18 04 19 Rampage

The Rampage 2270 Highway 133 Carbondale, CO 81623

April 2018

Volume 11 Issue 6

Goodman’s Goodbye

What’s Inside

- Daniela Rivera

A few weeks ago, Roaring Fork High School staff, students, and families received some of the most heartbreaking news imaginable. The community opened their Gmail accounts to find a long email from Assistant Principal Kelsie Goodman expressing her gratitude and celebrating the school’s accomplishments, but none of the words had a deeper impact than the simple first sentence of that email, “I will be stepping down from my position at Roaring Fork High School…”

After 5 years as AP, Goodman is making personal and career moves. She has helped transform the climate of RFHS which has been centered on building a strong culture in a school where students feel valued and trusted.

It seems no other staff departure has made an impact on RFHS like this one.

Students say Goodman’s efforts to reach out to them and her unwavering confidence in their abilities has inspired them. “If we didn’t have her we would probably have 5 kids graduating,” says senior Photo by Patrick Keleher Spencer Ochko. Not only does Goodman push students to achieve, but also she supports their social-emotional needs. Sophomore Ruby Fuller notes that “she’s very approachable and it’s good to have someone who’s approachable, it feels good to know there’s someone in our school who is everyone’s ‘go-to gal’.” Staff echoes the opinion of students. English teacher Denise Wright appreciates Goodman because “she has a way of making each one feel like he/she is the most important person in the room.”

For the duration of her tenure at RFHS, Goodman has gotten to work together with students and staff to enact significant academic and disciplinary changes. “RF taught me how to be a team and for that, I am so thankful,” says Goodman.

Some changes RFHS has witnessed include annual rises in attendance rates and graduation rates’; increase in numbers of students in Advanced Placement (AP) courses; higher passing rates for AP courses; a greater number of scholarship recipients; an increase in applications to competitive scholarships and colleges. Some of the systems at RFHS have also changed, including a focus on discipline through restorative justice and trauma-informed practices, as well as a new Multi-Tiered Sys-

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tem of Supports (MTSS) system.

In an attempt to engage the students with the community, Goodman has worked closely with Carbondale PD to serve on their search committees as well as work closely with the School Resource Officers (SROs) to ensure that students can excel with their support. She has also been on the board of the PreCollegiate Program, a program she sees “improving the lives of first generation students” as it “levels the playing field” for motivated students by helping them navigate the complicated and difficult process of getting through high school and college.

Goodman reaches beyond the RFHS community, to the Carbondale community. “Every time my 7-yearold daughter sees Kelsie, my daughter gets so excited that she’ll typically run to her to be picked up,” said English teacher Carmen McCracken. “Every time Kelsie, while wearing her infamously stylish heels, swings her up and twirls her, I am amazed that she’s able to do so without falling over. That takes skill.”

In the years coming, Goodman believes that little will change in both the school and broader community. “This is a place of passion, beauty and kindness and of putting students first, and I don’t believe that will change at all,” she explained.

She also believes that the future of RFHS remains as bright and upstanding as its always been. “I think that what is next will be great, because RF always makes things great. It can take something as simple as a waffle and turn it into a community event and that is what it will continue to do!”

“She has been the heart and soul and moral compass of our school community for the past 5 years, and she is the golden thread that binds us together. She is a true leader--because she leads with her heart as well as her brain. She makes everyone who comes into her orbit feel cherished.” said Jill Knaus, Spanish teacher at RFHS and Goodman’s mentor. Students, staff, and the community will miss the positive presence that Goodman has brought to RFHS daily during her time here.

Goodman will surely be missed at RFHS for years to come.

Lack of Snow Page 3

RF’s Departing Senior Athletes Pages 4-5

Vaping Health Risks Page 7

Promposals Page 8

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Feature

2 Rampage April 2018

The VOICES Project: a symphony of student voices

-Tyler Gruel

Fifteen years ago, Barbara Reese, the founder of The VOICES Project, was introduced to poetry for the first time. Her introduction to the world of writing as a creative medium inspired her and, in time, she set out to create an organization that would enable students in the Roaring Fork Valley community to explore and discover their voices through the arts.

In 2017, members of The VOICES Project produced and performed their first original show with the talents, ideas, and voices of Basalt High School (BHS) students. The show Panic! was a collaboration between professional teaching artists and the participating students. The 2018 project included performances from both BHS student and Roaring Fork High School (RFHS) students.

RFHS’s performance was titled “Loving Monsters” and BHS’s was “Where We Are Whole Again.” In regards to the history of the project and this year’s unique performances, Cassidy Willey, the director of The VOICES Project at RFHS for spring 2018, stated, “This is the second year of The VOICES Project in the Roaring Fork Valley. Last year, it started with only Basalt High School and this year we added a project at RFHS. Ultimately, the vision is that we have a valley-wide theatre festival to showcase the projects from all local high schools as well as some possibility of middle school involvement in the future as well. We view our job as artists and creators

to ask the big questions, not necessarily answer them.

We did not seek to communicate a specific message to our audience, but rather dive into some themes related to the “monsters” in our lives. These monsters could be literal or metaphorical, internal or external.

Each student had a different interpretation and spent their time exploring the theme in their own way. A lot of their work centered around past experiences.

Courtesy Photo

Some of it was more imaginative and abstract - like the angular monster masks or the dance, Amando Monstruos.”

Students who took part in this year’s VOICES Project expressed strong feelings about the impact the project had and what participating in it meant to them. RFHS junior Levi Roeser, expressed his

experience with this year’s project as “an awesome experience because I’ve been in plays before, but this was different because it wasn’t structured like with a script. We really got a chance to create our show and our own ideas.” RFHS sophomore Birdie Nadine expressed that to her the project was “like a big collaboration with everyone and it meant a lot to me because it was like a bonding experience.” Her sentiments were shared by fellow sophomore and participant Hayden Holbrook who said, “I liked getting to express myself creatively, especially performance-wise.” Willey voiced similar feelings about the program’s impact on her students. “I think one of the biggest impacts The VOICES Project had on the students involved is the relationships and trust they built with one another and the students from BHS. It was amazing to see all of them come together and be so supportive of each other’s work during tech week. I hope that the students who went to see the show left feeling excited and inspired by the process and final production. Young people have so much to say and share and, unfortunately, don’t always have access to a public forum or audience for their work.

The VOICES Project connects these young people to an audience. It’s a new and unique opportunity to be creative.”

Improving Test Taking Abilities

-Daniel Cortes-Lopez

On April 10th, RFHS students were given the opportunity to take the PSAT and SAT free of charge during the school day. The SAT is a standardized test required to be taken by all high school students in Colorado. The test is also required for all students that would like to attend a 4 year college in the United States. The PSAT is a practice test for the SAT. Freshman and sophomores took the PSAT from 8:00 A.M. through 12:00 P.M. with breaks in between testing sessions, while juniors participated in the SAT during the same time.

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During the fall of 2017, freshman, sophomores and juniors were given the opportunity to take the PSAT. The PSAT benefits students because they can view their weaknesses and strengths after participating. Students can look at “every question they missed on Khan Academy. Khan Academy will give you a tutorial on how to do it correctly. Khan Academy is

a smart program that is individualized to give you data to learn why you got it wrong,” stated Andrea Caruso, a counselor at RFHS. By taking the PSAT, students can improve their test-taking abilities by focusing on their weaknesses while preparing for the SAT. RFHS student Logan Erickson stated, “Khan Academy has definitely been helping me with math.

I’ve already taken the SAT, but I am still nervous because it is the determining factor for colleges.”

RFHS offers this free testing opportunity, and then students have the option to retake the SAT on their own. By retaking the SAT, students are committing to paying a fee and going in on a Saturday at a location of their choice to retake the test. An advantage that students have is that colleges will take the student’s highest SAT score from either test. Caruso recommends all students plan on retaking the SAT to practice on Khan Academy. “Retaking the SAT only helps if [they] prepare for it,” says Caruso. In other words, the point is for students to study and look over their mistakes to result in outstanding test scores.

RFHS student Yoselin Melendez states, “I think that both the SAT and PSAT are overwhelming, I can see why it’s useful and why [we] take it. Many kids want to get into college.”

RFHS encouraged parents to ensure their students attended school on that day so that they could participate in the testing opportunity. Khan Academy is a great tool for students to work on their weaknesses. Students should retake the SAT if they are unpleased with their results to improve their test scores and benefit their future.

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Feature Senior Spotlight: Felina Cruz

-Hannah Bingaman

Felina Cruz lives by the words “aspire to be a giver, a giver of inspiration, a giver of hope, a giver of light, and a giver of love.” During last month’s community meeting, Cruz spoke about her life and her high school experience, stating, “A lot of people inspire me. It doesn’t matter if they are a big idol, it is just any individual who I see out there trying and willing to make a difference and a change within themselves and their community. It inspires me to do better.” Her compelling speech inspired many students and guests at the community meeting.

Since her sophomore year, Cruz has played on RFHS’ girls lacrosse team. She has enjoyed playing on the team because it has been a helpful escape, and “has helped her get through hard times.” On top of managing high school, Cruz works many hours each week at a bakery in Aspen. High school hasn’t always been easy, Cruz says, but she is determined to finish the year strong, and has set a goal of achieving straight A’s on her final report card. Her life experiences have motivated her to work hard to educate herself so that she can achieve. Because she recognizes she must motivate herself to be successful in the end, she always tries her hardest in whatever she sets her mind to.

Her most prominent struggle throughout high school has been trying to be who she truly is. She’s uncovered more and more about herself and grown

each year. She reflects back to junior prom being her favorite memory, as it really helped her change as a person. “Prom changed everything for me. The person who asked me changed my whole perspective on high school, and who I am. I used to be very shy, and he helped me get out there and just be me.”

Next year, Cruz hopes to attend college. Although she doesn’t know where she is going yet, Cruz plans to study Sociology. Being Native American, she states, “I want to study Sociology because I want to work with, as well as better understand, people on the Indian Reservations.” As graduation approaches, Cruz expresses that she will miss seeing the familiar faces that she grew up with when she leaves for college next fall.

This winter wasn’t the best for skiers or snowboarders because warmer temperatures resulted in less snowfall and snow melting faster. Also, the local mountains suffered in business because not as many people headed out to the mountains due to the lack of snow.

When explaining the lower amounts of snow, Hadley Hentschel, a Roaring Fork High School science teacher, stated, “It’s just long term weather pattern, so when we look at how the jet stream brings in storms this particular jet stream stays a lot more in the north, most of the northern states have surplus years.” The lack of snow has particularly been a substantial problem because it doesn’t allow for as many snowpacks, which are needed for people to do outdoor winter activities such as skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. Snowpacks are a mass amount of snow that compresses itself to the ground using its own weight. The lack of snow causes water scarcity especially for the people of Colorado, since most of the water we get is from snowfall. Accord-

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ing to Hentschel, the lack of snow has also impacted the pine beetle infestation. This causes the trees to die, which increases the risk of wildfires. Hentschel states, “It keeps our soil a lot drier, keeps plants from being able to absorb as much water, it allows trees to dry out more which makes it more likely to catch fire.” This past winter puts the area at high risk of erosion, mudslides, and falling rock. A direct result of these issues will be more money that cities have to spend, so that people feel safe or are safe driving on highways next to mountains that have falling rock hazards.

When a lack of snowfall occurs, natural disasters happen, people are in a higher risk of danger. The Roaring Fork Valley needs a significant amounts of snowfall each year to support our water system because of the Roaring Fork Valley comes from the melted snow on the mountains also we need a great amount of snow so that the soil stays wet and the plants can’t try so easily and it prevents wildfires from occurring and spreading.

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Humans of the Roaring Fork Valley

-Chelsey Serrano

For many the start of April and springtime symbolize the start of something new. Spring is the promise that everything can begin again, as we let go and embrace new situations. Be that college for graduating seniors or the welcoming of a new family member.

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Oh Snow! The Impact of our Poor Winter

-Peyton Sherman

3 Rampage April 2018

Contact Susan’s Flowers for all of your flower needs, especially Prom!

“I hope that they know they [my daughter] know that they are capable of whatever they set their to. That they are kind to other people.

I think that is my biggest hope for them. I just want the them to continue learning, to continue exploring. They have taught me so much already, so I hope that we are able to impress this upon them.

[They taught me that] I’m capable of anything I put my mind to. When I had Elouise it was a really hard birth. She was born c-section in Aspen. It was really hard for me because I didn’t want to have to be a C-section, I wanted to have a natural birth. A lot of it felt out of my control; I was on the doctors schedule and just another patient- just another number- on a clipboard there to have a baby and leave. It wasn’t a personalized experience at all. So when I got pregnant with Ilse and I knew that our options up here [in the valley] are limited as far as if you have a natural birth or if you have a C-section again. I knew that if I wanted to do a natural delivery like I had wanted I would need to look at either Grand Junction of Denver, but when you’re nine months pregnant you don’t want to be away from home. So instead we looked into home-birth and I met with an amazing midwife here in Carbondale. She just solidified all of my decisions for wanting to have a natural delivery.

Having a natural birth after a C-section was the hardest thing I have ever done. No medication. Just the support of my husband and my midwife and it was the hardest thing, but it was awesome. It helped me build my confidence in myself again because I think that once I had Elouise a lot of that was taken away from me.

Just knowing that I was dedicated to having this and that this is what I wanted and I knew that my body could do it, just taught me a lot about myself. It really restored my confidence in knowing that I’m strong.

[My kids have taught me that] if somethings is important to you, you should find a way to make things happen. Don’t settle. Push yourself because you are worth it.

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FOC FOC

Rampage | April 2018

The Best of the Best: Roaring Fo We asked various senior athletes about heir best memory, plans for

Trevor Stroud Being part of the 4x800 team that went to state was really cool, and just being there to see all the amazing athletes was inspiring.

After college, I want to go into the field of engineering, and attend either CSU or Colorado School of Mines.

It’s really fun playing sports at RFHS. It gives you a sense of community and family no matter what sport you play.

Spencer Ochko Freshman year when I was the first person to receive player of the week from our old coach.

I plan on attending Nova southeastern University to get a doctaraate in osteopathic medicine You can be anything in high school. I was an unathletic middle schooler who was always picked last in sports, and rarely talked to anyone. In high school I was a 4 year varsity football player who talked every week in front of the school because I’m head boy.

Kloe Lee Beating Vail Mountain this season. They have always been such a strong team, but winning 4-2 against them felt like such a victory. Also whenever we beat basalt — that always feels great.

I hope to be at either DU or Chapman studying political science and pre-law.

Playing soccer at RF has made me a better teammate and has helped me become a stronger leader.

CUS CUS

Rampage | April 2018

5

Fork’s Departing Senior Athletes

r the future, and how playing sports has impacted them personally.

Drew Broadhurst Throwing a perfect game against Meeker during my senior year.

I will attend either Colorado Mesa University or Crown College to play Baseball or Golf.

Being involved in sports at RF has been really fun and has made me a better teammate on and off the field.

Photo courtesy of The Post

Reece Ettelson Going to districts with varsity my sophomore year.

I plan to go to CMC for a year while getting my real estate license, then I will move to California and start my real estate career and attend university there.

Playing sports at Roaring Fork showed me what it’s like to have another family and how important learning teamwork is in the real world.

Justin Thompson Getting WSL player of the year my senior year.

To play basketball for an RMAC school or run track in California.

It’s created friendships with people I otherwise wouldn’t of met and also taught me to always work hard and good things will come.

News

6 Rampage April 2018

Roaring Fork United for Safety in Schools Group

-Lilly Peery

Eleven weeks into the new year, and seventeen school shootings have taken place across the nation, averaging to about 1.5 a week, according to CNN News. In response to the tragedies, students have staged nationwide walkouts during school hours to protest a lack of action taken by the government. However, a different approach is being taken

by RFHS students and staff members. Rather than protest the lack of legislation, a handful of RFHS students are planning a community event on April 20th, which is the anniversary of the Columbine shooting.

Uniting students of all ages throughout Carbondale, these RFHS students are working with the Carbondale Fire and Police Departments to express to students everywhere that they have a place within the community. The purpose is to give students of all ages a voice, a place, and a sense of belonging within the community.

The event will be centralized around the idea of strength in unity within Carbondale community members, rather than focusing on the gun violence within schools that has been ravaging the country.

“What [we’re] trying to do is...have a message that everyone needs to look out for each other and wrap themselves in their community and help keep each other safe. Just having that awareness and showing that no matter what age, you still have a voice in your community,” said Carbondale Police Department (CPD) and RFHS school resource officer Michael Zimmerman. A visual representation of unity will be achieved by gathering all student and community member participants together on the local middle school football field in a large circle made up of inner rings all surrounding the podium. The youngest children will make up the innermost ring, building outwards by age until all are surrounded by and connected with one another, instilling a sense of community pride and unity. “I think that the visual

aspect of having everyone come together in a circle really portrays that we are standing united and here for everyone,” said RFHS junior Solana Teitler, one of the event organizers. “Having everybody together shows the progression of how we’ve been supported throughout our education” Advocating for change is a hard enough action within itself, not taking into account potential backlash via social media platforms. To this point, the group organizing the event is bringing to light the importance of each individual student and their voice; essentially to say that everyone can make a stand, make a difference, and be heard, because all voices are important, deserving to be heard and respected.

As RFHS vice principal Kelsie Goodman said, “We want students to know that their voice has power.”

Organizers of the event hope to inspire students who attend with the notion that they can affect meaningful change. “It’s that idea of ‘The world is run by those who show up,’” said RFHS social studies teacher Matt Wells. Students and people as a whole have a “responsibility to be engaged,” he stated. Goodman hopes that at the end of the event, students will find the importance in “standing together, but not in full controversy.” Garnered in a positive light of unity and the importance of the student voice, the event will not be focusing on the legislative and political aspect of the recent gun-related school violences that have taken place across the nation.

As a small valley, not all mental health resources available to students are aptly advertised, and as such, aren’t sought out or advocated for. The majority of the schools throughout the Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) don’t have full-time counselors on staff specifically there to work one-on-one with students. Along with stressing the importance of student opinions and community unity, the event will be promoting the various mental health related programs

offered throughout the valley in the hopes of offering real, long-term health opportunities for those in need.

These will be promoted through various pamphlets/ brochures containing warning signs, symptoms, resources and more. Goodman hopes that this will ensure that “... all of our students know that they are safe from exterior threats, from bullying within the school, and even threats from within their own minds.” In doing this, Goodman hopes that students see “there are helpers everywhere,” as well as support systems and resources, because “Carbondale is a place full of love. It is a place full of resources.”

In the face of gun violence outbreaks across the nation, Carbondale schools and community members will be joining together, supporting one-another, united. Student advocacy can spark change and fuel the fire that is the sweeping the nation: advocating and fighting for legislative action. The group, Carbondale United for Safe Schools, is working to promote a safe space for students of all ages, highlighting their importance within the community, the strength that their individual voices have, and the support and resources waiting for them at the tip of their fingers.

Together, Carbondale will rise up, united and safer for it.

grounds; RFHS is among these schools. RFHS has also taken other approaches to tackle the tobacco

safe to inhale! The aerosol often contains nicotine, which is highly addictive. Furthermore, the chemicals in e-cigarettes and vapes contain chemicals that can cause health issues and harmful side effects. Health risks -may include damage to the lungs such as bloody sores, damage to your lung cells, and oftentimes smoking e-cigarettes or vaping can lead to bronchitis or otherwise known as smoker’s cough.

Due to the little research on vaping and e-cigarettes, it is unknown whether or not constant inhalation of the chemicals in vapes and e-cigarettes will lead to cancerous tumors, but the damage is believed to be similar, if not worse than, damage to smoker’s lungs. The vapes themselves are dangerous as well. Due to an internal battery, when the usage of the electronic cigarette or vape becomes extensive and the battery is worn down, vapes have exploded in users’ faces.

The health risks could be severe and students, staff, and parents should be aware of the severity of such health problems. Consult a doctor and ask for more information. Understand what you are about to inhale before you start!

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Is Vaping Really Better Than Smoking Cigarettes?

-Ruthie Brown

Teenagers throughout the country are experiencing the impacts of a common alternative to smoking known as vaping or electronic cigarettes.

RFHS students are familiar with these devices, and a recent survey of students shows they are not fully informed about the effects.

Survey data of over 100 RFHS students revealed that 50% have vaped and/or smoked an e-cigarette. The surveyed students also showed that they possess misconceptions regarding health issues that may arise due to smoking these tobacco products. 62.2% of Roaring Fork students thought vapes and e-cigarettes were very well-researched when in fact the products and their effects have not been studied for extensive periods. Although conflicting research has arisen, many would argue the devices have negative health effects.

From 2011-2016, youth use of vapes and e-cigarettes has increased by 600%. With the extreme increase in users of vapes and e-cigarettes, laws on product regulations have been put in place in an effort to slow those rising numbers.

As a result of those laws, school districts have confiscated devices as well as banned them from school

product abuse, which includes a meeting for parents, students and staff that covered statistics, products, health risks, and the steps that can be taken to help.

Studies have shown that e-cigarette aerosol is not

Sports One Loss won’t Hinder the Charge for States

- Thomas Bensch

The RFHS girl soccer team lost their first game on March 20th, 4-1 against a strong Aspen team.

The main factors in RFHS´s loss was missing a few of the team’s key starters from the game, and the RFHS team having played four games in ten days while Aspen had only played two. The team has a goal of making states this year. This will be possible if the team core keeps improving and that the players adapt to new formations and styles of playing.

The strongest aspect of the RFHS soccer team is in their core; the players have been playing together since middle school and have great chemistry. The head coach of the RFHS soccer team, Nicholas Forbes says “… they understand well how to play together and have a high technical proficiency.” The team is learning a new system and are adapting to it well, although they sometimes have slow starts to games. Coach Forbes has pointed out that the team needs to break some habits, including the fact that they usually have to pull themselves back into games. “...generally we have the ability to pull ourselves back into games but it is a tendency we need to eliminate once we start playing the strongest teams” says Forbes.

The soccer team is young and has a high potential. There are currently only two starting seniors on

the team, which hinders the team in experience but will also allow spots for younger players coming up.

One of these starters, team captain Kloe Lee, believes that what makes this team special is that they have a strong team mentality and are close. Lee says ¨our team mentality leads to a lot of our victory´s because we support each other.” The team is always looking to improve, but that sometimes proves to be a challenge seeing as how most of the players are multisports athletes. “The technical proficiency that comes from year round work with the ball is hard to achieve during basketball and volleyball seasons¨, says Forbes. Despite being unable to practice year round, the soccer team is working their hardest to make the most of their season.

This year the RFHS team has already beat a storied team, Vail Mountains soccer girls. Until recently, in Forbes’ entire career as a coach here at RFHS, his team has never beaten Vail mountain. He says “...they are showing signs of being a formidable and great team,” and being great is what will give them the opportunity to make it to states this soccer season. Kloe Lee says that Coach Forbes has molded their team into a fierce competitor. He has been coaching soccer since Lee was a freshmen and some before that. He is very excited to see where the team will end up at the end of this 2018 season.

Photo Coutesy of Sue Rollyson

Photo Coutesy of Sue Rollyson

7 Rampage April 2018

Spring Sports Update Girls Soccer • The RFHS girls soccer team is currently 1st in their league • Their overall record is 4 wins, 1 loss, and 2 ties • The girls’ next game is Saturday, April 21st at Basalt High School Girls Lacrosse • The team won their first game 13-10 against Summit, unforunatelt losing their 2nd one to Battle mounatin. 9-8 in double overtime • With only one loss under their belts, the team has been playing well together, recently winning a game against Grand junction 12-1, and most recently, beating montrose 13-2 Baseball • The Rams baseball team are 5-5, and are 1-2 in WSL play. They look to make the playoffs for the first time in many years!

• Senior Drew Broadhurst is 2nd in all of 3A for strikeouts, leading the team with a 1.31 ERA. • Sophomore Isabella Hernandez and senior Megan Nieslanik are the two girls on the boys baseball team, both playing infield and are having a successful season so far!

RFHS Baseball’s Astounding 10-0 Win Against Meeker

-Lucas Bensch

RFHS’ varsity baseball team played Meeker last Thursday at home and came out on top, winning 100. The pitching was flawless and so was the batting.

According to one player, everything went their way making it the easiest game that he has ever played.

A key factor in the team’s success was the incredible pitching of senior Drew Broadhurst, who threw a perfect game in just five innings. Broadhurst faced fifteen batters and recorded fifteen outs, nine of which were strikeouts. In the first inning, the opposing team hit a ball well into center field, but RFHS center fielder caught it and from that moment on they knew that their defense would back them up.

After such an explosive win, varsity baseball coach Marty Madsen recognizes that the team has high potential, but still has room for improvement.

Since almost half of the team consists of sophomores and freshmen players, the younger players will need to work harder than most. Madsen said, “We need our younger more inexperienced players to mature at a faster rate than usual for us to really compete at the varsity level.” The team consists of four seniors and juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen. In further years the team wishes to keep growing and building up the skills of the youth players.

If the team wants to be successful, they need to

dedicate themselves and stay on the road that they are currently on. Madsen says that since they are just into this years season he is not sure what has worked and what has not. He is pleased with the older players leadership and the younger players hard work and rapid progress. Ralph Good, a senior that has played baseball for four years here at RFHS believes that another factor that makes RFHS’ team different is that ¨...we try to be classy, not picking fights with other teams unlike other teams in this valley...¨ This is very agreeable as Coach Madsen says that RFHS has very mature players and it is there class that gives them another advantage.

Madsen thinks that his team has great potential and that they could end up fighting for the top spot in the Western Slope League (WSL). Achieving the top spot would only be possible if the team’s returning players stepped up and the younger or newer players kept working as hard as they currently are. Good believes that to succeed the team must “...play defense, we can beat anybody, especially with our pitching staff. Coach Madsen agrees, he says that if the team continues to get good pitching, then the sky’s the limit. The goal for the team is to continue the season as strongly as they are currently playing but to keep on improving.

Thank you to Blue Creek Business Solutions for Sponsoring the Roaring Fork Rampage!

Entertainment Gems of the Valley Picture Perfect Promposals

Smuggler Mountain Trail: The Smuggler Mountain Trail is an awe-Ruby Fuller inspiring hike for everyone. The hike is Smuggler Mountain Trail: perfect for beginner hikers, but can still The Smuggler Mountain Trail is an awe-inspiring hike for become strenuous very everyone. more The hike is perfectfor for those beginner hikers, but can experienced hikers that are to the still become more strenuous for home those very experienced hikers that are home to the valley.

The hike is a mile and valley. The hike is a mile and a half up, a half up, making the entire loop three miles in total. At making the entire loop three miles in total. the top of the hike, there are more trails that branch off At the top ofwant the hike, there are more trails for those who more of a longer adventure outdoors. that branch off for those who want more of a longer adventure outdoors.

How to get there: Follow CO-82 E to Neale Avenue in Aspen. Once on Neale Avenue, continue onto King St and Park Circle to Smuggler Mountain Rd where you will find the Smuggler Mountain Trailhead.

What to do: The trail is wide, so grab a group of Courtesy Photo friends to go hiking with you! Not only is it great groups, but it’s dog friendly How to get for there: also and it’s the to have yourOnce on Follow CO-82 E tobest Nealeplace Avenue in Aspen.

Neale Avenue, continue and near Park Circle to dogs tag along for theonto fun.King It’sStright Smuggler Mountain Rd where you will find the Smuggler town, so it is an easy to find hike thats not Mountain Trailhead. out of the way. At the top, it’s the most supreme view of the town of Aspen.

What to do:

The trail is wide, so grab a group of friends to go hiking with you!to Not only is it great for groups, but it’s dog Words the wise: friendly also and it’s the best place to have your dogs tag The trail can get muddy, especially in the along for the fun. It’s right near town, so it is an easy to spring, it’snotprobably find hike so thats out of thebest way.toAtnot thewear top, it’s the most your nicest Also,ofdo not forget a supreme view shoes. of the town Aspen.

-Lucy Meade

There is no doubt that prom is an exciting time of year for high school students, especially with the planning of an original and fun promposal for one’s date. Although some student’s promposal experience could be described as a swing and a miss, others have successfully managed to organize the perfect promposal for their date. With prom just around the corner, happening on Saturday April 21st this year, The Rampage takes a moment to reflect on what a picture perfect promposal should look like.

In the past, Roaring Fork High School has seen its share of promposals done exactly how they should be: ranging anywhere from riding in on horseback, to simply holding up a special poster board. In Kira Ettelon’s case, a sophomore at RFHS, having her date prompose to her while riding horseback proved to be a positive experience. Last year, Ettelson’s boyfriend-at-the-time fully committed to his promposal by riding outside the school after school ended with a sign that said ‘Ride into the sunset with me’. Ettelson stated, “I was very scared because there were a lot of people but I was very happy and excited to be going to prom as a freshman.” Ettleson is not the only one with positive promposal experience.

Ralph Good, a senior at RFHS created a unique promposal for Kloe Lee last year. With the promposal poking fun at her Australian roots by using a playful poster. Good asked a couple teammates to hold up a sign in front of the stands right after a baseball team triumphed against Steamboat. “The atmosphere of the RFHS team’s win made the energy around the promposal even better,” according to Good, “It had the potential to be bad,” but luckily the team won the game which made the situation the ideal moment. Overall this promposal was considered a home-run in the eyes of both Good and Lee. These two exemplary promposals are perfect examples of what to do, but some past experiences of less smooth promposals may set some guidelines for what to avoid as well. Megan Rusby, senior at RFHS says that the worst way to go is in a boring direction, stating, “Don’t do something that’s already been done,” and that if you’re going to prompose, it’s best to make it special for that particular person.

Grand gestures are always great if done properly, and if you get creative even small, unique promposals can be just right.

8 Rampage November 2017

Rampage Staff Editors in Chief Iliana Castillon Kloe Lee

Editorial Staff Feature Editor Chelsey Serrano News Editor Ruby Fuller Focus Editor Frankie Harrington Ralph Good Sports Editor Lilly Peery Entertainment Editor Daniela Rivera Copy Editors Hannah Bingaman Tyler Gruel

camera. The hike has the best views for Words to the wise: pictures!

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friends”- Lizzie Allender

Journalists

Courtesy Photo

Courtesy Photo

Tomas Bensch Ruthie Brown Daniel Cortes Colin Shapard Peyton Sherman Lucy Meade

Policy Statement: “Someone threw this lollipop at me and it bounced off my abs and broke” “We have a really good football team”

“Hey, guess what my mom bought?”

“What?”

“CHEESE SLICES!!!!”

“This is the Mondayest Monday that ever Mondayed!”

Published 7 times a year, the student newspaper of Roaring Fork High School is a public forum, with its students editorial board making all decisions concerning its content. Unsigned editorials express the views of the majority of the editorial board.