by Kristian SkovrupSeniors Lining up for Moment of Silence Earlier this school year members of the Apollo-Ridge High School Student Council held an assembly in honor of the 9/11 terror attacks of 2001. A number of student speakers discussing a variety of topics surrounding the date, as well as musical performances from both the high school band and chorus, and speeches from a select number of staff members, were included in the event. Speakers Benjamin Smoyer, Daniel Dunmire, and Nathan Kavulic addressed the destruction of the Twin Towers, the attack on Pentagon, and the heroism of the passengers of Flight 93, while Kristian Skovrup, Felicity Rocco, and Greg Klingensmith honored first responders, armed service members, and delivered excerpts from President George Bush’s “The World Will Never Forget” speech respectively.
Intertwined with these speeches were three musical pieces. The high school concert band and chorus performed “Song for the Unsung Hero” and “The Message on the Rock,” and student Kate Myer’s performed a soloist piece titled “Requiem for a Soldier.” The assembly concluded with personal reflections given by school faculty such as Ms. Leigh Wenckowski, who herself was an Apollo-Ridge student in elementary school at the time of the attacks, as well as Mr. Christopher Zawacki and Nancy Sammons, who experienced the day as teachers. Overall, the assembly was a unique first for Apollo-Ridge and was received with warm words from students and staff. Later that evening at the football game, thirteen seniors lined up and held flags while initiating a moment of silence.
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by Jessica Tevelonis In need of a new language teacher last school year, Mr. Consuegra held a meeting to discuss what language would be most beneficial to the students. He shared, "We altogether agreed on obtaining a Latin teacher, due to its usefulness in academics and history." Months passed with little thought of a new language, until one day when she appeared. Ms. Hart is the Apollo-Ridge High School's new Latin teacher, located in room next to Mrs. Scotece. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Ms. Hart participated in a five-year program to obtain her bachelor’s degree in classics with a specialty in Latin as opposed to Greek. This program also provided her with a master’s degree in teaching foreign language. Her inspiration for coming to Apollo-Ridge was mostly based on the type of people that exist here, and she believes the student body makes the school count.
On a more light-hearted note, some of her favorite activities are playing video games with her husband after school, painting, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and playing Duolingo games. Her favorite color is blue, specially baby blue. The most important information from this interview was her reason for becoming a teacher. Ms. Hart greatly enjoys being able to change the lives of her students and steer them in the right direction for their futures. Also, she believes teaching can inspire people to follow their dreams and what they wish to do in the future. Ms. Hart is going to be a teacher for the books, and the student body looks forward to being a part of her curriculum for years to come. Welcome, Ms. Hart! by Jessica TevelonisMrs.Paouncic's door! The Halloween season is laid out before us, and it will be gone shortly. As a way to commemorate the spooky atmosphere before Halloween was over, Mr. Consuegra hosted a fall-themed door decorating contest. The rules and regulations of the contest were simple: Decorate the Group teacher’s door for the fall/Halloween the me, design could not extend more than five inches from the door frame; it had to stay school appropriate , and judging would commence on the 29th of October by a panel of administrator judges.
The winners of the contest had a choice of either a doughnut or pizza party. It is meant to be a fun activity and a chance to compete against fellow students and teachers alike. Mrs. Paouncic's door won with the help of Camdyn, Malea, Abby, and Alyssa! Congratulations to Mrs. Paouncic's Group! by Riley Silvis The popular kids Nickelodeon show Blue’s Clues has celebrated its 25th anniversary on September 8th, 2021, along with the announcement of a new original movie, Blue’s Clues & You! We think it deserves a spot in the Viking Voice for the influence that it had on so many of us throughout our childhoods.
Premiering in 1996, the world was introduced to its favorite curious pup, Blue! Kids everywhere were ecstatic to help Blue and his friend Steve Burns to find new clues every day. The first four seasons were hosted by Steve and Blue until 2002 when Donovan Patton (known as Joe) took the place of Steve for seasons five and six. In 2019 the show was rebooted by Josh Dela Cruz as Blue’s Clues & You. Because of the 25th anniversary, Steve Burns returned to his thinking chair to explain why he left so suddenly, addressing his fans about his decision many years ago. Steve explained how he left for college and how hard it was for him. He apologized, but said he never forgot us. His preschool fans meant the world to him, and he wouldn’t have made it without them. “And then look at you, and all you have accomplished in all that time,” Steve commented. His emotional message reached his fans from long ago by storm over the internet. Even though Steve has been gone, he has not forgotten the kids whose first friends were him and Blue. by Riley Silvis Even though it may seem that the Covid-19 pandemic has ended, it is still raging through the world. The number of new cases reached its peak in February of 2021 and has begun to decrease greatly, until the end of September when new cases spiked once again. In late September, it had reached around 152,000 new cases in the United States alone. Knowing that these cases are not yet vanishing brings up the question, masks or no masks?
Anymore this question causes a lot of controversy. Many people link the idea of masks and Covid-19 to their political parties, but the real concern here should be everyone’s health and the CDC regulations. According to scientists studying the virus, when a Covid-19 carrier and a not-infected person are both wearing masks, there is only a %1.5 contagion probability. Wearing CDC-approved masks the correct way stops infectious aerosol particles from easily transmitting to healthy individuals. Even though this information about masks is very strongly supported by the medical community, people are still choosing to fight against it and see it as more of a choice, not something to be mandated. There are some groups of people claiming that the masks are just another form of government control, and some even stand outside of schools, businesses, and government buildings protesting the mask mandate. Regardless of the conspiracies surrounding this topic, it is true that the world is in crisis because of this deadly virus. CDC.org by Emily BonjaAt the beginning of 2020, the world was brought to a pause.
Amid an outbreak of respiratory illnesses in Wuhan City, China, doctors identified COVID-19, a new kind of respiratory illness that spread quickly from person to person. As the illness traveled from China to the United States, eventually becoming SARS-CoV-2, scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) realized that there was a serious pandemic at hand and pressed pause on the daily proceedings of life. Chaos ensued. Nobody knew what they could and couldn’t do with this new way to live. Not even medical professionals knew what to do with a bustling, work-focused society in the face of a new illness that was spreading like a wildfire. Schools across the globe were confused and panicked from all the contradictory information and the upcoming end of the school year. With a large packet of schoolwork and a pat on the back, many schools sent their students home in March of 2020. Upon the beginning of the 2020 – 2021 school year, parents and students alike wondered what schools were going to do. Opening up completely still seemed risky, and many students had family members that were immunocompromised or otherwise at high risk of getting COVID-19. Thus, the Apollo-Ridge Virtual Academy (A-RVA) was opened up to students who wanted to stay home. A great number of students took advantage of this and chose to attend their classes from home. Seeing as it was a new program, it was a constant work-in-progress for students and teachers alike. Technological problems ruled this new form of education, and daily adjustments needed to be made. After experiencing a full year of online education, teachers, students, and parents have all formed their opinions, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Some students found the A-RVA system to be beneficial for them academically. When asked, senior Kristian Skovrup noted, “I think that I had a lot more time to dictate my own schedule and generally a lot more flexibility when it came to doing assignments. That led to a lot less stress when it came to deadlines.” Others struggled heavily with procrastination and general lack of motivation. Senior Summer Macpherson said, “I was super unmotivated and didn't want to do work most of the time. I got in a horrible habit of pushing back doing my assignments, and I procrastinated a lot.” When asked, most students agreed that following the A-RVA program completely stripped away any social aspect of school, often causing feelings of isolation that would develop into depression, anxiety, and lowered self-esteem. This created a negative social experience for students in the A-RVA program, and students such as Summer Macpherson said, knowing what she knows now, if she had to choose between A-RVA or in-person again, she would choose in-person. However, despite the lack of social environment, Kristian Skovrup said he would choose A-RVA. Generally, feelings about the A-RVA experience tend to be a mixed bag. Some students benefited from the freedom and increased free time, others crashed and burned under the lack of a clear daily outline. Regardless, everyone is appreciative of all of the effort the Apollo-Ridge administration put in and continues to put in to create a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students. by Emily Bonja Starting from the very first day of school, the Apollo-Ridge choral program works hard to ensure a cheerful and festive winter concert each year to prepare everyone for those fuzzy holiday feelings, including songs such as “Believe” from The Polar Express and “Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas” from Home Alone 2, this year’s program is sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face! Doors open at 7pm on December 14th, 2021, so make sure to come out and support the Apollo-Ridge choral program.
Additionally, our school is hosting the Armstrong County Chorus Festival this year! Many students from other schools in the district will be attending our school to learn under the esteemed guest conductor Mr. Scott Salser, a retired Choir Director from Indiana Area High School, for two days. Choral students will be preparing an uplifting and spiritual concert for attendees of all ages. Doors open at 7pm on November 18th, 2021, and ticket prices are $5 at the door. This is an experience you don’t want to miss! by Kate MyersPhotos by: Lici.Jo.Photos Felicity Rocco (queen) and her escort Colby Pozzuto. Photos from Saturday’s dance! Though the 2020 was full of changes in activities, education, and extracurricular, one of the most missed events by the student body was the annual homecoming semi-formal dance, held by the student council. That is why when the student council announced they would be hosting all the regular homecoming activities, everyone was ecstatic!
First, homecoming court was voted on by the senior class. There was one less member included on the court this year because of how few girls there are in the class of 2022. The homecoming court of 2021 included Bailey Zidek, escorted by Ben Smoyer; Madi Lydon, escorted by Wryder Frickanisce; Kate Myers, escorted by Kristian Skovrup; Alani Williams, escorted by Nathan Kavulic; Emma Frain, escorted by Connor Mamros; and Felicity Rocco escorted by Colby Pozzuto. During seventh period in school before the homecoming game, the court members as well as fall sports teams were honored in a great pep assembly organized by student council and announced by the gracious Mr. Manifest. There was a glow stick contest for all students, mummy wrapping of their respective coaches for the sport teams, and a ‘how well do you know me’ game for the homecoming court. The homecoming king was also announced, who was none other than the man, the myth, the legend, Garrett Calderone. The energy in the room was electric, especially since this was the first pep assembly since before COVID. The homecoming football game took place on October 1st, preceded by a parade that included class floats, the homecoming court and their escorts, the marching band, and reigning homecoming king and queen of 2020, Abby Bush and Dom Reiter. It was a perfect fall evening for a football game. Apollo-Ridge won 41 to 22 against summit. Before the regular halftime show, however, the court got to walk down the field as their names, interests and activities, and future plans were announced. Abby and Dom, along with princess Avery Deceder and prince Kyler Brocious, walked down the fifty to crown the homecoming queen: Felicity Rocco! The following Saturday night, the student council threw its 2021 homecoming dance, complete with snacks, dancing, and music, to match the magical feeling of once again having a normal school dance. Anyone who attended the dance can assure that fun was had by all, and it will certainly make a great high school memory! by Kate Myers If you were to drive to Butler County and take a walk around the nearby woods on October 15, you would, more likely than not, see kids from grades 6 through 12 tromping around the woods with clip boards and pencils, maybe stopping occasionally to admire a leaf or check the pH of rain water. What you’re witnessing is an even called Enviroquest, something in which the Apollo-Ridge High School / Middle School have been participating for over fifteen years.
On the day of the event, students take their usual means of transportation to school, then check in with homeroom teachers before reporting to the lobby to board the bus. Once the students arrive, usually around 9:30, the events begin. There are three stations; one for identifying leaves and plants, one for using math to measure things such as slope and erosion, and one for applying environmental knowledge to real world situations. Students break into groups and change stations periodically. Once the students are all finished, the clipboards with the group’s answers are turned into the organizers. While the answers are being scored, students enjoy lunch at the newly renovated Jennings Environmental Education Center. The awards are announced, and the students travel back to their home schools. Though there was no Enviroquest last year due to COVID, luckily a group of Apollo-Ridge students could attend this year. Apollo-Ridge placed exceedingly well in Enviroquest. The two high school teams took home a 3rd place overall, 1st and 2nd places in processes, 3rd place in identification, and 2nd and 3rd in concepts. The 9-7th grade teams got a 1st in processes and a 3rd place in concepts. The 6th grade team a 3rd place in concepts. Says participant Liz Master, grade 12, “Enviroquest was a great experience for everyone that was involved this year. I think that I did my personal best this time around, and our teams did a great job overall.” Signups are posted outside of Ms. White’s classroom every school year in the beginning of fall. It is a great way to connect with local flora and fauna while also having fun with friends! by Felicity RoccoPhotos by: Lici.Jo.Photos This year the Apollo-Ridge Volleyball team went 7-7 and ended up making it to the first round of the playoffs. Four of the players were nominated "Class A Player of the Week": Brinley Toland, Alani Williams, Jocelyn Emrock, and Marly Koleno. The team will be losing two amazing seniors, Emma Frain and Alani Williams next year. Both have played for four years on this team and during their years as middle school students as well.
Senior Alani Williams commented, "This year's volleyball season was great! We made it to the playoffs, and I got to become closer with everyone - that was most important to me. We played great together, and I can't wait to see how far they go in the future!" |
AuthorsFelicity Rocco |