WHEN RHS SPEAKS WE
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A Dance TO ATTEND
Homecoming returns October 16. The theme is “There’s no place like Homecoming.”
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A Show to see
RHS Drama Department is putting on Shuddersome: Tales of Poe See SHUDDERSOME, page 8
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News to Know
Drum major Morgan Korich drums up excitement for the band’s competition season. See DRUM MAJOR, page 3
Learn about RPS’s lack of substitutes and other staff. See STAFF, page 3
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Clubs to CONSIDER
Read about new and returning clubs. See CLUBS, page 4
Follow us on social media @rhsechonews or visit our website at rhsecho.com.
Photo submitted by Leslie Yoakum
Close friends remember Ciarra Martens By Mallory Moats
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Web Master
iarra Martens passed away in a car accident on July 13, 2021 at the age of 16. The rising Rolla High School junior was an active participant in the track and band program and was greatly loved by her friends and family. RHS senior Reganne Briggs' first memory of Martens captures her essence. “I had a really tough family situation going on, and it made me really depressed at the end of my junior year,” said Briggs. “I was going to the bathroom to cry for like the fifth time that morning. When I went in there, my makeup was smearing, and I came out of the stall, and Ciarra was standing there. I didn’t really know her at the time, but she saw me crying and immediately went to me and asked if I was good. Even though we didn’t really know each other at the time, it meant a lot to me because I just needed someone to ask me if I was okay. She talked me through it, and told me class can wait because your mental health comes first. As a student who is constantly trying to do my best, it is really hard to consider my mental health sometimes. That’s my most vivid memory of Ciarra.” Martens’ passionate spirit was evident in all parts of her life in the way she was always looking for new things to try and do. “At least two or three times a month, we would all [Martens, Emily Yoakum, Violet Yoakum, and Briggs] go after school to our house, and we would just watch a movie,” said Senior Emily Yoakum, one of Martens’ close friends, “[But,] we would never end up finishing it. We would always think, ‘oh let’s make some cookie dough’, or ‘let’s do this’. Whenever we all hung out, we would get distracted by something. ‘Let’s work on our eyeshadow’ or ‘let’s play a board game’. We never finished a board game. We couldn’t ever finish our plans. They would go off the rails.” Martens loved to do makeup and hair, especially eyeshadow. “She loved doing eyeshadow,” said Emily Yoakum. “Everytime I would go on a date or go to a dance, she would have to do my eyeshadow. It would be all the way up to my eyebrows, but she always made it look
good.” Martens either wanted to pursue a career in criminology or cosmetology. “She wanted to major in criminology,” said Emily Yoakum. “She watched so much Criminal Minds. She had a huge crush on Reid. He’s one of the investigators. But, then she also wanted to do cosmetology. She was stuck between those two things. I told her she should follow cosmetology because she was really good at her hair and eyeshadow. She loved it.” All three girls described Martens as empathetic and someone who put others' needs before her own. “She was a very caring person,” said Briggs, “I went to one of their [the Yoakums’] Halloween parties, and at one point we were running through the woods and the thickets, and Violet hurt her legs. When Ciarra noticed, she was immediately right over to Violet wanting to know if she was okay.” This was despite the giant cuts Martens had herself. “She was not at all worried about herself,” said Junior Violet Yoakum, “She could care less. She wanted to know if I was okay.” Martens' caring personality translated to all aspects of her friends' lives no matter the topic. “I remember when I first delved into heavy metal, she did not share the music taste,” said Violet Yoakum. “But, I told her I kind of had an interest in it, and she wanted to know all about it. She was very interested in other people’s lives.” Martens entered the Yoakums’ lives at an early age, leading to years of friendship with the girls. “Violet and Ciarra met in Mrs. Hoffman’s kindergarten class at Truman,” said Leslie Yoakum, Violet and Emily’s mom. “That’s where I met her because I would volunteer there once a week. Sometimes, she [Mrs. Hoffman] would have all the kids come back, and have me do something with each little kid. I didn’t know Violet and Ciarra were friends, but for some reason Ciarra just struck me. I thought I wanted
to babysit them, and we were going to be the two super cool aunts. She wanted me to be an honorary aunt. She would talk about this all the time, and would say, ‘We’re going to be the best babysitters, they’re going to love us so fricking much.’ She was very aggressive in the way she loved people.” Martens nurturing love radiated off her. “Her outgoingness, it was intimidating because it was so bright,” said Briggs. “Her kindness and just her personality in general, it came on to me really strong. She was awesome. She made me laugh every time I was around her. She always had something to say or to talk about.” Violet Yoakum thinks Martens wouldn’t want them to mourn but instead celebrate what they had. “I think she would tell the rest of us to move forward,” said Violet Yoakum.
See Martens Page 4
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LEtter from the editor RHS ECHO
‘ve taken to writing in a journal this summer. Most of the time not every day. Not every week either, but when I feel I should. There is something therapeutic about handwriting my thoughts down. The process of dotting each individual i and crossing every single t gives me some weird sense of peace, no matter what I’m writing. Sometimes my entries are vivid in detail and describe my day. Other times, I write more silly things, such as a short little drabble about my favorite movie of the moment (which is Clueless, by the way). I make lists, too. I have one for movies I would like to watch. Another for books I want to read. And then there is my ever growing list of things to do. Occasionally, I’ll doodle. Let me assure you, I am no artist. Hopefully said doodles will never reach the light of day. Unfortunately, I frequently find myself forgetting about my leather bound notebook or neglecting to fill the numerous empty pages left. Normally, this is due to my poor mindset of thinking about it as a chore. But when I finally pick it up to write again– I’m always filled with that same sense of undisturbed tranquility, because everything I write is 100% honest. Honesty is an important quality to me, as I’m sure it is for many other people.
paper we can. The editors do their best to fact check all the articles by reading over them time and time again. The reporters record their interviews, so we can have the most accurate quotes possible. We genuinely strive to make sure that what leaves room 302 is true and fair. It’s my duty as Editor-in-Chief this year to promise honesty to the loyal readers of ECHO newspapers and magazines, just like the issues that have been provided in years past.
Even if I’m writing a piece that I know will never reach the spotlight, I am always honest. The other writers of ECHO are expected to be completely honest, also. We work collaboratively to provide the most honest
Meet the 2021 ECHO Staff! Pictured (from left to right): Top row: Haylen Jackson, Quinn Guffey, Lana Simpson, Nathaniel Jackson, Connor Lamora, Angela Yang, Samantha Maddux Bottom row: Kyra Ray, Meghan Williams, Helen Weiss, Hannah Puetz, Mallory Moats
ACROSS 4. The year you enter high school (9th grade) 5. Name of the school paper 7. The room where a class is held 10. Tells you when and where your classes are 11. Leaders that help with freshman orinetation 13. What you need to leave a classroom 14. The Rolla High School color that is not gray DOWN 1. The color of the school mascot 2. The last name of the RHS principal 3. The name of the yearbook 6. The sport where you can score a touchdown 8. The last name of the new band director 9. The school mascot 10. The sport where you can’t use your hands 12. The class where you can act
Sept. 29, 2021
Crossword
By Angela Yang & Hannah Puetz
NEWS
SEPT. 29, 2021
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RHS ECHO
Districtwide staff shortage impacts RHS
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ver the past two years, COVID-19 has continuously brought trouble to the Rolla Schools District. Currently, a worker shortage is affecting businesses and organizations all across the country, and here is no exception. How is this off-shoot effect of the pandemic affecting RPS? By far, the hardest hit areas in the district have been support staff - janitors, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, substitutes, and so on. Tammie Maddux, a food service assistant at the Junior High, expressed her point of view: “I work mostly at the Junior High in the cafeteria, and we aren’t hiring any new people. So, whenever we lose somebody, they don’t get replaced. And so we’re short like two people all the time.” This state of being understaffed is mirrored throughout all the schools, and it gets worse if someone is gone and needs a temporary replacement. “We have no substitutes,” Maddux explained. “At least once a week, I get pulled out to go to a different school. Well, then that makes our school extra short.” When such occurrences happen, there are two options: either find a nonexistent substitute for that building, or deal with an
even more compounded work load. Neither fully addresses the issue, but instead creates a cycle of stress, as no building ever has enough workers. The situation applies to other areas of employment as well. “I know the janitorial staff has been affected at the Junior High,” noted Maddux. “A couple of employees over the past couple years have had [COVID], and were out for several weeks at a time. And they don’t have replacements either.” Dr. Jim Pritchett, the high school principal, stated, “It taxes the system when a teacher is sick, or a support staff person, a secretary, a custodian, cafeteria worker, bus driver - when they’re sick, if we don’t have adequate people to fill in, that creates a problem.” Substitute teachers are also desperately needed across the district. During previous years, available subs for all the schools ranged around 100, while now they barely reach 50. This grave reduction has led to spaces being somewhat unusually filled. “[The school] tries to find other substitutes first is my understanding,” Shannon Englebrecht, an art teacher at the highschool said. “The secretary that is organizing our subs will work with other buildings and call people. As a last resort, they’ll ask teachers to step in. [...] Usually, if it’s down to a teacher subbing for another teacher the day of, it’s more of an emergency type
Teachers adjust to schedule shuf es T his year at Rolla High School, many teachers are teaching new classes for the first time, or dusting off one of the subjects they used to teach. Teachers often have a prep period for every class they teach, but during the day there is only one prep period for all of their subjects.. James Rinehart, a history teacher, has started teaching AP U.S. History- a new subject for him. “A lot of my prep hour is going into this AP course. And I’m doing things at night, where if it was just teaching ninth grade history, Winning the West, and Civil War, I’ve done those for years. I’m not doing anything for them,” said Rinehart. English teacher, Natasha Green, teaches multiple English classes over the course of the year. “I haven’t taught English II since about 2017. I picked that one back up. I’ve been teaching AP Lang, and I started teaching Creative Writing again, [since] last year. I’ve been teaching Science Fiction and Mythology for a while.” Rinehart spoke on the challenge of teaching college level classes as a reason for the switch. “Really, Mrs. Jarrett just kind of wanted a break from teaching college level courses,” said Rinehart. “It’s kind of hard. It’s not easy if you do it right, which we all try to do.” Green, who is switching, said, “I will drop Creative Writing, and I’ll pick up a Novels class. Then I will drop Science Fiction and pick up Graphic Novels. I’ll have seven different classes that I’m teaching this year total, over the course of the year.” Rinehart explained why these classes switch sometimes. “Sometimes, like this year, I have a whole bunch of Winning the West, because everybody signed up to [take it],” said Rinehart. “And so I feel I have [lots of different] sessions, where in certain years, I may only have one or two. [Because of this] we do end up rotating and teaching different courses sometimes because of that.” It is clear that Green is going to do the work, no matter what, to go above and beyond for her students in order to keep the course’s curriculum unique and her own. “I’m just not content to leave it as it is. I’m always trying to find a new way to either give [work], or maybe another
activity, or some way to make it interactive where they can discuss and bring out their opinions. I’m still, you know, always trying to decide, ‘Okay, well what’s best for this semester? What’s going to work with the theme that we have going is my class?’ So, it was just always again kind of going back to figuring out what kind of students I have and where their needs are and what’s going to fit in [the curriculum].”
situation.” This is exactly what happened to Engelbrecht. “I responded to the email, ‘I’d love to help as long as it’s not a math class,’ knowing full well, it was probably going to be a math class. [...] It was more of a Murphy’s Law type of thing. The one subject that I’m not good at - I knew it would be math.” Dr. Pritchett might even lend a hand, if needed. “I might have to go teach a class sometime, or Dr. Grisham, or Mr. Smith, you know, and then that takes us away from doing what we have to be doing,” Pritchett said. “If there’s a teacher sick, and we can’t get a substitute, it means that we’ll have to get maybe a different teacher in the classroom every hour to fill that.” Such an encompassing problem can’t be fixed as easily as hiring more people, however, because there simply aren’t enough people applying to be hired. “Our application pool is very slim,” Dr. Pritchett noted. As to why this is the case, there is only speculation. “Why can’t fast food places and whatnot, why can they not get enough people either?” asked Pritchett. He then expanded, suggesting that, “People with health concerns who normally would work might not be working right now, because of the health risk [...] It seems like people are
just more cautious especially if they have health issues or if they live with someone [with health issues]. Maybe I’m completely healthy, but someone in my home [is not]. And I have to be careful of what I would bring back to them.” Engelbrecht also thought that the pandemic made people more hesitant to work in such a high-risk environment. “I think that COVID does create almost a roadblock to people just saying, ‘Yes, I want to sub,’” she noted. Meanwhile, for anyone willing and able to help ease the situation in the school district, Dr. Pritchett does suggest applying to become a substitute teacher. On the other hand, people without enough experience can still show appreciation and gratitude to the support staff across the school system as they work to keep the district functioning. “There’s two ways that people can become a substitute: You have to have 60 college credit hours, basically two years of college - that’s one way. Because of the shortage, the state also developed a training program that students who have a high school diploma can go through and then get approved to substitute teach. We’ve had a couple of 2020 graduates who were in their freshman year of college take the training, pass it, and then substitute.”
Drum major gets excited for beginning of season
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Pride Night Pictures:
The RHS color guard performs the ght song. Photo by Quinn Guffey.
Drum line tediously keeps the beat. Photo by Quinn Guffey.
Drum majors Charlee Sharpsteen and Morgan Korich prepare to conduct band. Photo by Quinn Guffey
FEATURES
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RHS ECHO
Sept. 29, 2021
Close friends remember Ciarra Martens
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olla High School is full of activities for every kind of interest, whether academic, occupational, or recreational. There are many new and returning clubs every year, so see if there’s one that fits you! This year, RHS is welcoming a new Computer Science Club, as well as the returning Bulldog Miscellaneous Adventures, Chess, and Science Olympiad clubs.
Science Olympiad
If you’re interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and have a knack for competition, then Science Olympiad is the club for you. The Science Olympiad organization hosts annual competitions across the nation that challenge your abilities to think quickly and logically, solve puzzles, and work either by yourself or with a team. As described by club co-president, senior Yahya Elgawady, “There are competitions ranging from events like building bridges to chemistry labs. It really encompasses the science field as a whole, it really gives people a good introduction to any sciences.” The club is returning after a two-year break from participating in competition, and they’re planning on coming back with more frequent meetings and better preparation. “The plan is to have more regular meetings, so that we can do Science Olympiad properly and really be prepared to come back and come back strong. It feels like a rebuilding [...] because I know that a lot of clubs were like, super low-maintenance last year because of the lack of everything. And so I think having a regular schedule will help bring us back to where we were pre-COVID,” said Elgawady. Co-president Anish Jagannathan added, “I think our main goal right now is [...] to bring back membership, because I know [...] a lot of the new freshmen this year and sophomores as well just didn’t know the club existed because it wasn’t really brought up. So just getting the word out, making sure everyone is aware: Science Olympiad is back and better.” There are many different types of events that you can partake in. Science teacher Dr. Keith Peterson, the sponsor of the club, shared one of his favorite events, “Write It, Do It.” “You go in, you look at a structure, then you have to come up with instructions on how to build that particular structure. You take it apart and then your partner comes in just with the instructions that you’ve written, and has to build that structure. It’s really about creativity, along with problem solving, teamwork, and engineering capabilities as well,” said Dr. Peterson. Elgawady brings light to team bonding and friendships made in this club. “The cool thing about Science Olympiad is the group and, you know, just the camaraderie and the friendships you make along the way. [...] Going to the competition with the people that you go to school with, running to an event that you weren’t scheduled for, or just going to the events and walking, enjoying your morning with your friends, eating lunch together - all of that really builds us as a team,” said Elgawady. As for any requirements that the club is looking for, Elgawady only had this to say: “We’re looking for curiosity.”
Photo submitted by Yahya Elgawady
By Angela Yang & Lana Simpson Staff Reporters
Computer Science Club
Computer Science Club is a brand new club coming to RHS this year, led by seniors Yahya Elgawady and Anish Jagannathan, who are also the presidents of Science Olympiad. This is a club open to anyone and everyone, no matter their technological skill level. “It’s a great club for all levels. I think a lot of times you’re intimidated by programming, so the main goal is to help people feel more comfortable with it,” said science teacher Dr. Keith Perterson, the club’s sponsor. “A lot of people are intimidated by the fact that they think they’re not smart enough for computer science clubs,” Jagannathan said, “so we want to let people know that it allows for any variety of levels. If you’ve never even touched a computer before, you can still learn how to program and start from square one.” The main focus of the club will be improving members’ skills through a semester-long project that everyone will work on. “You put little pieces together and you get this big project that’s going to be like this console style game. And so you’re going to build all these skills by the end of the semester, and you’ll know how to get everything from start to finish,” Jagannanthan said.. The project, called Dragon Quest, will consist of multiple puzzles that the player must solve in order to achieve their final goal - saving a pet, princess, friend, or whomever. Students will program challenges like tic-tac-toe, chess, and a final boss for the player to defeat. A big goal for the club is to make sure that everyone is on equal footing. “Everyone gets help and support,” said Dr. Peterson. “I’m excited to see people feel like they’ve accomplished something.” “Again, with programming, you want to start everyone from square one, it doesn’t matter how much knowledge they have about it. It just matters that they’re attempting to engage in the process. That way, they can actually learn and understand it,” said Jagannathan. With help available at every step, students are bound to see progress throughout the semester. Plus, the applications of learning a coding language doesn’t have to stop in high school. “That’s one of the benefits of the field of computer sciences,” Jagannathan said, “It’s applicable to any field you want to go to. Whether you want to go into the arts or research, whatever you want to do, it’s really good to have at least one language that you know. So, any student can come in here and learn something and then take it and apply it to their field of interest.” Meanwhile, Elgawady’s main motivation for creating the club is to share his love for computer science. “I want to be a computer science major, so I’m really passionate about introducing new students to this world that I’ve grown to love over the past five years,” Elgawady said as a final note. The Computer Science club will be meeting for an hour every week on Thursdays, and Dr. Peterson is open to any questions students might have. RHS is full of clubs and activities suited to every interest. Even if none of the new clubs fit your aspirations, you are certain to find one that is right for you. Joining extracurriculars is a great way to expand your interests as well as to meet new people. If you have an idea for a possible club, don’t be afraid to talk to your peers, teachers and faculty. Perhaps your dream will become a reality.
From Page 1 “We had talks about this sometimes, and she would say, ‘When I die, I don’t want people to be sad, but I want them to strictly remember the good and move forward in a way that would be honoring to me.’” For her group of friends, the moving forward and honoring looks slightly different for each, but it all ties back to the essence of Martens’ character. “I’ve never been the most outgoing person,” said Violet Yoakum. “I’m nice when someone else takes the first step, but Ciar-
ra would always be the first person to take that step. I’ve tried to be more outgoing and more forceful with that because that was the thing I liked about her the most. I feel I’m honoring her by trying to mimic the way she lived her life.” If Briggs could have spoken to Martens one more time, she would have expressed appreciation for their budding friendship. “I would have really told her I loved her because I did,” said Briggs. “When I got to know her more, I would get this feeling in my chest that I wanted this person to be one of my best friends. Right when I was feeling that, Ciarra passed away, and I never got to tell her that I cared about her and wanted to get to know her more. I probably would have said that I loved her and that I considered her one of my close to best friends. I would have told her thank you because I never said thank you to her for cheering me up when I needed her to or when she wanted to. She wanted to help people feel better. To me, moving on is helping people like she would have.”
Rolla High School counselors are available to all students at bit.ly/RHS_Counselors
Photo submitted by Leslie Yoakum
Chess Club
Rolla High School’s Chess Club, sponsored by history teacher Michael Ellis and led by senior Thomas Emory, is returning for the 21-22 school year after taking a gap year. “After Helen Leventis (the previous president) graduated, we didn’t do it last year. I think a lot of it also had to do with COVID,” stated Ellis. Allowing members to lead the club activities is an important factor to Ellis. “I want to be part of it, but I want it to also be led by the students. I think it’s nice to give them, you know, the ability to do that and I think the kids like it,”said Ellis. “I enjoy chess; I think it’s a fun game and it was a good way to pass time when I was in quarantine. It’s definitely a fun way to pass some time and have some fun,” said Emory, club president. When Emory was asked about the gap year, he had a few things to say. “We didn’t have a club for an entire year, and that’s kind of disappointing for people who like chess. It might be the same thing since I’m a senior; it might dissipate after I leave again, but hopefully I can find some apprentices because I think we could get a really good club here,” said Emory. Both Emory and Ellis are very eager to welcome anyone interested in chess, whether they are experienced or not. “I would not care if you’ve never touched a chessboard in your life,” said Emory, “It’s a place to learn to play chess.” Ellis echoed Emory’s sentiment., “Last time there was a couple of other people who had never played in their life, but they wanted to try it, so they came and they tried it and they really liked it.” Emory is also ready to teach anyone who needs guidance. “We’ll come in and do some lessons in the beginning for people who don’t know how to play chess very well, like for the first half, teach the people who don’t know how to play some basics. Then [we’ll] let them play the other half, and just keep doing that until eventually they develop the basics,” said Emory. Chess club plans to meet every Thursday from 3:15 to 4:15 in room 246, so if you are interested in learning and playing chess, feel free to show up and try it out. “I just look forward to everyone coming,” said Emory. “Don’t be afraid to show up because nobody’s going to judge you, we were all bad at one point. It just takes time to learn.”
Bulldog Misc. Adventures
After a rocky year, Bulldog Miscellaneous Adventures is back and receiving new members with open arms. Led by librarian Jessie Kirkbride and history teacher Samantha Kaysinger, this club is for students who enjoy experiencing the outdoors. “Bulldog Misc. Adventures is all about getting outside and enjoying some of our local parks and waterways, through hiking, fishing, canoeing, biking, rock climbing--whatever we want to do!” said Kirkbride. COVID-19 played a big part in Misc. Adventures’ decision to take a hiatus. “We met a few times at the beginning of the year, with about 10 members, but as the year continued (and quarantine numbers surged) attendance dropped significantly, and then no one was signing up to attend any outings,” said Kirkbride. Kirkbride is excited to meet new members. “I would love to add several more members this year as well as some new locations to visit,” said Kirkbride. “We don’t have a set day that we meet,” said Kirkbride, “but we try to work with everyone’s schedules and activities. Our trips are typically right after school until dark, with one or two trips that are farther away and require a bus ride.” A typical meeting for Miscellaneous Adventures is far from typical, due to their wide variety of adventures. “Before any adventure, I introduce it with an agenda that includes: how far it is, the level of difficulty, and suggestions for clothing and food/water,” said Kirkbride. If you are interested in joining, head to the library or history hallway to chat with Kirkbride or Kaysinger. “We started the club with over 30 members a few years ago, and now it feels like we are starting over with recruiting. I would encourage anyone that is interested to chat with us about what to expect,” said Kirkbride, addressing the drop in members. The club is expecting plenty of new members this year, so no one should feel left out or ostracized due to lack of experience. No matter your skill level, as long as you are open to new experiences, you are sure to enjoy the Misc. Adventures club. Misc. Adventures is a wonderful club for anyone who is inclined to step out of their comfort zone, and it does not require any experience. “Anyone can join! We’ve had members more experienced than the sponsors and some just trying it out to see if they will like it [...] during the first few trips, we are usually focused on assessing the experience of our members to help us plan for future outings,” said Kirkbride.
Sept. 29, 2021
FEATURES RHS ECHO
By Helen Weiss
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Feature Editor
tarting high school can be a daunting situation for all students, with or without siblings. Some students live in their siblings’ shadows or have an expected path they must follow paved by their siblings. Kathrine “Kate” Van Hoose is a senior with two older brothers, Tom and Tim. When Van hoose still entered high school, the legacy they have left has affected how people perceive her. “It doesn’t happen as much anymore now that they’ve been gone for a few years, but whenever I first got here, it was everywhere I’d go somebody would recognize me. I hear that I look like Tom a lot. I would always get compared to him, ‘Are you Tim’s little sister,’ and all that stuff. I get compared to them a lot by my mom and my parents because most of my brothers are very smart. I don’t get the best grade on something or I kind of slack in school a little bit, I get compared. ‘Why can’t you do this as well as Tim did.’ Obviously not word for word, but you get the idea,” Van Hoose said. Being compared to siblings can have a toll on mental health/self image. “Whenever my parents do it, it’s frustrating. We’re not the same people. In school, the impression that my teachers and staff got from my brothers in the past years, I’m proud of that. My brothers are good, respectable people. It’s nice to be compared to them like that,” Van Hoose said. Tim Van Hoose is getting his master’s in mathematics. “I’m his little sister and you think that
Photo submitted by Kate Van Hoose
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Photo submitted by Sarah Beetner I will be able to live up to who he is as a person. But I mean, the truth and the fact of the matter is, he’s smarter than I am. And I always find myself thinking ‘Can I be as smart as Tim?’” Van Hoose said. While being compared to somebody might have some effects on one’s reputation, there are many ways to make a name in highschool.in highschool. “Tom was very quiet, and he did well in school; Tim is like the complete opposite. He didn’t do any sports or anything, very academic. He did a lot of stuff, and a lot of people knew him. I feel like I had to find a medium that I was happy with. I’ve kind of figured out who I am. Just me. I know that I’m not the same as either one of them. I’m like a combination of both but completely different at the same time,” Van Hoose said. The drive for finding one’s own identity is constant, but siblings can contribute to the construction of that identity. “You can get so far in life by accepting someone for who they are [...] Tom taught me to always keep my cool and be very thankful for the things that I have because some people have more than I do, and some people have a lot less than I do. I feel like that’s something that he definitely taught me indirectly,” Van Hoose said. Sarah Beetner is a graduating junior. Her sisters, Jessica and Kathleen, have made quite an impression on some teachers. “I actually had two older sisters. There’s one teacher … he hated Kathleen and loved Jessica, but I’ve never met him. I’m like, ‘that’s such a weird dynamic’, but a lot of teachers have an unintentional bias towards thinking you’re either a great student or a not so great student [depending
on if they taught one’s sibling],” Beetner said. Having siblings can make it hard to show off achievements, especially if those siblings made the same achievements. “Even if you do the same things, even if you get the same scholarships, or if you get the same awards, it’s like: They did it first. And now they’re older, they’re doing better. They’ve got more awards, so you can’t compete with that,” Beetner said. Even though it’s hard to compete with awards, siblings will still teach things, intentionally or unintentionally. “Kathleen definitely taught me how to work the system... Definitely, on the academic front, she helped me out but also Photo submitted by Ethan Pennington with clubs. Like, ‘How can you do 20 clubs at once?’ You just have to time it correctly. the upperclassmen and stuff, but I mean, She knew how to time it correctly, so she sometimes I’d rather just be my own self passed down that wisdom to me,” Beetner and not really worry about them,” Pritchett said. said. Junior Jessica Pritchett has five older Junior Ethan Pennington is the youngsiblings: Dawit, Josh, Lauren, Hannah, est of three older brothers. Owen is doing and Muluken. With having so many sibonline college in California. Payton is in lings, they are bound to be compared to Ohio with his fiance and he is going to be each other. an English teacher. Stephen has not decid“A lot of teachers will say they had all ed what to do. All four brothers were very my siblings in class.Both my sisters played popular in the Thespian Society. volleyball, so we’ll get compared in that “When they were still in school with us, way. Or, Lauren and Muluken played basI would be the ‘Little Pennington’ all the ketball, so I’ll get compared in that way,” time, especially in theater. People would Pritchett said. compare me to my brothers with singing. Having involved siblings in high school Everyone says I sing like Stephen, or a mix can make you feel welcomed. of Stephen and Payton’s voice. Or that I “It’s fun to have your siblings in high look like them. It’s kind of like a mantle school with you. Especially as a freshman, I get to hold up in theater. Especially beit was nice. I liked having people know cause my brothers were a big part of that. I me, so I didn’t feel as crazy or like I didn’t love theater and everything, so I’m willing know anybody in the school. So it’s nice to hold that up,” Pennington said. because then I can already kind of know For some, having a shared interest as a sibling can teach more relevant things, or even give a push to do something new and outside a comfort zone. “I feel like they really taught me that I love theater. Because my oldest brother(he was the first one in theater).I was like, ‘That’s weird,’ But then [his involvement] went farther and farther. Payton started getting lead roles and stuff. He was Sky Masterson in ‘Guys and Dolls.’ That one really set me off because one day at practice, he did one of those stage dives where they slide on stage on his knees. I was like, I want to be that guy. I want to do that. They taught me a lot. I really appreciate everything that they’ve done for me,” Pennington said.
Photo submitted by Jessica Pritchett
Local farmers market attracts vendors By Mallory Moats
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Web Master
very Saturday, farmers and artisans bring their harvests and crafts to fill the local farmers markets. Shoppers wander from stall to stall looking at the variety of goods, whether it be fresh produce, handmade birdhouses, soaps and lotions, or scented candles; something is guaranteed to catch their eye. “You can find some really interesting things, and meet some interesting people [at the farmers market],” said Remington Effinger, a Rolla High School freshman and owner of Remi Eats. Effinger sells salsa and produce that he makes and grows at the Rolla Downtown Farmers Market every week. “I had a garden, and I was making salsa because one of my mom’s daycare parents had given me a recipe,” said Effinger, “I tweaked the recipe so it would taste better. Then, someone recommended that [I] should sell stuff at the farmers market, which was a whole domino effect. I got a business license, and now here I am.” Effinger admitted he only participates in the farmers market for the pizza (pepperoni from the Therefore, Pizza food truck is his recommendation), but after nudging from his mom, Effinger shared the other,
more long lasting, fulfillments he gains from this endeavor. “It’s fun, and I really do like it,” said Effinger, “I [also] can make money off it, which I can save for college.” Terry Bingham, co-owner of Peaceful Valley Creations, another stand at the Rolla Downtown Farmers Market, shared a different view of why he continues to return year after year. “I was in between jobs and needed to make a little extra money until I got a more permanent job,” said Bingham, “That’s how it started, but I found I kind of liked it. It’s fun to talk with people,
Photo by Mallory Moats
interact with them, and learn from their experiences because that’s a lot of what this is, being able to relate with someone on the other side of the table. I’m taking your money, but along with it, I’m getting some of your trust.” The diversity of sellers and their viewpoints at the farmers market is a unique trait of the experience. Another trait is the specialty products a shopper can find. Tammi Palmer, owner of Ozark Outlaw’s Soapery, sells lotions and soaps, but with a twist. Her products are made out of goat milk. “I started small [with making products] because we have allergies to cow’s milk,” said Palmer, “Then, when we started milking our goats [for our products], we got too much milk. We were trying to figure out what we’re going to do with it, so it didn’t go to waste. Now, we have 35 goats to get our own milk.” The limited ingredients Palmer uses in her products helps make them accessible to all people. “Our lotion tends to work well for people who have allergies and skin sensitivities too,” said Palmer, “My niece has some skin sensitivities, and this is what she uses.” Another unique product sold at the Rolla Downtown Farmers Market is James Gang candles.
“They’re 100% soy wax and all eco friendly down to the wick,” said Michael “Mandy” James, recent Rolla High School graduate and owner of James Gang Candle Co., “What I like about them is they don’t put soot on your walls or your ceilings, and they’re really clean to burn and breathe.” For James, her candle making business provides a way for her to honor her grandmother’s legacy. “Five years ago, my grandmother passed away, and she owned James Gang,” said James, “I inherited all of her candle making supplies, even the name, so I took over and created these lovely things.” As a participant at the farmers market, James is able to generate more business for her candle enterprise. “I was looking for something [that would] put my name out there and [help me] get more sales,” said James, “The farmers market was one of the few things that’s continuing every week, so it is really putting my name out there. I’m getting a lot of business.” The Rolla Downtown Farmers Market is every Saturday 8am-12pm and Wednesday 3-6pm April - October and every Saturday 8am-12pm November to March with select vendors. The Rolla Saturday Farmers Market is in the Big Lots parking lot every Saturday 7am-1pm April - October.
Sports
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RHS ECHO
Sept. 29, 2021
Pride night begins football season Friendships on the eld:
Seniors re ect on years of play By Kyra Ray
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By Haylen Jackson, Angela Yang, & Lana Simpson
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Staff Reporters
his year, Pride Night returned to the field bigger and stronger than anyone could have expected. On Sept. 3, businesses, ready to spring back into action, lined the parking lot with activities and gifts to spread buzz among the community. The activities they had were endless, and the giveaways were even better: free shirts, balls, gift baskets, and much more. The Bulldog football team narrowly lost with a score of 26 to 30. However, this did not dampen the team’s spirit, as they retained a great environment and team relationship. Coming back from the complicated season they had last year, this game was both a loss and a win; it kicked off the season with some of the best energy the group has seen. Junior Brock Horton-Owens is a Defensive Lineman this year. “We have way more team chemistry than we did last year. There wasn’t a whole lot last year, but this year we’re together as one,” said Horton-Owens. With such a strong team bond, the players are feeling optimistic, and the newer players share the excitement. “The younger players see what they need to do in order to succeed and do it,” said Horton-Owens. Cheerleaders also mustered their courage to perform as the student section filled the stands, wild as always and ready for
Photo by Quinn Guffey the game. Senior Sheradyn Kartchner is a cheerleader. “I’m excited about having an actual season...Having people in the stands affects the players and the squad. We do chants to try and get the crowd engaged, but when there is nobody, it ruins our spirit,” said Kartchner, addressing the past year’s challenges. The crowd also motivates the team, bringing the energy they need to get back into the game they love. “I love the crowd. I love that they come here and support us. Even if they don’t know us, they’re still here to support us,” said Horton-Owens. The team is feeling confident about the new season, as well as securing victories across the district. Junior Broc Lyle plays in the Defensive Back position. “I’m excited about beating teams, coming together, and playing as a team,” said Lyle. With high spirits and full stands, this game was a great way to start the season. Despite the loss, the team was able to use this opportunity to get back on their feet after a messy previous year. Older players were also especially thankful for the support of the student body. This important opening game showcased a new and improved team, and also provided a fun experience for all. “I feel like the football boys enjoy having people watch them. I think it makes a big difference,” said Kartchner.
Photo by Quinn Guffey
Staff Reporter
ports are a large part of high school life and culture. Many people go to games, while others participate on the teams. Games also create buzz when they finish because everyone wants to know the results. But for many, it’s more than just a team. It is a friendship forged through relationships long before high school. “I’ve been playing since I was five years old,” said senior Reagan Reedy. “We played together ‘til we were like 10. Then we split, and we were either playing together or playing against each other, so we’ve always been connected.” Having to compete against each other, however, did not affect their friendship, as Reedy explained, “We’ve known each other since we were little. When you’re playing against somebody you know, it’s kind of fun.” Reedy reminisced on one of her favorite games. “I loved West Plains, our sophomore year. Sophomore year was my favorite. It was a huge rival game, and the energy in the dugout was, it was like it was like a college game. It was back and forth the
and going out to eat was super fun.” McCarter agreed with Reedy’s take on the team dynamic, and also believed that softball has provided practical learning opportunities they will use outside of the sport. “It’s fun when you make it more than just about softball you know, you learn new life skills every day. It’s not just softball,” said McCarter. Reedy points to the team’s connection as a key to their success. “[The team’s success is] definitely our bond…and we just never quit. You can tell a difference when there are other people on the field, or if somebody is off, because we’re all so used to playing together. When we’re all on the field together, it truly feels like there’s nothing that can get in the way between us.”have fun, play, play ball together or go afterwards, we grew up together as a group. This past weekend in the Ozark tournament, spending time in the hotels and going out to eat was super fun.” McCarter agreed with Reedy’s take on the team dynamic, and also believed that
whole game. We ended up winning in the last inning, and I think that game made us all so close and made us realize what we’re capable of,” Reedy said. Mackenzie McCarter, another softball senior, spoke on the bond of the team. “We play in team bonding events,” McCarter said “Sometimes we’ll go to lunch, sometimes we’ll just go to someone’s house and hang out. We also do it during practice too. We have a lot of fun at practice.” Reedy continued to elaborate on the Lady Bulldogs’ bonding. “Yeah, we do have a lot of fun at practice,” Reedy said. “We all like to bond, have fun, play, play ball together or go afterwards, we grew up together as a group. This past weekend in the Ozark tournament, spending time in the hotels
softball has provided practical learning opportunities they will use outside of the sport. “It’s fun when you make it more than just about softball you know, you learn new life skills every day. It’s not just softball,” said McCarter. Reedy points to the team’s connection as a key to their success. “[The team’s success is] definitely our bond…and we just never quit. You can tell a difference when there are other people on the field, or if somebody is off, because we’re all so used to playing together. When we’re all on the field together, it truly feels like there’s nothing that can get in the way between us.”
Photo submitted by Theresa Reedy
Photo submitted by Debra Heimbaugh
SepT. 29, 2021
Opinion RHS ECHO
Is E-Hall Passing Inspection?
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new addition to Rolla High School this year is a digital hall pass system. E-Hall Pass is a program used in every classroom implemented in order to replace the paper hall passes that the high school previously used. Rolla High School assistant principal Dr. Stephanie Grisham has assisted with implementing the new system. “We weren’t really prompted [into integrating e-hall pass] until last year. We were having some issues with multiple kids in the hallways. We had the bathroom incidents last year, which spurred some changes that we had to make. So we really started looking over it in the later part of last year,” said Grisham. Grisham was referring to last semester when the bathrooms were closed to only one location per floor. This was due to vandalism including stall doors being ripped off and multiple other incidents occurring both during class and through the passing periods. A similar situation is occurring with recent social media trends encouraging students to steal things such as soap dispensers from the school. According to the official website for E-Hall pass, their main goal is to prevent abuse of paper hall passes. They also advertise their system’s ability to support social distancing, building security, and classroom management. At Rolla High School, along with fewer students being in the hall at the same time, and less unsupervised hallway trips, one clear advantage of the system is that the school is using much less paper by using E-Hall passes instead of physical slips. For teachers, it is also much easier to arrange and view appointments with students during Pride. On the opposing side, there are a lot of students that are not in favor of the new hall pass system. When Senior Lexi Gillman was asked on her opinion on E-Hall pass, she said, “I think technology is really useful in a school setting. Like [Google] Classroom is amazing, but when it comes to using the bathroom or just going to the nurse, it seems like it’s really unnecessary.” Other students agree. “E- Hall pass is kind of useless. Most of my teachers don’t know how to use it or don’t use it at all,” noted senior Trevor Cox. However, some students also acknowledged the problems of vandalism and student traffic between classes.
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Freshman Know-How
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ew clothes, new supplies, new you. Freshman year is a chance to redefine who you are, and to lay the foundation for the rest of your high school career. As much as you may feel overwhelmed, starting high school is an exciting milestone, and with the right attitude, you may find your true colors by the end of freshman year. Looking back on the past few years, I have compiled a list of advice that I have for incoming freshmen. I hope that this list not only inspires you, but gives you a sense of comfort as you navigate this strange new environment.
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Photo by Meghan Williams “I mean, last semester, on the last day of school, there were 50 girls in one bathroom at the same time,” said senior Asia Ellingsworth. In spite of the underlying problems, Cox is skeptical that conditions will change. “I don’t think it’s really changed much from last year, I see the same things happening as last year,” said Cox. One goal of the E-hall Pass system is to monitor movement within the building. “It’s basically an accountability system where it will track data of where students are. Not only does it track you, it tracks how many passes they’ve had that day,” said Grisham. This feature allows teachers to know how many times students have already gone to the bathroom, a different teacher, or if they have used any other passes that day. For a lot of students who have spent time at the high school without E-Hall passes, this new system seems flawed. Some students are also more worried about the path that may follow E-hall passes, fearing a more authoritative administration. “Faculty that have problems controlling the students, because they have no respect for their students, create this kind of way to control the students,” said Gillman. E-Hall pass is a new change to the high school that everyone is learning and, like everything new, will take a little time to get used to. “We are all trying. We bought a license for a year to see how it works, and so far it’s been useful,” said Dr. Grisham.
Take a Hike restuarant review recently went to eat at a new local restaurant. It is called Take a Hike and is located in downtown Rolla. The theme of the restaurant is, well, hiking. They have many fun outdoorsy decorations which add to the dining experience. Everything on the menu has fun names. For example, they call appetizers “trail heads”; salads are “trail mix”; sandwiches are “fanny pack sandwiches”; dinner meals are “day hikers”; burgers are “mountain burgers”; desert is, of course, “trail end”; and beverages are “camel backs.” I asked the waitress what the most commonly ordered meal was, and she said smoked brisket, so that was what I ordered. I didn’t know what to expect, as that was my first time eating at Take a Hike, but I was not disappointed. The brisket contained smoked beef with grilled onions and provolone cheese. It was very good, and when I added Chipotle mayo to it, it was even better. I also enjoyed a nice dessert. I ordered a whoopie pie, which was something I had never eaten before. It was a chocolate cake with cream in the middle, and it reminded me of an Oreo in the form of a cake. It was served slightly warm, which made it even more delicious. The waitress that assissted me was very nice and considerate, and the service was great. She came and checked on my table many times during the meal. When I went, the restaurant was not very crowded. The
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dining area of the restaurant is on the smaller side, but that added to the cozy atmosphere. As I dined, I could hear music playing quietly through the speakers. I personally liked this because it was at a volume that you could quite easily tune out if you wanted to, but it was also loud enough to hear if you wanted to just sit and enjoy it. The tables were spread out far enough that I couldn’t hear the conversations of the people at the nearest table, which also contributed to the peaceful ambiance. All in all, I would recommend going to Take a Hike and experiencing it for yourself. You will not be disappointed. I certainly was not!
Invest in a planner. Planners not only help to stay organized, but they also reduce stress. My freshman year, I was told to pick up a planner, and I thought that I would never need one. One year later, I finally gave in. Now, I use my planner every day; keeping track of my responsibilities both in and out of school. Time management and organizational skills become more important as your school years progress, and the sooner you begin to hone those abilities, the better.
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Get involved! Try to join multiple clubs, sports, and other extracurricular activities. Extracurriculars are a great way to form friendships with students that have similar interests, as well as an easy way to get to know your teachers outside of school. From Art Club to Cross Country, RHS has over forty extracurriculars that accommodate a range of interests, so it’s easy to choose something you are passionate about.
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Although some don’t admit it, procrastination is an incurable disease that affects all high school students. Once you realize that it is unavoidable, you can begin to combat it. With a good support system, and a good mindset, you can turn procrastination into action. Learning how to put pressure on yourself without feeling overwhelmed can turn into a great skill as you transition from high school into college.
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Form relationships with teachers. Believe it or not, teachers are just as real as you are. Getting to know your teachers and faculty will have amazing benefits in the long run. In addition to finding some truly
fantastic people, they will be more prone to support and help you. With time, you will learn that teachers are more than happy to assist you as you begin the adventures of your high school years.
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At the beginning of second semester, you will begin signing up for your sophomore year classes. As much as it may be tempting to take the easiest classes possible, I have learned that it’s best to keep yourself stimulated. Get to know your limits when it comes to difficult classes, and don’t be afraid to challenge yourself. Taking challenging courses may lead you to discover a new passion or ability that you never would have found, otherwise. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and pushing your limits is a great way to keep your mind sharp, but be sure not to overdo it.
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As mentioned before, learning how to effectively manage your time now will significantly benefit you not only as you progress through high school, but also as you further your education in the future. One of the biggest parts of time management is your sleep schedule. Watching television until one in the morning is tempting, but we all know it isn’t healthy. Staying up late quickly becomes a bad habit that isn’t easy to fix, so why start at all? If you do find yourself losing sleep, try to fall asleep fifteen minutes earlier each day until you are acclimated to sleeping at an ordinary time. Taking warm showers, reading, and putting down your phone are also effective ways to repair your sleep.
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My seventh and final tip for you is to live in the moment. As cliche as it sounds, you’re only in high school once; don’t let it go to waste. Go to school events, be sociable, and have fun. High school isn’t just about learning; it’s about community, so participate in spirit days (even if it sounds embarrassing), cheer at pep rallies, and join the student section on Friday nights. The years fly by, and you’ll want at least one fond memory to look back on when you’re older.
Sept. 29, 2021
ECHO EXTRAS RHS ECHO
Importance of Decorating RHS
Trip Down Memory LN.
BY HANNAH PUETZ
BY CONNOR LAMORA
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hen walking down the first floor hallway, students notice beautifully creative art displays on the walls, such as the painted lockers and the art gallery. In the 2-D art room, there are vivid paintings and murals . So why is it important to display RHS students’ work in the hallways and in the school? Which teachers have influenced the decorating and how has it impacted students? One teacher that has majorly influenced decorating the school is art teacher Shannon Engelbrecht who has put a lot of work and effort into helping decorate the art hallway with student displays and work in the art gallery. Engelbrecht shared her reasons on the importance of decorating the Rolla High School. “It’s been one of my goals as an art teacher to flood our art hallways with visual information. People connect with those images for personal reasons. They get excited about school and are excited about sharing similarities with other students,” said Engelbrecht. Another teacher that has impacted the art hallway is art teacher Connie Shoemaker who spoke on why she thinks it is important to decorate the school. “I think it is important for all teachers to promote what their students are doing in class, and that might heighten other students to take that class and see what is happening within it. It also gives more of a welcoming feeling to the building as opposed to being so sterile and not fun to be in,” said Shoemaker. Students also shared how they feel about the decorations at school. RHS junior Mara Parker highlighted how decorating the school affects her everyday learning. “I really like it whenever teachers decorate their classrooms because it’s not really distracting to me at all, it just kind of gives it more of a homey feel. If I don’t know who the teacher is, I can just walk into the classroom and I look at their decorations and I know who they are. Some will have
STAFF REPORTER
e all have those memories in life that live on in the corners of our brains for years to come. What better way to celebrate the new school year than to reminisce about the previous summer’s shenanigans?
Lucas Schoen- The Zumwalt Fiasco
Photo by Hannah Puetz pictures of their kids or their favorite sports teams, and it gives it more of like a homey vibe,” said Parker. Adding to Parker’s statement, sophomore Owen Meusch, said, “I feel like it makes more of a happy atmosphere and just more vibrant and less dull.” Both Parker and Meusch included that the more teachers decorated their classrooms, the more comfortable the classroom environment is. Both make a point that students are more comfortable in a decorated school environment. “More decorations the better. It’s less plain,” said Meusch. After looking at the art lockers, the art gallery, and the teachers’ classrooms many can see how much the teachers at RHS are trying to make a better environment for the students and school. Decorating the school creates a more welcoming environment for all of the students at our school. RHS students are able to display their new projects that they are creating, such as the painted lockers, new ceiling tiles, their art projects, etc. They now get to spread their creativity among the entire school, thanks to the RHS teachers who let them do so. Decorated classrooms inspire a welcoming environment to students, which can lead to greater learning.
Teacher Feature: Mrs. Shaw
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annah Shaw is a new addition to the teaching staff at Rolla High School this year. She is teaching three different classes: Conceptual Algebra, Geometry, and Calculus. She is the daughter of a familiar face at RHS. Her father is none other than Rolla High School science teacher, Dr. Heaton. Dr. Heaton was one of her biggest influences; however, her calling was not in the field of science. “He made me want to be a teacher in the first place. But I was not a science [fan]. I was more math [oriented], so I became a math teacher,” said Shaw. Shaw might be a new teacher at Rolla High School this year, but she is no stranger to the teaching profession. “I’ve taught at Bourbon for one year, and St. James for the last three years,” said Shaw. Shaw attended Cuba High School. For college, she went to Missouri Science & Technology for her Bachelors and Central Methodist for her Masters. When Shaw was in high school, she participated in sports and other activities. “I did basketball and softball,” Shaw said. “I did math club, and I think a lot of outside school stuff,” said Shaw. Shaw has many interesting hobbies. “I’m a pilot. And I also ride horses for fun. So I have a couple different hobbies,” she said. Shaw owns her own plane and has her own horses. “I have expensive hobbies,” said Shaw. Shaw stated that her favorite thing about teaching is when students have a “lightbulb moment.” She explains this when, “kids all of a sudden just get it.” Shaw said that the thing she looks forward to the most about teaching in Rolla
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STAFF REPORTER
BY SAMANTHA MADDUX STAFF REPORTER is, “getting to know the kids, getting to see the differences from different schools.” If Shaw could not be a teacher, she would choose a completely different field. “I always thought about being a pharmacist, if I was not a teacher, or a pilot,” said Shaw. It will be very interesting learning more about Shaw throughout the year. She is a great addition to Rolla High School’s math department. RHS students welcome Mrs. Shaw to Rolla High School.
Photo by Samantha Maddux
“Me and a group of theater friends went down to Fort Zumwalt to go see the play ‘Chicago’. We had a guys’ and girls’ car, not done on purpose, resulting in a contest to see which group could have the most fun before the show. We drove around town, went to Freddy’s, [and] ran into each other in town. At the end of the night, we met up and watched the play and had a great rest of the night.”
Rodney WashingtonThe Boys
“[I hung out] with all my boys... in the woods. Wrestled, you know, fun stuff. We went to the fair [and] carnival.”
Carter Kriete- Back Seat Passenger
“Me and my two friends shoved one of our other friends in the back of my car. We started driving around the neighborhood block blasting Minecraft music and Fortnite songs.”
Aubrey Pedrin- SoftBall Fanatic
“I won my championship tournament for softball and we ranked third. It was for traveling so we drove up there ourselves. We got Texas Roadhouse and it was my first time going. I had an allergic reaction and I thought I was dying.”