December 2008

December 4, 2008

www.roguenews.net

Ashland, Oregon

Vol. III Issue III

School budget crisis: change inevitable

Photo by Justin Aziere

From left: Budget Committee Chair Rick Barth, School Board member Keith Massey, Superintendent Juli DiChiro, Business Manager Jill Turner and Administrative Assistant / Human Resources Coordinator Jeanne Peterson discuss the coming finacial shortfall at the Budget Committee meeting in the AHS library on Nov 24.

$380,000 in cuts projected for this year. $2.5 million in cuts projected for 2009-2010.

by Phoebe Parker-Shames On the afternoon of November 24, all Ashland School District teachers and staff received a letter from Superintendent Juli DiChiro. They read it, brows furrowed, and issued quiet sighs of concern. The news was not good, and they knew that it would seriously change the future of education in the Ashland School District, and indeed the entire state of Oregon.

Due to the downward turn of the economy, Oregon’s government is running out of money and is making across the board cuts to all state programs. The anticipated loss of revenue for Ashland this school year is $380,000. Compounding this problem is the fact that Ashland schools are still suffering from declining enrollment. The projected loss of revenue for the next year is $2.5 million, or roughly a 9% reduction of the total budget. However, all of these numbers are estimates. The exact numbers will become clearer after the state government’s financial forecast in early December.

“This is one of the largest substantial reductions that the Ashland School District has ever had to face,” Ashland School Board Chair Mat Marr said.

The problem is complicated. The Ashland School District is required to set its budget for the following year in May. However, the Legislature often does not allocate funds for education until later in the session, sometimes as late as September. In other words, the district has to create a budget before they know

Join Ashland High School in supporting our Art community with the Winter Fine Arts Festival (WFAF). It will be held on Jan 13 and 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the Mountain Avenue Theatre. Bring friends and family to listen to music, watch dances, view artwork and more. Art from display cases will be put into a silent auction, which raises money for the art department and student scholarships. There will also be a café in the commons with fantastic food.

Be sure to sign up for the annual blood drive on Dec 18. Remember, you must be sixteen or older and have parental consent.

Have spare cans of food lying around at home? Bring what you have during the canned food drive to help out families in need. The canned food drive will end on Dec 18.

how much they have to spend, and in this case they have to cut spending that has already been allocated.

The latest crisis comes only six years after the last major budget reductions of 2002 when ten days were cut from the school year, eighth period at AHS was removed, and staff were laid off. Similar actions will probably be needed to combat these budget cuts.

“85% of the budget is salary [and benefits] for staff…You just can’t get to 2.5 million without layoffs,” said Marr.

No layoffs are planned for this school year because of the immense disruption it would cause part way through the school year. Instead, the current proposal is to remove five days from the school year, with teachers receiving no pay for those days, and students, no instruction. However, the reality of budget cuts for next year is beginning to sink in with the staff, and even some of the students.

“There’s already a lot of unease and uncertainty and fear from some of our employees who think they might be the first to go,” government teacher Matthew McKinnon said.

While some students are rejoicing at the idea of extra days off of school, they may not get the break they are anticipating.

“We just give more homework. We still have to cover the same amount of material,” science teacher Kate Kennedy said. “I hope we cut days after the AP exam,” she said, explaining that it would be difficult to review for AP tests in May if Spring Break were lengthened, one of the current proposals.

School Board Student Representative Amie Jacobson added, “Students have strong bonds with specific teachers and it’s just going to be so sad to lose them… we’re just going to have to work with what we have and make the best out of it.”

Show your talent at the annual Ashland High School Talent show. It will take place in the Mountain Avenue Theatre on Dec 12.

Did you miss the last assemblies at Ashland High? Then be sure to bring your school spirit to the Winter Assembly on Jan 17.

POSTPONED- The Funkadelic dance has been postponed. It will take place prior to the Winter Formal, which is on Jan 31.

Ashland High School’s FIRST Robotics Club has received its grant from NASA and is now looking for any community volunteers to help with the construction and programming of their robot for competition. For more information please contact the team captain, Max ParkerShames, at max.parkershames@gmail.com

Ashland High School’s Speech and Debate Team, with over 60 members, is gearing up for winter competition.

Second-year coach Wendy Werthaiser-Kent and a team of 10 experienced debaters have drilled the team. So far, the work has paid off: they took first place the Willamette tournament in October. For more information, check out the full article at roguenews.net Key Club is giving back! The club, along with the leadership class, is running a giving tree in the main office from Dec 1 through Dec 19. Tags are on the tree with a name, age and desired gift of a needy child. You can bring either a new gift or a used one that is in near perfect shape.

On Nov. 24 during the Demographer’s report, Charles Rynerson announced that AHS enrollment is projected to stabalize at around 900 students in nine years.

Page 2

December 4, 2008

Rogue News

Heap of the week

Air trekkers

by Vince Brinegar

Roaming the streets of Ashland is Josh McLaughlin and his 1988 Jeep Cherokee. This very well worn vehicle has been around for 20 years and it isn’t hard to tell that its appearance hasn’t evaded the toll of time.

Now, some people say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but no matter how you hold the word beauty, McLaughlin’s car won’t feel the same.

The driver’s side is coated with a barrage of bumps, dents and scratches—and that’s its good side.

The front has a couple good-sized dents and the headlight panel only decides to stay attached part of the time. The right side has the most character, predominantly taken up by a crater larger than most swimming pools. After one of the more notable crashes the front passenger door was sealed closed by the metal roof. At least one of the windows has a stick- Josh Mclaughlin and his heap of the week. er of “Ernie,” the roommate of Bert from day and you’re looking for a cool and re“Sesame Street” fame. The backside is actu- freshing ride, don’t count on Josh. The air ally in decent shape, unfortunately, the only conditioner hasn’t been in use for years and feature is a bumper that’s about three strong its actual chance of working is slim to none kicks away from falling off and the trunk and to top it off, the windows on the left door that never opens. Now let’s go inside. side don’t even open.

Allowing the fact that we might not be able If you haven’t heard enough about this to actually “get inside.” I say this because if less than fortunate piece of automobile any of the doors (except for the driver’s) are craftsmanship here’s a little list to round it locked they wont be opened again without off. Both side view mirrors aren’t sealed in many strenuous hours of work. If it’s a hot place. This means that while driving they

Rogue News

-The Rogue News will strive to practice professional journalism at Ashland High School. It will aim to be a voice for the student body, and an important contribution to the school and community. In order to achieve this goal, the Rogue News will attempt to do the following to the best of it’s ability.

-Report accurate and objective information -Uphold all journalistic ethics and standards -Provide an outlet for voices within the school through letters editor and editorials. Unsigned editorials represent the views of the staff, all others are signed. Letters to the editor must be signed unless extenuating circumstances warrant a students name being withheld, as decided by the Editor-in-Chiefs or newspaper advisor.

-Attempt to cover school events fairly and evenly

Editorial Board

Editors-in-Chief...............................Phoebe Parker-Shames, Žena Shelton Managing Editor..............................................................Ella Riley-Adams Front Page Editors...................................Arthur Lawniczak, Žena Shelton Quadlife Editor.....................................................................Erik Peterson Feature Editors................................................Nicholas Dake, Abbie Deal In-Depth Editors...........................................Sophie Javna, Hannah Sayles Technology Page Editor..........................................................Morgan Hall Sports Editors..................... ....................Trevor Hilligoss, Zach Kitamura Back Page Editors..............................Phoebe Parker-Shames, Anna Hume Graphic Designer/Ad Designer.................................................Jesse Smith Advertising Managers.............Anna Hume, Adam Pavlich, Jackson Santee Distrubution Manager.........................................................Nicholas Dake Technical Advisor........................................................Max Parker-Shames

by Vince Brinegar There is a group of young men at Ashland High School at the peak of their physical and mental ability and they have been taking exercise and sports to a whole new level.

Mack Conroy is the leader of the Air Trekking Squad Veritas, or “Truth Holders.”

Photo by Vince Brinegar

spin side to side. The rear view mirror is held in place by a strong faith in super glue.

The paneling to the trunk door is just plain gone, revealing a lonely sheet of metal. Rats used to nest by the engine and chew on wires causing engine problems. The whole of the interior covered in multiple layers of filth.

Congrats Josh, you and you’re Jeep have truly earned “Heap of the Week.”

Editorial: local produce

Thanksgiving has past, and along with it the good food and the long weekend. But the good food doesn’t have to end with Thanksgiving. Since August, the Ashland School District has brought in organic, locally grown produce to the district’s cafeterias. This was possible through the Farm to School federal program and will end in December.

“Really, do you want your vegetables to come to you via truck from Iowa? Wouldn’t it be nice if it came from Applegate? We live in a very agra-rich area. There’s not much need to go outside your region for food,” Tracey Harding, the Farm to School’s coordinator for Ashland, said.

The high school has been the lowest receiver of local produce and most students don’t know that the onions, winter squash and carrots in the cafeteria are from local organic farms. Without more students eating lunch at the cafeteria and without positive feedback, Sodexo, the National provider of AHS’s cafeteria food, may choose not to continue this program.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, show your appreciation for local produce by eating at the cafeteria and letting the school administration know how much you enjoy it.

While many think German engineering reached its peak with Volkswagen, this group of, dare I say “mavericks,” begs to differ. The actual “Air Trekkers”, a.k.a. jumping stilts, were invented and patented in 1992 in Berlin, Germany, by Alexander Böck. They are an apparatus that attaches to the shoe and knee and allows the user to show off their more-thanhuman athletic abilities.

Since the Nineties the sport has been growing in popularity and is big in Eastern Europe and parts of Asia. The U.S. has only begun to take notice in recent years because the jumping stilts have become a YouTube sensation.

Air Trekkers really have few limits. You can run at 25 MPH and jump at least 4.5 feet directly off the ground.

The Veritas Squad constantly runs at high speeds up and down steep hills, do back and front flips and are usually a good 6 ft. from the ground.

Conroy on his own has beaten a bike in a race downhill.

Like the activity parkour, which involves a lot of jumping and liveliness, Air Trekking is a good exercise.

The sheer act of running in the Air Trekkers builds muscle, strengthens the core and makes the user’s body look like a cross between Michael Phelps and Chuck Norris.

In fact, every member of The Veritas Sqaud is an accomplished athlete and student. An extraordinary example of this is Conroy himself. He is a star debater, a long time gymnast/dancer, maintains a 4.0 grade point average and is an all around Adonis incarnate.

“I used to be weak, I used to be feeble… until I found the light. By God’s almighty did I work. Until I became something more… Something stronger…Something Better…Something Great.

Air trekking was that light,” Mackenzie Allen RunningBear Richardson Conroy said.

December 4, 2008

Page 3

Rogue News

Gift giving: sentimental or selfish?

Illustration by Sadie Shelton

by Sadie Shelton

Photo courtesy of Terry Skibby

What is this picture of and when was it taken? Answer at www.roguenews.net

Music of Morocco

by Abbie Deal

Music is the heartbeat, the pulse of a culture. Students at Ashland High School are being invited to take a trip to Morocco and join a diverse audience from around the world at the Gnaoua World Music Festival.

Steve Scholl, the creator of Imagine Adventures, is one of the leaders of the trip along with Mark Schoenleber, AHS art teacher, and Abdi Aziz Guled, Ashland Middle School counselor and AHS coach.

“The purpose of the tour is to develop leadership skills and to provide an unforgettable overseas experience for students who want not just adventure but to be a spark for social change in the world.” Scholl said.

According to the Imagine Adventures website, “The Gnaoua World Music Festival is an exhilarating celebration of mystical Gnaoua masters playing with their friends from around the world.”

It is a mixture of music and dialogue, of tradition and the modern world. It is a place where cultures from all over the world come together in a demonstration of the spiritual power of music. It is held every year in the city of Essaouira, Morocco.

“Morocco is rough around the edges, but within the chaos there is beauty.” Scholl said in an article he wrote for the Jeferson Monthly.

Scholl plans to take a group of 20 to 25 students in June 16-30, 2009. The World Music Festival will be the centerpiece of the trip, but the activities of the tour group are by no means limited to that.

The group will also explore cities like Fes and Marrakech, which is known as “the Red City,” and hike the breathtaking Atlas Mountains.

“The old city of Fes (Fes el-Bali) is the most faithfully preserved medieval medina in the Arab world. The sights, smells, and sounds are just phenomenal,” Scholl said.

In Fes, “the spiritual center of Morocco,” the students will have a chance to interact with Sufi teachers and listen to traditional music at a Sufi concert. Sufism is widely considered something that cannot be learned through books and is an important part of Islamic culture.

“I think it’s going to be mind expanding to not only experience other cultures but also to go to this festival where the attendance is like 400,000 people!” Scholenleber said.

There will be an informational meeting held Monday, December 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the Ashland Community Hospital Conference room.

To find out more visit www.imagine-adventures.com.

The idea of giving gifts was first practiced by the Romans during the Winter Solstice. From there it has been passed down from generation to generation and has morphed into our current idea of gift giving. The Romans gave gifts of sentimental value, but today, giving gifts has little to do with sentiment and more do to with the cultural norm.

According to a website that analyzes spending in the United States, Americans spend about $457 billion per year during the holidays. This is a shocking amount considering America’s economic crises. With the strain on the pockets of Americans, why is there an excessive need to give gifts?

Family values, the media and the desire to fit into the American culture all affect a person’s need to buy gifts, but has the obsession gone too far?

“I think that many of our holidays have become superficial, and gift giving has a lot to do with it. I think that people should look at holidays as a way to spend quality time with their families. For example, when asked how one’s winter vacation was spent, their response should not be based upon how many good gifts one received, but rather if their time was spent in an enjoyable or memorable way with family and friends,” Dahna Black, a senior at Ashland High School, said.

Giving gifts can require more energy and thought than one bargained for, but for some, the sight of a gracious face upon receiving a gift is worth the effort.

“It’s not how much you spend on the present, but the feeling you get when you’re searching for that unique thing for someone you care about. There is a joy in giving without expecting something back,” Gladys Contreras, a Spanish teacher at Ashland High School, said.

The American idea of gift giving may have gone to the extreme, but it still has meaning for some poeple. “It’s a way of saying that I care,” Contreras said.

The holidays may be filled with unpleasant family members and frustrations about finding the perfect gift, but gift giving is still a way to show someone you’re thinking about them.

Gifts Ideas for t

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In honor of the ways to give a great

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. Create some art.

Remember, abstract is always the best way to go if you’re short on time. But if you aren’t artistically inclined, you can always “borrow” some old art from Mark Schonleiber’s room and sign your name at the bottom.

. Make your friend bike or walk ALL day.

. Send a good thought. Spend

Help keep your friends in shape!

And besides, you never know when you could be saving them from a car accident.

some time thinking about your loved ones. A nice thought can go a long way!

(Make sure to let your nontelepathic friends know, though).

. Shave your head!

Olivia Granach sends good thoughts to her friends and family.

Boy or girl, everyone loves a good joke around the holidays. You can be sure it will be a gift they’ll never forget.

the Rich at Heart

by Hannah Sayles and Sophie Javna

of being stingy during the holiday season? Well, thanks to the recent economic downfall, you’re not

hink of the magical unicorns and high-powered robots that I want to give my friends for I realize that I can’t afford those kinds of things,” said Kai Yearsley. or the affordable gift, Kai turns to her friend Sophie Scheer for holiday giving ideas. esent doesn’t matter…it’s the thought that counts,” responded Scheer wisely. s are tough, there are still ways to show you care without spending your piggy-bank fortune. struggling students at AHS who are experiencing “gift-woes”, Rogue News has compiled a list of 10 gift—without breaking your budget.

Make a coupon book.

de things like “free hug,” “free age,” and “free back crack”. They’ll love it.

. Bake something delicious.

Everyone enjoys a good holiday PB&J. To make it festive, simply tie a fancy ribbon around it or cut it in the shape of a Christmas tree.

Reuse gifts.

Ever gotten a gift from your great aunt Sally that you hate, but would be perfect for your friend? Pass it on! No one will ever know, and remember: reusing is good for the environment.

. Give some good advice.

Forget your own problems for a day and start criticizing your close friends! They’ll appreciate it in the long run.

Write them a song.

They’ll be sure to “cry you a river”.

Make a friend collage.

This cliché sentiment never gets old! Don’t worry—even if they don’t like it, they’ll say they do.

Willy Terrall gives his friend, Matt Kandaris, advice.

Page 6

December 4, 2008

Rogue News

Gaming it up, Halo style Have you ever dreamed of making money by playing video games? Well, this senior actually does.

by Morgan Hall “It’s just a game.”

I’ve heard plenty of people, myself included, utter that phrase. To some, video games are a lifestyle.

Some people can just sit in front of a screen for hours on end. You probably know someone who does this.

I’ve done it. Sounds pretty lame, right?

Well what if you found out you could make a living off of playing video games?

Many people do, and one of them goes to school here at AHS. Joe Edwards is a senior and plays Halo 3 competitively. He goes by the moniker of ‘STEELSNIP3R’ and has garnered a cult following. “Stay Positive,” Joe Edwards stands by a picture of his Halo 3 character. sively represents the best gamers in the world. The Joe’s Halo team, is one of the best in the United States. Watching Joe play Halo is an entertaining spec- league was founded in 2002, and is based in New York tacle. He decimates the competition. Sometimes when City. You may have turned on ESPN to find that they he gets a kill you can hear him mutter phrases like were broadcasting one of MLG’s Halo 3 tournaments.

“You’re trash.” “Destroyed!” or “Bad kid!” If there’s Recently over 500,000 people tuned in to see the live online broadcast of the MLG 2008 playoffs. The gaman audience, they often join in the trash talking.

Major League Gaming is the league in which Ed- ing scene is growing, as viewership is up over 38% this wards does a majority of his competitions. MLG is year alone.

Teams like Final Boss, Legendz and Team Classic North America’s first professional videogame league.

It operates the multi-city MLG Pro Circuit and exclu- brings the excitement to the gaming scene. That excite-

Photo by Morgan Hall

ment brings revenue to MLG, who in turn pays teams ranked in the Top Eight. Since these eight teams bring the main fan base to MLG, they are greatly rewarded. Each team receives a one million dollar contract.

Yes, one million dollars. The four members of each team receive 250 grand individually.

Guess they won’t qualify for Obama’s tax cuts.

Edwards says he has been playing Halo online for about five years, dating back to the original Halo. He knows and has played with everyone important in the scene. He first got into playing Halo when he bought his first Xbox. In Joe’s time spent not playing Halo, he enjoys playing other video games, snowboarding and

skateboarding.

Edwards plans to move to California to be closer to his girlfriend and closer to Las Vegas. Why Las Vegas?

MLG holds a majority of its tournaments in Las Vegas.

These tournaments have huge cash prizes. A recent tournament boasted $1 Million in cash prizes. Winner “Final Boss” took home 100 grand.

We’re talking $100,000 for first place, which, on a four-person team is $25,000 apiece. 25 grand for playing a video game? Hand me the controller!

Ell it like it is: textual relationships

by Ella Riley-Adams Hook-ups, break-ups, make-ups and make outs.

It’s all very confusing in the high school realm of like (or love, if that’s what you prefer). With our twentyfirst century innovations, the game of relationships has become even more complex. In order to reel in a good catch, one needs to know how to communicate affection through text messages, phone conversations and face-to-face. Not to mention Myspace mail and Facebook chats.

But now that there are so many more options in letting someone know you like them, is getting a date any easier?

Technology doesn’t really help anyone play the dating game. According to “The Concise Art of Seduction” (yes, it’s a real publication), “Successful seductions rarely begin with an obvious maneuver or strategic device. Successful seductions begin with your character, your ability to radiate some quality that attracts people…” That attracting feature may be a sly smile, coquettish glance or gravelly tone of voice. The point is, it’s difficult to woo someone with that ‘radiant quality’ when all they see are letters on a cell phone screen. Yes, some lucky people possess the ability to appear eloquent in a text, but they are few and far between. Now that everyone has a cell phone and computer, flirtations are much less personal.

And, of course, with technology, break-ups can be worse than ever. Imagine receiving a text message from your significant other: “Sorry Babe, things aren’t working out for me. Time to move on.” At least with a face-to-face break up, it’s a delicate situation for both people. The instigator has to see the consequences of their action, whether it be anger or tears and a crestfallen face.

However, with new technology, high schoolers are also better able to face their fears when it comes to flirting. A conversation doesn’t have to include awkward silence sand blushing if it’s conducted over Facebook, and text messages are a simple way to talk while doing something else.

“Technology makes things less personal so it’s easier

to talk to people,” Junior Natasha Brooks said, “And you can stretch one conversation to last a day rather than five minutes.” However, the quality of conversation may have decreased. The necessity for witty banter and clever dialogue seems to be gone. Of course it’s nice every once in a while, but why take the time to speak face-to-face when you can stay at home and chat online? It’s a more comfortable situation for all involved. Plus, when emailing or sending a text, friends are available to correct flirting faux pas or to encourage the sender.

Whether or not you take advantage of these new additions to the “art of seduction,” keep in mind that maybe the Victorian poets had it right when they spoke of their innumerable reasons to love and their summer days. As sappy as it may sound, nothing can replace the sound of laughter between two people or seeing someone smile. Sorry, but the computer smiley face just doesn’t cut it.

Now that constant communication is commonplace, the battlefield of love has transformed into more of an obstacle course. Playing hard to get has always been a strategy, but now there are different ways to prolong the thrill of the chase. Waiting to respond to a text, or not responding at all, talking online but never saying hi in the halls…these are the new moves to better play the field. As we grow up, we’ll learn the rest of the rules. But for now, remember: it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.

December 4, 2008

Page 7

Rogue News

Water Polo Wins State!

Stories by Zach Kitamura

ust a year ago, the Ashland Girl­s’ Water Polo Team was fighting for its existence. At the end of last summer, the team’s fate was in jeopardy until a few basketball players crossed over and found a niche in the sport. Now, they are the 5A champions of Oregon Water Polo.

The girl’s water polo team triumphed over Parkrose from Portland 12-10 to win the state championship at the Osborn Aquatic Center in Corvallis. The Parkrose Broncos may have been over confident coming into the game.

“In the locker room they were saying we had no chance of winning,” Junior Driver Kalli Walker said. The game started out even, but then the Grizzlies took control. By halftime, the Grizzlies were up 8-4.

The Broncos crept back and cut the lead to one in the fourth quarter. But with 35 seconds left in the game, Jacy Mairs iced the match with an insurance goal, skipping it off the water, which locked up the first Grizzly’s water polo

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state championship.

“We played good defense, and that helped our counter-attack,” Walker said. “Everyone wanted to prove themselves.”

Captain Natalie DelCarlo scored five goals while Goalie Carley Santee saved five shots in the final.

The girls traveled a long road to the top. Last year DelCarlo dragged four of her basketball teammates, Allison Gida, Xenia Contreras, Tori Lipski, and Santee into the pool with no experience in the sport. Grizz players senior Tori Lipski (top) and junior Xenia Contreras Photo submitted by AshlandH20Polo.com Some, like Walker and Contreras, hardly saw game time acomelli, and Mairs contributed from The girl’s have never placed in state last year. This year, both were starters the bench. before, so this is a huge step for the on the team.

Part of the team’s fuel to win was team. Still, the team has several graduDelCarlo won league MVP honors to get revenge for a surprising loss ating players and new recruits will be this year, while Allison Gida won tour- to North Eugene in the conference needed for next year. “Getting a girl’s nament MVP. Del Carlo, Gida, and championship game. After a first round team is tough every year,” Coach ChrisSantee were named First-Team All- trouncing of Albany, they took on the ti Gilmore said.

State. Lipski was named Second-Team Highlanders in the state semi-final and So don’t let inexperience prevent All-State. Kelsey Westhelle-Grant was avenged their loss 12-4. After that, you from participating. You just might a starter, and Abby Kollar, Sophia Gi- there was no stopping the Grizzlies. become a state champion.

GIR

LS

may have dismissed the Grizzlies when they saw them play in the semi-final against Cottage Grove, a tough game in which Ashland gave a less than stellar performance.

“I guess they thought they would walk over us.” Swink said. However, the Broncos were surprised as the Grizzlies came out firing.

Veterans Troy Robinson, the lone senior and captain of the team, and Jake Gavin, Lucas Opgenorth, Wynn Michael, Mahkah Wu, and Swink, all juniors, have played water polo every fall for AHS and anchor the team. German foreign exchange student Robin Haase provided the Grizzlies with a final Photo submitted by AshlandH20Polo Senior Robin Haase passes over a defender offensive boost that helped them in dominant form, defeating Parkrose run away with the state title. his years AHS Boys Water Polo 17-9. The Grizzlies came out strong, Haase was named league and state tourSquad proved that group chemistry can playing their best game of the season. nament MVP and Robinson made first propel any team to success. The GrizThe game saw the Grizzlies storm out team All-State. However, both of these zlies may not have been built on your early, leading 8-0 at the end of the first players will be leaving this year. This still typical athletes, but with a strong sense quarter. After that, the game was a leaves five starters, including Junior Wilof family and a lot of determination, the breeze. “It was the best we ever played lis Plummer, and a strong bench that will boys controlled the state championship as a team,” junior Rafferty Swink said. continue to develop into next year. tournament.

Similar to the girls’ game, Parkrose The team has had a long, arduous The boys’ team took the championship

journey to win the title. The school activities levy and booster club helped the team along the way, but much of the support came from parents’ and players’ fundraising. This fundraising, in addition to practice, didn’t discourage them, but made the team a cohesive family.

“You have to give credit to their resilience,” Coach Christi Gilmore said.

After a tough loss in the conference final to South Eugene, the Grizzlies morale was low. But Coach Gilmore was able to rally them back to top form.

“They had to get reenergized for state,” Gilmore said. The fire was rekindled preparing for state and the boys never looked back. “They came to state and played beautifully.”

The team hadn’t really thought of winning the title at the beginning of the year, but played for a love of the game.

However, they eventually found out what it’s like. “Being a champion is something that can’t be explained,” Gilmore said.

“It’s not about a parade or an assembly, but the feeling you get inside. Then you know why you worked so hard.”

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For More...

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to

RogueNews.net

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AshlandH20polo.org

Black Friday

by Anna Hume

‘Twas the day after Thanksgiving, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, mugs for three dollars at Fred Meyers? That, my friend, is what I call a steal.

To say the least, things were not as calm in larger cities. Regardless of the not even a mouse. But miles away at the Rogue Valley Mall, mobs were arriving, wanting it all. current economic state, buyer show-up was even greater than last year and If you were like myself and the other 172 millions shoppers this year, you called it a very early morning this November 27. Around the a total of $10.6 billion dollars were spent, an 8% increase from 2007. Lines country, people rushed to their local department started forming on the morning before in some large cities which means yes, some deal-hungry shoppers sacrificed their home-cooked Thanksgiving meal stores to splurge on sales and ring to get early Christmas presents for 50% off. I’m sure some of you have in the holiday shopping season. I heard about the poor Wal-Mart Employee who was trampersonally rolled out of bed at 4 pled to death at 3:30 a.m. in New York only to a.m., and regardless of tryptohave people continue shopping. phane wearing me down, adAlthough this day ventured to Medford to take was not exactly what I place in perhaps the largest expected, I can cross a display of materialism that few people off my Christexists today, Black Friday. mas list. I even got myAllow me to give a self a zip-up hoodie from little insight to those who Old Navy for only 15 dolhave neglected to pay lars, only to come back into attention to the news Ashland and find out that for say, the past twenty every teenage female I know to thirty years. Black purchased the same one. That Friday falls annually should make for an interesting on the Friday after Monday.

Thanksgiving and It was nice to see so many is the busiest retail people I knew and absorb the shopping day of festive decorations (even though the year. The Cars they’ve been up since early Occ onve term “Black rge o n the R tober). Ultimately I was just too F r i d a y ” i s ogue Valle tired for this frantic holiday frenzy. a reference to the y Ma ll on B la The sales go on all day and in some amount of money taken in ck Fr iday.

S cases, all weekend, so for the future, I ee m that day, thus keeping businesses “in the ore p hotos would suggest gradually waking up at black.” In large cities, it isn’t uncommon to see lines onlin e at r P o 9 or 10, eating some Thanksgiving lefth g for big department stores wrapping around the block for hours. oto b uene y Ala ws.n ina B e t arrett overs and then starting your shopping day.

This was my first time attending, but I had been hearing epic tales about this inIf you missed Black Friday this year, don’t famous day for years. To be frank, I was disappointed by the lack of excitement and action. I dragged myself out of my house into the freezing cold, prepared to wait in lines, stress, there is always the second busiest shopping day of the year, the Saturday get in fights and endure anything to get my item of choice. The stores were crowded but before Christmas. And remember, although the shopping extravaganza may be you could have seen the same thing on a busy weekend day, and I didn’t even witness exhilarating, this is the season of giving, not buying, and nothing says happy one dispute between crazed shoppers. “I was expecting a war zone, but it was actually holidays like a home-made gift or a locally made treasure. pretty calm,” said Junior Nino Foley, who arrived at the Rogue Valley Mall at 4:30 a.m.

“No one even attempted to push someone off the balcony.” Not to say I wasn’t pleased with the sales. I mean, who would’ve thought you could buy five Santa Claus head

The Act of Giving

by Jackson Santee

The tradition of the Christmas holiday is an ancient day of the year, dating back almost 4000 years to the Mesopotamian God Marduk. The worhsipers of Marduk would give thanks to their god for defending them in the battle against chaos, and honor each other with gift giving.

This tradition has endured through the years and has adapted to different cultures, transforming it from what it used to be. However, all forms of Christmas have an underlying theme: remembering what you’re thankful for. For many, they don’t have much to give thanks for, except for the clothing on their backs.

“There’s a lot of need in this community,” Vice Principal Don Valentini said.

In fact, there are approximately 11,294 homeless students enrolled in Oregon high schools across the state, and about a dozen of them go to this very high school.

We have all noticed the people holding various signs saying, “God Bless,” or “Help a Hippie out,” and even “Will conduct free brain surgery,” but did anyone stop and wonder if that sign was written by a high school student, an AHS Grizzly?

They are all in need and this holiday season may require you to live up to the tradition. Remember that age old saying, “Give, don’t receive?” Put it to use and help out in any way you can. We are required to do 100 hours of community service, why not volunteer at the local food shelter? Or donate your old clothing to Goodwill and show your good will.

So, enjoy the holiday season; stuff yourself with turkey and make your Christmas lists extravagant. Just remember: anything helps, even the small things, for those who are homeless for the holidays.