For the second year in a row, our school hosted a student versus staff basketball game to contribute to the Stepping Stones Foundation. November 4th through November 16th, we collected cans from the students and Columbine community for charity towards Stepping Stones, leading up to the student staff basketball game! It was a fun back and forth game, ending with the staff winning with a 20 point lead. Although students were let down from their defeat, it was still a fun time for everyone. Anyone can be a part of the student staff game, whether a student has experience with basketball or not. After asking student Zack Edmonson, 11, how he thinks he played, he explained, “Not great, I made 0 shots, had 0 assists, and no rebounds. Overall, I had a fun time, despite the turnovers and fouls.” Despite Zack feeling like he played poorly, he still had a good time playing with his friends and competing against his teachers. On a more confident perspective, Mr. Wilson on the staff team shared, “I think I cooked a little bit, gave the students some buckets, but overall I had a lot of fun.” Mr. Wilson was happy to beat the students (after a defeat the previous year) and had fun interacting with the crowd. Aside from the game, man poms performed an entertaining halftime show, dancing to songs like “Ain't No Love in Oklahoma” and “Country Girl.” Overall, it was a good time for a good cause, with our students donating a total of 5,047 cans of food.  

-Article by Taylor Ackerman

-Photos by Lily Datchler

Rosmin, Paulina and Octavian are our friends who came and visited us all the way from Tanzania in September of 2023! Rosmin and Paulina run a children's home with around 36 kids varying in age, and Octavian is one of the first few kids to go through the home and has since become a very successful safari and mountain guide due to his passion for photography. Columbine has been very honored and excited to welcome these guests into our rebel family these past few weeks and even before that back in 2018 when they first visited. These three together visited many classrooms each day to share their stories, answer questions, and simply engage with the students. At the homecoming assembly, Rosmin led the student section through a chant of words of affirmation: “I am special, I am unique, I am loved, no one like me!” The chant was repeated at least 15 times before he closed his speech with a heartfelt thank you for inviting him and his family into our Columbine home. Mr. Garkow, who hosted our visitors, also had a community night where people from the community came into the auditorium and shared their stories, answered questions and interacted with the crowd to create  genuine connections with each person in the room. When asked what his favorite part of being at Columbine was, Rosmin simply said, all of the people are his favorite part. Rosmin, Paulina and all of the kids back at the home handmade 400 bracelets with the phrase “WE ARE COLUMBINE” written in blue or silver. They both walked around the school with Octavian during passing period, handing them out to anyone who wanted them. They have left a mark on this school and have touched many lives with their endless supply of kindness and inspiring stories. We can’t wait to see you again!