A single word can be used to sum up the school year so far: change. There have been so many different changes at RHS already, and some of them are for the better, such as the football team helping out teachers one Friday of each month.

The new requirement means that each member of the football team has to go out and help teachers either here at RHS or at elementary schools, where they can read to and play with kids. They also have the option of helping with the ILS kids one Friday of every month.

They split the whole team into eight different teams. Six of them go off campus to help at the elementary schools, while the other two stay here on campus to help out teachers with anything they need.

Mr. Benzel said that their inspiration came from wanting to help out more.

“We’ve done some of these things in the past and it always feels good to do some things that are right. And, when they’re helping other people, it kind of helps you get outside of yourself and that’s what we’re trying to do is be apart of something bigger than ourselves,” Mr. Benzel said.

This allows the football team to grow closer to the community and help out around all of Rocklin. It also helps Rocklin’s teachers get more done or, in some cases, have less to worry about now that the football team is there to help out.

This change has also been rewarding for the team. Not only does it bring them closer to the staff here at their school, but also brings them closer to the overall community.

“It’s good that we’re doing something besides lifting weights and talking about football. It’s good that we’re interacting with the rest of the school and community. It’s good because those little kids and the ILS kids look up to us, so it’s cool that we’re giving back to them,” varsity football player Michael Nolan said.

A sense of community is something that RHS cherishes, and it brings the school closer together. Perhaps this change is something that will affect the whole school, making it a more positive environment to those in need.