The Rampage

Claire Strickland Managing/Design Editor SEP girls soccer congratulates each other after scoring a goal. Claire Strickland photo.           Tuesday, April 19 will be the girls soccer team’s first home game against Ankeny. The freshman team will play at 4:45, junior varsity at 6:00, and varsity following at 7:30. Junior Jordan Pfister will be playing her first home game as a varsity player.             “ Yes I am very excited, it will be our first one on our turf,” said Pfister. “I hope a lot of people come to support us!” The varsity squad has already had six games total, but Pfister said that nothing compares to a game on her home turf.             “The best part about home games is that we have a lot more fans come and watch us,” said Pfister.             So far this season, the girls are strong with four wins and two losses, both being to Dowling and West Des Moines Valley.             “ I've had my moments where I didn't do well, but as a team we do wor

Jessica Rish News Editor                                                                                                                                                     On April 8 and 9 the Southeast Polk drama department put on the spring play. Morgan Christensen's character Mustard sees (left) puts flowers in Bottom's. Jessica Rish photo.   The cast had been working on the production for about two months. The drama department puts on two production every year. The fall production was "the Addams Family musical" and the spring production was "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Senior Payton Thompson played on the lead roles, Hermia. Thompson was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award. Thompson has been in all eight productions since her freshman year. "I’m sad it's over but excited to start a new journey," said Thompson. Thompson will be continuing her theatre journey at Northwest Missouri State University where she plans t

Kailee Ammons  Feature Editor  Many essays are written in AP composition. Photo credit Kailee Ammons.   The Advanced Placement (AP) Composition courses have been studying and learning about argumentative essays for the past month. This week, they are expected to write an essay on a topic that they are passionate about.             Students must follow one of the three formats that they learned in class: oration, induction, or deduction. The most common is oration because it is similar to how students have learned to write in the past. This format consists of an introduction, first hand evidence, second hand evidence, a counter claim, and a conclusion.             Students are writing about a variety of topics including college athletics, vaccinations, high school sports and activities, etc. Along with background knowledge, students are also being asked to research their topic and provide at least one quantitative data, data represented by numbers or statistics.          

 Lexi Burrows Convergence Editor  Students have to re-read many things to be able to get an A on this test. Photo credit Lexi Burrows.  Today AP Human geography took a multiple choice test. Students had 40 minutes to a complete the 50 question test.       Studying for an AP test can be very difficult and overwhelming. “I prepared by re-reading book, rewriting my notes, redoing our outlines, making flashcards, practicing out loud, and by reviewing my cram sheet,” said sophomore Ally Stutzman.       Many students do not know whether they did good or not, but some feel better than others. “It is my hardest class. Of course I am going to worry but I feel ok about the test. I tried my hardest to help ensure my success in the class,” said Stutzman.       AP Human Geography is a college course so the test taking is timed. Many students stress about not finishing, but in the end, everyone completes the test. They are preparing the students who participate in the APHUG class for

Kailee Ammons Feature Editor  On Thursday, February 18, the students in Mrs. Borseth’s AP Composition classes will be taking a writing assessment. It will be over analyzing texts, and writing an essay about the various rhetorical strategies used within them.             Students have been preparing for this by reading an essay every week, analyzing, and finding a deeper meaning them. Once a week, they have a class discussion about the essay and its main idea. Then students are asked to dig into their opinions about how the topic affects society and support their claims with textual evidence.             Students have also been practicing writing essays throughout the semester. At first, students were only asked to write an outline of the rhetorical strategies used in an essay. After a few weeks of this, students were asked to write essays as if they were taking the AP test. Then the students were randomly paired with a classmate to peer edit the essays and give suggestions of

 Ethan Edvenson Cartoonist  The plan to bring home another first place trophy this weekend at the state wrestling meet. Photo credit Ethan Edvenson.  It’s finally the week of state tournaments for our wrestling team and they’re prepared for four intense days of non-stop action at Wells Fargo Arena! Students from all over the state are pumped to watch their classmates get down as well as the chance to leave school to attend the event. “It’s just a great atmosphere to be in. You really get to see some great moves and I’m really excited to see the team’s succeed once again,” said senior Jordan Brockway. Starting tomorrow, Wednesday, February 17, Dual Team Tournaments will happen with four different pairs wrestling at 9:00 AM sharp in the 3A Quarterfinals and two more matches happening at 1:00 PM for the Semifinals. Later, the matches for 3A Consolation Final and the 3A Championship will go down at 6:30 PM.             On Thursday, first rounds for the 3A and that round’s con

Anna Zelenovich  Columnist NHS gave out letters to students so that they can apply. Anna Zelenovich photo.  Students have been receiving letters informing them if they are eligible to apply to be accepted into National Honors Society. NHS is a prestigious group of students who must maintain a high GPA, be active in servicing their community and stand out to teachers as leaders in the classroom. Once a student receives a letter inviting them to apply, there is a process each applicant must go through.             Junior Holly Dannen received a letter. “I am very honored that I got a letter, I am definitely going to complete the application process and I am hoping to get in,” said Dannen.             NHS organizes many community service projects for those who are in already including annual blood drives and Meals for the Heartland.             “I think it would be a great experience and NHS would allow me to become a leader and give me opportunities to make a differenc

Clarissa Merschman  Staff Reporter      Students in Spanish two classes will give speeches about their favorite person or animal this Friday.             The speeches have to be one minute long or more. Notes are not allowed while giving the speech. If a student is caught using their notes or have them anywhere they will lose all of their points on the speech.             Visual aids, however are acceptable. A student can create a Powerpoint presentation with pictures on it, have pictures printed on a piece of paper, draw their own pictures, or they can create a photo library to use on their phone.             All of the words in the student's speech have to be conjugated correctly in preterite form which mean they have to be in past tense. If they aren’t conjugated correctly, the student will lose points.             When the student gives their speech they have to pronounce all of their words correctly and talk for the entire minute. Talking slowly to stall time is

Demi Muchmore  Editor and  Chief      On  Friday, February 5 th Southeast Polk band members got the gracious opportunity to attend Iowa State University Honor Band. Nine students from Southeast Polk got to participate, everyone that did go ranged very differently in instruments.             The students were given these certain music pieces just two months before this performance. They worked really hard to get it to their best ability.             The nine band members went to Ames on Friday February 5 th and spent the entire day rehearsing to perfect anything they could. Next they spent a good portion of Saturday February 6 th rehearsing and then it was show time. All of their closest family and friends could come join and share this special moment with them, the show lasted about 40 minutes.             “It’s so much fun, I love it! It’s just a really great way to stay busy”, junior Matt Polson said. 

Jessica Rish Feature Editor  The news cast has a very wide variety. Photo credit Jessica Rish.    On Wednesday and Tuesday of last week various students grade 9-12 auditioned for the spring play, A Midsummer's  Night Dream.                 A Midsummer’s  Night Dream is a Shakespeare play that is comedy.                 Senior Payton Thompson has been casted as one of the starring roles, Hermia. Hermia She is a girl of Athens. The dialogue makes it clear that she is shorter than Helena. She is caught in a romantic accident where she loves one man, Lysander, but is loved by Demetrius, whose feelings she does not return.                 “I’m pumped for the play because it’s my last theatre performance of my high school career,” said Thompson.                 Practices for the play began on the 9th of February. The play will take the stage some time in late april. Good job to those who all auditioned.

Tori Hennick Arts and Culture Editor  With the snow days that Southeast Polk has been thrown, students are missing out on days not only to  enjoy themselves in the summer, but also days they could be using to work. Studies from NCES (National Center for Education Statistics) show that more than two-thirds of high school students were employed during their senior year. 22.7 percent of those students were working at least 20 hours per week. This study was done in 1992. Although the data is old, it is more than relevant today. If students back then were working 20+ hours a week, they must be working just as much, if not more in 2015. Most students 10-12 th grade have jobs, for example sophomore Joey Hupp. Joey is currently a busser at the Pleasant Hill Market Café. “If the school year is being pushed farther back all the time, I still have to work.”Like most students, Joey pays his phone bill, so every time he has to miss work it make that objective just a little bit harder.  

Sydney Sears  Staff Reporter  Students can attend speed and agility at 6:15 am in the high school gym. This is encouraged by high school coaches and other athletes. Sydney Sears photo.  Students interested in Track and Field will be happy to hear that Speed and Agility will be back on Tuesdays and Fridays at 6:15 am in the gym, and will also have open indoor track on Mondays and Wednesdays after school. Going to this will help all athletes in conditioning a bit before the season and to train with whatever work outs they have.             Sophomore and Track athlete Kaylee Tiffin has gone to several of these “classes” and hopes to go to more in the future.             “They really help me in getting fit over the winter,” said Tiffin. This opportunity can give athletes the option of getting in shape over the winter for any activities in the spring or upcoming sports they might participate in. Tiffin knows this, and is grateful of taking advantage of the class.           

Tori Hennick  Arts & Culture Editor   Not everything about finals week is bad. Students at Southeast Polk are given a wonderful privilege during finals that they aren’t during normal school days: open campus. Open campus means that students are able to take their lunch break, 55 minutes, to go anywhere they would like for lunch as long as they are back in time to take their finals.             Junior Abbie Lane is one of the many students who will be taking advantage of the open campus during finals. Abbie plans to go to Pancheros with her friends and enjoy the small break she is given during the stress of finals.             “I have to take all of my finals and I’m not happy about it so getting to leave the stressful environment for a few minutes feels relieving” said Lane.             “I picked Pancheros because their burritos are very good. My friends and I are really happy that we get to spend some time together technically during school hours all while getting aweso

Sammi Springer  Staff Reporter   Schedule for finals. Photo credit Sammi Springer.  t’s that time of year again! Finals are Wednesday through Friday, with first and second period finals on Wednesday, third through fifth period finals on Thursday, and sixth through eighth period finals on Friday, followed by what will be a much needed weekend after that. With the gold and silver cards that are handed out as a prize for good grades and attendance, most students are going to be able to opt out of more than the usual two that you’re allowed to opt out of if you’ve been absent for four or less days. One of these people, who will end up opting out of four finals altogether, is Hannah Waskel, a sophomore who has a gold card from last semester’s good grades.             “I’m really glad we get the option to opt out of some of our finals, because then the ones that we do have to come to don’t seem as bad and it doesn’t feel like were at school for ten more hours than usual,” said Wask

Ethan Edvenson Cartoonist  Students need to get more involved, and receive financial aid.  Tonight is Financial Aid Night. You might ask what is that and why is it happening? Basically, our counselors, representatives from the Iowa College Access Network, and a Dollars for Scholars representative will be giving a presentation on the information you might need on completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and what to do with it. This includes the type of money you’ll need and receive for it, what to expect when doing it, and the information on what else you’ll need for it. It also goes over the most important processes on going to college and will help parents and students understand that procedure.             Not only that, but the event talks about scholarships in general since it is about that time for students to turning them in for college. This will go over local scholarship options that are available to everyone including the ones that are on the

Demi Muchmore  Editor & Chief  Even though it doesn’t seem like it, spring is right around the corner. That also means that softball season will begin.             The girl’s varsity softball players returned to the winter workouts the first Sunday after winter break. The practices are divided into two different practices between the pitchers and catchers. Everyone practices on Sunday between noon- two. Pitchers and catchers practice on Saturday mornings.             The practices include a multitude of things. These workouts are here to help the players get ready for the upcoming softball season. They include; hitting in the batting cages, hitting grounder balls, practice their throwing, and they do quite a bit of conditioning.             The whole team is very excited to start up the season in the end of May and their season is looking good.             “I started playing when I was little and I have grown up playing it. Almost everyone in my family also plays eith

Kailee Ammons Feature Editor  Students went to the Shining Stars kids development preschool as a field trip. Photo credit Kailee Ammons.   Southeast Polk students in the Parent and Child Development classes are going on a field trip to Shining Stars Daycare to observe and learn about child behavior on Thursday, January 7. There will be two groups going, one in the morning and the second in the afternoon.             While at the daycare, students will be expected to interact with the children and apply the knowledge that they have gained in class. In class, students have learned about children from ages of infancy to elementary. The students have also been making toys and planned activities to participate in with the children.             Students of the Parent and Child Development classes think that this experience allow them to see how children behave in certain situations. They also believe that it will help them in their futures when they go into a life or career invo

Anna Zelenovich Columnist  Students have until Friday, January 8th, to gold or silver card out of their finals. Gold cards are awarded to students who got at least a 4.0 GPA the previous semester and it allows them to opt out of two additional finals. Silver cards are for students who had a 3.5 GPA last semester and let students opt out of one additional final. Many students work hard for either a gold or silver card so they don’t have to take as many finals.             Junior Cassidy Oberbroeckling has had a gold card the past 4 semesters. “The free Ram planned day is nice to have as well as opting out of finals,” said Oberbroeckling. Many students take advantage of these opportunities to make finals week less stressful. Oberbroeckling is taking some of her finals but is able to opt out of four because of her Ram Plan sheet and gold card.             “I am taking my Communications, World Issues and P.E. final but not my Pre-Calculus, Spanish, American Experience and Ch

Ashley Vannoy  Staff Reporter   Science teacher Mr. Busch’s snowflake display is one that everyone takes joy in. Taped against his window are tons of hand-cut paper snowflakes. All different sizes, each are different and unique. “I don’t know if it’s a love for snowflakes,” said Busch. “It’s like the best kind of stress relief, trying to figure out what cuts and folds will make the best flake. The movie, ‘Elf,’ inspired me, particularly the scene where Buddy the Elf turns Gimbel’s Toy Store into a Winter Wonderland. If it wasn’t a fire hazard to do so in a chemistry lab, I would definitely do that!” Busch says that the secret to making snowflakes is nice, clean cuts. “Sometimes I’ll look at snowflakes online for inspiration, but it’s really all in the head. A simple snowflake with a splash of detail makes for a wonderful design. Sometimes I open them up and they look gross. Other times, I open them up and they accidently rip, but I just keep doing my thing,” Busch says. Ev

Jessica Rish  News Editor The meninist twitter account has been notorious for  putting out hateful content on  twitter regarding social justices like, gender, sexuality, race amongst other thing    Twitter is one of the biggest platform used in the social justice world. Twitter famous social justice accounts dedicate their feed through the use of hashtags, retweets, and tweet threads to educate and inform others on social issues.     Twitter does a good job of supplying a multimedia platform for educating thousands of people and raising awareness with the click of a button, but there is one main problem that can  often be seen  in social justice Twitter: “Dragging” or hateful conduct, can even be considered bullying or attacking/harassment. If you’re vocal about your beliefs or activism, then it is more than likely that you have received some kind of hate or backlash for it.    Many people can see people be attacked on Twitter because of their gender, sexuality, race, or d

Claire Strickland  Design  Editor               French III students had a guest visitor today from the DMACC Culinary Arts program. Junior Bailey Peterson participated in the event. “We had a student from our class who is in the culinary arts program make us French Desserts,” said Peterson. Student Nicole Jenkins is a student at Southeast Polk and also takes the culinary classes at DMACC. “I think it was beneficial because it let us have a little taste of what French cuisine was like and now we know it is not as hard as we might think to make it,” said Peterson. Any French III student was allowed to participate during fourth or fifth period if they would have liked to. “My favorite part was eating the food because who doesn’t like to eat food,” said Peterson. Ms. Cox, the French III teacher, set up the entire thing with Jenkins, and her and her professor came and set up and demonstrated the whole thing. Students enjoyed this because they got to eat free French Desserts, an