September 2019 print

Rogue

Volume XIII, Issue I

News September 19, 2019

Reaching new heights

by Allie Poole Ashland High School’s Fresh Start Program, a unique and celebrated retreat to welcome new students and 9th graders, had another successful year despite a location change. The 32-hour experience was dedicated to team building, an understanding of the campus community and encouraging an atmosphere that promotes vulnerability.

In the previous years, Fresh Start has been held at “The Retreat Center”—about half an hour’s bus ride up Indian Memorial Road. Due to unhealthy air quality last summer, the location was changed to the high school library. This year, however, the retreat was held at the Mt. Ashland Lodge. After a short bus ride up the mountain, student participants unload and get situated. Once the incoming ninth graders separate into 3-4 different color groups, time really does fly.

“Fresh Start [is] an important experience for creating a positive culture” The Fresh Start counselors were made up of just under 50 juniors and seniors that went through a selection process at the end of last year. Along with the counselors were a collection of Grey Shirts (AHS alumni) and teachers. The entirety of the Fresh Start staff were there to support the

incoming students and help answer any pressing questions about high school, as well as provide the safe space that’s cherished in the day-anda-half retreat.

Nora Godfrey, one of the co-directors of the retreat, told Rogue News that “There’s so many different important aspects of Fresh Start that all add up together to make [it] such an important experience for creating the positive culture that we have on campus.” She stresses the significance of breaking down barriers and labels prior to the high school experience.

One of the activities, entitled “Labels and Lenses,” encourages new students to construct—solely for the purpose of deconstructing—stereotypical high school labels. The lesson learned is that it’s best to go into high school without preconceived notions of any group of individuals and to avoid judging people based solely on their looks or interests.

Although the initial feeling while standing in the science parking lot preparing to embark on the Fresh Start journey can be nerve-wracking, by the end of the retreat, the space is filled with fresh faces that are willing to learn and absorb everything possible to prepare for their next four years of high school. From eating lunch with a stranger, to competing for your life on “Piranha River,” everyone is encouraged to learn, grow and inspire each other. The activities, such as games and extended conversations, inspire a team environment and create a tightly bound community within a group of would-be strangers. The friends made at Fresh Start, as told by the Grey Shirts and counselors, are lifelong.

pictures by Rogue News Staff

NEW TEACHERS & STAFF

by Marcus Mullen, Sequoia Jacobson, Logan Knouse, Charlotte Julian, Allie Poole & Keona Hajje

Samuel Bogdanove He/Him/His

Although the 2019-2020 school year will be Samuel Bogdanove’s 19th year working in the Ashland School District (ASD), this is his first being Principal at Ashland High School. After Erika Bare announced that she’d taken the job of Principal at Griffin Creek Elementary in Medford, the superintendent asked Bogdanove to fill the role as interim Principal while the community conducts a search for a permanent replacement. Prior to this, Bogdanove worked as the Director of Student Services for the ASD. He has done work to support principals in disciplinary issues and other issues that require district-level support. He has worked with accountability data to ensure that administrators are doing their job to the best of their ability and he has worked with alternative education programs where he focused on establishing personal connections with individual students. “I’ve had the chance to really get to know a lot of parents and kids and have long term relationships [with them].”

When asked about his vision for AHS during the next school year, Bogdanove explains that he has several things that he wants to do. First, he wants to make sure that the school has a stable community and that everything is kept working well during the short time he is here. Another piece he wants to assess is how the administration and the school as a whole is communicating with students and families. He wants to “look at the available options we have for social media and communicating with kids and parents” in order to make sure that the school is staying current with the best ways to communicate.

In addition to communicating with families, Bogdanove explains that he wants to focus on establishing relationships with students at AHS by “being out and present and talking with kids.”

He states that as a leader, one of his most important roles is to listen. Whether that’s in a formal way through leadership sharing student voice, or through a conversation on the quad, Bogdanove wants students to know that they can come up and talk to him. “What schools need to be about, what the high school needs to be about, and what all the adults here need to be about is the experience that kids have in high school.”

Becca Berman

She/Her/Hers

Becca Berman is Ashland High’s new Assistant Principal. Her role has shifted since being hired in the spring as the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion administrator and, as of this Fall, was asked to take on the Assistant Principal role. When asked about her initial reaction to being offered the job, Berman responded, “I understood the gravity of the position right away.” She realized the immense responsibility and was thrilled to take on the challenge. During the interview, Berman also spoke about her love of education and being able to form meaningful relationships with students and staff alike.

Berman taught in the Medford School District for nearly four years before coming to AHS. During her time teaching, Berman covered classes such as Family Health, Athletic Training and College and Career Readiness. On the shift from teaching to administration, Berman said, “This was the first time in four years where I had to work all summer!”

During her time at AHS, Berman plans to continue building a safe environment and giving both teachers and students the support they need to succeed. Berman will focus on incorporating her past as the Administrator for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion into her role as Assistant Principal. As she said, “I go into everything with an equity mindset.”

Berman believes building strong relationships between students and staff is critical to a stable school environment. She was adamant about her availability to students. “I am always open to listen, advise or just talk.”

Jamie Lungren She/Her/Hers

Jamie Lungren, Ashland High School’s new Women’s Lit and College and Career Readiness (CCR) teacher, is bubbling with excitement over teaching in her new community setting. Normally a history teacher, Lungren was offered the job last minute and was thrilled to finally be able to teach her passion English. When asked about what she loves about teaching Women’s Lit, a class that was unique to her, she voiced comfort with diving into new content and curriculum. “Literature in general I just love. It doesn’t really matter who writes it,” she says. “How to approach elevating [women’s] voices without turning it into too much of a social commentary on women being subverted has been an interesting balance.” Lungren stresses that it’s crucial to focus more on recognizing women’s voices in literature, especially in this day and age.

On teaching CCR, she explains that she is grateful to teach a class that is based so heavily on preparing for the launch into the next chapter in life. “The idea that the class exists at all is just fantastic,” Lungren remarks. The support system that’s built through the class is something that she’s excited to experience right along with her students. She acknowledges that Ashland High is such a special and inclusive environment, and that the staff actively tries to accommodate for everyone. Lungren and her black poodle, Flower - who everyone is allowed to pet, according to her - are delighted to be Grizzlies this coming school year.

Shane Abrams He/Him/His While Abrams is teaching 9th grade Humanities and AP Literature and Composition, he has previously taught a number of other classes, including music, culinary and life skills classes.

Most recently, Abrams taught for three months in Vermont filling in for a teacher on paternal leave, and he has also taught at PSU, Portland Community College and a charter school in Colorado.

Having spent four years living in Portland prior to teaching in Vermont, Abrams notes the differences between Portland and Ashland, remarking that “people are really welcoming and friendly” whereas in Portland “people kind of keep their heads down a lot.”

Abrams’ hobbies include hiking, playing bass and guitar, and, most recently, traveling. Having gone on an extended trip to Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand this past year, Abrams states that it was “the first time I took an extended trip anywhere, but I think it’s a new passion.” He continues saying that “pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and experiencing different cultures is an amazing experience.”

Mat Marr

He/Him/His Mat Marr is a familiar face to Ashland High school campus having spent the past three years as the Speech and Debate coach. However, after completing his masters in teaching at SOU he is now starting his first year as an official teacher. He’s teaching Ninth grade Humanities and Global Studies, College and Career Readiness and Speech and Debate. Before starting his journey as a teacher, Marr graduated from AHS in 1999. During his time as a student here, he had a passion for Speech and Debate, Rogue News and Leadership. Within the leadership positions he held, Marr worked to create positive change at Ashland High School, including changing the student constitution so that all genders could run for student body positions.

After graduating, he spent some time on the board of the Ashland School District. At 23, he was the youngest to ever be elected to the position. He said he always tried to incorporate student voices when he was on the school board, feeling as if the students were often over shadowed and undermined. After his time on the school board, he taught in various countries overseas. He planned to stay in Germany to finish his graduate degree, but was informed that AHS needed a speech and debate coach. Dropping everything, he came back to Ashland and has been working here since.

“My life is great and important in its own way… but when I’m working with young people, I see myself as a facilitator,

Lily Lee

She/Her/Hers “When I was seventeen I decided I wanted to become a French teacher,” remarked Lily Lee, the new French teacher, here at Ashland high school. This is Lee’s first year teaching full time after attending SOU. As a student teacher at AHS last year, she realized how amazing the environment was at Ashland High School and fell in love with the dedication and creativity students displayed here. Lee is not only eager to teach French this year but is also excited to show off her dance moves at the teacher dance coming up in October.

Lee has lived in Ashland for two years now, but is not new to the area. Lee grew up in Medford and went to school at North Medford High School, where she grew her passion for the French language.

When Lee needs a break from the pressures of teaching, she uses baking to help her destress. She shared that the most challenging pastry she has made was croque-en-bouche, with her mother and brother. Croque-en-bouche is an intricate tower of small cream puffs. Other than teaching French, Lee loves to hang out with friends, hike, knit, and cuddle with her cat Elinore in her free time. She looks forward to teaching all her amazing French students.

Shu Wen Chang She/Her/Hers

This year, Shu Wen Chang, Ashland High’s new Chinese teacher, is taking on her first year teaching at a High school. Previously, Chang has taught all age levels, from kindergarten through College— most recently having been a language professor at Lane Community College—however this is her first time teaching secondary education.

Chang expressed a great deal of fondness for her position. From a young age, she knew she wanted to be a teacher. “I remember when I was in high school, I wasn’t very confident,” Chang said. “One of my English teachers told me I had talent in language; she taught me how to make speeches and encouraged me to participate in English competitions. Those events changed me and I felt more confident after. Because of her, I was even more sure I wanted to be a teacher. I wanted to have this positive influence in people’s lives.”

Chang wants students to know she strives for a “comfortable” environment in her classroom. She says, “[Students] don’t need to be afraid of asking me questions to learn—and I hope they can learn a lot from this class!”

Francisco Atanes He/Him/His

Francisco Atanes joins us this year as the new Spanish teacher. Atanes’ nature as a relatable teacher is evident when you are welcomed into the caring atmosphere of his classroom. Atanes comes to the job having most recently taught at Yreka High School, a job he enjoyed immensely. This love and care for his students are what makes his move to Ashland “bittersweet,” because he truly loved his job and students at Yreka High School. However, the draw of Ashland was too great considering his kids and wife live in Ashland, with his wife, Elizabeth Atanes, being a spanish teacher at Ashland Middle School.

In Atanes’ free time, he tends to focus most on his 3 kids and creating a healthy environment for them to grow up in.

In addition to teaching at Yreka Highschool, Atanes’ has has previously worked as a professor in Georgia. Based on his previous work experience, he reflects, “I believe I know what I am doing.” His teaching priorities include providing a support system for students as well as creating an immersive learning experience.

Letter From The Editors

by Logan Knouse

We live in what many have deemed the ‘Age of Information.’ As we are all too well aware, this means there is a constant onslaught of data. People are exposed to thousands of opinions, arguments, and calamities every second. As a young person, navigating this tumultuous environment is challenging; we are more connected than ever, though somehow still growing apart. This year, turmoil is even present inside our school walls. Numerous faculty changes and regulation updates have left many confused and, in some cases, concerned. Rogue News aims to navigate the disarray by separating the idle from the essential, the real from the fabricated. With our journalistic integrity in tow, we vow to guide our students through this turbulent year with as much ease as possible.

Rogue News also aims to give the students of AHS a voice. While knowing what’s happening around the world is valuable, hearing your peers’ stories or views is just as (if not more) important. Understanding what others are seeing and living is crucial in this day and age. People get lost in the big picture, but the Rogue News hopes to connect our community through the stories, humor and creative expression of its youth.

This year, the editors of the Rogue News hope to reach more of our community, have a higher engagement with student body, connect with our clubs and extracurriculars, and continue to concisely and accurately report events in the Rogue Valley and elsewhere.

We plan to uphold prior bonds between ourselves and the town with extra distribution downtown. The newspaper is also being uploaded in full online.

Having the paper be entirely digital, we hope, will allow more people—maybe those who don’t want to carry around a physical copy—to enjoy the paper. We also plan to engage our student body by including interviews and coverage of more diverse activities such as clubs, sports, politics and more around the campus.

Your Editors are dedicated to making this year’s Rogue News the best that it can be and we hope you will join us on the many adventures to come. We are thrilled to be the 2019-20 Editors!

From left to right: Logan Knouse, Sequoia Jacobson, Marcus Mullen, Allie Poole, Payden Swofford, Riley Crook, Isabella Ash