March 29, 2021 by RHS ECHO

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RHS robotics team makes state The Hard Facts of Farm Life T

Direct Current team members preparing their robot for the state competition. Photo by Mallory Moats.

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ours of building and rebuilding have led Rolla robotics teams Direct Current and Maniacal Mechanics to qualify for the state competition. “I’ve spent a lot of hours programming, so it’s nice for that to pay off,” Maniacal Mechanics program lead Tyler Paul said. According to Paul, Maniacal Mechanics won the Think Award for their outstanding note-taking and design process. Direct Current made it to state through their proficient robot design and test results. “We were really hoping to stay in this year,” Yahya Elgawady, a programmer on Direct Current, said. “Our code has com-

pletely made a shift to a more functional type of programming. It’s really good to see that all that hard work pays off. From state, we’re expecting all of our scores to be above hopefully 40 which was our highest score at this current competition. We’re hoping to place within the top few teams that are [above that score].” There are three parts to a match. The first is autonomous, or completely pre-programmed, meaning there is no direct driver of the robot. Participants deliver “wobble goals” (poles) to designated locations. The second section consists of participants manually shooting orange rings at the goals of different heights, the ultimate goal being a “power shot.” Then there is an endgame where participants

earn points through a hybrid of the first two parts; this is where a majority of the score comes from. “It’s been really good,” Paul says. “It’s taught me a lot. It’s taught me about being able to speak better in front of people. I didn’t really like talking in front of a lot of people, but in robotics, I learned how to do it. Robotics also taught me a lot of knowledge about mechanical stuff and how to think outside the box.” The two teams look forward to taking on Tech Challenges at State. “Our team is a lot more experienced than we were last year,” Isaac Guffey, member of Maniacal Mechanics said. “Everyone on the team has some part to play.”

District developments underway A

year b y K y l e M c c u t c h e o n ago, Staff reporter there was a lot of talk about voting on new renovation plans to not only the Rolla High School but the entire district. Phelps county was supposed to vote on the issue last April. However it was pushed back to June due to COVID-19. The bill still passed and plans have been in motion since. Before the district could start renovations they had to find a contractor to hire. The district had to send out a “bid” to contractors. A bid is a proposal to do a certain job. After all the contractors have responded, the school board holds an open meeting to decide which contractor to employ. While the school board has the last say, deputy superintedent Dr. Kyle Dare leads the building process for the district, and superintendent Craig Hounsom is also involved. They work to give the school board all the information they need to make a good decision. The first project that will be done at the

high school is building a new gym. The seating capacity in our current gym is about 1200 occupants. The seating capacity for the new gym will be capable of seating 2000 occupants. Once the new gym is built, the old gym is going to be turned into an auditorium capable of seating 700 or more people. “You won’t be able to recognize the current gym when it’s finished. It will be a professional level performing arts center,” said Hounsom. Along with the gym and auditorium, there will also be new additions to the band, choir, and drama department. The district will be building new classrooms for the choir and band. While the drama department will be moving to where the existing choir and band rooms are. “Those fine arts programs have grown so much and have such a need for space… this impacts a lot of kids and families at the high school positively,” said Hounsom. The district has most recently been working on bids with the first two projects: the

renovations at the junior high and at Rolla Technical Institute. “At the RTI, the first thing they’ll tackle there are the renovations to the automotive technologies shop,” said Dare. RTI’s front entrance is also getting a change along with an outdoor addition to the agricultural shop area. With an estimated completion time being towards 2023, a large percentage of the high school student body will not be able to experience the new gym or auditorium. However, future students will have more space to pursue their passions. Dare has met with architects several times to discuss plans for the changes at the high school. The next step is the bidding process. “Right as school is ending we’ll be going to bid to start the high school projects… It’s a little farther behind the others because it’s a much bigger project,” said Dare.

he norb y B e l l e S t a l e y mal daily Copy editor routine: wake up at 6:30, brush your teeth (hopefully), get dressed, eat breakfast, get to school. The sheer time in a day barely allows a student to take care of themselves-- much less other living creatures. However, Caityln Kleffner takes care of a whole farm. “So in the morning, generally I wake up and I run downstairs. If I’m at my mom’s, I’ll check on my sheep and make sure they’re all doing okay and none of them are eating anything they aren’t supposed to. And then my cows, ” said Kleffner. “I’ll go to school in the mornings and then when I get home in the afternoons, I’ll go out and check them and feed them and make sure they’re all doing okay. And then the afternoon with my sheep. I’ll go down there and I’ll feed them and I’ll check them over again to make sure they have water and everything to get them through the next day.” Living with a pack of breathing, hungry animals is not something that can be shirked off as a job “for tomorrow.” Unlike the constant nagging of menial tasks in the domestic home, responsibility isn’t something to be negotiated on a farm. “I have responsibilities I know I have to get done because if I’m not going to do them, then they’re not going to get done,” says Kleffner. “And personally, I know my sheep would not be very happy if they didn’t get fed.” However, Kleffner’s responsibilities are not chores that have recently been thrown upon her. “I’ve been working on a farm since the day I was born,” says Kleffner. “Farming has been such a big part of my entire life. I would honestly be lost without it. It’s made me who I am today, and there’s nothing that I would want to do without having farming as part of who I am.” Farm lifestyle is not an easy thing to love, however. Farmers are at the constant will of their environment. The inability to save every animal, harvest every crop, and keep everything warm is not an easy reality to face.

See FARM LIFE, page 3

LEtter from the editor RHS ECHO

n psychology, stress is often explained in terms of change. Change occurs at different magnitudes, which explains why giving a class presentation and being laid off at work elicit two responses that (hopefully) vary in both severity and duration. All change causes stress-- even changes that are generally accepted as positive. We don’t often think of it as such, but there’s positive stress, too. So when psychologists attempt to explain how and why people react to change, one way they do so is by using the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SSRS for short). The survey assigns 43 top stressors a score on a scale between 1 and 100, with 100 being the most stress fathomable (death of a spouse, for example). The ending of school is number 27. In my evaluation, there are three types of dysfunctional stress responses to my class’s impending graduation. As a disclaimer, I use “dysfunctional” not as a passing of judgment, but as an acknowledgment that these tendencies are not the final result, but rather part of processing. First there are the “Deniers,” as I’ve come to call them. This group is actually composed of two subtypes, both of which are in the first stage of grief: denial. More specifically, the refusal to believe grief exists within them in any form. These are the kids who’ve been dreaming of graduation since sophomore year. They might say something like “I can’t wait to never see this *insert expletive* school again.” To

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they refuse change is coming, but rather respond to it uncertainly and ambivalently. For this type, visions of a distant future seem to register (at least externally) as general apathy. They might come across as wishy-washy, even if that doesn’t reflect their internal narrative. Possibly the most detrimental group I’ve named the “Romantics.” These are the “best days of our lives” kids. They peak in high school, or think they have (talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy). Consequently, they adopt a sense of dread leaving behind the comfort they’ve created for themselves. They own signed yearbooks from all four years in which they’re prominently featured as athletic stars and club presidents. As adults, they might keep a yearbook on hand to reach for as a visual supplement to their go-to conversation starter “When I was in high school...” Without resolution, they’ll live out their lives forever chasing the nostalgia of their glory days. I intentionally present these types in their most extreme forms. That’s not to say they’re not present, but in actuality, most of my peers fall somewhere in between-just a bunch of soon-to-be adults navigating these fluid emotional stages. For this reason, I am overcome with sympathy. We’re all grieving and changing. I imagine at the end of it all, there’s this sort of peace-- or, at the very least, acceptance. No catchy name for that one, yet. I’ll have to let you know once I get there. --

Huber

Editor-in-Chief them, high school is prison-- the ultimate hell-- a place that strips them of their freedom daily and subjects them to what is, in their eyes, unfairly targeted scrutiny of authority. They can’t wait to collect their diploma, but they might not bother with a yearbook. On the extreme end of the spectrum, they might even use graduating as a scapegoat-- “I’ll be out of here in two months anyway.” For them, that’s enough to justify plenty of questionable behaviors. Then there are the “Ignorers”-- also in denial, but filled with significantly less rage. They’re not so deep in denial that

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3/17/2021

Your Crossword Puzzle

Happy spring from the ECHO staff! March staff photo by Bonnie Hall. Pictured from left to right: Helen Weiss, Kyle McCutcheon, Mallory Moats, Michael “Mandy” James, JJ Giesey, Nathaniel Name: Jackson, Emma Starns, Jillian Launius, Belle Staley, Meghan Williams, Genevieve Huber

Crossword

Complete the crossword puzzle below

Across: 3. ... by any other name would smell as sweet 6. Singe, double; triple, on the diamond 7. Annual domestic tidying up 9. ______ of the valley, month of May flower 11. Bruce ______ 13. Twelve hours of light, twelve hours of night 14. Harry Styles Vol. 6 Down: 1. Time for showers, per the saying 2. Abbey Lane, phrase uttered this season 3. Character in “How I Met Your Mother” 4. Can be filled with candy or a baby animal 5. Marvel superhero, Quake, from Agents of Shield 8. Spanish counterpart of la luna 10. They start a ripple effect 12. In like a lion, out like a lamb

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Created using the Crossword Maker on TheTeachersCorner.net

MARCH 29, 2021

Student interest

RHS ECHO

Early graduation rates spiking this year

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he bell Photography Editor rings calling the masses of students out into the hallways. Voices carry the latest gossip as students rush to their next classes with a heavy load of textbooks on their shoulders. High school is a period in life that has been highly romanticized by movies - a rite of passage to adulthood that will supposedly be filled with memories of prom, school spirit, and the smelly meat in the cafeteria. But what happens when the school is no longer a host for celebratory dances, and the only thing constant about school is the quality of the cafeteria food? According to Rolla High School counselor Sarah Kaelin, the rate of people graduating early goes up. “I have seen more kids graduating early this year because of Covid,” said Kaelin. “School isn’t the same right now, and it hasn’t been for awhile. When we have kids that graduate early [in a typical year], they’re missing out on pep assemblies, school dances, and those sort of things. They’re kind of giving up that high school experience. But with those things not happening, I think that’s part of why we saw an increase.” This was the case for Serra Ward, a graduate of Rolla High School as of December 2020. “The biggest reason [for graduating ear-

ly] was Covid,” said Ward. “I didn’t want another semester online. And I also knew that if I went back to school, it wouldn’t be the same. I hear so many people saying how different it is, and I don’t think I missed out on much this year.” However, for Camilla Leigh, another new graduate of Rolla High School, her decision to graduate early was influenced by many factors, not just Covid. “One big reason for me to graduate early was because I wanted to go to college,” said Leigh. “I was planning on attending college already after graduating normally in May, but I have three older siblings that are at the same college I go to, and I wasn’t sure if this would be the only semester where all four of us would be able to go together. So, I really wanted to have that opportunity to be here with all three of them. Also, once Covid hit, I didn’t really feel like there was anything left for me in high school.” The transition from high school to college can be a turbulent time, but Leigh felt the transition went relatively smoothly for her. “Going from doing hybrid school to college, wasn’t that big of a difference because I’m taking completely online classes,” said Leigh. “I feel like it would have been a bigger difference going from completely in person, where your teachers are always

reminding you to turn in assignments, and they’ll bug you about late work. But in college if I don’t turn something in, my professors don’t say anything, so there’s definitely a lot more responsibility in college to be able to handle your own work and remember assignments. But, having to do online school was very helpful to prepare.” Leigh and Ward are both happy with their decision to graduate early, but agree that graduating early is not for everyone. “I definitely wouldn’t recommend it [graduating early] for everyone,” said Leigh. “For example, people who participate in spring sports or the musical, I would not recommend graduating early because you’re going to miss out on important stuff that you’ll probably enjoy doing. But because I didn’t have anything going on that second semester, I was already done with all of my graduation requirements, and I wasn’t really being challenged in high school, I felt it would be okay for me to graduate early. So, if there’s people who are wrapping up their graduation requirements, who are feeling bored, who don’t have anything going on, or who are just feeling ready for the next step in their life and looking for something bigger, then I definitely recommend graduating early. It has been an amazing experience for me.”

Students that are interested in graduating early, need to contact their counselor, who will help them through the process and make sure it’s the right decision for them. “We have an early graduation application that kids have to fill out,” said Kaelin. “Part of what they have to do is tell us what their plans are after graduation, and if they don’t have a plan, it doesn’t happen because you have to get signed off by not just you and your counselor, but your parents and principal also. We just want to make sure people are planning ahead.” However, the counselors strongly encourage students to stay in high school for the whole four years. “Unless they have a really good plan, I discourage it,” said Rodger Bridgeman, another Rolla High School counselor, “Here, you don’t have to pay for any of these things. Don’t waste that. You can get free opportunities here plus the experiences of being a teenager and being in school.” Monica Lyle, who is also a counselor at RHS, echoes this sentiment. “You have the rest of your life to be an adult,” said Lyle. “Be a kid as long as you can.”

every day. “Literally yesterday, I went out and had a baby lamb that was dead in the field…” said Lorena Cook, a student farmer at RHS. “We’ve had a lot this year, and I don’t really know why. But you have to deal with it. I can’t just wait for my dad to get home and just leave it there. You have to take care of it.” The battering insensitivity of the natural world-- where not everything makes it through the day-- is not the regular notion for the run-of-the-mill teen. The early exposure to the reality of life, however, allows for empathy and self-awareness. “It teaches you emotional intelligence, like how to deal with those sorts of things,”

said Cook. “You realize it’s a part of life and life goes on. It’s not disrespectful. You still...realize that it’s a life that’s now gone but you don’t let it control you.” The farming community (of others experiencing this same reality) persists through generations. “After my mom passed away, all of these people that I haven’t even met, they all came up to me,” explained Cook. “And they’re all telling me how much they loved her or how much she impacted their lives or livestock.” Farming is not only a way to make a living, but also a way to see the world. At the end of the day, no matter what happens, the sheep need to be fed.

“At the end of the day, you have to take a moment and understand that yes, I lost these calves. It’s sad, but I can’t sit there and worry about it because I know I did everything that I could to save them and to help them be healthy,” said Kleffner. “It’s the same kind of perspective with people in my life that I’ve lost. Yes, it’s sad, and I’m going to be sad for a while, but in the end, the world will keep turning and my life will keep going on and I will remember them. And I’m going to miss them. But I have to keep my head down and keep going forward.”

(cont.) The Hard Facts of Farm Life From FARM LIFE, page 1 “In the agriculture industry, there are a lot of hardships, especially within livestock,” explained Kleffner. “A couple of weeks ago we had that really cold spell where temperatures got below negative. We had cows calving or new heifers calving within that first two weeks for the very first time. And so not only was it a shock on those heifers but those calves when they hit the ground, it was literally a slap on the face, and some of them could take it, some of them could not. In agriculture, you just have to understand that some things are going to make it, and some things are not.” Working in close quarters with life--and death-- is something that has to be done

Out of dormancy

Growing up: A What’s the rush? I

t’s no b y E mm a S t a r n s secret Staff Reporter that many children are eager to grow up. Many milestones are reached while growing older and with each passing year, there are more things to look forward to. But perhaps we are rushed into moving too fast. In my personal experience, growing up was always something that I looked forward to. First, it was being old enough to tie my shoes on my own. Second, being able to leave my mother’s side in the grocery store. My wants soon became bigger things, such as having my own debit card and being able to drive. Throughout the process, I realized a lot. I had to have money to put in my account and money to pay for gas, so, logically, it was time to get a job. But what barely-sixteen year old knows where to start with that? Balancing school, homework, and a job with a small fragment of a social life if you even have one is not the easiest thing for a young person to do. It’s understandable to want to grow up; there is so much to accomplish: to find

yourself, what you love to do, to fight for your freedom to do what you want. But in the context of freedom, growing up doesn’t mean total range over your life. It seems like it should be that way, but let’s take a look at reality. Driving means getting a job, which means money to buy things--big things. Cars and places to live cost money often in the form of monthly payments. While the financial struggle might become a burden, you’re still out in the world trying to live your life. Many adults decide to start a family, to settle down and know that you have to work so that your family will be supported. This can all be a very quick switch from worrying about homework and making it to your part-time job to a family to take care of and bills to pay. So next time you’re rushing to jump to the next chapter of your life, know that responsibilities are going to follow you wherever you go and to try and enjoy the moment you’re currently in. Worries and responsibilities will always be a part of life, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t enjoy where you are at every step.

s spring b y J J G i e s e y arrives, so Staff Reporter do many of the flora and fauna that live alongside us. Both in the northern and southern hemispheres, animals and plants exit dormancy: the process in which their activity and growth is stopped for a span of time in order to save energy by minimizing metabolism. This has been developed multiple times and can be an example of convergent evolution, which is when two different species unrelated to one another develop the same biological mechanism to solve the same or a similar problem. With both plants and animals doing dormancy to avoid extended periods of harsh weather conditions, giving them the advantage of not having to deal with trying to survive in a normally tough environment that their competition may have to. Each organism tackles this process in various ways. Hibernation is the most famous example done by many mammals and some other endothermic animals like birds. The animal prepares hibernation by building up large fat reserves in its body in summer and autumn to sustain itself when it hibernates. During the actual hibernation, the animal’s heart rate goes down to very low levels and their temperature drops massively as well, with shivering and nonshivering ways to keep themselves from freezing. Reptiles and amphibians on the other hand experience a very different process

called brumation, where they usually hide or bury themselves into the ground and survive off the food reserves they have eaten. They do occasionally wake up to drink but will not require food during the months they “sleep” since reptiles require a lot less food compared to mammals. Plants often enter dormancy during winter or shortages of water. Deciduous trees do this when either temperatures drop low enough or when sunlight exposure gets shorter or even just automatically when the tree enters into these months. A tree will take in all the nutrients of its leaves, slowing its metabolism down to a halt and wait to wake up once temperatures or sunlight levels rise. Insects usually avoid winter altogether by migrating or laying their eggs at the right time for the offspring to spawn around Spring. This is called diapause. Some types of diapause are also odd in that instead of defending themselves from the cold, animals use it as a tool to survive. Insects that do diapause like the weta of New Zealand let their body fluids become frozen to the elements. In this state, they’re clinically dead, which means they don’t experience circulation or breathing and quite literally come back to life once their winter ends. With Spring coming back, some of these animals and plants are starting to exit their sleep and eke out the return to their lives. Please be mindful of them and admire the impressive feats of Earth’s organisms from big to small.

FEATURES

MARCH 29, 2021

RHS ECHO

“This is who I am”: Proud to be a lunch lady B b y

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usy students speed S t a f f R e p o r t e r around and pass through the imaginary but respected line separating the school kitchen from the student cafeteria. Jody Skaggs, supervisor of Rolla High school’s cafeteria, sits in her office at the back of the kitchen. Skaggs, who has worked as a cook for multiple schools in the district, greets students with warm eyes and what one could only assume is a smile under her mask. She expresses her surprise with being the subject of a personal interview. Skaggs grew up going to school in New Bloomfield, MO, and she fondly reflects on those years. “Some of the best years of your life are in high school, so it was lots of fun,” said Skaggs. Skaggs banters about the experience of growing up in New Bloomfield, the small class of 300, being a Wildcat, and her somewhat strict upbringing. “It was very strict at home, so I wasn’t allowed to be involved in a lot of things,” said Skaggs. Skaggs’ upbringing, however, remained

in her mind. “I was always interested in softball, but it’s not something I played in highschool,” said Skaggs. To combat her restricted time in high school, Skaggs has worked tirelessly to give her children different experiences. “In return for not having those opportunities, I have really pushed my kids to be involved in sports,” said Skaggs. Skaggs’ tireless work is not limited to her family. Her dedication to the kids at Rolla schools is easily found when listening to the way she speaks about her students. Skaggs

Photo by Mallory Moats.

closes the gap between the students’ perception and the reality of cooking for the school. “I know the children are not always pleased with what they have for school lunch, but I want them to know that it is not always the lunch ladies’ choice. There are rules we have to follow,” said Skaggs. Stationed behind her desk, adorned with Bulldog apparel, Skaggs explains how she feels she has found her calling. “I’ve always been the lady within family-- friends, events, whatever I do-- who does the

cooking,” said Skaggs. “So for me to end up being a lunch lady, it just kind of fits me.” This fit was not an expected one for Skaggs. “Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would be a lunch lady,” said Skaggs. “Wildest dreams” is a phrase often used by Skaggs. Her eyes lit up as she spoke about her longheld dream. “I’d like to see the ocean. I’ve never seen the ocean,” said Skaggs. The dream is not to see a particular place but simply the most beautiful ocean. “I’m now in my 40’s and I have yet to go see the ocean. It’s just something that I haven’t made a priority. I’m raising kids and working. I haven’t made it there yet, but I will.” The beach is definitely in the plans, but that doesn’t mean everything was. “I just need to talk from my heart. I know not everybody says that ‘when I grow up I want to be a lunch lady’ and I didn’t either. But, I just found my niche. This is who I am. I’m so proud to be part of the Bulldog family and I’m proud to be a lunch lady.”

Meet Tulio, the friendly service dog M

any b y H e l e n W e i s s stuFeature Editor dents of Rolla High School have seen a curly-haired black labradoodle. This is Tulio, Kooper Lueck’s service dog. Tammy Lueck is Kooper’s mother and the German teacher located in room 216. “A service dog is trained to perform a specific task or tasks for somebody with a recognized disability according to the Americans with Disabilities Act, whereas a normal pet is a pet. So Tulio has been trained to perform specific tasks to assist Kooper, to live his life in a typical manner due to his disability,” said Lueck. Tulio is still working on his training.

“In order to keep Tulio current on his training, we spend about five to seven hours every week working on him with the skills he was taught at the training center before he came to live with us,” said Lueck. Tulio was trained by the company Highline Canine service dogs. “He was taught what’s called tethering, where he can help Kooper in a crowded area keeping Kooper with us. He was taught trailing and tracking where he can find Kooper if we get separated. He was taught all basic obedience: sit, down, kennel, come, heel. He can also do deep pressure therapy where he will lay on Kooper if Kooper is having anxiety or stress,” said Lueck.

Dear Echo Dear Hyperventilating Student, So you’re worried about finishing all of your classes before graduating? Relax. If you’re standing-- sit down. If you are not breathing-- take a breath. As long as you get all your required credits done in the four long years you’ve got here at Rolla High School, you’ll be alright. Still acting like Hermione Granger? Use this formula. Select your core classes first. These are the most important. Heads up: consider dual credit courses if you plan to attend college. Depending on which university you choose to attend, these classes can count as college credit. You do have to pay to receive your credit (yet another college ploy to eat up your money), but they’re still much cheaper than paying for them later. Next, select a language course. Selecting two years of the same forgien language is always a smart choice if you wish to apply to a university. Besides that, just take classes that interest you. Your electives are a great way to show colleges who you are as a person. So don’t just take classes that you think will look good on an application. Be sure to take courses you’re interested in, too. This is also a great way to narrow down your interests. If you still have more classes you wish to take, no need to reach for a time turner, Hermione! Instead, consider summer school and signing up for online classes with your counselor. Sincerely, Meghan Williams

. . . can you hear me?

so many There are ant to classes I w do I make take. How verything? time for e ntilating - ¨Hyperve Student¨

Photo submitted by Tammy Lueck. Tulio came to the Lueck family at the beginning of the year. “Tulio came to live with us on January 21. Our family went through four days of training. Then the week after that, Dr. Pritchett gave me permission to start bringing him in twice a week,” said Lueck. Tulio has to be comfortable around students. “Tulio loves them. He loves being around people. And he’s starting to get used to them. It’s been great for Tulio,” said Lueck. People should always ask before petting a service dog. “It depends on the purpose of the service dog. It’s always polite to ask first if you can pet. On Tulio’s service vest, we have one side that says ‘ask to pet’ and then we have the other side, identifying him as a service dog. So, you should always ask to pet. And the family will either tell you yes or no,” said Lueck. Tulio has some adjusting to do with another dog in the Lueck home.

“Maizy is an older dog and Tulio wants to play, but she does not want to play. Tulio is fine with her. She’s not so happy with him, but that’s fine,” Lueck said. Tulio and Kooper are very happy together. “They’re doing well together. Some of my students have been in my classroom after school and get to witness what happens when Tulio sees Kooper for the first time after school. They’re very happy to see each other. They’re doing a great job bonding,” Lueck said. Tulio is a trained, approved service animal, not an emotional support or therapy dog. “Tulio is an officially trained American with Disabilities Act service animal compared to an emotional support dog. There’s a huge difference in the process of going through getting an emotional support dog versus an approved fully trained American with Disabilities Act service animal,” Lueck said.

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