A note from Superintendent Dr. Scott Deisley: It is nearly impossible to encapsulate a life in a few words. It is even more difficult to capture the impact and contributions of Jeff Fix to the Red Lion Area School District. A few days after the senior high prom, Mr. Fix wrote an open letter to the students of the senior high. I think his words best sum up his love for this district and our students.
Dear RLASH Students: I am often asked why I would want to serve on our school board. There are many long meetings, complex issues that must be resolved, balancing our budget with limited tax dollars…and we don’t get paid to do it! But I think I can speak on behalf of the entire board, both past and present, that the opportunity to serve YOU, our students, and assure that you get the best education possible is well worth the effort. We are constantly reminded of the outstanding things you do. Whether it’s your academic accomplishments, the excellence you achieve in music, athletics, and other extracurriculars or the many ways you give back to our community. Mini-THON and the Habitat House are two great examples of how you go way above and beyond what is expected. In my nearly eight years on school board, there have been countless occasions when I have been overwhelmed with pride in your accomplishments, but perhaps never more so than on the evening of April 25th. Each year, you select a Prom Queen and King who always represent the very best of who we are at Red Lion. And this year, you did so again by selecting Lauren Bankard and Cody Woods. Both are great kids and very special people. In addition to being special in the general sense, Cody is uniquely so, and it is not his needs that make him special nor define who he is. What makes him special is the joy, the enthusiasm, and the positive spirit that he brings to school each and every day. Thank you for bestowing both Cody and Lauren with this honor. On behalf of the entire school board, we are enormously proud of your gesture. I believe that we as a school district are perhaps best defined by how well we include our special kids in our lives. In that regard, you have set a very high standard. You are truly the best! Sincerely yours, Jeffrey E. Fix President Red Lion Area Board of School Directors Jeff understood the need to run a fiscally sound district. Although he worked to not raise taxes, he never wanted to give our students less--only more. He valued academics yet recognized the importance of extracurricular activities. He was proud of our facilities from our stage to Horn Field to the Fitzkee Center. He loved to brag about the opportunities that our students have. His 32 years as an unpaid tennis coach speaks to his commitment to our students. In addition to providing our students with a world-class education, Jeff was deeply concerned about uniting the entire Red Lion Area School District. Although Jeff was elected to represented Red Lion Borough, he worked to actively include the other two regions when making decisions. He dreamed of a united district where all students were able to participate equally. He did not like to hear that some students were unable to participate in activities because of a lack of transportation or funds. To that end, he gave freely of his time and energy. Certainly, Jeff loved this school district. He loved serving our students especially as the President of the Board. Truly Jeff represents the best of our school district. The blood that coursed through his veins undoubtedly was Gold and Black. Our district is a better place because of him.
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By Claire Krackow
Marketing Editor Senior prom is definitely a night to remember and cherish for the rest of your life. The seniors at Red Lion Senior High School did just that and then some. On the night of prom at 8 p.m., prom court was announced to walk with an escort of their choice. Lauren Bankard won prom queen. Senior Cody Woods, a classmate with Down Syndrome, was then crowned prom king. Cody was very excited when he was crowned that night. The song that Cody chose to walk to with his escort (Brittany Mancha) was “Greased Lightning. “I chose that song because it’s from my favorite movie,” Woods said. His favorite character is Danny Zucco from the movie “Grease,” which is another reason why he chose the song. Fox 43 showed up at prom to interview Cody and other classmates about his being crowned king. Woods said that he was very “excited” and “nervous” about being interviewed but all around it was a great experience for him. “I danced and took a lot of pictures,” Woods said. “We were first asked if it was okay that Cody would be on court by the lady that runs the prom (Mrs. Jennifer Wireman) and everything,” Cody’s teacher, Mrs. Denise Wagner said. “And we said that we felt that he would handle it very well.” “And then when he was on prom court, we talked to him about the possibilities of winning but also the possibilities that he might not, but that we loved him regardless and he was our king, regardless,” Wagner said with a smile. Senior Brittany Mancha, who works with Cody on the morning announcements show, was chosen to escort him down the prom court that night. “He’s such a sweetheart. We talk every morning when he comes to the TV studio and he always has a smile on his face,” Mancha said. “It was so funny, Mrs. Kuhn actually called me out of calculus and said, ‘So, Cody was planning on asking you, but he wanted to make sure it wouldn’t interfere with your date.’ I said it was perfectly fine and the next morning, Cody walked up to me in the TV studio with Mrs. Kuhn. He was so giddy, but nervous, and asked me if I would escort him. Of course, I said yes,” Mancha said. “He immediately held his arms out for a hug.” “Everyone on court was so kind to him and he couldn’t stop grinning the entire time. When the song “Greased Lightning” started playing, he walked down the ballroom and he high-fived every single person the entire walk down,” Mancha said. “I felt absolutely honored to escort such a sweet guy.” “We chose the right kind of person to walk with him that evening, so that he had the right type of person to handle his abilities and to just be sure that he was doing okay,” Mrs. Wagner said. Woods said that even when he was announced prom king, he already felt like a king beforehand. “It doesn’t matter what day it is, if it’s sunny, if it’s bright or even if it’s not, he high fives everybody in the halls,” Wagner said. “He makes sure that he goes out of his way to say hello to people, good morning, he greets teachers, and he doesn’t let anybody stop him. So if he gets discouraged with somebody, he will still say hello to them again the next day.” Wagner said. “It does not matter who they are, he wants to be friends with everybody.” By Adrianna Clinton Co-Editor-in-Chief At 7 a.m., as students and faculty make their way to school, many travel through the square of Red Lion. Almost every day, they notice a peculiar sight in the parking lot of the Lion Pharmacy. Regardless of sub-zero temperatures or humid mornings, Roberto Martinez can be seen almost every morning working out and waving to passing students on buses. “It started with a girl saying hi to me on a bus and becoming my friend,” Martinez recalled. “I have a daughter myself, and a granddaughter. I think kids are the best thing.” Inspired by a special needs student who waves to him on the way to school, Martinez has been returning to the square as a part of his martial arts regimen. Martinez has come to the square to see the kids of Red Lion and to show them that they can be their own person. “There’s nothing wrong with being a person who likes to idolize somebody, as long as it’s good. I do it not to show I’m bad in the martial arts, but to put a positive image out there… I do it as an inspiration, not to show off,” Martinez said. His interest in martial arts began at 10 or 11 years old, when Martinez saw a movie of Bruce Lee. His career then began at 15. “At first, the Hollywood part drew me in. I was young, I didn’t understand it took a lot of hard training to get to that level. But as I grew older in the martial arts, it kind of became a way of life. I live it every day. I still am doing what I did as a kid,” Martinez said. “I’ll probably be doing this until I’m 70 or 80, maybe even longer.” Martinez, 50, practices Gung-Fu, a martial art developed in China hundreds of years ago. His intense workouts, consisting of kicks, punches, and lots of stretching, have garnered a lot of public comment over the past two or three years, earning him the nickname “Red Lion Ninja”, even though he has been taking his martial arts to the streets of Red Lion and Dallastown for over 20 years. His day starts at 4 a.m. when he starts stretching and training in his home. Before he goes to the square, he eats while stretching or doing some activity to prepare his body. “I never sit down,” Martinez said. In fact, his home is set up like a gym. One room houses dummies of all kinds to work on his fighting techniques. In his bedroom, pull-up bars are hung above the door, weights sit on the floor for neck exercises along with bricks covered in rice to harden his hands, and a bag of sand that Martinez punches 300-500 times. Martinez proceeds to the square at 7 a.m., where he often talks to members of the community. “Even at the square when he has his headphones in, he still sees and hears everything,” Martinez’s wife Megan said. He returns a couple hours later to train with a friend, then sleeps for an hour and take a medication to control the seizures that sometimes hinder but never entirely stop his workout routine. The seizures, which began about 16 years ago, have taken away some of Martinez’s motor skills, reading and writing abilities, and if he has a bad one, he’s usually down for two to three days. “Even with all that damage, I never forgot anything about martial arts. It became second nature, like walking,” Martinez said. “Even if you have a disability, you can be whatever you want and achieve whatever you want. I’m still doing martial arts...if I can have seizures and do this, what can you do with a clear brain?” Toward the ends of his days, Martinez does balancing exercises, and at night when he is watching television, he does sit-ups. “This is how crazy I am: I can’t wait to get up the next morning and start all over again. When it’s done, I’m excited for the next day. It’s not an obsession, and not that I want to leave a legacy behind. I feel I have a purpose to show the younger generation that there’s always something better out there. It’s not just about fighting,” Martinez said. Martinez has involved himself in the Red Lion community, as he has taught rape prevention classes and is about to teach a class at the Grace Lutheran Church. He fought on a professional level for five years and never lost before he had to stop. His skills could have potentially taken him to a bigger stage than the Lion Pharmacy parking lot. “We could’ve tried to make a career out of it [martial arts], he had things lined up, but it was just too much of a risk,” Martinez’s wife Megan said. “He’s very dedicated.” Martinez even had his wife training in martial arts for three years. “But then she got lazy on me,” he said. In the rare moments when he is not doing something related to martial arts, Martinez enjoys cooking, Spanish and Chinese being his best dishes. He also works with computers and spends time with his granddaughter. Carly Guise was the local winner for the Red Lion-Dallastown Rotary Club. Her essay was submitted in the larger contest of all the Rotary Clubs in Rotary District 7390 (Central PA). Carly won the larger contest as well.
She read her winning essay to the district convention May 2 and was awarded a check for $500. Her mother, Chera Stough, her father, Scott Guise, and her brother Shane were present for this. On Thursday, May 7, 2015 the Red Lion-Dallastown honored the finalists and winner of the Rotary 4-Way Essay Contest. A summary of each of the finalists’ essays was shared and Carly Guise read her essay to the Rotary Club members at the Great American Saloon Banquet Room. The students and their essays were warmly received. Submitted by Dr. Frank Herron. By Helen Zeidman Staff Writer “This is it, the big day. All your hard work will pay off.” Mrs. Mina Hoffman said to the high school art students as they walked into Windsor Manor elementary school on May 1. Hoffman has been working with the students for months to complete a collaboration project with the kindergarten art students at Windsor Manor. The kindergarteners drew pictures of monsters and the high school students sculpted them into three dimensional clay figures. The assembly was the big reveal where the kindergarteners were given their monsters. Mrs. McBrien, an art teacher at the high school, and Mrs. Filiziani, an art teacher at Windsor Manor, planned this project together. Filiziani, who used to be McBrien’s student teacher, knew that art could bridge the gap between the elementary and high school students. “I think it connects students,” Filiziani said. “It is nice for the kids to see how they can do art at the high school.” The high school students on the trip, 28 in total, were anxious to finally present the younger students with their masterpieces. The high school students were waiting to give their gifts to the kindergarteners, when they were surprised with their own. McBrien, who has been on leave from school since the end of April due to surgery, showed up at the event, surprising all of her art students. She walked in with watery eyes and a brace around her neck, but she still kept a huge smile on her face the whole time. She went hugging and fist bumping every one of her students. “I’m going to be pooped this afternoon, but it’s worth it.” McBrien said. After the reunion was over, the kindergarteners eagerly filed into the gym. They impatiently sat cross-legged in five lines that stretched across Windsor Manor’s gym. Meghan Rutzebeck, a senior who was crucial to the project, gave a short speech to the kindergarteners before they received their monsters. “See, at the high school we have art class like you do,” Rutzebeck said. “You gave us a monster and we made them into 3D figures. You can take them home and keep them forever. Isn’t that cool?” A chorus of excited “yeahs” erupted from the kindergarteners. Then, the students were given their precious monsters. The kindergarteners marvelled at the creations and the magic that brought them from a drawing into real sculptures. At the end of the trip, kindergarteners were hugging the high school students who made their sculpture, taking pictures, and playing with their creations. The sound of the kindergarteners’ thank-you’s was loud enough to be heard all of the way at the high school. 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. By Raven Rodriguez Staff Writer Many people are finding more money left in their wallets lately as gas prices have dropped. AAA reports also suggest that prices will continue to drop in the summer of 2015 if there are no refinery issues and things stay stable in the Middle East. The gas prices have been rising and dropping over the years. In January, prices dropped to the lowest they had been in six years, with the average price being $2.03 per gallon. Prices rose again and were up to an average of $2.43 per gallon in March, according to an April report by AAA. “I would like to see gas prices continue to go down,” Biology teacher Mr. Jeremy Granger said. “Prices on gas are too high.” Junior Natalie Couret said. “I would hope that they would stay at an exact amount that was cheap.” When crude oil prices go up or down gas prices follow. With changes in the world supply and demand oil prices have been going down. The gas price has a lot to do with demand. For example, during the summer a lot of people go on vacation/trips, with using more gas than a person usually would on a regular basis it causes the demand for gas to spike. There are other small factors to changes in gas prices. With things as simple as competition between gas stations. Competition may not seem like a big deal. But it does happen between gas stations. According to an article from U.S. News and World report from 2011. There could be two gas stations right across from each other and they’d both have different prices for the gas. Competition is however not the only reason that these two gas stations have different prices. One gas station might lower the price in order to bring in more customers. As always, the cheaper the gas the better for the wallet. By Mike McCarty Staff Writer Students from Red Lion Area Senior High School’s drafting and design level four class have begun a remarkable self-driven project. Seniors Drake Schaefer, Hunter Kinard, Mike McCarty, Sebastian Smith, Joshua Ziolkowski, Ben Clark, and junior McKayla Cooley are those in charge of the effort to restore the Neff’s single-room schoolhouse. Located on 220 Country Club Road, this historic landmark is in dilapidated condition and in need of improvements and repairs. With only a few months and a couple of field trip days lefts within the school year, the pressure is on, but the students of Red Lion are more than up for the challenge. “Simply it has to be done, and it’s a fun challenge,” senior Hunter Kinard said. The one overseeing this project is their very own drafting/design level four teacher Mr. John Royer. With immense enthusiasm he encourages the students to not only do this for a grade, but to find out what this project means for those working on it and to find out what you’re passionate about in life. Mr. Royer’s passion for the project is closely tied to the reason he wants to be involved. “Why? To restore and honor the impacts that single room schoolhouses had on our community, simple hardworking close knit families who loved to help each other was a part of life,” Mr. Royer, said. Neff’s single room schoolhouse was just a stepping stone to many of the students striving to make it to high school, where most of the core subjects were taught, including geography, mathematics, English, and especially religion. What was once a treasure to the town and its students this historic institution is rotting away sadly. “I feel it is important to secure the legacy left behind so future visitors may take a trip back in time. My local history students continue to be amazed at what took place in this building. Education has changed and grown exponentially over the past 65 years but it is important to reflect on our beginnings,” Mr. Sam Cooley, local history teacher said. With panels falling from the ceiling, paint chipping, and splintering floorboards, the school house is slowly decaying, though with the help and compassion from the students, this barely recognizable structure will once again stand proud. “It’s a part of our towns history, not everyone has the chance to tackle a project like this so why not?” Drake Schaefer said. 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 In her first visit to America a year ago, senior Lena Hoschen found a love for Roburrito’s and Chipotle restaurants. Now that’s she back for the entire school year, she has also tried American popcorn, which is different from what her homeland Germany offers. She doesn’t care for the salty popcorn here, but prefers lots of butter. The 17 year old native of Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany is back for her second time to the US, staying with the same family as last year. After her three-week stay as a part of the York Twinning Association Program, she wanted to come back for a longer period of time. “Everybody is nicer here. The school system is completely different, even the grocery stores are different,” Lena said. “The biggest [in Germany] is one-third of Giant.” Lena, a member of the cross-country team, really likes the school spirit here at Red Lion. “In Germany, there are no sports teams. There’s nothing I really don’t like here...I love it. I like that you have different classes, not always with the same people in the same room,” she said. In most German schools, students stay in the same classroom with the same students all day long, with teachers changing rooms when classes change. As she has been learning English since kindergarten, she doesn’t find speaking with Americans difficult. In Germany, learning English from a young age is mandatory, and eventually they must learn a second language, so Lena has also been speaking French for five years. While she’s here, she hopes to go to Ohio, where the rest of her host family lives, and she knows she will go to New York City at some point. |
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