Page 8

THE ORACLE RASD

February, 2017

Rochester area school District

540 Reno Street Rochester, pa 15074 724-775-7500 WWW.RASD.ORG Contents Page 2 Feature stories Page 3 Old and New Page 4 SPorts Page 5 Editorial Page 6 Singing and Dancing Page 7 World News Page 8 Word search /credits This edition looks back to the old and into the new year. Journal-ism class examines what has con-tributed to our present and what will can look forward to in the near future.

Senior Project Reminder All seniors will submit their senior project for a second review on February 28, 2017. Final Projects and Presenta-tions are scheduled for March

31st.____________________ The Oracle Staff Editor-in-Chief: Raegan Hert-zog Feature Editor: Felicity John-son Sports Editor: Justin Nazdam Editorial Editor: Tiara Jeffers Staff: Lydia Bable, Jennifer Conley, Kristie Dolnack, Brice Howieson, Ian Kouba, Lucas Mansueti, Julia Sab-bio, Victoria Schinke, Leon-tae Turner, Tiffany Black-well and Tyler Vargon

Advisor: Mrs. Drogowski

First Edition 2017

NEW

YEA

RN

EW Y

EAR

WO

RD

SEA

RC

HW

OR

D S

EAR

CH

Music is in the Air

New and Upcoming Events Beaver Valley Choral Society and Rochester Area

School District Presents:

Summer Choral and Instrumental Music Academy

June 14-16 and June 19-23, 2017

Free performance of Antonio Vivaldi’s “Gloria”

Classes include: Jazz Ensemble Chamber Ensemble, Introduction to Conduct-

ing Piano Masterclasses, Vocal Masterclasses, Preparation for College Audi-

tion, Developing Church Music Programs, Careers in Music Beyond Educa-

tions, Performance Plus and many more! On The Campus of Rochester Area School District

See rasd.org for details 540 Reno Street, Rochester, PA 1507

CHD Spirit Week From February 13th to the 17th lets raise awareness for Congenital Heart Disease

Monday the 13th Wear Red Day

Tuesday the 14th Pajama Day

Wednesday the 15th Hat Day

Thursday the 16th Retro Day

Friday the 17th Flannel Friday

By Leontae Turner and Tiffany Blackwell

Friday the 17th Flannel Friday

February 2017 Volume 1, Issue 1

By: Kristie Dolnack

During the Inauguration of President

Donald Trump, protestors were rallying all

across the country. Not that far from where Mr.

Trump and Former President Obama were,

rallies broke loose with protestors and anarchists

armed with weapons went rampaging through

the streets of our nation’s capital. However, the

acts of violence only got worse. Explosives

could be heard, a limousine was set on fire, and

three D.C. police were injured.

During the Inaugural Parade, there were

also some issues with protestors. The first lady

wanted to stop at the newest hotel opened in

DC, but when they got there, there were so

many protestors that the president went back

into the limousine. Millions of Americans

dislike him, making him become the most

unpopular incoming president within the past

four decades. Throughout the day, over 200

people were arrested, and the rioting didn’t stop

at all throughout the night.

Presidential Inauguration 2017: Riots and Inequality

Obama Out

Page 7

By: Justin Nadzam

Barrack Obama in my opinion was a great

president, he had his flaws but don’t we

all? From Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 to

Friday, January 20th, 2017 America got to

know and love Obama for his interesting

personality and his great leadership. It’s

hard to think that it has been 8 years since

Obama first became our president.

Although it was hard and sad to watch Obama leave the white house. We can all be

happy for all the achievements he’s accomplished and the difference he’s made

throughout the world, during his presidency.

World News

Q: How have your first few months as guidance counselor gone?

Pretty good, time flies by here because I’m always busy

Q: Do you like being a guidance counselor over being an actual

teacher?

For the most part, I like being able to help students in other

ways than just teaching

Q: What are some of the things you help seniors with?

Transcripts, college applications, scholarships, and keeping

students on track

Q:What are some of the most difficult tasks?

Trying to keep up with all the work that I'm tasked with

Q:How do you go about changing schedules for students?

Sometimes you can’t change their schedule but when you

can you mostly have to look at the students credits

Q: Do you think your next year here will be easier?

Probably, after you do a job for years the same things occur

so you get used it

Q: Where do you see Rochester in 5 years?

Hopefully still Rochester, if students take the next step it

shouldn't be a problem staying our own school

Our New Journalism Teacher, Mrs. Drogowski By: Declan Eaton

Q:Have you worked at any other school district

and what did you teach?

Yes, Lincoln High school. I taught learning support.

Q: What’s the best thing about Rochester in your eyes?

The way the students accept one another.

Q: Has working in this environment taught you

anything? How technology has helped the school

system over the years.

Q: Has teaching journalism taught you anything?

Organization is key.

Q: What is your vison for Rochester?

I truly believe that Rochester will merge with an

other school district in the coming years.

Q: Is the sense of community appealing to you?

Yes. People in Rochester are easy to get along with.

Q: Do you think the up rise in sports we’re experiencing

helps the community?

Definitely. It also brings in community

participation.

Q: What is one thing about our school that you would

improve?

I would search for grants for technology and sports

equipment.

Interview With Mr. Proctor By: Lucas Mansueti

Page 2

Volume 1, Issue 1

Page 6

On January

14th, 2017

Rochester

High School

students put

on their boo-

gie shoes and

headed to Franzee’s-Javy’s for the annual New

Year’s Bash. Tickets cost twenty-five dollars

and for a couple it cost fifty. 102 people at-

tended the dance and according to Mrs. Onus-

ka, “It was the largest Winter Semi the teachers

have ever chaperoned!” The ladies and gents

started to arrive at six o’clock looking so

elegant and dapper. After photos and dinner it

was time to hit the dance floor. From seven

thirty till ten thirty people were rocking around

the clock showing off their dance moves. Kids

were “dancing and singing and moving to the

groovin’!” Ten thirty came around to fast for

most and it was time to go. The food was good,

the music was good, and even the company

was good. The students had a ball or a blast

maybe you could even say they had a bash.

Out With the Old, In With the New

As the year of 2016 came to an end, the year of

2017 was anticipated by everyone. The old year

leaves behind many memories, good and bad.

Students were asked to reminisce back on 2016.

Question: What was an unexpected obstacle

from 2016?

Response: An unexpected obstacle was not get-

ting accepted to my first choice college and

having to come up with a back-up plan.

Question: What was your biggest personal

challenge from January to December?

Response: Changing my attitude towards

others was a struggle for me.

Response: Trying to find happiness through all

of the stress and bitterness.

Question: What was the best thing that hap-

pened in 2016?

Response: The Steelers won against the

Browns in overtime.

Response: Our football team made it far this

season.

Response: My nephew was born in

January 2016.

Question: What was the biggest thing you

learned this past year?

Response: Things change, but that is not

necessarily a bad thing.

Response: Sometimes you need to put

yourself before others.

Response: This past year, I learned to love

myself, which is very important.

The new year is the time when people

make a New Year’s Resolutions and try to

better themselves. There are also many

things to look forward to in the new year.

Many of the seniors

say that the one

thing they have to

look forward to is

graduation and

college. Their goal

is to pass the

senior project and

go to college. Other

students are looking forward to the start of

track season, prom, summer vacation,

baseball season, and the start of high

school football. Other students set New

Year’s resolutions to better themselves.

Some of these resolutions include being

nicer, volunteering more, getting good

grades, and living life to the fullest. I

personally think the year of 2017 will be a

good one. I wish everyone the best and a

Happy New Year.

By Jen Conley and Felicity Johnson

District Chorus: Sing it Loud and Proud

By: Tiara Jeffers

Typically, students in the chorus do not receive

the recognition they deserve. On January 12th

through the 14th this year, students from around

the area were honored by being selected for the

“District Chorus.” The “District Chorus” is an

organized program that selects the most

outstanding chorus students from around the

area, allowing them to come together to perform

the ultimate chorus concert. Two of Rochester’s

finest students, Sarah Dolnack (Senior) and

Heather Tame (Junior), were selected for the

program. Mrs. Frankenstein, Rochester’s

chorus teacher, sent the director of the festival a

list of recommended student names, and the

director then chose two of the outstanding

students from the list. The event took place at

Hickory High School in Hermitage,

Pennsylvania. School districts from all around

participated in the program. Dr. Wendy Yu, the

director of the program, worked with the high

school students for days, perfecting the

performance until it was flawless. On the last

night of the program, the chorus performed the

following songs to a packed auditorium: He is

Marvelous, Aesup’s Fables, Sure on this Shining

Night, and Hallelujah Amen. Overall, the

experience that the “District Chorus” provided

the students was like no other. Chorus students

from all around were able to come together to be

surrounded with others who take pride in the

same activity. When

asked her favorite

part of the experi-

ence, Sarah

Dolnack responded

with, “I enjoyed

working with such

a wonderful direc-

tor and a great

group of students

my age, to create

beautiful music.”

Dancing Into The New Year

By: Raegan Hertzog

Page 3

Page 5

Super Bowl LI by Justin Nadzam

Girls Basketball by Ian Kouba

On February 5th the

Atlanta Falcons and the New

England Patriots battled for

the Super Bowl, in the first half it

looked like the Falcons were going

to pull off the impossible, the

ultimate upset with the score being

21-3. Maybe they were going to be

the team’s first Super Bowl

champs. But then in the second half

Brady pulled something out of

nothing and gave the

Patriots hope. The

Falcons ended up blowing

their huge lead when they

let the Patriots score 19

points in the 4th quarter,

while scoring none at all.

Then for the first time

ever, the Super Bowl goes

into overtime and the

Patriots score again making one of

the best comebacks in Super Bowl

history with the final score 34-28

making the Patriots Super Bowl

Champs once again. Now you can

love or hate Tom Brady, but you

have to respect him as one of the

best QBs in NFL history.

The girl players try to defend an opposing player’s shot.

Teams Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4 Overtime

Patriots 0 3 6 19 6

Falcons 0 21 7 0 0

Page 4

Declan’s Interview

I interviewed two students of the months

Sophomores Justin Nadzam and Declan Eaton.

First, Declan Eaton then Justin Nadzam.

Q: How do you feel about becoming student of the

month?

A: It’s awarding. It pushes me to improve myself

every day.

Q: What extra work did it take to become student of

the month?

A: Along with staying on top of my grades I try to

make an impression on the faculty that is worthy of

my best effort.

Q: Who is your favorite teacher and what impact

did they have on you?

A: Myself. I’m in control of my own destiny. I did

what I had to do. I’m my own teacher.

Q: How do you feel about Rochester school and if

there is one thing you can change what would it be?

A: Rochester is a quality school that you can thrive

in. I’d cover he school in more colorful and arous-

ing colors.

Justin’s Interview

Q: How do you feel about becoming student of the

month?

A: It’s cool

Q: What extra work did it take to become student of

the month?

A: I did all my homework and I studied hard.

Q: What is your favorite class and why?

Justin A: Chemistry, because I find it interesting

and Mr. Benedum is a swell guy.

Q: Who is your favorite teacher and what impact

did they have on you?

A: I’d have to say J Cole because he teaches people

about life and values through his music like the

songs “Love Yourz” and “Crooked Smile”.

Q: How you feel about Rochester School District?

A: I feel that Rochy is a small, quite school and I

like that. And I think we should have more field

trips because they’re always getting canceled.

Students of the Month

By: Chad Meny

To those who are doing their senior project

To those who didn’t start

To those who are nice to everyone

To those who make fun of people

To those who stand up for what is right

To those who do nothing at all

To those who are getting good grades

To those who are failing

To those who help others

To those who only care about themselves

To those who pay attention in class

To those who sleep or do nothing in class

By: Brice Howieson

The Rochester Rams girls’

basketball team has been playing

like all-stars lately. With a record

of 9-4 their stellar play has been

showing. Although they have a few

losses, they continue to improve

and get better both offensively and

defensively.

The Lady Rams are led by seniors

Julia Sabbio and Tiffany

Blackwell. Both of these amazing

women have been great leaders and

also have provided a good support

for the underclassman who want to

learn what basketball is all about.

With the help of these seniors, the

girl’s team could make a deep run

in the playoffs and potentially a

chance to play in a WPIAL final.

The underclassmen on the team

have also played a huge role in the

success. Several starters and other

major role players contribute to a

lot of the success. One of the main

contributors is junior starter, Lydia

Bable. When asked about her role

on the team, Lydia said,” I

consider myself a strong rebounder

and an overall force in the paint.”

Lydia has been playing very well

even though she is just a junior.

Another big time player for the

Rams basketball team is senior

leader, Tiffany Blackwell. She

mostly runs pint guard and she

excels at basketball with her

dribbling and scoring skills. It

would be easy to see that she has

improved vastly since her fresh-

man year and now she is one of the

top players in the whole WPIAL.

The girls have a tough schedule

ahead of them, and they need to

continue to get better and strive for

greatness if they want to reach

their goals. Tiffany was asked what

she thought about the remainder of

the schedule. She then replied by

saying, “I feel like if we go out and

play hard, we will be fine.” Those

are some strong words by the

senior leader. If they can turn those

words into action, then the girls

will surely be successful.