November 11, 2021
VOL. MMXXI, No. 4
RAM’S EAR R I O V I S TA H I G H S C H O O L
Coach Smith to attempt World Record with just four fingers
Photo by: Brook Summitt
youth programs at Calaveras and eventually progressed to starting programs here in Rio Vista such as youth programs and starting teams here at the high school and middle school. His experience so far has been really good with the wrestling program as it has gone on for eight years now. He says, “ It’s hard to start a new sport especially when high schoolers don’t like to try something new but I know it will only get better from here.” He encourages his athletes to be confident although this is not something you can tell someone to automatically do, he believes that “Confidence is developed just like any other skill, as you practice and
take someone down for the first time the confidence builds up brick by brick. You have to build it by accomplishing little things along the way.” “Fake it till you make it.” are words of advice from Mr. Smith. “Nobody should know by looking at you that you are not confident. You should always show confidence when walking onto the mat. By showing your nervousness you will lose.” This advice is great to keep in mind when feeling unmotivated or not feeling good enough to compete. We wish nothing but the best for Mr. Smith and his attempt to break the world record. RVHS wishes him luck!
Mr. Smith before attepting to break the four finger push up record.
by Brook Summitt, Staff Writer
Along with being a special education teacher, Mr. Smith is also head coach of the wrestling program here at the high school. In fact, he actually created the program here and is looking forward to having a full girl team which has never been done before and this year has been his most successful in terms of the size of the teams. This coming November 12, Mr. Smith hopes to break the world record of the most push-ups with four fingers which includes both thumbs and index fingers. He
saw it somewhere and became inspired and motivated to do it. At first he tried for 20 push-ups and succeeded through 25 and thought it was a good place to start knowing he’d eventually have to work up to more than 85 within 60 seconds. Mr. Smith feels confident about his attempt and Rio Vista High School is all here for it! Ever since 1998 Smith’s teaching career started which was followed by his passion for wrestling. He first started coaching
Second annual Trunk or Treat brings community together
“I think it’s a great idea to have Trunk or Treats for high schoolers because once we are teenagers everyone thinks we are too old to trick or treat but I think everyone can trick or treat and have fun,” said leadership teacher Ms. Gornto. Teachers had booths with all different kinds of decorations, like one was Star Wars, another one was under the sea, and another one was Monsters Inc.” I like how the teachers came together and gave out free candy. It made my night,” said senior Melissa Uribe. Last year when RVHS hosted Trunk or Treat it was a drive by so teachers just handed candy to your car, and this year students were actually allowed to walk around from teacher to teacher and get candy. Trunk or Treat is a fun activity for everybody to enjoy and hopefully it becomes an RVHS tradition.
Photo by: Ms. Gornto
Rio Vista High School held their second Trunk or Treat on October 20. Trunk or Treat is an event that is run by RVHS staff held in the student parking lot. It’s not just the high school that participates, the middle school students and the elementary school students are invited too. Teachers tell everyone to wear their costumes, but it’s not a requirement to come get candy. There are a few costume competitions such as best decorated trunk, most original costume, scariest costume, best group costumes, and best homemade costume. There were many people that came to the Trunk or Treat this year and wore their costumes, which were a majority of the younger kids. “It was really cool seeing the community come together and making some kids’ days. This should definitely be something we do every year,” said senior Alex Ornelas.
Mrs. Ann, Mrs. Cronin (former vice-principal), and Mrs. Gornto show off their elaborate Trunk or Treat.
Photo by: Mrs. Jones
by Bradaen McCann, Staff Writer
Boone Hurley (12), Jason Calvan (12), Ryan Zamarripa (11), and Jovany Vega (11) showing off their pepperoni pizza they made together.
Culinary students learning important life skills
by Boone Hurley, Staff Writer
One of the electives at Rio Vista High School is the Culinary Arts class. Mrs. Anderson and Mrs. Jones are the new teachers for this year’s class. Culinary Arts is consists of learning to cook for yourself and others. They teach three culinary classes, each of the culinary arts classes consist of four kitchens. Every kitchen has a head chef, assistant chef, busser, and dishwasher. Head chef does most of the cooking while assistant chef helps.The busser helps collect all ingredients for both the head chef and assistant chef, and the dishwasher washes the dishes. Junior Jovany Vega says, “My favorite thing about culinary is getting the freedom to cook and being able to interact with classmates especially James Mentee.” The students each get equal opportunities for every position. Although the class is based around cooking it also teaches very import-
ant life skills and teaches how to work as a team. “I enjoy the Thursdays and Fridays the best because those are the days we cook,” said junior Ryan Zamarripa. “I like watching everyone work together and to watch everyone work together and watch the progression,” said Mrs. Anderson. RVHS students and staff really enjoy the Culinary Arts class. A lot of the time the students cook for the staff. Mrs. Jones exclaims, “Some days its absolutely fantastic and other days I want to scream inwardly.” They all seem to agree that the students are learning a great variety of skills that pertain to cooking and kitchen skills. The students and staff have enjoyed the food that has been made. So if would you like to learn how to cook or just love to make food, be sure your next elective is culinary arts.