that all come from Parker is honestly astonishing. So it’s important to highlight these standout talents and promote the art they make”
Parker has an unusual amount of really good musicians. It has WAY more mediocre musicians, but the chunk that are actually really good that all come from Parker is honestly astonishing. So it’s important to highlight these standout talents and promote the art they make
Evan Brinkerhoff (12)
Music and the arts lend themselves to students who may fall through the cracks. To the students who aren’t coming here to dissect rats or do long division. So, as Parkernites it’s our responsibility to support these kids and their endeavors.
On the other side of the spectrum, Undissassembled (commonly shortened to the moniker Undies), is a punk band with just as much moxie as volume. Undies feels like taking time back to the 2007 culture of trading cassettes and myspace band pages. They’ve created a chilling zeitgeist with their bombastic sound, exemplified in their showmanship. Drummer Eddie Eaton (12) describes their sound as “Pure, energetic Punk Rock.” However, most importantly, they are genuine. Punk is not an aesthetic, it’s a statement; and Undies remind me what music, specifically live music, is supposed to be–fun.
Undissassembled performing at Railbender Skate Park on September 11th, 2021
The DIY and independent music scene is a force to be reckoned with. Gen Z has been enveloped into the rapid “whiz-bang-pop” lacquer of the current music industry. Our generation is so obsessed with the “now-now-now” that we seldom apply ourselves. So as a Zoomer, it is refreshing to see bands like Undissassembled and Homeland tearing down the status quo in Parker and redefining local music. Rhythm guitarist for The Ghoulies and Legend English teacher, Mr. Yergert, put it perfectly: “Building a scene is really important to keep music going. The music is not really the scene, the people are, and if no one is going to shows, it all dies. There are no national acts without local acts.”
Here’s a curated playlist of Denver-Metro Bands you should check out:
With the end of fall near, the girls’ swim team is nothing less than excited for the upcoming winter swim season. Starting up at the beginning of November and going through to February, a new season is upon us. As stated by Cassidy Knox (10), “I am excited to be back into the season with the girls. Also, for the season to be longer and bond with the new freshman.” Although the excitement is through the roof for the girls, there are some nerves through it as well. Knox adds, “I hope there’s no covid outbreak, as it will shorten our season, and I don’t want that again.”
This season’s competition is intense, with the top goal being to beat Legend’s main rival, the Chaparral Wolverines. Another member of the 2020-2021 girl’s swim and dive team, Mary Kozleski (10), provided some insight into her role. Kozleski’s swim events on the team are long-distance freestyle and sprint butterfly. Her responses revealed a common theme highlighting the girls’ swim team’s culture and companionship toward one another: “I am excited for the meets and the energy that is given during the events. I’m also looking forward to working harder and improving with the rest of the girls.”
Just as Knox said, the team is super positive and creates a safe space for everyone involved. “I’m a little nervous about making my best times and putting all of my efforts into the season,” she said, referencing her worries. She further explained how being on the team makes her feel and stated, “I love being on the team because of all the energy and support they give. All of the girls have an amazing personality!”
The 2020-2021 Swim Teams’ Pink Out Meet
A favorite meet for the girls is the Pink Out, where they dress in all pink to show support for breast cancer. They wear pink shirts and caps as part of their support. You can support them at a few of their fundraisers this year, including the team car wash and attend their meets. They have a varsity/JV scrimmage on Saturday, 11/20 @ 9 a.m. at Cherokee Trail High School. Based on the interviews, it’s safe to say that the swim team is a shining light of positivity spreading community throughout the school! Come out and support them this season.
Information about Legend High School’s newly formed Medical Club.
By Cassidy Knox
In a world seemingly full of selfishness, it is a breath of fresh air to see people devoting their time to making real change. That is what Legend High School’s recently established Medical Club is trying to accomplish. This club recognizes that anywhere from 8,000 to 10,000 people die waiting for an organ transplant each year, and 90% of adults support organ transplants but only 45% are registered organ donors (UNOS). Working with Lumincare Hospice and Project Angel Heart, president Nandhana Vivek heads the club that meets every Thursday after school from 3:15-4:15 in mobile 7.
The Medical Club is still accepting members. If you join, you can stay connected with club events using the Remind app. When joining the club, all members get a chance to become a UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) Ambassador, which gives young people a chance to advocate for becoming organ donors. Each meeting usually consists of crafting food bags and birthday cards for the residents of Lumincare Hospice. Club meetings are also spent learning about UNOS and barriers for organ transplants.
When asked about her motives for founding this club, Vivek stated, “Hearing about everyone’s experiences [with organ transplantation], is so eye-opening,” and she believes that “if we can make somebody else’s life better, then it’s a big deal.” She also hopes to get as many people involved with Medical Club as possible, as it will help in creating the greatest difference in the world. Vivek would like all Legend students to know that “If [you] join, you will be able to get service hours while also doing something to make somebody else’s life better.”
Vivek hopes to acquire more members to become organ donors to “potentially save a life” and help Project Angel Heart and Lumincare Hospice better the lives of people who are affected by life-threatening illnesses. Legend’s Medical Club is truly providing a helping hand to those in need—making the world a kinder and safer place.
Who: Any Legend student What: Medical Club Where: Mobile 7 When: Thursdays @ 3:15-4:15 pm
Every day, colleges around the nation flood household mailboxes with letters, pamphlets, booklets, and posters. Each college claims to have the most beautiful community, the most helpful professors, and the most friendly students. AM I WRONG? NO! Do you want to hear the cold, hard truth? Colleges are dirty, rotten liars, and they want your money. Your 2.5 GPA probably doesn’t warrant that letter from Harvard, but they’ll send it anyway. Chances are, you will not get accepted, so what do you do with the leftover mail?
Tinder? I Hardly Know Her!
Boy Scout? No need. Learn to start a fire. When you are in the forest and in need of a flame, the wood and tinder may be too damp to use as a firestarter. College mail is easily accessible and extremely dry. Let’s burn it!
Piñata Time
As a high schooler, it’s not unusual to have anger issues. The tedious process of filling out college applications is difficult for even the best of us. Begin with a fun crafty activity. Using paper and a simple water-flour mixture you can create a statue in literally any shape–and I mean any shape. The options are endless. Then, using a baseball bat, or something of that variety, you can destroy said statue. This provides quick relief and comes highly recommended by every therapist ever–trust us, we asked! To be clear, it is very good for the soul.
Practice Your Origami Skills
There are many different cranes, rings, and other origami crafts you can create with your newfound paper supply. Try making a paper crown for the queen that you are. You will feel invigorated. Life will become better. Cool paper.
Make some epic paper airplanes
Let your imagination take flight with this super fun craft. Nothing relieves stress like having a little fun. And even better than that, you can include the whole family. Have fun together and bond with them before you tragically leave for college. The colorful, thick paper will look far better than typical white paper once it’s all shaped up. It may be too heavy to fly properly, but it will bring everyone together and provide much needed stress relief.
Compost material
Plain and simple, college mail has led to the deforestation of at least a million trees–trust us, we asked. It’s high time we give back to mother nature. Good for the environment. Feed the ground? Yes! She is so hungry. With this fun new activity you will rid the world of climate change. Climate change no more. No more. It’s done, you did it. You did so good. Such a good job.
College? More like Collage!
Collages are fun keepsakes where you can store your favorite memories. Collages can be very colorful, much unlike the dull mail they send you. With the unfathomable mass of colleges that attempt to reach you, it can be difficult to remember each one. This is easily cured by a collage. You can think about college all the time. Flip through your collage before you go to bed—we know students simply cannot get enough. Moms are sentimental. They will want to remember this time forever. The collage of all the colleges that pretend to want you will make your mother feel proud. Maybe it will help her forget how much she is paying for you to get an education.
Rip Them Up & Throw The Pieces
Teenagers feel sad–a lot. We need help expressing our emotions and sometimes slam poetry just isn’t enough. Try ripping up your college mail and throwing it up into the air. Direct your anger towards colleges and show them just how much you hate them. The little pieces of paper will make fun little confetti. Celebrate your graduation by throwing around the mail from colleges that you will not be attending.
Read them?
Haha, just kidding. That would be weird–no one reads them. All of the mailers are exactly the same. If you are looking to be put to sleep, they can make a great bedtime story.
We hope you found this helpful. If you didn’t, please read it again and change your mind. We love you and the Earth does too!
Kacey Musgraves grasped the attention of the public when her 2018 album, Golden Hour launched into success, winning album of the year at the Grammys. In her long-awaited follow up, Kacey, dancing the line between pop and country, dives deeper into what is more often the reality of love: heartbreak. Literally, “setting the scene,” as Musgraves explains herself, Kacey chose to release “star-crossed” and “justified” as singles, preparing her listeners for a new era of her near-decade long career. Following the timeline of her marriage and recent divorce, Kacey begins the album with songs like “good wife,” and “cherry blossom,” which detail her budding romance and desires to be successful in her marriage. She then moves into feelings of marital frustration, anger, sadness, and then finally moving on, in the Spanish-influenced finale, “gracias a la vida,” originally written by Violeta Parra, a Chilean composer.
Musgraves shows incredible growth from her naive look on love in Golden Hour with star-crossed, where her rose-colored glasses are removed. She opens up, revealing more about her personal life than she has in any album before, and it certainly pays off in her phenomenal lyricism. With lyrics like, “two lovers ripped right at the seams, they woke up from the perfect dream,” and “I won’t cry when the cold wind blows, gonna let it shine,” she takes listeners through an emotional journey that covers everything from growing up to dating after divorce. The album features a girl-power anthem called “breadwinner,” and then presents a stark contrast on the song “camera roll,” which details looking back on positive times of a relationship through photos, when you know the positive memories you associate with those photos aren’t what was reality.
Breaking hearts, she pens, ”What a trip, the way you can flip, through all the good parts of it, I shouldn’t have done it.” She connects her past album, Golden Hour, to the present, with lyrics like, “There’s one, where we look so in love, before we lost all the sun, and I made you take it.” She frequently refers to her past album, as, “the sun,” on par with its title. Kacey also created a short movie based on her lyrics and story, to truly immerse the audience in the narrative she is telling. Her ability to captivate an audience, given the stark contrast between Golden Hour and star-crossed, exemplifies her incredible lyrical talents, as well as her undeniable vocal talent. Whether you are experiencing heartbreak or not, star-crossed is the perfect album to bring the feeling to life.
Do adults in society put too much pressure on teenagers?
By Rachel Webster
We grow up with people constantly reminding us that we will be adults before we know it. The age of adulthood is eighteen. At fifteen years old, eighteen seems a long ways away. So, we shouldn’t have to worry about the problems of adults, right? Wrong! Even though adulthood seems so far away, we are expected to have adult responsibilities. Most of us feel as if we have the weight of the world on our shoulders. Some feel burdened with too many adult responsibilities despite only being teenagers. In a recent Instagram survey, only 12% of the Legend student body who responded indicated no stress about high school. 88% of the students at Legend are stressed in some way. Are we under too much pressure?
The high school years are the best years of our lives, according to many adults: going to dances, joining extracurricular activities or clubs, and playing sports. For many of us, however, that tale is starting to become a fantasy. As students approach the last day of eighth grade, we are excited to become high schoolers. We are excited to attend the assemblies, have our own lockers, enjoy those Friday night lights, and dance the night away during homecoming and prom. By the time the first day of high school comes, we are all expecting the best. Jonathan Bagwell (09), says that his first impression of high school is that there is “not too much workload with some classes, but a couple definitely do have a heavier workload.” Overall, though, he adds, “I’m not stressed in high school right now. I’d say a time I was really stressed was in my old school–American Academy.” However, by the end of first semester in high school, dealing with test after test and final exams, some feel we are at our worst. The further into high school you get, the more stressed students become. Is it too much added pressure?
Before we know it, we are walking into school on the first day of our junior year. Many worry about the SATs, our futures, and our grades. Ella Overby (11) says, “Right now, yeah I’m stressed. I’m sure everyone is. With school work, the after school show, and relationship and friendship issues, it gets overwhelming.” On top of the many things going on in our lives, many are asked several times about what they want to do career-wise in the future. “Unless someone has a concrete plan for their future, I definitely think everyone is [stressed]. I hear most kids say what college they want to go to, what major they want to study, and what they want to be when they grow up. And I’m here trying to figure out my next day’s outfit… My mind changes every month on what I want to be, and I’m really clueless,” says Overby. For most of us, the answer to the continuous questions about our future is “I’m not sure yet.” At such a young age, we are expected to know what we want to do for the rest of our lives. For the people that do know their career path, good for them. And, for the rest of us, a lot of people are in the same boat. It’s like a big question floating above us, everywhere we go, trying to figure out what we want to pursue for our careers. Is it too much pressure?
As we worry about our future career, we are still stuck in the mindset that high school determines everything for us. We are told that if we don’t get good grades and participate in extracurricular activities, we won’t get into a good college, we won’t have a good career, and we won’t succeed at life. We juggle preparing for the SAT, after school jobs, and maintaining a good GPA. We go to our extracurricular activities and come home to stacks upon stacks of homework. We are also expected to have a perfect mental health and life, dealing with no personal issues. But we aren’t perfect. We deal with broken friendships, family issues, and our own personal struggles, which leads to us staying up until one or two a.m. Just for us to go to sleep, wake up, and redo the whole day again. Is it too much pressure?
Many of us can’t help but wonder how much sleep we are missing, how many tests we are failing, and everything else we are missing out on in life just because we have so much homework that keeps us up so late. Is it the teachers’ fault? According to Overby, a teacher’s goal “is to effectively teach their class and assign work so then you can perform well in the class. Your performance is their paycheck, too.” As a freshman, Bagwell, when asked if he thinks teachers understand the amount of things going on in our lives, said: “I feel like they do sometimes. But definitely not all the time. Because they go to work and go home; they don’t have sports, extracurricular [activities], and homework.” Though many teachers oversee extracurricular activities, coach sports, and have grading and lesson planning outside of school, many students misunderstand or minimize the difficulties and pressures our teachers face, too. When asked if teachers think high school students have too much pressure on them, Mrs. Kane says it depends on their lives. “Some students have excellent support systems at home, in their social lives, and here at school; others do not have these support systems.” She adds, “Ultimately, what each person chooses to add to their plate of responsibilities is exactly that: a choice. We can choose to lighten our load. We can choose to seek out better systems of support and coping. In making these healthier choices, we choose to worry less.” Do students feel like they are able to and know how to lighten the load or is it just too much pressure?
I didn’t write this article to point out the negative things about our lives, I wrote this article to inform the adults in our society of the stress they don’t seem to see in the younger generation around them. I want teachers to acknowledge what lies on our plates right now. I want teachers to support students and realize their stress levels are high. I want parents to realize that they should help their kids out by offering a little more patience and support. I want other adults to realize that our society puts too much pressure on kids at too young an age. I want colleges to understand that we can’t do it all.
We need to realize that everyone is going through some sort of stress, so we should all practice having more patience. Treat everyone with respect and keep in mind what they are going through. Instead of expecting us to just know how to deal with stress, we need to be taught healthy coping mechanisms. We need to be taught how to take things off our plates. We need to understand how to develop support systems for handling stress; otherwise, it will always be too much pressure.
