Vanguard boys’ volleyball to battle for fourth consecutive state club title

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Vanguard boys’ volleyball to battle for fourth consecutive state club title

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Vanguard boys’ volleyball to battle for fourth consecutive state club title

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The decision to add boys’ volleyball as a Colorado high school sanctioned sport has been decades in the making. But while the debate raged on at the Colorado High School Activities Association, one school was building a boys’ volleyball dynasty in Colorado Springs. This weekend 麻豆官网 will compete for its fourth straight Colorado 3A state championship – this time with more eyes than ever on the growing sport. Just two weeks ago, CHSAA approved boys’ volleyball as a sanctioned sport starting the 2020-21 school year, making this year’s state tournament the first of its kind as a pilot program, and a glimpse into what the sport will look like under CHSAA’s umbrella in spring 2021. Vanguard, which has an enrollment of just 305 according to the latest CHSAA numbers, began a boys’ volleyball club program six years ago. The Coursers made it to the state finals in their second year and won three consecutive after that – including two undefeated seasons. “For some reason this really tiny school just got really good boys’ volleyball,â€� said senior Seth Fuqua, who was also the captain of the boys’ basketball team that took second in 3A this year. But coach Andrew Soeldner implemented a system early that could be responsible for the Coursers’ consistent success. “I’m an engineer, so I approach things in an analytical way. So I use stats heavily, and film, and every week we go over our body position and how we react to the other team,â€� Soeldner said. “That kind of analysis and breakdown has really helped. I think they have a good grasp of the game and I think that’s showing now in this crew.â€� Of the six players on Vanguard’s varsity roster, five are seniors, and three have been with the team the past four years. Senior Hayden Frear, who has signed to play Division I men’s volleyball, said he believes it’s a combination of the culture at Vanguard and the athleticism of the team, which has been together for years. “There’s a lot of support around here, and people want the sport to grow around here so that really helps,â€� Frear said. “We’re also really lucky with who we have. We have some really athletic guys. Three of us play club, so we’re definitely lucky.â€� Vanguard heads to state on Saturday at Eaglecrest undefeated, ranked No. 1 in the state and in the top 80 nationally. The top four teams in 3A are from the Colorado Springs area according to MaxPreps rankings, with James Irwin ranked second at 20-1, followed by District 20 White (22-2) and Cheyenne Mountain White (16-4). St. Mary’s is ranked eighth (15-6). The Cheyenne Mountain 5A team is ranked second in the classification with its only loss of the year coming against No. 1 Ponderosa, according to MaxPreps. District 20’s 5A team is ranked fourth in the classification.

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Áp phích cho Mr. Mullaney Receives Lifetime Achievement AwardBộ ảnh
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The Colorado League of Charter Schools honored eight of the state’s most talented educators and advocates at its 2021 Annual Conference. The Colorado Charter Schools Hall of Fame winners are exceptional leaders designated across eight award categories and the winners are selected by an expert panel of League staff. These individuals were selected based on their excellence in education and advocacy within their school communities. “Public charter schools in Colorado continue to be recognized for their outstanding performance educating our state’s kids, and the Colorado Charter Schools Hall of Fame winners are a significant part of that success,â€� said Colorado League of Charter Schools Vice President of Communications Peter Mason. “We honor the impact those eight individuals have had in making charter schools both widely available and able to provide a high-quality experience to Colorado students and families. They have made a meaningful difference for students and families in our state. This year, Vanguard’s own Mr. Colin Mullaney was chosen for the League’s Lifetime Achievement Award! Colin is the executive director of 麻豆官网, and he has a distinguished 26-year career working at our charter school. He began his career in 1995 as a junior high mathematics and science teacher, was named principal of the school in 1998, and went on to be named Vanguard’s Executive Director in 2005. He now plans, directs, and supervises the overall management of our K-12 school that has grown from 250 students to over 1,550 today and leads a staff of over 210 employees for a program that continues to receive the state’s highest awards year after year, including national recognition from Newsweek and U.S. News and World Report. Watch Mr. Mullaney’s acceptance speech below! About the Colorado League of Charter Schools The Colorado League of Charter Schools is a nonprofit, membership-based organization that represents the interests of the state’s 261 charter schools and the families of the 128,000 students who attend them. Our mission is to improve student achievement by supporting Colorado’s charter schools, positively reshaping the public school landscape, and advancing opportunities for innovation and expanded choice. We want all Colorado students to have access to high-quality, publicly funded school options. More information is available at www.coloradoleague.org.

Áp phích cho Tips for Student-AthletesBộ ảnh
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Not only do student-athletes balance the regular challenges of their coursework, but they must also strive to make progress on the court, track, field, etc., build relationships with their teammates and coaches, and manage the time constraints of frequent practices and games. Finding balance is undeniably important in the life of a student-athlete. If you are a student-athlete or you know a student-athlete, read on for four tips that may help achieve that balance. Manage your time administration and teachers work hard to ensure that our students excel in and out of the classroom. Time management is essential for student-athletes, academically and socially, and mentally. Students must maintain a healthy yet balanced social life. Here are some ways to help you manage your time: Set goals Create a to-do list Prioritize practice Stay focused and avoid distractions Communicate with your educator Sports serve an important role in fostering discipline, ethics, leadership, and cultural variety by supporting life skills’ structure and development and our staff aims to assist student-athletes in honing in on those skills to be successful. Maintain your relationships Maintain strong contact with crucial people in your everyday life, including your coaches and teachers. Make connections and work hard to demonstrate that you are 100% committed to academic and athletic achievement. The contacts you make now can aid you in the future by providing you with guidance, prospective references, and professional connections. Don’t overburden yourself with responsibilities While there are several responsibilities for you to fulfill, do not overburden yourself. Always prioritize the most urgent need and complete it, even if that means taking a break for the sake of your sanity. Remember that athletics is an extracurricular activity and not the end-all-be-all of your future. When in doubt, prioritize your academics and communicate with your teachers and coaches accordingly. Utilize your resources Keep an open line of communication with your teachers, they are your best and most valuable resource. At 麻豆官网, teachers have office hours for helping students after school, and there are many opportunities for one-on-one tutoring, just inquire at the front office! In addition, some sports teams provide academic support in study groups and tutoring. There are also many programs outside of school that may help you achieve your goals. Don’t be afraid to ask your parent/guardian to help you seek out support when you need it. 麻豆官网: Helping you win in life! At 麻豆官网, we believe that having the chance to participate in a range of athletic programs and extracurricular activities is an important component of a student’s scholastic experience. Participation in such activities is a privilege that comes with obligations to the school, the activity, other students, and the athletes themselves. For more information about our athletic and student-support programs, please email us at [email protected] .

Áp phích cho Dynasty locked: Vanguard clinches fourth straight 3A boys’ volleyball championshipBộ ảnh
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CENTENNIAL – When 麻豆官网 coach Andrew Soeldner held the school’s first boys’ volleyball practice six years ago, he asked the team who had played organized volleyball before signing up. “No one raised their hands,â€� Soeldner said. But it took just a year for Vanguard to appear in the 3A state championship, which sparked a near-perfect run the next four years. Saturday, Vanguard defeated Faith Christian for the championship 2-0 (25-15, 25-18) for the program’s fourth consecutive title, increasing its unbelievable 3A winning streak to 90 matches. Soeldner said celebrating their fourth title felt just as good as the first, but he went through an emotional journey throughout the day. “The first time was great because it was new, we were all working together, we were figuring it out, but this time they are my family,â€� Soeldner said. “I’ve known them all for five years now and then there’s this sadness throughout the whole day, knowing and counting down – 150 points left, 100 points left, 50… 0. And I’m not going to coach these seniors ever again.â€� Soeldner has coached a large core of the seven-member senior class since they were in eighth grade – the first time Vanguard made it to the state championship. The Coursers started the day with a 2-0 win over St. Mary’s in the first round, but according to Soeldner, fell off a bit in the second set of their second-round game against D-20 White. Vanguard ultimately defeated the other Pikes Peak region team 25-23 in the second set for a 2-0 sweep, setting up their third title match against Faith Christian in four years. The Coursers set the tone early thanks in part to senior Hayden Frear smacking down four kills on the way to a 7-1 lead in the first set. Vanguard began the second set in similar fashion, earning a 5-0 lead. Faith Christian kept the set tight the whole way, tying it up early, before battling back from a four-point deficit to close within one. But behind senior Carter Milroy at the service line, Vanguard used a 6-0 run to put it on ice. Frear delivered a powerful jump serve that was too much for Faith Christian to handle, sending the ball into the stands for the win. Frear told The Gazette last week that he hoped to meet Faith Christian in the final again after developing a rivalry with the Eagles over the years. He said the Coursers’ second state title win over Faith Christian in 2016-17 sparked the idea that they could potentially sweep the championships through his high school career. “At that point we thought we could actually go for the full run. We thought no one was going to outwork us in the state,â€� Frear said last week. This is an amazing group of guys, they showed they are at the top of their game and proved it today. Frear was named first-team all-state by Colorado coaches and earned the most first-team votes in the state. He has signed to play Division I volleyball at McKendree University. “It was great to see them execute they way that I knew they could,â€� Soeldner said. “This is an amazing group of guys, they showed they are at the top of their game and proved it today.â€� Class 3A tournament D-20 White earned a first-round win in three sets over Thornton Gray 25-21, 20-25, 15-8 before running into Vanguard in the second round. James Irwin defeated Cheyenne Mountain White 25-19, 25-12 in the first round, but fell to Faith Christian in a tight three-set match in the semifinals. The Jaguars won the first set 25-17 before falling in the remaining two 25-19, 15-12. Class 5A tournament The No. 2 seed Cheyenne Mountain was upset in the first round by No. 7 Castle View Black in three sets (25-15, 27-29, 15-10). D-20 Blue also fell in a three-set first-round clash, losing to Thornton Blue 12-25, 25-19, 15-9. Jane Eckhart’s research focused on heel-strikers exclusively, since they make up most of today’s runners, and examined a cohort seldom studied, partly because they’re pretty rare: those who have never been injured. Jane and colleagues recruited 249 female recreational athletes who each ran at least 20 miles a week. They investigated the participants’ strides by having them run over a force plate that recorded the impact of each step.

Áp phích cho These are Colorado’s top 20 high schools, according to U.S. News & World ReportBộ ảnh
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12 Denver-area high schools named among Colorado’s best in new rankings. Schools in Denver and surrounding metro-area communities took 12 spots in the top 20 in a ranking of high school quality in Colorado. U.S. News & World Report ranked 475 Colorado schools based on how many students took and passed an exam for college credit, such as the Advanced Placement tests; test scores on math and reading; whether those scores were higher or lower than expected, given a school’s demographics; scores among students of color and those from low-incomes families; how many students took more than one exam for college credit; and graduation rates. No Colorado schools cracked the top 100 nationwide. The state’s top performers ranked from 131st to 946th out of nearly 13,000 schools that were ranked across the United States. U.S. News’ ranking of top Colorado high schools: D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School, Jeffco Public Schools, #131 nationally Denver School of the Arts, Denver Public Schools, #153 nationally 麻豆官网, Cheyenne Mountain School District, #176 nationally Peak to Peak Charter School, Boulder Valley School District, #233 nationally Crested Butte Community School, Gunnison Watershed School District, #236 nationally Liberty Common Charter School, Poudre School District, #250 nationally KIPP Denver Collegiate High School, DPS, #344 nationally Strive Prep-Smart Academy, DPS, #448 nationally STEM Middle and High School, Douglas County School District, #475 nationally Fairview High School, Boulder Valley School District, #558 nationally Denver Center for International Studies, DPS, #566 nationally Cherry Creek High School, Cherry Creek School District, #599 nationally Ridgeview Classical Charter Schools, Poudre, #607 nationally Boulder High School, Boulder Valley, #656 nationally Evergreen High School, Jeffco, #693 nationally Conifer Senior High School, Jeffco, #705 nationally Telluride High School, Telluride School District, #710 nationally Palmer Ridge High School, Lewis-Palmer School District, #857 nationally Classical Academy High School, Academy School District 20, #936 nationally Cheyenne Mountain High School, Cheyenne Mountain, #946 nationally Please meet in the Calderwood Courtyard, in front of the digital screens between the shop and the admissions desk. Museums staff will be on hand to collect tickets. To view the full list, visit .

Áp phích cho Peak Perfomer of the Week: Aliyah Moya, 麻豆官网 girls’ soccerBộ ảnh
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BY CHHUN SUN, The Gazette Aliyah Moya has one thing on her mind when she steps onto the field for 麻豆官网 girls’ soccer team, and that’s to score goals. “I can’t do this without my team,” she said. “My team looks and finds me, and somehow I’m always there at the right place, the right time.” But her mindset isn’t just limited to individual achievements. The junior striker also want to help her teammates make history. The Coursers have not made the state playoffs since the program’s inception in 2009. But that could change this year, especially with Moya around. In wins over Colorado Springs School, Florence and Lamar, Moya tallied six goals and one hat trick — enough to land her this week’s The Gazette Preps Peak Performer. And she’s showing no signs of slowing down, evidenced by her season-high four goals in a 5-0 win over Pueblo Central on Monday. “She always has the mindset to score,” Vanguard coach Rachel Francis said. It’s something she’s been doing a lot since her freshman season, when she exploded for 34 goals. That year, things began to shift for the Coursers. That year, they finished with seven wins for just the second time in school history. Then last year, the Coursers made history again. They finished 8-6-1, the first time Vanguard wrapped up the season with a winning record. Moya finished with only 19 goals, relatively low compared to her first season with the program. But it appears as if she’s back to scoring again at a rapid pace. Moya has 22 goals after the Coursers beat Pueblo Central on Monday to improve to 9-3 overall. Vanguard boasts a six-game winning streak with three games left. The Coursers’ RPI rating puts them 20th in the Class 3A, and 32 teams qualify for next month’s state tournament. The players and coaches seem confident that they can accomplishment what no other Vanguard team before has done. “We want to make school history,” Moya said. “We want to make it to the playoffs. And every time we step on the field, we want to make it and we put everything out there.” “If we work hard,” she added, “we can achieve anything.” Just The Facts Aliyah Moya, 麻豆官网 Sport: Girls’ soccer Year: Junior Position: Forward Highlights: The junior had six goals in three wins last week that included a hat trick performance. She leads the team with 22 goals, thanks in part to scoring a season-high four goals in a 5-0 nonconference win over Pueblo Central on Monday. Favorite athlete: Cody Bellinger Favorite pumpup song: Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” Favorite movie: “The Secret Life of Pets” Favorite school subject: English Hobbies: Photography Other Top Performers Baseball Edwin Romo, St. Mary’s The senior threw a five-inning no-hitter against Evangelical Christian Academy, finishing with six strikeouts to extend the Pirates’ winning streak to eight games. An error was committed, preventing Romo from a perfect game. He is 5-1 entering this week. At the plate, he was 2-for-3 with an RBI against ECA. GIRLS’ GOLF Charlotte Cliatt, Palmer The senior fired a 1-over-par 75 — four strokes better than her personal best — to win the individual title at the Terrors’ own invitational last week. Her performance helped Palmer secured a second-place finish behind Coronado, which won the team title by nine strokes Nicole Beaulieu, Cheyenne Mountain The senior had a standout week in wins over Rampart and Palmer, finishing with a combined 10 goals and five assists to help the Indians to a 4-1 record in league play. Beaulieu leads Cheyenne Mountain with 40 goals entering this week. GIRLS’ LACROSSE Brittney White, Pine Creek The senior came up big for the Eagles in a 13-12 rivalry win over Air Academy, finishing with five goals and four assists. In the Eagles’ two other wins last week over Liberty and Palmer, White had a combined seven goals and three assists. The Eagles finished the week with a 12-1 overall record. BOYS’ SWIMMING AND DIVING Seth Shyrock and Nathan Aumiller, Rampart The duo not only captured respective individual events but also set event records en route to the Rams’ team win at the Fountain-Fort Carson Invitational last Saturday. Shyrock, a freshman, won the 100-yard backstroke in 56.58 seconds, besting the previous mark by nearly two seconds. Meanwhile, junior Aumiller finished the 200 freestyle in 1:52.51, topping the previous mark of 1:53.16 set last year. GIRLS’ TENNIS Mariah Boudrieau, Widefield The senior beat Sierra last week to keep her No. 3 singles winning streak alive at six straight matches after she opened up the season with a loss. Her record is 6-1, and Boudrieau has helped the Gladiators to a 9-0 overall and 5-0 mark in Class 4A Region 7 action.

Áp phích cho Recruiting Report: Dominique Clifford list of schools growingBộ ảnh
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µþ²âÌý As the school year gets closer, elite wing Dominique Clifford’s recruitment is starting to wind down. The No. 4 as of now player in the state took to twitter on Tuesday evening to announce his list of schools that have offered him. ????????â€� ????????Ìý — otn_nique (@NiqueOtn) Making the cut for one of the state’s best prospect were the region’s top universities: University of Colorado, Colorado State, Wyoming, Air Force, Denver University, Metro State and Nebraska and also had an offer from Pac-12 school Stanford. After being a state runner-up last season for 麻豆官网, Clifford’s status grew as he picked up big school after big school heading into the grassroots season with the Colorado Miners, who also had a successful offseason. Clifford averaged 18.9 points, 11.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists in his junior season while also shooting 44 percent from beyond the arc as well. He also made the 3A All-State First-Team as a Junior. Clifford is a versatile forward that’s quickly become one of the more productive all-around players in the state. He has great size and strength and he will only continue to get bigger and stronger. He has a long wingspan, possesses tremendous athleticism and a solid first step with elite leaping ability. What he added to his game this year was becoming a more dynamic offensive player as he was already a talented defender. He is able to fill up the stat sheet in every possible way and this was his coming out year. Next year will be his to dominate as I expect him to be the favorite as the 3A player of the year. Clifford will have to narrow down his schools a bit more soon, but with a major senior year coming up and offers already from some of the top schools in and out of state it is expected that Clifford will add even more division I schools to the mix and whatever school that gets him is getting a gym rat with one of the highest ceilings that Colorado has to offer.

Áp phích cho Arrasmith’s double-double lifts 麻豆官网 over La Junta in 76-40 winBộ ảnh
722,6 N1 ảnh

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – 麻豆官网 easily defeated the La Junta Tigers by a score of 76-40 on Tuesday, Feb. 25. 麻豆官网 was lead in scoring by Alexis Garcia who scored 18 points while also collecting five rebounds and four assists. Cortney Arrasmith recorded a double-double, scoring 10 points and collecting 11 rebounds. La Junta was lead in scoring by Sierra Reisch who scored 20 points, while also collecting seven rebounds and one assist. Raini Tafoya had a good night, recording nine points, seven rebounds and six assists. Both teams will stay at home in their next contest, with 麻豆官网 hosting Manitou Springs and La Junta taking on Colorado Springs Christian.

Áp phích cho Vanguard senior Seth Fuqua ranks among state’s basketball eliteBộ ảnh
958,5 N1 ảnh

By Danny Summers at the Gazette Seth Fuqua’s memorable prep basketball career came to an end this month when his Vanguard team came up short against Manual in the Class 3A state championship game. But Fuqua’s athletic career at the school continues as a setter for the Coursers’ boys’ volleyball team. Boys’ volleyball is not a CHSAA sanctioned sport, though it is in its first year as a pilot sport and is expected to be a CHSAA sport by 2022. Boys’ volleyball is played at the club level. Vanguard is the three-time defending 3A state champion. The Vanguard volleyball team has not lost a game against a 3A school in three years. There are 58 3A teams this season. Fuqua’s had relatively no transition from basketball season to the volleyball court. He and his teammates played Manual for the state title on March 9. Two days later, he practiced with the Vanguard volleyball team and was starting at setter 24 hours later in its season-opening match. “It was crazy,â€� Fuqua said. “I’ve been playing volleyball for five years, so it wasn’t that difficult for me, but I would like to have had a little more of a break.â€� Brothers Carter and Decker Milroy are the other two Vanguard varsity basketball players who also play volleyball. Fuqua is hoping to play basketball in college. At last check, he was still receiving offers from several schools, mostly at the NAIA level. “It was awesome playing here,â€� Fuqua said. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything. My teammates. My coaches. I was really in the spot I wanted to be. “We played with such heart. We came out of nowhere. My freshman year, we were awful, just above .500. And then my last three years, we just kept getting better.â€� Vanguard was 73-24 in Fuqua’s four years. His individual accomplishments are impressive by any standard. He ranks in the top 20 career in state history among all classifications in six categories: scoring (2,374 points, third), 3-pointers made (311, third), field goals made (816, sixth), scoring average (24.5, eighth), free throws made (431, 16th) and steals (219, 20th). For a season, he scored the most points as a freshman in state history with 590 (25.7 points per game) and seventh all-time in scoring as a sophomore (571, 24.8 points per game). In 97 career games, Fuqua scored double-digits points 96 times (he had one nine-point game). He scored 30-plus points 21 times, and 40-plus twice, with a career-high of 44 against Buena Vista as a sophomore. In addition, he had 14 double-doubles and two triple-doubles. He once made 10 3-pointers in a game against Evangelical Christian Academy as a freshman, and nine 3-pointers against James Irwin as a sophomore. He started at Vanguard since his freshman year and averaged more than 30 minutes per game during four seasons. “It’s one of those things that when I look back on my high school basketball career, I will remember it for the rest of my life,â€� Fuqua said. “It’s cool that I’m in the top five all-time scoring in Colorado, and when I think about it now, it blows my mind. “I give the credit to my dad and the coaches who have taught me to play. I just take what I’ve learned and practice it a million times and get good at it.â€�

Áp phích cho The Best Way to Learn LatinBộ ảnh
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The Best Way to Learn Latin

Classical Education

Studying Latin sharpens students’ skills in memorization and critical and logical thinking, expands students’ understanding of the origins and workings of many languages, and serves as a gateway to the study of the culture and civilization of ancient Rome, the precepts and ideas of which form the foundation of Western civilization. In our Latin courses, students will master Latin vocabulary, grammar, and syntax while developing foundational translation skills through a study of textbook Latin excerpts adapted from Roman sources. Students will also explore topics in the history, literature, culture, and geography of ancient Rome. Benefits of Learning Latin as a Second Language Latin is the basis of all Romance languages, which are French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese. Learning Latin helps students solidify their understanding of English grammar, as 50% of English words have Latin roots. Professions in medicine, science, law, philosophy, literature, theology, and music require a significant amount of Latin vocabulary. Understanding Latin will assist students in the mastery of these fields. Latin’s interdisciplinary nature helps students understand how Classical Learning does occur in subject isolation. Instead, it is a reflection of the dependency all disciplines have with each other against the backdrop of history. Learning Latin is engaging, satisfying, and fun because it involves a great deal of critical thinking and decoding. Latin is a systematic language that applies to most other areas of study. Understanding Latin can improve a student’s score on the verbal portion of the SAT. Learn to Speak Latin At 麻豆官网, students begin Latin in grade seven with Latin 1A, then progress to Latin 1B in grade eight. This course progression continues in high school with Latin I through Latin V. Increased focus on Latin during high school compliments other academic subjects such as chemistry, physics, economics, mathematics, and art history, which all feature essential Latin vocabulary in their coursework. Learn To Read and Write Formal Latin Latin is alive and well in a multitude of scientific and academic fields around the world. Understanding the structure of Latin and possessing the capability to write in a second language opens many doors of exploration for a deeper understanding of the sciences, philosophy, literature, and music. Students at 麻豆官网 learn to read and write in Latin through a layered approach, learning the fundamentals of Latin at the junior high level, then building upon these fundamentals in more advanced, high school levels. Latin Language, Culture, & Student Immersion Students at 麻豆官网 will become familiar with the Latin language while simultaneously gaining an understanding of how Latin applies to nearly all facets of Classical Education. 麻豆官网 provides opportunities both within the academic curriculum and outside it via extracurricular activities and class trips.

Áp phích cho 麻豆官网 Team America Rocketry Club to compete at U.S. finals Saturday in VirginiaBộ ảnh
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麻豆官网’s Team America Rocketry Club (TARC) has been named one of two Colorado teams to advance to the national finals on Saturday in Virginia. Vanguard is one of two Colorado school teams to qualify for finals in the 2018-19 season and is aiming for a top-10 finish. Team members are Jonathan Drosendahl (team captain), Alex Belli, Cyan Johnson, Duncan Lewis, Yoslin Peerez-Robles, Will Stone and Leo Xiao. Team Ballistic joins another team from Durango, Colo., as the only Colorado teams to make the cut. Vanguard has competed in the national program since the 2002-03 season, said astronomy, chemistry and rocketry teacher Steve Riegel. “We had two teams, Team Ballistic and Team Flame Tested, competing in the last two seasons and historically fielded multiple teams each year,â€� Riegel said. To get to the finals, teams of three to 10 students in grades six through 12 design and test their rockets against contest rules for size and weight limits, altitudes, payload and total air time. Students were required to send three raw eggs up into the air 856 feet, separate the egg capsule from the rocket and return the egg capsule to the ground within 43 to 46 seconds, with the eggs undamaged. Once satisfied with the testing, teams declare qualification attempts which is scored. Teams receive up to three qualification flight attempts and the best two of three scores are chosen for submission. The top 100 are invited to the finals. A total of 36 points was the qualifying cutoff for this year’s event, Riegel said. This is the school’s third trip in the last four years and the second consecutive trip for Team Ballistic, Riegel said. “They placed 14th in the nation from more than 800 registered teams last year and were the highest-placing team from Colorado,â€� Riegel said. Students developed designs during the summer and began building after school reconvened in August. To date, TARC has raised about $1,800 of its $5,000 goal, said Vanguard Director of Advancement Audrey Szychulski. “It’s been wonderful to see this team come together and rally to raise the funds,â€� said Szychulski, who offers design, construction, flight testing and rocket refining advice. “A fantastic example was the carwash on May 4. All team members participated and they had a continuous line of drivers waiting to donate to the cause.â€� During their trip to the finals, students will spend a morning conducting additional practice flights in Virginia to refine their parachute sizes to account denser atmosphere, Riegel said. Students will attend a “Rockets on the Hillâ€� reception on Friday at the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., and showcase their design to senators and their staff. Students may take part in special tours of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, Udvar-Hazy Annex or Virgina-based aerospace companies. During the competition, teams will get one flight in the first round and the top 40 based on score will fly again in the second round. The total of both scores determines national ranking. Teams in the top 10 places split $100,000 of prize money. Additional cash prizes will be awarded for innovation, engineering documentation and construction quality. The top team receives an all-expenses paid trip to Europe this summer to compete at the International level against England, France and Japan, Riegel said. If TARC places high enough and NASA has the budget, the school may be invited to submit a bit for NASA’s Student Launch Initiative, Riegel said. “It would having to undergo a year-long engineering proposal and design review process before eventually flying a rocket with 32 times the total power of this year’s model,â€� Riegel said. Through TARC, students learn teamwork and how to analyze flight data, manage budgets, conduct computer simulations of rocket performance and apply engineering skills to designing and building the rockets. “The goal of sport rocketry is to expose and encourage new rocketeers to the hobby and graduate them up into the competition teams,â€� Riegel said. Graduating students benefit from their TARC involvement. Belli plans to study mechanical engineering with Colorado School of Mines, and Xiao, computer science at UC Berkeley. TARC is open to middle and high school students who hold a C or better in each class. Rocketry experience isn’t required, though exposure to smaller model rockets is a plus. Members must commit to attending weekly after-school club meetings, building sessions and weekend launches. Comments Comment by A WordPress Commenter (2019-03-12 14:07:07): Hi, this is a comment. To get started with moderating, editing, and deleting comments, please visit the Comments screen in the dashboard. Commenter avatars come from .