Graduation 2009

June 3, 2009

Ashland, Oregon

www.roguenews.net

Photos by Phoebe Parker-Shames, Max Parker-Shames, Azure Ginsberg, Grace Riley-Adams and Erik Peterson

Vol. III Issue XII

Most likely to be president: Dahna Black and Matt Kandaris Most likely to start their own clothing company: Derek Jaskot and Alaina Barrett

Senior MostLikely

Best Smile: Will Bowers and Olivia Florio

Best Hair: Morgan Ginsberg and Cherish Stafford

Most likeable: Layla Black and Nico Toll Photo’s by Grace Riley-Adams and Azure Ginsberg

Rogue News spent some time with Ashland High graduates finding out what they wish they had known and what they know now: Matt Miner, class of 2008 and a current student at Dartmouth College, responds.

Rogue News: What do you wish you’d known when you graduated high school?

Matt Miner: I wish I’d known that, after you graduate, you won’t talk to most people, so you may as well just have fun: tell people what you think of them, throw things at teachers, camp out on the half moon.

RN: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a high school junior applying to college?

MM: Juniors. Listen carefully. CALM DOWN! If you want to look good for a college, do something outside of school. It’s much better to get an A- and have some community service than to get 100% and that’s all you did. College’s can’t see the difference

between 93% and 100%, so CALM DOWN! RN: If anything, what would you change about your high school days?

MM: I would have hung out with teachers more often. Those people are awesome, nice, and can give you great recommendations.

RN: From what you learned in high school, what has helped you most in college?

MM: In high school, nothing. In the summer between high school and college, I learned that friendships become much more meaningful the older you get, and so, I say to you going off to college, don’t become a social butterfly.

Have a few good friends, and you will be much happier.

June 3, 2009

Rogue News

The budget to come

Page 3

by Phoebe Parker-Shames

cation Association President Leeanne Wallace said.

Some teachers, according to AHS teacher and Ashland Education Association Representative Matthew McKinnon, are looking at cutting programs or noninstructional days instead.

Finally, there is the likely possibility, according to DiChiro, Wallace and AHS Principal Jeff Schlecht, that the Oregon Legislature will do what it did this year and decide mid-way through the biennium that it cannot provide the amount of money the state promised.

“They [the State] told us ‘uh-oh, we don’t have enough money for this year’ and you know, the only thing that saved us was when we cut We’re in a very unsure situation. We five days from the school year and the stimulus money.

They may do that to us again [next year]” Schlecht said. don’t have any savings account, we

A State budget report stated that, “[We intend to don’t have any reserves. That’s a very fund education] at “$5.6 billion with a $400 million precarious situation to be in. dollar reserve...If our state economist is correct, we will have prepared our budget in such a way as to be - Juli DiChiro able to release the full $400 million to our K-12 sysnew tax proposals that will probably be taken to tem next year...” This extra reserve money is what may voters in November or December. Ashland High give Ashland School District the additional $400,000.

School’s current budget relies on a pay freeze for all However, DiChiro explained that this reserve is tenemployees, which has not been agreed to by the staff. tative and may not be given the second year of the Many teachers are worried about the long-term con- biennium. For this reason, she has decided not to resequences of such a freeze. “...we never make up the budget for the possible $400,000 surplus, but rather difference even in good years...Our retirement is tied set it aside to prevent further cuts in the second year. into our wages. Promises were made in the past when “If this is the case, we will put it aside in case someteachers made concessions to pay for benefits that have thing happens in the second year, and if that looks good, been stripped away. So we are nervous,” Ashland Edu- we can actually start building up our reserves. Unfortu-

As Ashland High School packs up for the summer, there are more than just seniors who are saying goodbye for good. $4.3 billion has been cut from the State’s education budget for the next two years, which translates to cut days and teachers. However, the reductions seem to have stopped--for now.

In funding for public schools next year, the May 15 state budget forecast projects a $6 billion spending level for education. For Ashland this is 14.8% less than last year, but $2 billion more than initially predicted. Since the Ashland School District budget is set at $5.8 million, this translates to around a possible $400,000 surplus for the Ashland School District next year, according to Schools Superintendent Juli DiChiro. However, she also warns that these numbers are deceptive and that the money is not guaranteed.

“On the face, this is good news, but what does this mean for the next two years?” DiChiro asked.

The answer? Uncertainty. These numbers have several qualifications. The State’s projections rely on

“

”

ics needs you Robot

by Phoebe Parker-Shames

Ashland High School’s FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics team completed their rookie year after their March competition in Portland (see the March 12 edition of the Rogue News at www.roguenews.net). However, despite the relative success of the student-designed-and-built five-foot tall robot, the team’s future is unclear.

In order to compete next year, the team will need to raise $6,000 for entry fees, plus money for building supplies and equipment. They are also looking for mentors to help the students fundraise, create a business plan, design the robot, program it and build it.

If interested, please contact Jason Bluhm at dndnerd@mind.net or (541) 482-2491, or Phoebe Parker-Shames at phoebe.parkershames@ gmail.com.

Graphic by Sadie Shelton.

nately, I think it is likely [that the State will make further cuts],” DiChiro said, adding, “We’re in a very unsure situation. We don’t have any savings account, we don’t have any reserves. That’s a very precarious situation to be in.”

However, even without further cuts, the district is in a difficult situation. There will be 47 fewer classes offered at the high school, and 141 district-wide employees have been affected by reductions and layoffs of staff, according to DiChiro.

Even if the May 15 projection did not bring as much good news as it first seemed, there may be some glimmers of hope. “The loss, pain and grief have been nearly overwhelming, but we have an amazing staff,” Wallace said. “Some who have lost their jobs are sharing materials and ideas with those who are remaining, teams are being reconfigured and departments are working together to create classes that will benefit our students…Educators by nature are altruistic and hopeful…so we remain optimistic.”

Page 4

Rogue News

June 3, 2009

They came, they edited, they conquered The Rogue News Editors-in-Chief say their goodbyes

by Phoebe Parker-Shames The time has come to say farewell to yet another generation of seniors. As an Editor-in-Chief of the Rogue News, I have learned so much from the individual experiences of my classmates, teachers and administrators at Ashland High School. After seeking out their stories and growing attached to the people who make up our community, it feels so much harder to see bad financial times settle over the district, because the impact on those individual, human stories is enormous.

It’s hard to say goodbye, not knowing if your teachers will be here next year when you visit. It’s hard to say goodbye to your friends who aren’t graduating, knowing how different and difficult their high school experience will be in a post-budget-cuts world. It’s hard to say goodbye to AHS, knowing that it has been irrevocably changed.

The damage inflicted by the reductions will take years to overcome, if they ever can be. But just as the change of graduation means a chance for a new beginning for seniors, hopefully the budget cuts will also bring positive outcomes for AHS. I don’t know what those would be, or how we can achieve them, but I know that striving for those solutions as a supportive community is something that Ashland has the capability of doing successfully.

Finally, to my staff, the readers of the Rogue News and any who may one day join the paper: In this day and age of news sound bites and perception deception, it is often easy to lose faith in the media. However, it is the same institution that is so critical to our society and our school. As President Obama said at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner: “A government without newspapers, Rogue News The Rogue News strives to practice professional journalism at Ashland High School.

It aims 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 attempts to do the following to the best of its ability: • Report accurate and objective information • Uphold all journalistic ethics and standards • Attempt to cover school events fairly and evenly.

• Provide an outlet for voices within the school through letters to the 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 Editors-in-Chief or newspaper advisor.

by Žena Shelton

Photo by Grace Riley-Adams

Phoebe Parker-Shames and Žena Shelton give their last words

a government without a tough and vibrant media of all sorts, is not an option for the United States of America.”

In our community, the Rogue News has been critical, not just for my own high school experience, but for AHS as a whole. I feel our paper helps students get to know their school, community and fellow students in new ways. We strive to give students power over their image that is projected to the community and we want to help students understand the way the school runs, while empowering them to make the changes they wish to see in their community.

It is my hope that our paper can become an even more integral part of the AHS community and that students, parents and community members will continue their support of the program. Papers keep people informed, but only if they’re read.

Finally, I want to thank the people who have made this paper possible. This past year we have had the privilege to be released with the Sneak Preview. The owner, Curtis Hayden, has been extremely supportive of the Rogue News, providing us with no extra cost besides the cost of inserting and mailing. I would also like to thank our advisor, Bill Gabriel, my Co-Editor-in-Chief, Žena Shelton, and our amazing staff.

Seniors, we have arrived. From squirmy freshmen to confident seniors, we have arrived. Our finals only just completed, our textbooks enthusiastically returned, and our last-minute fees paid, we have arrived. For four years we have studied, practiced, created, envisioned, written, thought, deduced, analyzed, synthesized, invented, fashioned, composed, and accomplished, but now we have arrived. This is it, the final frontier. Beyond this point lies no certainty about what to expect, each individual will have to follow their own adventure and write their own story; but as a group, we have arrived.

We have arrived into a broken world. A world where competition is great and knows no boundaries, where we will not be promised or guaranteed anything, and where we will have to prove ourselves to the rest of the world, but we are ready for any challenge. We have learned how to dodge, overcome, fight, and trounce any obstacle that may cross our paths. We can write killer five paragraph essays that are persuasive and intelligent, calculate the most effective route to cross a river, and artistically explain the aesthetic characteristics of the Mona Lisa that make her so famous, elucidate the reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire.

We have learned all that we can from Ashland High School, and now we are ready to fly the coop and soar.

We have acquired the skills we need to succeed, no matter what we may individually choose to succeed in. Whether it is starting the next fashion trend, discovering a new theorem in Physics, teaching English to children in Mali, or designing the next world attraction, we have what it takes to succeed. All our teachers and school administrators and assistants have put all they had into our education, and now we can take what they have given us and use it to succeed.

It may seem like we have been in school with each other for a long time now, but the truth is we will never all be together again. The excitement of graduation may have already crept into your veins and you can’t focus on anything but leaving AHS, but take the time to say goodbye to your classmates because some you will never see again. And thank those who have helped you through this four year chapter in your life, because now seniors, now we have arrived.

Editorial Board Editors-in-Chief.................... Žena Shelton, Phoebe Parker-Shames Page Editors........................(Front) Phoebe Parker-Shames, (Senior Pages) Ella Riley-Adams, (News) Jackson Santee, (Opinion) Morgan Hall, (Map) Žena Shelton and Phoebe Parker-Shames, (Feature) Anna Ortlip-Hume, (Sports) Zach Kitamura, and (Backpage) Anna Ortlip-Hume Design Editors.....................(Front) Phoebe Parker-Shames, (Seniors) Hannah Sayles, (News) Sadie Shelton, (Opinion) Arthur Lawniczak, (Map) Žena Shelton and Phoebe Parker-Shames, (Feature) Abbie Deal, (Sports) Trevor Hilligoss and Zach Kitamura, (Back) Arthur Lawniczak Managing Editor...........................................................Adam Pavlich Advertising Manager....................................................Heather Case Distrubution Manager..................................................Nicholas Dake

by Michael Deckelman and Emily Greenblatt

Photo by Grace Riley-Adams

The unfinished 2009 mural

A Japanese-esque sun surfaces from behind green, rolling hills. Blood red rays reach over a snow-capped peak, beginning to brighten and warm all that isn’t under the mountain’s icy shadow. The numbers “2009” rest, mountain shaped, in the middle of this tranquil scene as midnight blue skies wash away, fading to teal.

Ashland High School senior Kachina Rowland painted this year’s mural. Leadership class provided the supplies and funding while Rowland donated her creativity, skill and over a month’s time to this painting.

“The hardest part for me,” Rowland said, “was trying to figure out a design that the whole senior class liked, not just me.”

She decided on a landscape, similar to the view she sees from her barn, with Pilot Rock and Mt. Ashland in the distance.

“I chose the mountains because

I will especially miss the land here,” she said. Rowland added the red sunrise (besides the fact that it compliments any landscape well) because many members of the senior class were close to Coach Kitchell, and the red sun has become a frequently used symbol of the Grizzly football team I accompanied our principal, Jeff Schlect, when he witnessed the yet-to-be-completed mural for the first time.

“Wow. That is powerful,” were his first words upon seeing the painting.

The senior class of 2009 has truly left an impression on this school as well as the Ashland community as a whole. This mural is one of the many physical manifestations of their powerful, creative legacy, which will be admired and looked back upon by our school and community for years to come.

by Elle Swarttouw The high school experience is one that is often priceless and outstanding. These are days many of us will never forget, or hardly remember, but either way, everyone would agree that they are four years that have a lasting effect on everyone.

But what about those of us who take the path less traveled, and attend the array of alternative programs Ashland High School has to offer like SAEJ, Catalyst, and Wilderness Charter School? How do such programs adapt a high school student to real life, and what is the effect on the traditional high school experience?

All these questions that can only be

answered by those enrolled in the programs.

“It’s what got me through high school. I learned more in Catalyst than I did in grade school, and middle school,” said senior Taylor Kilma. Catalyst is an alternative program for kids who want a more personalized academic pace. It offers all brands of learning, and according to most in the program, wisdom.

“Come here if you want to graduate, not if you want to slack off,” added Kilma. She has a valid point, as Catalyst may not require the traditional quick paced learning as normal public school classes do, it does require immense thought.

Wilderness Charter School has

goals of another kind. It is an environmentally based learning program that focuses on how to survive in the wilderness, grow your own food and save the world: one recycling bin at a time.

“I am excited to be able to take direction of my own education and focus on learning about the environment,” said sophomore Ari O’Malley. O’Malley is one of six sophomores that was accepted to WCS for next year. WCS participants take a minimum of four intensive backpacking trips, enabling students to get a full idea of what it’s like to be one with nature.

SAEJ has a slightly different flavor.

SAEJ stands for Social Action and

Environmental Justice and is a learning program based on reading skills and personal growth.

“Get ready to talk about your feelings,” said sophomore Deven Mccoy. Mccoy, like many other SAEJ students, was ready to try out something new, which is what high school should be all about.

No matter how you go about it, these four years of our lives are important. We as high school students make decisions that change our lives, for better or for worse.

Alternative programs like the ones at AHS can transform high school into an enriching experience for those who might not otherwise appreciate it.

The Rogue News offered teachers leaving the Ashland School District the chance to submit a short reflection on their teaching experience. To the teachers who are departing: on behalf of the student body, we would like to thank you for your lessons, compassion and wisdom. You will all be missed immensely.

sxc.hu

hoebe Par

Linda Colloran in

her classroom

For the last 15 years, I’ve enjoyed the time I’ve spent with Ashland students-in the classroom, in the Student Store, on the golf course, and at Mock Trial and DECA competitions. I know that AHS students are unique in their enthusiasm for learning, their compassion toward each other and their genuine desire to serve their community, their country, and their planet. I take with me memories of students succeeding in many endeavors, most notably when Keara Duggan and Dan Golden placed first at the international DECA conference, and I am proud to have worked with students on projects that improved the lives of so many in the Rogue Valley. But as every teacher knows, it is the laughter and joy of the classroom that sustains us. So as I say good-bye to this special place, let me say thank you to all who made me so proud to be their teacher and who filled my days with their good nature and love of learning.

-Linda Colloran, AHS

Ashland High School has meant many things to me over the last nine years. Before I taught here, I subbed in the district, graded papers for people who are now my colleagues, and sold insurance to people who are now my friends. I have “lived” in three rooms, taught hundreds of students, and read thousands of papers. I will miss this place, these people, these families who have loaned me their children for a little while. But I will always come back...and there’s always Facebook. We can still talk about House no matter where I end up.

-Robyn Hernandez,AHS

Photo by Azure Ginsberg

Photo by Phoebe Parker-Shames

It’s been a pleasure, filled with joy to have taught in the Ashland schools for 28 years. I taught 6th grade at Lincoln Elementary, a great school. I moved to AMS when it became a Middle School as a 6th grade teacher. My first was #36 and my last room is #36. What were the chances? I have been in almost every room in the AMS “vintage” building. I have taught all grade levels and most subject areas. I was fortunate to begin, design and develop the Cross-graded program with my amazing colleagues Candy Gregos, Barb Hilyard and Eric Sandrock. We had the best time. I have had great times with students; Washington D.C. trips, ROS, Brain Bowl coach, to name a few. I am blessed to have worked with great teachers and had the support of wonderful administrators. Most of all it is all the students who have walked into my classes and entered my life and heart that made this the best job anyone could have wanted. I thank all the students who made teaching fun, and made learning a two way street and coming to work a great joy in my life. Thank you and I hope your life journey takes you on an amazing path.

Without doubt, my fondest memory from -Therese VanReenen, AMS 32 years teaching in Ashland is that of the wonderful people I’ve been fortunate enough to know. Many colleagues and students have become valued friends. In my mid-twenties I became a teacher because I wanted to do something real. Thirty-six years later I can reflect with both pride and humility that every day I have attempted to live up to that aspiration. Ashland High School has remarkable students who are willing to try, who are not discouraged by failure, who continue to engage and eventually flourish, mentored by teachers who are dedicated learners themselves. To be part of this tradition has been my deepest reward.

Joel Cicerrella With Gratitude, Joel Cicerrella, AHS Christy McAuliffe, just before stepping onto the ill-fated space shuttle For more than a quarter of a century, my closest Challenger, said, “I touch the future. companions have been adolescents, and I know I am I teach.” As I reflect on my thirtya better person for it. Teachers are very lucky people, one years of teaching I know that I and I’m among the luckiest. Think of the fantastic addedicated my career to teaching beventures through the years, from the old Ashland Jucause I wanted to touch the future. nior High School days until AMS today: together, we Democracy works when an intelliexplored excellent literature like Greek mythology and gent, participatory group of citizens Tom Sawyer; experimented with creative written expresdecides to form a government. It is sion (especially poetry!); participated in extraordinary not static. Democracy must be examspeech tournaments, theatre study groups, human rights ined, challenged and adjusted withdebates; and vicariously mushed dog teams in the Iditarout stop. In my teaching, I wanted od! Who could hope for a better career, or better people to give students self-empowerment with whom to share the adventure? Thank you, every and resourcefulness. I wanted to one of you, who made teaching such a treasure! Please, guide each child to become a critinever stop learning, and always, always, pass it forward. cal thinker. I wanted to send forth -Susan Baird, AMS a generation of citizens who would become dynamic leaders in a world Aloha, that needs change. We live in a time Ten years ago, during my first year at AHS, I conof evolving truths and multi-dimenstantly told Tammy Anderson and Brenda Paustian sional problems. Single answers no that WORKING AT AHS ROCKS!! I still believe longer apply to complex situations. that the Ashland School District is one of the best in I am grateful to have spent most of the nation. I am my career in Ashland where I was alcrazy for leaving, lowed the freedom to teach beyond but in my heart I the confines of published texts. I know Hawaii is am grateful that I was able to see the the place for my child as the curriculum and the natufamily. Follow ral and social world as the context. your dreams – I am proud of the many graduates “No Fear Momof Ashland School District that are my, No Fear” actively working to make the world a -Ron Graham, more peaceful and just place.

AHS -Tim Brandy, AMS Photo submitted by Ron Graham

ker-Shames

“You are wonderful!”

“It is a pleasure working with you!”

“It is a pleasure having you in my class!”

“It is a pleasure having your child in my class!”

“You are very special!

“Thank you.”

“Drive safely!”

I will miss all the great students, friends, colleagues, parents, community members and the learning that happens here in Ashland School District!

They say it so much better in French and in Spanish. Au revoir! ¡Hasta la vista!

-Suzy Snider, AHS

Photo by P

Smiles, laughter, tears (not in front of classes, of course!!!), opportunities, challenges and rewards-----I’ve had them all.

“Regrets? I’ve had a few.”

Sometimes I wish I had said less often: “No!” and “Yes!” Sometimes I wish I had never said: “No!” and “Yes!” Sometimes I wish I had said at least once: “_____________!!!” ( Hmmm . . . . Useyour imagination and fill in the blank! ) Always I wish I had said more often: “No!” and “Yes!” “Why don’t you research that?”

This is my thirtieth year of teaching. I have taught kindergarten, first grade, fifth grade Outdoor Ed, sixth through twelfth grade in a shelter for troubled teens, alternative high school and GED classes. The last fourteen Robyn Hernandez years I have been at Ashland Middle School.

Ashland is a wonderful school district. The students are really fun and the community is supportive. I love the energy of seventh and eighth graders. I enjoy watching them come in as little kids just out of grade school and leave as young adults ready for high school. It is an amazing time of growth and maturation.

Many wonderful students and staff have brightened the days of my life for the last 14 years here.

One of the things I like best about teaching at Ashland Middle School is being on a team, working with the same teachers and same students for two years. As I look towards my retirement I grieve that I will not be able to have a second year with my current seventh grade students. Since we are going from three Spanish teachers to one Spanish teacher I grieve for the loss of continuity for my students.

I look forward to the freedom of retirement and having more time to pursue other dreams, but I will not stop teaching. I will work for the Ashland School District as a home tutor for students unable to attend school.

I will miss my colleagues and students. My best wishes to each of you for a wonderful future.

-Kathy Yeoman, AMS

My 18 years of teaching French at Ashland High School have been absolutely wonderful and I will truly miss my students and all the amazing teachers and staff here. Watching the growth of my students’ abilities to communicate in another language and see the world from a different perspective is thrilling for me. I really love teenagers, I find this age group so full of creativity and optimism and idealism, and my students never cease to inspire me and to give me great hope for the future of this country and for our planet. I will always feel connected to AHS. Photo byAlaina Barrett -Lauren Schaffer,AHS

d e iz l a n o s r e p s t u c t e g d u AHS B

141 employees district wide have been affected by the budget cuts. Here is a list of those from AHS

Dinah Baney - Laid off; reduction of six Math classes Karen Berman

- Reduced; reduction of College Counselor Luna Bitzer - Ed. Asst. reduced in hours and reassigned to AMS Joel Cicerrella - Retired; reduction of one English class Linda Colloran

- Resigned; reduction of four social studies classes and two computer classes LeRoi Dedeaux

- Ed. Asst. reduced in hours and reassigned to Helman Elementary Allison French

- Reassigned; reduction of three health classes and gain of three SAEJ classes Christi Gilmore

- Laid off; reduction of one Continuation Center period Ron Graham - Resigned; (hiring replacement math teacher) Laurel Green - Ed. Asst. job completed; leaving AHS Jennifer Grisham - Reassigned; reduction of one Office Secretary and reassignment as Office Manager Jim Hartman - Reduced; reduction of one Science class Jamie Hassenkamp - Ed. Asst. reassigned to AHS Continuation Center Kimberley Healey - Reduced; reduction of one French class Robyn Hernandez - Laid off; reduction of six English classes

Rael Hirning - Ed. Asst. laid off Barbie Hobein

- Reduced; reduction of two Spanish classes Todd Hobein - Reassigned; reduction of three Science classes and reassigned to the Continuation Center Katherine Holden - Laid off; reduction of two Science classes Paul Huard - Reduced; reduction of three Social Studies classes Holly Johnson

- Reassigned; reduction of one Study Skills class and one Choir class; gain of four World Language classes Karl Kemper - Reassigned; reduction of Athletic Director position to half-time and reassignment as half-time AHS Assistant Principal Amy Kennedy - Laid off; reduction of one Counselor Ken Kigel - Reassigned; reduction of AHS Assistant Principal and reassignment as Assistant Principal at Ashland Middle School Paul Kitzman - Ed. Asst. reduced in hours Beau Lehnerz - Ed. Asst. reduced in hours and reassigned to Bellview Elementary Atsuko Murakami - Retired; reduction of one Japanese class Gerry ParĂŠ - Reduced; reduction of one Study Skills class Betty Pennington - Retired; reduction of one half-time Counseling Secretary (position to be reassigned using AHS

Secretarial pool) Jay Preskenis - Reassigned; reduction to half-time SAEJ and reassignment to half-time Social Studies Kathy Quesenberry - Ed. Asst. reduced in hours Lauren Schaffer

- Retired; reduction of three French classes Gary Seward - Laid off; reduction of one full-time Custodian Suzy Snider - Retired; reduction of one Spanish class and two French classes

Reed Sorensen - Reduced; reduction of one Math class, one Leadership class and one PE class Jim Stewart - Retired; reduction of two study skills classes Bill Street

- Reassigned; reduction of Librarian position to half-time and gain of three English/Social Studies classes Mike Titus - Reduced; reduction of one mechanics class and one welding class Michael Walsh

- Reassigned; reduction of three Photography sections and reassignment to AMS John Weston - Reduced; reduction of one Carpentry class Bonnie Williams

- Ed. Asst. reduced in hours Megan Wilson

- Reduced; Technical Services Coordinator position reduced to half-time Cheryl Wolfe - Laid off; reduction of one half-time Custodial position

ATHLETIC CHANGES - Karl Kemper reassigned; reduction of Athletic Director position to half-time and reassignment as half-time AHS Assistant Principal - Pat Turner laid off; reduction of one half-time Athletic Secretary - Assistant Football Coach position eliminated - Assistant Track Coach position eliminated - Assistant Wrestling Coach position eliminated - Athletic Travel budget reduced - Athletic Supplies and Materials budget reduced - Charter Buses budget reduced

- Club Sports funding reduced - Coach Travel budget reduced - Dance eliminated - JV Tennis team eliminated - JV2 Soccer teams eliminated - Rental Vans budget reduced - Training Room supplies - Training supplies budget reduced

MISCELLANEOUS - Departments’ supply budgets cut 20% - Class Advisor stipends eliminated - Department Chair stipends eliminated - Natural Helpers stipend eliminated - Peer Jury stipend eliminated

Page 10

Rogue News

June 3, 2009

Grizzly Fieldhouse: A work in progress

Photo By Grace Riley-Adams

Photo By Grace Riley-Adams

Progress in picturesque Ashland

The gym from Mountain Avenue

by Elizabeth Swarttouw Imagine a building, tall and broad, with new and exciting wonders inside: a track, exercise equipment, a sparkling floor, basketball hoops, the smell of fresh paint and potential for athletic fun galore. Well, we’re not quite there yet, but the new and improved Ashland High School gym will be finished by winter of 2009. For now, it’s a batch of big, empty rooms with high ceilings and gigantic windows. Walking through this gym in the making can feel like going through a noisy and dusty maze.

Punched out walls and men grasping power tools can be seen from every angle. Construction workers work placed roof was diligently and quickly. e th re fo ym be “Every week, I see more and more progress, [it’s] The g amazing!” Principal Jeff Schlecht said. Excitement for the new gym is apparent all over campus.

It will be bigger and better than ever before, a much needed addition to Ashland High School.

It’s all about school spirit and a new attitude, and sometimes something bigger than life needs to be built as a foundation for these behavioral innovations on campus.

But some AHS students would disagree, seeing the reconstruction of the gym as gaudy and unnecessary.

“I don’t see why we needed a new gym, there was nothing wrong with the old one,” sophomore Stephen Dickey, a dedicated student athlete, said. However, others support the new construction. “We needed to build it, and we might as well have done it when we had the grant,” junior Brandon Scheirman said.

The Gym construction costs a pretty penny, approximately 5.5 billion dollars, which seems like a lot during a recession, but money for the reconh it m struction was granted by Ashland voters prior to S y Jesse Photo b the cuts and cannot legally be used for any other project. Yet, despite the lingering feeling of a Great Depression part two coming, the building shall stand tall and proud.

“I expect it should be done by December… reconstruction is always a challenge,” Mike Braaten, Superintendent of the reconstruction, said. In general, AHS students are enthusiastic about the remodeling and for good reason, as it will change the face of AHS forever.

Spring sports review of success Baseball- Conference champions, Currently in State Quarterfinals

Boys Golf- Team: Conference champs, Clint Murphy Third individually, Matt Naylor Fourth, Michael Wurzell Fifth, Matt Amrhein and Neil Pressici going to state; Ninth at state, Wurzell Twenty-third overall individually

Equestrian- State qualifying athletes: Salina Piddington,

Michelle Kandaris, Kachina Rowland, Amanda Steele, Emily Steele, Zoe Heald, Nisha Wheeler, Victoria Goguen and Sarah Parks; Drill team Third at state, Birangle (Wheeler and Goguen) Eighth, Team penning A team (Piddington, Kandaris, Wheeler) Ninth, Working Pairs (A. Steele and Rowland) Tenth

Boys Tennis- Jeff Laskos/Chas Bernard doubles team Girls Golf- Team: Conference runner-up, Drew Van Vleck state qualifiers; Quincy Briscoe, Noah Kass and Nate Harris singles Quarterfinalists; Nick Cross/Alex Harris doubles Quarterfinalists

and Willie Michiels qualify for state

Girls Tennis- District runner-up; Emily Minisian/Kattie Patton, Laurel Sager/Alli Claypool-Conrad, Zena Shelton/

Crew- Eight boats made finals at regionals in Vancouver, Carolyn Vernet and Abbie Kollar/Meris B doubles QuarterfiFive boats in top-three: Kyla Dammann, Taro Shido, Tyler Sell, Emma Wells, Dahna Black and Lara Heine medalled.

Taro Shido and Tyler Sell took first place in novice doubles and Sell won gold in novice singles.

nalists, Morgan Carne Singles Quarterfinalist

Softball- Fought through a tough conference season Track & Field- Wilder Schaaf SSC and state champion

1500m and 3000m (3000m is a class 5A state meet record), Seena Frantz SSC Runner-up 1500m and 3000m, third at state 3000m, fourth in 1500m, Dan Cowan SSC Runner-up 110m and 300m hurdles

Rogue News

Page 11

Fall Sports

June 3, 2009

Winter Sports

Boys Soccer: Southern Sky Conference champions,

Alpine Ski (Downhill): Boys Combined third place,

State runner-up.

Girls Combined eleventh place.

Bowling: Ninth place in the Southern Oregon Bowling League.

Boys Basketball: Third in conference State Quarterfinalists.

Cross Country: Boys and Girls district top-three at districts, Girls State sixth place.

Football: SSC Champions.

Girls Soccer: SSC runner-up, State quarterfinalists.

Volleyball: SSC champions, State fourth place.

Water Polo: Boys and Girls State champions.

Cheerleading: NCA Summer Camp Champion, Fifth place at State.

Girls Basketball: Undefeated in conference, Sixth place at State.

Ice Hockey: Southern Oregon League Champions.

Nordic Ski (Cross Country): Third place overall league combined boys/girls teams.

Snowboarding: Boys team State champions, Mimi Charter runner-up in three events.

Swimming: SSC Champions (Boys and Girls).

Wrestling:Jake Scarminach and Issa Shahin qualify for state.

Photos above taken by Aliana Barrett, Phoebe Parker-Shames, Grace Riley-Adams and Azure Ginsberg