September Issue 2015

Staff Editorial

In life, we are presented with different opportunities and circumstances. Every time someone wakes up in the morning they are drawing a wild card from the deck of life. This wild card will decide the fate of the game they play, where they will go that day, and what they will become at the end of the day.

Throughout the day, multiple cards are drawn, and these cards reflect our own trials and tribulations. The cards are sorted and distributed to all of the players; every interaction brings about a new experience and connection amongst the key individuals. Each card is different, and the difference of these cards is central to the game of life.

Once each card is played the effect of the card can never be reversed; the actions that you make will either be a benefit or a disadvantage to you throughout the game. At times the central role might be taken from you; all of what you do might be manipulated by an outside force.

It is possible to cheat against the game, but breaking the rules will do less to benefit you than you will ever imagine. At the same time, it is also possible to play multiple cards in order to gain a winning advantage over the opposition.

Always keep in mind the rules of the game. Many times the one with the fewer cards is the winner, and because of this the more cards you get the longer the game will last. As people who go through misadventures every day, we know that no good game is short.

We know that in order to play the game to its fullest we must in turn play our cards right. Always go in with a full deck, never go into a situation or game ignorant to the rules or procedures. The cards you play are reliant on the deck that you are given.

We are all given different sets of cards in this game of life, though it is up to us to establish ourselves as a winner. Whether you are a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior, we are all given the opportunity to play a good game. As this year begins, make sure to play your cards right.

PEPPER BOX STAFF Advisor: Ron Steinschriber Content Manager: Sean Baker Design Editor: Morgan Diamond News Editor: Allison Baker Opinion Editor: Sidney Lee Online Editor: Carcea Carr Sports Editor: Ryan Tiefenbruch Spotlight Editor: Leia Boyd Staff Members: Shaquan Brown, Cheynne Harris, Will Qualls, Brittney Baker, Bri’Asia Mays, Royalty Knight, Sarah Barbeau, Makayla Smith

Editorial Policy: The Pepper Box is designed and created by memebers of the newspaper staff of Ritenour High School. The purpose of the newspaper is to provide a forum for the students to focus on issues, give opinions, and share information with the Ritenour High School community. The opinions expressed in this paper do not reflect opinions of our faculty or administration.

Letters to the editor are welcome and accepted, but they may not contain profanity, obscenity, or anything innappropriate to school. They may be e-mailed to Ron Steinschriber at steinschriberr@ritenour.k12.mo.us, or dropped off in room 240. The staff reserves the right to edit these letters.

Buy your yearbook before it is too late.

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Supreme court decision highlights fight for individual happiness After a Supreme Court decision legalized same-sex marriage, opinions should only come from those personally affected

By: Shaquan Brown Staff Reporter

The debate over providing equal rights to all United States citizens has left me baffled. The denial of equal rights to anyone who lives a lifestyle that is not concurrent to the general assembly is a denial that has been recycled throughout the turbulent American history.

We have a tendency to address problems only when they have reached a peak of no return. We ignore said problems until they come after us like a pig to its slop. We have reached a point in our history where all Americans have been given the equal right of marriage and unity by the United States Supreme Court decision on June 28, 2015.

There have been opinions flying left and right on the issue and even more opposition from the decision that was made. The opinion of the general public on others’ lives has become so convulsively daunting that it is tearing the fabric of our country apart.

Close mindedness and pre-conceptions have always been a factor in this country, and they have always been the driving force behind the implementation of a majority of our laws and regulations. The American public is irrefutably one of the most unenlightened societies in the world; we ignore the individual aspects of a situation and look for a narrow way out of things.

Persecution is a cycle that will never disappear

from this world; those who escape extreme discrimination will still be discriminated by some form of the population. The group that is being persecuted in this modern age for the refusal of their own human rights is the LGBT community.

A side of the general opinion of this country is that marriage should remain between a man and a woman, whether it is for religious or social stigmas. My opinion on the matter is that the personal lives of others are the sole concern of the two party individuals. Any outside parties should not contribute to the outcome or decision of another individual’s destiny. As people we must separate ourselves from each other in the sense of letting someone do what they want and allow them to reap what they sew.

Whether you are for or against someone else’s lifestyle, that is your own philosophy and ideology. The

enforcement of an additional party’s opinion has been a driving force behind the resentment and diffusion of many peoples’ pride and self-esteem.

When you are refused or disowned for your own personal pursuits it causes you to break away from said pursuits.

This might be the intention of those who offer resentment, yet the outcome is more pious than fruitful.

Ignoring the life of the individual who you may wish to convert over to your own ideology might weigh in heavier on their self-identity than you might realize.

Sexuality and gender should not play a role in the constitutional right of marriage, plain and simple.

A person’s decision to marry is their own and it should be cherished.

Not fraught with opposition and full of turmoil.

Drawing by Cheynne Harris

Opinion

A major hallway problem People in the halls are preventing students from getting where they need to go, both in the school day, and in life By: Allison Baker News Editor

Why do people feel the need to stop in the middle of the hallway?

Whether they are stopped talking to a friend, or kissing their significant other, they are creating a giant conflict. Blocking people’s walkway prevents them from getting to class on time, or even just from doing what they were planning to do for those five minutes.

There are so many spots that students can go to during passing time, like their class, the bathroom or the foyer.

Why will people walk down

the hall in groups and then get mad when they bump into other people, or other people bump into them? The hallways should be like the streets; stay on the right side. When people prevent students from getting to class, they are preventing their education, and whatever it was that made that person stop could not have been that important.

Ritenour students need to realize how important it is to be on time to class, to make sure they are getting the full extent of their education. Being on time to classes will lower detention rates and stop conflict in passing time.

More people being in class

means more people out of the hallway.

Students can still socialize, they just need to walk and talk.

The movement in the hall is really important because our teachers have to keep an eye on the students during passing periods, and the easier the teachers can see, the better the halls can be monitored.

Ritenour students are always finding ways to convince our staff to have more freedom and treat us like young adults, but still make the choices of young children.

It is time for us to make the right choices and start acting like adults if we are demanding to be treated that way.

Flipped classrooms can be problematic Flipped classes offer a transition into college-style learning, but our whole school experience has made it difficult to excel in this style of class By: Bri’Asia Mays Staff Reporter

Everyday I walk in my classes and hope the objective says something along the lines of, ‘students will take notes while I lecture over today’s lesson.’ Instead there is a list of problems under the DO NOW section on last night’s notes on lesson 2.1. I pretend as if I know what I am doing because I did take notes on the PowerPoint that I was supposed to watch for homework, but truthfully, I’m the epitome of clueless.

I know there is a percentage of the student population that supports and encourages flipped classrooms - I

Opinion

am just not one. I don’t mind taking notes at home, I actually quite enjoy it. The issue is the lack of lectures. I am not one of those brilliant students who can teach themselves. I like a more hands on, step-by-step approach, assisted by an instructor.

Teachers believe that the purpose of this teaching style is to have time to help students in a classroom setting. Although this is true, this technique goes against the learning style instilled in students since we were old enough to read.

Many people fear the embarrassment of acknowledging in front of others that they do not understand something. I personally do

not think students, or anyone in this matter, should be forced to embarrass themselves, just to receive assistance. It is absurd.

I know that flipped classrooms are designed to help students transition into the teaching style used in college, but I think there can be a happy medium. Maybe students could take notes at home, then the lecture could be over last night’s notes in the next class to check for student understanding. This strategy would help decrease the amount of time used on note taking and allow students to get the lectures we so deeply desire. It’s a win-win.

Class size drop trend continues The number of freshmen who started with the class of 2016 four years ago was much larger than the amount of seniors today waste of time. One student transferred to a private school. And a girl that I knew got pregnant and she just ended up never coming back to school,” senior Alex Peterson said.

Students seeking other opportunities seems to be a recurring theme in the dropping rates of the senior classes. Students A group of freshmen exit the auditorium after hearing have begun to pursue speakers talk to them about the importance of other opportunities other graduation at Freshman Transition Day. This day was than furthering their developed in order to help grow the graduation rate, as well as introduce freshmen to high school life. Photo by: education. Some have Sean Baker gone to get their GED’s and others have pursued By: Sidney Lee job positions.

Opinion Editor

“My boyfriend dropped out because he did not feel like doing

Every year, seniors marvel work. He felt like it was pointless in August at how their class size has coming to school every day. He went dropped over the past four years. to go get his GED,” senior Denise Bass

The class of 2016 started off said. with a class size of over 500 students

There are many distractions in their freshman year, but at the start that come with being in high school. of their final year in Ritenour the class Some students might get a job thinking size is now 350 students. they can handle work and school, and

There are many reasons why end up having to quit school to keep a high school student could have left their hours. Students might not want school throughout the years. Ritenour to quit, but they might have bills and is a school with a transient community, dues that they have to pay, or even where students sometimes transfer have to help contribute money for their from school to school. families. Some students come into 9th

“We have kids whose families grade with low reading or math skills, pay rent in the district, like in houses and it feels apparent to them that they and apartments, and they move are struggling in that class, so it does around from place to place. Maybe not motivate them to do any better. rent in Riverview is cheaper than rent They may decide that school is not in the Ritenour District,” counselor where they want to be.

Latanya Weaver said.

“In high school it is easier for

Students cite other reasons kids to drop out or skip than when besides moving as to why the class size they were in middle school or during may have dropped. freshmen year. I could drop my kid

“Some of the people that I off at the front door, pull off, and then knew just got really overwhelmed with there he is out the back door,” Assistant high school. Others felt like it was a

Principal Patricia Closson said.

“Usually in middle school if you show up and do some of your work then you get moved onto the next grade. In high school we do not do that. You have to earn your credits, so sometimes when students see that they are not getting their credits, they might give up and drop out.”

Principal Gary Spiller said that there is not just one reason to explain the drop, but acknowledged that there are students with many different life situations.

“Every piece of data has a story. And I know we have the “You Don’t Know My Story” shirts, but every piece of data does have a story.

Every enrollment number, every student has a story,” Spiller said.

Ritenour is trying to offer more engaging programing for the school. Some of the programs that have succeeded or are doing extremely well are Project Lead the Way, Media Convergence, and Family and Consumer Science. These elective programs are built to catch the interests of some students who may have considered not continuing their high school careers.

“I feel that when schools, the home, and the student fail to triangulate, things will fall through.

Usually it’s not the home, because mom and dad or parent or guardians are doing what they need to do to keep things moving. It is not the school because the school is like any institution, it will keep things moving.

Unfortunately it is the student. The parental involvement, and student and school relationship has to be solid. If one piece is broken then it is all going to fall through,” Spiller said.

Spotlight

Senior Brittany Creech thinks outside the lens

When Brittany Creech got her senior pictures taken at Taco Bell she became an overnight national celebrity they know I always joke around. Plus it’s awesome to see a fun-hearted, positive story in the media rather than negative stories all the time.”

Creech attended Ritenour schools from Kindergarten until 8th grade, and then moved in with her dad. She said she decided to come back her senior year because it is where all her friends were and it is where she grew up.

Creech’s photos have been featured nationally by USA Senior Brittany Creech takes her senior pictures at Taco Bell.

Today, Buzz Feed, The photos were picked up by national news organizations.

Huffington Post, Photos courtesy: Brendon Batchelor People Magazine, CNBC, Yahoo News, Cosmopolitan, and By-Leia Boyd locally by STLtoday, KMOV, and Spotlight Editor Fox2now.

“Most of my followers were

Before ever stepping foot on from Missouri, and then when the Ritenour’s campus, senior Brittany Creech became a national sensation for pictures happened they went national, rather than just here,” Creech said. taking her senior photos at Taco Bell.

Besides the news stories,

“I was getting my senior Creech was also featured on television pictures done outside and thought shows after the story broke. it would be funny to get a few done

“The interviews and all the at Taco Bell and post them on my questions aren’t annoying, they can get Twitter,” Creech said. “I already had kind of repetitive, but I’m just glad a 60,000 followers (@MOGirlprobs) before the pictures were done. It’s good good, funny story is being promoted,” Creech said. to see my followers found it funny,

Creech’s bio on Twitter said

Spotlight

that her life goal was to be in a Taco Bell commercial, and the company did ultimately reach out to her.

Creech spent a week in California in September filming a commercial.

Ritenour High School Principal Gary Spiller loved the idea of Creech’s pictures and how they gained so much attention, so he also took pictures at Taco Bell himself. “ I thought it was a super cool idea. I love the idea of her taking her pictures in her happy place, I think we all need to get to our happy place. I just thought it was absolutely amazing,” Spiller said. “I love that social media can bring us together and I love that you can spread an idea as simple as finding your happy place in different forms of social media. I try to support my students as much as I can.”

Spiller actually created a twitter account, @Mr_GarySpiller, because of Creech.

“It’s such a great and positive representation having an Internet famous student going to Ritenour, I love how creative our students are,” Spiller said.

Creech’s friend, senior Isabella Stone, was with Creech the time of the photos and during the whole process.

“I think it’s been so entertaining, she even gave me the password to her Twitter just so I could help and tell her what news people are trying to get ahold of her and all that stuff,” Stone said. “Brittany’s always done funny and random things she is very spontaneous, so it was not too big of a surprise when I found out. If I were to follow in Brittany’s footsteps I would get my pictures at Trader Joe’s or World Foods.”

The Dance, Sep. 19

Homecoming Week Spirit Week, Sep. 14-18

Students on Homecoming Court line up to be recognized. Photo by Bri’Asia Mays.

Ritenour students take part in the Homecoming dance. Photo by Bri’Asia Mays

The Game, Sep. 19

(L)Junior Madison Stiebel and sophomore Emma Stiebel dress up for Tacky Tourist day. (R) Math teacher Patrick Blake dresses up for Carpe Denim day.

Photos by Bri’Asia Mays

(L) Junior Ashley Wright shows off different shoes on What are those Wednesday.

(R)A group of students dance to “Hit the Quan.” Photos

by Sean Baker

The Huskies lost 35-28 to 10th ranked Rockwood Summit. Photo by Sean Baker

Homecoming Assembly, Sept. 18

(L) Students listen to the presenters during the assembly on September 18. (R) Counselor Lindsey Webster and senior Darryl Burkes dance at the assembly. Photo by Sean Baker

Ritenour High School’s new staff members By- Leia Boyd Spotlight Editor

Ritenour welcomes 17 new staff members to the school.

Alex TerranceI’m looking forward to going to sporting events and seeing my students there.

Yul Amerson“ I’m looking forward to getting to know the kids.”

Karina Arango“I’m looking forward to connecting with students and cultivating leaders.”

Pamela Capp“I’m looking forward to the diverse population, and meeting new people and trying new things.”

Elizabeth Foss- “I’m looking forward to working with other teachers.”

Michael Mayberry“I’m looking forward to working with new students.”

Beth Seibold“I’m looking forward to getting to work within a department, and having additional resourses.”

Charles Walker- “Im looking forward to working with this Social Studies department.”

Jeremy Housewright“I’m looking forward to meeting new people at Ritenour.”

Laura Garay“I’m looking forward to getting to know my students.”

Julie Hohmann- “I’m looking forward to having positive relationships with students and staff.”

Ericka Harris“I’m looking forward to getting to know the students.”

John Schimmel“It’s a pleasure to work with such awesome kids in this school.”

Kristina Mattson“I’m looking forward to working with the students and having my own classroom.”

Mike Nelke“I’m looking forward to working in the school community.”

Yancy Temple- “I’m looking forward to coaching basketball.”

Sharnez Givens“I’m looking forward to building lasting relationships with all my students.”

First Responder Luncheon commemorates events of 9/11 Ritenour holds an event for first responders in honor of the service they provide in the wake of the events of September 11, 2001 happening in class, it was like everyone came together. It didn’t matter what beef or problems you had with someone, it was just put all aside and we came together as one,” Officer George Ravens said.

In an attempt to help commemorate the events of that day 14 years ago, Officers from the St. John Police Department sit Ritenour held its second amongst the crowd of first responders at the First annual First Responders Responder luncheon held at Ritenour on September 11.

Luncheon.

Photo by: Morgan Diamond The event was started by class of 2015 Ritenour By: Sidney Lee graduate Lindsay Ryan. She was Opinion Editor interested in being a first responder, and proposed the luncheon last year.

This September 11th marked “In early September last the 14 year anniversary of the day that year we were talking about 9/11 and changed America, when two planes how we do not celebrate it anymore. were hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. We were talking about the fact that students are getting to the age to where

“It was around 11 a.m. when many of them weren’t alive when my pager was going off, and I was 9/11 happened,” Assistant Principal confused on what was happening. My Bilal Ewing said. “People do not pager said ‘due to the terror everyone think about it the same way or have is now on standby.’ I was half asleep a discussion about it, so she came up and I was like ‘due to the terror,’ what with the idea of the First Responders was that? And that was when I turned on the TV and I saw the jet fly into the Luncheon.”

Through all that was twin towers,” Officer Elliott Miller said. happening in 2001, the American

Most of America stopped people came together and stood side what they were doing to watch what by side as one. The problems each was happening. People all over the individual was facing in their life world watched the terror that was seemed so tiny and incompatible with going on in America, and fear settled what was going on in the country. in the country. Nobody knew what

“I do feel like it a lot of people was happening. First responders were that day got brought back to their roots on standby waiting to be told the next as Americans and were able to accept move to make, but nobody was sure other people for who they were, but what to do.

I do also feel like there was a small

“When we saw what was

percent of our population that was so scared that they acted out towards other people from Middle Eastern countries with a lot of violence against people that were not American,” Officer Jaclyn Evans said.

This event changed life short term and long term for America.

Traveling across the world is not as easy as it used to be. Prior to 9/11, people could buy a plane ticket, go through the security check and they were on the plane ready to go. People who were not flying could also go through security and sit at the gates near the planes.

Now there are multiple security checks. People are subjected to having their luggage examined to make sure they do not have anything that they are not supposed to have on the plane with them. The laws were tightened and more secure than before.

“It changed how I looked at police work. It made me feel honored to be a police officer knowing all the work and things that the first responders did on that day,” Officer Miller said.

Police forces, firefighters, and civilians fought as one that day. They built a strong bond working together trying to keep everyone safe and comforted.

“Seeing firefighters, police officers, and people go into the burning, collapsing buildings as people were running out. It took heroism to go in there risking their lives for other peoples safety. It makes you feel a little bit better about your job and the things you do,” Officer Ravens said.

News

A new home for non-native speakers The International Welcome Center at Hoech Middle School will help non-English speakers transition into Ritenour High School

Teacher Jamie Cardwell and Ritenour ELL TA Karina Arango work with students at the International Welcome Center.

Photo courtesy Ritenour School District.

By: Ryan Tiefenbruch Sports Editor

The Ritenour School District has added a new classroom in the north wing of Hoech Middle School.

The Ritenour International Welcome Center opened on August 17 to help meet the needs of English Language Learners at the high school, and is led

by Jamie Cardwell.

“I think its absolutely an amazing thing that our district is making a commitment to helping students who are in transition coming from other countrys where English is not the primary language,” Ritenour High School Principal Gary Spiller said.

The new center will start with 10-15 Ritenour High School students who need intensive English Language Learner (ELL) support with accelerated English training, and introduction to the U.S. culture and school system. It will also give them exposure to educational expectations and opportunities.

“It will prepare them in the

sense that they will have the English to advocate for themselves in the classroom,” ELL teacher Mike Mayberry said.

In addition to helping the students, the center will help their parents navigate the school’s community. The parents will be provided with information about community resources, and health care service agencies that can help non-English speaking

families.

“The IWC will help the families of the students by providing adequate education for new students to the country. The staff is bilingual (Spanish/English) so families feel comfortable when calling the center or during meetings,” Cardwell said.

“We also provide a wrap-around approach including a social worker and community resources to support the whole child.”

The center is one way Ritenour is helping students who come to the district from families who speak a language other than English. ELL teachers continue to serve students in each of the elementary, middle and high schools. The center grew out of the need for a more intensive program for high school students who are arriving from their home country as teenagers.

“I think it’s a necessary endeavor that benefits the school and the kids who are involved in the program. It allows teachers to have more time with the kids who are

not linguistically prepared for class and puts them in an appropriate environment for them to learn.”

Mayberry said

Students will spend one to three semesters at the International Welcome Center before finishing their credits at Ritenour High School.

“This is something that not a lot of people are doing and I think this is the best practice, and that other schools in other districts can learn from it,” Spiller said.

The center provides a routine for these students as they transition into the district. In the mornings, math teacher Karla Conrey goes to the center to teach math and ELL TA Karina Arango and Cardwell support the lesson. Then students either go to encore classes (art, music, PE) or work in a small group with Cardwell.

During the small group time, they work on discrete English skills, reading strategies, and technology skills.

The students will also begin studying a PLTW unit in engineering where they will use their English knowledge to solve real-world problems.

This program will help to support the functional English that students need to survive high school life as well as teach them about the American school system. They will have stronger English skills and be able to more effectively navigate high school life. Obviously, the more we can do to create healthy, compassionate, productive students, the more we can benefit our district and ultimately, our community,” Cardwell said.

News

Transition to a new system A transition from E-school to Tyler caused early concerns, but students and teachers are slowly learning the program

The switch to the new system caused some problems with scheduling. Many of the schedules that had been done last year would not transfer to Tyler, so counselors were trying to schedule students by hand right before school began.

Math teacher Pat Blake uses Tyler on his laptop to enter student grades. The transition to Tyler interrupted the early part of the school year, but students and teachers are slowly getting used to the new system. Photo by Leia Boyd

By: Sean Baker Content Editor-in-Chief

Over the past summer, Ritenour High School started the transition to a new student information system called Tyler.

Tyler is a student information system that contains basic demographic information on the students in the system, and it holds information like schedules, transcripts, attendance, and grades. It also gives data points to determine where the students are at with achievement, attendance, discipline and more similar information.

Many students have questioned why the school transitioned to this new system.

“Tyler has more capabilities. It has a better user interface, the report gathering is 10 times better, and just

News

providing us with data so that we can be a data driven organization to make improvements,” Principal Gary Spiller said.

There have been four main people involved with the integration of Tyler, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Dr. Shelly MillsWalker, Application Support Specialist Sharon Ellis, Student Information Specialist Samantha Hamilton, and Director of Technology Dr. Fred Harlan.

“There have also been some amazing teachers that have stepped up, Ms. Beamer, Ms. Swallow, Ms. Hirsch, Mrs. Greiner are some of many teacher leaders that have help make the transition go as smoothly as possible here,” Spiller said.

However, the main two departments running the system are student services and technology.

“It’s been a transition, so just like anything there have been some things that have been definite wins and there have been some things have taken a little bit of time. Anytime you shift from doing things one way to learning how to do them another, there is a learning curve,” Spiller said.

The transition is still ongoing and will take more time to get everything perfected and where it needs to be.

The administrators believe that the system is much stronger and it has many more things to come. A lot of the teachers and administrators are looking forward to becoming more acquainted with the system.

“I think it’s the right move, it just takes time. I know one of the things Dr. Mills-Walker and her department says, is that it is like the old World War I posters from Great Britain, keep calm and carry on,’” Spiller said. “This is like, Keep calm and journey on, because it just takes time, don’t panic, we are learning this as we go.”

Since the start of the year, the student and parent portal has been opened, so families can now monitor grades.

To access grades, students can go to sdm.sisk12.com/RIT and log in to their account.

New counselor revamps college program Former employee Julie Kampschroeder returns to Ritenour to run the college program and help students get to their dream schools

New college counselor Julie Kampschroeder meets with senior Dana Rue to go over graduation and college plans. Photo by: Carcea Carr

By: Carcea Carr Online Editor

Former Ritenour employee Julie Kampschroeder thought she was just going to be coming back to Ritenour to offer some college workshops, but after speaking with Principal Gary Spiller about the potential of coming back full time as the college counselor, she jumped at the opportunity.

Leading students towards their dream, college counselor Kampschroeder came back to Ritenour seeking to enhance opportunities for students after high school.

“I think the college program is very beneficial for giving students a fair chance at college opportunities and scholarships. Every meeting she gives you an excessive amount of work

towards your future to keep you on track,” senior Ahriel Foreman said. “If Kampschroeder keeps putting forth the effort towards this program for each student there will be a big change in numbers throughout the Ritenour community.”

Kampschroeder’s new job is to assist students in their college planning. She was originally planning to bring the college counseling series to Ritenour through a non-profit organization until she was hired full time mid-June.

Kampschroeder also oversees the AP program and the PSAT. The college counseling program in particular entails a hundred students per grade level coming into school. On Professional Development days and Saturdays, students meet and develop skills to learn how to be a strong

college applicant. The overall goal for Kampschroeder is to assist in making college enrollment a reality for every student who chooses that path.

“My absolute favorite part of my job is when I get to work one on one with students to find a compatible college fit. It is the most important part of the process,” Kampschroeder said.

Along with planning the perfect college fit, students selected to be in college series will receive free ACT help with a tutor who usually charges $1500 for that service. This is done to improve the probability of a student attending their dream college. She will also help students create a college resume, and navigate any financial problems that could keep them from attending college.

Kampschroeder indicated that she plans on staying at Ritenour High School until she retires.

“We want to build a college program from the ground up,” Kampschroeder said.

Kampschroeder will be accepting appointments from seniors during first semester. She asks that any interested seniors go to the senior office and ask for a pink appointment slip, and then a day and time will be set. All students are responsible for being in Kampschroeder’s office on time. Second semester juniors will be allowed to see her for a one on one meeting as well.

Kampschroeder also updated her website page with information.

Students just need to go to the Ritenour High School home page, click on “college” and the topics will be on the right side of the page.

News

Fall Sports Capsules Football

• Last year’s Record: 3-7 • This year’s record: 2-2 • Key returning players: Carl Garmon, Ricky McCoy, Tre Hollins White • Top new athletes: Tree Beach, Rashad Hughes, Robby Hughes • Season goals: 11+

Junior Morgan Coffey sets the ball in a match against McCluer North. Photo

by Sean Baker

Girls Volleyball Last year’s record: 17-15

Senior Le’Twon Jackson tries to gain yards against Marquette.

Photo by Sean Baker

Softball

• • This year’s record: 1-8 • Key returning players: Shelby Wesche, Kayla Whiteside, Morgan Coffey, Taylor Russell • Top new athletes: Adela Rico, Brenda Reed, Bri Mays, Coralis Bobe • Season Goals: We have a young team that will need to work hard to uphold our winning tradition.

• Last year’s record: 12-8 • This year’s record: 6-9 • Key returning players: Jordyne Frost, Kayleigh Robinson, Ali Farley, Sarah Goers, and Andrea Wanta • Top new athletes: Reese Sherman, Izzy Clark, Amber Brinker, Camryn Aubertin, Haley Prouhet, Jessica Schantz • Season goals: Hope to have close to the same record as last year. This is a rebuilding year because we graduated several key positions

Sophomore Reese Sherman waits for the pitch. Sherman is one of the new varsity athletes. Photo by: Sean Baker

Junior Rance Drexler , one of the top returning runners, runs during a cross country meet.

Photo by: Sean Baker

Cross Country

• Top returning athletes: Rance Drexler, Maddie Stiebel • Top new athletes: Courtland Barnes, Zabdy Gonzalez • Season outlook: Lots of new faces and new talent.

They will push each other to new levels, and I expect every runner to get a new PR this season.

Girls Golf • Last year’s record: 0-3 • Top returning athletes: Bekah Jimenez, Aurora McCandless • Top new athletes: Shelby Langhorst and Kili Garcia • Season outlook: We are in a very tough conference for golf, with Kirkwood and Rockwood Summit both having finished top 5 in the state recently. You add in Clayton, Pattonville and the Parkways and it’s a very tough conference. We are improving every match.

Sophomore Shelby Langhorst competes against Kirkwood in a golf event. Photo courtesy: RHS Athletics

Girls Tennis

Sophomore Angel Villanueva dribbles the ball up the field against Ladue.

Photo by: Brittany Baker

Boys Soccer • Last year’s record: 4-17-2 • This year’s record: 2-6-1 • Key returners: Seniors Gibran Torres on defense and Ivan Markley in goal. Juniors Dan Caballero, Franky Becerril and Nicco Snider, Sophomores Jon Bishop, Maurice Lewis, Alexis Reyes and Angel Villanueva.

• Season Outlook: Last season was tough. We lost a lot of one goal games and we were a young team. This season we return those same players, but now they are a year older and ready to play prominent roles on the team.

• Last year’s record: 1-10 • This year’s record: 1-4 • Top returning athletes: Aley Taylor, Rachel Zelle, Kyla Martin • Top new athletes: Edu Gonzales • Season outlook: I expect that we will be able to compete in our district at a high level since the varsity team consists of returning members. I hope that the younger players are motivated to work hard to reach the varsity level next season.

Senior Aley Taylor returns a volley in a match against Hazelwood Central on September 19.

Photo by Sean Baker

Senior Nick Klingerman takes the block in a swim meet last school year. Photo courtesy Ritenour Yearbook

Boys Swimming

• Last year’s record: 8-11 • This year’s record: 1-3 • Top returning athletes: Nick Klingerman, Andrew Buresh, Jacob Volkert • Top new athletes: Alex Leduc • Season outlook: It’s about progess not perfection.