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COACH WHALEY HOPES TO RETURN SOON
BY TIMOTHY MOTE
Coach Whaley, whom we all have missed drastically, is staying strong and positive. In November of last year, he suffered a heart attack which led to open-heart surgery as well as numerous other surgeries. He has endured much adversity in the past four months, including not only complications with his health, but also the passing of his father.
Through it all, Coach Whaley has stayed strong. When asked how he is feeling, he said “Right now, I’m feeling good. There’s no pain. I’ve been exercising and doing what the doctor tells me to do. Home health care has been coming in twice a week. I’ve been basically cleared by the doctors. I still lack one thing having to get cleared on, but other than that I’m ready to get back to work.”
Although Coach Whaley is ready to get back to work, the doctors have required him to get plenty of rest before he can return to RCHS. He said “Since I’ve been out, doctors have wanted me to rest. Once I came home, they wanted me to do a lot of walking to try to get my blood pressure and
heart rhythm right. I’ve just basically been sitting here resting. I’m anxious to get back, which hopefully will be in the next couple of weeks.” The doctors told him he should be able to return around the end of March.
I asked Coach Whaley what he missed most about RCHS, and not surprisingly, he said “What I really miss most is being around the kids. Just being around the kids and the staff. I really miss that. I’ve heard from a lot of kids. Most of them text me and tell me they miss me and they say it’s not the same without me. Coach Prestridge made the statement that when I’m out, everyone knows it, which makes me feel good. I get messages from the kids, and they text me and let me know how everything’s going. The coaches have been over here to visit me, and I feel like I’ve got a lot of support. I’m eager to get back to work.”
Coach Whaley’s message to the student body is this: “I miss all of you. I want to get back to where I was before the surgery. I’m trying every day to improve. There’s something every day I can improve on. It’s like what I tell y’all, you can improve on something every day. It doesn’t matter how small it is, you can
improve on something each day. I’m just thankful that the good Lord helped me get through all this, and if the good Lord’s willing, I’ll be back in a couple of weeks.”
Coach Whaley depended on his faith to help him endure the past few months. He said “The good Lord saw me through it all. On top of all the surgeries, I lost my dad in November. It just took its toll on me, but I’ve tried to stay positive and focused on getting well. That’s the other thing, too; staying positive because you don’t really know what’s gonna happen.” He also depended on the community’s support. He said “The administration and my fellow coaches have been very supportive of me. I’m thankful to all the parents and all those who prayed and helped support me. I’m happy I’m getting well and will be really will be happy to be back. Every time I think about going back, I get excited because I miss the students and staff. It’s really unbelievable that I’ve been out this long, and I’m just looking forward to getting back.”
HOMECOMING 2019
RCHS: 37 Woodland: 8
Homecoming week is full of excitement for both RCHS and its community. Student events, parades, and the football game have everyone talking all week. Homecoming is not only for the students, but it is also for the community. Homecoming brings the community together for a little fun. The streets on Thursday evening are lined with people, and on Friday night, the stadium is filled with people cheering on the Tigers. Many people are also filled with anticipation as they await the declaration homecoming king and queen. Homecoming week is not just another event at Randolph County, it is the epitome of school spirit, community, and family.
-Autumn MacNear
Mote, Hester, Jordan, and Kabetzke
Published in Lake Wedowee Life
Kelly Caldwell of Lake Wedowee Life magazine presented The Meteor staff and Mrs. Amy Richardson's English classes with another opportunity to get published in the latest edition of the magazine. This time, Mrs. Caldwell was looking for students to write articles about what Lake Wedowee means to them.
Timothy Mote was awarded the $50 grand prize for his "Fishing With Dad and Feeling at Home" article, while Kinslee Hester, Lilly Jordan, and Cassidy Kabetzke all had their articles published as well.
Congratulations to all four of these students; you've made RCHS very proud.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
by Cassidy Kabetzke and Sutton Phillips
Special Olympics is a time for kids of all ages with special needs to have a fun-filled day and compete against their friends. This year's event took place on Thursday, April 25th. Kids from all over Randolph County came to RCHS and competed in many events.
Each and every competitor was excited to be showcased and to meet up with long-lost friends again. After the Olympics was over, the kids participated in a fun-filled day with games, face and nail painting, picture booths, and even ice cream with cake. The kids also had fun playing volleyball and throwing a football with a few of the volunteers.
Under The Stars
Prom 2019
On Friday, April 5th, juniors and seniors from our beloved RCHS attended the "Under the Stars" prom.
Lead-out began at 6PM and the prom followed.
As usual, attendees came out dressed to the nines, and everyone seemed to have a blast.
Thank you to Mr. Josh Horn, Mrs. Carolyn Monroe, and everyone else that had a hand in making this a memorable evening for our juniors and seniors.
Prom Queen: Nia Green
Prom King: CJ Pinkard
Prom Princess: Ally Sheppard
Prom Prince: Braxton Daniel
Sutton Phillips
Published in Lake Wedowee Life
Kelly Caldwell of Lake Wedowee Life magazine presented The Meteor staff with another opportunity to get published in the latest edition of the magazine. This time, Mrs. Caldwell was looking for a student (or students) to write an article about the RCHS Art Club's trips to Ava Hills Assisted Living Center.
This time, Sutton Phillis took advantage of the opportunity and was awarded a full-color publication of his story and a check for $50.
Congratulations, Sutton; you've made RCHS very proud.
METE R
Teacher of the Month
Coach Brady Phillips
by Malachi Nunn and Hagen Smith
As a Meteor staff, we decided to start selecting "Teachers of the Month."
For our first installment, we selected Coach Brady Phillips.
As a reward, Coach Phillips received some of his favorite candies and this spotlight-article.
Coach Phillips teaches seventh and eighth-grade math.
He also coaches football, baseball, and basketball.
Before coming to RCHS, he attended Auburn University where he attained his bachelor's degree in physical education and math. He is currently in his third year of teaching, with all three years being spent with us here at RCHS. He applied to teach here because he is an alumnus (class of 2011), and he said he considers this home.
He accredits his eighth-grade math teacher, Coach Murphree, as the one who inspired him to become a teacher. He said Coach Murphree had an amazing desire to instill discipline in the classroom and on the field. Coach Phillips said that it was while he was sitting in that math class all those years ago that the Lord gave him a desire and passion for RCHS. Now, he simply hopes that in some way he can make this a better place.
"RCHS means so much to me," Coach Phillips said. "This place has made me into the man I am today The one thing I love most about this place is the people. Not that long ago I was sitting in the classes of some amazing teachers. Coach Prestridge, Coach Robinson, Mrs. Robertson, Mr. Green, Mrs. Monroe, Mr. Stitcher, and Coach Thompson are still here loving our current students."
When asked why sports are so important to him, Coach Phillips said:
"Sports teach us more about life than most people will ever understand. Sports build character, and they teach us how to work hard for what we want. Life will knock us down harder than any blindside block on the football field, but if we're resilient, we learn to get back up and shake it off."
Coach Phillips has some advice for the student body of RCHS:
Dream BIG! Always remember who you are, where you come from, and who helped you along the way because you never know who will help you find your way back home.
Gaines and Kabetzke
Published in Lake Wedowee Life
A few weeks ago, Kelly Caldwell of Lake Wedowee Life magazine came to RCHS and presented The Meteor staff with an opportunity to get published in the February edition of the magazine. Mrs. Caldwell was looking for a student (or students) to write an article about the RCHS fishing team.
Two students, Jill Gaines and Cassidy Kabetzke, took advantage of the opportunity and were awarded with a full-color publication of their story and $50 (split between them).
Congratulations to both girls; you've made RCHS very proud.
Click HERE to read the full "Making a Splash" article (pg16).
RCHS Art Club Visits Ava Hills
As part of Alabama's Bicentennial Year celebration, the RCHS Art Club was awarded a $500 grant to extend their program within the community. With the money, the art club (sponsored by Mrs. Amy Richardson) purchased supplies that enabled them to visit and paint Alabama-themed pictures with residents of the Ava Hills Assisted Living community in Wedowee. The opportunity presents residents of Ava Hills with a chance to get to know some of our student body at RCHS, a chance to utilize their artistic abilities, and a chance to feel extra special.
Mrs. Richardson said this project "has opened pathways of communication and healing by keeping residents interested and engaged in their lives."
Thank you for doing this, Art Club.
You're making RCHS very proud.
Additional Staff Spotlights
Mr. Joshua Horn
by Cassidy Kabetzke and Sonya Vowell
Mr. Joshua Horn has been a teacher for five years, and he has taught at Randolph County High School for three of them. He attended Southern Union State Community College before transferring to Troy University for three years. There, he acquired a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics education.
In the beginning, Mr. Horn did not set out to be a teacher:
"At Southern Union, I was an accounting major. Once I got to Troy, I
realized I hated accounting. You can’t do something you hate. I always knew about teaching since my mother and sister are both math teachers. I had to take calculus at Troy for my accounting degree, and I loved it. It was the only class I didn’t hate. So, I gave it a try and took education classes. I learned from them and enjoyed the tutoring sessions we had to do. My first job wasn’t great and the second was scary (the Oxford incident), but here at RCHS, I feel like I am home. Something one of my college professors told me was this, 'If its the right fit, your coworkers become your brothers and sisters. Your administrators become your parents. Your students become your children. You should feel at home.'" All of those things are true for me here at RCHS.
To keep math interesting, Mr. Horn always tries and let his students know where the material is used in real life. He also talks to his students about their futures: college, careers, military, etc., and he lets them know how math is used in those areas. Mr. Horn tries to explain concepts on the simplest terms, and he teaches in steps. Some algebraic equations have multiple steps, so people tend to think it's difficult. Mr. Horn helps students take a look at each step. He understands that math is hard, and he admits that even he will make mistakes from time to time.
When he's not teaching in the classroom, Mr. Horn is the sponsor of Mu Alpha Theta and the prom committee. He is also the co-sponsor of E.O.T. (Entertainers of Tomorrow).
Two recent RCHS graduates had this to say about Mr. Horn:
Corey Prothro:
As a college freshman taking the highest math class, I was surprised to see how much Mr. Horn’s Algebra II with Trig class prepared me for it. His class not only helped prepare me for college, but it also prepared me for the real world. He always showed kindness no matter what, and he vowed to always help each student that needed it. To me, this shows how much he cared. He inspired me to become a kind person like him.
Savannah Johnson:
Mr. Horn influenced my life outside of high school by showing me
how to be a ray of sunshine in a dark place.
Mr. Horn wants the student body of RCHS to know this:
"The X-Men are Stan Lee’s greatest creation and that’s that."
But on a more serious note, he also said:
"There is a quote from Shonda Rhimes that I think everyone needs to know:
'Dreams are lovely, but that's all they are. Just dreams.
Fleeting, ephemeral, pretty dreams.
Dreams do not come true just because you dream them.
It's hard work that makes things happen.
It's hard work that creates change.
It's hard work that makes dreams come true.'
Not to hurt Cinderella’s reputation, but just believing will not make a dream come true.
You have to work at it. You have to want it. You have to make the decision to go after what you want. Props to Cinderella, though. She went out and got what she wanted. She worked at it and she got it."
Mr. Horn was named RCHS teacher of the year for the 2018-2019 school year.
Through his hard word and dedication, he continues to make a positive impact on many of his students and fellow teachers.
Mrs. Maricile Adcock
by Lula Kidd and Malachi Nunn
This is Mrs. Adcock’s first year teaching at RCHS, and we are thankful that she is here. Before coming to RCHS, she taught at Bowdon High School, Woodland High School, and Handley Middle School. Mrs. Adcock is certified to teach both math and English in grades 6-12.
Before she became a teacher, Mrs. Adcock taught swimming lessons every summer in college, and she truly enjoyed the reward of seeing children learn to swim. She decided that since she liked teaching swimming lessons all day in the hot sun, she would most certainly enjoy teaching in an air-conditioned room.
Mrs. Adcock's main goal as a teacher is to teach students as much academic content as she possibly can, and in the process, help students understand that learning can be enjoyable.
Mrs. Adcock was born in Winter Haven, Florida. She later moved to Woodland, Alabama, during her middle school years. She graduated from Woodland and attended Southern Union for one year before transferring to Auburn where she finished her degrees in secondary math and secondary English education. In addition to her math and English degrees, Mrs. Adcock also holds a master's degree in middle grades education from the University of West Georgia as well as a masters degree in psychometry from UAB.
In her free time, Mrs. Adcock often likes to read all kinds of books.
She has three grown children that she and her husband enjoy visiting, and she has one seven-month-old granddaughter.
Mrs. Adcock loves Randolph County, and she said that it "just feels like home."
Although Mrs. Adcock loves to teach both math and English, she is happy just teaching math right now. She feels that a good foundation in math is a wonderful start for children. She says that since she loves helping students, teaching them the fundamentals of math is very, very important to her.
Adam Butler
by Aaliyah McKissic and Graciela Cruz
Mr.Butler was born in Gadsden, Alabama. He lived in Port St. Lucie, Florida before moving here to Wedowee. He graduated from Winfield High School, where he played football and baseball. Afterwards, he went to college at Jacksonville State University (JSU).
He has been teaching for seven years now. He chose to work at RCHS because he owns property in Randolph County, and he has always wanted to work at RCHS.
Mr. Butler does not oversee any after-school programs yet. Before becoming a teacher, Mr. Butler worked as an Alabama Marine Police.
His favorite part about teaching is the people he works with and the children he teaches. After being asked what’s the hardest part about teaching at Randolph County High School, he chuckled and replied, “Every day is a new challenge.” I asked him how he feels about getting the job at RCHS and he commented, “It feels good to have the job and to get to work with the kids I get to work with.”
TIM ALEXANDER VISITS RCHS
by Sonya Vowell
Timothy Alexander, a motivational speaker with a heart-wrenching story, came to RCHS on Thursday, November 29th.
He spoke with students in grades 7-12 about his story and how hard his life was overcoming his injuries. He reminded students that they need a vision in life. He reminded them that, no matter what situation they're in, a vision may carry them to rock bottom, but it’ll also carry them back to the top.
At the conclusion of his motivational
speech, a student asked the question “What has been your biggest obstacle?" Tim smiled and answered with, “The biggest obstacle I had to overcome was identity. I was seventeen years old. I went from being a Nike prospect to not being able to swallow. I didn’t know what the date was. I didn’t even know the time. I was in a coma for so long, I had to have people come in and give me water, to teach me how to swallow. Now, I constantly remind myself when I see people pick up a bottle of water that I know what it was like being thirsty and unable to give myself water; I didn’t know how to swallow. Nurses had to dip a toothbrush with a sponge on the end into water and drip it down my throat. That played with my identity. I was seventeen years old, and I couldn’t bathe on my own. That played with my mind. I’ll never forget reading one day about William James who said, ‘The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human can alter his mind by altering his attitude. So, I said yes."
"Physically, I may not have my legs, but mentally I do. So, I decided that my mind is going to have to be the most powerful thing. Let's think about a tiger. The tiger is known as the king of the jungle, but it isn’t the biggest animal in the jungle (or the smallest). When a tiger faces an elephant, of course the elephant could destroy the tiger with one kick, but when the tiger sees the elephant, the tiger doesn't see size, he sees lunch. The elephant sees the tiger, and its mind says ‘eater.’ It doesn’t understand that he is so big and it could hurt the tiger. The tiger understands that it will hunt. I am the king of the jungle, he thinks to himself, and when I come around, people will fear me. He’s not worried about what he looks like on the outside. It’s all based on that tiger’s mind."
"The tiger's label "king of the jungle" isn't based on its outside ability. It’s all based on the tiger’s mind. If a tiger came in here right now, we would all be freaking out. It has everything to do with our mind, and so, the most beautiful thing I struggled with so much was MY MIND. I was so scared to go to school. I used to stutter so, so bad. When you have a traumatic brain injury, you forget how to talk. So, I was seventeen years old, and I had to relearn my ABC’s. I had write with my mouth. I use to feel so bad, but I found my identity. I became so confident in myself that I began to create such value. I became my own motivator, my own inspiration. The reason I can come through those double doors and take in the energy is that before I came in here, I gave myself my own cheerleading party."
"Your mind is your most powerful tool.”
Another question asked was based on excuses.
"What do you think about excuses?" asked a student.
Tim responded with this deep and profound answer, “Excuses are a monument of nothing that build bridges leading nowhere, and those that use these excuses are incompetent and masters of nothing.”
Later, after his speech, I asked how becoming a motivational speaker changed his life. He said he learned that words were powerful, and when we grasp their meaning, we'll be able to transform and renew our minds. He believes everything happens for a reason, and that if the accident hadn’t happened, he’d be playing football and therefore wouldn’t be doing what he is today.
The last question I asked him was what he would say to the world if the world would really listen.
He responded with, “We don’t need it to be easy. We just need it to be possible."
Our student body was honored to have Mr. Alexander come to speak to us.
Many students connected to Tim's story because he's down-t0-earth and real.
The words of motivation and encouragement he spoke over us will stay with us for a very long time, and for the students who were able to speak to him individually, Tim's guidance has most likely made a huge impact on them already.
STUDENTS' PICTURES WITH Tim Alexander ARE POSTED IN THE #OURPEOPLE SECTION.
RANDOLPH COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER
by Cassidy Kabetzke and Cailin Laney
Randolph County is not a big place, but it has plenty around its town to hold it together. Outside of the high school, there are many different places such as the police department, banks, even the stores. Each place is like glue, helping piece and hold our town together.
Have you ever seen a stray dog on the street? Maybe you wanted to stop and help it, but you just didn’t have time. Maybe you’ve seen so many that it didn’t even phase you. Either way, we have people who can actually help with this dilemma - the Randolph County Animal Shelter. They rescue and take in pets to give them a temporary home.
In order to give our students a better understanding of what goes on at the RCAS (and how we can help), Cailin Laney and I visited the shelter, interviewed some of the workers, and loved on the animals.
From Cailin's interview with Mrs. Rhonda Blackstone:
Cailin- What is the best part of your job?
Rhonda- Seeing our animals getting adopted to new homes would have to be my favorite.
Cailin- If you had one wish for the RCAS, what would it be?
Rhonda- That all our dogs and cats would find a forever home.
Cailin- The hardest part of working at the shelter would have to be what?
Rhonda- To see the shape that the dogs and cats are in when they come here.
Cailin-What’s something you would like the students of RCHS to know about the shelter?
Rhonda- I would like them to know about all the handwork and love that goes into the shelter. Every volunteer and every donation is greatly appreciated.
Cailin- Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication.
The workers and daily volunteers at the Animal Shelter would like everyone to know that they love volunteers of any sort. There are way more animals than there are workers and volunteers, and the shelter tries hard to show love to all of their animals, but if anyone would like to just come to pet and love on the animals, they said that would be greatly appreciated.
A few specific items the shelter requested are:
For dogs: Towels, blankets, sheets, dog toys, dog treats, and food.
For cats: Litter, baking soda, towels, sheets, toys, and canned food.
*Donations of any sort are always greatly appreciated.
This handsome fella is Hoss
He is a two-year-old bulldog mix
He is really calm, but he does get excited around
new people.
He is extremely loving, and he gets along well
with other dogs.
Hoss is looking forward to someone giving him
a forever home.
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This cute pup is Ken.
He is a three-month-old shepherd mix
He gets along with other dogs.
He's a great kids pet.
He's loving and very quiet.
Ken was brought in with a friend who has since been adopted.
Ken has been lonely ever since.
He is hoping someone will adopt him soon.
If you would like additional information on how to help our Randolph County Animal Shelter, how to adopt an animal, or how to volunteer, please contact the shelter directly at 256-357-0101
RCHS Awarded Three Trophies
at Fine Arts Tournament
On Thursday, November 8th (2018), a number of RCHS students made the trip to Southern Union to compete in the 36th annual Language and Fine Arts Tournament. The tournament featured competitions such as theater, dance, music, poetry, photography, extemporaneous speaking, composition (essay writing), and art.
Three students from RCHS took home trophies.
Grace Avery was awarded first place in composition, Sutton Phillips was awarded third place in photography, and Cassidy Kabetzke was awarded third place in poetry.
Southern Union awards numerous scholarships in the area of fine arts, and participating in events such as this one is a great way for students to show what they're capable of.
Mrs. Amy Richardson and Mr. Brian Millican are very proud of each student who competed in the tournament.
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TRUTH program participates in
Operation Christmas Child
On Thursday, November 1st (2018), the TRUTH program filled 32 shoeboxes with gifts for less fortunate children around the globe. Each box was packed full of items purchased by students in the TRUTH program; items such as hygiene supplies, school supplies, toys, and articles of clothing. First Baptist Church's Jamey Walls (and his mother) made sure the TRUTH program was supplied with the boxes, labels, and any financial backing they needed.
Operation Christmas Child is the world's largest project of its kind. It is a product of Samaritan's Purse, an organization overseen by Reverend Franklin Graham (son of the late Billy Graham). The shoeboxes are shipped to children outside of the United States that have been affected by war, poverty, natural disaster, famine, and disease. The purpose of the gifts is "to reach out to children around the globe with the good news of Jesus Christ" (Samaritan's Purse)."
The TRUTH program was very honored to participate in Operation Christmas Child.
Their club sponsor, Mr. Brian Millican, says he plans to have the club participate again next year.
Featured Staff Members
Coach Steve Giddens
by Sonya Vowell, Koi Pennington, and Joseph Anglin
Our principal, Coach Giddens, was born in Talladega, Alabama. He attended Clay County High school before getting his degree from Auburn University. His mother was a big influence on him reaching his goals as a person. One of his many hobbies outside of his job includes golf.
“Unlike most principals,” a student said, “Coach Giddens makes his students feel welcome and happy. He makes students excited for school in one of the only ways possible.” Coach Giddens - when asked why he decided to be our principal - said, “Randolph County High School has been good to me, and it felt like it was my chance to give back.” He went on to say the best thing about our beloved RCHS is the love and pride everyone has for it.
Mr. Taylor, a teacher at RCHS, says, “Coach Giddens has worked hard to create a seamless and successful transition for RCHS this year. He finds value in both students and staff, and he doesn’t hesitate to let us know that he appreciates even the smallest efforts. That is a priceless quality in an experienced man.”
Needless to say, we at RCHS appreciate our newest principal.
Coach Giddens to the student body:
"Enjoy your experience,
listen to the faculty,
Let everyone here at RCHS love you and teach you."
Adam Butler
by Aaliyah McKissic and Graciela Cruz
Mr.Butler was born in Gadsden, Alabama. He lived in Port St. Lucie, Florida before moving here to Wedowee. He graduated from Winfield High School, where he played football and baseball. Afterwards, he went to college at Jacksonville State University (JSU).
He has been teaching for seven years now. He chose to work at RCHS because he owns property in Randolph County, and he has always wanted to work at RCHS.
Mr. Butler does not oversee any after-school programs yet. Before becoming a teacher, Mr. Butler worked as an Alabama Marine Police.
His favorite part about teaching is the people he works with and the children he teaches. After being asked what’s the hardest part about teaching at Randolph County High School, he chuckled and replied, “Every day is a new challenge.” I asked him how he feels about getting the job at RCHS and he commented, “It feels good to have the job and to get to work with the kids I get to work with.”
Officer Joe Craft (SRO)
by Meagan Hume and Elizabeth MacNear
Officer Joe Craft is our resource officer here at RCHS. He is originally from Houston, TX, but he moved to Randolph County at a very young age. As a student at RCHS, Officer Craft played as a lineman for the football team and as a catcher for the baseball team. In his senior year at RCHS, Officer Craft enrolled in the Randolph County Sheriff's Reserve Program. During his early years of college, he decided that college wasn’t for him and later joined the police academy.
Officer Craft has been in law enforcement for 16 years. For seven of these years, he travelled with a K9 named Jerry Lee. Jerry Lee has since retired and become a part of Officer Craft’s family. As an officer, Mr. Craft claims that law enforcement is “a calling” and is meant for people who care about their community.
I’m sure we’ve all heard of the stereotypical association between police officers and donuts, right? According to Officer Craft, police officers do not actually consume nearly as many donuts as they are said to. However, Officer Craft shared a story with us about a specific encounter with a Krispy Kreme truck. One day, he and another officer were patrolling an area together and had to pull over a Krispy Kreme truck. The other officer approached the vehicle and both were eventually asked if they decided to pull the truck just to receive free donuts. Officer Craft and his partner had a good laugh about it.
Officer Craft says the two best parts of his occupation are being able to interact with students and the football games. The student body may not be aware of this, but Officer Craft also works as a counselor for students who are seeking help. If you are needing to speak with him, you can contact him through his school Facebook (SRO Craft). You may also contact him through his school email: jcraft@randolphboe.org.
Jacob Hicks
by Jillian Gaines
In early September, I was graciously given the opportunity to interview one of our new faculty members here at RCHS; the 9th and 11th grade science teacher, Mr. Jacob Hicks. Not only is he a teacher, but he is also working on many during and after school programs such as cross country and Scholar’s Bowl.
Mr. Hicks was born in Talladega on February 15, 1985, but he grew up in Ashlyn. He is a family man and loves to spend time with his wife and children. Whenever he is not busy with work, going to the movies with his wife, or supporting his
kids in everything they do, he enjoys playing video games. He is not a music person, and he prefers talk radio. If made to choose what music to listen to, he said classic rock groups like Aerosmith and AC/DC are his favorites. He graduated from Clay County High School before going on to acquire a bachelor’s degree from UAB and a master’s degree from Liberty University.
The person Mr. Hicks admires most in the world is the youth pastor he had when he was younger. His youth pastor had compassion for others, and he was a great example of self sacrifice. For fun, I asked Mr. Hicks what he would do if he ever won a million dollars. He told me, “Life’s good, I don’t need anything else.” He explained that he would put most of the money away for his children and use the rest of it to travel the world. If he got any material objects out of it, it would probably be a jetski.
Although Mr. Hicks is new here, he isn’t new to teaching. He taught one year of science at a school in Birmingham. He has since worked odd jobs until he landed his job here at RCHS. For a time, he was a youth pastor, a recreational gym manager, a social worker, and a furniture mover.
His favorite thing about teaching is seeing so many different perspectives of people and when students understand a topic they did not before. He believes the biggest problem in the classroom is the lack of self confidence in students. Students will often refrain from answering questions in front of their classmates in fear of missing the question or being seen as “The Brain.” He said on this subject, “Kids are very valuable, they have their whole future ahead of them.” Lastly, if he could send one message to the entire student body, it would be, “You can be more than you think you can be.”
About The Meteor
According to our records, The Meteor was established 107 years ago (1911).
Though we have conducted in-depth research, we have not been able to determine why the school newspaper was titled The Meteor. We do know that the original Meteor ran for a few years before either dying out or changing names. A few names that it eventually took on were The Blue and Gold (40s), Tiger Topics (70s), and Tiger Talk (80s). Some of our alumni are likely to remember a few of these editions.
Regardless of the newspaper's name, it's back, and we hope it's here to stay. Our plan as a newspaper staff is to publish articles throughout the school year. Instead of publishing them in one lump-sum, we plan to publish them as they are edited and become available. To make sure you don't miss an updated article, sign up for our newsletter at the bottom right of any page.
Side Note:
One of the things we love most about the articles we've read from the original Meteor is that the writers referred to our school as THE Randolph County High School. Placing the word "the" in front of our school name signifies that we're a proud student body and that there isn't another school like us. We would love your support in our efforts to make this idea commonplace. We're not just another Randolph County High School (there are others in the US), we are The Randolph County High School.
For more on the history of The Meteor, head to the "History" section.
RCHS Defense Stifles Saks, Propels Team To Semis
On Friday, November 23rd, the Saks Wildcats traveled to Randolph County to take on the RCHS Tigers in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs.
Coming into the night, the Wildcats were 10-1, their only loss of the season coming to RCHS back in October. Their offense, which averaged 40.27 points per game, was considered by many to be the best in 3A. If the Tigers wanted to defeat them again, they'd need their defense to be as strong as ever.
The first quarter passed without either team scoring, but with 10:50 left in the 2nd
quarter, Atario Hester found the end zone and the Tigers took a 7-0 lead.
That score stood throughout the quarter, and at the half, the Tigers led by seven.
Late in the third quarter, Hester found paydirt once again, this time from seven yards out.
With 1:45 left in the quarter, RCHS had a 13-0 lead.
The Tigers padded their lead to 19-0 in the fourth quarter when Dante Jordan took the ball SIXTY SIX yards for the score.
As high powered as Saks' offense had been this year, many would have expected them to score more than eight points on the night. However, that is exactly what happened. On this Friday night, the Tigers' defense made the Wildcats look less like an offensive powerhouse and more like a pee-wee squad.
That lone Wildcats touchdown came with 5:25 left in the fourth quarter.
They were successful with their 2-point conversion, but eight points just wasn't enough to win this one.
With the victory, RCHS will travel to Piedmont for the semi-finals.
The Bulldogs (12-2 on the season) won an earlier meeting between the two teams, but RCHS will do everything they can to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Make plans to be at this one.
The winner will pack their bags and head to Jordan-Hare Stadium (Auburn) for the 2018 state championship game.
GO TIGERS!
Featured Staff Member of April, 2018
by Hannah Smith
Principal Darren Anglin is from Decatur, Georgia, but he moved to Randolph County
at a young age. He graduated from Handley High School and went to Southern Union
Community College. He attended Auburn University for his bachelor’s degree and
Jacksonville State University for his master’s. He later attended the University of
Alabama for his educational specialist degree, Andersonville Theological Seminary
for a doctorate, and Liberty University for an ABD (all but dissertation).
As a senior in high school, Mr. Anglin joined the National Guard. He was a
commissioned officer and took ROTC classes at Auburn University. He went on to
become the commander of his unit in three Alabama cities: Elba, Anniston, and
Phoenix City. He did four tours in Afghanistan and Qatar (fighting against the war
on terror). Career wise, he was first a teacher and went on to become principal of
Randolph County High School. Our county will always be a special one to Mr. Anglin
because he has deep family roots here, roots that date back to the Civil War.
Pertaining to his aforementioned teaching career, Mr. Anglin was first a teacher at Duran Junior High School from August of 1993 to May of 1998. He then moved to Pell City Schools to become a Teacher on Special Assignment (TSA) for technology from July of 1998 to January of 2001. He was an in-service instructor/consultant at Jacksonville State University in the summers of 2001, 2002, and 2003. He was a tech coordinator at St. Clair County Board of Education from January of 2001 to July of 2005. After that, he moved into an array of administrative positions. He was assistant principal at Ragland from July of 2005 to July of 2008 before moving on to serve as principal of Talladega High School from July of 2008 to July of 2014. It was after this time that he became principal of Randolph County High School. He has been our principal for four years, but he will be retiring at the end of this school year.
Unbeknownst to most students and faculty, Mr. Anglin was the reason we brought The Meteor back to life. It was his idea to do so, and we thank him for the opportunity to be a part of this amazing experience. Thank you so much for your hard work, Mr. Anglin. Your positive influence at RCHS is very evident. You sincerely care about the student body and about RCHS as a whole. For that alone, we are forever grateful.
Message to the students of RCHS:
"All successful people have one thing in common, they never give up on anything they pursue."
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The Meteor staff is very honored to receive this grant, and we want to extend a gracious "thank you" to CenturyLink.
The grant money will enable us
to take our school newspaper to the next level.
History of The Meteor
by Haley Dunlap and Jontavion Henderson
April, 2018
The Meteor was Randolph County High School’s very first newspaper. The earliest known publication dates back to 1911. Editors included George Green, Robert Yarbrough, Gladys Gladney, Mattie Edwards, Marvin Kirby, Frank Landers, Elgar Perry, and Monroe Wright. The publication included a literary page, an athletic department section, a local item page, an exchange page, and an editorial section. The newspaper was written in an older English that many aren’t familiar with. Sadly, we aren’t fully aware of where the paper got its original name. Here is an excerpt from a featured article that appeared in one of the 1911 editions of The Meteor:
“The home of the Randolph County High School is only a small town situated among the hills of Randolph. Possibly to mere passers-by our town would not make a very lasting impression, but to us it is the dearest little town imaginable. We have not the conveniences in the way of railways that many towns have, but we have true hearted boys and girls who are always ready to lend a helping hand to any interest which concerns our school. And this little town, like all others, has as time rolled on made its history… The land on which Wedowee is built was entered by Judge Archibald Sawyer… It was first named McDonough and then changed to Wedowee, which means ‘dear little town.’ … William Hightower was the first sheriff of the county… he had several prisoners to guard, so he made them lie down and he turned a wagon body over them; then to make sure that they would not escape without his knowledge he slept in the wagon body."
The excerpt featured above, titled "History of Wedowee," was written by Marvin Kirby. It is truly amazing to be able to look back at publications from over 100 years ago and bring to life something that once was. The current staff of The Meteor hopes to not only resurrect the school’s first newspaper, but we hope to do so in a way that makes our school, its students, and its community proud.
Original Meteor article from 1911
George Green, Editor-In-Chief, 1911
Southern Union Scholarships
On Wednesday, May 11th, six students from The Randolph County High School signed fine arts scholarships to attend Southern Union State Community College. The Meteor staff extends a giant "congratulations" to all six of these students.
(Bottom Row - L to R)
Hannah Smith: Theatre
Claire Sikes: Dance
Siri Thackston: Theatre
(Back Row - L to R)
Mr. Brance Taylor: EOT sponsor
Corey Prothro: Show Choir
Trae Johnson: Theatre
Jontavion Henderson: Theatre
Mr. Steve Spratlin: SUSCC Dean
Mr. Darren Anglin: RCHS principal
SNAKE SHOW
-A Senior Tradition-
The end of the school year brings new excitements and challenges for high school seniors, and at RCHS, one of the excitements is getting to hold the albino python at the snake show. It's a tradition for seniors to hold the snake, and according to the pictures, this year's class was both thrilled and terrified to do so.
Featured Staff Member of the Month
by Hannah Smith
In the seventh grade, coach Clifton Drummonds walked into the gym of
Randolph County High School and heard a voice that would change his life
forever. It was coach Waters, RCHS’ football coach at the time, and it made
Coach Drummonds immediately want to take on that career.
Coach Drummonds is from Wedowee, and he is a graduate of our beloved
Randolph County High School. As a student, he played football, basketball,
and baseball. Immediately after high school, he received a basketball
scholarship to Southern Union. He then proceeded to Stephen F. Austin
University in Nacogdoches, Texas, where he received his bachelor's degree.
Coach Drummonds did not expect to become a vice principal so soon in his career. It had always been his plan to move on to administration, but he planned on starting after he finished coaching. He found a job as an administrator in Athens, Alabama after he left Handley. After a few years there, he finally came home. He had always planned to come back to RCHS to be closer to his mom. It just happened to be that the position opened up for him at the perfect time.
Coach Drummonds believes in tough love for students. He pats them on the back for doing right and corrects them when they are in the wrong. His everyday challenges include prioritizing and managing time between his coaching and administrative duties. He isn't sure where he wants to go in the future, but he aims to do the best job possible. He wants RCHS to be better than it was before he started working here, and he wants the community to be more involved with our school. His ultimate goal is for every RCHS student to be successful.
Message to the students of RCHS:
“Do whatever it takes to be a champion, whether its classwork, sports, extracurriculars, etc. When you have a good mindset, things will go much easier.”
The Meteor is awarded $4K grant
On Wednesday, May 2nd, two representatives of CenturyLink came to
The Randolph County High School in order to present The Meteor with a
grant totaling $4, 283.25. Mr. Brian Millican, one of the club's sponsors, wrote
and applied for the grant at the end of 2017. The grant money will be used
to purchase cutting-edge technology as well as camera equipment for the
newspaper.
Unsung Heroes: RCHS Custodians
by Gabrielle Spears, Caitlin Blackstone, Summer Hill, and Donna Wheelus
Everyday, when students first get to school, it’s always clean. The halls are swept, and the bathrooms are spotless. As the day goes by, however, the trash cans in the bathrooms get filled, trash gets left on the floor, and clothes somehow get left all over campus. Have you ever wondered who takes time out of their day to clean all of these things up? The staff members who do this are referred to as custodians, but they’re so much more than that. In an effort to shine light on how much these staff members do each day, and on how much they care about our beloved RCHS, we took time out of our own busy days to interview them. Their kind hearts and incomparable work ethic make them unsung heroes.
Coach Alan Whaley graduated from Randolph County High School in 1981 and then attended Auburn University for a degree in social work and physical education. He started working at RCHS in 2002. He starts his work day at 5:45AM. Although he is only paid to work until 11AM, coach Whaley often stays on the job until seven or eight at night. Helping teachers, helping coach the football team, and cleaning the facilities at practice locations are just a few of the extra things that coach Whaley does on a daily basis.
Mrs. Lola Mae Wright started working here part time in February of 2017. Mrs. Wright often reports to the school around 7AM in order to serve as a substitute teacher. When subbing for Mrs. Korb, Mrs. Wright leaves campus to teach Spanish at Wadley from fourth period to sixth period. After working at Wadley, she heads back here to change clothes and begin her custodial work. In addition to all of this, Mrs. Wright volunteers as a delivery driver at a local soup kitchen.
Mrs. Sheri Richards (photo unavailable) just started working here as a custodian. In addition to serving as a custodian, she has been a bus driver for 20 years. Her typical workday starts at 7:30AM. At 2:00, she gets ready to run her bus route before returning back here to continue working. Mrs. Richards can often be seen going above and beyond the call of duty as she helps teachers and serves snacks during break.
While interviewing these three amazing staff members, we made it a point to ask them if there is anything the student body could be doing in order to make their jobs a little easier. Collectively, they told us that more of the student body needs to take responsibility and pride in their school. If more students cared deeply about their campus and its appearance, RCHS would be even more beautiful than it already is. We at The Meteor can’t help but agree with them. It’s an honor to attend school here, and it would be great to see more students appreciate our campus and those that keep it safe and clean.
Our challenges to all RCHS students:
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When you finish drying your hands in the restroom, make sure your paper towels find the trashcan.
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If you drop a piece of trash anywhere on campus, pick it up and properly dispose of it.
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Do not leave your clothing lying around campus; take ownership of it and keep it with you.
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When you walk past a custodian in the hallway, take a second to tell them "thank you for all you do."
Unsung Heroes: RCHS Lunchroom Staff
by Caitlin Blackstone and Gabrielle Spears
The lunchroom staff at Randolph County High School consists of four ladies: Mrs. Peggy, Mrs. Kathy, Mrs. Sonya, and Mrs. Teresa. These four ladies are arguably the hardest workers on campus. We had the honor of interviewing them and learning more about their jobs here at RCHS.
A Day in the Life
Depending on the menu, these ladies usually get to work pretty early in the morning. Their day starts with coming into work, washing their hands, turning on the equipment, getting the food out of the cooler, and putting on their aprons. Once they’ve done these things, they start cooking. They typically finish cooking by 9AM. That's when the ladies eat their lunch. The seventh and eighth grade start coming in by 10:30. These students are done eating by 11:30, at which time the ladies start cleaning and preparing for the high school students to come in. They follow the same cleaning routine after the high school students leave. When the cleaning routine is complete, Mrs. Peggy starts on the paperwork she has to do every single day while the other ladies start cleaning and getting ready for the next day.
The Menu
We asked the lunchroom staff about how much input they have when it comes
to the food they serve in the lunchroom. The ladies said that they do not have
any input on the food, and they have to make sure each meal meets the
regulations required by the government. They informed us that they
occasionally make suggestions, but their suggestions are usually disregarded
or denied. They have tried their best to meet students’ preferences, but not
everything that is asked for is possible. Students also has different tastes,
leaving the lunchroom ladies with the impossible task of meeting everyone’s
needs at once. It takes these ladies a long time to prepare for and to serve
almost 400 students, not counting additional meals for staff and visitors.
A Note From the Ladies
The lunch ladies would like to ask students to please not chew gum in the lunchroom. It may not seem very important, but they have to take time out of their day to clean gum off of walls, chairs, tables, and many other places. Additionally, they have issues concerning breakfast, meal portions, and food choices. They believe that there should be more time before homeroom for students to be able to go to breakfast. These ladies try to make every portion of food the same, but some students are required to eat more calories. Even though we have a small variety of food to choose from, it is not the lunch ladies’ choice. All four ladies would like for us to be able to have more options, such as desserts, fruits, and more desirable foods. It may seem as if they are not trying, but honestly, they try their absolute best every single day.
Hear From Your Peers
“Our lunch ladies and lunchroom, Tiger Cafe, are the best around. The lunchroom staff is always so positive and welcoming. They always ask how our days are going and how we are in general. We love our lunchroom ladies!”
~S.J.
“Even though you ladies may feel unappreciated sometimes, we want you to know we love you and we thank you.”
~T.W.
“On my first day here, the lunch lady at the computer, Mrs. Peggy, rewarded me for being nice. So now I thank her for being there for me (and all of us).”
~J.S.
“The lunchroom ladies are amazing women, whom I look up to greatly. I appreciate Mrs. Kathy, Mrs. Peggy, Mrs. Teresa, and Mrs, Sonya. I love you ladies; keep doing an amazing job!”
~J.H.
“We can’t imagine how hard it is to do the job y’all do. We sincerely thank you for the time you put in and for the care that you show to each and every student. We love each of you.”
~Meteor Staff
Senior Spotlights - 2018
by Caitlin Blackstone, Gabrielle Spears, Brianna Rosian, Hagen Smith, and Summer Hill
Every senior has his or her own special place is this school, but some are harder to spot than others.
The Meteor had a special opportunity to speak to some of the incredible senior students at The Randolph County High school. We were honored to ask them questions about different topics, such as plans after high school, opinions, hobbies, and memories.
Braden Laney and Harley Smith said that the hardest part about high school is
deciding what your major in college will be. Their favorite part about high
school is making lifelong memories and growing up with their childhood friends.
They both were in clubs throughout their high school years. They participated in
clubs such as Beta club, Key club, Juniorettes,
Spanish club, and Mu Alpha Theta. We also asked
them what they would be doing after they graduate high school. Braden
said that he plans on attending SUSCC and then eventually transferring
to Auburn University. Harley will be attending UAB in August. Harley’s
hobby is shopping. Her favorite sport is basketball. She loves to be able
to come out and support her friends that play basketball. She is their number one supporter. Braden’s hobbies are fishing and hanging out with his family.
Genesis Nunn and Ed Peraza said that the hardest part about high school is math and English. Their favorite part about high school is PE and being friends with Zach Hannah. Ed is a member of EOT and
Beta club, and he plans to go to college after
high school. Genesis enjoys playing basketball,
and he plans on going to West Alabama
to major in business.
Teyunna Sims told The Meteor staff that the hardest part of her high school career was “coming to school everyday, faithfully.” Saje Holloway believed her hardest part was having to deal with a few unpleasant teachers. Even though high school has its difficult parts, it still had its fun parts. Throughout high school, both girls have participated in many clubs. Teyunna has been part of the Key club, Art club, and R club. Saje has
participated in Key club, Juniorettes, and FCCLA. After high school, they
would both like to go to college. Teyunna would like to teach and Saje
would like to become a lawyer. Outside of high school, they have their own
hobbies and they are very passionate about them. Saje’s favorite hobby is
going to the gym and working out. Teyunna’s hobbies consist of playing
volleyball and singing.
The Meteor staff wasn’t able to interview every senior, but we want each of them to know they are appreciated and valued. Many seniors will leave behind positive legacies, and it is our hope that the upcoming classes have been watching and learning the right way to do things. We strive for excellence here at The Randolph County High School, and we send out a resounding “thank you” to each senior who spent their high school years doing exactly that.
Jacksonville Tornado
by Hannah Smith
On March 19, 2018, tragedy struck Jacksonville, Alabama. An EF-3 tornado touched down in Calhoun County which brought on destruction to 34.29 miles of land and sparked at least 13 more tornados nearby. In the following days, there were many search and rebuilding efforts to collect the thoughts of those affected. Little do most RCHS students know, one of those people teaches right here in Randolph County.
Mr. Jeremy Cunningham, anatomy and biology teacher, lives in Jacksonville and was there when it hit. “I went out for ice cream with some friends, and when we got back home, there was this whistling sound - the one everyone says you hear. In that moment, we climbed under the floor of my house and waited for it to be over. There was no telling how much time passed, but it only felt like 30-45 seconds.”
When it finally passed, and it was safe to climb out, Mr. Cunningham and his roomates surveyed the damage. His house was missing a wall, the kitchen was unusable, and a tree had landed on and smashed their carport (2nd picture from the top). Along with all of this, they were without power.
The men eventually went to look around and check on neighbors and friends from church. One elderly lady was out in the road because her roof had caved in. Another man had his greenhouse destroyed and his concrete driveway broken up. Many houses were condemned and Mr. Cunningham’s was labeled limited use. He missed two days of school due to his caved in carport. He noted that the RCHS staff was “very supportive,” with a few offering help such as tractors.
In the following days, there were many warnings put out to those who stayed in their homes. For example, people were encouraged to refrain from lighting their fireplaces due uprooted pipelines and other fire hazards. There were many issues with looters going into some of the damaged places and taking the residents’ valuables. Mr. Cunningham, like many others in Jacksonville, is very grateful for the help that has been shown to the city. The Samaritan’s Purse organization, along with many volunteers, showed up to help the community. They not only offered physical help, but they also offered food and water for those in need.
The effects of that tornado will last for years to come. The cleanup started the day after, but there is still a great deal of work left for the citizens of Jacksonville. Houses have been condemned and abandoned and thousands were left without power. Yet, with the community and help of volunteers, Jacksonville will be rebuilt and better than it was before.
*Photos courtesy of WVTM13 in Birmingham, AL.