2270 Highway 133
Carbondale , Co 81623
April, 2014
Volume 7 Issue 7
THE RAMPAGE
The Hentschel family finally complete
Vigilante whistles through RFHS
-Catlin O’Gorman If you wait long enough, your dreams can come true, even if it means you have to wait four and a half years. Lindsay and Hadley Hentschel have done just that. They started the process in 2009 then met the boys in 2010 then the adoption was finalized June 2013. Their two sons, who the Hentschels adopted from Haiti finally came home to Carbondale in late March. “I knew I was ready to be a parent when my kids started appearing in my dreams,” said Mr. Hentschel.
The vigilante who has continuously egged and TP’d principal Drew Adams’ home since school started, turned out to be the Social Studies teacher, Matthew Whistler. The damages were childish, for example, the weekly toilet paper draping the house, or eggs splattered on the doors. Most people thought that the perpetrators were students who didn’t like him. Adams thought otherwise. After many investigations for the culprit, Adams finally narrowed down the suspects when Mr. Whistler cracked. He confessed to the crimes and took full responsibility, but he didn’t regret anything, just laughed and nodded through the ensuing meeting and lecture from Adams. “I honestly couldn’t contain myself,” said Whistler. “He annoyed me so much and I couldn’t bring myself to confront him directly, so I chose other methods.” Whistler explained his reasons behind the vandalism, saying he wanted to show his dislike for Adams’ choices for the school. Whistler has held a long-standing grudge against RFHS because he was a former teacher at Basalt High. Adams was more surprised than frustrated when he found out, but he also grew angry when he confronted Whistler. He explained that he couldn’t believe that one of his own staff members was behind the toilet paper and egg raids on his home. “I never knew he held a grudge against me. He always acts so normal towards me. So maybe that’s why he is so monotone all the time,” said Adams. All that Adams can do now is hope for Whistler’s cooperation. Whistler’s punishment will include cleaning Adams’ home and property to make up for all the messes he made. The Carbondale Police Department has doled out their own punishment for the vandalism: 12 hours of community service and a $500 fee for any damages caused to Adams’ property. “Though Mr. Whistler might think otherwise, I think that the charges and my own personal punishment are pretty loose. He got out of it all pretty easily,” said Adams. Adams now admits that he is a little suspicious of his other staff who recently transferred from different schools and is “keeping an eye on them.”
“I want to teach my kids how to fly a kite, how to be fair, that it’s okay to work hard and that it’s okay to fail.” - Hadley Hentschel
At the beginning, the Hentschels were planning to adopt one to two kids of the same gender and were referred to their older son, Mykerson, who is now six years old. When they visited their son Mykerson at Christmas in 2010, they met Leander, who is now four. Mykerson likes to read, ride bikes and scooters and play anything superhero-related. He is super helpful, explained Ms. Hentschel in an email interview. Mykerson also likes to investigate and problem solve. “For example, on my last trip in February, he would take apart and put back together his head lamp about a dozen times a day,” said Ms. Hentschel.
“I want them to know they are loved and worthy of love.” -Lindsay Hentschel
Leander likes to be goofy. He tries to make people laugh by making faces or silly noises, and he giggles a lot. He has been into coloring and making crafts lately and also “watches his brother a lot to do what he does,” said Ms. Hentschel. The Hentschels have spent about 15 weeks total in Haiti getting to know their boys. They focused on ac-
Photo provided by Lindsay Hentschel Mykerson and Leander sport Colorado t-shirts after arriving in the airport with Lindsay and Hadley Hentschel. They have been waiting four and half years in Haiti to come home to their new family.
tivities that have more eye contact and “face to face interaction and/or sensory rich activities,” said Ms. Hentschel. They are more than ready for the boys to be home and have thought a lot about what they want to teach them. Ms. Hentschel wants to teach her kids to know that they can think and make decisions for themselves and to love learning and the world around them. Both Ms. and Mr. Hentschel are taking three weeks off from work to spend time with their sons and help them adjust to their new life in the U.S. Everything will be new for both Mykerson and Leander, so they are going to try not to “overwhelm them”.. The Rampage wishes the Hentschels good luck and hopes all of their family’s dreams come true.
-Jake Rusby
April Fools
Contact us at rframpage@gmail.
Features Art students battle it out -Jacky Jacquez Every year there is an art competition at Glenwood Springs Art Guild called “Battle of the Walls” between high school art students. RFHS students competed and won several awards in this year’s March 15 showcase. The purpose of the competition is to give students the opportunity to show their talents and creativity. RFHS seniors Abriah Wofford, Riley Marshall, Alyza Ceballos and Isabel Mata won awards at the “Battle of the Walls.” The top artist awards went to Ceballos, Marshall, and Mata. The Glenwood Springs Art Guild Scholarship award for second place and $1,500 went to Wofford. The runner-up was Mata. Abriah said she was “surprised and sort of expecting it” based on what the judges had said. “It feels nice to know the work I’m doing is worth it and good enough to get a scholarship.” Abriah exclaimed that she always “likes to make things nice,” even if it’s not related to art. Cathleen McCourt, RFHS art teacher,
On March 15, 2014 at the Glenwood Springs Art Guild, RFHS won first place at the Battle of the Walls. Roaring Fork students who won individual awards include Alyza Ceballos (left), Abriah Wofford (middle) and Isabel Mata (right).
2 Rampage April 2014
April: Celebrated month of poetry -Jonny Aranda Since 1996, National Poetry Month has been a tradition for not only our fellow poets at Roaring Fork High School, but also all types of artists, singers, writers and even readers. April is dedicated to the writing and understanding of poems and to celebrating poetry’s impact on readers. Anali Garcia, poet and
junior at Roaring Fork High, said that she feels poetry allows her to express herself and spit everything out on a sheet of paper that she wouldn’t say out loud. “I find poetry is a new world for me to go into and to act the way I want to and say the things I want to,” said Garcia. At Roaring Fork, teachers find ways for poetry to be a part of their curriculum so students
can interact with various ideas in different texts, whether they be poetry or literature. Adam Carballeira, English and Creative Writing teacher at RFHS said, “ I think poetry can save your life.” He explained that when students sit down to think about what they truly feel and think about things, they will discover their internal truth.
Remembering our fallen angel Jenny Nevarez
commented that, for her students, this was “the first time ever to win.” She believes RFHS was the most talented school there: “Our art department gives [the students] more freedom.” McCourt hopes to teach students to use their artistic talents to “express their opinions, feelings, and beliefs.”
Testing equals happiness -Jake Kelley
When it’s time to take standardized tests, Roaring Fork High School is all smiles. The halls are lit up by students beaming with excitement and waiting for that next test. From March 11-13, TCAPs and ACTs were the highlight of the week making March the best month of the school year. Standardized tests like the ACT, TCAP, and CTALNBL (Colorado Test for Average Learners with Nothing Better in Life) are students’ favorite part of school. The freshman and sophomore test, TCAP (Transitional Colorado Assessment Program), is a standardized test that is based off the Colorado Model Content Standards in the areas that are assessed for that data. The TCAP tests are sixty to sixty-five minutes. The tests include Math, Reading, and Writing as well as Science for tenth graders. Each subject has three sessions, but Roaring Fork
students wish there were many more. During the testing period, students are not allowed to talk, eat, write, draw, chew gum, sneeze, breathe, cartwheel around the room, tie their shoes, blink, or even go home. The ACT is a test mainly for juniors, but seniors can retake if they want to. It is one day and gives you three hours to finish 215 questions of Math, Reading, Science, and English. Freshman Fabian Rico looks forward to testing all year long. “I love them,” Rico commented, “I think they should make the tests way longer.” Rico claims he gets excited about the tests because they really help him academically. Junior Ian Rothman recently took the ACT and enjoyed every hour of it. “It’s not stressful at all and your test score only matters to colleges so it’s not a big deal,” he said. The short time period is plenty of time for students. Most kids finish almost half of the test before they start to guess in order to get as
much done as possible in the last five minutes. “I love whoever made these tests. He or she made my life complete,” Rothman emotionally responded. Although you only need to take the ACT once, many students take it over and over because of the excitement and lifelong memories it offers them. English teacher Adam Carballeira is a huge fan of the tests. “I get giddy with butterflies,” Carballeira explained. “Students are probably going to never forget these tests and it’s sad for community members that they don’t get to experience the nine hours of testing each year.” Carballeira also invited community members to come and participate in testing with the students. While the students are testing, teachers occupy themselves with anything from a book to Snapchatting each other. “Ms. Cooper definitely has the best Snapchats,” Carballeira shared. Except not really.
This April 14, 2014 will be the one year anniversary that marks the death of Jenny Nevarez. She was an amazing young lady who always had that sparkle in her eye and lived life to the fullest. Her memory will forever live on in our hearts. We love and miss you!
Opinion
3 Rampage April 2014
Administration pushes Advanced Placement -Kayla Derby
A few weeks ago, students at Roaring Fork were busy picking their classes for next year. For many students, though, their schedule for next year wasn’t entirely their choice. Pressure was put on them to “challenge” themselves and enroll in Advanced Placement (AP) classes next year despite their better judgement. My peers and I found this pressure upsetting and patronizing for two reasons.
1. AP isn’t as rigorous as it’s made out to be.
Advanced Placement is a CollegeBoard program that allows students to take college-level classes and gives them the opportunity to earn college credit with a high enough score on the final exam. This assumes that AP classes
are as rigorous as college classes. Yet this isn’t always the case. According to Philip Sadler, director of the science education department at Harvard, taking AP classes has “little effect on college grades.” Sadler conducted a study surveying college students in introductory science classes and compared the grades of students in these science classes who had taken AP science classes in high school to the grades of those who did not. Students who had taken an AP science class did not get significantly better grades than those who had not. Sadler concluded that an AP science class “may not be the equivalent of taking a college science course.” If the rigor of the classes is not the same, then the rigor of AP can’t prepare a student for the rigor of college.
2. Students are pressured to take AP when they’re not academically ready.
Another criticism of AP classes is that they are becoming too accessible to students. According to a study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, the number of students who took AP exams increased by 50% from 2004 to 2008. The study also surveyed 1,000 AP teachers, 60% of whom believed that “parents push their children into AP classes when they really don’t belong there.” Administrators are also guilty of pressuring students. The study found that 75% of teachers believed that their school administration was expanding their AP program to “improve their school’s ranking and reputation.” I have experienced this
pressure to take AP firsthand. I was pressured into taking AP Calculus next year even though I have no desire to take it, nor do I believe that I am ready to take it. Why does the ad-
“I eventually caved and now I’m enrolled in AP Calculus. Although I may not be ready for it, it makes RFHS look better, which I guess is the only thing that matters to the administration at this school.” ministration get to use me to pad their resume when it might put mine in jeopardy? And when I resisted the pressure, they resorted to calling my parents to tell them to convince me to take AP. My parents,
News Soccer Varsity girls team starts the season with a 4-0 record. They’ve played Basalt, Aspen, and Rangely, and Vail Mountain forfeited a game. Upcoming home games include CRMS on April 15 and Moffat on April 22. Green Is the New Black Fashion Show a Success The Green Is the New Black Fashion show had a lot of talent straight from Roaring Fork this year. Along with Chloe Brand, who designed her own line, Riley Marshall, Taila Howe, and Sasha Williams also modeled. Roaring Fork’s Mr. Richman modeled underwear. Track Upcoming meets are in Eagle Valley and Glenwood.
Chompy’s News Bites
though, have no idea what I am capable of as a student. With pressure coming from two powerful forces in my life, I eventually caved and I’m now
enrolled in AP Calculus for next year. Although I may not be ready for it, it makes Roaring Fork High School look better, which I guess is the only thing that matters to the administration at this school.
Rampage Staff Editor in Chief Rosa Maun Managing Editor William Masters Photographer Cameron Doherty Editorial Staff Roy Benge Kristen Joiner Finn Featherstone Lesley Platero Journalists Grace Brown Daisy Contreras Anakaren Hernandez Jacqueline Jacquez Jake Kelley James Long Caitlin O’Gorman Jake Rusby Lucy Stevens Tavia Teitler Jonny Aranda Fiona Laird Kayla Derby
AP Students Beginning to Feel the Stress For AP students, the dates of their AP tests are quickly approaching. Many students say they’re starting to feel stress about taking the test, which is four hours long. Roaring Fork sophomore Emily Mata said, “I feel like these tests put an unhealthy amount of stress on students, but hopefully we’ll be prepared by the time we take it.”
Baseball Roaring Fork baseball has had a rocky start, with 0-5 record. They are preparing for their next game on April 1.
-Fiona laird
Tennis Tennis has had one match, and they’re off a good start. All but two teams winning their first match. According to sophomore Caitlin O’Gorman, the team is “working hard and staying positive.”
Kiwanis Stars of Tomorrow Roaring Fork freshman Wes Engstrom took first place in the Kiwanis Stars of Tomorrow talent show, where he played guitar and sang. He won $1000 for his outstanding performance. Other RF student performers included Beth Fawley and Megan Webber.
Entertainment
4 Rampage April 2014
Mr. Roney: Untamed and uncut
Embarrassing? Yes. True? Unfortunately.
-Grace Brown
Whether it’s a slip on the hallway floor at school or accidentally tripping over your other foot, everyone has those embarrassing moments. Throughout Roaring Fork, students have secrets and awkward stories that they can’t wait to tell, and now is the perfect time. We all know that feeling... You look around to see if anyone saw you fall on your butt. The following are true stories about students at Roaring Fork High School who wanted to remain anonymous but didn’t mind sharing their stories with us.
Have you ever wondered who that jolly little man by the stairs is? He welcomes you every morning and always makes sure to comment on how you look, be it good or bad. We love Mr. Roney for his humor and optimism but don’t you want to know Roney’s most embarrassing moment? Read on to know more - maybe too much about Mr. Roney. Q: What was your senior prom like? A: It was a blast! It was on the pier in Berkeley, CA, and I went with 12 friends (six couples) and my date was my best friend. She’s also the one that stabbed me with the boutonniere. I had a red blood spot on my tux all night. Q: Who is your celebrity crush? A: Sandra Bullock; she is very hot! Wait, Megan Fox in that Terminator [Transformers] movie in the car washing scene! I think that’s the reason my car is so clean all the time... Q: Have you ever met anyone famous? A: I met Obama, but he doesn’t remember because it was at a distance... Q: If you could live in any Disney movie, which would it be? A: Is Brave a Disney movie? Yeah, I’d like to live there. Q: Are you a hugger or a non-hugger? Why? A: Oh, hugger. totally. I should have been born an Italian, the way those guys walk around huggin’ everything. One year, I was taking scuba lessons in Hawaii, and I hugged my scuba instructor. We had done these three big dives, and the whole thing was really cool, so I was like, “Hey, thanks man,” because I thought he was really cool, and I swear his hands were just straight at his sides. He was just like, “What the hell?” Q: What’s the most money you’ve ever given away at one time? A: Well, I gave you $6 to get us donuts this morning... Q: What was your most embarrassing moment? A: It was my junior year, at Lynette’s house, and I can’t say any more. I’ll just let it rest there.
-Anakaren Jurado
Marked Territory “So I was at my friend’s quinceanera, and I was wearing a yellow dress. I didn’t know I was on my period, so I was leaving stains everywhere, in the limo, on chairs... I had a big red circle on my dress! It was bad!” Full Moon “When I was in elementary school, I was wearing a skirt. When I went to get something from my cubby, I stepped on my skirt and flashed my butt to one of my classmates and I wasn’t wearing any underwear. The person I flashed happened to be a guy.”
the bathroom, but I didn’t know I was sleepwalking. I went downstairs to the kitchen, and I pulled my pants down and started peeing. My mom screamed at me, and I woke up standing in front of my grandma and my mom with my pants and boxers down.” Lonely Bike “One time I was on my bike and I was on a field going full speed. Suddenly, my bike’s wheel fell into a ditch, and I went flying and rolled to a stop on the ground. I looked everywhere to see if people saw me. I just laughed it off and walked home. I was too embarrassed to get my bike.” Human Wrecking Ball “I was in choir and I was getting ready to perform, but I was very nervous. I was on the top bleachers so once I started singing, I felt a little lightheaded and fainted and fell on top of the girl below me. The girl I fell onto knocked out another person. It was like dominos!”
Bad Case of the Pee Pee “One day, my grandma came to my house to stay. That night after we ate, she came to put me in bed and she went downstairs to talk to the rest of my family. I woke up because I wanted to go to
Air Shriek “During TCAP, after we had breakfast, I went back to our assigned class and while the teacher was saying the instructions, I really felt the need to go fart in the bathroom, but he wouldn’t let me. I tried to hold it in, but it came out loud and I got red and put my head down because there was no way of me getting out of it. They all knew it was me.”
Brandon WIlliams @bigb17
William Masters @williamasters
Walker Soucie @walker_soucie
Rosa Roybal @rosemarie20
Q: Where is the weirdest place you’ve ever slept? A: I slept on my boat in Mexico because the week before it had gotten stolen, and I didn’t want it to get stolen again. Q: What’s the biggest lie you’ve ever told? A: Once when I was in high school, my friend and I were doing donuts on the elementary school playground. Later, we got pulled over, and the cop says, “Hey, you guys didn’t drive your car on the elementary school lawn, did you?” I didn’t want to lie, so I said, “Oh yeah, I think we might have done a little loop.” Little did I know that there was two inches of mud plastered to the side of the car. It turned out okay, but I got handcuffed and thrown into the police car when I refused to give them my work phone number... I thought it was an invasion of privacy. Q: Finally, I’m sure everyone is wondering, what goes on in your head when picking your outfits? A: Okay. Number One: I look good, doggonnit. Number Two: Basically I look at Mr. Wells, dress the opposite, and I know I look great. Top 15 words to describe Mr. Roney (from anonymous students) awkward, corny, Crocs, fashionista, funny laugh, goofy , hilarious, hot daughter, no boundaries, Prius, short, Steve Carrel (as Michael Scott in The Office), talks a lot, tennis, vest