15 04 16 Rampage

2270 Highway 133

Carbondale, CO 81623

April 2015

Volume 8 Issue 7

The Rampage

Spring sports in full swing at RFHS

Whatʼs Inside:

Baseball:

-Edgar Reyna

Girls Soccer:

The RFHS girls soccer team is facing some challenges with CHSAA’s new rule where only two teams from the 3A bracket are chosen to play in the playoff bracket due to the new 2A schools added to our league. Head soccer coach Heather Fox said playoffs will be harder this year so the girls are working on leadership skills and coming together as a team. Fox stated that it’s very important to set goals so they can go beyond their own expectations. With every season beginning with a new group of girls, the RFHS soccer team is willing to put in the hours of work to succeed. Lily Nichols, a freshman on the varsity team, mentioned, “It’s going pretty well. We’ve lost a couple of games, but we are looking forward to our next win.”

Despite the team’s losses, Fox is determined her team has what it takes to accomplish their goals.

“We have good leadership, [we are] willing to work together at all costs, and, most importantly, we have proven we are willing to fight to the end,” Fox said.

Fox said she is looking forward to working with a new group of girls this season and seeing how they work as a team on and off the field. Fox wants her team to know, “I believe in them and that if they come to practice everyday and work hard, they will achieve the goals they’ve set.” Their current league record is 1-2 bringing their overall record to 2-3-1.

Despite their rough start with a 0-6 record, head coach Martin Madsen maintains his team has what it takes to turn it all around. “Our defensive capability is really good fundamentally.

It allows us to stay in the game,” Madsen said. Although Madsen hopes to get a few wins along the road, winning is not his first priority for his players: “School first, act like gentlemen, give RFHS a good name, and, most importantly, act like men,” he said.

Drew Broadhurst is a freshman on the varsity team and said that their infield defense would be the team’s key strength, but they still have work to do. Broadhurst hopes to improve his own skills for when he’s an upperclassman: “I’d like for the younger kids to look up to me.”

By the end of the season, Madsen hopes his team understands that “if you don’t give respect, you won’t get respect.”

Model UN in NYC (Page 2)

Avalanche!

(Page 3)

Track and Field:

Sophomore Cindy Salinas goes for the ball at the Rams’ home game against Basalt. After defeating the Longhorns in their first game, the Rams unfortunately ended this game in a 0-0 draw.

Coach Ken Woodard commented on how the track team is doing so far this year: “The season’s going great, and the athletes are awesome.”

Adrian Chavez, a senior on Roaring Fork’s track team, has high hopes for this season. “My personal goals for this season are to participate in State and get in the best shape I can for the Marine Corps.” Chavez owes his strong season so far to his coaches and teammates, who he credited with pushing him farther than his own expectations.

Although Chavez is having a great season, he feels all the weight on his shoulders due to the lower-classmen on the team that look up to him. “I try to participate in all the activities and workouts just to set a good example and hope they do the same in their near future,” Chavez said.

Chavez wants people to know that track isn’t just about running. “Track is a chance to make friends, bond with teammates, have fun, and, most importantly, give it your all at every cost.”

Come support the Ramsʼ spring sports teams!

Rams Track and Field: April 17 Rangley Invite Here are schedules for the remaining events: Lady Rams Soccer: April 16 Rifle @ RFHS 4-6 April 18 RFHS @ CRMS 11-1 April 21 Rangley @ RFHS 4-6 April 24 RFHS @ Moffat 4-6 April 28 Grand Valley @ RFHS 4-6

April 24 Montrose Invite May 1-2 WSL League @ Grand Boys Baseball: Junction April 18 RFHS @ Gunnison DH 11-1 May 8-9 Tiger Invite (Last April 25 Aspen @ RFHS DH 11-1 Chance Meet) @ Grand April 28 RFHS @ Coal Ridge 4:00 Junction May 2 Moffat County @ RFHS DH 11-1 May 14-16 State Championship @ Denver

April: National Poetry Month (Pages 4 & 5)

*

PARCC Testing (Page 7)

*Happy belated April Fools’ Day from The Rampage Staff!

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Rampage | April 2015

Feature

Model UN takes a bite out of the Big Apple

A

t 4:15 am, March 2, 18 students gathered in the dark high school parking lot and set off for New York City. We were headed to the National High School Model United Nations Conference, an international meeting for Model United Nations teams. 3,800 students gathered there to spend a week debating real-life issues from the management of ebola to the establishment of access to clean water in Sub-Saharan Africa. It was an incredible opportunity to delve deeper into diplomacy and international relations and explore global challenges in depth. In the conference, our team represented Cambodia in a variety of committees mirroring those of the real United Nations. There were a total of five committee sessions throughout the conference, and in each session we researched, debated, and finally drafted resolutions addressing the problems our committees were tasked to solve. Outside of meetings, we immersed ourselves in the culture of New York City, exploring street food, subways, and iconic destinations like the Statue of Liberty. Below are snapshots of several trip highlights.

Content curated by Tavia Teitler, Fiona Laird, and Emily Bruell

Broadening horizons: Costa Rica -Katie Weimer Palm trees, sandy beaches and salty waters are very different from Colorado’s tall mountain peaks.

Costa Rica is the destination of choice for a small travel group led by English teacher Denise Wright.

With a price tag of $2000 compared to the World Travelers Club travel costs to Europe of $4000$7000, this trip to Central America is unique and more affordable. They depart in July of this year.

The idea for a trip to Costa Rica came about from students who wondered what it was like to travel outside of the country. Wright is a strong believer in students paying for the expenses on their own.

“I want a trip that is achievable for kids. I want it to try and open up kids’ worlds,” said Wright.

As part of fundraising for the trip, Wright said

seniors Eber Silva and Ariel Palomera played a key role in re-opening the school’s snack shack in the commons that has not been open for five years.

“Without the students, it would have never worked,” said Wright.

The travel group has had to overcome a few obstacles with the store re-opening, including state regulations which determine what they are or are not allowed to sell. For example, they can’t sell soda or cookies doing the school day, and they can’t be open at the same time that the cafeteria is in operation. All proceeds from the snack shack go toward students funds for the trip. Along with the snack shack, the group has volunteered at children’s booths at Mountain Fair and served hot chocolate and food at Carbondale’s First Friday events.

There are five students attending the trip: Sergio Vega, Erik Carillo, Eber Silva, Eddy Meraz, Abe Her-

nandez and Yasmin Castillo. Sergio Vega, a junior, decided to join because he wanted to go on the trip with his friends.

“I’m excited to go to the beach and see a different culture,” Vega shared.

Senior Erik Carrillo shared his perspective on fundraising and even called it “fun.”

“We have done a lot of different things that led us to meeting new people. In the end it will be worth it when we are laying on the beach with a coconut in Costa Rica.”

Feature

Senior Spotlight: Chering Sherpa

-Kristin Page Chering Sherpa, a senior at RFHS, moved to Carbondale his sophomore year in 2012 from Nepal, when his aunt married a local. His immediate family decided to move here for better education and lifestyle. Sherpa was the last of his family to arrive. Being new to this

Rampage | April 2015 country, he didn’t know much English although what little he did speak helped him succeed.

“My biggest struggle throughout high school has been talking to girls and getting used to speaking English,” admits Sherpa, “But I’ve been getting more comfortable with girls and school is much easier here.”

Sherpa’s English

To Do List: Prom Date Tuxedo Flowers

3

speaking has improved since his first year here and speaks three other languages: Nepalese, Indian, and Tiberius.

He plans to visit Nepal for a few months in the summer. Playing basketball on Varsity his senior year has been his fondest memory of high school, and Sherpa wants to continue playing basketball in college. He has applied to Colorado Mesa University, CU Boulder, and Fort Lewis, though he is still undecided on where he’ll be next year.

CMC in Glenwood is also an option he has considered.

“I really like it here. There’s no reason for me to leave.”

The Floral Boutique 963-0866

Snowmass avalanche! A personal account

-Roy Benge

T

he slope fell out from underneath me. By the time I realized I was in an avalanche, I was already 15 feet down the hill. I could hear the shouts of my friends around me and the whooshing of snow as it cascaded toward the trees. I slid out of control down the slope into the trees, straining to keep my feet in front of my body.

My shoulder clipped one tree, my ski tips clacked another, and I skidded over a ledge.

I dropped, surrounded by snow, unaware until I landed that I had been swept over a jutting 10-foot granite outcrop. I landed right side up in a tree well, buried to my waist, in position to brace myself yet unsure if the well would shield me from the snow or instead act as a pool to be filled up. In the next second or two, the rest of the snow crashed by.

All was still on the slope around me, but I could see almost nothing from my tree well.

Immediately, we all started yelling to each other, first each others’ names. The moment between when the avalanche stopped and I heard each of my three friends call out was one of terror; any of us could have easily been buried.

“Tanner! Eric! Weaver!” I called out.

“Up here!” replied one of the Froelicher brothers among the chorus of shouts.

“Holy smokes! We were in an avalanche!”

I yelled.

“We could be dead!” someone else called.

A steady stream of curses supplemented the dialogue.

Eric Froelicher, a Colorado Rocky Mountain School senior and longtime friend who, like all of us, has skied his whole life, was hung up on some trees 20 feet above me. His older brother, Weaver, a college student visiting home, was hooked by the armpit in some trees off to Eric’s side.

Tanner Spence, like me a senior at Roaring Fork High School, had

not been swept into the trees like the rest of us.

From the shouts below we realized that he had been taken a couple hundred feet down the mountain. He lost both skis and swam with his arms and legs, trying to stay above the snow. He later said, “I could feel it pulling me under.”

We were all extremely lucky as the wet snow could have easily trapped any one of us, and since we were skiing within resort boundaries, we had no backcountry equipment such as beacons, probes, and shovels. It would have been a difficult task to locate and dig out a person, as we learned trying to find Tanner’s skis. By luck, Eric found one ski a few feet under the surface, and ski patrollers recovered the other later, after we reported the incident.

The avalanche happened in Rock Island, my favorite run of all time--located high on Snowmass and offering cliff drops, pillows, both tree-glade skiing and open slopes, a variety

of pockets and stashes, and a high-alpine feel among cliffs and blowing snow. We four had been skiing powder all day, almost exclusively on Rock Island, which was truly unreal, as we floated down over the features, catching face shots with each turn.

On this particular run, we had been cutting the highest line of the day, and hit a weak spot in the snowpack.

As all four of us entered a small clearing at the same time, we triggered the avalanche. The slide was about 50 feet wide, with a two-foot crown (vertical fracture).

In-bounds avalanches are very rare. In fact, in listing ski fatalities in the last five years, U.S. Avalanche Accidents Reports (on avalanche.org) cites 48 in the backcountry, with only one death within resort boundaries. Still, we believe we should have taken more safety precautions and been more mindful, at least in scoping each section and then spacing ourselves out. The ski patrollers had been do-

Above, Eric Froelicher stands in front of the snow shift.

The crown of the avalanche can be seen above Froelicher who is standing halfway down the chute.

ing a good job with avalanche control, bombing many sections to mitigate the danger, but we were unlucky.

We are very fortunate to have skied away relatively unscathed, whether on two skis or, in Tanner’s case, one ski. We are also fortunate that we have this

caliber of terrain to ski; just about every other ski resort out there is tame compared to what the Aspen Snowmass resorts offer. There are risks associated with this kind of skiing, and we have to remember that, even if our minds are clouded with powder.

FOC

Rampage | April 2015

Art and Poetry Showcase

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Justice Bouchet Project: Landscape

What do you like about art? It’s fun. I...like working with my hands to create anything, really, so that’s why I do a lot of sewing and weird crafting, and art is just a great way to do that and get credit for it.

Inspiration? I picked a desert because that’s what I really like. I was like, “Oh this is pretty, I’ll do that.”

Excerpt from “Makayla”

by Portia Brown In Mrs.Carneys room we were our own crew thinking we were blessed thinking we never needed rest never thought of how those years happened to be our best And now we’re in this mess of you leaving to an island on the Pacific Where your cheaply bleached hair will surely fade into salt water and your pale skin will no longer glisten but turn sun kissed There will be countless Instagram pictures where my body will be missed and I will no longer be able to assist your needs hidden by long sleeves You have too many fears but we’ve coincidentally faced all of them throughout these past fourteen years I will always miss all this white furniture that has sat here But besides all this I’m sitting here surrounded by Pepto pink walls and album covers on the interior of halls fidgeting with a comforter that’s no longer your style

Art is an integral part of the Roaring Fork High School community. With a wide range of art classes, from ceramics and jewelry on drawing and painting, the majority of students at RFHS have been able to explore their artistic side. Recently, Roaring Fork students took first place at the Battle of the Walls, an art competition between schools throughout the Valley. Several of our students were curators or artists in the Aspen Art Museum’s Young Curators exhibit that was on display throughout March. These recognitions and Roaring Fork’s art program showcase the passion for creativity and self-expression that many of our students possess.

In this month’s focus, we highlight some of Roaring Fork’s great artists and the incredible work they have created.

Poetry is an essential part of life for many students at Roaring Fork High School. Many use it as a way to better express their feelings and connect with others around them. In March, poets Myrlin Hepworth, Mercedez Holtry, and Logan Phillips came to the Roaring Fork Valley to perform and lead poetry workshops for students of all ages. This created a buzz around poetry and even more students began writing poems of their own. Students and teachers at RFHS joined with local poets and artists to create a monthly Poetry Crew, which meets every third Thursday of the month at Steve’s Guitars at 4:30pm. The Poetry Crew gives students and other local poets an opportunity to share their poetry with others. Join the Crew this Thursday!

Hector Pelayo Project: Grid Drawing

What do you like about art? You get to let your mind go free and do whatever you want. It’s kind of based on what you want to do, and it’s cool because you have a bunch of freedom.

Inspiration? Well, I like sports, and I like people who change sports, and so I drew Jackie Robinson because he was...the person that let all African Americans play baseball.

CUS

Paige

Gianninetti Project: Grid Drawing What do you like about art? It allows you to express your emotions and how you’re feeling at that time, whether it’s through a color scheme or patterns or the type of image you’re drawing.

Inspiration? I chose to draw a horse because I grew up on a farm, and I’ve been riding horses since I was a toddler. I just thought that was a big part of me and I wanted to do that.

Rampage | April 2015

Excerpt from “The Things I Should Have Said” by Anali Garcia I may not be a perfect Disney princess nor am I a nuestra-bellezaLatina My hips are a little too wide, I’m short and cranky I look like I’m 12 when I am gonna be 18 soon.

I have a dark past, full of pain and suffering, 7 was the age I found out truly how cruel the world could be.

Broken and consumed in darkness for years but with you I saw a lighter side of the world, the true meaning of the word Hope.

I am the hopeless romantic Soy la novelera Cursi The writer The girl who spends a little too much time wishing on stars The girl who wants to show you that you are such a wonderful human being and you’re worth so much even if you don’t believe in your self.

And if you’re lucky, I might just write a poem about you, and even better I might just share it in a poetry slam Because everything’s better when I am with you.

You see ,I would do anything humanly possible, and if it isn’t possible, then I would die trying.

Okay, maybe not die, but I do make really good tacos.

Naomi Pulver Fire

You told me she wasn’t here, and that I was a fire, so I kept you warm.

You later said a fire is a fire, and left when my coals turned to stone.

You’ll tell your friends you were cold, that the back of your knuckles had begun to compile with snow, that that night I was the chill that clung to your body, I was the one who made you froze.

Luke Klotz Project: Landscape What do you like about art? Just the expression and the creativity, the “boundaryless-ness” of it.

Inspiration? I think...well, ski season was coming up and I was super jazzed on that...There’s nothing really like skiing.

But what’s a flame to a fire if both can burn up an entire town?

If either are guilty of its vices, then our chances must be slim...

We are but old flames, torches still lit, lights to guide us home.

But you told me a fire is a fire, and you were cold.

5

Jackson Hardin Excerpt from “Long Distance” When she is here, everything is light.

The sun shines sweetly Through every cloudy day and everything smells of lilacs When she is gone, each yesterday becomes a little less bright And each tomorrow is a desert to be survived Some days, you won’t be able to distract yourself long enough To not think about how much missing her makes you miserable When even the music in her voice isn’t enough to pick you up Those are the really dark days.

The ones when you feel like life’s sweetness is ash in your mouth And though you try your damndest, you just can’t feel her anymore You wonder, how the hell can all this anguish be worth it?

Wouldn’t it be easier to part ways And leave this stop-and-go romance waiting in baggage claim?

Of course it would be Were it not for the way the sunlight catches in her hair Or the rhythm of her breath when she sleeps Like the endless waves upon the shore Tide bearing away all the pain and resentment of so many lonely nights On my darkest days I think about the electricity inside her collar bones And the unbridled joy in her laugh that still reaches me across so many miles I remember when she asked me if I was certain I wanted to do this I remember most because she needed me to and I needed her Because that kind of self-destructive insanity can only exist When you love someone With every shallow breath And every beat of your crooked heart

CrossFit Teens Monday, Wednesday, Friday @ 4:15pm 1629 EAST DOLORES WAY CARBONDALE CO, 81623 (970) 948-8989 kids@sopriscrossfit.com

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Rampage | April 2015

Sports

Friendly lunch time competition

-Maeve O’Donnell

Everyday during lunch, a large group of RFHS students crowd into the gym to watch friendly competitions between students and teachers. P.E. and health teacher Ken Woodard created the intramural sports program to “bring the people together at lunch in a fun atmosphere,” and “get some school spirit.”

Intramural sports, according to Woodard, is “a bunch of individual and team activities.”

Each game lasts between 15 to 20 minutes and includes basketball, soccer, volleyball, and other alternative games like ping pong, cornhole, and dodgeball. So far, intramural has had over 200 participants, but has been lagging in female participation.

Woodard hopes to turn this around by the end of the year and rally a lot of girls for next year.

Sergio Vega, a junior at Roaring Fork who won the basketball

tournament, believes that intramural is uniting, and he likes the competition that it provides. The only drawback he found was having to play the teachers.

Leslie Keery, RFHS art teacher, played cornhole in intramurals and reflected on playing the students: “It’s fun! It cracks me up that they kick my butt.”

Intramural has become an important part of RFHS’s schedule -- besides being a fun way to bring the school together, it keeps more kids on campus during lunch. Many students clear out at lunch time to go eat at home or grab lunch from a restaurant. Many students left at school only need a portion of the 40 allotted minutes to eat, and they spend the rest of their time wandering the school.

In Assistant Principal Kelsie Goodman’s words, the students in high school “have

much more free time, that’s not completely monitored,” compared to previous years. From preschool to middle school, students are supervised during lunch and recess and told precisely what is expected of them. When high school comes around, students are faced with the time and freedom to choose how they behave and what they participate in. Options like skipping class, not doing homework, or engaging in reckless behaviors and activities can present themselves during lunch, and it can be hard for students to say no to. Intramural “provides a positive choice” for students, Goodman said.

Intramural has a large amount of support from the student body, and everyone is excited to see it here again next year and to participate in what Woodard called “low-stress, good-kindof-playground fun.”

Pain and gain:

Does creatine hurt or help?

-Hayden Bernot

Like the bodybuilders, the Division I, and AllAmerican athletes before us know, lifting and weight training are a big part of being athletically successful. Lately, there has been a big debate over the different substances and how they aid in weight lifting. Many students use a form of protein or creatine before or after their workout. These substances, like many others, are to help muscle growth and muscle recovery. For students attempting to get into a college for a sport or athletic ability, it is crucial for them to be as fit as possible.

That’s where creatine comes in. Creatine is an organic acid that is transported through the blood by an active transport system, it is then used by muscles that have high energy demands, such as the brain and skeletal muscle. Therefore, when you take it, you build muscle faster.

There has always been controversy over whether or not these substances are good for muscle growth. Although RFHS Weightlifting instructor Larry Williams explained that creatine can help students increase their muscle mass, he cautioned against using it because it can “cause dehydration, therefore causing you to cramp up.”

“I have used creatine in the past and it helped me bulk up faster,” Junior Conrado Dolores, winner of the Iron Ram award, told us. “The one problem I had with creatine is that I found that I had to come off of it slowly, or I would lose a lot of my gains,” he continued. There isn’t much conclusive research yet, but people do say you have to stop taking it slowly because you can lose a lot of your muscle mass. Protein and creatine are very helpful for building muscle in the short-term.

Another drawback to using protein and creatine is that you have to lift before or after you use these substances. Creatine is a lot like a protein shake -- you can add it to water or any liquid. You can also drink it bland. Both are not meant for drinking at anytime.

Williams ultimately concluded that students shouldn’t use creatine.“I believe it is better for younger kids to not use substances and just eat lots of protein from meats and vegetables to reach their goals,” he said. Dolores ended by saying, “I feel that now I have more time to work out, so I don’t need to use protein or creatine. I only eat healthy foods to help me gain muscle.”

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News

PARCC causes controversy -Carley Moravek

In the past, students across the country have taken standardized tests on paper. But this school year, the tests have been changed to a completely new format: computerized. This new assessment is called The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College (PARCC). In high school, ninth through eleventh graders take PARCC twice a year, and each student is assessed on their level of English/Writing and Mathematics.

10 percent of RFHS students opted out of taking the exams. PARCC has had more controversial reviews from students than previous state-administered tests, as many found PARCC to be very time-consuming. RFHS freshman, Bella Ulrych, shared that she would opt out of future PARCC testing because the test scores would not affect her transcript or grade. She also stated that time spent testing could be spent working on homework instead.

According to Kelsie Goodman, Assistant Principal of RFHS, “The junior class had the most students opt out of PARCC … due to the fact that the ACT is also taken this spring.” Many juniors felt that taking two tests in such a short amount of time was too taxing, and would detract from performance on both tests.

At RFHS, test anxiety, controversy surrounding state testing, and parents wanting to wait until the second year of implementation, were the leading reasons students chose to opt out of testing.

“All new testing formats can be controversial, but since students are given the option to opt out, it is more on the forefront,” Goodman explained.

Goodman continued to say that even though it is “too early to tell if [PARCC] will be better or worse than previous tests,” she did not encourage students to opt out of the test because of the long-term benefits for the school and individual students.

“Ideally, the scores from these tests will be accessible to students very quickly so students can use their scores to compare themselves to students around the nation and push themselves on what they need,” Goodman said.

Both Goodman and RFHS history teacher Matt Wells believe assessing students is very important.

“We need to know where [students] are so that we as teachers can adjust, improve, and change what we are doing to make sure we meet [their] needs” Wells explained.

But Wells doesn’t believe the sheer quantity of testing is necessary. He would rather see one assessment a year as opposed to “multiple standardized assessments.” This way, it would limit the amount of disruption to instructional time.

The first portion of PARCC took place the week of March 11 with the second portion of PARCC taking place the week of April 28.

Rampage | April 2015

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Upcoming Events at Roaring Fork

April 25: Prom at the RVR Barn from 9:00- 12:00 April 28: ACT for all juniors April 28: PARCC testing May 6 and 7: AP Spanish and English exams May 8 and 9: RFHS Musical

Scholarship applications amplify senior stress -Jacqueline Jacquez As the end of the school year approaches, many seniors are beginning to feel excited about leaving for college. Before they are able to officially leave, though, most college-bound seniors still face the looming task of figuring out how to finance their education.

Scholarship deadlines are quickly approaching, which means many seniors are chaotically filling out applications, writing essays, and asking for letters of recommendation.

Anxious senior and active Student Council member Abril Mendoza has been busy applying for scholarships.

“Scholarships are a great opportunity to get money, and they help you achieve your dreams of going to college,” Mendoza mentioned. She claimed that scholarships are worth students’ time to help them maintain a more balanced budget.

Fellow senior Kendra Quezada offered some additional pointers. “Apply for college in the first semester, and in the second semester, apply to scholarships. Then you’re set,” she said.

Quezada applied for six scholarships and has received three of them, which is a big step in the direction of paying for her college education.

“I must admit that the process is a pain, but it’s all worth it,” she said.

Andrea Caruso, counselor and college advisor at RFHS, also offered some advice to juniors who are not yet mired in the college application process.

She advised juniors to attend the workshops she provides, and to ask for letters of recommendations during the summer so that teachers have enough time to write meaningful letters. Caruso also reminded juniors to complete their volunteer hours during the summer months.

“100 hours of community service are an important requirement for many scholarship applications,” Caruso said.

If seniors take advantage of the support RFHS offers, then they will feel more confident applying to college and scholarships. Don’t complete your applications at the last minute, and remember that scholarships are free money that can make your economic situation easier to handle. Every dollar counts toward making a difference in your final calculations.

For further infomation, visit http://rfhsfuturesroom.blogspot.com.

Opinion

Say yes to the dress, no to the stress

-Rampage Staff

Prom is just around the corner on Saturday, April 25, and many students feel pressure to find the perfect date. Lately, there have been a rush of “promposals” at RFHS, with junior and senior boys creatively asking girls to be their dates. In fact, it seems like all we talk about at The Rampage these days is prom–what we’re wearing, where we’re eating dinner beforehand, what we’re doing afterward–but by far the most-asked question is, “Who are you going to prom with?”

“It’s probably the most stressful thing to go through,” reporter and RFHS junior Bella Bailey shared. Although some might think snagging a date for prom is silly or insignificant, Bailey said she feels there’s a deeper meaning to getting asked. “[You] feel loved. It makes you feel important,” Bailey remarked.

Copy editor Fiona Laird, also a junior, added that it is much more important to find a date to prom than any other dance.

Thanks to tradition, students typically think having a date is necessary to attend prom. After all, your date is usually your dance partner, and it’s often part of the fun to color-coordinate your outfits with your date. Although prom is supposed to be a fun milestone in teenagers’ lives, many juniors and seniors agree that finding a date -- or waiting to be asked by someone -- is just plain stressful.

With only a few weeks left until the big dance, many students feel panicked to find a date. Bailey and Laird agreed that they would go with their friends if they didn’t get asked.

The Rampage staff hopes that every student at RFHS -- whether you plan to attend Prom or not -- feels loved and important. Don’t let having a date determine your self-worth; and know that you matter to others whether someone asks you to prom or not. And girls, if you already have your eye on someone, don’t wait for him (or her) to ask you out! Be bold, and get yourself the date your deserve.

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Gems of the Valley

Entertainment

Rampage | April 2015

Heard in the Hallways “So, from a guy’s perspective, what are the biggest stresses of prom?” “Well we wouldn’t know, we don’t have dates.” “What?! Why not?” “You are literally asking the worst guys possible.”

Rampage Staff Editors in Chief Roy Benge Kristen Joiner

“Dude, look at all my Hotwheels!”

Managing Editor Finn Featherstone

“Nothing’s more uncomfortable than getting poked by your uncle on Facebook.”

-Kristen Joiner

As the ski season comes to an end, there’s still plenty of adventure waiting to be found in the warm months here in the Valley. Roaring under the bridge in West Glenwood lays the iconic “wave” that has become wildly popular among kayakers and boogie boarders alike. The Wave was artificially constructed out of huge pieces of concrete from the old bridge.

How to get there: Driving from Carbondale, head towards Glenwood via Highway 82. Keep going all the way through town into West Glenwood. At the roundabout just before the Glenwood Mall, take the exit towards Midland Ave. At the second roundabout, continue onto the exit towards Midland Ave. Take your first left after the bridge, and you will see parking spaces on your left. Walk down the steps, and you’re there!

What to do: There are many fun aquatic opportunities waiting for you at The Wave! If you’re not an experienced kayaker, you can dive right in with a boogie board. Other activities include paddle boarding, tubing, and surfing. If it’s your first time there, the side near I-70 is the easier side.

As you progress, you can start venturing out towards the middle.

“Oh man, look at all this math that I don’t know how to do.”

“My tolerance for school is about at the same level it is for my siblings: very low.”

Whoopers

• Road ice is no longer killing cars.

• We only have two months of school left!

• Spring time has arrived, and it’s light enough to spend time outside after school.

• Ruby Lang received the Daniels Fund Scholarship.

• Prom is less than two weeks away.

Bloopers

• Two of our English teachers aren’t returning next year.

• The ski season is over.

• A drunk guy recently stole a RFTA bus.

• Out-of-shape mountain bikers are plaguing the trails.

• Testing season is officially upon us.

Word to the wise: Although The Wave is super fun, it’s equally dangerous. If you’re not the best swimmer--and even if you are--a life jacket is highly advised.

Also, there’s always the danger of getting pulled under The Wave. Have fun, but be aware it is a huge and powerful force of water.

The Rampage would like to thank the RFHS Booster club and the Town of Carbondale for generously supporting our newspaper.

Photographer Lucy Stevens Editorial Staff Grace Brown Kayla Derby Jake Kelley Fiona Laird James Long Caitlin O’Gorman Jake Rusby Tavia Teitler Journalists Jonny Aranda Bella Bailey Hayden Bernot Emily Bruell Elle Derby Eryn Doherty Jacky Jacquez Carley Moravek Maeve O’Donnell Pax Edgar Reyna Beymar Silva Kristin Page Katie Weimer Policy Statement: Published eight times a year, the student newspaper of Roaring Fork High School is a public forum, with its student editorial board making all decisions concerning its content.

Unsigned editorials express the views of the majority of the editorial board.

Questions? Concerns?

Contact us at

rframpage@gmail.com

“You are more loved than you will ever know.

There is no failure, only unfinished success. Be the change.

Be the hero of your own story.” - Sue Edelstein and Bill Spence