Vol. XI
Issue II
Tammy Anderson > the Average Teacher by Kiara Hills Tammy Anderson is one of the many exceptional teachers at Ashland High School (AHS). However, this year she stands out not only among the teachers at AHS, but amongst all teachers grades prek through twelfth grade throughout the state of Oregon. Last spring, she was nominated for the Oregon Teacher of the Year Award, and this fall she found out she was a finalist. This means she is among the top three teachers in the entire state of Oregon. This award is a huge honor and achievement for any teacher. Every state in the United States has a program similar to the one in Oregon to honor exceptional teachers such as Anderson. Thanks to the partnership between the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Lottery, the winner of the Oregon Teacher of the Year award receives many prizes. These prizes include: $5,000, travel costs for a year, and $5,000 that go to the winning teacher’s school. The first and second runner ups receive $2,000, also from the Oregon Lottery partnership. Other gifts the
Oregon Teacher of the Year receives are a technology package from SMART Technologies and recognition from the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Teacher of the Year program. While these prizes are great the process for application is grueling. Nominees have to write six essays each one to two pages. Anderson spent the first week of her summer break writing these papers. It wasn’t until August that she received a call telling her she was in the top three and needed to go to Salem to talk in front of a panel. Anderson has been teaching at AHS for twenty-five years. Through her years at AHS she has taught almost every math class available to students at AHS. Her favorite part of being a teacher are her students. She loves being able to help her students prepare for life and to make math fun and accessible for all of them. It gives her a unique opportunity to impact kids’ lives and to be creative every day. Anderson also mentioned how exceptional her colleagues
are. In her words, “We have a fantastic staff at AHS.” After hearing she is in the top three finalists, Anderson remains humble. She wants everyone to know that this award is not about her teaching. Instead, the award is about the excellence of the entire staff and supportiveness of the community. She said, “a teacher can’t be a great teacher on her own.” Anderson also spoke about how her nomination has been an inspiration to her. As one of the top three finalists, this has allowed her to reflect upon her career. She continues to feel honored that her colleagues and administration thought so highly of her teaching methods and nominated her. “It was an honor and humbling,” she stated. Anderson is an incredible teacher and many in our community are happy to have her teaching at Ashland High School. It is truly a privilege to have her as a teacher.
“She is so supportive of everyone, and makes sure that no one is left behind or forgotten.” – Anonymous
photo by Zelda Baldwin
“[Mrs. Anderson] is super understanding about your life outside of school. She will even delay her usual jog with her other teacher friends to help a student when they don’t understand something.” – Sierra Milburn
“When we had a test on sectors and circles, Mrs. Anderson let us order in pizza. It came partway through the test, so we all stopped what we were doing and grabbed plates of pizza. I bet there were lots of grease spots on our tests that day!” – Lily Dunlap “In AP Calculus, [a student] made mention of the award that Mrs. Anderson is up for, prompting the entire class to ask for clarification. Bashfully, Mrs. Anderson explained that she was in the final three for the best teacher in Oregon competition, but she did not want to win it because the winner would have to travel around the state, thus spending a lot of time out of class. The fact that Mrs. Anderson would rather be in a classroom with high school children instead of winning a prestigious award is indicative of the devotion and gusto with which she teaches.” – Anonymous
“We dance in math class. What more is there to say?” – Anonymous
“Every year, for her Geometry classes’ trigonometry unit., Mrs. Anderson issues a challenge – anyone who can find her at any time outside of class may approach her and answer a trig-related question she poses for extra credit. This means that for six weeks, [she] is continuously mobbed by hordes of geometry [students]. On the quad, at the grocery store, at plays, out running, in the bathroom, you name it, [they will be there]. Basically, Mrs. Anderson gives up her private life for six weeks in order to better teach her students trigonometry. Wow. No wonder her students learn [so fast].” – Anonymous
High School Myths by Zaida LaRose and Madison Woodard
During the last years of middle school, myths about the many wonders and plights of high school life begin to spread around halls and classrooms like wildfire. Students are told wonderinciting and intimidating tales of crazy parties, social ladders, cliques, and more. As these legends gain momentum, they may gradually begin to seem inseparable from the reality of the staple secondary school experience. However, for most teenagers, within a couple of months of taking their first steps onto the Ashland High School (AHS) quad, these tall-tales have been disregarded or debunked. Although many high schools may fit these party-oriented stereotypes, it becomes clear to most of those who attend that AHS is not one of them. AHS is loved for its team spirit, its relative lack of social hierarchies, and its inclusivity in everything from academia to clubs and sports. Many AHS attendees choose to focus their energy on cultivating personal health, happiness and future goals. Long-term career and college planning is second nature for some, difficult for many, and simply unheard of for others, but regardless of where one falls on this spectrum, there is a preeminent challenge for all in maintaining balance between what is to come and what is now, in cherishing youth and anticipating approaching adulthood with an open mind. This is the beauty and the extremity of being a teenager. “Fitting in” may not be immediate, but it is also
Dramatized photo by Zelda Baldwin
not the main goal. Instead, high school environments should be the platform from which students can explore their place in the world and who they are, from questioning what they want in life to what they want for breakfast. Self-knowledge is also not immediate, nor is it easy, nor is it stagnant. Truly, these are just the first steps of a life-
long journey of introspection wherein the idea should not be to answer questions, but rather to uncover them. The path may not yet be completely defined, but given the proper conditions, one’s high school experience can play a crucial role in beginning to clear it. In essence, Ashland High School students have the rare advantage of re-
ceiving education in a supportive and dream-fostering environment - one that encourages individuality and drive, and discourages negative stereotypes that may still be expected from those who have not yet had the pleasure of experiencing AHS themselves. those who have not yet had the pleasure of experiencing AHS themselves.
Freshmen Advice to Seniors by Sequoia Snogren-McGinnis
In high school, most students are very stressed and caught up in the awkward social system that consumes about half of our time at school. It’s inevitable that high school students need advice, especially the seniors. Seniors are juggling multiple homework assignments, writing college essays, and perfecting social skills (or skills as an introvert) for their future outside of Ashland High School. Students may go to friends, teachers, counselors, and sometimes even parents, but often find it of little use. Well, here’s an idea for these seniors who are in need of some wise words: go to the freshman. “Freshies?” Yes, freshman are wiser and more intelligent than many may imagine. In fact, freshman are real people with valid opinions. As a refresher, only four years ago, all of the seniors were freshmen too. Here are a few words of advice from the new kids on the block (or rather the quad): “We think you’re really cool and we wanna be friends with you but we aren’t outgoing enough, so you have to reach out to us.” -Anonymous
photo by Zelda Baldwin
“Seniors should stop making fun of us [freshmen].” -Andrea Olderich
photo by Jackson McRae
“Don’t ignore us. There are some seniors who I see around school and we wave or smile at each other, which is pretty cool. It would be great if they acknowledge that we [freshman] exist.” -Shanti Johnson
photo by Jackson McRae
photo by Zelda Baldwin
“Hanging out on the half moon doesn’t make you cool, it just makes you an Ashlander. Who hangs out on a moon? “ “You should always drive freshman to lunch. If you don’t have your license, you shouldn’t be considered a senior.” -Ella Amarotico
“Don’t be embarrassed of us.” “At Fresh Start, some of the seniors were talking about how they stopped doing all this stuff [i.e. going to parties, etc.], but now it seems like that’s all they do.” -Kayla Stone
photo by Jackson McRae
photo by Jackson McRae
“#freshmanlivesmatter” “Don’t be mean when you drive by. Freshman can’t drive, but don’t tease us about it.” “‘Fresh meat’ isn’t cool.” “Talk to us more, and give us more advice.” -Celeste Van Ausdall
“Don’t ignore us…” -Ngis Thiaw
And We All Fall Down Preparing for the Big One by Amani Mussell
photo by Jackson McRae
In 2011, the Tohoku earthquake hit Japan, engulfing the news with frightening footage such as videos of skyscrapers swaying. There was the Fukushima meltdown, a tsunami and 5891 confirmed deaths. Tohoku was magnitude 9.0 earthquake, and the biggest earthquake in recorded history was magnitude 9.5. Americans sat back on their stable, dry couches and watched the footage on the morning news. For the time being they were mostly safe from it all. Little did they know that America is due for an earthquake just as deadly. There is a 1 in 3 chance that a giant earthquake will rip through the Pacific Northwest coast in the next 50 years. And this earthquake definitely has the potential to shake
photo courtsey of Wikepedia
the Pacific Northwest like the Tohoku earthquake shook Japan in 2011. CNN reported that the Cascadia subduction zone, a 1,000 kilometer convergent plate boundary that stretches from Cape Mendocino, California to northern Vancouver Island, could be more dangerous than the San Andreas Fault, the tectonic boundary which tore San Francisco open in 1906 during one of the most significant earthquakes of all time. The Cascadia Subduction earthquake is an impending seismic disaster which stretches all along the subduction zone, from start to finish. The last known occurrence of this earthquake was in January of 1700, but Oregon Geology reports that geological data has lead scientists to estimate that this earthquake occurs about every 500 to every 540 years. This, however, is not a perfect formula because the quake has actually occurred at random intervals, spanning from three hundred to one thousand years. Because of this, scientists do not know exactly when the Cascadia Subduction earthquake will occur, but believe it is likely to come soon. Because of the threat of the Cascadia Subduction quake, preparation has been examined more seriously in the Pacific Northwest than in the recent past. Oregon took action in 2005 by passing a senate bill that instructed the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) to conduct a seismic needs assessment on most public buildings, including all K-12 and community college buildings with a capacity to hold over two-hundred and fifty persons. The appraisal of Ashland High School (AHS) found the Humanities (H) building to have a 100 percent collapsibil-
ity potential under an instance of a high magnitude earthquake. Shortly after the assessment was conducted, the AHS gym was redesigned for seismic safety. However, the Humanities building was not. This could mean a devastating loss to Ashland and the families of hundreds of students and teachers. Around the time of the statewide assessment, a fifty-year plan was put into place by the Ashland School District (ASD), which recommended that the H-building should be torn down and rebuilt accordingly to seismic safety measures. The ASD Facilities Committee, a council of mainly community members that is in charge of facility hazards in local schools, has yet to revisit this part of the fifty-year plan. According to Jim Westrick, chair of the committee and Ashland School Board member, the Committee will, under the circumstance that the district Maintenance Department and a consulting firm finds the H-building to be a primary concern in a projected facility-needs assessment, appeal to the community for the resources to ensure the safety of everyone on Ashland campuses. In other words, just because the decision has not been made yet does not mean it will never be made. There’s an earthquake coming, one that that the New York Times has already dubbed, “The Really Big One,” because as scientific evidence suggests, it has the strength to shake not only the Pacific Northwest, but networks that would affect the entire United States as well. Oregon, Washington, and California could very well be the next Japan.
”The appraisal of Ashland High School (AHS) found the Humanities (H) building to have a 100 percent collapsibility potential under an instance of a high magnitude earthquake.”
A Musical Comedy of Murders by Uma McGuire Murder, music, mystery and a barrel of laughs accompany this year’s fall play, “Musical Comedy Murders of the 1940s”. “Murders”, the “mystery with a little music and a lot of laughs,” is set in the 1940s. In the play, a theater crew attempts a comeback after their previous production was plagued with drama when the infamous “Stage Door Slasher” killed three chorus girls. Held at the Westchester estate, owned by wealthy eccentric Elsa Von Grossenknueten, the stage is set for the comedic folly to ensue. When the notorious “Slasher” appears and strikes repeatedly, a series of dizzying conversations, multiple crimes, and murderous mayhem develops. As the lyricist, actors, director and composer stay close to blissfully ignorant, and a blizzard surrounds the estate closing off any chance for retreat and the “Slasher” begins to leave a trail of dead bodies in plain sight. This frivolous murder mystery pokes fun at old corny hollywood theatrics with a witty twist that will lead you to be both at the edge of your seat and rolling at the back of it with laughter. Jokes
about the pop culture and wardrobe of the 1940s will transport you back in time. This years fall play is directed by Michael Humes of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, who has been described by actors as being incredible and having a lot to offer. Something unique about “Murders” is that all members participating in the play, crew, management, and actors have been sworn to complete secrecy on who is guilty for the recurring murders. Sophomore Eliza Strong, an actress in “Murders,” spoke of the complications with keeping it a secret. “We took an oath when we were given our parts which I personally have kept. However, it’s been a lot harder because you can’t run lines with your parents or any of your friends without giving it away.” Strong described the play in three words: “surprising, eerie, and doubleidentity.” The play will open November 2, and continue until November 13, so get ready to see a web of love plots, musical interludes, and a murder mystery unravel in Ashland High School’s Mountain Avenue theater. photos by Zelda Baldwin
Jonathan Connolly by Jolisa Cruz and Zaida LaRose
Ashland High School senior Jonathan Connolly began his acting career when he was just seven years old, and has appeared throughout the community in roughly 25 different theatrical productions since then. Now, after more than ten years of fostering a rich passion for theater, Connolly has emerged as one of two finalists at the 2016 International Thespian Festival for his solo piece “A Little Bit.” Connolly competed against almost 5000 other young actors in Lincoln, Nebraska with the hope of enjoying his time, meeting unique individuals, experiencing other incredible performances and challenging himself to do his best. For Connolly, the Festival wasn’t about winning, but stepping up to perform his act for the final round awakened the deep love for theater that had been brewing inside of him for over a decade. “Once I got up there everything just melted away,” Explained Connolly. photo by Zelda Baldwin
“It was so nice, and I just felt so happy and open.” Connolly described his experience in the Ashland High School theater as a “launch pad” for cultivating both his acting skills and his life skills. “I guess I just really felt at home here.” Although being such an active thespian can certainly consume a lot of one’s day, Connolly reports feeling as if he “consumed theater more than it consumed [him].” Connolly plans on majoring in acting at Northwestern University next fall.
Fall Sports by the Numbers by Henry Cook
10
the biggest difference between scores for water polo this year
photo by Zelda Baldwin
There are about 200 students involved in a fall sport. The sports going on during the fall are cheerleading, cross country, boys and girls soccer, football, volleyball, and waterpolo. Ashland has won 28 of 39 games played this year so far. The following are only some examples of what they have accomplished this year so far.
the average number of steps taken in a high school cross country race
photo by Zelda Baldwin
photo by Zelda Baldwin
832
3,125
98%
the total number of points scored the field goal and point after by the volleyball team this year in touchdown success rate in league matches football by Chad Andrews
26
the most shots on goal in one game by the girls varsity soccer team accomplished against Crater September 15
Cedar Barnes by Colin Timmons
Opportunities can change lives, but only for those brave enough to seize them and make the most of the experience. The opportunity of the varsity goalkeeper on the boys soccer team became available in a sudden turn of events with one goalie graduating early and another going to play for a Portland team. Senior Cedar Barnes swiftly grasped the position and is in no hurry to let it go. Barnes has been apart of the Ashland Grizzlies soccer team since he was a freshman and even played back when he was five years old on the YMCA soccer fields. His fierce loyalty to the sport has pushed him to always play to win and to keep reaching higher to get to that varsity position. Barnes battled for a spot on varsity but never expected himself to be a keeper. “I remember the coaches came up to me and asked if I could be the keeper, and I couldn’t say ‘yes’ fast enough.” Barnes said To be an effective keeper, one has to have fast reaction speed, significant decision making skills, and oddly enough, decisive people reading abilities. “Most of the time I try to guess what the person is going to do, before they even do it,” Barnes elaborated. He brakes up every moment of every game into three basic moments. “In my book there are only three moments,” Barnes explains. “First, is when I’m sitting in the goal and the team is wrecking the other team's defense; Second is when I’m facing a strong offence and have to stop and save a kick or two; and lastly the third moment is when I do stop that kick and I get that rush. It's a constant cycle for the entire game.” photo by Zelda Baldwin
In those tough and stressful situations, a person has to be focused and concentrated. According to Barnes, the keeper is the last line of defence, the one whose job it is to “protect the fridge.” He further explains that a keeper can never play on their heels, they have to push up, take charge, but if they do mess up or miss a blocked shot, they feel like they let the team down. Barnes likes to reassure himself that no matter what, his fellow players have his back. “We are all super tight, our program is really good and I’m just happy to be apart of it,” Barnes recounts. When a person plays on a high school team, whether it be football, soccer, basketball, or any sport, there's a bond there. It could be born out of passion for the sport, or a mutual respect for the the coaches or players, or maybe even the fact they are just really good athletes. Friendships are made in sports; trust is given to one another. Barnes is no exception. He fell in love with the sport of soccer at a young age and has stayed with it to now. “I will always stay with soccer, even when I’m done playing it. I will try to keep up with it by watching it, and in the future when my kids come to the right age, they will start out with soccer,” Barnes envisions. Generations come and go but the sports always remain. Cedar Barnes’ love for sports and specifically the sport of soccer will be the driving force behind him for the remainder of this season and for his life ahead of him. That love, the love of the sport, that stays around forever. photo by Charlie Burr
Exchanging Cultures & Broadening Horizons by Ava Hearn and Adara Peppercorn
Here in Ashland, Oregon, most people have grown accustomed to the Pacific Northwest lifestyle. Birkenstocks and socks are necessary items in anyone’s closet, and kombucha is a must have at the dinner table. While these trends seem perfectly normal to the typical Oregonian teenager, the exchange students at Ashland High School (AHS) think otherwise. The Rogue News staff sent two reporters to explore the unique perspectives of new AHS students from around the world. Paola De Leon Ruiz Name: Paola Home Country: Panama/ Spain Program: Terra Lingua Grade: 11 Time in Ashland: 1 month Rogue News: What Photo by Ian Rinefort country are you from? Paola Ruiz: I am originally from Panama but I moved to Spain 2 Years ago. RN: Do you like Ashland so far? PR: Yeah I like it a lot. It is totally different from where I lived in Spain or where I lived in Panama. I have always lived in big cities, so this is the total opposite. RN: How are the people from Ashland? PR: The people here are very nice and welcoming. In Spain everyone already has groups so it’s kind of hard to get into one. It is nice to have so many people that want to talk to you. RN: How do you feel about Ashland High School? PR: I like it- it’s super different though. In Spain and in Panama the schools are more academic and we don’t have fun stuff like cooking or photography. You do not get to choose your classes and everyone hates school. RN: What’s the weirdest thing that you’ve seen or done since you’ve been here? PR: I went camping which is something you don’t do when you live in a city. I have been camping more times here than I have in my whole life. RN: What has surprised you the most about Ashland? PR: That it was kind of a hippie town. We have hippies in Spain but it is not as big a thing as it is here. It was kind of weird at first but I don’t mind it. RN: Okay that’s all the questions; thank you so much.
Felix Knolton Name: Felix Home Country: Denmark Program: AFS Time in Ashland: 1 month Grade: 11 Rogue News: Do you like Ashland so far? Photo by Ian Rinefort Felix Knolton: Yes, it is pretty great. RN: Are there any clothing trends we have in Ashland that you do not have in Denmark? FK: Everything. Here the weirdest thing is people can wear whatever they want. You can’t do that in Denmark. If you wore what you wore here, people would look weird at you. RN: How do the People in Ashland compare to the people in Denmark? FK: It is a lot more diverse here; in Denmark we are all the same. RN: What has surprised you the most about Ashland? FK: Definitely the people and how friendly they are. The people in Ashland greet you and talk to you even if you don’t know them. If a stranger tried to talk to you in Denmark, you assume they are crazy. RN: What New things have you tried since coming here? FK: I went to Fresh start and I tried camping, hiking and backpacking for the first time. RN: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen or done since coming to Ashland? FK: The weirdest thing I’ve seen is all the drug use. A lot of people smoke pot and show up high to school or school events. In Denmark, we party and it’s legal to drink but drugs are very rare. RN: Did you have any stereotypes of America? Were they true or were they not true? FK: When you come from Denmark you think all Americans are stupid, fat, Donald Trump supporters, love guns- stuff like that. Here it turned out to be not true, you don’t even have a McDonalds here. Ashland is more like Denmark politically; we love Bernie Sanders in Denmark. RN: That’s it; thank you so much.
To Dab or Not to Dab Yoga Kombucha 75% 25% 25% 75% Birks & Socks 100% Yerba Mate Dabbing 50% 50% 50% 50% Hakim Pries Name: Hakim Home Country: Germany Program: ICES Time in Ashland: 1 month Grade: 11 Rogue News: Are there any clothing trends here that are different in Germany? Hakim Pries: High socks and Birkenstocks. RN: How are the people in Ashland compared to those in Germany? HP: In Ashland the people are very polite, very tolerant, like you won’t hear a lot of bad words Photo by Ian Rinefort or racism. RN: Do you like Ashland high school? How would you compare it to your school in Germany? HP: Yeah I do. It’s better here. In Germany, you just show up for your classes and leave, here you like, have a life, you spend time here and your friends are here and sports. In Germany, everything is separate from school. RN: Are you in any sports? HP: Yeah, I play American football. RN: What new things have you tried since you’ve been in Ashland? HP: I’ve tried a lot of Mexican food and a lot of American music. RN: What about Ashland/America surprised you the most? HP: Everybody from the organization told us that it isn’t like the movies, but I actually think high school is like in the movies. They said that like the football players weren’t the coolest, but here they kind of are. RN: What would you say the weirdest thing you’ve seen/done since you’ve been here? HP: I see people chewing tobacco. No one does that in Germany. My family and I went to a shooting range and shot arrows, it was pretty cool. RN: Okay that is all the questions; thanks! Tina Auckland Name: Tina Home Country: Norway Program: Rotary Time in Ashland: 1 month Grade: 11 Rogue News: Are there any clothing trends that you have in Norway that aren’t as popular here? Tina Aukland: In Norway we wear darker clothes, like black or navy blue. Photo by Ian Rinefort RN: How are the people in Ashland compared to those in Norway? TA: People here are more open and everyone is really accepting. I’ll get asked a lot “are you interested in boy” and “are you interested in girls” which I would never hear in Norway. Here it’s normal to be gay. RN: Do you like Ashland High School? TA: Yeah I do. It’s really different from Norway, how the system is. It’s kind of easier but I really like it. RN: What new things have you tried since you’ve been in Ashland? TA: Water polo. I’m on the team, so that’s new. RN: What about Ashland has surprised you the most? TA: I was kind of expecting more shopping opportunities in Ashland, but here it’s all kind of hippie. Just how open people are just really surprised me. Also, how you see people and children on the streets (homeless), we don’t really have that in Norway. RN: What would you say the weirdest thing you’ve seen/done since you’ve been here? TA: I think it’s kind of weird to go and eat breakfast. I never do that back home. Also everything is open on Sunday here. In Norway, Sunday is like the resting day for everyone. RN: Okay that’s all the questions; thank you so much!
The Parade
The Court
The Dance
As the first homecoming parade in two years drew closer, Rogue News decided to talk to AHS’s own woodshop teacher, Mr. Miller, about the homecoming festivities when he was Ashland High student and gives insight into how he thinks this year’s parade and series of spirited events will go. Many agree that this year, it is up to the student body to try its best to recreate the sense of spirit, unity, and community that once circulated around homecoming. When asked what the parade really meant to the community when he was a high schooler, Miller replied, “in small communities, it is a very unique thing because of the people and the sports.” He went on to explain that businesses would close to watch the parade make its way up Main Street. Homecoming was a huge event with up to six thousand people coming to all home football games. Friends, family, students, and fans would surround the field three rows deep, all there to catch a glimpse of the game. The parade showcased the unity of AHS and the community, and every spectator was there in the spirit of homecoming week. In order to make future homecoming parades what they once were, the community must accept the challenge. Because this is the first parade in two years, only the senior class remembers the excitement and grandeur of the parade. The rest of the student body is going to have to muster up their grizzly pride and once again make this parade something that will be remembered for years to come.
Two years ago, Ashland High School (AHS) decided to move away from a traditional homecoming experience and promote a sense of inclusivity at the same time. Instead of a homecoming king or queen, the school created a homecoming court: three exceptional students from each grade are decided by their class and given the opportunity to join the “Grizzly Court.” This change not only created a distinction from other schools, but it also reflected Ashland’s values of acceptance and equality. The homecoming court is now a gender-neutral way for students to elect their peers who they admire and appreciate. At first, this was a controversial change when it brought awareness to an environment that included transgender visibility. Now two years later, many students have expressed their appreciation for this non-traditional homecoming. “I think it’s a simple solution to a complicated problem,” said junior Elena Patterson. “It’s awesome that our school has adapted to a homecoming court that’s more inclusive.” The new election process acts as a way for students who might have initially been overlooked to be recognized. As AHS prepares to celebrate its homecoming in 2016, it is clear that the decision to include all of the student body has created a positive change in the community. As Patterson said, “Isn’t that the main goal: to feel comfortable wherever you are, and to feel like you have a place in the world?”
There’s nothing quite like gearing up for a first high school dance. Older siblings and senior friends have worked together to create a picture of what to expect from the homecoming dance, whether it be terrifying or exhilarating. Now, just a month and a half from the start of their Ashland High School experience, comes the moment of truth. Brian Alex is one freshmen gearing up for his first dance. Due to the strong turnouts at sporting events and the upcoming advents of spirit week and the parade, Brian finds the entire season to be a time of pervading school spirit. Fortunately, the excitement is the dominant feeling he has in the weeks leading up to his first dance, with a light salting of nervousness that can’t be avoided. After all, Brian can’t be fully sure what to expect based on stories he has heard. Thus far Brian hasn’t solidified dinner plans, but he has decided to dress up and attend with a large group of fellow freshmen – a foolproof strategy to be comfortable and have a ton of fun along the way. One facet of dance preparation Brian is still tangling with is that of concocting some dank moves to bust out on the floor. Of course one can’t prepare for everything, and that element of the unexpected is certainly a key ingredient in making everyone’s first dance memorable. The time-tested recipe of an evening romp with friends and Leadership’s unique theming of each dance are sure to welcome freshmen into one of our school’s finest traditions.
by Ivy Amann
by Ana Ferguson
by Dylan Kisler
SPIRIT WEEK: OCTOBER 10 - 13
artwork by Mouminatou Thiaw, Kip Parowski and Ivy Amann
In Memoriam:
A Parent’s Mission by Marienne Wallace Kevin Wallace, both a son and a brother, is dead. We, his family, mourn him and his friends mourn him. He was a beautiful young man with so many possibilities ahead of him. Why Kevin died is still under investigation (the state lab is very slow) but it was definitely due to alcohol and drugs. We do know that Kevin’s death was not deliberate. He was definitely looking forward to summer and spending time with friends. We were (and still are) very proud of him. Kevin was a very loving son, always happy to give his dad a hand, to give his mom a hug and kiss, and to wrestle his brother to the ground. He was well liked by so many. He could cross “squad” lines and make friends with just about anybody. Neighbors knew they could rely on him to take care of odd jobs with a smile. At home Kevin had become more mature, accommodating and happy. Music was an important part of his life and he enjoyed jamming with his other musical friends. His grades had even improved during the last term. Kevin had started working for his dad on the job site and was proud of his work. He loved driving around town in that purple Tempest. A trip to Bend to check out the college was planned for this past summer. All of these signs of a maturing teenager possibly made us complacent. Something that parents can never become. Maybe you are wondering how we, the parents, didn’t see this behavior.
Should we have been suspicious of all the “sleep-overs”? Should we have insisted on access to his phone, his Facebook? Stupidly we thought that he should have some privacy from his parents. Why he was drinking that night, by himself, is still a mystery to us. Later, after having access to his phone texts it was shocking what was revealed, not “just” smoking pot and drinking but a plethora of drug abuse. With whom? Well, you know who you are and we sincerely hope this has been a wake-up call. Teenagers are notorious for thinking they are invincible and that nothing bad can happen to them. Kevin is a prime example of this, and to our immense sorrow, he was wrong. Please realize that today’s drugs are so dangerous. Dealers are mixing in so many awful substances (carfentanil) and to feel like you have it “under control” is a total misnomer. Drinking alcohol will lower inhibitions and impede rational thought so it might become “okay” to mix drugs with other drugs or with alcohol. Each body is individual and will react differently to the same drug. Just because you know someone who mixed and was fine doesn’t mean that you will have the same experience. Don’t gamble with your life and your family’s happiness. Please keep Kevin alive in your memories for all the good things he embodied.
Kevin Wallace Notes From His Friends by Izzy Nicolier Rowan Wallace, a freshman at the high school, was Kevin Wallace’s younger brother. He remembers when they were younger that the two of them would go boating, water skiing. One of Rowan’s favorite memories is when they would be on the water and Kevin would spray him. Rowan really loved his brother and wants people to remember how nice Kevin was. Julian Ross and Kevin became friends in their sophomore year in advisory. They shared a lot of fun memories together, like the time there was a water bottle on the hood of a car, and Kevin jumped up on the car’s hood and kicked the water bottle as hard as he could. That memory was an example of the authenticity of Kevin that Julian remembers: “Kevin was the type of person who cared a lot about his friends and people around him.” Julian wants people to remember Kevin as a great guy who always made sure his friends were okay and helped them through their problems. Jeremiah Sherrynewby and Kevin started their friendship during their freshman year in water polo practice. He had seen Kevin throughout middle school in band class, though they did not become friends until high school. When Kevin got his car, the two of them would drive all around town. That freedom to explore changed their friendship and gave them more opportunities to become closer and make more memories. Jeremiah wants people to remember how happy Kevin was with his life and how many close friends he had.
A Note From His Teacher by Travis Moddison Kevin Wallace showed great interest in music, especially Jazz. He was always interested in expressing himself through improvisation. Kevin loved having jam sessions and would frequently spend hours in the band room improvising by himself. One thing that always impressed me about Kevin was his ability to play bluesy and express his mood through music. The last time I saw Kevin was right after school got out and he
came into the classroom and said, “Thank you Mr. Moddison, for everything.” He was a sweet kid that liked to be social, and that social life took over at times. If there is one thing I would encourage everyone to take from Kevin’s passing, it would be that you can’t experiment with stuff you know nothing about. Drugs present dangers, and so does alcohol. You all have so much to offer this world, please share it with us.
Photos by Ian Rinefort.
Playing the Field by Jade Bromley
Ashland High School (AHS) starts off the 2016-2017 school year with a brand new natural fiber turf field which cost almost two million dollars. The decision to start the field’s construction was due to the limited access of the Philips Field and a generous donation from Ashland High alum and professional baseball player, Jeremy Guthrie. Previously, only the football team was authorized to use the field in order to keep the grass in prime condition. Unlike the football games, which have always had a strong fan standing, the attendance of soccer games was less than ideal. This was partially due to the games being held at lesser known locations. According to Junior Varsity (JV) soccer player Abdul Rizk, the new field brought with it increased morale. More people are coming out to the games to support the project they donated money to, and the teams themselves respond to that enthusiasm by playing their best. Unfortunately, the field has had an effect on both Rizk and teammate Trevor Dolton’s game. Although not a drastic difference, both Rizk and Dolton stated that the ball has less lift, less bounce, and is difficult to loft. However, they felt that overall the turf is a good thing for the
school, and that if they had to choose between the old grass or the new turf, they would choose the latter. Junior football player Anthony Swanson expressed how the publicity for the new field has been advantageous for the team. As the football team brings in much of the revenue for the sports program, the more people that go to the games the better. Swanson stated that even though the field appears to cater to football players, it is beneficial for everyone, including the soccer teams, the physical education program and the band. Turf makes the field accessible to the entire AHS community. The field has proven to be a wise investment. Natural fibers such as cork, coconut, and rice pose no health concerns and require less maintenance than the more traditional rubber fill. Not having to constantly baby the field means that players can play as hard as they can. As the year progresses, it is the hope that the success of the field will lead the community to show this much passion for the advancement of other aspects of the school.
Turfy Turfy Coconut an editorial by Mouminatou Thiaw
If you had gone to any football games at AHS in previous years, you would have most likely engaged in a variety of social activities there, save watching the game itself. There were always those few Grizzlies who cheered with the cheerleaders and felt emotionally invested in the players and their feats, but there’s only so much shouting a few people can do. If you had gone to a soccer game you would have seen little to no student section at all. But this year something has sparked a flame in the spirit of the Grizzlies. It would be safe to say that this year’s student section is the most hyped in the history of the school. It’s nuts! Coconuts you might say. Yes, the answer lies on the field. It’s well known that the school received a donation to install a turf field, and the good, ecological citizens of Ashland invested in making the turf out of coconuts. The reason behind this was to promote the health of our athletes. Thus, the start of the school year brought the beginning of the “turfy-coconut” era - named
after the new chant students made at the first football game. Now students loose thier voices from cheering and feet go sore from jumping. The hype is without a doubt further fueled by the school’s new Spirit Club, headed by Senior Kyra Smith. Students in the club hand out pom-poms, airhorns, balloons, and lead cheers, spreading a contagous energy that is impossible to refute. This “turfy” age is exceptionally special, because for the first time both the soccer teams and the football teams can play on a field that doesn’t compromise the safety of the players. Soccer games are especially transformed, as they have never had such a large crowd of friends and fellow students yelling and chanting and showing so much AHS pride. That has got to be some coconut magic in the works. Varsity soccer player Tess Gibbs (junior) explained how the turf allows their speedy team to show its strengths. Add that to the energy that the spiritcrazed crowds bring, and you’ve got something you don’t want to miss.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Benefitting AHS Students and their Community by Tori McLennan and Austin Martz-Miller With school in full swing, the pressure to excel is here to stay. For freshmen, sophomores, and even some juniors and seniors, it is often easy to forget one of the most daunting requirements for graduation: community service hours. For those who weren’t aware, the total required hours for community service is 100, 50 of which can be paid. With the graduation dates so far away, people do not know the importance of completing these hours outside of graduation requirements. Counselor Glenna Stiles emphasized the importance saying “we are trying to create a sense of responsibility and giving back in our students. Also we want our students to feel good about giving back to people.” Stiles also gave some advice about getting community service hours done, saying “Listen to the announcements, talk to your friends to see what they’ve done, look at the website, and talk to teachers and coaches about ways you can give back.” Below is a list of the most popular community service clubs: • • •
Key Club - Affiliated with Kiwanis International, the focus of Key Club is community service: volunteers can participate in Relay for Life, bringing flowers to Linda Vista, or putting out flags on Siskiyou Blvd. Global Citizens Corps - The GCC is a program through Net Aid in New York, whose purpose is to get more people involved in fighting global poverty Interact Club - The Interact Club plans two local and one international service projects a year where members can have fun working together to improve the community and learn about the world
Students can also earn community service hours independently. Below are some examples of community service opportunities in and around Southern Oregon from the Ashland High school website: • • • •
Ashland Food Project: Provides food to Ashland locals in need. ACCESS, Inc: Helps low-income families and seniors in economic crisis. Food and Senior meal program: A “Meals on wheels” program that provides hot, nutritious meals to eligible homebound seniors. Southern Oregon Humane Society: A non-profit organization dedicated to caring for and rehoming hundreds of dogs and cats.
photo by Tori McLennan
“It makes me happy to know that I am contributing to the community and to know that I’m helping it the best way I know how to.” - Aaron Yan contemplating his community service hours. Visit the AHS website, and click on “student” and “community service” for more information on these projects and dozens of other community service opportunities.
Chautauqua Poets and Writers Welcomes Natalie Diaz by Dylan Kistler Natalie Diaz, a poet born and raised in the Fort Mojave Indian Village on the banks of the Colorado River, will speak at Ashland High School on October 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Mountain Avenue Theater, and offer a student workshop during 6th period the following day. A colorful array of personal experience rounds out the poet’s background, from playing professional basketball in Europe and Asia for four years to directing the Fort Mojave Language Recovery Program, which works with the last remaining native speakers to teach and preserve their ancestral language. Diaz’s perspective on global cultures contribute to her writing on themes of bigotry, war, identity and memory in society through personal and mythical perspectives. Diaz’s first poetry collection, When My Brother Was an Aztec, dives deep into themes such as the
Native American life, and had its explorative styles praised with the Nimrod/Hardman Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry. Chautauqua Poets and Writers has had the incredible privilege of hosting distinguished poets and novelists every Fall and Spring at our local high school for the past ten years. To participate in this outstanding cultural opportunity within our Rogue Valley community, reserve your tickets at Bloomsbury Books and Bookwagon in Ashland or online at www.chautauquawriters.org to select seats and find more information. General admission is available at the door on the evening of October 18, and AHS students can purchase discounted tickets from Libre Cory at $10 per student.
Clubs Global Citizen Corps by Karl Moeglein One day every October, students arrive at Ashland High School to something slightly different. A Post-It note rests on every desk in the school with a positive statement of some kind. While this project began in 2014, few students at Ashland High School are aware of the group behind it. Positive Post-Its is just one of the many projects Global Citizen Corps (GCC) takes on in the Ashland community. The club began over a decade ago, but its main goal has stayed constant and is explained by the club’s motto: think globally, act locally. One of the many service clubs on campus, GCC specifically strives to find ways for its members to affect the world through actions here in Ashland and the Rogue Valley. Throughout the school year GCC takes on a number of major projects. Positive Post-Its kicks it off and is quickly followed by another well recognized program on campus. Canned food drives are a staple of almost every high school in America, but GCC has found their own way to make the can drive more interesting and in the
end bring in more cans: the power of competition. Each math teacher is pitted against the others in a battle to get the most food. Within classes some teachers even pit periods against each other. Tammy Anderson is the long reigning canned food drive champion, and club president Rob Stallman doubts that will change soon. “She really just has it down pat. Watson has been coming on strong, but I have great confidence in Ms. Anderson’s can drive abilities,” explained Stallman. The next large comes in February with the selling of roses delivered by cupid. The fundraiser is another one of GCC’s annual projects, but each year the money that is raised goes to a different cause. Two years ago a recent AHS graduate was helped with medical bills while dealing with a serious health issue. Last year all funds went to helps refugees. This year’s recipient has yet to be determined, but it will help no matter where it goes. Over a thousand dollars are raised annually by the project. In addition to the major projects, GCC also partners with other groups on joint initiatives. This year they are
“Everyone else in the club shares a passion for local issues.” -Rob Stallman
partnering with the International Club to raise funds for a scholarship program connected to Ashland’s sister city of Guanajuato, Mexico. Additionally, Stallman has a passion for environmental causes and often finds ways for the club to work on climate issues that directly affect the Rogue Valley by partnering with the Southern Oregon Youth Climate Organization. Now in his second year of presidency, Stallman looks back on GCC as one of the most rewarding parts of his high
school career. He discussed how he has learned the value of local involvement on larger issues and the value it may have for other students saying, “because we are a smaller club and meet so often you get a good relationship with everyone else in the club. Everyone else in the club shares a passion for local issues.” The club meets every Wednesday at lunch in H-36 and though Stallman doesn’t always bring snacks, when he does, they are homemade.
Photos by Zelda Baldwin
Project Up by Gemma Coster Awareness. Opportunity. Support. These three words are the cornerstone of Ashland High School’s Project Up club. Built upon a partnership between AHS’s theater department and special need students, it’s influence has spread from the school to the community. It is an extension of a non-profit organization called Merrimack Hall Performing Arts Center that is known for specializing in serving children and adults with disabilities. Originally started in Huntsville, Alabama by husband and wife Alan and Debra Jenkins, it has expanded by outsourcing into smaller branches, such as the club at Ashland High School. It was initially launched in the fall of 2015 by theater students Julia Laurenson, Zoe Lishinsky, Liam Rauch-Moore, and Zarah Detweiler, and also includes many volunteers. Julia Laurenson, cofounder and President of Project Up club, summed up their objective as, “a program that brings the arts to special education teens through fun and games.” During every Monday at lunch in TH15, students from the skills classroom and theater program come together to bring recognition to kids with disabilities through dance, games, and special guest speakers from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. It’s an activity filled opportunity that brings two different groups of the AHS campus together; but more importantly, it highlights each person’s similarities to each other as opposed to their differences. Laurenson, a junior who has participated in theater her whole life not only enjoys the art of performing, but also takes pleasure in introducing new people to her world. She has co-founded the club with two significant influences that has helped
her grow the club into a success, clearly evident in what the club has achieved by winning the 2016 Oregon Thespian Spotlight Award. In the summer of 2015, she was flown out to Alabama for two weeks by the original founders of Project Up. While there, Laurenson had the privilege of participating in a summer camp that specialized in connecting with special education children through classes and theater projects. The experience not only taught her something new, but also allowed her to pursue one of her passions. Her strong interest in the cause was not immediate. Laurenson admitted, “along the way I realized it was something I really like to do.” The two weeks of summer camp definitely provided Laurenson with the experience she needed, but perhaps more important to her work is how she is personally connected. The strongest driving force behind Laurenson’s understanding of how to interact with special needs kids comes from her brother, who has cerebral palsy. This particular affiliation has played a big hand in fueling Laurenson into creating Project-Up into a club that would be, “a vehicle for social change and political activism.” She and her co-founders hope to grow and expand the club, so that the message of disability awareness spreads to as many people as possible. This club is a step in the beginning of a journey toward change and appreciation for every human being, no matter the advantages or disadvantages they encounter.
Photos courtesy of Julia Laurenson
Random Student Features by Karl Moeglein Feature writing is the most intimate form of journalism. The job of journalists is to tell a story. The feature is a way to highlight the story of the individual. Too often we are told we are all special when the fact is no amount of repetition will make us believe we are anything worth hearing about. Each student at Ashland High School has a unique story. Through the random selection of two students each issue, the Rogue News wants to prove that no student is boring, unimportant, or ordinary. We want to tell the story of Ashland High School two students at a time.
Got Consent? by Bella Mannray Ashland High School has an amplitude of unique faces on the campus. The school has seen students accomplish incredible feats, and establish themselves as prominent people of society. Bella Head is most certainly one of these people. The sixteen year old junior enjoys the typical teen endeavours such as hanging out with friends, playing Grand Theft Auto and listening to hip hop and soul. However, Head has also contributed a fantastic campaign to AHS. Last year, during Head’s sophomore year of High School, she became heavily invested in promoting sexual assault awareness. Head founded what she calls a “campaign” to “stop sexual assault in schools.” Head says she realized there was a need for the school and community to understand the implications of sexual assault, and how much it affects survivors in their everyday lives. If a survivor were to see what Head is doing, it might give them optimism in realizing people in the community care, and are working to make a difference in the current status quo of sexual assault. Initially, Head’s campaign was just going to be a small movement between her and her friends. They were all going to wear shirts to school one day promoting awareness, but then the
word spread. Her friends began talking about it with their friends, and the project manifested into an event that gained large school interest. Over the course of three days, Head collected around 130 names of people in the AHS community who wanted shirts. After people ordered the shirts, Head established a day in which the group would wear them in unison. “That was probably one of the best days I’ve ever had in my entire life because the feeling of wearing that shirt, knowing that you’re making a statement, and people are becoming more aware feels amazing. Wearing the shirt itself feels empowering, but seeing everyone wearing them… showed me people would care.” Bella Head is also in charge of a Facebook page titled “Stop Sexual Assault in Schools.” She runs the site with her friends Amani Mussell and Nicole Locklin, along with working with Kyndra Laughtery and Susan Moan from the Sexual Assault Response Team. The page includes a variety of information recognizing the subject, such as statistics, and instructions on what you should do to get help or if people come to you for help. One project she is working on in the fall is spreading awareness about the Red Zone: the time between
photo by Zelda Baldwin
September and Thanksgiving in which a person is most likely to be assaulted. According to Head, over 50% of assaults happen within the Red Zone because it is a time in which people go to parties typically involving drugs and alcohol, an environment in which sexual assault can frequently occur. Overall, Bella Head’s campaign turned out to be a lot larger than she expected it to be. Head reached a total of 135 people ordering shirts, including students and teachers. Head stated that
sexual assault “takes a really big toll that people don’t realize. Whether it’s nightmares every night, scared to go out of the house, or flashbacks, it’s important to be be aware of not talking lightly about it.” She has plans of opening up another occasion for students to purchase shirts, along with various other fundraising functions, and a school wide assembly. She said it was challenging to put herself out there, but she felt if she didn’t seize the opportunity for change no one else would.
Hobbiton and Back Again by Nicole Mullen Often, life in a small town can seem confining or tediously routine. Having lived in small cities all of his life, from Mt. Shasta, California, to Ashland, Oregon, Parker Richmond realized that he needed a change in scenery, and frankly population. During his sophomore year, Richmond was inspired by a friend that had recently been on an exchange. After researching exchange programs, Richmond realized that an experience abroad would be the perfect opportunity to broaden his horizons. In his junior year of high school, Richmond embarked on a life-changing exchange to New Zealand, an adventure he called one of the “most surreal experiences of my life.” For 10 months, Richmond lived with a New Zealander host family, attended public school and was immersed in the culture of the country. School consisted of morning tea and lunch, and the curriculum taught about indigenous New Zealand tribes including the Maori tribe. Richmond was fascinated by the seamless integration of local New Zea-
land culture and history into the curriculum. Richmond attended a public school that required its students to wear uniforms daily. However, there was a school tradition that on a specific day of the week, for a fee that was later donated to charity, students were allowed to wear their preferred clothing. The cost of the entire exchange was over $20,000. Richmond had to pay for his plane tickets, food, activities and $16,000 directly to the company he traveled with to pay for lodging and school. “It was a challenge,” stated Richmond, when talking about the monetary cost, and social difficulties associated with the exchange, “but it taught me how to manage my time, money and myself.” Richmond became immersed in the culture of New Zealand. He rode trains in the cities, and traveled on his own: both things he wasn’t able to do in a small place like Ashland. “It really puts into perspective what the real world is going to be like,” stated Richmond, when speaking about the level of independence he was afforded and the re-
photo by Izzy Nicolier
sponsibilities he had on his exchange. Though Richmond still had to attend school, he did have time to see some of the more famous parts of New Zealand. He went to Hobbiton and Mt. Mordor, or at least, their filming locations for the blockbuster movie “The Hobbit.” On his exchange, Richmond made great friends and gained invaluable ex-
perience. Lastly, Parker advises that students interested in exchange “stick with it,” despite any challenges that arise. The experience gained on an exchange will make the hard times worth it.
by Zaida LaRose America has enthusiastically taken part in Halloween celebrations for generations, and believe it or not, we owe it all to potatoes. That’s right––were it not for the painful penury of a certain well-known root vegetable in the 1840s, the Irish may have never immigrated to the States, bringing with them many customs and traditions that are the foundation of what we know as Halloween today. Spanning centuries, this spooky holiday has undergone countless alterations, but the imprints of its cultural, religious, and occult backgrounds are still reverberating beneath the surface of 21st century celebrations. Two thousand years ago, October 31 marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the Celtic New Year. During these two days, druids (priests, magicians, or soothsayers in the ancient celtic religion) believed that the veil between life and death was stretched to its thinnest, and that ghosts could seep through the cracks connecting these two realms. During this yearly festival known as “Samhain” (pronounced sow-en), large bonfires were set, and food and wine were left on doorsteps to keep roaming spirits at bay. In the seventh century, the Vatican transformed November 1 into “All Saint’s Day,” merging Samhain with a church-sanctioned holiday designed to honor martyrs and deceased religious devotees. All Saint’s Day came to be known as “Hallomas,” literally meaning “Mass of the Saints.” Thus, October 31 was considered “All Hallows’ Eve.” Its next adaptation was, of course, “Halloween.” Multiple Samhain and Catholic rituals can still be seen echoing in the depths of today’s holiday celebrations. However, some of these rituals adapted in ways you might not expect. Trick-or-Treating, for example, evolved from rather malicious roots. Youth and teens began using Halloween as a night to play tricks on those around them, while sporting masks to conceal their identity. This practice
Comic by Kip Parowski
eventually escalated into what can be considered essentially an extortion deal, mischievous hooligans would demand candy from their neighbors, and in exchange, they would refrain from vandalizing homes and trashing yards. The infamous Jack-O-Lantern is another Halloween tradition with surprising origins. The earliest form of this now-classic Halloween item was used by pagans to light the way to coven meetings, but instead of the friendly carved pumpkins we see today, these beacons were actually fashioned from human skulls containing burning candles. Later, the legend of “Stingy Jack” dominated Scottish and Irish celebrations, a myth that tells the tale of a clever man named Jack who, through a few elaborate feats of chicanery, was able to trick the Devil into swearing never to lay claim to his soul. When Jack eventually died, he was denied entrance to Heaven for his distasteful behavior and turned away from Hell because the Devil kept his word. Legend has it that Stingy Jack was forced to haunt the dark, earthly night for the rest of eternity, with only a small piece of coal to light his way. Because of this quirky tale, the Irish began carving “Jack’s Lanterns” out of large turnips, filling them with candles, and placing them on their window sills at night to ward off evil spirits. Halloween is celebrated by millions of Americans annually, but very few are aware of the rich history of this iconic holiday. That said, one should not let the image of glowing skulls or rambunctious, candy-craving ruffians blemish their perceptions the joyful celebration All Hallow’s Eve has become today. Rather, let us study the past with fascination and amusement, and gaze into the future with the hopes of many new, lighthearted and exciting traditions to come. But do be careful, for when the night is dark and the veil between the worlds has weakened, Stingy Jack might just choose to make his final, fatal appearance.
by Maisie Roberson Across: 3. ________ houses are a popular Halloween event 5. what ghosts say 6. these places are often visited in fall for their pumpkin patches 7. Jack-O-_______ 10. November 1, ___ ________ Day (two words) 12. an orange gourd commonly carved for Halloween 13. a common superstition is that cats of this color are unlucky 14. another word for the fall season 16. some beliefs say that this exists between the land of the living and the land of the dead, and that it is thinnest on All Hallow’s Eve 17. what children say when they go door to door asking for candy on Halloween, Trick or ______ 18. one seasonal fall coffee drink is a pumpkin _____ latte 22. definition: sinister or ghostly in a way that causes fear and unease 23. this fall beverage is usually made of apples, and can be alcoholic or non-alcoholic 25. this treat is commonly given out on Halloween 27. the skeletal structure in a person’s head that is the original precursor to jack-o-lanterns 28. these change colors and fall during Autumn 29. this pagan culture and religion is where modern day Halloween originated 33. in western cultures, this is a common resting place for the deceased 35. often accompanied by pumpkin patches and hayrides, these puzzles are walked through from entrance to exit 36. a red liquid in humans commonly associated with life, thought to be consumed by vampires 37. the opposite of day 39. type of nut that can be made into a seasonal fall pie 42. carved to ward off evil spirits before gourds from North America took their place 43. the day immediately before an event or occasion 45. to honor as holy, or to be greatly revered or respected 46. something is _______ if it induces fear 47. something is _______ if it creates a feeling of unease 48. this is a bloodsucking creature of the night, that is romanticized
in current pop culture Down: 1. All Hallows’ Eve, October 31 2. a woman thought to have magical powers, commonly mistaken as being inherently evil 3. the seasonal collecting of crops 4. this fall activity usually involves pumpkin patches and tractors 5. a flying nocturnal mammal 8. trick or treating is typically done under the cover of _________ 9. the name given to any religion or belief that isn’t Judaism, Christianity, or Islam by early Christians 11. the supernatural, nonphysical manifestation of departed souls that are able to cross the veil between worlds 15. a celebratory event often involving games and feasting 19. the immortal spiritual or immaterial part of a person 20. priests, magicians, or soothsayers in the ancient Celtic religion 21. a witch’s ___________ is said to help her with her spells and concentrate or hold her power 23. a special outfit commonly worn on Halloween 24. what this holiday revolves around, the ending of the physical manifestation of people 26. these spider-made homes are used to create a creepy atmosphere around Halloween 27. the original, pagan Celtic holiday from which modern day Halloween originates 30. this household item has been used in witchcraft, and was thought to be ridden by witches 31. a controlled large fire that is usually created in celebration 32. ___________ for apples; this game involves collecting apples out of a bucket of water 33. the souls of the undeparted 34. this animal is considered a popular witch’s familiar 38. this film genre fits nicely with popular Halloween culture 39. a common fall dessert 40. fruit grown on trees that is in a variety of fall delicacies 41. one of the two colors of Halloween 44. an abbreviation on gravestones that stands for a three word saying
Answers: Across: 3.Haunted 5.Boo 6.Farm 7.Lantern 10.All Saint’s 12.Pumpkin 13.Black 14.Autumn 16.Veil 17.Treat 18.Spice 22.Spooky 23.Cider 25.Candy 27.Skull 28.Leaves 29.Celtic 33.Graveyard 35.Corn Maze 36.Blood 37.Night 39.Pecans 42.Turnips 43.Eve 45.Hallow 46.Scary 47.Creepy 48.Vampire Down: 1.Halloween 2.Witch 3.Harvest 4.Hayride 6.Bat 8.Darkness 9.Pagan 11.Spirits 15.Festival 19.Souls 20.Druids 21.Familiar 23.Costume 24.Death 26.Webs 27.Samhain 30.Broomstick 31.Bonfire 32.Bobbing 33.Ghosts 34.Cat 38.Horror 39.Pie 40.Apples 41.Orange 44.RIP
by Lili Smith
Though hot school lunches have a bad reputation at many schools, the idea of an inedible school lunch is far from the truth at Ashland High School (AHS). Gema McSoto, the director of the cafeterias throughout the Ashland School District, and Christina Lehman, manager of the AHS cafeteria, hope students see the many positives of school lunches in Ashland. Both women enjoy their jobs immensely. “The rewards come in little pieces every day,” said McSoto. This appreciation for their jobs can be seen in the food at AHS.
An example of one of the many stellar dishes the kitchen staff at AHS serve is their lasagna. At Ashland High School, the lasagna is no low quality meal. The meat comes local farms which are situated not more than 100 miles from where the food is served. The sauce and other fillings include vegetables and spices from our garden here on campus and other healthy components that make a supreme meal. Without question, the AHS cafeteria produces a top quality menu for the student body daily, while exceeding expectations. Both McSoto and Lehman, along with their team, have taken on an extremely difficult job and by involving the community around them, they have created something we often take for granted.
Milk: Each day, students are offered a variety of sources of protein, carbs and fats. The milk and chocolate milk served by our cafeteria is one way they meet the needs of a nutritious meal. Provided by Umpqua Dairy, milk is an important addition for someone who has no other source of calcium or protein on their plate.
Fruit: In addition to veggies, unlimited fresh fruit is also offered daily at the salad bar. Stepping away from the common misconceptions about school lunch, the fruit served at AHS is far from poor quality. Whenever possible, fresh fruit is served from the most local farms. Apples, pears and other varieties are grown in Oregon.
photo by Lucas Searcy
Another part of our exceptional school lunches is the salad bar. The salad bar is a part of the cycle AHS uses to keep the campus “green.” The vegetables come from Jim Hartman’s garden, where students pick the produce that is eventually used in the school lunches. AHS uses this farm to table process to create the freshest greens. As the student body attends their daily classes and participates in extra curriculars, the salad bar provides a steady source of food for AHS students.