The Rampage 2270 Highway 133, Carbondale, CO 81623
November 2018 Volume 12 Issue 01
Too Stern?
What’s What’s Inside Inside
New Assistant Principal -Daniela Rivera
Roaring Fork High School’s (RFHS) new Assistant Principal (AP), Zoe Stern, has been the springboard for conversation among students, staff, and parents as the discipline in the building has transformed. Policies new to both students and parents, but old to the code of conduct, have been enforced more strictly this 20182019 school year. Though students have openly expressed their disagreement with these policies, AP Stern has focused on more strictly enforcing two school policies: student attendance and poor behavior. Administrators exert enormous influence over teacher working conditions and student success; they can make or break school culture. Many students claim that AP Stern’s name is fitting to her personality, but in her opinion, she is simply being consistent to the structures already in place at RFHS. Stern noted that staying consistent with structure means consistency in disciplinary actions for all. Stern also confidently imposes teachable moments and further explained them as the reason she “wakes up every day and loves [her] job.” For example, she believes that members of the RFHS community should use the dress code as a way to discuss what is not professional and appropriate for school. Stern has not yet firsthand “dress-coded” anyone; dress coded being defined as asking students to change into more appropriate clothes. However, there have been incidents where Stern has had “teachable moments” with students. These encounters have more or less been conversations with the objective of expressing and teaching professionalism. Both of the policies have been enforced by Stern´s new lunch detention policy- a consequence of breaking the code of conduct. RFHS has had a detention policy in years past though; it hadn’t been enforced fully until Stern came into the building this fall. Along with this new policy are a few new consequences connected to the detention policy. If a student has detention, then they have three opportunities to serve it, making it a “three strikes and you’re out” rule. If a student fails to attend detention for the third time, they must then serve in-school suspension (ISS). This is because if a responsible student has detention and attends, but others who also received detention choose not to, it will ultimately take away from the “success of the structure.” Attendance secretary Alejandra Baca said, “[last year] I was frustrated because students weren’t taking it [detention] seriously. But this year, the detention assistance has definitely increased and made my job easier.” Stern elaborated that the point of this policy isn’t for students to spend their days in ISS. She further explained that she is spending her days trying to keep students in class so it is “gut-wrenching” to have to pull them out, but she believes in the system and its eventual outcomes. The hopeful end result of these policies is to put responsible, hardworking people into the community. “We build academics in the class, but we build and learn character in the halls, in our partner work, in our communication skills,” said Stern. These skill sets of letting teachers know you won’t be in class or reaching out for help are the things that she believes will bring students success in the real world. Stern also
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ElInternship Dia De Los Opportunities Muertos Page Page 3 2
Photo by Daniela Rivera
pointed out that as students grow older and more mature, the system is “less patient” with them. She explained that it would be a disservice to students if they weren’t taught these lessons. As for the staff, Stern has confidence that they teach their students to “lift the heaviest weight they each can lift.” This is to say that if a student maxes out at twenty pounds, and that’s what they’re carrying, they’re successful, but if they max out at 20 and are only carrying 10, these teachers will push them to max out. For students serving their detentions for infractions relating to ditching or leaving early, Stern believes that it’s essentially the structure of: “You took time here, so you’ll lose time over here.” These policies are also not about the numbers and the attendance rate, but rather they are about developing a culture that learning is important. Teachers work hard to make lessons for students that will be pertinent to each student and if there is no consequence for kids missing classes, then that mentality that school is important won’t ever develop. There’s a huge pride that comes with being a Ram at RFHS, but the staff doesn´t always see that in classrooms. There are amazing teachers in Roaring Fork High School that go home, and continue to plan and work to enrich student experiences. When students don’t show pride or excitement or even interest by not showing up, it sends a message towards the teachers saying students don’t care and ultimately the goal of structure is to change that mentality. A lot of younger students don’t understand what it means to lose class time and once a student is “down the hill”, it’s much harder to come back up. Stern hopes that by implementing structures that reflect the importance of being in class and learning that she can help aide in student success. AP Stern concluded by saying, “It’s definitely difficult because these policies are not bound to win popularity” but she also strongly believes in the system. She wants “...each student to be successful in their realm” and for them to be supported all the way through.
Senior Most New Teacher: Likely To’s Cliff Redish Page 4–5 Page 3
Homecoming Recap! Soccer and Pages 4-5 Baseball Season Wrap-up Page 7
Opinion: RFHS Dress Code Rams Day Page 6 Page 8
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