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As the cross country season starts to come to a close for many East runners after the team recently competed in state on November 1, a handful of strong varsity runners continue their training to compete in the Nike Cross National competition (NXR) in Arizona on November 22. NXR is a postseason cross country championship race hosted by Nike for high school students. The event is split up into eight different races organized by regions: Midwest, Northwest, Heartland, Southwest, Southeast, Northeast, New York, and South. The top five performing individuals and top two teams for each of these races are then selected to compete in NXN (Nike Cross Nationals) which is a race between all the best participants from all eight regions. Last year, East cross country runner and 2025 graduate Rosie Mucharsky finished as an All American at NXN, meaning she was a top finisher at the national race and was recognized for being one of the top high school cross country runners in the nation. Since the race is at sea level, Colorado racers have an advantage. Altitude runners are able to run around 8-10 seconds faster than usual speed because more oxygen is available which can be carried to the muscles. Although this seems like a strong advantage, East will be competing in the southwest region race against other mountain states like Utah who also have strong experience with hill and altitude training. The NXR race track is located on a golf course that is flat with minimal hills and racers will be running 3.1 miles just like any other cross country race. Unlike the NXR course, the state cross country course is filled with hills and is made of dirt and gravel. It has a 200 feet elevation gain and times are typically slower by around 40 seconds at state then they are at NXR. Junior cross country runner Emery Wagner talked about the effects of the different courses: “Last year my time at NXR was 30 seconds faster than it was at state, and I usually tie or come close to my personal best at NXR. I think this is due to the sea level and how the course is made up of flat grass.” East runners who are selected for the race participate in three weeks of post season training that focuses on strengthening speed and endurance. East junior Lola Carhart explained what the preparation for the race looks like: “We do speed workouts like 400 and 800 repeats (on the track) and incorporate endurance workouts like long runs and tempos…it’s stressful and the training is a lot but it’s a really fun experience.” Emery Wagner voiced a different opinion about the race. “The training can be depressing because it’s cold and dark. My legs tend to hurt because I am burnt out from the season but it normally is worth it after the race because I end up running a time I am proud of.” Unfortunately the boys team does not have a chance to qualify for NXN because of overall times from this past season. The girls team is unlikely to qualify for NXN but still have a chance. After a long season, East runners are finishing off strong with intense post-season training and have dedicated extra time to perform well in Arizona. After six months of training after November 22 East runners will get their deserved break. East Cross Country team

Teenagers and young adults know all too well that the sharing of information socially is second nature. And for better or worse, the dark side of informational social influence still haunts us from 2000s teen movies to today: gossip. Gossip takes form in many different shapes and sizes, and in recent years has manifested digitally, circulating on our phones in a new way as technology evolves. From TikTok ship accounts in middle school to the newly popular Tea App, gossip is constantly gaining traction in online circles. But what is the Tea App craze that has infected high schools? And why is it so popular? The Tea App is a women-only platform where users can anonymously flag local men for “red flags” (negative behaviors/personality traits) or “green flags” (positive behaviors or traits). Users also have the ability to comment and verbally review the individual on a man’s “post” - where their first name and picture have been displayed anonymously by a Tea App user for the app’s local feed. Other app features include being able to search for an individual by name and a neighborhood map of registered sex offenders in a user’s area. Tea was designed to be a positive informational tool for women to use to stay safe while navigating dating in their local communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2 in 5 women in the United States experience dating violence in their lifetime, with the highest age group being 18-34 year olds. Furthermore, those who have experienced abusive behaviors and inappropriate contact with dates are more cautious when dipping their toe back into dating men. The app’s design was not malicious but rather informational to empower women to feel confident in their choices about their safety with reassurance and warnings. On paper, the idea is what every woman needs, especially today. But implementing and carrying out this idea is much easier said than done, and the motives behind the creators of this app may not be pure. Corporate profit meets the noble idea as Tea features two levels in the app: normal and premium. Tea's premium plan for $14.99 a month unlocks key features like background checks, criminal records searches, reverse image searches, phone number lookups, and unlimited name searches. This is all the factual information on these men. Background checks and criminal records don't lie; people do. These tools could make the app genuinely helpful, yet they are hidden behind a paywall. If Tea’s true goal was safety, why make women pay for it? Tea's design encourages constant engagement. If you don't have premium, the scrolling and posting features are your only options, with searches limited to five people per month. In today's society, scrolling has become a second nature and plays a big role in how apps like the Tea app spread and how they can become easily misused. On Tea, the scroll feature becomes a tool for judgment rather than connection or helpful input. It feeds the gossip-crazed minds of teenagers scrolling until they find someone they know, trapping users in a vapid cycle. Though the Tea App was launched in 2023, it did not gain traction until July 2025, when it reached over 4 million users and became the number one app in the app store. To access the app, users have to submit a selfie (and previously, a photo of their driver's license) for verification that they are female. In July 2025, the app suffered a major data breach. According to a BBC article, over 72,000 verification images of women's selfies and ID photos were leaked, along with 1.1 million direct messages between users posted all over the internet. Two maps were also published on social media with over 33,000 pins of users' addresses spread across the US, leaving women all over the country vulnerable and unsafe. The aftermath of the leak further proved why these apps are needed to begin with. After the incident, the app faced serious backlash over privacy and safety concerns. Within weeks, it was removed from the App Store and Google Play while they investigated the data breach. But the ramifications of this incident were vast. Websites were created where people could vote on the leaked selfies, with top 50 and bottom 50 leaderboards and a point system. One website even had links to a romantic companion AI website where you can upload photos of these women, creating a hyper-realistic AI version of them that can text, flirt, and engage in adult behaviors like a real human would. Data leaks aside, some argue that the app’s social impacts have spiraled out of control. Like any other platform, it is being misused and creating more issues than it may be worth, especially among teenagers with petty agendas and developing brains. Tea among high schoolers has become a hub for drama and defamation, a snowball effect of rumors and allegations that leaves users with a paranoid and skewed perspective of their male peers. Senior Sebastian Rodriguez adds, “You can't deny that some of it is probably accurate in their testimonies, but even then, the untrustworthiness of other posts makes it so you no longer know what is true or not, even in the cases it is.” Though some girls see the app as an empowering way to share their experiences, screen dates to protect themselves, and avoid potentially dangerous men, the tension that Tea creates is not without acknowledgment. Adeline Newton, a junior at East, offered us her opinions. “I think the Tea App being anonymous creates a space that encourages judgment and gossip,” she notes on the user base’s inherent anonymity on posts and comments. “It creates a space for people to be openly judgmental without having to take accountability for their words… I do see how people find it helpful. I have seen some people warning others about sexual assault encounters they or someone else might’ve had concerning the person who was posted. But mostly, the app is unserious and shouldn’t be a reliable source or a platform others go to for information.” Many find it unfair and honestly scary. The anonymous nature of user interactions enables potentially false accusations and rumors, as there is no way to reliably fact-check the information and claims being made. Creating a huge forum of insulting individuals behind their backs to a potentially infinite audience, turning into a sinister form of online bullying that can severely impact men's mental health. As Kyle Nyugen, a senior at East, astutely points out, “When you're anonymous, you feel more compelled to do things you wouldn't normally do.” While it's important to believe and support women's experiences, the lack of verification on Tea creates a very dangerous gray area between awareness and misinformation. These are serious allegations that should not be taken lightly, and false accusations can deeply affect students. Kyle adds, “I think it's harmful. I think if you really wanna know about a guy, just ask someone who knows him… Things I learn on the Tea app are things I basically already know about anyway.” Overall, the Tea App has momentarily captured the attention of many students here at East, with numerous boys being posted and even more girls commenting and participating in the gossip pot. Is it possible that knowing bad guys is helpful for interested girls? Yes, absolutely. Is it also possible that the app spiraled out of control and invalidated those with genuine experiences of domestic abuse? Also yes. For better or for worse, as of October 2025, Apple has officially removed the controversial app from the App Store. Apple cites that it failed to meet its terms of service in areas around user privacy, content moderation, and data breaches. Yet new apps mimicking the platform are already popping up all over the internet. Safety tools or vigilante justice? We may never know, xoxo Gossip Girl. Tea App comment section

“Bo Nix makes Broncos history in blowout win over Cowboys” (MSN Sports)  The Broncos are at the top of AFC West as of Oct 24, 2025 after 10 years of not leading the division. This season they beat the Philadelphia Eagles who were the 2024 Super Bowl winners and barely beat the New York Giants with 33 points in the fourth quarter alone, which was the most any team in history has scored in the fourth quarter starting the fourth quarter with 0 points scored. What could this mean for the Bronco’s future after their above-average gameplay? After what feels like forever as a Broncos fan, do the Broncos finally have a chance to be a playoff or even a Super Bowl Contender? As a fan, all you can do is believe in Bo Nix’s ability to take us as far as possible, “Bo-lieve”. After Peyton Manning's retirement, the Denver Broncos have had inconsistency all around with their gameplay, strategy, and overall execution of plays being made. Manning is arguably one of the best quarterbacks of all time alongside Tom Brady, Joe Montana, and Johnny Unitas (stats based). Peyton Manning led the Broncos to the Superbowl in 2007 against the North Carolina Panthers and won. Since then, the Broncos have had extreme offensive instability gameplay wise (due to quarterbacks) and with coaching. Now Bo Nix is likely one of the best rookie quarterbacks of his time with the combination of Sean Payton's development of shaping a new offense. This wonderful year for the Broncos as of week 8, many fans found out that even Patrick Surtain II (arguably best cornerback in the NFL) was injured during the Broncos v. Dallas Cowboys game and they still fared perfectly fine against one of the best offensive teams in the NFL; though having a chance at a devastating setback defensively with a cornerstone player in the Bronco’s Defense injured during the game. Bo Nix’s development over the years has completely changed the Bronco’s standing in player ability during game time. After week 8, Bo nix has a 62.5% pass completion rate in 2025. Compared to his previous performance in 2024 of 66.3% pass completion rate for the whole season. This gives him complete and long margins to increase this rate for another 10 whole weeks, including making the playoffs with a 1 round bye week. Thus allowing top tier receivers like Courtland Sutton (WR) to have their full potential offensively with more practice and experience from Bo Nix.   Though many fans see the Broncos wins and performances as temporary. “They are a very messy team, wait til we face better teams than what we’ve already played against” says East student, Jahel Escobedo. Many speculate that the Broncos’ are simply getting lucky and really won’t get far into the playoffs (if they make it). Many AFC challengers like the Chargers and the Chiefs have super notable players such as, widely known Patrick Mahomes in the Kansas Chiefs quarterback in the Kansas Chiefs, Justin Herbert; quarterback in the LA Chargers, and Keenan Allen in the LA Chargers who is one of the best wide receivers in the league. Many fans also think that the performance the Broncos put up each game doesn’t matter because the teams they were facing are “bad teams” and teams that haven’t made the playoffs in a certain amount of time, such as the Titans and the Giants, with the Titans going 1-8 as of week 9 and 8 with both games as losing games and a four game losing streak. Giants going 2-7 with a lighter 3 game losing streak as of week 9. Finally going 10-7 against the Las Vegas Raiders in week 10 with likely the worst gameplay we’ve seen from the Broncos this season. Only time will tell the Broncos’ placement this football season. But, what time will not tell is the overall question of whether or not the Broncos are on an easy schedule or they just have a mid-season high, but the flames Bo Nix and Sean Payton have lit under the Broncos and may have set them off to win in the long term and maybe win the Super Bowl sooner than expected. What matters more at this time is the fans, which are likely even stronger than when the Broncos have played at their peak. Hundreds of thousands rally up at Mile High Stadium to cheer on their favorite teams and even get to see them win! For a fan this is the best thing you could ever see out of a team and the best team to do it is the Denver Broncos being led by Bo Nix.

Within the last 20 years, college tuition has doubled, according to Sarah Wood from US News. This causes many students to have to consider price as a big factor of attending college. Most students would love to attend college but it isn’t possible unless they are prepared to incur debt. According to a Third Way/Global Strategy poll : “29% of students said the cost was a barrier and aren’t considering college as an option even though they’d like to pursue a four-year degree.”  Most students who take a loan out for school struggle to pay it back which delays the process of building their lives. The average undergraduate student owes $25,000 in debt loans. Additionally, tuition costs prevent many students from pursuing a college degree. About 75% of people say that a bachelor's degree is very important, but only ⅔ people can afford it. “...I also see a lot of students who are already planning on taking out massive amounts of loans, without any real concept of what that means for their futures. It's not wise to take out a mass amount of loans if you're going into a career that won't be able to pay them off.” Stated East’s college advisor, Caitlin Mendenhall. What does the tuition price go towards? Tuition helps pay college professors salaries, administrative costs, maintenance to sustain the campus, technology the university needs, student activity fees, library access, and athletics. These are just the cost of tuition and students will be required to pay other fees such as housing/meals, transportation, personal expenses, and supplies. The average in-state price for a public four-year college is approximately $27,000 to $30,000 per year, including tuition, fees, room and board, books, transportation, and other expenses. The average total annual cost for an out-of-state student at a public four-year college is approximately $49,080, while the average for private four-year colleges is about $62,990. These prices are ridiculously high causing a huge percentage of students to not consider college as an option. In Colorado there are a few affordable colleges such as Colorado Mountain College which is only $4,400 for tuition per year. This would be a great option for students who want to attend college but cannot afford it. But do students even want to attend college?  There are three primary factors on why students are deciding not to attend college which are include: Concerns about costs Questions about the value of a postsecondary education Worries about disrupting their lives to attend college About 61% of young adults decide not to further their education beyond high school. We already know cost is a big factor but what are some other reasons people tend to not lean towards college. There are so many alternate careers that don’t require college and many people would rather jump straight into making money rather than spending time paying off student debt. While some students just don’t feel prepared for college and the amount of work they’ll have to take care of. Starting a business would be a great way to start making a living. “Starting a business can be a great way to make a living, but I would still suggest students take some sort of business or entrepreneurship classes so they are prepared for everything that might come their way,” Caitlin Mendenhall. There are so many alternate paths to college such as trade school, starting a business, and taking a gap year. High school students don’t have to worry about going into debt as there are several options post high school.

Found on Life360 Website A common household name, Life360, is used by parents and teens for safety, communication, and efficiency purposes. The app is primarily used for location tracking; some parents use it because it helps them feel less anxious about their child's safety, but many teens feel as though it restricts their freedom. During the aftermath of hurricane Katrina Life360 was originally conceptualized by Chriss Hulls and Alex Haro in 2005 as a school project. The original purpose was to help families reconnect during and after crises. In 2008, the app became available for download on the Google Play Store. Then, in 2009 it was added to the Apple App Store. As of August 2025, Life360 has 200 million downloads across the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, 88 million of those being monthly active users. Users are not required to buy a subscription to use it, although certain features are restricted on the free version. Life360 has four levels of subscription: free, silver, gold, and platinum. Each level adds new features, such as more location history over a longer period of time, crash detection, emergency dispatch, free towing, medical assistance, and many more helpful features for the user's family safety.  How do parents and teens feelings' differ about the use of Life360? Teen response: My experience with Life360 is complicated. My parents, being divorced, have different ideas of how to parent me, location tracking being one of those struggles .  When I first got my phone, my mom installed the “Bark” app–which essentially allows parents to completely track all activity on their child's phone. It allows the parent to see flagged texts (which could be flagged for things like violence or sexual activity), what music their child is listening to, and track their child's location (similar to Life360). However, it got to a point where I was feeling more violated than protected. We would have conflicts based off of my playlists or text messages, which felt very controlling and nit picky, and not so helpful. After having a year long struggle, my dad went and bought me a new phone free from control. Once I had my new phone, my mother requested me to install Life360. In my mind, it felt like a compromise, something I could do without feeling violated, while allowing her to feel a sense of security. But similar to Bark, the use of Life360 between the two of us went south. One Sunday, while I was with my dad, I was going to get my nails done. While I was sitting in the parking lot (because we were at the nail salon about 45 minutes early) my mom looked at my location. Then I got a text from her asking if I was getting my nails done. I responded, “Yes I am!” I thought nothing of it. Then, maybe ten minutes later, she showed up at the nail salon to talk to me about something (I don't remember what). It felt like a major overstep of boundaries. There was no reason for her to show up when I wasn’t with her, especially since I wasn’t doing anything wrong. That’s when my distaste for Life360 began.  Parent response: Most parents download Life360 under the assumption that they will be keeping their child safe. The app helps parents feel less anxious about their child's movements and location, giving the parents a false sense of security: found on AEG Wellness ( AEGwellness.com ). More often than not, this turns into a control issue, writer Suzie Glassman talks about her personal experience using Life360 in her article “I thought life 360 would make my life easier– here's why I quit” . After giving her son his first iPhone at age 11, Glassman and her husband decided to use Life360 to keep him safe. “Having Life360 felt like a gift. My son would never be lost or out of reach. No one could kidnap him!” and, “Within days, I was addicted to watching the tiny blue dot that represented my child move across the map”. The control addiction began, and Glassman quickly figured out   that this was becoming a problem. She had the realization, “As a teenager, I often lied about where I was and who I was with.” She worried that her son would do the same, so she brainstormed new ideas to still keep her son safe, but limit the amount of control the app allowed her to have. Suzie Glassman decided to input new rules on his phone, these being:  Tell us where he’s going and call or text if he changes locations Always answer or reply when we call or text Keep his phone charged Understand that we’ll use ‘Find My iPhone’ … in an actual emergency After making the decision: Glassman realized that she and her teen were more united and had limited conflicts. Now just because my experience and Suzie Glassman’s experiences were not positive, doesn't mean the app cannot be helpful. It definitely has its benefits: when used correctly it helps keep families safe. When the boundaries become blurred, it becomes a cause for tension between family members. It's not uncommon for parents to use location tracking services like Life360, for example many use Find My (Apple's location tracking app). These location-tracking tools can absolutely be helpful for safety reasons, and add a level of efficiency to users' lives. But, when does it go too far?

Lime Scooters parked in front of Union Station Students and faculty around East are all too familiar with the obnoxiously neon green scooters and bikes that go by the name of Lime . Especially around Denver, more specifically around East and on Colfax, these fast driven transportation machines that operate with little to no traffic laws traumatize people of all ages. It is terrifying to see someone on a neon green blur driving at 17 miles per hour, but they are also scary because normally the people riding them just don’t care, and if they hit someone, what can they do about it? Quinlan Jamieson, an East junior, described Lime Scooters as cheap. “You can get places fast, faster than walking; 30 minutes costs $3.” Through a guided tour of the app, Quinlan explained how it’s easy to find the scooters nearby, and how it’s simple to invest in a set series of prepaid rides. Lime Micromobility, who carries and distributes the bikes and scooters in 280 cities, 30 countries, and five continents was founded in January of 2017, where the mobility devices were first launched at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Normally, college freshmen can’t have a car on campus, and scooters and bikes were a quick alternative to turn too, and very accessible, some of the minimal plus sides.  However, the scooters and bikes quickly spread around; not to other campuses, but to large cities like Seattle, and San Francisco, which is very concerning for multiple reasons. Scooters and bikes seem reasonable for college campuses consisting mostly of pedestrians, but introducing these   transportation machines to   large cities with lots of drivers and no helmets proved to be dangerous, with over 115,713 scooter related injuries in 2024 alone. Even if the driver of the Lime Scooter does everything right and is perfectly safe, it doesn’t guarantee a safe ride. Cars aren’t always aware, or just are clueless on what to do when it comes to passing scooters and avoiding them, but scooter riders should not always be seen as victims; plenty of pedestrians have been hit by them. Silas Everhart, a freshman who was walking to the student lot after school, and was run into with a Lime scooter described his experience as, “...Quite frightful, violent, and surprising. I get frustrated that people on lime scooters are reckless and not responsible. They also have no regard for the safety of others or even themselves.”  Junior Hope Skinner, who has a younger brother, saw her brother and his friend on a Lime Bike going at least 16 miles per hour down Colfax during the lunch rush. She expressed concern: “It scared me and my brother insisted it was fine, but it’s so dangerous and unsafe. It made me really worried for his safety, as it was so dangerous to do that on a street with a bunch of cars.” When asked if she was worried about hitting people on bikes and scooters herself, she said “When I drive, I feel like I am always close to hitting them because they are so unpredictable.” Lime scooters and bikes raise concern for so many serious injuries, such as head trauma, fractures, road burn, teeth trauma, and many others. Brian Fun, the nurse at Denver East High school explained, “Chances of the injury being serious are about 80%. When I worked at Denver Health, we had a lot of scooter injuries coming into the ER. Most of them result in concussions, shoulder dislocation, broken wrists, broken arms, and injured knees. Anytime you have a TBI, or a head injury, and you hit your head, you can have internal bleeding, and it could be fatal. There should be a law that if you are on a Lime scooter, you wear a helmet, it should be considered a moving vehicle. Many injuries occur on sidewalks, pedestrians can get bruised and banged up, which is why Lime Scooters should be prohibited from sidewalks.” Between 2018 and 2022, there were 600 E-bike or E-scooter related deaths in Denver, and even though Denver has implemented accessible safety features for scooters, such as adding 137 miles of bike and scooter lanes around the city, it doesn’t fix the issue of people riding in the road and getting hit by cars, or riding on the sidewalk, hitting pedestrians.  Not only is this becoming a bigger issue in Denver, but it’s becoming a bigger issue all over the world, and it’s targeting youth. There have been deaths recently regarding people under 18, and the numbers are still increasing. Denver specifically has had a few instances of children getting injured, or even killed on electric scooters. Back in August, a 16 year old was hit and killed by a distracted driver in Aurora, even though he was in the bike lane. Another incident includes a 12 year old boy who was hit and killed by another distracted driver back in July, while he was riding his scooter across a marked cross walk.  What can we do to fix this? Bike lanes have proved to be somewhat ineffective, possibly leading to more harm than benefit because of irresponsible drivers. However, sidewalks and streets aren’t functional for anyone, so where do we put them? Is the only option to get rid of Lime Scooters completely?

East draws many students in for its rich history, stellar academics, lively school spirit and social scene, and most importantly, the food. Situated right in the middle of Colfax, East offers the best eating options for off-campus lunchers of any high school in Denver. And there are options for everyone! Including international cuisine, small businesses, and fast-food giants, anything is possible for our lunch hour. Whether you are a freshman wandering around Colfax for the first time this year or just have thirty minutes and a car, here are some top lunch spots for East students. (PSA: The Starbucks on Colfax & Milwaukee Street is closed permanently.) Chipotle on the corner of Colfax & Columbine. Photo: Reese Worrell #1 - Chipotle Mexican Grill 2500 E Colfax Ave The top spot for lunch at East is no secret. Chipotle is absolutely hopping at noon on a weekday, with shoulder-to-shoulder teenagers waiting for their go-to meal. Located just across from the Esplanade, it's about a three minute walk from the front doors. Your total trip could stretch up to thirty30 minutes, though, thanks to the line that forms by 12:02 pm. A standard order adds up to about $10, without sides or a drink, but the portions are on the larger side and are overall a good value for a healthy-ish and simple option.  Burrito bowl with lettuce, corn salsa, pico de gallo, white rice, and fajitas. Photo: Reese Worrell _____________________________________ Inside Wellness Sushi. Photo: Reese Worrell #2 - Wellness Sushi 2504 E Colfax Ave Next door to Chipotle is Wellness Sushi, a Japanese restaurant known for its wide range of vegan sushi and ramen options. It is about a four-minute walk from East, and inside offers a casual and cozy dining space. Wellness is a small business that fewer students frequent and can offer a less overwhelming social atmosphere for lunch. Just be prepared to wait: good things take time, and the delicious vegan sushi can certainly take some patience as it is made fresh. Budget your time (and money) wisely! Photo: Reese Worrell _____________________________________ Storefront of Jimmy John’s. Photo: Reese Worrell #3 - Jimmy John’s 2325 E Colfax Ave Jimmy John’s sits a few blocks west, about a six -minute walk. Though it is slightly further than other spots mentioned on this list, the sandwich shop is still extremely popular and accessible for a lunch option. The inside offers comfortable seating and very well done air conditioning, with cozier booths towards the back and sunlit tables in the entrance space. The gourmet subs can be paired with potato chips and fountain drinks. Depending on your order, you might want to spare a few extra dollars as full-sized subs cost around $12.89.  Little Jim #6 (Veggie). Photo: Reese Worrell _____________________________________ #4 - Illegal Pete’s 2001 E Colfax Ave Walking west down Colfax to Illegal Pete’s. Photo: Reese Worrell Illegal Pete’s sits on the corner of Colfax and Race Street, about five blocks west of Jimmy John’s. It's a ten -minute walk, with the better route being along 16th straight out the front doors of East. The trek is worth it though, and the local burrito joint is bustling with East kids every day of the week. The staff are friendly and all students get a free fountain drink and side of chips or tortilla with their meal.  Kids bowl with tortilla chips and a Diet Dr. Pepper. Photo: Reese Worrell Sprouts parking lot. Photo: Reese Worrell #5 - Sprouts 3625 E Colfax Ave The only non-restaurant on the list, Sprouts is slightly unconventional for a lunch spot. However, the grocery store is increasingly popular at a four -minute drive for upperclassmen. The parking lot is easy to navigate and the amount of options inside makes it a no-brainer for anything you're craving. On top of that, there is no wait time as it is self-serving. You just have to be okay with eating in your car, and do some mental math when picking out the ingredients for your lunch. (P.S. The sushi is $5 on Wednesdays!) Kid’s meal and Sprouts brand organic kombucha.  _______________________________________________________- Chick-fil-A storefront on Colfax. Credit: Chick-fil-A #6 - Chick-fil-A  3725 E Colfax Ave Last but not least, Chick-fil-A is an East classic, particularly for upperclassmen. The fast-food chain sits east of school on Colfax and is frequented by East kids. Unsurprisingly, the menu is mostly chicken. Chicken sandwiches are a main attraction, followed by chicken nuggets, chicken wraps, and chicken salads. But Chick-fil-A also serves macaroni and cheese, french fries, fruit, cookies, brownies, and ice cream. Their drink menu might be even better than their food selection: sodas, lemonade, coffee, milkshakes, and frozen lemonades are incredibly crave-worthy and keep students making the five-minute drive multiple times a week.  Small mac and cheese and medium fry. Starbucks coffee not included. Photo: Reese Worrell ___________________________________ These are just some of the many great restaurants within the mile (in any direction) from our front doors. The lunch scene at East is one of the best in Denver. Wherever you end up, Colfax has something for everyone at East. Happy lunching Angels!

Denver East Boys’ Rugby  (Peyton Freeman) has been an official sport since 1988, but has yet to be treated as one. With 9 state championships and having attended over 20 out-of-state tours they should be treated as school royalty, or at least with respect.  “We are an inclusive, player-centric organisation and we measure success through our growth. We treat our entire community with respect and we approach competition as an opportunity to improve. We embrace challenges and support each other. We are honest and hold ourselves accountable. We are grateful for the time we get to spend together. We prioritize player safety 100% of the time, both during practices and games. Our goal is to develop better players and people by fostering a sense of competition and respect, on and off the field. We want to build a love of rugby, both the game and the larger community.”  East Rugby Coaching Foundations (Rugby Mission Statement). East Rugby is a club sport which differentiates it from CHSAA-sanctioned sports such as Cross Country, Soccer, Football, Golf, etc. Collectively, since 1988, East CHSAA sports have won 20 state championships according to CHSAA Data, Denver East's Championship History. Boys’ Rugby alone accounts for 45% of that total, with championship wins dating back to 1997 and concluding in 2025. Sports that are CHSAA-sanctioned get benefits that non-CHSAA sports do not, such as designated field space at their school or transportation to games and meets. But that doesn't hold Boys’ Rugby back. With amazing parent committees (caring for the fields, equipment, merchandising, tour planning, team booklets, website, photography, sponsorships, fund raising, end-of-season party, awards, and cheering of course), sponsors, and alumni (returning as coaches), they have been able to provide scholarships–only requiring you to come to practice–to play in season and participate in out-of-town tours for the past 25 years, most recently going to L.A. but regularly going on road trips to other rugby communities such as Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, and Kansas City. These tours are generally made up of four days consisting of two banquets, one on Friday night and one on Sunday night, six games, divided between Saturday and Sunday, and every academically eligible player–typically 60 players in the spring, divided into Varsity, J.V., and first-year students teams. “We don't cut anybody. So, if somebody comes out and wants to play, and they come to practice, they're going to get to play,” explained Bill Baer, now Senior Director of East Rugby and prior Head Coach and General Coach of 30 years–proclaimed “heart, mind and soul of East High Rugby.” Coach Bear is also inducted into the Eastern Rockies Rugby Football Union Hall of Fame, has been twice selected as "Coach of the Year" by Colorado Youth Rugby, and is Vice President of Rugby Colorado. In the 2024-2025 school year, Boys Rugby made for an astonishing season, setting new records: varsity won the 7s state championship in the spring and the Division I 15s state championship in the fall, followed by the J.V. team winning the Division III state championship–which any other team, CHSAA or not, has yet to accomplish.  East Rugby has also produced seven high school All-Americans–a student-athlete recognized by a national organization for exceptional achievement in their sport–ranging from representing the U.S. in the U-19 World Cup to competing in New Zealand, Australia, and Maccabean Games in Israel. Sam Golla and Link Wilfley, East graduates, became professional athletes, playing in England, MLR, and for the United States Eagles. East Rugby has been recognized for and honored by the State Sportsmanship award three times, consecutively, starting in 2003. This club, evidently sets kids up for high school victory and lifelong success–empowering them to achieve their highest potential, instilling discipline, community, and respect. Any and all are welcome, embracing all 8th-12th graders in the Denver area, Rugby is all inclusive, harboring diverse: backgrounds, abilities, extracurricular activities, other sports and undeniably other schools. So... give it a try! Keep an eye out for information pertaining to “a meeting down in the Commons lunchroom for parents and students that want to play.” What's your favorite thing about being a part of the team?   “You have guys from all over, all come together to play and I love how we do the best with what we have. I mean we play Valor and Regis, and they pay their coaches and all our coaches are volunteers… and we still find a way to beat them and outplay them,” and, “From your first practice, you can feel tradition.” Julian Rowse, senior, ten year player and varsity captain. What would you say to someone who's thinking about playing rugby?  “Oh, they should play. Everyone should play Rugby, ‘cause everyone can, it's good fun, good fitness, and gives you something to look forward to after school.” Ethan Conforti, junior, eight year competitor, and varsity player. As Angels we need to show more love to our highly decorated Rugby teams, luckily for us we have an exciting opportunity to do so on Saturday, October 25th for the 7s season final at Regis High School. Be there or be square. Denver East Girls’ Rugby - Claire Farrell In a sport that's fast paced, inclusive, and no-cut, East’s women's rugby team has a place for everyone–regardless of a students’ ability. With 70 minute gameplay and only a 10 minute break, it is a high intensity sport that not only builds strength and determination but also  community. The only question that persists is why rugby is considered a club rather than a sport at East, and why players should get the same credit as those involved in an official East sport. Founded in 2017, East women's rugby is a competitive club that requires determination and a willingness to try–no experience needed. Head Coach Mark Bullock, ex-football and rugby player, explained a little about the rugby community, “The key thing about rugby is we accept everybody; there is a position for everybody whether you're tall and lengthy or short and squatty, it doesn't matter because there's a position for you. It's a big community of people, we don't care if you've been in trouble or if you're the best person ever: we will accept you.” Although the sport welcomes inexperienced players, the strong momentum of the game makes it essential for players to train hard.  Coach Bullock spoke to this, “What matters is if you're willing to put in the work and training to develop yourself… if you're willing to step outside your comfort zone, you can explore something that's quite exciting.” Despite rugby being a club, it still demands every essential aspect a CHSAA sport at East would require such as: stamina, teamwork, and determination–which makes one think it would be on the East athletics page, or at least be recognized at East as official sports are. Coach Bullock talked about the lack of school recognition and praise players receive contrary to those whose sports qualify as a CHSAA sport, “I don't think at East it’s well advertised, it's difficult because we need people who are excited about it and outgoing to try it. It should be part of the website because it's a club sport–that may not necessarily be sponsored by the school but–kids of East play under the name of East Highschool.” He suggested a few ways East could assist in getting more attention drawn to it, including: announcing games and information on the loudspeaker, hanging flyers, and showcasing enthusiasm from players and students about Rugby. Taking partial accountability Coach Bullock claimed, “We could definitely do a better job advertising, part of it is having people who are excited about the sport. [Girls’ Rugby] should be on the East Athletics website so people can look at the school and say, "oh hey they have rugby, maybe I should join.” Rugby representation–on the athletics website, in pep rallies or announcements of any type–could spark interest amongst angels, whether current or future, allowing them the fair chance of participating in this beloved sport.      Regardless of if you're an experienced rugby player or someone new to the sport, rugby has a spot for everyone; not only providing a fun, competitive, sport (to get in shape) but it builds a strong community of girls’. Rugby is a fall and spring sport, whether you're a freshman or a senior, you'll always be welcomed with an open spot. Though the sport is a club and not as heavily promoted as other East athletics, it still offers lifelong skills gained through tireless effort and progression.

If you’ve ever spent time in the halls or hanging out by the ‘E’, chances are you’ve noticed a circle of students with a small beanbag, or hacky sack, being kicked around. It’s everywhere . Ever since the beginning of this school year, hacky sack circles seem to dominate any possible square footage on the East campus. Whether it's in the student parking lot or right outside the ‘E’, this classic pastime is being revived by our student body. Hacky sack, which is actually a brand name for a “footbag”, is a small, less than fist-sized cloth sack that is typically filled with pellets or sand. The objective of the game is to keep the sack off the ground using any part of your body other  than your hands and arms. According to Wham-O, a toy company that owns the rights to the Hacky Sack brand, the sacks were invented in 1972 as a tool to aid in co-inventor John Stalberger’s recent knee injury recovery process. Wham-O’s website explains that “[Stalberger and his friend] had become masters of the game. Everywhere they went, people stopped to watch. Curiosity turned into crowds. A sport was born.” The sport continued to grow as Stalberger introduced the game to schools and crowds all over Oregon. The game has such a deep rooted history in the state that Joshua Zurbrick, a schoolteacher from Oregon, has started a movement to recognize hacky sack as the Oregon state sport. In an NPR interview conducted in February 2025, Zurbrick explained, “...I just kind of discovered that Oregon doesn't have a state sport, and, you know, why not? It seems like an interesting opportunity to kind of remember a cool piece of Oregon history.” Throughout the interview, Zurbrick referred to the community aspect of the game and its ability to easily bring people together. This sentiment is shared by pioneers of the hacky sack resurgence at East, such as East Yard Games Club Co-President Finley Miller who says that hacky sack is “not something where you can limit the amount of people that are playing” and “it’s a good way to get people together to play yard games. It’s fun to get a group together to do it.” Miller feels that the rise in popularity of hacky sack is thanks in part to the inviting nature of the game, such as how “it’s inviting when you see a group playing and people get curious and want to join.”  Students playing hacky sack in the South Courtyard (Photo credit/Kyle Nguyen) The East Hacky Sack Club, co-presidented by Sam Milliken and Mac Shaw, is another club started at the beginning of this year that aims to spread hacky sack around the school. Milliken stated he originally got the idea to start a hacky sack club from some of his friends at another Denver high school, George Washington High School. Milliken says that he honestly doesn’t know why hacky sack exploded in popularity, but that he “[created] a space for everyone to come together and have fun,” and for “as many [students] as possible to be participating.” To a large extent, the visions shared by Miller and Milliken have come to fruition. No matter where you are in the East campus, you’re bound to run into a group playing the game. Unfortunately, as many of us have experienced, any kind of congregation in the middle of the hallway leads to disruptions, and groups of sackers are no exception to this scrutiny. Hacky sack circles often block parking lot lanes and fill up hallways, making it a chore for passers-by to avoid the flying footbags. Students also like to skip classes and step outside to get a hacky sack fix in. In fact, during my interview with Miller, a group of students playing down the hall were asked to go back into their classrooms. The club presidents don’t condone students skipping to play, with Milliken stating, “I think [skipping is] a bad thing because you shouldn't be sacrificing your education for a game.” Students playing hacky sack in the end of a hallway (Photo credit/Kyle Nguyen) Even though hacky sack is a pretty universal game, sackers in the school have to be careful and mindful of the spaces that they take up around them. However, no matter why hacky sack got so popular, it seems like the activity is here to stay for at least a little while. Miller says, "It's a great alternative to using your phone. It's bonding.”  East Hacky Sack Club meets every Friday during lunch on the South Lawn, and East Yard Games Club meets every Thursday during lunch in the Ceramics room.

East Theatre Company is made up of the students and staff who are responsible for our amazing theatrical productions every fall and spring. This year, East Theatre wrote their fall play from scratch in collaboration with members of the company, including Dave Medicus, Dasheill Brennan, Malena Lubbert, and many others.  Photos of Study No More Previews By Genesis Martinez The show they wrote, titled Study No More,  is based on the similarly titled interactive performance: Sleep No More,  which is based in New York and follows the story of Shakespeare's Macbeth . East's production takes the interactive aspect of this show and applies it to a story that showcases the 100-year history of East's current building. While simultaneously taking the audience through the building, with scenes in many different rooms of the school including the library, the museum, and an ending scene in the clocktower overlooking the city skyline. The idea for this show came to the director of the East Theatre Company Deborah Voss, last year. The show is a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the school which coincided with a project lead by Mr. Fulford where he digitized material from the bell tower museum.  Voss heard that the district wasn’t doing much to celebrate the schools anniversary and she felt that it was the theatre companies responsibility to celebrate the achievement. Writing the fall play from scratch comes with its own unique pros and cons. One good thing that comes out of writing the script is the collaboration that it allows between the actors and the writers; this collaboration leads to a stronger script that makes more sense when translated to the stage. Deborah Voss said, “I believe this has probably been one of the most collaborative processes as far as creating a piece of work. I feel like it's such a huge collaboration between the writers, the actors, the directors, and the stage craft,” when asked about the pros of writing the script in an interview. This collaboration is helpful for the writers and  actors to make sure the script makes sense when translated to the stage. Photos of Study No More Previews By Genesis Martinez On the other hand, writing the script caused a delay in the rehearsal process. The original plan was to have the creative writing students from last year write the script in small parts as an assignment. However, the company didn't get much material they could use, causing the writing process to surpass the summer deadline. This caused rehearsals to be delayed until later in the semester than they would usually start by about a month starting in late September, opposed to the usual schedule which would start in early September. Junior Penelope Strand had this to say about the delays, “It was a work-in-progress script and it had different variations, but overall it has become a very strong and powerful piece."   So would East do a production like this again? When asked in an interview Deborah Voss says that we would, and definitely will. Study No More isn’t the first student-written production to be put on at East. If you're a senior, you might remember the fall play in 2023, Red Ink was also student-written. This production, as well as original works which are written by creative writing students and performed by the level 3 Theatre students, and Senior Projects, which are based on existing material and edited down by the senior directors. So student written/edited productions happen every year, so this is nothing new for East Theatre company.  In an interview, Deborah Voss said, “My hope is that when the audience leaves the tower, they leave with a sense of the history that is East High School in its current building.”  So the goal of this project is to show the people who come to see it the East legacy, and nothing is more fitting to show that legacy then an East theatre production. Despite the delays the show and its actors have powered through to create a final product that there is no doubt will stun the audience.

Groups of teenagers shopping through one of the many different thrifting stores in Denver   In recent years, second hand stores have seen a new wave of young customers. Once considered outdated has now become one of Gen Z’s favorite ways to shop. Whether teens are looking for one of a kind pieces or trying to shop on a budget, thrifting has become a movement that celebrates sustainability, creativity, and individuality. For many, thrifting is about building personal style. Unlike fast fashion, which often pushes the same styles and trends on everyone, thrift stores give shoppers the chance to create a wardrobe that feels unique. Many also enjoy the creativity thrifting allows, from mixing unexpected styles together to upcycling pieces into something new. “I like thrifting because it gives me an opportunity to be creative and use my sewing skills.”- Solenne Hogdin, president of East high’s thrift club. In this way, personal style becomes more than just following fashion trends-it becomes a reflection of character, and self-expression. Thrifting is not just a fashion choice, it’s an environmentally conscious one. The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emissions. Every item bought secondhand reduces waste by keeping clothing out of landfills, where millions of clothes end up each year. Unlike fast fashion, which produces cheap, disposable clothes that quickly wear out, thrifting encourages reusing and extending the life of clothing. By giving old clothes a new home, shoppers help lower the demand for new production. When asked about why she thrifts, co-president of the thrift club, Irie Wall says, “I enjoy thrifting because it’s sustainable and good for the environment.” For Gen Z, many are highly aware of climate issues, thrifting has become a practical way to reduce their environmental footprint while still looking stylish.  One of the biggest draws of thrifting is the cost. With prices for new clothes constantly rising, thrift stores offer a way to shop without breaking the bank. For students who get paid minimum wage or anyone just trying to save money, thrifting offers clothes at an attainable price. Beyond savings, the lower cost encourages creativity, allowing shoppers to experiment with different styles without the pressure of spending too much. Thrifting has also grown into a social activity. Many teens spend weekends hunting for “hidden gems” with friends, turning shopping into a fun, shared experience. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram amplify this by popularizing “thrift hauls” and “upcycling” videos, where creators show off unique finds or transform old clothes into new pieces. However, thrifting isn’t only limited to in person stores anymore. Online platforms like Depop, Vinted, and Poshmark have made it easier than ever to buy and sell secondhand clothing. These apps turn thrifting into a global marketplace, where shoppers can hunt for unique items from the comfort of their own home and even sell their own pieces to others directly from their home. These platforms may take away from some of the social and environmental appeals of thrifting, but are still fun ways to shop secondhand. “I like thrifting in person because I get to see the items in store, however there are also less options. It is usually easier to find good pieces online, so I understand both.” -Lily Block, student at East. For Gen Z, thrifting represents a balance between affordability, environmental responsibility, and self-expression. It’s more than just a trend, it’s part of a larger movement  toward sustainable living and rejecting the culture of fast fashion. As thrift stores continue to fill with the energy of young shoppers, one thing is clear: secondhand is back in style, and it looks like it’s here to stay.

Last school year's controversial installment, the all-gender bathroom, is an ongoing fight between DPS and the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR). East High School announced the bathroom on the second floor, where the female-designated bathroom had been, on its official website on January 3, 2024. “These restrooms serve those who may feel uncomfortable in gender-specific facilities and align with our values of supporting every student” (“East High School » Introducing New All Gender Restrooms”). Soon after, on January 28, 2024, the Office for Civil Rights initiated a Title IX investigation (U.S. Department of Education). Originally, the female-designated bathroom was the only all-gender bathroom, leaving three male-designated bathrooms and only two female-designated bathrooms. The Trump Administration’s OCR found this bathroom in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX completely prohibits sex-discrimination in all educational spaces and programs (school, sports, etc.). In response to the investigation, East High School also converted the previously male-designated bathroom to an all-gender restroom in August 2025, when students returned to school. However, this change was not enough, and the OCR continued to claim Title-IX was being violated. Then, on August 28, the OCR released an ultimatum, giving Denver Public Schools 10 days, rather than the OCR Case Processing Manual’s typical 90 days, to conform to certain requirements, or “risk imminent enforcement action”. The requirements include the following: Convert all-gender restrooms back to “sex-designated” multi-stall restrooms. Remove policies that let students use “intimate facilities based on 'gender identity,' not biological sex”. Make an announcement to all DPS schools saying that schools “must provide intimate facilities that protect the privacy, dignity, and safety of its students and are comparably accessible to each sex”. “Adopt biology-based definitions for the words ‘male’ and ‘female’ in all policies and practices related to Title IX”. (“U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights Finds Denver Public Schools Violated Title IX”) Acting Assistant Secretary for the OCR stated, “Denver is free to endorse a self-defeating gender ideology, but it is not free to accept federal taxpayer funds and harm its students in violation of Title IX.” Alex Marrero, the Superintendent of Denver Public Schools, has made multiple statements regarding the issue. In his most recent letter, DPS Responds to OCR Regarding Alleged Title IX Violation , Marrero expresses DPS’s desire to “discuss resolutions”. So far, DPS is not backing down despite threats, and denies the claim that the restrooms are in violation of Title IX. “The decision to create all-gender restrooms was centered around feedback from students – including those who identify as LGBTQ+ and those who do not – seeking more private space with higher partitions and sealed sections between doors. Making this change at East served the needs and interests of many students in the East community. Students spoke up, and we listened. We will continue to stand with our students and for them against this onslaught of anti-LBGTQ+ sentiment,” Marrero asserts. Principal Walker also agreed that it was not exclusively one group reaching out that wanted the bathrooms. Students reportedly wanted bathrooms for many other reasons. Some reasons included privacy concerns, changing for sports, and long single-stall bathroom wait times. The only real change to the bathrooms is the stalls, which now reach 12 feet into the air, and gaps on the sides of the stalls being covered. “This is about what our kids, all of our kids, express. And there will be some kids who are not interested and that's fine too,” Walker notes, “I don't have any interest in telling people what is right or wrong. We teach kids to be critical thinkers and to think for themselves.” The conflict has yet to be resolved, as neither the Office of Civil Rights nor Denver Public Schools is conceding. East High School students have largely adapted to the changes, despite whether or not they agree with them. Still, the question remains: how far will either side go before yielding? Will the Office of Civil Rights be forced to back off of DPS, or will our school district surrender under the pressure of the so-called risk of “imminent enforcement action”? Only time will tell.