Embedded Files
Tradition Reporter Vaughn Wetzel takes to the halls to talk to some of our favorite Neville Tigers.
Teacher, Coach, Second Mom: NEVILLE'S OWN MS. KATHY RASCO
Ms. Kathy Rasco is a teacher and coach here at Neville. She teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) and coaches cross country as well as track and field. She has been at Neville High School since 1995. Ms. Kathy went to Louisiana Tech and majored in physical education. She wound up teaching ESL because she was good at handling challenges. She is very involved in the foreign exchange student program, and her classroom serves as a safe space for students. All of her students and athletes adore her, so we talked to a few to get them to tell us why.
Photo by Vaughn Wetzel
"Teacher, Coach, Second Mom"
Vaughn Wetzel, Tradition Reporter
"Teacher, Coach, Second Mom"
Vaughn Wetzel, Tradition Reporter
“She’s helpful.” - Scarleth, 11th
“She’s always willing to help her students, when they ask for something.” - Emily S, 10th
“She’s like my second mom. I’ve known her since I was in fourth grade and she means a lot to me.” - Rivers, 9th
Parker, a junior, admires her dedication to everything she does. “My favorite aspect about Ms. Kathy is one of the most loving and caring teachers to all of the students here at Neville High School.” said sophomore, Luh Xan. He also knows she will do anything to help a student, even go out of her way to do so.
“She’s beautiful.” - Preston Moses, 9th
“Kindness” - Liam C, 10th
“She’s so beautiful and sweet and she lets us come in here all the time," added sophomore Brooklyn C.
Ms. Kathy is role model for students and faculty alike. Faculty member Ms. Elynee commented that she admires Ms. Kathy's humor and her kindness, the two qualities any teacher must have to form the connection with students for which Ms. Kathy is known and takes great pride in.
Of the 1000-plus students at Neville, few most likely benefit more than her foreign and exchange students, who rely on her help for more than just directions and to be taken care of.
"In sports, we see these kids so many more hours a day than teachers do. It becomes like a family," Ms. Kathy said.
We all hold great appreciation for having such a wonderfully kind teacher, coach, and for so many, second mom. Thank you Ms. Kathy!
Advisor's Note: Due to delays caused by our format change, some information in our "New Season" article below may now be out of date. We decided nonetheless to keep the article as it was originally written, with minor edits.
New Season, New Ways to Win Today: The Tradition talks with Neville's new head football coach Mike Collins
Neville football season is well under way, and since Neville's new head football coach Mike Collins came on board, everyone's been wondering what he will bring to the table. We know the players expect big things, but we wanted to know what you think. That’s why we asked you what you're expecting out of Coach Collins this season and seasons to come.
"New Season, New Ways to Win Today"
Vaughn Wetzel, Tradition Reporter
"New Season, New Ways to Win Today"
Vaughn Wetzel, Tradition Reporter
He needs to be on his A-game for this season.” said freshman Brodie Buck. “You feel me? Gotta lock in.”
Senior Connor Sawyer, expects “More wins than last year.” and sophomore Perry Waterman seconds that idea saying “get us some wins.”
“I feel he’ll get the boys ready with the discipline he’s instilling into them” - Karari Hanks, assistant principal.
Asking about the season under way, we got some candid responses about what folks expect and what they want to see happen.
“Their team is gonna work hard. I feel like we can get it done.” - Xander Renaud, 10th
“I think we’re gonna do good, you know, as always.” - Parker, 11th
“It’s gonna be a successful season. Neville tigers always win.” - Rishi, 10th
With such high expectations, we asked about what else people could want.
“To let me back on the team.” - Darnell McGee, 10th
("New Season" continued below)
Coach Mike on the field. Photo courtesy of Neville High School and Bigg Zigg Photography
("New Season" continued from above)
“I think all the boys love him and love his discipline and his devotion, commitment and all those good things and I think he's got them all confident that we can play a difficult schedule and still win many more games than we lose.” - Kathy Rasco, faculty
Will Anders needed only one word to sum up his expectations of the season: “Awesome."
Long-time fan Mr. Willy expressed a mix of both enthusiasm and skepticism about the season's turnout.
“Great," said Mr. Willy. "Hopefully.”
Principal Mickey McCarty also kept it characteristically brief, simply stating, “I think it’s gonna go great.” Of course, few are closer to the game than McCarty. Until becoming principal in 2020, McCarty's work as head coach for 18 seasons reshaped the program itself, giving Neville its core motto: WIN TODAY.
Naturally, we had to interview the man himself, Coach Mike Collins.
VW: How long have you been coaching?
MC: “40 years."
I asked about his expectations of the players. He responded by telling me how he expected our players to be champions on and off the field.
MC: “They should be model citizens, students and good people." He went on to comment that they are expected to "represent our team in a manner that is respectful of others and [to show] outstanding character.”
VW: How do you feel about the freshman football team?
MC: “The Frosh have come together and formed a close relationship," he said, and explained that he thought they had done an outstanding job of respecting others, getting better each time they hit the field.
VW: What are you expecting out of yourself, football wise?
MC: “I am expecting our team to represent the players that have come before them, and the ones that will come after.”
For Collins, it is clear that the definition of performing like a champion means something bigger than one game. It means representing the Neville nation like solid citizens. That's what it means to WIN TODAY.
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