September 2015

Ashland High School

The

ROGUE NEWS

Volume CI Issue I

201 South Mountain Avenue., Ashland, Oregon

Fresh Faces

by Skylar Zundel, Allayana Darrow and Ia Balbuena

This year, the Ashland high student body and staff welcome a total of thirteen new staff members. Some are returners, some finally committing after their long-lived flirtation of a school switch, some starting a new chapter in their teaching careers, but all jubilant for the coming year.

Ben Tell

Jackie Case As a first year teacher, Jackie Case will be teaching English and global studies for 9th graders. A friend of Case’s was moving to Ashland and so she came along to see what it was like.

Case ended up loving the community so much that she decided to make the move. When asked what she was most excited for, Case replied “[to] watch my students grow this year”.

Mr. Tell will be teaching Algebra 1, Algebra 1A and Geometry this year. Though he has lived in Ashland for 7 years, Tell most recently taught math at McLaughlin Middle School in Medford. Tell is excited for a new atmosphere and, “to have a bigger role in the community.”

Lindsay McNeill Carroll Newcomb This year, Carroll Newcomb will be the culinary teacher for Foods 1, 2 and 3. Newcomb had previously worked alongside Ms. Kenfield at Eagle Point for several years as a celebrated teacher. She came to Ashland once the position opened up for a change of scenery. Newcomb looks forward to “being able to have a new platform to create with” at Ashland.

Lindsay McNeill will be teaching the Café Ed program and will also serve as a freshman advisor. Café Ed’s helps students in need of an alternative learning environment.

McNeill taught at AHS last year as a student teacher alongside Jennifer Wahpepah, who had previously taught the program. McNeill hopes to “become a part of the community of students and teachers, and really get to know everybody and support students in whatever way [she] can.”

Timothy Duryea

Aimee Antilla Aimee Antilla came to Ashland following her husband’s recent hire as a pastor. Antilla will be teaching 10th grade Humanities: the double-whammy of English and American Studies. “[I’m] excited to get to know all of my new students,” said Antilla when speaking about the new school year.

Travis Moddison

Mr. Duryea (doo-ree-ay) will be teaching two Humanities blocks and Economics this year. He previously taught English at North Medford High School and is now enthused to teach at AHS with both freshman and senior classes.

Sam Osofsky

Travis Moddison, Band Director, had originally visited Ashland as a senior in high school with his drama class, then again when he toured with a music group. For a third time (and near miss) he moved to Grants Pass for a job, then came to SOU to finish his degree. “Ashland has been like calling me, and I finally listened.”

Moddison said, “It’s a dream job in a lot of ways.” He cannot wait to see what his students are capable of.

Amber Hoyem, who has had previous experience teaching, started subbing at AHS last spring and loved the students. Last year when the position for a wellness teacher became available, she went for it. She lives in Ashland with her two sons. Hoyem is excited to “get to know all the students and be a part of this crazy, wonderful community and being able to go to all the sporting events”.

Amber Hoyem

September 14, 2015

Sam Osofsky is a familiar face to those who had him as a student teacher in the fall and spring of last year. This year he is, as he puts it, “an actual teacher.” Osofsky will be teaching wellness, advanced conditioning, and will coach this year’s boys’ varsity basketball team in the winter. “I’m excited to learn with all the students here,” said Osofsky. “[They’re] an amazing group of students and it’s an amazing opportunity for me as a first year teacher to learn from them”.

Jeff Roscher has begun this year as a counselor for 10th and 11th graders. This will be Roscher’s first year in Ashland. Previously , he had been working in New Hampshire as a counselor at a high school last fall and an elementary school last spring.

He holds enthusiasm for his “pursuit of life, liberty and happiness” this year.

Jeff Roscher

Continued on Back

Kayla Fennell and Lyric Silvan

Indi Reynolds and Amelia Covert Zeve Brayden Preskenis and a Blue Teammate

Gillian Mullane posing with Zane Cruz

Keeley O’Dougherty and Willow Keefe

Sarah Lasoff and KJ Pippa

Fresh Start,

Thank you for all the wonderful memories and friends we made during our retreats. You are an example of how we must always treat others and live our lives.

You’re easily our favorite part of summer. -The Rogue News Team

Karynne Prudhomme

Sonny St. John

Sarah Lasoff and David Lee

Ellie Stanek, Amelia Covert Zeve, Amelia Sorensen Isaiah Brown, Cedar Barnes and Hannah Johnson.

Abdi, Mark Schoenleber, Sam Scharf and Allison French.

Mr. Cate breaking it down with Autumn Ekwall

Fresh-starters being trained in yoga.

Ethan Jones, Shashi Penn, Isaiah Brown and James Edson

Fresh Start at Night photos courtesy of Amelia Sorensen, Cedar Barnes, Emma Hassel, and Keeley O’Dougherty

Continued From Front Glenna Stiles is back at Ashland high after a three year hiatus, during which she was the principal of Helman Elementary School. This year she will be the senior counselor as well as manage senior projects and the advisory program. She decided to return because she missed the older age group and, fortunately enough, there was a job opening when she wanted to transfer back. Stiles says that she’s excited for “everything; being back at the high school and being back at Ashland.”

Diane Berry is contributing this year as the counselor for the freshman/”freshwoman” class. Before this new position at the high school, she had been working at Bellview as a counselor for 8 years. Because of this, Berry is familiar with some of the students who are now entering as students at AHS. Berry said that she “loves seeing and working with teens again” and that it is her “favorite age.”

Diane Berry

Glenna Stiles Jay Preskenis is taking on an even larger leadership role since last years’ duties: administrator and assistant principal. Last year he was a teacher on special assignment (TOSA) at the middle and high school, and is excited about this year’s new position.

He loves Ashland most of all for its “exceptional community and opportunity for outdoor activities.” This school year he looks forward to “propelling student learning by supporting Education Assistants and teachers.”

Jay Preskenis

The

Erika Bare

Erika Bare is AHS’ newly appointed principal for the coming school year.

Bare is holding off on deciding whether or not she would like to remain principal permanently or, as she puts it, is “committed to not committing until January.” As Interim Principal, Bare has prepped accordingly for the large increase in enrolling students this year: 1,087 with 300 freshman, a rise from last year’s yearend total of 965.

Bare originally came to Ashland because she believed it to boast “the best students and staff in the valley.” She says the coming year of 2015-2016 is “poised to be the best school year yet.”

Rogue News Welcomes Staff Changes As Rogue News says goodbye to Mrs. French, Baxter and separate classes for online and print, the staff looks forward to the future and welcomes three new editors--and a new adviser.

Jamie Hirsh

In her brief two years at AHS, Hirsh has taught American Studies, Women’s Lit, Global Studies, 9th grade Humanities and Contemporary Lit. Now, she is taking on another new class: Rogue News. Having written for newspapers in the past, Hirsh has experience with journalistic writing and editing, but admits she has little to no experience with running a newspaper, managing ads, or regulating content. In spite of being new to the newspaper business, Hirsh has “complete faith that the Rogue News staff will impart the necessary wisdom.” She looks forward to learning and growing with Rogue News as well as bringing some great newspapers to the table!

Ianthe Balbuena-Nedrow

Balbuena-Nedrow is a Rogue News Staff Member of two years, this year being her third. Her favorite and most praised article shed light on the ASPIRE program at AHS, which provides students with special needs the tools and experiences they need to succeed outside of high school. She remembers the pride she felt as she received praise from teachers and parents, and how good it felt to inform the public. “I really enjoy the creative freedom the students are given in this class,” says Balbuena-Nedrow. “I feel like being able to express your views and give a different perspective is vital in today’s world. Rogue News is a great way to have my voice heard.”

Balbuena-Nedrow is co-captain of the girls’ soccer team, and enjoys playing piano and cooking.

She is ecstatic about this year’s Rogue News team.

Skylar Zundel

Zundel has begun her fourth and final year in Rogue News. Beginning her freshman year in the journalism/online edition of the class, she has moved her way up to print and is now an editor. Zundel loves writing and has since she was a child, always writing little stories about her friends or toys for amusement. She then realized there might be more important issues that could be

by James Edson

James Edson

Edson didn’t take the prerequisite journalism class required for applying for Rogue News; instead, he jumped into the class at the recommendation of the adviser at the time, Bill Gabriel. He was initially hesitant about taking Rogue News because he had no previous experience writing for a newspaper. However, Edson soon took a liking to the design aspect of the paper. His favorite activities include using the Adobe programs: Photoshop and Indesign to create funny images to entertain his comrades.

He has come to recognize the influence the Rogue News has in the community and does his best to provide “meaningful stories and provocative presentations to the public.” Edson enjoys running, playing cello and jamming out on the “gui-tar.”

Allayana Darrow

Darrow has taken journalism and Rogue News for a total of three years, having already served as an editor for the 2014-2015 school year alongside Katy Barnard and Mimi Schafer-Sharp. “Having a student voice on small-town issues is important,” says Darrow. “It gives a unique, youthful side to issues.” She loves working with the staff and is especially looking forward to some “really cool cords” at graduation. A meaningful moment for Darrow occurred in her sophomore year, when Gabe Young (an editor), told Mrs. French as he helped Darrow design her first page: “This one is gonna be great.” Darrow enjoys swimming, doing yoga, making art, reading and riding her dirt bike in Yreka. She is hopeful about the new year and her new co-editors: James, Ia and Skylar. brought to the public’s attention and decided she might like that too. Zundel feels that she has a great deal to say. “Rogue News is an outlet to be creative and express ideas and opinions to the community.” Zundel likes to run, eat and travel. She plans to continue contributing the written word as well as unsolicited advice to other staff members, spliced with sprinkles of sass.