The Rampage

Claire Strickland Opinion Editor Jessica Shepherd and Ally Stutzman in their costumes for Disco Daze. Photo by Claire Strickland             Friday May 22, 2015 was the 13th annual disco daze for freshmen at the high school. Freshman Kennedy Varisco participated in the event.             “I dressed up as Farrah Fawcett because she was a hair icon, and we have similar hair styles,” Varisco said. Many of the students dress up as icons from the 70s and went down to the choir room with their US History teachers to participate in a disco, with lots of dancing and decor.             “Dancing on the floor was my favorite part. All the iconic dances from the days of disco,” Varisco said. Students get to participate in Disco Daze every year, even if they are not a freshman. Students prepare in advance by learning all the dances that they...

Claire Strickland Opinion Editor The future junior members pose for a group photo. Photo courtesy of Sammy Rooney. Thursday, May 14 was the annual RhythAMetteS banquet. All team dancers participated, and many received awards. There was also a potluck before where members ate and socialized. Coaches announced new members of the team, and seniors said their final farewells after many years on the dance team. Sophomore Ameerah Thayer was a part of the banquet. “We eat a lot at the potluck before the awards are given out in the auditorium,” Thayer said. “The banquet welcomes new members and says goodbye to the seniors and is just an end of the season get together.” The banquet allowed spent time for voted awards and academic awards as well. “There is the rookie of the year award, superstar, miss congeniality, highest kicks, outstanding effort, and many others,” Thayer said. “There are also awards for academic and for people who have been on Elite.” The new 2015-2016 team c...

Claire Strickland Opinion Editor             Students who play volleyball have a mandatory meeting on Friday morning at 7:15. The meeting will take place in Mr. Parkers room, N273.             “The meeting will mostly be about future summer open gym dates,” said sophomore volleyball player Maya Barker. For students who plan on playing volleyball during the next fall season, the meeting is highly recommended.             “I want varsity to make it to state of course, but also a good team record for all of the teams,” Barker said. Students who play volleyball attend summer open gyms, where lots of preparations occur. Drills, games and conditioning take place at the open gyms every morning.             “During the offseason there are open gyms and sand volleyball...

Claire Strickland Opinion Editor             Wednesday April 8, Stand for the Silent members spoke to staff members at their regular two-hour late start meeting. Sophomores Cassidy Oberbroeckling, Kailie Hesner and junior Missy Rovner spoke in the meeting. "This morning we presented in front of the SEP high school staff, informing them more about the club Stand for the Silent, including what we do, why we are doing it, what our goals are, and what we are learning while we do it, along with some information about our latest project, the Pieces of Me Campaign," Hesner said. Stand for the Silent has been traveling to the elementary schools around the district with the junior high and Spring Creek students. "It felt really great to talk in front of our school’s staff because it's showing them more about who we are and what we do to open up their minds about getting involved and getting to see what some of their students a...

Claire Strickland Opinion Editor As on April 1, 2015, the Southeast School Board has decided to have the senior class of 2015 stay until the final day of school, June 2, 2015.             “Seniors do not need to miss out on the final days of school. It prepares them for college and enhances their learning skills,” teacher Twixie Paterson said. Seniors will be taking all of the required finals and will not be allowed to leave during the school day, even if the students do not have a final at the required time. “Seniors don’t need to lose out on the idea that they are ending school early, and then go right into college and be lazy and flunk out,” Paterson said. Seniors will also lose senior week, senior scip day, and they will be required to take ITEDS. Juniors will receive the last week off, and will not have to take any finals. “I cannot believe this,” Senior James Franco said. Franco has been looking forward to ...

Claire Strickland Opinion Editor             Football coach Dennis Muller resigned a few months back and his job has now been filled. Brad Zelenovich, previously head Ankeny football coach and Southeast Polk’s own offensive coordinator, has been called for the job.             “ When I heard Zelenovich was our new head coach I was so excited!! The whole school had been waiting to find out who our new head coach would be ,and there were rumors that Zelenovich applied and was coming back, but I was so excited to find out he officially got the job,” said junior Eric Pingel. Pingel will be a senior and leader next year on the team.             According to http://www.desmoinesregister.com/ , Muller spent 13 seasons as the head football coach.             “I felt like it was going to ...

Claire Strickland Opinion Editor Best Buddies member Ash Sartell holds up the poster  signed by students who take the pledge.            Spread the Word to End the Word takes place on the first Wednesday of March every year, this year being March 4th. Students around the United States take place in ending the use of “The R-word.”  Southeast Polk is one of these schools, participating in ways all over the school.             “We are wearing blue to spread awareness for the R word and there’s also a poster you can sign to take the pledge,” Sophomore Lauren Wade said. Wade is a member of Best Buddies and she takes part in People PE.             Best Buddies is a club where students get to interact with students with Special Needs and just be their friend.  The “R Word” is used as slang and is a derogatory term used towards kid...

Claire Strickland Opinion Editor              As of February 17, the school board has announced that Dr. Dirk Halupnik will be offered the new Superintendent Job. Previous superintendent, Mr. Craig Menozzi, announced on October 16, that he will be retiring at the end of this school year.             “I think that I’m really going to miss Menozzi. He is a man of integrity, and has always put what’s best for students ahead of himself,” Freshman English teacher, Haley Henry, said. Henry may miss Menozzi, but she knows that Halupnik will do just as great of a job.             “I think he’ll be great. From what I’ve read and heard, he is very knowledgeable and experienced,” Henry said. Halupnik is currently working with Linn-Marr Community School District, but will start at the beginning of the new school year with Southeast Polk.  ...

Claire Strickland Opinion Editor Here at Southeast Polk, there is a club called Stand for the Silent. On a weekly basis, the club has now been giving presentations about bullying to elementary aged students. Sophomore, Cassidy Oberbroeckling, is a part of these skits.                 “We present bullying statistics, give definitions of bullying and cyber bullying, and give short skits to a range of third through fifth graders,” Oberbrockling said. Every week, Stand for the Silent kids go and teach younger kids about bullying and how to prevent it or how to help a friend if they are getting bullied. Spring Creek, Junior High and High School students are all involved in these skits. The students give skits on physical, verbal, cyber and social bullying.                 After the skits and other information, students go to the clas...

For Written by Jessica Rish Staff Reporter Black Friday, the official kickoff for holiday shopping, has become a holiday of it’s own. Crowds are lining up at stores just after they finish their last bites of Thanksgiving dinner.  Many Americans look forward to this day all year long, myself being one of those people. There is natural high that you get from purchasing a present for someone you  love, but it is a even better feeling when you get it for a good price. The sales on Black Friday allow you to buy a lot without breaking the bank. Some stores have sales that are up to 75 percent off items, which makes waiting in lines worth it. Staying up until late hours of the night might not be for everyone, but one of the great things about this day dedicated to shopping is getting all of your shopping done at one time. Going shopping on Black Friday means you get your holiday shopping done before December. This is nice, because then you do not have to scr...