Embedded Files
2025-26 Publication of the Clatskanie High School Journalism Class
2025-26 Staff Journalists: Josaphine Byrne, Marah Collins, Ariana Combs, Simone Ellen, Cora Evenson, Avalon Gonzalez Moreno, Grace Hadley, Leah Hadley, Gracelynn McCartney, Jada Pember, Nicole Roberts, Sophie Rodas Morales, Kylee Smith, Alycia Vanderzanden, Janae Vonner-Tensley, and Lilli Walton
AT-RISK STUDENTS: How Can We Help?
Sophie Rodas
Editorial. 10.13.25
I spoke with a student from Clatskanie Middle High School and asked if she had faced any challenges in school. She told me that she has had challenges in the past, which made her believe she might drop out.
Her main challenge was keeping her grades up. It was difficult for her to keep them up because the faculty in the school kept pulling her out of class due to suspicion. They took her away from learning, which was something she enjoyed in school.
I asked her what she was interested in, and she replied by saying she enjoys learning about animals and medicine. Her dreams were to become a veterinarian or work somewhere in the medical field.
However, because she was taken out of class and got multiple lunch detentions, she isn’t very interested in college. Now this student wants to either work as a chef or piercer. That sounds like a phenomenal career path for her!
When I asked what the school could do to help, she said to ease up the strictness of the faculty. From her experience of being searched and constantly suspected, she expressed how exhausting that was for her. It negatively affected her personality. While there might have been reasons for the school's concern, she has changed her habits immensely.
Today, she is doing great in her academics, which comes to shows that when students are given trust and support, they can thrive.
So, how can we help these students like her? We can start by talking about conversations about these issues. Schools can implement mental health support into their daily environment. The Carey Group’s article on free therapy programs such as “I Matter” shows that accessible emotional support can help students with stress, communication, and emotions.
Teachers could help with tutoring, extra time to complete assignments in class, or adjustments for learning disabilities. They may be small changes, but they certainly make a great impact so that students can keep on going with their goals. Additionally, it helps teachers not to feel overwhelmed in how to support them. This really can help students not feel ignored, alone, but instead, get the support and structure they need.
A TED talk about Victor Rios titled “Help for kids the education system ignores” discusses how educators can help students. He had a good role model, someone who encouraged him to keep doing his work in a positive way. She provided guidance and support to conquer his goals.
From what I know, the school is doing good on their part. But is there anything we can improve on now or in the future? Please let us know! You can contact us through Ms Sizemore's email: msizemore@clatskaniek12.org
CITES
Rios, Victor. “Help for kids the education system ignores”. Nov, 2016.
“How to Help At-Risk Students: School Districts That Are Doing It Right.” Carey Group, June 11th, 2025.thecareygroup.com. October 10th, 2025. Online
A Day in the Life of a New Student
By Alayna O’Connor, Freshman at Clatskanie High School
Hello! My name is Alayna O’Connor, and I’m a new freshman at Clatskanie Middle/High School. I’m fifteen years old, and I recently moved here from Saint Helens, Oregon. Before living in Oregon, I was in Dresden, Tennessee—so I’ve experienced a few different schools!
So far, my time at Clatskanie High has been great. It’s been so much fun meeting new people and learning new things every day. What I love most about this school is the people. Everyone has been so kind and friendly, which made my first day amazing. The teachers and staff were welcoming, and that really helped me feel comfortable right away. I always try to be nice to others—if people are kind to me, I’m kind back, and even if they’re not, I still try to stay friendly.
My daily schedule is pretty full. My first class is Band, which I really enjoy because I’m a musical person. I play the flute, and it’s such a beautiful and interesting instrument. Once you learn to read notes, it becomes a lot easier to play!
Next is Art, which has quickly become one of my favorite classes. We just finished working with acrylic paints and now we’re experimenting with charcoal and pastels. It’s definitely messy, but it’s also a lot of fun—and very colorful!
After that, I head to Earth Science, where we’re learning about the galaxy and space. I just finished a project on Mars’s moon Phobos, which is actually larger than its other moon, Deimos. I love learning about space—it’s so fascinating!
In English, we’re doing a unit about crime stories, which has been interesting to read and discuss. My next class focuses on U.S. States and Canadian Provinces, and then I go to Math, where we’re working on absolute value problem-solving. It’s challenging, but I like figuring things out step by step.
My last class of the day is Journalism, which is where I’m writing this article about myself! I’ve really enjoyed the chance to reflect on my first few months here and share what my days are like.
When I get home after school, I spend time with my family, my dogs, and my cats. It’s a nice way to unwind after a busy day.
Overall, being a new student at Clatskanie High School has been a great experience. I’m so glad to be here, making new friends and learning new things. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings!
Clatskanie High School Doing “Matilda” Musical
Clatskanie High School Doing “Matilda” Musical
By Avalon Gonzalez Moreno
Almost everyone knows Matilda. It’s a brand, at this point. Originally a book by Roald Dahl, it’s been adapted into movies and even musicals, which is why Clatskanie High School will be performing “Matilda: The Musical” in December.
Directed by Jaime Erwin, the music and drama teacher, it tells the story of Matilda Wormwood, a gifted girl forced to put up with a crude, distant father and mother. Worse, Agatha Trunchbull, the evil principal at Matilda's school, is a terrifyingly strict bully. However, when Matilda realizes she has the power of telekinesis, she begins to defend her friends from Trunchbull's wrath and fight back against her unkind parents. In the end, she gets adopted by a kind teacher and lives happily ever after.
The Clatskanie production of it will incorporate elementary schoolers and high school students.
Avalon Gonzalez Moreno is a freshman and is playing Matilda. “It's coming together pretty well. . . I have 128 lines, so I’m a little bit scared. I’m most excited probably for, like, getting to wear a cute costume, and singing a few solo songs.”
“I think the music is super lighthearted,” says junior Jasper O’Dell, who plays the Escapologist in the production. He taps a finger on his chin and thinks. “And the casting is very well-done.”
Kelley May is a freshman and is playing Mrs. Phelps, the dramatic librarian in the show. “I think that it’s gonna be really fun. It’s a lot of hard work, too, though.” Kelley says her favorite thing about opening night is talking really loud when the curtain is closed and seeing if the audience can hear her. She doesn’t care if they do.
Clatskanie High School will be performing Matilda: The Musical on December 12th, 13th, and 14th. General admission tickets are $8 and students and seniors get in for $5.
AI TAKING OVER SCHOOLS
AI TAKING OVER SCHOOLS
Sophie Rodas
Editorial 9.8.2025
"AI can be used to inspire and foster creativity, lend multiple perspectives, summarize existing materials, generate and reinforce lesson plans, and stimulate image creation."
Personalized learning: Tailor some students' education to let them understand what they can't. Hence, it can help students be more engaged and motivated
There is creation for content: You can create prompts, images, and ideas, and feel inspired.
It can lead to board access to resources: It can improve learning, brainstorming, getting ideas, and outlining.
I interviewed a local teacher who said that there can be benefits to AI. Of course, she said, if AI were to be implemented in schools, we would just have to be careful about how AI would be used. If it is to be relied on, rather than the tool it is, then it is not particularly beneficial. On that note, I also asked if there were any benefits to AI. To the teacher, she did say that there are benefits to using AI; it can
However, there may be some disadvantages to using AI. One of the most prominent is using AI to cheat. Some let AI write essays, do their homework, and such.
Another major issue with using AI, especially in classrooms, is that there may be misinformation. Either the information they have can be outdated, biased, or have errors. Which, in effect, may lead to an issue such as not critically thinking about the information you are reading.
Every single person should be able to deduce and deduce what they are reading, get sources, fact-check them, and decide what to do with such information.
If we let AI do some of our critical thinking, we may not be able to detect false information, or if we do detect it, how can we evaluate it if we don't know how to? Do we need to depend on AI for everything, even to use our creativity, the very thing that makes us human?
That is a question that we are facing today, in every aspect of our modern life. Next time, we will talk about examples of AI in education.
CITES
“7 Essential Questions About AI for Teachers to Consider”. Edutopia, September 27th, 2023. edutopia.org. October 22nd, 2025. Online
2025 Volleyball Seniors and Senior Night - October 16, 2025
Photos by Kylee Smith and Marah Collins
The REal Consequences of Book Bans
The REal Consequences of Book Bans
by Cora Evenson
“Banning and burning of books is the symbol of tyranny’s fear of the power of the free mind,” says Franz Boaz, a German Anthropologist born in 1852. The banning and restricting of knowledge is not a new phenomenon. This tactic has been used for hundreds of years to maintain power and limit free thinking and expression. Banning books infringes on freedom of speech which is our first amendment right, limits access to information and restricts empathy by preventing diverse perspectives.
Did you know that 47% of books targeted for censorship in 2023 were representing LGBTQ and BIPOC individuals? A study published in Basic and Applied Social Psychology found that people who read a story about a Muslim woman were less likely to make judgments based on race. This is why we should not be restricting books that include diversity. It restricts the empathy and understanding of younger students who should be learning about inclusivity.
Not seeing yourself represented in books can also have a harmful impact on mental health and make you question your place in the world. Book banning also limits access to information. The less materials a student has access to the less critical thinking and researching skills they will have. Florida was the top bookbanning state in late 2024 and early 2025 and it also happens to be 41st in education. This correlation shows that states that ban books tend to rank lower in education. In the school year 2023-2024 10,046 books were banned and 60% of those books were targeted towards young adults and included topics about confronting abuse, suicide, sexual assault, grief, death and substance abuse. Some teens that are going through a hard time may have no one to talk to, so they go to books to help them understand what is going on in their life. If these books are banned, then they might resort to more harmful coping mechanisms.
Our first amendment right as citizens of the United States of America is freedom of speech. If we are banning and restricting books, we are not upholding our constitutional values. Books like 1984 by George Orwell and Animal Farm by George Orwell have been banned and they reference important historical and political events that should not be repeated. If we don’t want history to repeat itself, we need to educate ourselves and pass on that knowledge to future generations.
Some people might argue that books should be banned because some material is not appropriate for young children. I agree that kids should not be reading certain books, but I think that it should be individual parents that get to choose what their child gets to read. This issue can also be addressed by age sections in a library such as a kids section and young adult section, since most libraries already do this, there is no reason to be banning books that other people want to read.
In conclusion, books should not be banned because diversity is important, we should not be limiting access to information, and it infringes on our freedom of speech. Thankfully, Senate Bill 1098 was recently passed in Oregon, and it prevents banning books in schools because of reasons like race, gender identity, and national origin. Sadly, attempts to ban books have increased a lot in recent years, which is why this is such an important topic. It is up to us to protect our right to read.
Fall Time - Soup's On!
by Lilli Walton October 24, 2025
Cheddar potato broccoli soup
Cook time- About 30 minutes, Serves about 8
One tablespoon of butter
One medium yellow onion chopped
3 cut and peeled potatoes
4 cups of chicken broth
½ teaspoon kosher salt
6 cups broccoli florets
3 cups whole milks
3 cups shredded medium cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons of flour
One teaspoon of ground black pepper
Directions
Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 4-5 minutes, until softened, stirring occasionally.
Add the cubed potatoes, chicken broth, and kosher salt and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a rolling simmer and cook the potatoes for about 8 minutes or until soft and easily pierced with a fork. Whiz the potatoes and broth with an immersion blender to the consistency you desire (I like to leave some chunks of potato), or mash with a potato masher.
Add the broccoli florets and the milk and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, cooking for 5-7 minutes or until the broccoli is al denté.
Toss the cheese with the flour and add to the soup 1 cup at a time, stirring until melted before adding the next batch of cheese. Season with black pepper and more salt to taste.
RCK Girls Soccer Team Unites Three Schools for a Strong Season
RCK Girls Soccer Team Unites Three Schools for a Strong Season
By Cora Evenson October 3, 2025
The Clatskanie/Rainier girls soccer team has a long history of playing together, but this season brought a new addition — Knappa High School. To represent all three schools, the team is now called RCK.
RCK practices at Clatskanie City Park, chosen as a central location between the three schools. Home games are split between Clatskanie and Rainier.
Currently, RCK holds a 3-2-1 record and is ranked 20th in the 4A league. Although Clatskanie and Knappa are 2A schools and Rainier is 3A, the combined team competes in the higher 4A division.
On October 2, RCK faced St. Helens in a highly competitive match that ended in a 1-1 tie, with Rainey Palm scoring the team’s goal.
The team has 16 players, including seven seniors, which has raised concerns about next season’s roster numbers.
“I’m very concerned about soccer next year because I’m worried we won’t have enough players, and all our seniors are super important to our team,” said Josaphine Byrne, a sophomore at Clatskanie High School.
Fall is Here, So Are the pumpkin muffins
Fall is Here, So Are the pumpkin muffins
by Cora Evenson
Sept 12, 2025
As summer ends everyone is ready for fall spices and rainy days. This means that you need the perfect fall recipe and what better than pumpkin chocolate chip muffins? This recipe is very easy with simple ingredients and is perfect to grab in the morning before school. Enjoy your baking!
Ingredients:
⅓ cup brown sugar
2 tbsp butter
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 egg
½ tsp vanilla
⅔ cup all-purpose flour
⅓ cup whole wheat flour
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
⅛ tsp salt
⅓ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
Directions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a muffin tin with paper liners.
Combine sugar and butter and beat in bowl till creamy
Add pumpkin, egg and vanilla and beat till smooth
Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin spice and salt in separate bowl and mix well
Stir flour mixture into pumpkin mixture
Mix in chocolate chips
Bake for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean
Go Big Red!
Go Big Red!
Inside Clatskanie High School's Cheer Team
Inside Clatskanie High School's Cheer Team
by Avalon Gonzalez Moreno
Can you hear the heartbeat of a cheerleader? Can you feel their energy, see their smiles as they clap and shout for two and a half hours? Some people say that these cheerleaders seem effortlessly happy. Others would say that cheer clearly takes a lot of hard work. But most of these people don’t know what being a cheerleader is really like. Coached by Kayleen Jones, the Clatskanie High School team consists of 8 cheerleaders. It’s a no-cut team, meaning everyone gets included. They stunt, rally, and most importantly, cheer on the football team.
“It’s pretty fun being captain,” says cheer captain Isabel Gonzales. “I get to boss everyone around.” She laughs as she dips her paintbrush into the paint pot. She’s helping paint the run-through banner for Clatskanie’s home game against Stanfield. I ask her what her biggest goal for the cheer team is. Isabel thinks for a moment. “I want to teach you guys things, and I want those things to stay with you throughout high school.”
Madisen Prahl is a freshman cheerleader, brand-new this year. She’s a base and lifts the flyer during stunts. “I’ve been wanting to do it forever. I really like stunting.” She says her motivation for cheerleading is Redbull and getting to leave school early. “My pre-game routine is making bets on whether our football team is going to win or lose.” She laughs. “Usually I’m right.”
There’s another Maddy on the team, too. “What I love most about cheerleading is that it feels like a family. We all support one another while also holding each other accountable,” shares Madeline Coalman, a sophomore cheerleader. She encourages herself with music, naming Nickelback as one of her favorite artists.
This small but amazing team shows off the joy of working together and supporting one another, creating a strong bond that extends beyond cheerleading. With their positivity and dedication, they bring their infectious energy to the sidelines. As they cheer for their team, it’s clear that they are united in their passion and love for the sport.
Teen Health
Teen Health
by Simone Oneta
Only 24% of teens in the US get the required physical activity per day, 23% get the recommended 8-9 hours of sleep per night, and less than 1% eat healthy meals every day. These numbers are not ideal, but most teenagers are already aware of this. Parents and teachers make sure of that, but the whole reason why these things are so important isn't often talked about. So why do you need to make sure you practice all these healthy behaviors, really?
We all know that getting the right amount of sleep and nutrition keeps our bodies healthy and fit, but what would our bodies be without our brains? Healthy habits do, after all, start with a mindset. A healthy mind leads to a healthy body and vice versa. This is especially true for teens.
As a teen, your brain is still developing, meaning the things you do and the choices you make have a huge impact on the rest of your life, whether you know it or not.
The human brain takes quite a lot of time to fully develop. For women, the brain matures between the ages of 23 and 25, while a man's brain does not fully develop until between 25 and 27. At the age of 15 which is roughly the middle of your teenage years, your brain is only 80% developed. This means the choices you make still have a huge impact on how your brain matures.
The largest part of the human brain is the frontal lobe, which is, as its name suggests, the front “piece" of the brain. The frontal lobe is mainly in charge of your speaking abilities, decision-making, and some muscle movement. This part of your brain still has quite a lot of development to do before it reaches maturity(which usually happens between 18 and 25). As you could probably guess, the frontal lobe is a pretty important part of your brain, and not taking care of yourself could leave a permanent dent in your abilities as an adult as far as making decisions and controlling impulses go.
insufficient sleep, poor nutrition, or lack of adequate exercise can cause lots of developmental brain issues in teenagers.
Getting the recommended amount of sleep every night allows your brain to rebuild damaged brain cells, create new connections or neural pathways, and get rid of all the toxic waste that develops during the day.
Having a healthy diet gives your brain all the fuel it needs to work its complex systems. Some foods you eat provide you with a fat called Omega-3 which are important for having a good memory and for learning new things. Exercise is also important because it gets blood and oxygen flowing into your brain, which helps grow neurons and neural pathways.
So maybe only 23% of teens get good amounts of sleep every day, and only 24% get good amounts of exercise, but the number of teens who understand the real importance of these things is also quite low. This means that as a teen, knowing how big of an impact your health choices have on your body and brain can help you thrive in school and out of school and be the best possible version of yourself.
Getting to Know Our Foreign Exchange Student: Samuel Rodriges
Getting to Know Our Foreign Exchange Student: Samuel Rodriges
by Leah Hadley
On September 10, 2025, we sat down with senior Samuel Rodriges, a foreign exchange student, to learn more about his background, interests, and experience in America.
Q: What is your name and grade?
A: My name is Samuel Rodriges, and I’m a senior (12th grade).
Q: What do you like most about this school?
A: I really enjoy how many activities are offered here. The school days are longer compared to my school back home, and one thing that feels different is the schedule. In Germany, we have 20-minute breaks after every second class—so after 2nd, 4th, and 6th period.
Q: Where did you go to school before this?
A: I went to Gymnasium Petershagen.
Q: Are you involved in any extracurricular activities here?
A: Yes, I play soccer.
Q: What’s your favorite hobby?
A: Back home in Germany, I really enjoy bodybuilding. Since being in America, though, I’ve gotten into watching shows. My favorite show is Ted Lasso.
Q: Where are you from originally?
A: I’m from Petershagen, Germany, but my family is originally from Goa. Goa used to be a Portuguese province, but it’s now part of India.
Q: Which languages do you speak?
A: I speak English, German, and French, plus just a tiny bit of Portuguese.
Q: What are your top three fun activities?
A: Building model planes, learning French, and playing chess.
Q: What’s your favorite hometown food?
A: Schnitzel with white asparagus—it’s delicious!
Q: How are you enjoying America? Is this your first time here?
A: Yes, this is my first time in America, and I’m enjoying it a lot.
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