Rolla High School ECHO by RHS ECHO

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Rolla High School - 900 Bulldog Run - Rolla, Missouri 65401- Volume 67 - Issue 4 February 5, 2016 - www.rhsecho.com

RTI & RTC

Classes that lead to careers The diverse opportunties RHS students have at Rolla Technical Institute and Rolla Technical Center explained.

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Shelter: Looking for a new friend? Look no ‘fur’ ther pgs. 8-9 You’re Beautiful: RHS responds to three simple words pg. 16-17 Black History Month: Locals share their thoughts, experiences pg. 6-7

In this issue... A Major student feature ........................................................................3 Teacher Pet Peeves ................................................................................4 Transitioning from high school to college ............................................10 Humans of RHS: Sean Barrett ..............................................................18 New AP Biology class coming soon .......................................................19 Artists and Athletes of the Mon............................................................20 RHS By the Numbers............................................................................22

Letter from the editor

I’ve worked at Shadowood Pet Resort, a kennel, essentially, since last April. Over that time, I’ve seen and scooped almost every possible form of dog excretion under the sun (and affected by the sun), and seen hundreds of dogs. I love the job though; it has taught me that dogs are just like people; there’s a reason our species are so tight. They have emotions, and are extremely susceptible to traumatic experiences; they are smart, learn quickly, and can perceive so much about you; and they are very impressionable. In so many ways, when taking care of dogs, I am able to see what makes them individual and unique. One time I was walking a dog when it shook off its leash (which was tightened to the second tightest loop on its owner’s provided leash) and ran away from me. I chased it about two miles, in June, mind you, until a nice Serbian woman helped me catch it in her yard. I then carried this forty-five pound dog two miles back, in June, mind you. I wasn’t very happy with that dog. It was a weird dog; completely unreceptive to me, apart from its extremely heavy breathing when I’d approach it, and it never moved. I later learned it was a rescue, and coupling that with its demeanor, meant it probably had good reason to be scared of humans. I kind of felt like a jerk for my former feelings towards that dog. Moral of the story is we shouldn’t judge each other, even if the person seems really weird or almost makes you lose your job.

ECHO Magazine Staff

Editor In Chief - John Giesey, Managing Editor - Chloe Myers, Copy Editor - Elise Mazzeo, Webmaster - Amanda Steineman Staff Writers - Brynn Profitt, Trustin Dinsdale, Celia Parsons, Emily Roberts, Maria Pommerenke, Connor Wilson, Sadhika Jagannathan, Adrienne Pyatt, Faith Koening, Caroline Adams, Ashanti OwusuBrafi, Adviser - Mary Gillis ECHO is an open forum for student expression. All letters to the editor must include the writer’s name, signature and class or position. Anonymous letters will not be published. ECHO reserves the right to reject any letters. Letters should be sent to ECHO, Rolla High School, 900 Bulldog Run, Rolla, MO 65401.

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Visit www.rhsechonews for more news and features from RHS

A Major Role

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Senior band member Lilly Germeroth is not the usual marcher. She has been head drum major for the past two years. “I was a section leader before that drum major, my sophomore year, and the current drum major at the time, Hannah Whitt, told me I should try out, so I did, and look at me now. It was just the natural next step up” Germeroth said. She benefits from her leadership role, but it also can be very taxing. “I loved working with my classmates, and bonding over a common cause. We all worked so hard together, and that was so awesome. Working with my fellow drum majors, Tina McEachern and Ashley Wilson, was so fun too. Their were great, and everyone working so well together is definitely what led to our success in the past two years. I like working with my class, and working towards a common goal, and being hype about everything. The stress is definitely trying on me. I am responsible for so much, and I am one of the representatives of the whole band. I am responsible for invoking passion in the band, and motivating them to want to win for themselves, not just for a trophy. It’s a lot of pressure to put onto someone, knowing that if I am not excited enough about rehearsal, then that leads to an unproductive night, leading to a mediocre performance, leading to no trophies, thus repeating the cycle. Not to mention that I literally lead the tempo of the band, which isn’t a small task,” Germeroth said. Many see the drum major, but do not understand what exactly they do outside of the performances. “As an underclassman, I thought being drum major was just directing and keeping time. It is so much more than that. I didn’t expect all of the leadership involved, or any of the motivation. The drum majors before me had not necessarily done this, but it is just the kind of person I am to want to inspire people to gain a better performance. Being a drum major is definitely not an easy job, but I absolutely love it. It is a job that entails lots of early mornings and late nights, and working as hard as you can for the group as a whole. The drum major has the potential to set the tone of the rehearsal and set an example for band members. It was always a tough balance to be approachable and nice, but also have enough authority behind my leadership role that people will listen to me and do what I say, if need be. I always have to have a positive attitude, because I serve as a buffer between the staff and the students. I am a representative of the band, I don’t want to let my classmates down. So, the hardest part would be inspiring the band to be greater, and not just stand and watch. I could easily just do what my job entails and be okay with mediocrity, but I and my classmates decided that wasn’t good enough, so I had to set the example that would lead to the excellence we achieved,” Germeroth said. Though the Rolla High School Marching Band is where she has spent the most time working as a drum major, she also had the opportunity to travel to Canada to play with a group of others from Missouri. “Two summers ago, summer of 2014, I was chosen by my band directors to be able to represent Rolla, Missouri, and ultimately the US in a Lion’s Club International Conference. Through scholarships I was offered, I was able to go for free. I was the only one from Rolla to go, and I joined a band composed of all other students from different Missouri schools. This program really helped me see the Rolla band program from the outside, and the reputation we had at the time, and how it has only improved since then. We spend one week in Fort Leonard Wood learning the music and practicing for the International Lion’s Parade in Toronto, Ontario. Then, we drove all the way to Canada, stopping at different military bases along the way. It was a great trip and I’m so thankful I my directors chose me as the representative that year. I made friends that I still am in touch with, and it taught be how to be a more effective leader,” said Germeroth.

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Pet Peeves b y

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According to the Webster dictionary a pet peeve is something that annoys or bothers a person very much. Everyone has one and that includes our teachers here at Rolla High School. Pet Peeves can be anything from microwave doors being left open to teachers not turning their attendance in. Some teachers don’t make a big deal out of what annoys them and some teachers voice it up front. Either way knowing people’s pet peeves and finding out how it affects them always interesting.

“This is my fifth year of teaching and my biggest pet peeves of students is when they don’t put their name on their paper even though I’ve asked them multiple times to do it because then I put it on the board and no one claims it and then months later someone will claim that they turned it in but I never knew it was theirs. My two biggest pet peeves in general are when people leave the microwave door open and then walk away from it and my second is when people don’t use their blinkers because they’re putting people’s life in danger,” Bre Chenault said.

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“This is my twentieth year teaching. I don’t like when students don’t take responsibility for their own learning and they blame a teacher or something else because they didn’t like the grade because they haven’t taken responsibility for their learning. In life my biggest pet peeve is liars and dishonesty. Integrity is a very important part of life and people who live dishonest lives are not good,” Tammy Lueck said.

“I have been a secretary for twenty three years. My biggest pet peeve of students is when kids have a sense of entitlement and they think that the rules don’t apply to them. That also goes for the parents who encourage and support that behavior. In general I don’t like liars but my biggest pet peeve is poor grammar. It literally makes my skin crawl when people use poor grammar.I will correct you anytime you say something wrong,” Kris Wood said.

“I have been teaching for twelve years. First of all it is very rare for me to have a problem with a student so I don’t have many pet peeves. I’d say that my biggest pet peeve for students is when they’re rude to each other. I like when people are nice to one another. In general my biggest pet peeve is highly negative people and also rude people. I don’t like rudeness as a whole and I feel like there is never a time for rudeness,” Gwen Fleming said.

“This is my eighteenth year. My pet peeve about students is when they don’t tell the truth about being late or absent. All around my biggest pet peeve is when teachers don’t turn their attendance at the beginning of each hour,” Debbie Turner said.

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lack History Month is an observance in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Black struggle in history is predominantly observed due to the systemic oppression that has occurred in the past. Society has moved on from extreme discrimination and has caused a lack of knowledge and exposure to such events to the level of seriousness and truthfulness that needs to be recognized. Without that knowledge there is room left for redundant issues to recur. That is why Black History Month is a great way to acknowledge the achievements and struggles of African Americans in the past as well as the present. A past member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, or the NAACP, Gwendolyn Stovall shared her experiences of growing up in Alabama with strict Jim Crow laws and extreme racism. “I was a crazy, foolish young lady. When I went to college, I’d use the bus. Guess who was on that bus? Nobody but black kids and the maids who worked in the mountains in these people’s kitchens. We had to stand up. There was a sign separating the blacks from the whites and we would move the sign so we had a place to sit,” Stovall said. Stovall expressed her feelings about the unjust treatment she encountered in her early life. Initially she was ignorant to the seriousness of the laws and how real the repercussions were for

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wanting a seat. “My dad heard us talking about it so he got me by myself and he told me what the law is. ‘Baby, you cannot break the law. All of you could have been put in jail and there’s nothing we could’ve done about it because you broke the law.’ I could not believe the law would allow me to pay fare for a bus and there would be seats but I wouldn’t be allowed to sit down. That was the law,” Stovall said. She further discussed how the history celebrated in February has been failed to be taught to those it is most applicable to. “Our black kids, they don’t know. The blacks don’t talk about it. They don’t feel the oppression. I think that kids should know. My kids know, but I don’t think my grandkids even know. They’ll look at me and say, ‘We don’t think so. We have white friends.’ I’m not talking about their white friends. I’m talking about them out there playing their radio as loud as they want to, just because their friends are, and they get stopped and their friends may not, “ Stovall said. Stovall spoke about the issues with modern-day racial profiling. “When I came here and went to church, I didn’t know that these people didn’t want me to sit by them. We were at church and I thought, ‘Church is fine.’ Later on, someone told me that they didn’t want me to sit by them and I said, ‘If I had known that they didn’t want me to sit beside them, I probably would’ve sat on their

laps.’ It didn’t bother me. I was used to this. I grew up with that,” Stovall said. Stovall recognizes how she had become habituated to this unjust practice “It doesn’t matter the color of your skin, what matters is your heart,” Stovall said. A long time Rolla resident, Catherine George has shared similar experiences as Stovall and has come to this conclusion: “My thing is, we are all human beings, we all should be accepted, as human beings and not “It’s not just about blacks, it’s judged by what you see. What see is not always what it everyone,” Stovall said. you is,” George said. She further states her views on how much has changed since people have become more accepting. “People want to get to know you, once they get to look at you, at your ethnicity,” George said. “Once they get to know you, it’s a different story. They accept you. If they find out that you know what you’re talking about, you’re not as stupid or you’re educated. They accept you. Things have changed. They [didn’t] care, years ago.” Another member of the NAACP of Rolla before it disbanded, Lister Florence, shares his view on the current status and improvement of cultural diversity. “I think one of the primary strengths of the United States is our diversity, and Black History Month celebrates our diversity as well as learning differences in our culture and I think one of the things we need to understand is that most empires crumble from within and that’s because we don’t really honor or support each other and build each other up. I’m a man of faith, and believe one of the best tactics that the devil has is that he tries to distract you from within. So I think that that is one of the ways that we are attacked, from within. We need to strengthen each other, we need to understand each other, we need to grow together,” Florence said. He thinks that history should be taught truthfully, using raw facts, so that the people can know what their country is built upon and be exposed to the realities of our society. “I understand the value and the merit in today’s society with Black History Month. I think the schools and leadership should lead by example...If you see people in a position of power that you respect and honor, then it trickles down to the rest,” Florence said. Florence later explains that acknowledging the racism issue between primarily blacks and whites should not lead to ignoring other issues. “People should have a choice on how they want to celebrate it. Maybe showing some method of expression like community service or getting to know someone of a different background. I think sometimes we make it limited to black and white issue but the bigger ideal is diversity, of understanding someone is different. It could be color, nationality, religion, political affiliation. Saying we are completely opposite but let’s figure out how we can work together and bring the best out of both worlds,” Florence said. Florence believes that one month of celebrating black history is not enough. “I think that it is very relevant and we should have more celebrations. I’d like to see students help serve other students, and you can see that a lot maybe inside your school system. There’s always a segment that is not really serviced, people think they are on the fringe of society and I think its import to understand that we are all hurting, we are all in pain and we need to outreach and we need to be able to look at another brother and sister around us and be able to lift them up. I think we lose the compassion and sometimes we

kind of null ourselves of something we don’t understand, we don’t take the time to try to get a good understand that people are at where they are for a good reason. You have to take the time to pull down under the layers and decide what’s the story under the story,” Florence said. When asked about his view on the shift in the curriculum pertaining to the AP United States History, Lister disagreed with the use of the modified course that takes a softer tone in regards to Native Americans, slavery, and racism. “I’m in complete disagreement with that. I think we need to embrace who we are as a society and how we got there and the complete truth of it. All aspects of our society are not aesthetically appealing but they do play a factor in who we are and how we got there. And once you start trying to trim and manipulate it, you have a warped version of what the reality is. So later on people don’t understand ‘Well, how did we get to this moment, and we’re doomed to repeat it again if we can’t actually understand it’. It’s a tough issue, but it’s something we need to discuss to grow on. I just believe that the conflict is not bad within itself, it allows you to grow, allows you to compel. Even when you think of things you did as a child that you failed a lot of times but you learned, you didn’t’ learn the first time you did it, but if it has enough worth and

“We need to strengthen each other, we need to understand each other, we need to grow together,” Lister Florence said.

merit to you you invest time into it to continue the process and get better and better at it, and that the same thing we have with this,” Florence said. He encourages this gradual change by inviting people to become more involved in the community. “I would like to see more service and joint ventures and outreach and connect with the less fortunate citizens in our community. One of my perspectives as a Christian is that we are the body of Christ, but you can see on Sunday that it is so extremely segregated, and we should come together and be an example of that. Not just the body of Christ but all religions, the Muslim, the Hindu, try to come together in the spirit of unity. We can provide for the people if we work together better together instead of finding differences. As opposed to just concentrating on the one percent that we may disagree on,” Florence said. This acceptance is something that Florence and Stovall worked for as members of the NAACP. “I think the NAACP was one of the first organizations that I got involved in when I came here. I went to the university here and when I got out into the community, it was one of the first ones that heavily recruited me to be part of it. But what the NAACP helped me to do was try to get more involved. Most of my contributions have been with non-profit and with areas which vary from organization inside the university. And of all the things I tried to serve people, and bridge the gap between people, and I’ve always tried to be a peacemaker so it allowed me to help me try to look out for another human being and to try to understand that people have different paths to get where they are, and have a voice for people who don’t have a voice,” Florence said. Florence and Stovall hope that the work they, and their fellow members of the NAACP, were involved in continues even as the group it is no longer active in Rolla. Black History Month is a way to remember the past and work towards a better future.

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Being responsible for hundreds of animals a year is a lot of work. Feeding them, loving them, and making sure they find the right home is no ordinary task. But, The Rolla Animal Shelter is always up for this challenge and seeks to complete it beautifully. The shelter rescues stray animals from the city of Rolla and takes them in until they are ready for adoption. Being a low kill shelter, they do put animals down, but only for very specific reasons. “There’s a difference between a kill shelter and a low kill shelter. Our adoption rate runs between 95 and 100 percent on a monthly basis. We do put animals down but those animals either have to be vicious, aggressive, seriously sick or seriously injured before we will put it down. We work in junction with a lot of local rescue organizations for our problem animals. Those animals usually go to rescue groups and are adopted from there. We can keep animals for several months until they get adopted. We post them on Facebook and on petfinder. Just as much exposure as they can get,” John Redshaw, the Supervisor of the Rolla Animal Shelter, said. Being a low kill shelter, The Rolla Animal Shelter still has an incredible adoption rate, providing a home for hundreds of animals each year. “We had 298 last year in 2015. So between 200 and 300 a year. Sometimes more depending on how many animals we have and what type of animals we have,” Redshaw said. When an overflow of animals happens, our local shelter has organizations to help keep the extra animals until they get adopted. “We have rescue groups that come in and help us out. But we don’t usually get that full where we have to. At some points we do shut it down and not take any animals. The public can still come in and look at animals, but we shut it down as far as bringing animals in until we get a certain number of animals adopted out,” Redshaw said. In order to house and take care of hundreds of animals a year, someone must rescue these animals and bring them in. Luckily, the Rolla Animal Shelter has several ways of receiving animals to give them a better home. “[We have] a variety of ways. We go out and pick them up. We get a lot of animal calls if they are running loose if they are strays, people find them on the side of the roads. They stop and bring them in. They can also be relinquished

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meaning they don’t have the time for the animal or a place to keep it anymore so they turn them over or surrender them. Or a lot of times people are moving and they can’t keep their animals any longer so they relinquish them to us,” Redshaw said. If one finds a stray animal in your neighborhood, on the streets, or in a parking lot, Redshaw advises to call animal control to come and take care of the animal. “Don’t try and pick up these strays a lot of times you never know what the situation is. The animal could be aggressive, it could be vicious, it could be sick. And if somebody picks it up, which a lot of people do, but we don’t recommend that because what if you get bit and the dog runs off? So the best thing to do is call animal control on Monday through Saturday between 8:00 and 5:00. If it is after hours, call the city of Rolla police department. They do our job after hours,” Redshaw said. As a low kill shelter, animals that are rescued and have minor injuries are treated and then are released for adoption after their wound has healed completely. “We can treat it and we can also take it to our local veterinarian. She can prescribe it medicine and antibiotics and then we bring the animal back here and before that animal is adopted, we take it back and have it reexamined and get the okay from the veterinarian before it is adopted. We also keep a medical evaluation sheet on any animals that come her that are sick or injured. And it tells us everything that needs to be done and everything that has been done,” Redshaw said. During the winter months, it is hard to take care of an outdoor pet with the harsh weather conditions, so Redshaw suggests a few tips to help these outdoor animals stay warm and cozy during wintertime. “The City of Rolla recommends that you have some sort of shelter for your outside animals. It can’t be a tarp just slung over trees somewhere it has to be an adequate dog house. 3 sides and roof and a front and a bottom. We recommend putting straw inside the dog house for added warmth. And also we recommend that you take the opening of the dog house and turn it towards the south away from the north so they don’t get that North wind. Keep them out there short as possible. If they need to go out and do their potty thing then let them do that and bring them back in. Put them in your basement, put them in your house, put them in your garage, wherever they can go to be safe. We don’t recommend that animals be out all day long. A lot of people do and if you’re going to keep your dogs outside for any length of time you have to have to have a dog house,” Redshaw said. The Rolla Animal Shelter does the absolute best of their abilities to care for stray animals. Housing hundreds of animals each year, they also have help from volunteers now and then. “We have people that work the front desk we have workers in the morning that help us clean the kennels and then we have dog walkers that come in a enjoy walking the dogs,” Redshaw said. If one is in need of community service hours or just has a life long love for animals, then they should be sure to stop by the Rolla Animal Shelter and get the opportunity to help out some animals in need.

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wkward TIME BETWEEN The A

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Ryan Priesmeyer

RHS Graduate, Freshman at MS&T

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Looking back on it and appreciating it is totally different than looking at it in the moment and appreciating it.

and appreciate what you have. Looking back on it and appreciating it is totally different than looking at it in the moment and appreciating it,” Kaysinger said. Gwendolyn Fleming, RHS psychology teacher, talked a bit about this transition as well. “Change is always scary even if it’s for the best. It’s kind of I think having a little bit of anxiety of the unknown, but in most cases, once kids get into the swing of it and get off to college then their fears are alleviated and they kind of go away,” Fleming said. According to Fleming, once one gets to college, there are important habits that one should consider in order to be successful and lessen their anxiety. “When you’re not going to class or stop going to class, you’re gonna fall way behind. And RHS Graduate, professors are not like high school teachers in Freshman at MSU getting you caught up. They don’t have to [help you get caught up] and that’s understandable because they deal with so many students,” I go to Missouri State University, majorFleming said. After going to class, college students must be ing in Religious Studies with a minor in Business. conscious of having good study habits. “Don’t cram. What kids think studying is in high school is not studying in college. Learning I didn’t expect to enjoy college as much as the difference [is important]. The difference is if I do, I thought I’d be home sick a lot and you started studying two nights before an exam, that’s really not the case (sorry mom) like a lot of kids do, or the night before an exam I did expect to have a high course load as in high school, that’s what’s called cramming [in college]. You need to be reviewing material well as more free time, and I have both of those things. My schedule for both semesperiodically,” Fleming said. In general, Fleming talked about how to feel ters have been really nice, some days I only more comfortable with the transition once one have one class, which is so nice compared to high school. gets into college. “Do take care of yourself, if you can. Exercise, For me, it wasn’t a difficult transition. I get good sleep and try to make good friends that are going to help you with your studies, not stayed pretty close to home which made things a bit easier. I also joined a social hurt you. Having a good support system even sorority and an on campus ministry where I at home for people to listen to you if you are having any issues or problems. And to remem- made an amazing friend group very quickly. ber that you are not going through it alone. That even somebody who feels very secure of where For students heading into their first year of college; please don’t freak out, I was really they’re at has insecurities or worries or concerns. And again, that’s normal to feel that way, nervous and there’s no need to be. Get inbut that it will get easier. And most of the time, volved, it’s an easy way to meet people, and most of the anxieties will lessen for most people. invest in an extension cord or 12.

I am studying Mechanical Engineering. I at first thought that going to school in Rolla would be boring and and that it’s “too close to home.” College life in Rolla is different than I expected; Living in the dorms, I’m away from home and I have my own place. I have my independence, but I’m also close enough that I can go home and eat with my parents occasionally or do my laundry. I thought that I’d grow tired of Rolla but in reality it’s not the same town that I grew up or went to high school in; it’s completely different. Also, I thought I would be extremely busy with homework and studying, but I find myself having a lot of free time, which is great.

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As second semester hits, so does the senioritis epidemic. While some students may be eager to start college, some may have anxieties about college classes and leaving loved ones. For some students, it could be true of both. Either way, transitioning from high school to college can be an exciting, scary, and even awkward time for senior students. Samantha Kaysinger, sociology teacher at RHS gave some insight about students who may be experiencing some apprehension about going to college. “I think that what you see there with the ‘oh wait’ kind of moment that students are experiencing is [that those students] actually have a broader perspective than other students. Sometimes they’ll be laughed at for wanting to stay in high school and having doubts when in reality that [person is] a more logical thinker and is seeing the bigger picture,” Kaysinger said. Kaysinger went on to explain that students will eventually overcome their anxiety. “Even those who are feeling a bit apprehensive about the transition, they will get to that point where they are ready. They’re just having that ‘it’s coming really fast, what is the big picture what is what I really want to do’ kind of moment,” Kaysinger said. On the flip side, Kaysinger talked about those who feel more ready to move on. “I think that those individuals that can’t wait to get out of school, those with senioritis, and those who role distancing and exiting is really starting to set in for them, many of them do indeed feel they’re ready to get on to bigger and better things. However, I also believe they have been socialized either through the media or peers that we are supposed to be looking forward to that next stage. In some sense that is healthy, because they’re telling themselves that it is okay to move on to that next step,” Kaysinger said. Kaysinger explained that kids are socialized from the moment they go to kindergarten to be ready for college. However, when one finally gets to that stage, there is a whole new construction of reality. “I think it is a good and healthy thing to see

London Clift

As a kid, nothing ever really changed for me; I grew up in Rolla, and I attended Saint Patrick Catholic School and I never moved or transferred schools until Junior High. I was suddenly plunged into a large group of people who I had no idea who they were. I got used to it, and after a while I found my niche with a supportive group of friends. The transition to college from high school was a little difficult for me socially, but I am continuing working on getting myself involved and making new friends. Academically, the transition was not difficult at all. Yes, college is harder than high school, but it’s just another step up. Each instructor’s policies and procedures take some getting used to, but after a while it just becomes routine. Having a roommate was hard and definitely took some getting used to, but we had a good relationship and we were able to share the room well.

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RTI & RTC Classes that lead to careers b y

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here are many opportunities to be taken advantage of at Rolla High School, and one of the most beneficial is the Rolla Technical Institute and Rolla Technical Center, or RTI and RTC. The program offers students of any age an affordable, hands-on experience for their future career in technical education for students in Rolla and nearby. Monica Lyle, counselor for both RTI and RTC, organized the Sophomore Career Expo that provided high school sophomores with more information about what is available to them at RTI and RTC. “Every year we host what’s called the sophomore career expo for not only Rolla High School, but for sending schools that attend RTI and RTC as well. We have 9 sending schools, and with Rolla included we have 10 sending schools total. Our sending schools consist of: Bell, Bourbon, Cuba, Ownsville, St. James, Licking, Vienna, and Salem.

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Traditionally, how we had done this in the past is that we offered one day in the fall for sophomore career expos for these schools to come over and tour three programs. They were able to pick if they would like to attend presentations at the RTI building or at the RTC building. Depending on that building choice, they were able to choose three programs that they were interested in viewing and learning more about. This year- this is my first year and I’m going to switch it up a little bit- so what we’re going to do is we’re going to host two career expo days. January 12 will be what we’re going to deem as “Rolla Day”. Rolla sophomores are going to come over and they’re going to tour. February 16th we will offer our sending school career expo day, so all the sending schools will come over and do their tours and their presentations. We’re kind of going to align the January and February date with Career and Tech Ed Month, which is held annually across the country,” said Lyle. Rolla Technical Institute offers a variety of trade and technical programs. “We offer a graphic design program, an information technology program, a drafting and design, a pre-engineering program, a marketing program, culinary arts, a heating and air program, [an agriculture program], we also have a construction trades program, an automotive technology program, collision repair, masonry, and a wood manufacturing and design,” Lyle said. Rolla Technical Center houses the different career and programs. The center offers selected classes for high school students. “As a high school student, the only programs that are available at RTC are fire and rescue and the health science academy. As an adult, you would be eligible to take EMT paramedic, practical nursing, respiratory therapy, radiology, surgical technology. For sophomore career expo, we’re going to give them an opportunity to view all of those programs, so that’s a nice opportunity for those students,” Lyle said. While the programs provide a classroom setting where the students learn their trade, hands-on experience is the most important aspect of RTI and RTC. “Especially with our health programs, all of our programs that we offer in both buildings are very specialized in hands-on learning. A lot of times these students will receive classroom instruction a couple days

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Rolla Technical Center and Rolla Technical Institute take pride in the aspect that they provide hand-on learning that prepare you for the workforce.

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of the week, these students are actually going out to clinic sites- things like that- and applying these skills that they learn while in the classroom, and really getting out there and doing what they’re learning. We interact on a daily basis with the community a great deal,” Lyle said. In 2016 RTI/C will be expanding its programs once again for students interested in a career in early child education. “We are very excited; next year we will be offering an early child education program for high school seniors only. This is going to be geared toward anyone who is looking for a future career in a childcare or daycare setting, or anyone who is looking into going into early childhood education, and looking at being a teacher in a special education setting. That spectrum is from one end to the other, it’s great. We’re going to be able to also offer dual college credit through [East Central College]. Students who are involved in the early childhood program can earn up to 12 college credit hours that could roll over into an Associate’s Degree. That will be a wonder opportunity that we will be offering our students. It is [a full year program]. Like many of the health programs, you will be receiving that classroom instruction and you will be going out to a preceptor site- to an approved early childhood setting- and applying what you’re learning, so you really get that hands-on experience and really get to use those skills that you’ve learned, and worked so hard to learn,” Lyle said. Some of the highest-paying jobs in America are those that are taught in trade schools like RTI and RTC. The special quality that these schools possess is that they provide experience in the workforce before

the student officially applies for a job and community connections for jobs after they graduate. “Rolla Technical Center and Rolla Technical Institute pride in the aspect that they provide hand-on learning that prepare you for the workforce. Starting their career, you are workforce-ready as soon as you graduate from here. As soon as you receive that certificate you can step out into a job the next day, so I think that’s truly the benefit of a career in technical education in that you are workforce-ready from day one. [Students get really good connections through our programs]. A lot of our programs have what’s called advisory committees. Basically, what those advisory committees do- they’re almost a lesion, so to speak, between our instructors and the community, and kind of relay to those instructors, ‘this is what employers are looking for, and these are the kind of trends we see in the workforce’ so that allows our instructors to be able to prepare those students even better for the workforce,” Lyle said. Lyle hopes that the Sophomore Career Expo will help students discover more about RTI and RTC and their programs. “I think a lot of people know what RTI/RTC is- especially the Rolla students, they drive by it every day- but until you get into these walls and these buildings, you may not actually know what we’re all about and what we have to offer, and I think once these students step in these doors they’re going to be amazed,” Lyle said.

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the programs Automotive Technology Automotive Technology is a course which greatly helps towards becoming an engineer. “There’s a lot of them, obviously mechanic, insurance, insurance adjuster, and maintenance programs,” Instructor Mitch Rightnowar said. You can also get more than just mechanic jobs, “You can get into design or work in manufacturing as someone who designs a car mechanically or cosmetically,” Rightnowar said. There are no prerequisites to this program, and it typically lasts for 2 years.

Wood Manufacturing & Design

RTI and RTC have a varieiy of programs for students and adults that will lead them straight into the workforce.

Masonry

This course prepares students for all walks of life, “The market is wide open for students that want a great career.” instructor Robert Studdard said. This course is typically 2 years long, but they do make exceptions. “High school students can take the class for free. Adult students are charged around $6500,” Studdard said.

This course prepares students for many different kinds of jobs in the masonry field. “[After graduation students take up jobs] in masonry, in mason tending, and as general laborers,” Instructor Rick Pilkenton said. Many people don’t realize the pay masons recieve, “The average pay for a mason in Missouri is $30.22 hourly/ $62,870 yearly,” Pilkenton said.

Marketing

The Marketing program is instructed by Billi Jo Stringer RTI and is only available for high school students. “Students can start taking my program in ninth grad and they start with Marketing I, so that’s your basic principles of marketing class. Then they would progress to Marketing II, then they can go into the upper-level classes, and we get some variety there. You could have sports entertainment, travel and tourism, entrepreneurship, there’s management, advertising, retail management, and then at the senior level is marketing internship. That’s a full year, and you get to work in a job, get paid for it, and get credit also,” Stringer said.

Collision Repair Collision Repair is a class for juniors and seniors, however instructor Mike Hofstetter will be teaching a new class next year that more students can take. “I will offer a class next year called vehicle ownership that freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors can take. [It is] a 1 hour class that gives students the basics of how automobiles works, how to maintain a vehicle, and things you will run into driving a vehicle, Hofstetter said. Hofstetter explained the class in depth. “If you are interested in the technical line, things to do with the engines and transmissions, we give you some of those basics here also. I would honestly say anything that has to do with the automotive field this is a good starting point,” Hofstetter said.

Culinary Arts

The Culinary Arts program, instructed by Lana Altemeyer, at RTI aims to, “[teach] students the skills necessary for restaurant management.” The program uses the National Restaurant Association’s ProStart curriculum that requires students to spend two years in the classroom mastering fundamental management and culinary skills, and they learn employability skills, such as accountability, responsibility, leadership, and teamwork. “By bringing together the industry and the classroom, the RTI Culinary Arts program gives students a platform to discover new interests and talents to open doors for fulfilling careers.”

Agricultural Education

This is a four year program that starts in ninth grade. Involved students are encouraged to be in Future Farmers of America. Instructor Cord Jenkins expanded some about this program. “We prepare students for careers in a broad sense. [We do] have students that come to us that are going to go into very traditional AG careers. However, we also have students that come to us to go into the leadership and go into non-AG careers. We pride ourself in our program, because our program has the ability to have a student in a class who is technical school bound, [as well as] a student planning to go to a 4 year college. Our goal here is student success.”

Design Academy

The Design Academy, instructed by Angi Yowell, at RTI is, “A series of pathways for students interested in entering a career in the Visual Arts Career Cluster.” This includes, graphic design, animation plus game design, animation plus game art development (programming), website design and development, interior design, and drafting design. Each of the subjects will prepare high school students for education after high school or their career. Students are encouraged to apply for admission during their 8th grade year in order to complete the prerequisite courses needed prior to attending RTI in 11th grade for design-specific courses.

Information Technology

This program is only for one year and introduces computer technical skills to students. It is a hands on class that students have the opportunity to work with the latest technologies. “Coursework goes beyond simple computer repair and into topics such as database and web design, customer service, and network design. Curriculum covers a broad range of topics while providing enough focus to ensure the area’s best quality of instruction at core technical support skills,” Rolla Public Schools states.

Drafting and Design

The Drafting and Design course, instructed by Don Block, is a course which, “Teaches students a set of skills necessary to manufacture or build much of what people use every day,” Block said. It prepares students for, “[Jobs in] Architecture, engineering, surveying, mapping, inspection, manufacturing, technical writing, any career that involves documentation, design, manufacturing, or testing of any product, device, building, outdoor utility, or infrastructure.” Block said. This course is available to all students, “I have both guy and gals that excel in my classes,” Block said.

Construction Trades

During the course of this two year program students learn a variety of skills when working on several construction projects. “Every year the class builds a house to be sold on the open market, which is an excellent occupational experience for each student. Graduates may pursue employment in foundation or concrete work, framing, roofing, residential electrical, plumbing, drywall, painting, and finish carpentry.”

Health Science

The Health Science Academy courses offered at RTC, “Offer students an integrated academic and health-related curriculum and clinical application that will prepare them for high-skilled jobs in the health professions,” Rolla Public Schools website states. The course starts in 11th grade, where students take Health Science I, then students who wish to continue can take Health Science II their senior year. The overall cost for the full 2-year course is approximately $300.

Engineering

Fire and Rescue

Fire and Rescue prepares students for many emergency responce jobs, “Careers include private, municipal, district, and military firefighters, emergency containment and control, emergency dispatch, as well as emergency room technicians,” instructor Bradley Schafer said. The course also allows for many live exercises, “We do live fire exercises like compressed gas cylinders, car fires, and building fires. We also do auto extrication,” Schafer said. Firefighter I and II are no charge to high schoolers, EMT years cost around $400 plus travel (if certification is desired.)

This program can start as early as eighth grade, and can go until one’s senior year. It is for college-bound students. Leigh Ann Tumbrink, instructor of this program, shared some about the opportunities. “[Students can prepare for] Engineering, inventing, math or science teaching, chemistry, computer programming, drafting, or any other field that deals with problem solving,” Tumbrink said. Tumbrink shared something interesting about the program. “We build robotic machines that are programmed to sort marbles by color,” Tumbrink said.

HVaCR

The HVaCR program is mainly for career bound students, however some are college bound. Instructor Neal Broyles talked about some of the jobs for which it prepares students. “Heating and Cooling Equipment Installers, HVaCR Service Technitiancs, Hospital Maintence, Plumbers, Electricians, and Counter Sales [are some jobs that students can have with this training],” Broyles said. Broyles included a couple of interesting projects that students do for the class. “We install complete heating and cooling systems in the Building Trades house. We will be moving and installing two walk- in freezers for the district this year,” Broyles said.

“Pretty dang happy. It’s a pretty good life to be called attractive.” “Makes me feel pretty good. Makes me smile.” “Good, Incredible. It makes me feel beautiful to be called beautiful.”

“It makes me feel really special and like warm and fuzzy. And it just makes me happy because I just know that I’m beautiful.”

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Beautiful is a word used frequently throughout the day but for some people it is not enough. As a social experiment many students were picked out of the hallway and told they were beautiful to capture their reaction. The reactions were surprising and heart warming. “It makes me blush, I also get really warm in the inside, and it makes me feel a lot better about myself when someone calls me beautiful,” sophomore Hannah Holton-Langley said. Saying something positive can be so uplifting and life changing. By simply saying hello can change someone’s life and lift their self confidence. “I think a compliment can go a long way. I think anything positive you can say to someone can truly boost someone up. You never know what someone is dealing with especially students because you never know what emotional battle they are having. And by simply walking by and saying, ‘hey you’re beautiful’ or ‘hey you look nice today’,” RHS Guidance counselor Rodger Bridgeman commented. Self esteem is a major issue throughout the world ranging between adults, teens, and children. Many people don’t understand how big of a problem it has evolved into. “I think there are a lot more people who have self esteem issues than what we know, honestly. I think students a lot of times can hide it or buffer it and it’s not even noticeable a lot of the time. A lot of the time, when you get to the heart of issues that students are dealing with,that is usually one of the most popular things that come up. I think more than we realize students in high school are being affected by it. And sometimes they usually don’t say anything because they think it’s petty or think ‘what are they going to think of me when I really tell them that I am having self esteem issues?’,” Bridgeman said. Some believe self esteem issues are only for girls but one would be surprised by how many boys have a problem with self esteem issues. “There are boys that do have self esteem issues. Believe it or not it is more prevalent today because if you look out into the social media world everybody is comparing themselves to someone else. They say ‘well I don’t have a six pack like that guy’ or ‘I don’t have a tan like her’ or ‘I can’t play sports as good as him’. Sports is a big issue now because they are comparing how they play sports to professionals. Most of the time boys get overlooked because they just brush it off because ‘I am a man and can’t tell anyone I have self esteem issues’. But I think it is very prevalent and that it is here,” Bridgeman said. An issue that becomes prevalent when talking about self esteem is comparing someone else to themselves. Many individuals’ self esteem issues stem from being criticized for their looks and image. “Oh that hurts when someone calls me ugly. Sometimes, if it’s a joke it doesn’t hurt but if you heard someone talking about you behind your back and they say ‘your so ugly’, it’s hurtful,” Sydni Perez said. Being criticized on one’s image can be very hurtful but when being called beautiful it seems to make others happy. “Well actually my kids call me beautiful more than anybody. They tell me nice things all the time. You know like ‘why do you wear makeup mom you are beautiful’. So my kids tell me more than anybody and it makes me happy,” Star Hargis said. As one ripens with age, an adult can become wise. Being called beautiful by another can be life changing for a young teen but when called beautiful as an adult the reaction was surprising. “Well I’m old enough now to were being called beautiful doesn’t affect me very much. I think I’ve learned to not put much importance on physical beauty. Maybe because that it fades really quickly. but I really don’t let it affect me very much. I’ve learned to put my passion and energy into things that matter and not into things that don’t,” Hargis said.

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Humans of Rolla High School: Sean Barrett b y

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am a junior and a fully independent goat farmer. I got started a couple of years ago when my dad gave me some money to go and buy three goats, and it just kind of took off from there. I now have about twenty, with more kids on the way, and five sheep. Farming is in my family; we’ve always lived way out in the country, but we’ve mostly been cattle people. I’m the first to farm goats. I mostly get money from their milk, cheese, selling the kids, and the Salem livestock auction sometimes. I do it all completely on my own. I have five acres, and an old wooden barn. When the goats are in milking season, which can last for about six months, a day starts at five a.m. with milking, then I go to school, milk them again when I get back, then I feed them. That schedule was pretty hard at first, but I’m very used to it by now. It’s a lot easier when I don’t have to milk them, but sadly, it's looking like this year’s milking season is going to coincide with winter. Last year it was in the summer, which was nice. Sometimes people are interested in my relationship with the goats, but they’re just goats to me. They make me money, really. They’re kind of dumb, for example, one time I had a goat get its head stuck in the fence every day for around a week, and whenever I tried to help it, it would fight me every step of the way. Sometimes goats can be clever, but sheep are just non-stop dumb. Their natural instinct is to follow one another, and there have been documented cases of them following each other off of cliffs, for example. After high school, I am giving my goats to my brother and joining the Army. My favorite memory comes from my first year of farming, I went out to check on them and one goat gave birth to three kids, and they were all walking around and were healthy, and I was happy because it was cool, and because I basically doubled my income.

Visit www.rhsechonews for more news and features from RHS

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Starting next year, RHS students will have the ability to take AP Biology. The course is supposed to offer students premium knowledge in biological science, and prepare them for the AP Biology exam, which offers students significant amounts of college credit. The course will be taught by RHS science teacher Dr. Keith Peterson. “The Science Department as a whole decided that with Mr. Warnke, the teacher for Biology II and Cell Biology, retiring that it would be a good time to make the switch [to AP Biology]. I was originally slated to take over those classes for him, but he suggested that we convert Biology II into AP Biology, if possible. As a department, we decided that having AP Biology would be very beneficial for RHS students. Furthermore, since I am qualified to teach it as a dual-credit course, dual-credit will be offered for the class in addition to AP credit. It’s not simply a rebranded Biology II, however; I would say that Biology II would be about seventy to eighty percent of what I’m planning AP to be. I planned it accordingly with the College Board’s recommended schedule and outlines, as well as Drury University’s Biology I and II courses, to ensure students will be getting the best in terms of college preparation,” Peterson said. The outlook of RHS’s current science course offerings will be changed somewhat, therefore, many students will want to know the differences between the classes as they go into scheduling. “Bio II will no longer be offered, but Cell Biology will be; I’ll be teaching it actually. It will be dual-credit as well. The primary differences between Cell Bio and AP Bio will be that Cell Bio will pretty much cover cell processes extensively; we’ll review Biology I cell processes, then go in depth with every organelle and its function, then about how cells communicate and other processes, then down to genetics and DNA. Whereas in AP Bio well cover a much

wider variety of topics, while still hitting on the points of Cell Biology, but not in as great depth. We’ll cover many different biological topics with significant depth, but just not as focused as Cell Biology. Since both classes will be dual-credit, and AP Credit will be possible, students will be able to get very significant amounts of credit for college out of the way. It will be an advanced course in many aspects. I am not planning to have frequent homework assignments, but students will need to study and be ready for labs. Tests will be periodical and students must prepare for them in class, and on their own. It’s very heavily based on college biology classes, which are primarily lecture based. There will be significant reading; I’m planning to have reading topics for each week, not necessarily from a textbook but from various journals or websites. Tests and labs will be the big things grade wise. Homework will be occasional, often for the students benefit; you could think study guides,” Peterson said. Peterson believes it is important for students to know what they will be getting into, and for them to know if the class is a good fit for their future plans. “I’d say the class would be a good fit for any student looking to go to college. For students looking to major in science, they will be learning college-level biology, and would be able to earn legitimate college credit for their degree. For students not planning on majoring in a science, they will almost certainly be able to put a dent in their degree’s science requirements, if not fulfill it altogether. Because for almost every possible degree at a four-year university, you will need to take a college-level biology course. The class will look good on a transcript and will offer some of the highest level information in terms of biological science in the school,” Peterson said. While there are benefits to taking the class, not all RHS students feel inclined to take the class. “I’m haven’t taken a biology class since Biology I freshman year, so I don’t think I’ll take it next year,” junior Morgan Gabriele said.

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Artists of

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Art can be a form of expression and a way to express one’s desires. The requirement for an art is unlimited. One could create a beautiful dish that consisted of a perfectly cooked duck and you can call it art. As long as you put the time and energy into the project you can call it an art. Allyson Mack and Samuel Leigh have put in that effort in their artwork. Allyson Mack is a Junior at Rolla High School. She has lived in Rolla most of her life and is a student in Mrs. Engelbrecht’s AP Art class. “I have been doing art since I was born. Pretty much since I could hold a pencil in my small hands. Of course the art was really bad but I have grown and can do art pretty well,” Mack said. Creating art for some people is a go to for relaxation and anxiety relief but after creating art for so long one might get tired of it. That case for Allyson has come true. “It used to be my go to relaxation thing but now that I am considering doing it for a job it’s not as relaxing. Also I am in AP Art and it’s not all that enjoyable since I have to do it as an assignment. I feel like I have to so I feel pressure and it’s not as fun,” Mack said. Considering becoming an art teacher can make one not enjoy art as much since one teaches it all day. Allyson has considered the possibility of art just becoming a job and refuses it to happen. “If anything I think art at school will just become a job for me, but I don’t think I will ever stop enjoying art on my own. Creating art is fun for myself and others,” Mack said. Samuel Leigh is a Sophomore in Rolla High School who creates a different kind of art that is less visual and more sound oriented. “I am involved in band, marching band, I am teaching myself guitar, and I do composing from time to time. It’s not that big of a deal, I like to do and it’s a good hobby,” Leigh said. When asked what is a composer ones mind might think of someone like Mozart or Beethoven but one would be surprised by the technology others have created for us to create music. “I use a lot of free software to compose. There is a lot out there but I just use free sites. Now creating music, if it is just a little jingle it will only take a few seconds to make so I can get it out of my head. But if I am doing a full piece of music that I might be doing for band that can take over two to three weeks,” Leigh said. Music in Samuel’s life is a constant friend, from the forty five minutes he spends in band, to singing in his church’s choir, to teaching himself how to play guitar, and to just listening to music . “Since I listen to a lot of music I get a lot of inspiration to create music. Inspiration is all around, you just have to hear it,” Leigh said.

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Samuel Leigh Grade: Sophmore Artist: Composer

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Although Hall never intended to compete and perform as a cheerleader, since she has started, she has come and gone a long way to be where she is. “I have been cheerleading for five years. I started in seventh grade when my mom forced me while we were still living in Oklahoma. I have been cheering ever since,” Hall said. Thanks to her mother, Hall has been able to make great memories and relationships over the years. “My favorite part of cheerleading is stunting and performing because that is the time when we can really prove what we are able to do,” Hall said. Hannah Hall Although cheering may seem Grade: 12 exactly as it sounds, cheery, there are still obstacles that Hall faces.ith Sport: Cheerleading is that people don’t think cheerleading is hard or even a sport. I can’t tell you how many times someone on the team has gotten her, including myself. With the whole sport aspect, the definition of a sport is ‘an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another for entertainment.’ we do go to competitions, ESPN shows cheer competitions, and my teammates and I made it to state this year and got first in our division last year,” Hall said. But even though Hall and her teammate’s work can go unappreciated at times, she is optimistic and proves her hard work through the success of herself and team. Something that an average Rolla athlete can not say is that they went to London, England to represent the United States in the London New Year’s Day Parade because of their hard work and talent. “London was really fun. I got to go with two of my best friends and met so many people that share the same passion for cheerleading that I do. The parade was the best because England only has three elite cheer teams so we were treated like superstars,” Hall said. Hall’s plans after highschool consist of going to Missouri State University in the fall and getting a degree in physical therapy. Although she does not plan to continue with cheer in college, she does plan on trying out for UCA staff this spring and cheering that way. Advice to future players: “Always be peppy no matter how you feel. You can’t let any other emotion show. But mostly, just have fun. Cheering is all about making the crowd pumped and cheering on your team,” Hall said. Who do you look up to, who inspires you? “Always be peppy no matter how you feel. You can’t let any other emotion show. But mostly, just have fun. Cheering is all about making the crowd pumped and cheering on your team,” Hall said. What other clubs/activities are you in? NHS, Student Council, Pep Club, youth group, and employment at Di’Tropini’s in Benton Square.

For some people sports are just for fun, but for others sports are a type of lifestyle. And for senior, Kobe Wands, basketball is one of the first things he can remember loving. “I’ve been playing since I was in kindergarten. My dad played in college and has just always put a ball in my hand,” Wands said. Throughout the years, Wands decision to continue with his basketball career has been one of his best. “I love going out there every game with my teammates. The best part of basketball is going out there and trying to win for the team and the fans that come to support us,” Wands said. But even with Rolla basketball’s Kobe Wands fantastic reputation, Wands still has Grade: 12 struggles as an athlete he strives to Sport: Basketball keep improving. “I wish that I could improve my jumping ability so that I could throw down all over people,” Wands said. With his positive attitude, Wands is able to reflect on the toughest moments in his high school career, accept his mistakes, and learn how to continue developing as a player. “The hardest thing to deal with would have to be losing in the quarterfinals last year. Our team was devastated after that loss but it only motivated us to get in the gym and get better,” Wands said. Wands gives all his effort physically, but even with how brutal the physical intensity can get, when it all comes down to it, basketball is just as much of a mind game as it is physical. “Basketball is more straining mentally because if you miss a shot, it gets in your head. The best thing you can do is to forget about that play and just move onto the next one,” Wands said. Though all the work put into this sport sounds gruesome, the results make up for it. “My proudest moment would have to be our state run last year. We ended the season with 26-3 which is the best winning percentage in Rolla history,” Wands said. After his high school career is over, Wands plans on joining his brother Carter, playing basketball at Westminster College and getting a business degree to eventually pursue a job with Nike manufacturing. Advice to future players: “The only advice I could give fellow players would be to just go out there and give it your all. Don’t go out there half heartedly, play like it’s your last game. Most importantly, break some ankles,” Wands said. Who do you look up to, who inspires you? “Stephen Curry inspires me because of how great his ball handling and how well he can shoot. He isn’t that big of a guard in the NBA and yet he is the most dominant player in the league,” Wands said. What other activities/clubs are you in? Spanish club, Anti-Bully team, Link Crew, and NHS.

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Rolla Students

Girl’s Basketball

4th

rode the pep bus to the boy’s baskeball game against He-

in the Sedalia Tournament

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ever wrestling assembly for Rolla High School 22 sports

Rolla cheerleaders represented in New Year’s Parade in London, England

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Girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basketball victory over Joplin

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Wrestling placed in the Republic Tournament

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Past and present players honoring Coach Howard in his induction into the Missouri Hall of Fame

Boyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basketball broke high school record with

three pointers in one game

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