The Rampage 2270 Highway 133 Carbondale, CO 81623
January 2018
Volume 11 Issue 3
“Memeories”: A Look Back on 2017
- Kloe Lee and Iliana Castillon
JANUARY: Early this year, an Instagram video of a Turkish chef named Nusret Gökçe sprinkling salt on his steak in an “extra” manner went viral with 2.4 million views within 48 hours, thus “Salt Bae” kicked off the memes of 2017. FEBRUARY: After a gif of a rapidly blinking Drew Scanlon, video editor and podcaster at the video game website Giant Bomb, surfaced throughout the internet, it became a widespread meme that people used to express confusion. MARCH: This image of Meryl Streep was caught in the middle of her shouting something during the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards in 2015, the picture resurfaced as a meme throughout 2017 accompanied by widely recognized lyrics from popular songs. APRIL: In mid-April, “Spotify Playlist Messages” became popular when a girl on Twitter broke up with her boyfriend by arranging a series of songs in a playlist that, when read in order, formed a breakup message. This trend continued as people made playlists for their crushes, friends, and ex’s. MAY: “Mocking SpongeBob” is used to indicate a mocking tone towards an opinion or idea. The image of SpongeBob comes from an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants titled “Little Yellow Book,” which aired back on the 2nd of March, 2013. JUNE: “The Floor Is…” refers to a twopanel photo series of a boy avoiding the floor much like you would in a game of “The Floor Is Lava.” These images have been used to make memes about actions or opinions that people may try their best to avoid.
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JULY: “Boneless Pizza” refers to a Youtube video posted in May of 2017 by YouTuber Sethical in which he prank called a restaurant by trying to order a “boneless pizza” for delivery. This trend became popular in July when people began to ask for boneless items. AUGUST: “Distracted Boyfriend” is a captioned stock photo series in which a man looks at the backside of a woman walking by while his girlfriend looks at him disapprovingly. The photo is used to show user’s preference in what they want versus what they already have. SEPTEMBER: In September 2017, Hurricane Irma was a powerful, category 5 tropical cyclone that hit the southeastern United States and Caribbean Islands. Prior to the hurricane actually hitting land, many joked about the storm on FaceBook. For example, over 52,000 people were to attend a fake FaceBook event created by Joshua Stanaland titled “Everybody Points Their Fans At The Hurricane To Blow It Away.” OCTOBER: “Couples Costume Ideas” was a meme that sarcastically suggested costumes for Halloween. The duo of images shows well-known moments or people in pop culture. NOVEMBER: “Travis Scott’s Concert Pic” refers to an image of the rapper screaming with a microphone stand above his head while flames shoot up behind him. This image is used to show anger and is often compared to DoodleBob, a character from SpongeBob SquarePants. DECEMBER: Information was released that a large population of adults and teens in the United States go to the ER as a result of eating Tide laundry detergent pods, which are often compared to various fruity snacks due to their appearance. Tide pods have became known as a forbidden fruit lmao.
What’s Inside
Holiday Recap Page 2
2018 Predictions Page 5
Rampage Staff Opinion Pieces Page 6
RFHS Basketball Preview Page 7
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Feature
2 Rampage January 2018
Wrapping up the Ho Ho Holiday Events at RFHS
-Lucy Meade
During the final weeks of school before winter break, students and staff organized holiday activities to build community at RFHS. The community-building events included lip sync battles, hallway decorating competitions, and an ugly sweater contest. The events proved to spread positive vibes and holiday cheer throughout RFHS as the festivities wrapped up with students jubilantly singing in unison. The winter festivities commenced on Monday December 18th with the class hallway decorating competition among the four grade levels. Each class was assigned a hallway to decorate with their best visual holiday spirit representation within one week. One or two hallways hung paper snowflakes, placed tinsel along the lockers, and even put a tree in their hall with the hope of winning the hallway decorating competition. In the end, the best decorated hallway based on judging went to the junior class, with sophomores in second place, seniors third, and freshmen in last. However, the seniors were giving the title of ‘best overall appearance’ for their hallway. While the final half-week of school was winding down, a community meeting gave the school a cheerful send off into the holidays and New Year. Senior Megan Rusby, who hosts the community meetings, says, “I love Christmas and I was so excited to host our holiday community meeting!” The assembly started with the ugly sweater contest, in which the two ugliest sweaters from each class flaunted their tops, and one class was voted the winner based on the amount of applause received from the whole school. In this year’s competition, the senior class took first place, showing some true holiday spirit up on the auditeria stage. The next yearly tradition was the holiday lip sync battle. Not only does each class need to have students that mouth the lyrics to a chosen song, but also the class must choreograph dance moves to impress
the judges who are staff at RFHS. This event was, and always is, one of Roaring Fork’s favorite due to the fun atmosphere these performances create. “I think that the lip sync battle is fun because students enjoy watching other people perform, and we also enjoy it because these things don’t happen a lot,”
with the 3rd, 7th, and 11th, and finally the freshmen with the 4th, 8th, and 12th. This festive song was a fun and interactive way to finish out the community meeting, while spreading cheer throughout the school. Aside from these events being entertaining on their own, they also brought in a core element of the holidays: coming together as a community. These special festivities before break provided students with the opportunity to build teamwork, the original purpose. Each year, the competitions improve, as does the holiday spirit of the classes, this creates a enjoyable last class. Reece Ettleson, a senior and head girl, at RFHS who is responsible for organizing all of the holiday fun says, “All events we put on this year went much smoother, and the holiday events are no exception. Everything went off without a hitch! I also love how these holiday events put everyone in the holiday spirit, and bring us all together.” There is no doubt that RFHS shared this festive energy Before, during, and after the final day before Winter break. Clearly this year’s events have positively impacted students and gone well, and hopes are even higher for next year. Overall, these festivities definitely got all of RFHS in the mood for the holiday season.
Photo Courtesy of Lilly Nicholes
said junior Lazaro Cruz. The finale of these special performances was a whole school activity. Together, the classes would each sing 3 verses verse of ‘The 12 Days of Christmas,’ starting with the senior class singing the 1st, 5th, and 9th verse. Then the juniors would sing the 2nd, 6th, and 10th, and sophomores
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The Panorama Survey: Surveying Students About Teachers
-Daniela Rivera
The Panorama survey is designed and implemented with the intention of assessing students’ perceptions of their teachers. The survey uses a scientifically-valid questionnaire to collect data about a variety of factors that might affect a teacher’s performance, from how well she/he conveys the material and encourages interest in the subject to whether the school fosters a sense of belonging in the students. The company is run by two 23-year-old Yale graduates who have a great love for computers and numbers. They have run surveys in more than 5,000 schools and has been adopted in some of the largest school districts in the country such as, the Los Angeles Unified School District with over 25,000 teachers. The survey has been utilized at Roaring Fork for at least 4 years. Teachers can assess their performance on a question by question basis and they can also monitor their performance by subgroup. “I take my results seriously. If they come out lower than I had hoped, I tend to take them personally. I think most of us do. We’re all doing this job because we love kids and we want them to be happy and successful. […] they’re not all going to like us on any given
day. If you have kids who are frustrated on survey day, they’re going to show you that.” said ELD teacher Jackie Vosler. After discovering her difficuties and points of improvement, Vosler began to
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adjust her class. The survey reports on Pedagogical Effectiveness, Classroom Climate, Classroom Rigorous Expectation, Classroom Engagement, Classroom Teacher, Student Relationships, Classroom Belong-
ing, and Valuing of Subject.“The results allows us as a staff to build upon the overwhelmingly positive experiences in our school and reflect and plan for areas where we can be better” said Principal Brett Stringer. Currently, schools evaluate the effectiveness of their teachers predominantly through standardized tests scores and observations made by school administrators but both measures have been criticized for being too narrow and unable to clearly assess interactions between teachers and students on a day to day basis. “If I ever see something that is concerning, I talk to my students about their perception of what’s going on in the classroom and how we can make improvements. I want them to know that their voice matters, and that I take their suggestions seriously,” says Vosler. “The sample number can be small (especially if you work with small classes to begin with), so I also try to identify if the results might be indicative of individual relationships that need some repairing,” Between Panorama surveys, Vosler sometimes conducts her own survey to see if there has been any improvement. Overall, both students and teachers benefit from giving and receiving feedback.
Feature New Year Traditions Around The World
-Ruthie Brown
December 31, New Years Eve, January 1, New Year’s Day, celebrations and traditions transpire all over the world. From breaking dishes to ringing bells, here are six unique New Year’s traditions from around the world. Ringing 108 Bells In Japan, it is common to ring 108 bells. Some Japanese Buddhists believe that 108 is the number of man’s desires. To ring the bell for each desire dispels negative thoughts and brings about a healthy mentality.
Courtesy Photo A traditional Japanese Bell
12 Grapes It is tradition to eat 12 grapes in Spanish speaking countries, such as Spain, Cuba and Puerto Rico. The grapes are eaten for each month of the year and one for every toll of the bell at midnight. Hogmanay Hogmanay is the three-day celebration of the arrival of the new year. The tradition was first fabricated by the Vikings and is still vibrant. The people of Edinburgh light torches and then parade through town creating a “river of fire.” The torch-bearers are joined by drummers and others in Viking costumes. The morning after, January 1st, plunge into the Firth of Forth (a Scottish river) in costume as a part of Loony Dook, another celebration that takes place in Hogmanay. Evil Spirit Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Puerto Rico is to hold evil spirits at bay. The Puerto Ricans throw a bucket of water out of their windows and sprinkle sugar around the outside of their homes. Colored Underwear In many South American countries and Latino countries, it is thought that the color of underwear you wear New Year’s Eve will determine what will come in the new year. Red underwear is said to bring love; yellow underwear is said to bring joy, happiness and prosperity; and white brings peacefulness. Shattered Plates It is a custom in Denmark to save your chipped table wear for December 31st, shatter it on the doorsteps of family and friends New Year’s day and eve.
PEAK students at Roaring Fork
-Daniel Cortes Lopez
Roaring Fork High School has over 40 students who qualify for “PEAK.” PEAK is an acronym for Program for Educationally Advanced Kids, and it’s a school-based, federally-funded and mandated program for students that have been identified as gifted in an area of education. The program was established at RFHS about four or five years ago. Adam Carballeira, a current English teacher at RFHS, decided to start the program after the director of school programs around the district asked teachers to initiate one. It is against federal law if schools in this country do not monitor the well-being of gifted students. Carballeira states, “kids in PEAK are not only smart and intelligent, they are also gifted in other ways, such as art or leadership. Being gifted is not necessarily an advantage. It can be difficult to live inside their minds.” Not to say all these kids think this way, but a particular student might see a world event and have mixed emotions and ideas about it. These students may see the event beyond the way their peers or parents would. “This could lead to loneliness and isolation,” Carballeira says. The purpose of the program is to help these kids develop their strengths and to attempt to minimize possible hardships of being gifted. Carballeira says, “We want these students to use their gifts to benefit society.” Students in PEAK meet weekly on Tuesdays during lunch with Carballeira to discuss themselves or topics that interest them. “The conversations we have at the meetings are usually the most interesting conversations I have all week. Regardless of the topic, they are always fascinating,” states
Carballeira. One student within the PEAK program states, “The PEAK environment feels fast-paced and are less focused on curriculum in comparison to our core classes. They also feel more focused on selfidentity, something other classes rarely hit.” Another student states, “I think it is beneficial for my future because we discuss a really wide and interesting range of topics that definitely apply to real life, and I think it is really important and beneficial to talk about these subject so openly as we do in Peak.” Students are selected to be part of the program during an identification process in elementary or middle school. To be selected into the program, students are identified as gifted in a subject or area through aptitude tests. If students perform in the top three percentile of all scholars, they are identified as PEAK. Another student within PEAK says, “I think I am gifted in my writing. Writing is a passion of mine and I think I should exercise that gift.” Students recognize the role PEAK plays for them as students. In his younger years, Carballeira struggled to engage in his classes. He describes himself as being “extremely bored, I had many behavior problems and teachers explained [topics] too many times so the other kids understood. That made me want to bang my head against the wall.” Carballeira says he might not have made it through school if it wasn’t for his PEAK program at the school he attended. PEAK provides gifted learners with supports they need as learners and teenagers. Carballeira continues to work hard to ensure the well-being of these PEAK students as they progress through their high school years.
3 Rampage January 2018
Teaching While Learning: RFHS Students go to CMS
-Lilly Peery
An RFHS World History class taught by Mr. Matthew Wells have joined forces with a CMS 5th grade class taught by Wells’ wife: Cathy Wells. Due to a similar curriculum between classes the two combined in the hopes of gaining a deeper knowledge of the information, and a sense of community for the two different age groups. The high school students are learning about and researching Columbus, which is synonymous with the current curriculum of the middle schoolers. The World History class students have been reading and citing documents in order to form an opinion on whether or not Columbus was a hero, or a villain. The students went to CMS to show the middle school students how to use texts to prove an idea, and through this, proved their knowledge of the subject. “Teaching something to someone else proves for a deeper knowledge of the text,” says Wells. RFHS sophomore Kira Ettelson, a student in Wells’ world history class, states that working with CMS students “helps us because we have to know exactly what we’re doing to know how to teach it.” In the past, Wells has taken other classes to work with middle school students because he believes that it is very beneficial for all of the students involved. He hopes that the CMS and RFHS students gain a content and skills element on the topic so that they are able to become better historians. According to a study published in a Time Magazine article, The Protegé Effect by Annie Murphy, teaching another person is the best way to truly know a topic. “Students enlisted to tutor others, these researchers have found, work harder to understand the material, recall it more accurately and apply it more effectively.” By bringing his students to work and teach at the middle school, Wells gives them the opportunity to teach while they learn. Wells also hopes that an element of community is introduced to the students by allowing the younger kids to catch a glimpse into the life of a high school student and connecting the different age groups through a common shared theme. While the two classes are simply joining forces, they are creating something important in the long run: a sense of community between schools and information on Columbus to last them a lifetime!
Girl’s Summit January 24th at the Carbondale Orchard Church from 1:30pm to 6:00pm All Girls are Welcome!
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Rampage | January 2018
2017 RFHS Highlights “When the pope got a new Lambo!” -Anonymous
“I went to Country Jam and my step sister was born.” -Logan Erickson
“I got to climb my first fourteener”-Kayla Henley “Spending time with people that love dancing.” “Finishing my guitar, and -Charlie Candela getting accepted to colleges.” “Cardi B. got a number -Camilo Guevara-Stone one Billboard hit.” -Anonymous “High school has been a bonus, because middle “When all the members school was awful.” of One Direction decided -Noah Wheeless to have a solo career and Zayn shaved his head.” “Memes.”-Anonymous -Anonymous “I fell in love for the first time.” -Owen O’Farrell “I went to Guatemala to learn Spanish, and my brother left for college.” -Lucia Penzel “I went to NYC and met a guy that looked exactly like Ed Sheeran.” -Rex Hamilton “Nick Penzel went to college.”-Ms. Goodman “I learned how to tell time”-Patrick Keleher “Having a little sister.” -Leslia Serrano “Hiking to a hidden waterfall with my girl.” -Bella Ulrych
Space Needle with the love of my life and drank Ginger Ale.” -Megan Rusby “I made some more friends”-Ruben Gomez “Definitely buying my truck”- Irving Anchondo “I found out my aunt no longer had cancer” -Travis Ochko
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trip out east.” -Zoe Hanlon “Stranger Things season 2”- Anonymous “The uncanny rise of the fidget spinner”-Anonymous “When Josh didn’t invite Drake to his wedding.” -Anonymous
“When Two Chainz broke his leg.” “The best thing was being -Anonymous out of school and travel“When the google search ing back east” for ‘My eyes hurt’ peaked - Frankie Harrington after the solar eclipse”“I got a new car.” Anonymous “I went to Spain” -Hannah Cole -Tasha Kotz “Ms. Grimes got a dog!” “I moved to Redstone.” -Ruby Fuller “I got accepted into Na-Sheija tional Honors Society” “Getting a scholarship to “I haven’t eaten a vegeta- - Josie Sanchez go to Berklee’s five week ble since Michelle Obama “I got dumped and can be music program.” was first Lady.” -Liam Laird free now” -Anonymous - Daniela Rivera “Gavin the meme kid “I bought my first car.” turned seven.” “Beyonce had twins” -Alejandra -Anonymous - Anonymous “I bought a new house.” “I made friends with the “The world realized that -Karina Antolin FBI agent who watches Trump is five” me through my computer -Anonymous “I survived my first year camera.” of high school.” -Anonymous “Rick and Morty came -Renee Bruell out”- Anonymous Disclaimer: the views of the “I am in the USA.” interviewees do not reflect “I went on a couple cool -Stefan Platzer the views of the Rampage. trips this summer, my dad and I did a college road “I went to the top of the
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Rampage | January 2018
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2018 RFHS Predictions
“In 2018, I predict that someone will find how to make dinosaurs, and will make dinosaurs and overthrow us with a dinosaur kingdom.” -Camilo Guevara-Stone
get better at its attendance, and our sports teams are going to do great.” -Sheija
“Robots are going to become so real.” -Bella Ulrych
“Dinosaurs are NOT going to come back to life.” -Patrick Keleher
“I think that North Korea and the U.S. are going to go to war.” -Noah Wheeless “WWIII with Kimmy over in the North Korea” -Aidan Knaus “I am looking forward to graduating and going somewhere else.” -Zoe Hanlon “Aliens are going to invade Earth, only to leave after meeting us.” -Anonymous “I am going to have a knee that doesn’t dislocate every two weeks.” -Rex Hamilton “Dinosaurs will come back to life” -Lucas Bensch “Our school is going to
“I will get into college.” -Logan Erickson
of 2017, 2018 will be a year of moving forward, and progressive thinking, and coming together, and hopefully a time to fulfill personal goals.” -Kayla Henley
letter from Hogwarts.” -Anonymous “The class of 2018 will live up to the legacy that they have been working on for 4 years.” -Ms. Goodman
“Donald Trump will get “I will get a raise, and abducted by aliens” there will be less acci-Josie Sanchez dents, people will love each other.” “Robots are going to “I bet that the movie -Karina Antolin take over. It’s going to 2012 is going to come to be wild.” life.” -Megan Rusby “Roaring Fork’s 100% -Lance Weidemann graduation streak will “We will discover a new “I hope that I become end #ClassOf2018” form of superpowers for fluent in English” -Kloe Lee people.” -Gabe Swift -Stefan Platzer “Oprah’s going to an“The best senior prank nounce that she’s run“I will get my drivers will happen.” ning for president” license back” -Charlie Candela -Anonymous - Irving Anchondo “I think Lil Pump’s fame will fade.” -Liam Laird “There will be less discrimination.” -Alejandra “I will marry Dylan O’Brien” -Anonymous “The pentagon is going to admit they are still looking for aliens.” -Tyler Gruel “I want to think that with all of the ‘vibes’
“Tensions with North Korea are going to get worse, and Trump will get impeached.” -Shaun Teitler “I predict that I’m going to get abducted by aliens, probably” -Travis Ochko
“Elon Musk is going to run the world” -Anonymous “Mr. Henstchel will become president” -Anonymous “I am going to meet Beyonce.” -Lucia Penzel
“I predict that Facebook will read my mind and give me ads for things I have never even googles; wait, it already does!” “I will finally receive my -Anonymous “I am going to get accepted to Monsters University” - Anonymous
Opinion
6 Rampage January 2018
SAT: A Life Defining Test for Students
-Colin Shapard
Doing well on the SAT opens up many opportunities for students, such as opening doors to financial aid and helping students get into prestigious schools. However, opportunities are not the only things that the SAT opens the door to. This test also creates a deprived subculture consisting of anxiety, deprivation, and a need, not simply a want, but a self-pressure driven need to succeed. The SAT is thought of as a test that measures a student’s knowledge and how well they are going to do in college. However, time and time again, it has been proven that all The SAT measures is a student’s aptitude for taking tests or their family’s money. With the national average on The SAT being 1000 out of a possible 1600 (a survey done by Times Magazine), is it really a surprise that a student becomes doubtful and apprehensive of their futures? Especially when it comes to a test that is created not to challenge, but trick them. The pressure that coincides with SAT season can push students to learn more and study harder than they have ever before. While talking to Mrs. Caruso, a college counsellor at Roaring Fork High School, she explains that the SAT helps students choose what they want, no matter the setbacks that have been placed before them. This is true for many students, but is not true for all. For some students, running themselves into the ground to achieve the highest score feels like the only option because of the want to be the best. But does that truly make them the best? How many times have you heard “getting a good score is how you get into a good school?” After hearing this phrase time and again, a notion that working hard, getting good grades, and being accepted into a quality college will
make students happier in the long run. The test stress culture created by this notion has become damaging to students and their peers. Many students are driven by fear and trepidation that’s derived from getting the best scores and grades possible rather than truly learning or gaining knowledge. This leads to many astoundingly unhealthy behaviors for
my hands on. I’d normally rail it at school, maybe once or twice, and then when I got home. It helped me work and get things done.” She felt overwhelmed and pressured as her parents had spent hundreds on SAT prep just so she could get the highest score. When asked why she went to such an extreme she started to tear up as she explained “I didn’t want to fall behind the curve.” This shows the kind of emotional toll that the SAT preparation alone has taken on her. Coupled with pressures to perform that were placed upon her, she felt no choice but to self medicate to keep going. The SAT should be a test to simply show a student’s knowledge and giving opportunities those who may not have many. However, it has evolved into a beast if its own. The SAT has humanized students down to numbers and scores, whilst giving opportunities to only those who can afford it.
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS! 1997-2017 Courtesy Photo
some teens such as: sleep deprivation, drug use, eating disorders, and many more. All of these can take a drastic toll on a person. An example of this is Piper, an honors student and junior from a highly competitive high school. “It [The SAT and the competitive life style that coincides] takes away from the teenage experience,” she says, talking about her own struggles. She paints a vivid image of how life changed as she was preparing for the SATs : “I used Adderall, Ritalin, and some opiate or opioid or something. I ended up crushing and railing anything I could get
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Surveys Going Towards a Better Experience
-Tomas Bensch
In the month of December, the students of Roaring Fork High School partook in the Panorama survey, a survey meant to elevate the students’ and teachers’ experiences in school. Teachers can view the students’ feedback, and then improve their practices based off the results. Since the Panorama survey is anonymous, it encourages students to provide honest answers and therefore teachers can focus their reflection and improvement on specific areas of instruction and interaction. The Panorama survey isn’t only centered around teachers though; the survey also asks how students feel in school in regards to safety, mental health, etc. The survey is beneficial to the school because it improves the school’s environment, encourages students to speak up about problems, and helps teachers to improve their instruction. The Panorama surveys help both students and teachers in multiple ways. The surveys allow students to share and show their specific learning styles. Science and health teacher Rachel Cooper believes that the Panorama surveys give students a voice and that when students can communicate with their teachers, their learning will improve. One thing that Cooper believes that the Panorama surveys should improve is the wording of their questions she explains that “...the questions have no middle answer because the middle answer is portrayed as negative”. If a student chooses “somewhat” as a response, it counts against
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the teacher negatively. Students need to fully recognize this in order to respond appropriately. Almost every student partook in completing the Panorama Survey including Wyatt Benesh, a freshmen coming from the Marble Charter School. Benesh thinks that the most important part of the Panorama surveys is the fact that they’re anonymous. He says “...people would answer the questions dishonestly, and provide teachers with skewed answers” if they had their names attached to it. Special Education teacher Dustin Smart thinks the same as Benesh. He states that if he were a student completing this survey and it were not anonymous, he might be concerned about a teacher being vengeful regarding the responses. Because it is anonymous, students can feel more
confident about responding truthfully. Benesh said that if he could change one thing about the surveys it would be the fact that they do not include a “no opinion” answer. RFHS staff want to continue using these Panorama Surveys in the future until a better system is created. They help show student voice, which is lacking in some schools. In general, Roaring Fork teachers believe that is a good system with a few flaws.
Sports RFHS Boys Basketball Team is Looking Strong
-Ralph Good
Despite opening the 2017-2018 campaign with a accomplish.” heartbreaking loss, the Rams Boys Basketball team Coach Larry Williams and his talented staff are has bounced back, and looks to be one of the teams a big reason why this group is poised to compete to beat in the Class 3A against the best teams in Western Slope League. the state. “They make The Rams have a long sure we put in work evtradition of excellence in eryday,” said Thompson, basketball, and this season “Everyday we don’t put is not going to be an the work in our opponents exception. are getting better than us.” Even though games Aside from hard work, the just started, this team has coaching staff always emalready secured its second phasizes the importance crown in the Trace Young of acting with class, and Memorial Basketball executing impenetrable Tournament. In doing defense. “It is hard for so the Rams managed teams to score on us,” to embarrass every team Thompson said proudly, they met, outscoring their “We get out there and husopponents 205-113 over tle every play, that’s why the course of three games. we are so successful.” Arguably their best win Roaring Fork Baswas in the championketball embodies what it ship game versus Weld means to be a Ram. They Central. The Rams team have high expectations, leadership got the job the urge to give it their done in this game, as all, and the ability to give Justin Thompson and Joe Roaring Fork students Salinas turned in impressomething to cheer for. sive performances in the It seems normal to have 83-40 rout of the host. them in the playoffs and Early success has set doing well, as they haven’t the stage for a long and been absent from the successful season, and this CHSAA Class 3A BasketCourtesy Photo of Justin Thompson very talented group has ball Tournament in many their sights set high. “Our years. This year seems to be no goals are to win league and make a deep run into different. With all the hustle and hard work these the state tournament,” said senior captain Justin boys are putting in, our league rivals better watch Thompson. “We work hard everyday, so we dont out, because the Rams are coming for them, and we cheat ourselves out of what we know this team can are stronger than ever.
7 Rampage January 2018 Remaining Roaring Fork Basketball Schedule (Boys and Girls, JV and Varsity) 1/20 @ Grand Valley 1/23 vs. Coal Ridge 1/26 vs. Moffat County 2/2 @ Basalt 2/3 vs. Olathe 2/9 vs. Gunnison 2/10 vs. Delta 2/13 @ Vail Christian 2/16 @ Cedaredge 2/17 vs Aspen Playoffs TBD (According to Roaring Fork High School)
District Tournament not out of Sight for RFHS Girls Basketball -Frankie Harrington
The Roaring Fork girls’ basketball team hopes to make it to the district tournament this year through hard work and focus during practice and games. As of January 12th, the team has a record of 5-3, and are 1-1 in league play. The team is comprised of mainly juniors and sophomores, but that does not affect the belief that they can make it “the distance” this year. This year’s varsity captains, senior Megan Nieslanik and junior Logan Erickson have started the team’s season off strong. “They’ve done a great job so far this year,” said Head Coach Jade Bath. “They are leaders with their words but also their actions, both on and off the court.” The Captain is very important to a team; they are leaders and are looked up to by the players. The team’s excellent start is not completely shadowed by their performance in practices. Bath believes the team can improve their abilities during practice. “I think right now we are not really practicing at game speed…If you want to succeed in a game you have to practice and have a routine so when a game
comes, it almost comes easy to you.” The players recognize what needs to be done in practice in order to improve and get better. “Our practice mentality is to have fun, but work hard and get done what needs to get done,” said junior Kendall Bernot. The team has the support of a solid coaching staff. Bath is joined by Humberto “Pumpkin” Murillo who coaches the JV team, and Kenya Pinela who coaches C team. “Jade’s a great coach, and Pumpkin is a great coach for JV, and Kenya is awesome as well. They’re all great,” said Erickson. Coach Bath added, “Kenya does a great job keeping the girls engaged and teaching them the fundamentals, and Pumpkin does a really good job with the JV program and does a really good job getting the girls ready to play at the next level. Those two contribute to the program and make it what is is.” The coaches make playing enjoyable, but also keep players working hard and focused on expanding their skills. The team strongly believes they can make it to the district tournament this year. Coach Bath also wants to make a run this year to put “girls basket-
ball back on the map for Roaring Fork.” The last time the girls basketball team made it to the district tournament was the 2012-2013 season. “The special thing about this team is that we never give up,” said sophomore Isabella Hernandez. “I think we are very capable of going far this year. We are a young team so we need to work hard, but there is so much potential for this year and future years.” The girls’ basketball team encourages students to come and support their games this year. Erickson stated, “I think we’re going to be really good this year, so I hope people come out and support us.” Bernot added, “Even though most people may not think we are any better than last year, it would mean a lot if they came out and supported us, because we are working extremely hard.” Fans can help a team play their hardest, so get out there and support your Roaring Fork Girls Basketball Team. As for departing senior Nieslanik, the team hopes that this year will be her favorite year of playing basketball, and they hope she has many great memories to take with her.
Entertainment Gems Of The Valley: The Winter X-Games -Ruby Fuller
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December Horoscopes
-Tyler Gruel
Aquarius - January 20 - February 18 Feeling lost? Like you have no goal in life? Like you’re covered in dirt and wet leaves? Like you’re an earthworm? Are you an earthworm? Kinda sounds like you’re an earthworm, actually.
Editors in Chief
Aries - March 21 - April 19 Vehicular arson is not the answer, Aries, put the gas can down. Put it down, Aries. Put. It. Down.
Editorial Staff
Aspen X-Games: Winter sports and music is hosted at Buttermilk Mountain January 25th-28th, filled with other many fun activities. Marshmello, Martin Garrix and Method Man & Redman is the musical lineup for the weekend, while many professional skiers, snowboarders, and snowmobilers will be competing for the gold medal. How to Get There: Buttermilk Ski Area - Aspen Skiing Company, 38700 CO-82, Aspen, CO 81611
Cancer - June 22 - July 22 At one point you were able to find the answers in dead leaves, breath on cold glass, bathtubs, and bottles. This time around get creative.
What to do: Grab your friends and head to buttermilk for a fun weekend. You might even run into one of the professional athletes.
Leo - July 23 - August 22 Bring a new attitude with the new year, Leo. Remember that there are plenty of fish in the sea, some of them just happen to be imbibed with mercury.
Gemini - May 21 - June 21 Embrace the inevitable. Snuggle with the inevitable. Take the inevitable out to a nice, candle-lit dinner. Propose to the inevitable too soon and scare it off, forcing you to live alone, continuously asking yourself what went wrong.
Virgo - August 23 - September 22 “You can’t get blood from a turnip Virgo. Listen you need some blood? I can totally get you some blood. Set that turnip down and follow me to the blood. There’s a lot of blood.” Libra - September 23 - October 22 The stars would like to remind you that the aftermath of your life affords you three real options: obscurity, legend, or horror story. Scorpio - October 23 - November 21 Having relationship trouble, Scorpio? Here’s a helpful tip: some relationships are like warts in that they can be handled with the tactful application of liquid nitrogen. Sagittarius - November 22 - December 21 Self-reflection is an important part of moving forward! Whether you like what you see is up for debate. Whether it can be contained in a dark basement is another matter entirely. Capricorn - December 22 - January 19 In time you’ll learn that “just” and “right” only mean the same thing when they’re coming from specific people. We’re sorry, Capricorn.
Heard in the Hallways “You guys are proper nouns, act like it.”
RFHS Blood Drive
January
31st
Rampage Staff
Pisces - February 19 - March 20 As a new year dawns for you, you’ll come to the realization that even when you may not want to change, the world is does not work around your desires and often will do it for you anyway. Learn how to change rigid ideals to bend with the change so that it cannot break you.
Taurus - April 20 - May 20 Let the record show that they were ill-equipped to deal with you, which is not at all surprising, since you’re unequipped to deal with you.
Words to the Wise: Don’t even attempt to find parking unless you’re okay will a very long walk or you get a spot super early! Even without X-Games taking place, Aspen is never an easy place to find parking. Try taking the bus, RFTA is very consistent stopping at many places up and down the valley. Its very helpful the entire weekend and makes the transportation safe and easy.
8 Rampage January 2018
“The second I get a wrinkle I’m either going to get botox or killing myself ”
Iliana Castillon Kloe Lee
Feature Editor Lilly Peery News Editor Ruby Fuller Focus Editor Hannah Bingaman Chelsey Serrano Sports Editor Ralph Good Frankie Harrington Entertainment Editor Tyler Gruel Daniela Rivera Copy Editors Hannah Bingaman Tyler Gruel Lilly Peery Chelsey Serrano
Journalists Tomas Bensch Ruthie Brown Daniel Cortes Josie Sanchez Colin Shapard Peyton Sherman Lucy Meade Policy Statement: Published 7 times a year, the student newspaper of Roaring Fork High School is a public forum, with its students editorial board making all decisions concerning its content. Unsigned editorials express the views of the majority of the editorial board.