PE Classes at Legend

By Joe Ciardullo and Kyra Klay

As we get closer to the end of the school year, we also get closer to class registration for next year. There are many important aspects to think about when choosing classes for the year.

At Legend, it is required to take at least a full credit (year) of a gym class. When it comes to Physical Education, Legend has many options to fit your athletic needs.

The classes offered are: Team Sports, Individual Sports, Strength and Conditioning, Power Weights, and Shape Up. If these are not for you, there are two other classes offered that do not require running, lifting, stretching orother exercises. A student can also take either Healthy Decisions or Athletic Training.

“I really recommend joining team sports because it is very fun and it is not very hard,” sophomore Ben Kriech said.

In PE classes you are graded on attendance, dressing out, and, occasionally, small assignments. These classes are a very easy and fun way to get your credits.

The second Wish Week assembly

By Shaylee King, Henley Holland, and Lauren Penington

What a week! From the spirit days, to the game stalls, to the after school activities, we’ve made a good Wish Week.

Kicking off Wish Week with a killer assembly, we dived headfirst into raising money for our amazing wish kid- Legend’s own Rebecca Tuska.

Monday had a mind of its own with crazy talent in the teacher talent show- with Yergert taking the win with his rocking guitar battle.

“It was so cool,” sophomore Ronak D’Souza said. “He definitely deserved to win.”

Others disagree. “I don’t think he deserved to win,” sophomore Jackie Martin said. “It definitely should have gone to Thornton- he was super creative and it was a lot cooler than Yergert’s act. He still did good, but Thornton should have won.”

Tuesday brought just as much excitement with the dodgeball tournament. “We lost every game” Martin said, “but it was still a cool experience and I’m glad we competed.”

Wednesday was a day full of love with Valentine’s day and the release of our school newspaper.

Thursday was the day- our second wish week assembly where we found we had raised almost $53,000, not quite what we raised last year, and the girls took the spirit point win.

Friday was a fun day for Wish Week. There was no school and we had a fundraiser going with SkyZone. “I went almost all day,” freshman Liz Reifsteck said.

Saturday was the final day for wish week, going out with a bang with the Wish Dance. “I’m so glad I went,” Reifsteck said. “It was really fun to go with my friends, even without a date.”

What a fun, action-packed week. Give it up for the Make a Wish Foundation.

Legend wraps up Wish Week at the final assembly

By  Emily Byrd, Shaylee King, Henley Holland, and Lauren Penington

As Wish Week wrapped up at the second assembly, we took to the time to go over all that had happened over the week.

Congrats to the ladies for having the most spirit points and winning the famous Spirit Bear.  At the beginning of the assembly, according to Tina Stroman, boys got 2,385 spirit points while girls got 2,376, beating them by only nine points. However, girls won more points in the assembly, beating the boys and resuming their winning streak.

At the assembly, students got crazy as they found out how much they raised for our wish kid, Becca Tusca. In total, we had raised almost $53,000 and were able to grant her wish and possibly a few others. Teachers, students, and athletes came out to give speeches and perform dances in honor of Becca. Sports wrestling, girls swim and dive, girls and guys basketball, and unified all came out to show off their dance moves with several teachers and Becca as the judges.

Anatomy teacher Nick Miles gave a heart warming presentation during the assembly.

“[She is] an amazing young woman who I have had the pleasure of knowing. Legend’s heart beats for you Becca,” Miles said.

Tips for planning an international trip

By Emily Byrd and Lauren Penington

Traveling out of the country can be both exciting and worrying. Exhilarating because you get the opportunity to experience a new culture and some of the world’s wonders, but also nail-biting as you face the inescapable stress of planning.

After you’ve booked your flight and hotel room, it’s time to consider what you’re going to pack.

“When traveling to another country, you have to pack your whole life into two bags. So, you’re going to have to think about what you’re going to need and what’s available in the country you’re going to,” said English teacher Rebecca Chapman. In-state traveling is a less daunting task as you are already familiar with the state and know what to expect as well as what you’ll find. However, when traveling to a different country, some people seem to find themselves lost in the cultural differences and find they’ve packed the wrong things for the wrong place. According to USA Today, you should pack an adaptor, comfortable walking shoes, and plan your outfits according to the climate it will be when you arrive.

Sometimes things don’t go as planned and people are forced to work around it.

“We thought that we were going to a national park, but ended up changing because we only had a certain amount of time there and wanted to get as much in as we could,” said senior Alexa Benglen. When traveling, one important skill to have is flexibility. Things may not go as planned. The lines may be long and take up valuable time or flights may be delayed. It’s important to be able to make quick decisions and to always have a plan B.

Always make sure to keep an open mind when going to another country as you will see many differences, but also some similarities.

“My advice for people who are traveling for the first time [would be to] keep an open mind. Things will be different and you will experience culture shock,” said Chapman. “I think the most annoying thing that people can do is say ‘It’s not like this in America.’ Nobody wants to hear that. They just want to see you enjoying another culture.”

The world is full of different people, cultures, and customs. Traveling allows you to both see and immerse yourself in both of these and also learn how to appreciate a culture that isn’t your own. Planning is crucial to any trip and becomes of chief importance when traveling abroad. It’s important to not only plan well, but also to keep an open mind and be flexible to ensure that all your moo-la doesn’t go to waste.

The science behind the snow (or lack thereof)

By Larissa Geilen, Grace Miller, and Hannah Schlote

Many people are wondering where the snow is this year, and rightfully so. In a state that is known for things like the Steamboat Springs champagne powder, it can be baffling to have a dry ski season. Many people have been pointing to La Niña as the culprit.

La Niña is a natural phenomenon caused by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the pacific. Typically colder ocean temperatures lead to colder conditions in the northern United States. The northernmost areas of the Rockies can usually see more snow in a La Niña year and most of the northern and midwestern United States are often slammed with snow because of this.

AP environmental science teacher Elizabeth Kirkpatrick has noticed the recent La Niña conditions as well.

“When we look at La Niña events recorded this year, weather in the western US is drier and warmer than usual due to the jet stream being altered slightly from its typical path,” Kirkpatrick said. “According to the NOAA website, meteorologists have recorded warmer temperatures and below average snowfall in Denver during 79% of the La Nina events since 1950.”

Colorado’s front range doesn’t receive much snow when La Niña is a factor, and this year many of Colorado’s mountain resorts have been faced with a lack of snowfall as well. Since states like Colorado and Utah aren’t specifically north or south, but in the middle, it can be hard to foresee the effects of La Niña on snowfall. However, it’s important to remember that La Niña isn’t the only factor influencing weather conditions in the United States. Routine changes in temperature and air pressure, wind direction, and humidity can also lead to significantly drier winter conditions.

The lack of snowfall is certainly disappointing for avid skiers and snowboarders, but it also affects daily life in the Denver-metro area as well. Kids haven’t been going sledding as often and, as far as Douglas County is concerned, there haven’t been any snow days. On the flip-side, though, we haven’t had to shovel our driveways as much as usual. Perhaps going forward we need to improve our snow day rituals in an effort to save this snowless season.