NEWS
OCTOBER 19, 2020
Danny Rock answers students’ burning questions
By Ivy Merkl, ReporterVashon High School Principal Danny Rock was kind enough to answer some of the burning questions Riptide readers sent in...Read More
Political discussions take place in the classroomBy Catherine Brown, Photo & Business Editor Election Day is right around the corner, which tends to bring up controversial political topics in the classroom. However...Read More
OCTOBER 12, 2020
High school explores options in financial literacy education
By Amelia Spence, Co-Content & Publishing Editor Many students at VHS are plagued with concerns about becoming financially independent and aware. Where does one learn how to pay their taxes...Read More
VHS finds the silver linings of the pandemic
By Lucy Rogers, Reporter The pandemic has not been easy for anyone. With so much change and conflict in the world right now, it is easy to feel down or upset...Read More
OCTOBER 5, 2020
Voter suppression could change the course of the 2020 election
By Lila Cohen, Reporter Voter suppression is guaranteed to be present in this coming election season. So what is it?
“Voter suppression is a large scale collection of various tactics to disincentivize people from participating in the political process.” said Dr. Lawrence Cushnie, professor of political science at South Seattle College...Read More
Teachers adapt to online classrooms
By Mead Gill, Copy & Online Editor After two and a half long months of summer vacation restricted by coronavirus, students and faculty throughout the Vashon school district have re-entered the world of schedule and structure; the 2020-2021 school year has finally begun. Though online schooling is an adventure for all district members, one group has had to adapt drastically to the switch: the teaching staff...Read More
SEPTEMBER 25, 2020
Staff paints over senior rock
By Savannah Butcher, Reporter
Since the senior rock was put on the VHS campus in 1988, layers of student history have piled over each other, every tag competing for space and a voice. Recently the administration has stepped in and covered up writing deemed inappropriate, which has students wondering- what are the rules of the rock?
Office Manager Jackie Merrill
...Read More
ASB creatively takes on the new year
By Marina-Rae Gill, Reporter
Over the years, Vashon ASB has encouraged school spirit through dress-up days, morning announcements, pep assemblies, and other school-wide events. Never before however, has our student government had to inspire school spirit and class community entirely online. Faced with a new challenge, Vashon’s ASB members are not short on creativity, and have discovered new ways to keep their student body connected and in high spirits....Read More
JUNE 12, 2020
Vashon teens’ drug usage seems to be increasing due to COVID-19
By Alexander Wolf, ReporterPrior to the COVID-19 pandemic, teen usage of drugs, overall, had been on the decline, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse for teens. However, the effects of quarantine and isolation are putting local teens at risk of addiction and relapse to drugs. The situation is...Read More
College applications are being impacted by COVID— here’s what’s happening and how you can finish the school year strong.
By Milo Carr, Content & Social Media EditorIt’s been an interesting few months, and with school completely online, it’s safe to say this semester is not living up to expectations. Under normal circumstances, juniors would be touring college campuses, taking their SATs, and trying to finish the semester on a high note. But with postponed tests and closed campuses, there's been a bit of worry...Read More
MAY, 2020
Vashon teachers mourn loss of school yearBy Hannah Spranger, Co-Content EditorFor most, it is easy to empathize with the students who are losing a semester of school, regardless of grade level. People remember their senior year — the once in a lifetime experiences they made at events like prom and graduation — and they remember the excitement...Read More
Seniors saddened by loss of final months of high schoolBy Halle Wyatt, Co-Content EditorThese past few months have been turbulent and unpredictable for nearly everyone around the globe. Although the fear of getting sick with and losing loved ones to COVID-19 is ever present in our lives, groups of students around the nation are plagued by...Read More
MARCH 11, 2020
Parent group advocates cell phone restrictionsBy Halle Wyatt, Co-Content EditorCell phones have served as one of the most controversial technologies of the past decade. As the influence of cellular devices on both culture and society evolves...Read More
Danny DeVito shrine unites student bodyBy Elias Canterbury, reporterLast school year, current sophomore Blake Grossman got an idea. This idea resulted in him purchasing a cardboard cutout of Danny DeVito and installing it in the upstairs den. Just recently, the shrine was verified on Google Maps and became...Read More
Students push for lunch improvementBy Wendy Axtelle, ReporterIn mid-February, a student-created survey was sent out asking for students’ opinions on school lunches. The survey reflected student interest in enacting change in the school lunch program. Though the answers of the survey mostly consisted...Read More
Students and faculty work to bring back paper towelsBy Hannah Spranger, Co-Content EditorOn Nov. 25, principal Danny Rock sent out an email to the student body explaining that, due to frequent toilet clogging as a result of paper towels being stuffed in the...Read More
Quick UpdatesBy Isabelle Spence, Editor-in-ChiefGraduation Walking Partners
This year, the administration has decided to change how walking partners will be structured. The change stems from an overload of last-minute...Read More
FEBRUARY 7, 2020
Forks get the chop with switch to alternative utensilsBy Elizabeth Lande, Managing and Copy EditorHumor and cynicism broke out among the student body on Friday, Jan. 10 in response to an email from assistant principal Andrew Guss. The school wide email announced that, in the following week, the lunchroom would begin using chopsticks. A string of witty student responses followed this initial email, but the fact...Read More
Racial equity team discusses discrimination at high schoolBy Halle Wyatt, Co-Content EditorRacism has often been an uncomfortable subject matter through the school district. Four years ago, administrators aimed to change that by forming an equity group to give staff the resources to learn more about racial discrimination and apply that knowledge to their teaching. This...Read More
Freshman class to experience Axiom Equine workshopBy Eliza Pinckney, reporterThis spring, groups of ninth graders will go with their SMART classes to a horse ranch in Glen Acres on a full day field trip. Axiom Equine’s goal is to help people in a unique and meaningful way and teach them valuable skills and...Read More
DECEMBER 20, 2019
New guide dog puppies arrive at High School By Savannah Butcher, Social Media Editor Vashon High School has a long history with the program Guide Dogs for the Blind, raising 146 dogs since 1942. On October 18, two new puppies joined the local chapter...Read More
TOLO replaced by new dances By Eliza Pinckney, Reporter As part of their plan to increase school spirit, ASB planned two dances that are new for the high school. TOLO, a formal dance for which girls traditionally ask guys, has been replaced with the Snowball, held on December 14, and Sadie...Read More
Girls to Girls provides scholarships to Kenyan studentsBy Amelia Spence, ReporterThere are many clubs at the high school, but few allow students to make as much of a visible impact on the world as Girls to Girls. The group, which was founded in 2012 by then eighth graders at...Read More
Amnesty collects clothes for a local causeBy Reese Thompson, ReporterAlthough Amnesty International is better known for its focus on global human rights causes, the VHS chapter has decided to think locally and host a clothing drive for the...Read More
NOVEMBER 15, 2019
Drug education prioritized at VHSElias Cantebury, ReporterAs with many school administrations, the school district experiences its fair share of difficulties in preventing student drug use. With a recent spike in local fentanyl overdoses, drug abuse and drug education have come to the forefront of student and staff discussion...Read More
High-School Seniors are StressedBy Catherine Brown, Photo EditorSenior year, the final year of compulsory education, is often seen as a particularly stressful year for students. Seniors are hit with a harder course load and college applications, both of which make for a busy schedule when added to sports and extracurricular...Read More
Learning about Clubs at VHSReese Thompson, ReporterClubs offered at the high school are often a mystery to students because many groups aren’t advertised, meaning that some of the 19 total clubs often slip under the radar. Here are just a few of the student-run...Read More
Sensitive topic is cause for discussionBy Hannah Spranger, Co-Content EditorIncorporating sensitive content into the English curriculum is an issue the department has been grappling with for years. There is a fine balance between pushing students to embrace tough conversations and introducing content that students may not have the emotional...Read More
OCTOBER 18, 2019
Administration discusses off-campus lunch possibilityBy Catherine Brown, Photo EditorCountless high schools across the country have varying degrees of freedom regarding open campus lunches. For VHS students, the current policy prevents them from leaving school property, a rule that has stood for a number of years. Still, for some, the old policy is less of a faded memory and more of an ambitious dream....Read More
ASB Sets Goals For Upcoming YearElias Canterbury, ReporterNow that school has started, ASB has the opportunity to address the goals they set for themselves during their election campaigns last year. Not only have they recently completed projects centered around homecoming week, but they are also in the midst of planning future dances and spirit events...Read More
Absences to be enforcedBy Mari Kanagy, publishing editorBefore the start of the school year, students and parents were informed via email that the absence policy would be changing. The policy change initially sparked confusion among students and teachers alike about how exactly the policy would be different from previous years...Read More
New Assistant Principal Andrew Guss takes the reinsBy Alexander Wolf, ReporterIn 2019, the school district selected Andrew Guss as an ideal candidate for the position of assistant principal. Guss has worked in education abroad and in the states for nearly a decade. However, this will be Guss’s first administrative position...Read More
Running Start divides school communityBy Hannah Spranger, Co-content EditorTraditional high school schooling does not work for or appeal to every student, and Washington is one of five states that have adopted a Running Start program to provide an alternative education option. Since its conception in 1993, Washington State’s Running Start program has gained popularity and its influence has reached the halls of VHS. This year, a combined 41 juniors and seniors are currently enrolled in Running Start programs at different colleges in Seattle and Tacoma. ...Read More
JUNE 7, 2019
Baron to resign in JuneBy Mari Kanagy, Publishing EditorAs the school year is coming to a close, so is assistant principal Alanah Baron’s work with the district. After three years in the position, Baron is moving on to become an assistant principal at Skyline High School in Sammamish, Washington...Read More
McCleary-based budget cuts finalized, staff salaries negotiatedBy Elizabeth Lande, Copy & Managing EditorIn March, the school district released a tentative list of budget cuts aimed at keeping the district’s finances balanced. Included in the cuts were recommended staff reductions, which sparked outcry from faculty and community members alike...Read More
Softball field renamed to commemorate Rochelle MungerAidan Janssen, Reporter & DesignerElementary school physical education school can be a difficult class to lead, as teachers must instruct students about their bodies while simultaneously finding fun ways to keep the same kids active. On Vashon, grade after grade of students fondly remembers their own PE teacher, Rochelle Munger, for the energy and compassion she to brought to class...Read More
Board seeks to reignite school spiritBy Halle Wyatt, Co-Content EditorAfter a campaign fueled by donuts, specially designed pins, and a mixture of optimism and determination, juniors Talia Spurlock and Alexia Taisey have been elected as co-presidents of the ASB Executive Board. They are joined by vice presidents Jeremiah Bogaard and Cameron Bedard, secretary...Read More
APRIL. 26, 2019
NeighborCare has a wait listKatherine Poston, Reporter & DesignerThe Neighborcare clinic at the high school was established in 2017, providing free, anonymous healthcare to students. The services include crisis intervention, dental care, health education, mental health services, reproductive health, sports physicals, and vaccinations...Read More
High schoolers to showcase artBy Hannah Spranger, ReporterFor the month of May, Vashon Center for the Arts will be showing an exhibit full of vibrant and diverse works crafted from different mediums. The artists featured in the exhibit are comprised solely of VHS students. This collaboration occurs biennially and spans back multiple decades...Read More
MAR. 8, 2019
Farmify app promises to help Vashon farmers thriveBy Eric Ormseth, ReporterFarming has long been an important part of Vashon’s culture, and the local industry continues to grow as a source of food for island residents. For decades, the local market for fresh, direct-to-consumer food has stayed largely the same. However, with the continued growth of technology, the process is likely to experience major changes...Read More
Service-minded students travel to Costa RicaBy Klara Plenk, ReporterOver mid-winter break, a group of nine students and Spanish teacher Sarah Powell traveled to Costa Rica. The trip’s main focus was to immerse the group in the local culture and help a small community through various service projects.The trip required hard work, but the students said they still enjoyed themselves, doing...Read More
FEB. 1, 2019
Teens Leading Change is heading to DCBY MILO CARR, REPORTERTeens Leading Change (TLC) is the school district’s drug-prevention committee, a group working to reduce drug use at the high school. Last year, the mostly-sophomore group traveled to Florida, where they focused on strengthening bonds in the Vashon community. This year, the group is flying to Washington D.C. for the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) conference...Read More
VHS Robotics Team goes to stateAIDAN JANSSEN, REPORTER & DESIGNERRobots play an integral part in today’s society which is more than likely to grow it in the near future. Vashon robotics team #5961 is exploring the possibilities that this technology has to offer. The Vashon PTSA robotics program has existed within the school system since 2007, this will be the sixth time they have reached state...Read More
Graduation location surrounded by debateBY GARRETT MUELLER, BUSINESS EDITORRumors have been circulating throughout the senior class that the class of 2019 will have their ceremony in the gym. The speculations have left many students upset and confused. Last year, due to the construction of the new track and field, graduation was held in the gym...Read More
Bakker to Retire in JuneELEANOR YARKIN, REPORTERSusan Bakker, the high school office manager for over a decade and a key member of the staff, has announced that she will retire at the end of this school year. Bakker’s position entails a wide variety of responsibilities, but handling the school’s finances is a central part of her job...Read More
DEC. 22, 2018
Restorative justice affects studentsBY BELLA CRAYTON, CO-COPY EDITORAcross the country, the role of discipline in schools has been slowly changing and adapting to the modern age. In response to the ever-developing culture, the school district has shifted away from punitive measures and towards an all-encompassing response to discipline...Read More
Program works to integrate Spanish-speaking programBY MARI KANAGY, CO-CONTENT EDITORIn order to provide more support for Spanish-speaking families on the island, a local program is connecting community members to important services. Hispanic and Latino Outreach and Human Services, a program run by Vashon Youth and Family Services (VYFS), is working to become a consistent, reliable resource center for these minority families...Read More
High school band will travel to out of state competitionELEANOR YARKIN, REPORTERIn the spirit of competition and self-improvement, the high school band is traveling out-of-state for six days this April to attend the Forum Music Festival (FMF) in San Francisco. The band will have the chance to compete and be judged against other high schools on the national level...Read More
NOV. 21, 2018
Threat of violence causes controversyBY ISABELLE SPENCE, CO-CONTENT EDITOROn Wednesday, Nov. 14, police action was taken against two freshmen at the school concerning threats of possible violence. The situation prompted conversation throughout the school...Read More
School district implements new safety protocolAIDAN JANSSEN, REPORTER & DESIGNERThe school district has recently begun training for a new protocol focused on dealing with potentially dangerous students who may commit violent acts against other students, teachers, the community, or themselves...Read More
Islanders protest as part of national movementBY MARI KANAGY, CO-CONTENT EDITOROn Thursday, Nov. 15, islanders marched along with tens of thousands of people across the country, rallying in support of special counsel Robert Mueller. Fifteen days prior to the protests, President...Read More
OCT. 19, 2018
Changes on the Horizon for Fauntleroy Ferry ScheduleBY MILO CARR, REPORTER | OCT. 19, 2018The Vashon community was left upset and confused when the Washington State Department of Transportation announced that they would be changing the Fauntleroy- Southworth-Vashon ferry schedule in December of 2018. This schedule change has been in the making since the fall of 2016 when the Washington State Department of ... Read More
Superintendent McSheehy brings new ideas to districtBY MARI KANAGY, CO-CONTENT EDITOR | OCT. 19, 2018After working in education for 25 years, superintendent Slade McSheehy started his first year at the school district, bringing with him new ideas and changes. Prior to settling down on the island, McSheehy worked in various positions for other districts, including as a fourth-grade teacher, a school counselor, a middle school principal, and an assistant superintendent...Read More
JUNE 8, 2018
Spanish murals represent school valuesKATHLEEN SASSARA; CO-CONTENT EDITOR | JUNE 8, 2018Recently, Sarah Powell’s Spanish II and IV classes embarked on a journey unique on the high school campus so far: two murals on the concrete walls surrounding the air inductors to the north and east of the building. The murals were inspired by elements from Hispanic culture: one by Mexican papel picado, which refers to artfully perforated sheets of tissue paper — such as the ones hanging outside Powell’s classroom — and one by juntos,the Spanish word for “together.”...Read More
MAY 14, 2018
Students take field trip to see Kwame AlexanderSEQUOIA GREGORICH, LAW AND ETHICS EDITOR | MAY 14, 2018On April 20, McMurray teacher Patty Gregorich’s seventh grade humanities class, along with a few other seventh graders, embarked on a field trip to hear award-winning author Kwame Alexander speak at the Admiral Theatre in Portland, Oregon. The trip was funded by Partners in Education (PIE), via a grant written by seventh grade student Maléa Dickerson...Read More
Vashon students explore JapanSHIRA STAHL, REPORTER & DESIGNER | MAY 14, 2018Japanese teacher Raeanna Fisher and English-teacher-turned-chaperone John Rees accompanied 20 students to Japan over spring break.The group arrived in Tokyo on April 5 after a nearly 10-hour flight from Seattle and a two-hour layover in San Francisco...Read More
Whopping cough infects VashonAIDAN JANSSEN, REPORTER & DESIGNER | MAY 14, 2018There have been many reported cases of the respiratory infection pertussis in Washington. While only having around 200,000 reported cases a year, pertussis — also known as whooping cough — spreads very quickly and is easy to catch...Read More