By Ian Adler Multimedia Editor Mr. Jay Vasellas, a former student and teacher at Red Lion, is planning to run for school board in this year’s upcoming election. Vasellas taught various American history classes at the high school for 38 years, and with the exception of college and pre-kindergarten days, spent all of his life in the district as well. In addition to teaching at Red Lion, Vasellas also teaches American history classes at York College, and has been doing so for 13 years. “I’ve just got a passion for this school district,” Vasellas said. “It’s defined me, it’s defined my family and any of the accomplishments and opportunities my family has had have been generated by this school district.” However, Jay isn’t the first in the Vasellas family with interest in a school board membership. Vasellas’ mother, Norma Vasellas, served on the school board for 16 years. “I saw what she could bring in background knowledge and how teachers feel about certain things,” Vasellas said. “It’s a different thing.” Norma was a teacher at Dallastown, in addition to her Red Lion school board membership. Currently, there are no teachers or former teachers on the school board, as no paid employee of the district may serve on the board, as outlined in the school board member applicaton. This obviously can raise a few issues between the two groups of people, from communication to wants and needs. “Sometimes, I feel like the communication between school board and teachers can be enhanced, almost as a translator,” Vasellas said. “Teachers and board members sometimes just do not speak the same language.” In addition to the standard expectations and activities that all school board members carry out, Vasellas has some ideas of his own to contribute. “My priority is going to be how do we best implement mandates on the local level when they come from above,” Vasellas said. “How do we do the best job we can to teach kids in the classroom?” Currently, Vasellas is an Interim board member. He was named to temporarily fill a position that someone had resigned from. School board primary elections were held on May 19. Vasellas placed first among both republican and democrat voters. Mike Rowe will be his opponent for the seat in November elections. In addition to Vasellas, four other candidates are running. Clair Weigle, James Clark who is currently on the board, Kevin Downs and Michael Rowe.
0 Comments
By Bella McCarey Co-Editor-in-Chief In a closing ceremony in honor of the homeowner Ashley Moffitt and her daughter Shaelynn, the year long Habitat for Humanity project came to a conclusion on Mar. 23. The school district has been heavily involved and invested in this project for the last 12 months and that dedication was well represented at the ceremony. With an estimated attendance of over 500 district and community members, the night began with the students from the District Choir singing “Voices of Pride”, a song composed for the Red Lion Area School District and the inspiration for the song comes from Red Lion’s longstanding ability to join together to change the community for the better. The Habitat for Humanity house is sound structural evidence of this comradery. Some of the lyrics of the piece include: “If your world is shaken and torn apart, a helping hand is not so far away. We can make a house, a home. A shelter away from the storm and see you through another day.” Ringing true to the Habitat build, it’s laid the foundation for Red Lion to achieve more in the future, possibly even another project. “Who knows, we might do another one,” Assistant Principal and leader of the RLASD Build Planning Team Mr. Grant Gouker. “You don’t realize it’s [the opportunity] out there, people building people houses. It’s amazing how it all comes together.” The rest of the night was “tearful, happy tears of course” commented Gouker. Rev. Dr. Brad Dayett lead the audience in an opening prayer and benediction. “It was an overall simple presentation and dedication,” Gouker said. “There was a formal ribbon cutting, the minister blessed the home, and they had special keys made.” Included in the presentation of the house was a slide show put together by Mr. Keith Blackwell and some of his students showcasing the project from start to finish with a compilation of pictures and numbers showing what materials and manpower went into building the home. From the first piece of trash picked up off the yard to the first nailed hammer into the walls to the last drop of wet paint on the walls, the Moffitt family was able to see their new home start to finish. Dr. Scott Deisley, whose dream was to partake in a Habitat for Humanity project since coming to the district, made a speech and presented the family with gifts on behalf of himself and the district. Included was $100 towards the school store so “they could get rid of that Rocket Clothing,” referring to the fact Shaelynn Moffitt will be transferring from Spring Grove School District to Red Lion next year. The second gift was $1000 to Target so they can buy the things they need to truly make it feel like a home. “There’s still a lot of work to be done,” Gouker said. “It’s not 100 percent. There’s still a lot of landscaping to be done, the FFA kids are in charge of that once it’s warmer outside.” One of the most memorable moments of the night was the unveiling of the plaque nailed to the concrete in front of the house that reads “York Habitat home built in partnership with Red Lion Area School District.” “It’s nothing big,” Gouker said. “It’s just something that says we’ll always be a part of you, like a cornerstone.” While the settlement of the home takes place April 1, the Moffitt family won’t officially move in until this summer. By Adrianna Clinton
Co-Editor-in-Chief Inconsistent is perhaps the best word to describe Pennsylvania winters. Sometimes, the Keystone State gets the brutal cold with torrential amounts of snow, other times just the sub-zero temperatures. No matter how bad the winter, however, seniors have to graduate at some point come June, and like the senior class before them, the Class of 2015 had a lot of uncertainty about the date of their graduation. In April, the school board finally set the graduation date to be June 3 at 6:45 PM, with baccalurerate at 7 PM on June 2. The last day for seniors will be May 28. In the future, it is the hope of both seniors and administration alike that the uncertainty surrounding graduation will become a thing of the past, as new programs are being implemented statewide to help eliminate added-on school days. In the event that inclement weather does bring a cancellation in future school years, the school district has applied to the state and has been approved to allow Red Lion to use “flexible instruction days.” This program will allow districts to “employ non-traditional strategies to provide a continuity of instruction on regularly-scheduled school days during which circumstances necessitate an alternative approach,” according to the Pennsylvania Dept. of Education website. This program, currently in pilot stages, could be online or offline; should an element of the districts’ program rely on technology, an equal option will be provided for those who do not have access for whatever reason. Ultimately, the FIDs can help school districts plagued with cancellations to set a graduation date much earlier. By Bella McCarey
Co-Editor-in-Chief For the last 12 months, the Red Lion community has been surrounding the efforts of Habitat for Humanity to build a home for Ashley Moffitt and her daughter Shaelynn. Superintendent Dr. Scott Deisley and Assistant Principal Mr. Grant Gouker teamed up to bring the dream of participating in Habitat for Humanity to the school district. The house is in the final stretch, with the ending date rapidly approaching. March 23, 2015 is the date that Mr. Gouker has in mind and would like to continue working to meet the deadline. “The interior is about 98% finished. There is still a little bit of painting to do, electrical fixtures to install, and window treatments to do, “ Mr. Gouker said. “There are also some exterior things to do all of which will have to be completed when the weather gets warm.” As of now, the itinerary or location of the closing ceremony isn’t absolute. The one thing that Mr. Gouker is aware of is creating a “special project” to create for the homeowner, which will be a gift highlighting the building process. The house was made possible mainly based on fundraising efforts by the community itself as well as the school districts, including staff, administration and students, participating in the building process. The fundraising goal for the project was met, a $90,000 figure necessary for finishing the home. By Kailey Smith
Staff Writer An Assessment Committee investigated the idea of changing to a percentage based system, and presented their ideas to the School Board in May of 2014. The first marking period of this year the new system is in place. Prior to the board presentation, the committee surveyed students, parents and teachers of Red Lion High School. Some of the questions included on the survey were, “Would you work harder if there was not only a percentage on the report card but also a letter grade?” Over 60% of Red Lion’s students agreed that they would work harder with the new grading system. Not only did they say they would work to get the higher letter grade, they also said they would like the challenge. The students of Red Lion now have a goal to reach. Students have a better opportunity for colleges to look at their college transcripts and see their grades. Mrs. Kathy Moser was on the committee last year; she was asked the same question about how she personally feels about the new grading system. “There is a big discrepancy between nine points. Now students have the chance to work hard,” said Mrs. Moser. “For example a 87-89 would be a B+ but a 80-82 would be a B- and anything in between that would be a B.” The new grading system not only helps the teachers with not filling out as many academic at risk forms, but also having the students aim for a higher grade than a 64%. High school social studies teacher and Mr. Kevin Zieber spoke about the change in the grading system, saying, “Students and parents are going to like having more of a precise grade.” But he also said there are some downsides, “Students and parents are not going to be in favor of having to do math to figure out the GPA,” said Zieber. He also made a point from a parent’s perspective, saying “ As a parent, I don’t think its going to have a big affect on the students, because students are just going to look at it as if it was the old grading system.” The high school teaching staff, the school board, and many parents are hoping that the new grading system will not only look good for colleges but encourage students to work harder toward reaching the goal of higher grades and have a feeling of success. Senior class prepares for class trip and graduation while underclassmen move forward with newly elected officers after recent elections.
Taylor Bosley and Bella McCarey Staff Writers Class of 2014: The senior class recently held their prom at the Valencia on Apr. 26. The theme for prom was Vintage Hollywood. After a count of votes, Graeme Nelson and Tara Tolton were crowned Prom King and Queen, respectively. Next on the council’s agenda is their class trip to Six Flags on May 22. The cost of the trip per student is $50. Following the trip is the biggest milestone is any high school student’s career: graduation. The official date is set for June 6 at 6:45 PM at Horn Field, weather permitting. Class of 2015: As the year comes to an end, the Junior Executive Council held their elections for their senior year. This election differed from past ones. Rather than voting being schoolwide, voting was held to just the immediate class council. The results brought in new people for almost every position. Heather Jackson was voted President, Gregg Thibault was voted Vice President, Ellen Weaver as Secretary and Jennifer Hedrick as Treasurer. There are a couple of fundraisers coming up for the Class of 2015 to get involved with. There will be a car wash ticket sale, a sub and sandwich sale, and a possibility of a chicken BBQ. Along with those fundraisers, the class of 2015 executive council is currently designing the senior t-shirts and deciding on the class colors for next year. Class of 2016: The sophomore class of 2016 executive council is ending the year as they had started it with the same positions. Alec Gayrama as president, Ian Adler as Vice President, Grant Fickes as Treasurer and Gabriella Zarragoitia as Secretary. Talks of any new election being held have not yet been discussed said Mrs. Amanda Seitz, Class of 2016 council advisor. There are ways the sophomore class and other classes can help to raise money for their class trip and prom. Fundraisers they are holding currently are the Volleyball Tournament which anyone can get involved with. The cost is $5 for each team. They are also holding a Joe Corbi’s fundraiser. This includes pizzas, cookies, and other treats. Anyone is able to get involved in the fundraiser by picking up a catalogue in A209. The fundraiser money is due to Mrs. Seitz no later than May 14 for any sophomore who chooses to do it. Class of 2017: The phrase “power in numbers” doesn’t always ring true, especially in the case of the Executive Council for the Class of 2017. Consisting of only six members, they have already begun the process of establishing themselves as a council, starting with the assignment of Class Officers and planning a sandwich sale to take place later in April. “We couldn’t exactly hold an election,” Freshman Class Adviser Mr. David Danner said jokingly. “Having only six people respond and turn in their forms makes that kind of hard. So they pretty much just got their positions.” The class officers are as follows: Kynslee Shephard (President), Gillian Orwig (Vice-President), Jake Patterson (Historian), Tyler Varney (Treasurer) and Asia Adams (Secretary). The only other member is Collin Herman-Conrad. “Even though we only have six members, I still have faith that we can get things done,” Shephard said. “And we are hoping to recruit a few more members to add to the mix by the end of the year.” “Being President, of course a lot of responsibility comes with that… He [Mr. Danner] has mentioned that, for now, I will be leading and overseeing our meetings, working with him to organize fundraisers and stuff like that.”
By Adrianna Clinton Staff Writer In his 18 years of teaching, Red Lion physics teacher Eric Wilson has never seen schools lose this many days from the wrath of winter weather. As of Mar. 4, Red Lion has lost 12 school days this year due to the worst winter in recent memory, with some of the most recent cancellations brought about by the Nor’easter that dumped over 20 inches in parts of York County, the fifteenth storm this year alone. Though the weather has been tough on local municipalities finding money within their budget to clean up the storms’ aftermath, it has also had a harsh effect on schools and how their teachers teach, especially with the May Keystone exams weighing on their minds. Wilson’s most recent unit in physics on work and power was supposed to take two weeks, but because of the continuous cancellations, it took well over a month to complete. While it has been a “very hard yet new learning experience” for teachers, Wilson is thankful that not only are there no physics Keystone exam, but also that the school board was able to change what remains of this years’ calendar to ensure that students will not be going to school until the end of June (June 30 to be exact, which is Pennsylvania law.) On Feb. 6, the Red Lion school board met, proposed, and approved a calendar that would change the last day of school, pending additional cancellations, which at the time was June 13 to June 6, by instituting the following make up days: President’s Day on Feb. 17, a staff development day on Mar. 7, and Apr. 21, an extension of Easter vacation. The Red Lion school district requires the district to be in session for a total of 182 days, but was amended to meet the 180 day requirement issued by the Pennsylvania Board of Education. Should Red Lion see any more snow days through the remainder of winter, superintendent Dr. Scott Deisley said that they will think creatively, with the worst case scenario being adding 20 minutes to each school day. Going to school for a half day on Saturdays was an option as well, according to Deisley. Despite all the concern over when the last day of school and graduation will occur, senior Katelyn Witmer said these cancellations have not increased her ‘senioritis’ at all. “Sure, the timing wasn’t great to have one of the worst winters we’ve seen in a while fall on my senior year, but I love snow and I wouldn’t change it at all.” The continual postponement of graduation doesn’t upset fellow Chris Knorr too much either; “We can’t get mad about all the days off because we can’t control the weather...we are going to get out eventually.” However, Chance Wonder is antsy about the graduation date, because he leaves for Army boot camp shortly after school ends. “If I lose my graduation after all these years of schooling, I’m going to be upset.” At the Feb. 12 senior class meeting, Mr. Shue addressed the seniors anxiety over their graduation date, saying that the administration is trying to set their graduation date, but a decision cannot be made at this time. Regardless of when the seniors will officially move on from high school and Red Lion, Wilson has said that the school district is in fact “doing [their] best to make sure all students leave with a proper education, hopefully on time.” Hall Talk: Are you tired of the snow days?
By Ben Logan Staff Writer The PRIDE program is relatively well known throughout the school for it’s focus on school ethics and proper behavior. However, in the coming weeks, the high school will be using PRIDE periods to promote school spirit and get students ready for the holiday season that is fast approaching. Like last year, Red Lion Area High School will be engaging in many activities related to the holiday season. These activities include decorating hallways, crafting cards, and even just doing holiday related things. Although, these activities will replace the PRIDE lessons during activity days, they are aimed to tie into the PRIDE morals and values, all the while further promoting a healthy school environment. ‘We will be doing a lot of cool stuff,” says Mrs. Rohrbaugh. “I am really looking forward to pulling everyone together with the activities we have planned”. Certain projects that will be undertaken during the next few weeks will not only promote school spirit, but also bring joy to those who need it most, and in particular, children whom are very sick. This is where the PRIDE period really shines; not only are students decorating their school with lights and paper cutouts, but are also sharing the experience with children in need, and making their day feel brighter. All in all, PRIDE activity periods will be looking to promote a healthy holiday environment, and encourage school spirit in uniting students of all classes through common and uncommon ways. And even though the sparking of hallway rivalries is always interesting, hopefully students won’t get too caught up in the calamity, and not forget why they are doing what they’re doing in the first place. By Nicolas Stoneham
Staff Writer On November 7, the Red Lion school board met to discuss some of the issues and improvements occurring in the district. A lot of these changes involve costs and improvements regarding the school buildings and programs for special education students. Tonja Wheeler, the first member of the board to speak, shed light on the fact that Red Lion is currently the third poorest school district in the county. According to Mrs. Wheeler, we have been improving our economic situation throughout the past two years, and are continuing to do so by saving more money. Saving up money each year and only spending when absolutely necessary has profoundly helped the well-being of the district. Krista Antonis, director of curriculum, instruction and assessment, then shifted the focus of the discussion to the students of Red Lion by bringing up the many changes and improvements for “at risk” and special education kids throughout the district. One of these changes includes conducting a universal screening for schools to identify students who may be at risk so they can get the extra help they need. Mrs. Antonis also brought up the issue of technology. In recent years, the use of iPads and Smart Boards in the classrooms of Red Lion have become increasingly popular and very useful. The problem is not every teacher is getting the opportunity to use this new technology, especially the special education department and teachers of at risk students. It was stressed that every teacher should be given the advantage of these devices, not just certain teachers. Superintendent, Dr. Scott Deisley shared that $10,000 was raised for Habitat for Humanity throughout the district, referencing Tonja Wheeler’s previous statement that we are one of the poorest districts in the county. Deisley described the Red Lion community as generous and kind regardless of how low the district ranks economically. Afterward, board member Jeffrey Fix brought up new changes regarding security systems in the school buildings. With recent tragedies such as the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the safety of students and staff is top priority, according to board members. Deisley noted that a future $25,000 grant from the state would be used to implement new state-of-the-art security systems to all district buildings. It was said that a major security system being looked into is SchoolGate Guardian Security Systems. Throughout the meeting, members of the board brought up some very necessary points such as the improvements for special education students, budgeting, technology, and school security. All of these issues are very important in making the school district strive and work towards being a great learning environment for all students. |
Archives
September 2018
Tags
All
|