2270 Highway 133
Carbondale, CO 81623
October 2014
Volume 8 Issue 1
The Rampage
Photos by Sue Rollyson Left: Boys soccer team celebrate a victory after winning 4-1 over Vail Mountain School. They are 7-2 this season. Ariel Palomera, a senior on the team, credits their success to “playing as a family.” Above: The Rams football defense lines up during a home game against the opposing Olathe Pirates. The Rams look to improve their 1-4 record as Class 2A conference games get under way.
Joining the Roaring Fork crew -Kristin Page There are eight new staff members at Roaring Fork this year, including Jake Strevig, Laurel Henderson, and Omar Rubio. Strevig has a passion for science and studied it in college. Henderson grew up in the Valley, but left to teach in Ecuador. Rubio grew up in the Valley, graduated from Roaring Fork High School, and moved on to Syracuse University. The first day at Roaring Fork as a new staff member is overwhelming and exciting at the same time for many teachers. For Mr. Strevig, it had been a long time since he had been in a classroom. “Working as a student teacher here makes me remember my own high school years,” said Strevig, the student teacher for Hadley Hentschel. Thankfully “nothing too crazy” happened on the first day.
What’s inside:
AP Classes (Page 2)
“Roaring Fork had a nice welcoming for me,” assured Strevig. Before he decided to come out to Colorado, Strevig lived in San Diego, California with his wife. “I find science interesting and relevant,” Strevig explained. He wanted a teaching position so he could be a positive role model and share knowledge with others. Strevig’s favorite time so far this year has been playing in the intramural volleyball tournaments at lunch time in the gym. “The teacher team can take on anyone,” boasted Strevig. Laurel Henderson came back to Colorado last year from Quito, Ecuador where she lived with her fiance and taught English for four years in a bilingual school. Henderson returned to the Valley to raise her new baby and reconnect with people. She graduated from Colorado Rocky Mountain School and has friends and family here.
Check out new RFHS clubs! (Page 4)
“It was exciting to meet all the new faces of the staff and students,” said Henderson. For Henderson, getting everything done with minimal time has been the most challenging part of the year so far. Omar Rubio, the new secretary, is originally from Mexico, but moved here 11 years ago. He graduated from Roaring Fork High School and continued his education at Syracuse University, where he recently graduated. “It’s a nice experience coming back and working here,” said Rubio.. When he went to high school, it was different, but there are also similarities. “Teachers are the same so it’s a little bit weird having them as a co-worker instead of being their student,” he said. Rubio’s first day back at Roaring Fork was stressful because he didn’t really have much experience as a secretary, but fortunately, he’s already has the hang of it.
Captain’s Corner (Page 6)
Gems of the Valley (Page 8) Contact us at rframpage@gmail.com
News
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Cafeteria school lunch: Yum or yuck?
-Jacky Jacquez
When lunchtime rolls around, many Roaring Fork High School students choose to eat off-campus rather than eat the lunch provided by the school cafeteria. They are able to pick from many stores and restaurants including 7-11, the City Market Deli, Heidi’s, Peppinos and Subway. These local stores and restaurants are bombarded with high school students while the cafeteria is often left with just a few. Many people go out because they don’t like the offerings in the cafeteria. Students say there is not much variety to choose from. There are the usual meals of chicken with mashed potatoes, a pizza with a salad, spaghetti with a breadstick, and many other traditional--but lackluster--meals. In 2010, Colorado passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which requires schools in the state to provide “Smart Snacks” that meet nutritional standards. The law took effect on July 1, 2014. According to a fact sheet provided by the Colorado Department of Education, “The new standards allow schools to offer healthier snack foods, while limiting the amount of junk food served to students.” This law was established because of the obesity concerns and need to limit access to other foods which are often sold in school vending machines. What does this law mean for RFHS? This year, students in Denise Wright’s World Travelers Club are not allowed to sell baked goods while school is in session to fundraise for the Costa Rica trip. This has made it more difficult for students to raise money for extracurricular activities in the traditional ways. Although the state wants to support student health, this doesn’t necessarily encourage Rams to eat healthy food. Many RFHS students don’t want to eat at school because of the lack of appealing meals. RFHS senior Gloria Candela stated that she wishes for more “variety” in school lunches. “This way, the food being provided would not go to waste and students would eat at school more often,” she said. She would like to sit down with her friends in the cafeteria and enjoy lunch, but it’s hard when they get bored of eating the same five meals.
A sophomore at RFHS, who wished to remain anonymous, said that he personally does not enjoy eating at school because it’s tiring to eat the “same lunches again and again.” To improve school lunches, he thinks there should be “a mixed variety of foods, while still keeping lunches healthy.” Despite a strong commitment to make the best lunches possible at school, the cafeteria staff has found that fewer and fewer students are waiting in line for lunch.
Successful AP classes What’s New at RFHS -Carley Moravek
Last year, students excelled in the newly introduced Advanced Placement (AP) classes at Roaring Fork. AP is a program in the United States which offers college-level curriculum and exams to high school students, and many American colleges grant course credit if a student obtains a high score on the exam. AP tests are scored on a one to five scale. A score of five means a student is “Extremely Well Qualified” and one equals Photo by Lucy Stevens “No Recommendation.” Advanced Placement Government students are working hard According to Matthew to prepare for the AP exam in May 2015. Last year, many Wells, AP World History Roaring Fork Students excelled in AP classes. teacher, 16 out of 20 AP World History students passed the exam, and four students achieved the score of five last year. Last year, AP Literature was taught by Denise Wright. All of her students passed the exam. Two students received threes, three received fours, and three received fives. This year, Krystal Wu is teaching AP Literature. “I would love to see Advanced Placement expand even more,” Ms. Wright said. While she thinks AP Literature is a fabulous class, AP Language, which would require more non-fiction reading and is a more accessible test, would be a great addition, too. Last year, the demand rose for AP classes which led to the addition of three new AP courses. This school year, Roaring Fork added AP Spanish Language, AP Calculus, and AP Government to last year’s class offerings of AP World History, AP Literature, and AP Art. Both students and staff members are excited with all the AP classes offered at RFHS .
-Caitlin O’Gorman RFHS is Going Solar!- The school board approved the installation of a solar array at Roaring Fork High School. The solar panels will power RFHS, and will save the school district about $400,000 in the next 20 years, with installation happening within the next year.
The Soccer Team- The boys soccer team dominated Vail Mountain 4-1 on Tuesday, September 16. With a rough start after Vail scoring in the first ten minutes, Roaring Fork scored two goals by half time. The Homecoming soccer game was a successful win too against CRMS. The final score was 6-1.
Shop Locally- Colorado small businesses are now accepting COjacks. COjacks is a way for people to spend money at small businesses. Four dollars can buy you five COjacks, which retails for five dollars.
New Look for the Baseball Field-The baseball field is going to be upgraded to a grass infield. The field will be ready to go for the spring season. Also, the baseball field is going to add a concession stand.
Chromebook Madness- The Roaring Fork School District has added about 2,370 Chromebooks at 12 sites in Basalt, Carbondale and Glenwood Springs. The school district wants to be sure that if there are 25 kids in a class, there are 25 Chromebooks for the students to use.
Strong Defiance Equals a Win for the Football Team- The football team started the season out strong, beating Grand Valley 39-20. The Rams defense worked hard and even came up with a touchdown of their own.
Almost There- Students will be happy to hear that they have almost made it through the first quarter of the school year. The quarter ends on October 22.
Rams Beat Basalt- The Volleyball team showed up at Basalt High School to ruin their Homecoming game. The Varsity team crushed the Longhorns winning three games to one.
News
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Homecoming week all wrapped up -Maeve O’Donnell Pax
September 27 was a busy day for the students of Roaring Fork High School. With the Potato Day parade in the morning and the homecoming dance at night, it was a hectic and fun way to end all of the activities of Spirit Week. Each grade at RFHS pulled together to make their own Potato Day float encompassing the theme Spudtacular Views. The freshmen approached the theme with 14 fourteeners, one of them being Mount Elbert which they had all climbed the previous year. The sophomores focused on the idea of camping, hunting, and hiking, and the juniors had a potato sack fashion show with multiple views of mountains. Meanwhile, the seniors built a huge peak and included the concept of backpacking and hiking in the mountains. The seniors took first place, a much-deserved prize for all their hard work. The most difficult challenge for the classes when building their floats was the lack of time. The parade fell at the end of Roaring Fork’s busiest week, but despite the difficulty of time, the students all made the deadline. For the most part, every class showed massive amounts of enthusiasm and science teacher and Student Council advisor, Laura French, announced that in the past the floats have not reflected our school spirit, but “I saw a lot more excitement this year, especially excitement from the students building them.” So far this year, the school has shown more spirit than years past, and everyone is excited to see even more school spirit next year. The first Potato Days celebration occurred in 1909, and Carbondale has carried on this tradition to the present day. Many of the long time teachers at RFHS can’t remember when exactly Roaring Fork started participating in the parade, as it seems like it has been happening forever. RFHS’s participation in the festivities is extremely important to a lot of students, faculty, and community members. The high school’s homecoming dance was centered around the theme of neon and was decked out with black lights and glow sticks. “I was very impressed by everything! I think a lot people had fun and the decorations were great,” Ruby Lang, Head Girl, expressed as she talked about the dance. The dance has been a part of the homecoming tradition for a long time, and is a celebration for all the students’ hard work. In recent years, the dance has not had a very good turnout. Last year, however, the dance once again started to become an event that the students looked forward to. Spirit Week helps relieve all the stress and commotion from the first few weeks of school. It provides a much needed break and is an essential part of the integration of the freshmen. The week ended with a bang and was a great success and booster of spirit for the school and the community. (Photos below by Sue Rollyson)
Feature Saturday Summer Routine
GSA: Ms. Wu runs the Gay Straight Alliance club which promotes justice for all people regardless of their sexualality. This club raises awareness for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Queer (LGBTQ) community while also hosting movie nights for the school and participating in the Day of Silence.
-Bella Bailey
As the leaves start to change, Roaring Fork High School is still daydreaming about summer. As an allusion to The New York Times’ “Sunday Routine,” The Rampage asked fellow Rams what their normal Saturday summer routine looked like. Get to know the participants: Emily Fisher is a the senior class president at Roaring Fork High School. She is an active member of the basketball and soccer teams and has an outgoing personality. Omar Rubio is a former Ram himself, who graduated in 2010. Omar is the new secretary at RFHS. He enjoys mangos and flowers. Roark Roney is a short guy with a big personality who is the Yearbook and Photography teacher at Roaring Fork High School. Adam Carballeira brings life into his English I and Creative Writing classes, and has been doing so for three years. Students know him as a “wild” teacher who is always thinking outside the box.
New clubs take off
Morning rush: Roney: Maybe I will pay a bill or two. Then, my little daughter gets up; she’s three. She always says “Dad!” then jumps in my arms. Then I get her changed; she always wants to wear a dress. Never pants and a shirt, which would be totally nice. She always wears a dress. Fisher: I go for a run through the majestic hills of River Valley Ranch. Rubio: I’ll ride my bike to Prince Creek. You know, normal stuff. Carballeira: We probably go on a hike somewhere with the dog.
diverse high school culture. There is always something happening, whether it be a trip to Europe, a Nordic ski day, solar panels being built in the schoolyard, or a game of hide-and-go-seek with Rams Unidos. Whether students want to join a club or not, there’s a large chance of finding their niche. In addition, colleges across the nation look for students that have gotten involved in communities and school. What can you do to become a member of the Ram community or “ramify”?
Midday hustle: Roney: I make my daughter breakfast. It’s usually cheddar cheese and applesauce, or cheddar cheese and apples, every single morning. Then she watches Sesame Street because I always record it the night before. While she’s doing that, I’m fussing around. Fisher: After my juice, I take a shower. Because I don’t smell lovely. Rubio: Everything is pretty much boring, until the night. The twilight hour: Roney: It just varies. We have a ranch, so sometimes we go and work on stuff. Sometimes I go play tennis, and every once in a blue moon, I exercise. I’ll clean the house, do a little yard work, boring stuff like that. Fisher: I go to work. I’m a lifeguard. I save lots of lives at the Carbondale Pool. Kids love to drown there, so I jump in and blow my whistle, do my thing. Sometimes there is CPR, most of the time there isn’t. I usually take an hour break in the middle of my day to work out with my boss. He’s pretty cool, pretty crazy, but cool. Then I go back to save more lives. Carballeira: There is a time when the sun is out and it’s super hot. So we all relax and read. Then, I probably go on a mountain bike ride or a run. After the sun sets: Fisher: Sometimes I’ll go to basketball or soccer practice. I come home to have a beautiful dinner with my lovely family. Then, I go to bed. Carballeira: I come back and have a beer on the porch with my wife. Then, I go out. You know, take a walk. That makes me miss summer. If there is a party, we’ll stay up late. Otherwise, I’ll go to sleep at 10:00pm. You know, I like sleep so I don’t put it off. Rubio: My friends and I will usually go out bar hopping for a bit. That’s a normal Saturday.
Emily Fisher
Omar Rubio
Roark Roney
Adam Carballeira
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Rams Unidos: RU is creating a place where all students feel welcome. The club hosts interactive games for the entire school to participate in. Their goal is “to unify our school by integrating different cultures -Eryn Doherty and ideas and creating an environment where we can all Everyone seems to find a place to fit in at Roaring speak our minds.” See Ms. Fork. With a variety of clubs to join, RFHS strives for a Wu for more information.
Photo by Sue Rollyson From left to right, Esme Lopez, Evy Morales, Paige Gianinetti and Delia Montoya perform stunts at the RFHS homecoming pep rally.
Model UN: The Model UN is a club that teaches students about the United Nations and how to solve global issues. The students improve their understanding of current world events, practice public speaking, and advance their research skills. The club plans on attending the National High School Model UN conference in New York City. Students will research a country to represent as they sit in on a UN committee. “This club is open to anyone who wants to join,” says Mr. Wells. “We are always looking for more participants.”
Outdoor Leadership: Students will learn the skills for successful travel and exploration in the wilderness, using teamwork, decisionmaking, leadership, and communication. They will also learn to connect with the community by giving back. See Ms. Caruso for more information. Climbing Club: Students will be able to expand their limits through climbing by practicing challenging routes. They will have the chance to compete in competitions held by the Colorado High School Climbing League. The team meets Tuesday and Thursday at CRES. Talk to Mr. Olszewski for more information.
Energy Club: The Energy Club, sponsored by Ms. Boland, is a club that tries to reduce the high school’s carbon footprint and the energy that the school uses. The club’s long term goal of making Roaring Fork 100% solar is finally happening. Solar panels will be built in the school’s yard. After the panels are built, the Energy Club will look for ways to minimize the amount of energy used from heat and other fossil fuels.
Intramural Sports: Girls and boys are provided a lunchtime activity of a variety of sports. The games are give students a chance to show off their athletic skills without the pressure of actually joining a school sport. Talk to Mr. Woodard for more information.
Pep Squad: The pep-squad is a student-led group that encourages school spirit at RF events. By participating in this club, you get a free Rams t-shirt to wear to all the sports games. Students are encouraged to become part of the Ram Family by showing their Blue and Gold pride.
National Honors Society: Students are chosen based on academics, school involvement, leadership and community service. Students have the chance to earn a college scholarship that’ll lead to a bright future.
World Travelers: The purpose of World Travelers is to expand the classroom by providing opportunities for international travel. This year, a group of students will be taken to Costa Rica for a service project where they will stay in the homes of locals and work in the schools. The teacher sponsor, Mrs. Wright, says “the group of students participating is very diverse.” By having the trip be through the school, it allows a larger group of students to go and for Costa Rica to be less expensive than trips taken in the past.
Student Court: Mr. Williams is in charge of the Student Court which is a program where the youth learn about minor delinquent acts or school-wide offenses. In this club, students who have made a violation come before a jury of their peers who decide the outcome of the situation.
Feature
5 Rampage October 2014
New vivacious vice principal: Kelsie Goodman -Katie Weimer
As the new vice principal, Kelsie Goodman’s vision for Roaring Fork is to have a safe, welcoming building where people with grit, curiosity and passion can answer their unanswered questions, and with teachers who care about kids and kids who care about learning. After graduating from Truman State University, Ms. Goodman taught at a school in Missouri. It was not until three years ago that her first thoughts of the aspiration to be vice principal surfaced.
Her favorite part about being vice principal is being able to see students every day that she didn’t get to see last year while teaching Spanish. Her dedication for teaching is apparent through her being the first and last faculty member to arrive and leave school every day. After Ms. Goodman received the call that she would be the next vice principal, the first thing she did to prepare herself was to sign up for instructional classes on skills such as supervision and evaluation. Something that is especially new to
her is the organizational diagnosis of schools, such as the data, culture, climate and marketing needs that were not an everyday thought when she was teaching. What she misses most about teaching is the long periods of time to be with students in the classroom. She also missed the weird and funny things that would happen and the ahha moments when something would click with a student. Now, you have the chance to get to know Ms. Goodman yourself!
Q: If you could sing one song on American Idol what would it be? A: “Anything Mariah Carey.” Q: Who is your celebrity crush? A: “Cristiano Ronaldo, isn’t he everyones?” Q: What is your biggest fear? A: “Deep water, deep space, and ravens.” Q: How many times have you fainted? A: “The first time I fainted was freshman year during choir practice, getting ready for our concert. I was in the back row and I was feeling really weird and I thought, ‘Oh man, my tummy hurts. I should have stayed home,’ and the next thing I knew I was on the floor in the middle of the choir room. My friends told me that I had completely domino-ed the soprano section and took out everyone.”
Photo by Lucy Stevens Junior Javin Krzych poses with new vice principal Kelsie Goodman.
Q: In your opinion, what is the most pointless thing ever invented? A: “I think a backscratcher, because, you know, you can just get a friend.” Q: If you were stranded on an island with three people who would they be? A: “The dad from Swiss Family Robinson, Bear Grylls, I want someone who can cook, and Katniss Everdeen.” Q: What is your most embarrassing moment of high school? A: “Falling asleep in my tuba.” Q: If you were a fruit what would it be and why? A: “ A grape: I like to stay bunched up close to those I love.”
Change in junior varsity soccer coaching staff -Kayla Derby The Roaring Fork JV boys’ soccer team acquired a new coach halfway through the season. His name is Jeff Mohsenin, and he has been helping the team the whole year but officially started as the JV coach on Monday, September 29, 2014. Mohsenin was previously a girls and boys soccer coach at RFHS. According to Larry Williams, a teacher at RFHS, Mohsenin “helped legitimize soccer at Roaring Fork.” Before he came to the school, the soccer coaches did not hold their players accountable for eligibility standards. This all changed, though, when Mohsenin began coaching. He made all the players adhere to the academic standards set by the school. If Mohsenin’s previous impact on Roaring Fork soccer teams is any indication of his coaching style, the rest of the boy’s season should be very positive. Mohsenin became the JV coach after previous coach, Jed Udall, was terminated for unprofessional conduct.
Sports Captain’s Corner -Kayla Derby
“KO King” hits Roaring Fork -Hayden Bernot
Adrian Chavez #84 Senior Sport: Football “So far this year, the team has had some ups and downs, but at the end, we’re a family. We work things out and pull through. As far as improving, we go into practice and imagine playing against our next opponent. Once we get it in gear, there’s nothing stopping us.” Other captains: Roy Benge, Steele Featherstone, Aidan Greenfield, Eduardo Martinez, Jesus Sanchez, Tanner Spence Madilyn Kuhl #18 Junior Sport: Volleyball “We are improving quickly this year because we are all getting a lot of playing time. We don’t have a lot of people, so we are all getting more experience than we’ve gotten in years past. We are all becoming better individual players as well as team players.”
Is Ray Rice a no-go? Earlier this year, Rice assaulted his fiance in an elevator. Rice received a 21-gun salute by the National Football League (NFL) and is banned indefinitely from ever playing in the NFL again. There has been a lot controversy regarding Rice and his actions. A video regarding this incident showed a gruesome attack on his soon-to-be newly-wedded wife Yet, Rice may have only been defending himself. Who knows? The Rampage asked Roaring Fork students how they feel about Ray Rice. Do they believe he is guilty? How do they feel about his fiance marrying him even after this incident? “Not only do most celebrities get special benefits but most of them don’t have to put up with the true punishments that most people have to go through,” RFHS sophomore Andrew Kollar said. Kollar used words like “ridiculous” to describe the way Rice treated his future wife. “I am not a big fan of the whole incident, but I do like the term Riced,” Kollar continued. “Riced” has recently
become a term for upper-cutting or punching someone. Most people believe that this incident is a clear representation of how celebrities get special treatment. Even though this incident was horrible, some people believe there may be another side to the story. “I feel if we heard the whole story behind what had happened between Rice and his girlfriend, then we could understand more,” sophomore Lilly Ramos said. Although she believes there may be another explanation behind Rice’s actions, she maintained that no man should ever hit a woman. “The fact that she went and married a wealthy exfootball player who had just abused her is a little excessive,” Ramos continued. Many people believed that they would never marry a person who abused them. Students at RFHS described Rice’s newly wedded wife as a “gold digger.” The Rampage interviewed several students at Roaring Fork. Most people agreed that this incident was blown way out of proportion. The majority of the students also believed that Rice should have been put in jail for assault, but since he is a celebrity and a part of a higher social ranking, he recieved special treatment.
Fall sports participation by the numbers Male Sports
Other Captains: Grace Brown, Dani Minor
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Total school enrollment: 360 (Male: 210; Female:150)
Female Sports
Juan (Lalo) Clemente #17 Senior Sport: Soccer “I think the team has started off well, but there is still room for improvement. Every game we become more organized with our roles, and that makes the game easier to adjust to. We are getting closer and closer to showing the team’s full potential.”
Athlete Spotlight: Lyndsay and Lalo -Caitlin O’Gorman
Lyndsay Hansen -- Volleyball
Lalo Clemente -- Soccer
Six feet tall, sophomore Lyndsay Hansen is one of the many sophomores who is starting varsity volleyball. “It feels unreal and very good at the same time to be on Varsity,” said Hansen. Lyndsay has been playing volleyball since seventh grade and has been improving since then. “I realize that all my hard work has paid off,” Hansen said. Lyndsay is the tallest girl on the team, and she likes to use that to get into the other team’s head when playing her position of middle front. “Since I am six feet tall it is harder for tall middles to pass, but I really like to play middle front,” said Hansen. Lyndsay is excited for what is coming this volleyball season.
Senior soccer player Lalo Clemente has been playing soccer since he was a little boy, and his love of soccer has just grown from there. “How can I not, when it’s the greatest sport in the world? My family likes soccer, both my brothers play it, I play it, and my parents like to watch us play,” Clemente said. Clemente plays attacking midfield, which helps out the strikers on the team. Lalo thinks that his team starts off slow during a game but they work on things they need to improve on in order to show the team’s real potential. “We’re working on getting better and better every game. We all want to win league and make our way through the state tournament,” he says. The soccer team is hopeful to achieve their goal this year.
Opinion Student Council stands tall
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Guest Opinion: “Gay” not a dirty word
-Rampage Staff
-Leah Allen
Students and staff agree that the school spirit at Roaring Fork feels stronger than it has in recent years. All of us have a part to play in keeping our school climate positive and supportive. Most of the positive outlook has been coming from this year’s Student Council, specifically the Head Boy and Girl, Jackson Hardin and Ruby Lang. Since these new students have taken charge, the administration has discussed changing many of the school’s traditions, and the student body has been upset and shocked. But Lang and Harding have fought hard to keep the school spirit up despite these changes. The absence of Rams’ Day was the pinnacle of these changes because students are very fond of this event. Rams’ Day is a tradition where students engage in some sort of volunteer work relating to the school or community during the morning, followed by a barbecue lunch and a variety of field games and other activities in the afternoon. Due to the unbelievable amount of effort and organization it takes to put on, the staff and Student Council opted not to have it this fall. Head Boy Jackson Hardin stated, “Rams’ Day was never a fall tradition until the past few years, and it was too hectic to involve with spirit week.” Even though there wasn’t a Rams’ Day in the fall, students can look forward to a great one in the spring. Another change was the downsizing of the people allowed in each truck during the Truck Rally. This was changed to make the event safer for everyone. The Student Council had to compromise with the staff to make the rally happen. Even though students were upset with the change at first, it turned out successfully. Multiple changes have been made this year, many coming from the Student Council and the staff. The students have been able to communicate with the staff much more effectively than other years, which is one of the main reasons the school has remained so positive. A lot of hard work has been put in by many to keep the school as positive as possible. “I think just saying hi to everyone and smiling has made a big difference,” Lang explained. This is what everyone needs to do in order to keep Roaring Fork’s school spirit up.
“That’s so gay.” These three words flood out into our hallways and classrooms. But the word gay can also mean “ lighthearted and carefree; brightly colored; showy; brilliant” (Merriam Webster). That’s so gay. That’s so brightly colored. That’s so carefree. That’s so brilliant. Brilliant. The students of Roaring Fork High School’s Gay Straight Alliance have been pushing this connotation on their uphill quest for safety and equality in RFHS. The GSA at RFHS attended a One Colorado leadership conference in Denver on Saturday, September 27. There, we learned skills, traded stories, and forged brilliant bonds. Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Straight: It doesn’t matter because everyone should feel not
only safe in their school, but also accepted and loved for who they are. Love is love; it comes in all different shapes, sizes, and orientations. Teaching these basic but true facts is Roaring Fork High School GSA’s mission. But it’s one that has time and time again been difficult to achieve partially due to misconceptions about GSA and the LGBT community. When communication start to crumble, misconceptions run rampant. So who can join GSA? G.S.A. stands for Gay-Straight Alliance, which means many sexual orientations coming together to work toward the common good. This includes straight people. Identifying as LGBT isn’t required to join the RFHS GSA. Or any GSA for that matter. What makes people gay anyway? Well, what makes you straight? Be-
ing LGBT is something you are born with. The LGBT community has no more control over being LGBT then a dolphin would have over knowing how to swim. So this in no way means you can make someone gay, or that gay parents will have gay children. Being LGBT is a part of your identity, not a disease you can catch or inherit. Lastly, for parents: if your kid comes out, it is okay. You never did anything wrong. In fact, you did something right; they thought they could trust you enough to tell you and to still be loved by you. Having an LGBT kid is like having any other kid: they can still have sleepovers and play sports and do anything they set their mind to. Gay: “lighthearted and carefree. brightly colored; showy; brilliant.” Gay is brilliant, not an insult.
The Pledge creates controversy -Finn Featherstone
Standing up for the Pledge of Allegiance is a part of daily life at Roaring Fork High School. Most students stand up when the pledge is recited and believe it is respectful to do so. Recently, though, a few questions have arisen concerning the proper conduct for the Pledge of Allegiance at Roaring Fork High School. The Pledge of Allegiance is an established part of the students’ and staff’s day. In our nation, we have developed the tradition of reciting it in the morning at schools. The belief of many is that if you wake up in America every day, then you should stand up and show your respect towards the country. Assistant Principal Kelsie Goodman says she believes that while students and staff have the freedom to not stand, Roaring Fork High School has a culture in which people stand for the pledge. She believes that citizens should show patriotism, and she chooses to recite the pledge daily. Others believe the pledge is a few meaningless verses and that it’s ridiculous for a young person to be forced into reciting something that they do not understand or believe in. One male student, a junior at RFHS, said, “The pledge creeps me out. I do not wish to pledge my allegiance to anything. Students and staff should not be forced to partake in the customs that ride along with the pledge.” While some students feel uncomfortable reciting the pledge, others feel that each person is entitled to their own choice. “No student or staff member should be forced to stand for the pledge as long as he or she has a reason why not,” said Leah Allen, a student at RFHS. Personally, I stand up for the pledge every day, and I think it is a honorable way to show respect to my country.
Entertainment
8 Rampage October 2014
Rampage Staff Editors in Chief
Whoopers
-Everybody has been going to the football games.
Managing Editor
-We’re getting a traffic circle.
Finn Featherstone
-It’s been raining so much that we won’t dry up and burn like last year.
Gems of the Valley: Prince Creek
-School has been in session for a six weeks already. -The colors are changing.
-Grace Brown
As an ongoing column, “Gems of the Valley” will feature Rampage staff picks of the best outdoor spots we think our Rams should stomp their hooves.
-We get to be around our friends in school again.
Bloopers
Coloradans. We’re known for our local art and music scene, our Denver Broncos, our determination to stay healthy, and most of all, our views! We live upon some of the most beautiful land in America, not littered with cans or wrappers but with breathtaking gems. You can find them almost anywhere you look, but try not to spoil the secret. Thanks to the arrival of Fall, one of these “gems” is at its most beautiful point: Prince Creek. Located at the base of our very own Mt. Sopris, this is the perfect time to witness the Aspens change color. And it’s a beautiful drive, too! How to get there: Drive out of Carbondale towards Redstone and, just outside of city limits, take a left on Prince Creek Drive. After a couple miles, the road will become dirt. Keep heading up for about two to three miles, and you should reach a natural roundabout. You’ve made it! What to do: The amount of activities are almost overwhelming once you get there. You can hike, mountain bike, go off-roading, or simply just take beautiful pictures. The trail head to hike Mt. Sopris is located close-by as well as the dirt road to reach The Crown, which overlooks the entire valley. Word to the wise: It could be chillier up there than down in town, so bring a jacket. The dirt road may be muddy, rocky, or bumpy, so drive slowly. To give back to this wondrous place, it is our duty to explore our state and to never forget how blessed we are to call this valley our home. Happy adventuring!
-The other team’s fans have to sit with them.
Detective Drew Use a magnifying glass Wear a trench coat Wear a plaid, button-up shirt Wear jeans and a belt
Lobster Wear red mittens, red hat, red shoes Dress in all red
-C-DOT is taking their sweet, sweet time building that traffic circle, aren’t they? -It’s so wet that the whole valley is a puddle. -We still have eight more months of school left! -Wait, where did the yard go? We better get the rake. -We’re being forced to be around the people we hate again. Perfect.
DIY: Costumes on the cheap Gum Under Table Dress in all pink Paint face with pink makeup Make small table out of cardboard and attach to head
Dust Bunny Dress in all white Paint whiskers & pink nose on face Wear bunny ears Use a cleaning duster
Ceiling Fan Dress in clothes of choice Wear a baseball cap Use a Pom-Pom Write “ceiling” on paper and attach to clothes and hat
The Rampage would like to thank our Gold Sponsors who have generously donated to the production of our school newspaper:
Roaring Fork Booster Club
Roy Benge Kristen Joiner
Moutain Roll-Offs, Inc.
Photographer Lucy Stevens Editorial Staff Grace Brown Kayla Derby Jake Kelley Fiona Laird James Long Caitlin O’Gorman Jake Rusby Tavia Teitler Journalists Johnny Aranda Bella Bailey Hayden Bernot Elle Derby Eryn Doherty Jacky Jacquez Carley Moravek Maeve O’Donnell Pax Kristin Page Katie Weimer Policy Statement Published eight times a year, the student newspaper of Roaring Fork High School is a public forum, with its student editorial board making all decisions concerning its content. Unsigned editorials express the views of the majority of the editorial board.