November-December Parent Update

Celebrating 108 Years 1906 - 2014

Connecting Our School and Our Community Our mission is to support and challenge al l students to

reach their maximum potential through a r igorous curriculum in a safe, nurturing, and

orderly environment. We are committed to building posit ive relationships between students, staff,

administration, and community in order to provide effective student achievement through high expectation and frequent

assessment.

Dear RLHS Parents,

We have had an outstanding fal l with many success stories, including our State Championship Win for the RLHS Cross Country Team. Boys sweeping f irst place three years consecutive and Gir ls taking 2nd

place. A Three Year State Championship is a f irst for our distr ict. What an accomplishment for our athletes, coaches and school! ! In addit ion, Gir ls Vol leyball Team taking us al l the way to state competit ion with a fourth place overal l . Even more impressive thirty-five students were recently recognized receiv ing Academic All-State. Academic All-State rewards students who have maintained a minimum 3.5 GPA and lettered in varsity fal l Sport. Outstanding work---we need to be proud of our Hometown RAMS!!

One of the joys of the Holiday Season is remembering those persons who are important to us -- our students and parents. As we pause to celebrate this most joyous occasion, the faculty

and staff of Red Lodge High School wish to extend warm greetings for a happy and safe hol iday season.

We truly appreciate the confidence that you have placed in our professional staff of educators. The confidence, loyalty and support of our parents enable al l of us to succeed. We look forward to your continued support.

Sincerely,

Rex Ternan, Principal Red Lodge High School    Music  Department     Jennifer  Coutts    RLHS  Band  and  Choir    

I  would  like  to  applaud   the  High   school  Choir   and  Band   for   a  job  well  done  on   their   first  concert.   The  

students  performed  

well   and   the      community   sure   enjoyed   listening   to   them.   I   am   so  proud   and   happy   to   work   with   these   students.  Everyday  is  a  new  challenge  and  they  really  come  to  the  plate  when  it  comes  to  learning  new  music  and  working  hard  to  make  sure  they  get  it  right.      RLHS  Pep  Band  Bravo   to   the   RLHS   pep   band.   These   students   went  above   and   beyond   each   game   for   their   teams.  Unfortunately,  we  were  rained  out  of  2  football  games,  but  managed  to  make  almost  all  of  the  Volleyball  games.      We  rehearsed  a   lot.  We  also  managed  to  pick  up  some  students   who   were   not   in   band   class,   but   wanted   to  play.   Some   of   them   are   in   Jr.   High.   Hats   off   to   those  young  people.      Some   of   our   behind   the   scenes   prep   for   this   past   fall  sports   season   included:   7:00   AM   practices,   moving  equipment   to   and   from   the   football   field   and   then  moving  it  to  the  gym,  arguments  about  tempo,  bus  trips,  trying   to   figure   our   schedules   out,   playing   the   same  songs  over  to  get  it  right,  laughter,  silly  messages  on  the  

dry   erase   board,   coaxing   our   friends   into   being   there,  and  playing  until  our  faces  were  numb.      Also,   a  big   thank  you   to  parents   and   the  booster   club!  We   couldn’t   have  made   it   through   tournament   season  without  you.      We  are  looking  forward  to  Basketball  Season.    Thank  you  RLHS  Band   for  making  my   first  Volleyball/  Football  Season  a  great  one  and  keep  up  the  good  work.      Pep  Band  Recruitment  I   hear   there   are   quite   a   few  musicians   out   there  who  aren’t  in  my  band  and  I  certainly  didn’t  see  you  during  pep  band  this  past  fall.  I  would  love  it  if  you  could  join  us  for  a  little  music  on  Basketball  game  nights.      On  Thursday,  November  20,  during  first  snack  break  at  RLHS,   I   would   like   to   meet   with   the  musicians   in   my  school   to   discuss   the   upcoming   pep   band   season.   We  will   be   discussing   rehearsals   and   t-­‐shirt   design.   Be  there!    You  may  obtain  volunteer  hours  by  playing  in  pep  band.  You  may  also  have  fun.  What  have  you  got  to  lose?    Tri  County  Honor  Choir  This   Tuesday,   November   18,   2014,   the   entire   RLHS  choir  will   travel   to   Park   City,  MT   to   participate   in   Tri  County  Honor  Choir.  This  is  a  great  opportunity  for  the  students   to   get   an   idea  of  what   it   feel   like   to   sing   in   a  large  choir  and  of  course  learn  music  and  have  a  great  time  while  doing  so.  Students  will  arrive  at  school  and  depart   at   the   beginning   of   first   period.   They   will  rehearse  all  day.  The  concert  will  be  that  night  at  5:30  in  the  Park  City  gym.  Please  join  us  at  the  concert!    Hol iday  Concert  Our  6-­‐   12  Holiday   concert  will   take  place  on  Tuesday,  December  16,  2014  at  7:00  PM.  Be  sure  to  join  us  once  again   for   a   fun   filled   Holiday   concert   featuring:   guitar  class,   6th   grace   band   and   choir,   7/8th   grade   band   and  choir,  RLHS  band  and  RLHS  choir.  Please  bring  a  tray  of  edibles   so   we   may   have   a   reception   in   the   commons  afterward  and  visit.      Also,  don’t  forget  to  wear  your  ugly  Christmas  sweater.  Ms.  Hyvonen  and  I  are  asking  our  students   to  wear  an  ugly  Christmas   sweater,   for   fun  of   course.   If   you  don’t  have  one,   then  normal  concert  dress   is   just   fine.   I’ll  be  wearing  mine.    Music  Parents  Parents,  I  would  love  to  include  you  in  our  music  lives.  Occasionally,   I   may   need   chaperones,   baked   goods,  things  moved,  or   just  any  kind  of  favor.  I  would  like  to  know   who   out   there   is   interested   in   being   a   music  parent  I  may  contact  if  we  need  anything.  Please  email  me  if  you  are  interested.    

Coupon  Books  Without  further  delay,  the  RLHS  music  students  will  be  selling  the  blue  coupon  books.  Please  find  a  high  school  music   student.   They   are   $20.00   and   are   a   great  investment!    Contact  If   you   ever   have   any   questions   or   concerns   regarding  anything,   feel   free   to   contact  me   by  my   staff   email   at  jennifer_coutts@redlodge.k12.mt.us      G O T D R A M A ? L i b b y J o h n s o n

Red Lodge High School Speech and Drama welcomed RLHS Science instructor and dramatist, Kate Belinda to the team this fall. She can be heard guiding our young thespians through a series of tongue-twisting word warm-ups and laugh-out-loud improvisation exercises weekly. Individual competitors worked hard to memorize

their lines and hone their speeches for their debut competition in Roundup on November 15.

“We are very pleased with the team’s performance at this first meet.” Said Coach Libby Johnson, “they had tough competition from experienced competitors.”

Senior Nate Polakoff and freshman Travis Mckenney led the Ram squad with second place finishes in serious solo and expository speaking. Additional drama points came from the humorous duo teams of Vance Thuesen and Cole Daily swashbuckling their way to a third place finish, and Tim Urbanik and Sabrina Mann placing fourth debuting "Caution, Librarians Ahead."

In speech, first time competitor junior Abbie Nordstrom finished third in impromptu speaking, while freshman Hannah Johnson had a solid debut, ranking fifth with her performance of poet Shane Koyzcan's "Troll." Sophomore Heidi Hicks finished sixth in serious oral interpretation, and freshman Aidan Heidinger earned a respectable seventh place in humorous oral interpretation.

Other team members competing were Mackenzie Morean in impromptu speaking. The team travels to Hardin on December 6, and we are looking forward to a fantastic season in Red Lodge High School Speech & Drama!

   

R L H S   M a t h       B e n   S t e v e n s    I   would   like   to   take   just   a  moment   to   introduce  myself;  my  name   is   Ben   Stevens   and   I   am  another  one  of  the  new  faces  here  at   Red   Lodge   High   School   this  year.   I   recently  moved   here  with  my   wife   and   our   two   sons   after  

living   for   several   years   in   a   remote  corner   of   Idaho.  We   are   all   very   excited   to   be   part   of  this  community  and  so  far  feel  that  it  is  a  great  fit  for  us.  I   grew   up   in   Dillon,   Montana   and   after   spending   11  years   in  Michigan   and   Idaho   I   am  happy   to   be   able   to  return  to  the  state  that  I  call  home.  I  have  taken  over  for  the  legendary  Mike  Kosorok  and  although  I  realize  that  I  have  some  big  shoes  to  fill,  I  am  excited  and  feel  that  I  am  up  for  the  challenge.    This   semester   I   am   teaching   a   section   of:   Algebra   II,  Trigonometry/Pre-­‐Calculus,   Advanced   Calculus   and  Technical   Math.   In   Algebra   II   students   have   recently  finished   working   with   quadratic   functions   and   has  started   on   exponential   and   logarithmic   functions.   Our  Trig/Precalc   class   has   been   working   to   solve  trigonometric   functions   and   learning   how   to   graph  them.   The   new   iPads   have   been   exciting   addition   to  class   and   allow   us   to   graph   and   manipulate   the  different   functions   while   watching   the   graphs   change  instantly   on   the   9.7   inch   Retina   displays   (quite   an  improvement   over   the   old   graphing   calculators   with  pixels  that  you  could  actually  see  and  count).  Advanced  Calculus  has  started  off  slowly  as  I  worked  to  figure  out,  and  the  students  tried  to  remember,  where  exactly   they   were   in   the   calculus  sequence.   The   fact   that   80%   of   our  class  was  on  the  state  winning  Cross  Country  team  has  also  meant  that  we  have   had   to   deal   with   a   significant  amount   of   school   excused   absences.  Despite   the   slow   start   I   feel   confident  that  our  students  will  be  prepared  for  their  future  math  classes  as  they  look  forward  to  college  next  fall.   In   Technical   Math   students   have   learned   about  employment   basics,   filing   their   taxes,   and   renting   or  buying  a  home.  They  have  also  started  on  a  project  that  will   incorporate   writing   and   drawing   and   allow   for  some  creativity   as   they  design  a   floor  plan  of   a  house,  calculate   the   square   footage   and   property   tax   and  prepare  a  newspaper  ad  to  sell  their  house.    This   first   quarter   has   been   remarkable;   I   am   truly  impressed  with  the  maturity  level  and  determination  of  our   students   and   I   look   forward   to   continuing   to   help  them  succeed  in  their  math  classes  as  they  prepare  for  their  futures.        

R e n e e R o d e n b a c k

   Mrs. Rodenbeck’s English 12 class just completed reading Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley. As a culminating activity student groups created a “Frankenstein” as described in the book. Monsters were displayed in the hall for Halloween. The English 11 students created the "Headless Horseman" since they just finished reading, Sleepy Hollow, by Washington Irving. Both classes created some very realistic monsters, and showed great effort! This month all classes will be researching and completing a research paper. Papers will be due before Thanksgiving so that everyone will be able to take a well deserved break.

 A g r i c u l t u r e     C o l t o n   H e l l w i n k e l  

 Five   Red   Lodge   FFA   members   have  returned  from  a  cross-­‐country  adventure  to  Louisville,  Kentucky  after  seven  days  of  agricultural   commodity   tours,   public  networking,   and   leadership   seminars.      Our  trip  departed  from  Joliet  High  School  

with   34   total   FFA  members   and   5   advisors.     Students  were   taken   on   a   three-­‐day   drive   across   the   central  United   States   stopping   along   the   way   to   tour   the  diversity  of   agricultural  production  and  processing.     It  was   a   trip   that  will   undoubtedly   hold   lasting  memory  for  everyone  involved.    Future  events  for  the  Red  Lodge  FFA  include  several  of  the   yearly   meets   and   competitions   that   numerous  members   will   attend;   including   District   events   in  December,  February,  and  March.      The  chapter  goal  for  this   year   is   also   to   bring   a   leadership   focus   to   our  organization   that  we   can   return   home   and   share  with  the   school   and   community   through   a   number   of  community   service   projects.       The   Montana   FFA  Foundation   will   host   our   first   leadership   training   on  December  5th  in  Billings,  Montana.        If   you   are   curious   about   other   involvement  opportunities  be   sure   to   follow  us  on  Facebook,   check  out   our   Red   Lodge   Schools   website,   or   just   visit   with  one  of  our  chapter  officers!        

Spanish-Foreign Language Jack Clinton The numbers in this years Spanish classes have remained constant with those of past years. We will once again offer 3 sections of Spanish 1, two sections of Spanish 2, and one section of Spanish 3-College Spanish 101. The 101 will be offered for college credit through Montana Tech at Butte. This class will complete some students college requirements and help others fulfill there requirements. The class is offered for 3 college credits and the cost is really a very good deal CloseUp will go to Washington DC and NYC this year. We have 18 kids and Tracy Fox is traveling as the second adult. We have been very busy with the concessions and most have noticed that the prices at concessions have risen. This is due to very low profits last year. The cost generally reflect the inflation of all food costs across the board. All the Spanish students and CloseUp kids are really looking forward to another year.

The Office of Public Instruction and Montana GEAR UP will continue providing licenses for ACT Online Prep (AOP). Those licenses will continue through August 2015, and will allow all students in Red Lodge high school (grades 9-12) to use AOP at no cost to the

student, school or system. What is ACT Online Prep? ACT Online Prep is an online test preparation program. With AOP, students will have access to: -Practice  tests  with  real  ACT  test  questions      -­‐Practice  essays  for  the  ACT  Writing  Test,  with  real-­‐time  scoring      -­‐Comprehensive   content   review   for   each   of   the  ACT’s   four   required   tests   –  English,  Math,  Reading,  and  Science.      They will also be able to take a test that will diagnose their skill levels and develop a personalized Study Path to help them attain the scores they want. AOP can be used anytime and anywhere they have access to the internet.

Why Career And Technical Education Is Important for RLHS Students Janet Walsh

Why CTE? The case is this: in order for students to succeed, we need to prepare them for the ever-changing world of work, which means not only college readiness, but career readiness—students with access to postsecondary education and skills attainment possibilities that will prepare them to achieve in the 21st century.

We ask the question, “Why Career and Technical Education?” with honesty. Why, among the many competing education demands, student needs, and graduation requirements, does a program that has its foundations in the 1917 Smith-Hughes Act hold relevancy still? Between emphases on early learning to college preparation, where does Career and Technical Education (CTE) fit in and merit consideration? Why should students who barely have an opportunity to explore the arts, health and fitness, or social studies, be directed to courses in Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Science, Industrial Technology/Trades and Industry, Welding/Metals, Construction Trades, Prostart/Family and Consumer Sciences, Business and Computer/Technology Applications?

The answer to the above questions, we believe, is that CTE offers a unique opportunity to engage students in an enormous variety of subjects, incorporating academic, creative and technical skills, with the specific goal, nowhere else represented in education, of preparing students for all of life that comes after high school.

CTE needs to be an integral part of every student’s education so that all students graduate from high school globally competitive for work, prepared for postsecondary education, and ready for life as positive, contributing members of society in the 21st century. With CTE, students succeed.

Education After High School

A broad choice of jobs — some of them very well-paid — are available to those who further their education and training after high school. You don’t have to get a bachelor’s degree in order to find a career that you are passionate about and allow you to financially support a family. Montana post-high school offerings include:

• Apprenticeships leading to certification and jobs • Internships (paid and unpaid) • Community and Technical Colleges (two-year degrees) • Four-year colleges and universities (bachelor’s degrees)

Student Leadership Organizations

• Career and Technical Education student organizations help you grow and learn how to compete. These organizations are specifically designed to increase the confidence and leadership potential of members. Red Lodge High School is proud to offer our students FFA through the Agriculture Program, Family and Consumer Sciences offer FCCLA, Business offers BPA and our Trades and Industry program provides the Skills USA program. These four organizations provide RLHS students an opportunity to travel and engage in important leadership opportunities at local, regional, state and national competitions.

Be   sure   to   visit   our   website   for  periodic   updates,   announcement,  teacher   lesson   plans   and   now   our  quarterly   Parent   Newsletter   as   well  as  other  important  district-­wide  information  at:    www.redlodge.schoolwires.com