baseball season begins with big dreams
TRANSCRIPT
Bringing Pine-Richland High School Weekly News…One Page at a Time
R A M P A G EBaseball Season Begins
with Big Dreams Team Chases Back to Back Rings
NICK GUIDAS SENIOR STAFF REPORTER
Last year the PR baseball team went
all the way and won the WPIAL
championship. This year the team is
chasing another WPIAL championship.
The team has lost a lot of starters due to
the senior class last year being so talented.
But, this does not take away from the fact
that the team is still filled with a lot of
talent.
The team has been training and
practicing together since the fall. Senior
Wes Byrd said, “Although we lost a lot of
talent from last year, we still have a very
talented and close team.” However, being underestimated by the
other teams in the WPIAL might help out
the Rams this season. Still, nothing is
going to change that they will have a
target on their back all year because they
won it all last year.
The team will have to work much
harder for another ring, but there is no
doubt that they can pull it off. If they work
as a team and use the right tools at the
right time, they will come out on top once
again.
Issue #23
Thursday March 12th
2020
A picture from last year’s season, provided by Montague Photography
Flappy Bird What Happened to this Infamous Game?
NICK GUIDAS SENIOR STAFF REPORTER Everyone remembers the addicting
game Flappy Bird. The game had kids and
teenagers all over the world going nuts.
The premise behind the game is very
simple. All you had to do was touch the
screen enough in order to make your bird
fit between the two green tubes. But, if the
game was so simple, why was it so
addicting? Flappy Bird was taken off the app
store in 2014. The creator of the game,
Nguyen Ha Dong, took it off because he
said the game was, “too addicting.”
He said, “Because the game is so
sensitive to touch, each round usually
lasts a few seconds before you reach your
inevitable death.”
The game was so addicting because
humans naturally want to succeed and
win. But, in Flappy Bird it was impossible
to win. The only thing you could do is
build up your high score. In the long run,
the decision by Dong to take the game off
the app store was a good one. The game
had people going crazy over something
that was intended to bring happiness and
fun. For Nguyen Ha Dong, owning the
game worked out great for him. Before
the game was deleted off the app store,
Dong was making about $50,000 a day
off of an app advertising and sales. This
means that Dong brought in $18,250,000
in one year. His decision to take the game
down was great for both sides, he stopped
the madness over the youth, and he reeled
in some serious cash.
Top 3 Best Leonardo DiCaprio
Movies: Here’s My Favorite Performances
NICK GUIDAS SENIOR STAFF REPORTER Leonardo DiCaprio is one of most
sought out actors in America. He is loved
by many people for many different
reasons. But, mostly because of his ability
to portray many different roles and his
physical appearance. So without further
ado, here is my Leonardo DiCaprio top 3
movie list: #1: Inception: This film is famous for
its breathtaking effects and imagination it
took to create. It may seem boring at some
points, but it is all for good reason. The
ending is a little aggravating because it
leaves you on a cliffhanger, but it allows
you to make your own ending. #2: Gatsby: It was hard for me to
place this movie as number two because
of how good it is. But, this movie is
based off a book, and a movie
previously made before it making it
a little less desired. Don’t get me
wrong, this is a wonderful movie
filled with many great effects,
twists, and turns. I highly
recommend it. #3: Catch Me if You Can: This
movie is a must watch. It is filled
with great acting, some comedy, and
it is based off of a true story. The
fact that it is based off a true story
makes it so much more intriguing.
Movies tend to be more interesting
if the events actually occurred in the real
world.
JUST FOR FUN
Leonardo DiCaprio. Image from USA Today
PROM TICKETS WILL BE SOLD DURING ALL
LUNCH PERIODS FROM 3/16 THROUGH 3/20.
THE LAST DAY TO BUY TICKETS IS 3/27!
Flappy Bird. Image by Rampage
Illustrator Maggie English
City Cuisine: Discover Some of the Best Places to Dine in Pittsburgh ELLA KASPEROWICZ STAFF REPORTER
Pamela’s Diner: Since 1980, Pamela’s
Diner has been serving their crepe style
pancakes in the Pittsburgh area. Located in the Strip District, Shadyside,
Squirrel Hill, Mt. Lebanon, and
Millvale, Pamela’s Diner is a
perfect representation of the
kindness in Pittsburgh. Waffles, INCaffeinated: Known
for their gourmet waffles, Waffles,
INCaffeinated has a unique menu
that will satisfy your taste buds at
any time. With locations in Beaver,
South Side, Wexford, and
Downtown, these extraordinary
waffles are a must-have. First Watch: “The Daytime Cafe”
has locations around the city,
including Cranberry, McCandless,
and Century III. Locally fresh and
locally grown, First Watch has a
wide variety, suitable for almost
anyone.
Peace, Love and Little Donuts:
First established in Pittsburgh in 2009,
Peace, Love and Little Donuts now has
locations in Wexford, The Strip District,
Cranberry, Beaver, and has expanded
across 14 states. With their creative tiny
donuts, this company has swept the
nation. Burgatory: Known for their delicious
burgers and tasty milkshakes, Burgatory
has nine
locations across the city. This restaurant
has a great atmosphere along with great
food. Primanti Bros.: Founded in Pittsburgh,
Primanti Bros. has been serving its
signature
sandwiches since 1933. The delicious
combo of grilled meat, melted cheese,
coleslaw, tomato slices, and french fries
are all stacked in between two thick slices
of italian bread. The Melting Pot: This fondue
company was founded in Tampa,
Florida and now has 105
locations across North America.
The menu has a variety of
choices. Starting with cheese
fondue and salad, then ending
with the meat portion and
chocolate fondue, you will never
be bored dining at The Melting
Pot. Fuel and Fuddle: Located at the
heart of Oakland, Fuel and Fuddle
is a great spot for a night out with
friends. It’s also at the perfect
location, a few blocks away from
the Peterson Event Center. If
you’re ever there, I recommend
the burgers. Of course, there are many other
fantastic restaurants in Pittsburgh. These
are my personal favorites, and I suggest you give them a try!
Pamela’s Diner. Image by TripAdvisor.
DON’T FORGET: PR PRESENTS ‘THE ADDAMS FAMILY!’
SHOW DATES:
FRIDAY 3/13 7:30
SATURDAY 3/14 7:30
FRIDAY 3/20 7:30
SATURDAY 3/21 2:00 AND 7:30
TICKETS AVALIABLE ON DISTRICT WEBSITE
JUST FOR FUN
Student Spotlight Get to Know PR Freshman Ben Rishel ETHAN SILIPO STAFF REPORTER
A famous man once said, “Life is like
a book, sometimes you have to work
through the bad parts to get to the good
parts.” This quote inspires and it comes
from Ben Rishel. You see, I lied about the
famous part, as PR freshman Ben Rishel
is no celebrity; however, this young man
may as well be famous considering what
he has achieved in just his first year at the
high school. Ben Rishel has found his
ground on the big stage, and he is ready
to break boundaries and test the limits. This past fall, Rishel played varsity
soccer. This on its own is impressive;
however the fact that he was a critical
piece of the team and started every game
unless he was injured is equally
impressive. Rishel played center back for
the boy’s team, which essentially just
means he is the main center defender and
is in charge of shutting down attacks from
the opposition and finding passes to start
an attack for his team. “I was never really the biggest player
on the field, but I make up for it by
working twice as hard as everyone else,”
said Rishel. Ben has played soccer since he was
three years old, and it is his favorite sport
and the one he dedicates the most time to;
however, he said he picked up track in
seventh grade after realizing his
exceptional running skills developed in
soccer directly translate to running track.
This year, Ben is running 1600 meter and
800 meter. Despite being a talented athlete,
Rishel’s skills in the classroom are just as
advanced as those out on the field. His
schedule is packed with honors classes,
and he is even taking Algebra 2 and he is
achieving phenomenal grades in all parts
of his education. In his free time, Rishel enjoys playing
video games and spending time with
friends. The weekends give Rishel a
chance to slow down his chaotic and fast
moving life during the week. Ben Rishel,
however, has a special talent that which
no one can compare. “In math class, I use the draw cards
function on my graphing calculator. One
time, the student sitting next to me told
me to guess a random card. I guessed
three of spades, and it was right. Then I
guessed another time as a joke. I said
eight of spades and it was right again,”
explained Rishel. Call it luck, but there is definitely
some sort of skill or magic in this act. The
odds of guessing a card out of a stack of
52 twice in a row is 1/2704.
Freshman Ben Rishel still has three
years until his high school journey is
over, so it is safe to say that in those three
years he is guaranteed to find great
success in multiple different places.
Rishel is friendly, easy going, and fun, so
anyone who comes across him will surely
appreciate his attitude and positive
outlook on life.
Professionals of the Month Meet Maddie Hoyland and Luccia Harpalani ELLA KASPEROWICZ STAFF REPORTER
Hardworking and motivated, two PR
students, Maddie Hoyland and Luccia
Harpalani, won the title “Professionals of
the Month.” To achieve this goal, they
had to show determination and
persistence. “You have to earn it,” said
Harpalani. So, we got the inside scoop
on these two star students. Maddie Hoyland: To earn this
award, Hoyland stood out to her peers
and teachers for being hardworking. She
has always lived in PR and has two
siblings. Her favorite part about school is
the teachers because “they are always
very helpful”. Hoyland loves English
and her favorite sport is softball. Her
favorite food is broccoli and she also
loves The Emoji Movie. She likes the
color red, loves cookie dough ice cream
and if she could choose one place in the
entire world to go, it would be Giant
Eagle. Luccia Harpalani: Just like Hoyland,
Harpalani was extremely happy that she
won this title. Reading is her favorite
subject in school and vanilla is her best-
liked ice cream
flavor. She also has
a knack for
gymnastics and
loves the color pink.
Overall, Frozen II is
her favored movie.
Harpalani also has
two brothers and
has always been a
PR Ram. Finally,
Harpalani would
love to go to
Disneyland, if she had the chance. These two students are great role-
models for students, and exemplify
school spirit. So, next time you see
Maddie or Luccia in the halls, give a
wave and say hello.
JUST FOR FUN
Freshman Ben Rishel.
FEATURE
Maddie Hoyland (left) and Luccia Harpalani (right)
The Use of Smartphones: A Commentary on the Never-Ending Cycle ALEX VASILE FREELANCE SUBMISSION
Children have learned how to use
smartphones at an increasingly early age
and receiving their own at even younger
ages than before. Many young people can
not last mere minutes without their
phones. Since children have grown up in
an environment that ingrained
smartphone use in them at such a
vulnerable age, they are extremely
susceptible to developing an addiction to
their phones or social media. Teenagers
are accompanied by smartphones in
almost every activity such as eating lunch
with friends, in the classroom, traversing
from one point to another, and before bed.
Most teens have at least two social media
apps ranging from Facebook, Instagram,
Snapchat, TikTok, and Twitter. More likely than not, the first thing
you do in the morning is to check your
phone. This preemptively puts you in a
bad position to start the day. You are
concerned with what happened yesterday,
with what happened in the past, with what
someone posted on their story last night.
However, most people overlook the fact
that you do not always need to be
connected to this “loop” of waste. In
regards to school, the district states in
board policy No. 237, “The use of
electronic devices, which include but are
not limited to mobile telephones and
other devices that can send, receive, play
or display digital video or audio data or
images or which provide an unfiltered
connection to the Internet, is prohibited
by students during instructional periods
of the school day {...} Electronic devices
may be brought to school but must be kept
turned off and out of sight during all
instructional periods and activities.”
This policy makes sense as it allows
students to bring their phones to school
but limits their use in the academic scene. In my life, before 9th grade, I never
had social media. However, this summer
I decided to get it to keep in touch with
my foreign friends. I can sum up Snapchat
in one sentence: it is necessary to have to
communicate to the rest of the world;
however, if you spend more than 30
minutes on the app a day, you have an
issue. Unfortunately, many people,
including myself, find ourselves in this
position of spending hours and hours on
end on our screens. According to an
article in Forbes, social media is
addictive, triggers more sadness, less
happiness, comparing our lives with
others is unhealthy, it can lead to jealousy
(a vicious cycle), we can get caught in the
delusion that it will help, and more friends
on social media doesn’t mean you’re
more social. From an insider, adolescent
perspective, I can irrefutably confirm
these claims. Getting out of this
sanguinary cycle proves remarkably
difficult.
I call for a movement, a reformation
in which a higher authority, perhaps the
government, get involved in limiting
screen time, especially social media
exposure to growing teens. We need to
stop this epidemic and regain our
humanism and real social values.
Swimming Surprise: Class’ Curriculum Unit Excites ANDREW LAMENDOLA FREELANCE SUBMISSION
I always hear people complaining
about how they do not enjoy getting wet,
or they complain about the freezing
temperature of the pool. Hearing this
about their travails, I did not look forward
to the swimming unit. However, I was
shocked to realize what I actually thought
of it. When my friend, John, and I had first
showed up to the pool, neither of us
wanted to get in. Having no choice and
no time to contemplate, I leaped into the
pool. I felt the water engulf my body. To
my surprise, I did not feel entirely cold
when my head emerged out of the water.
The so called, “freezing water,” was
imperceptible.
I started to think, maybe this will be
fun.
I began to enjoy swimming because
John and I were having fun. Learning
new strokes seemed a little easier because
I was not miserable. At the end of class,
we had some extra time. So, our teacher
let us jump off of the diving boards. John
and I enjoyed this part the most. We
would do a flip, quickly swim out of the
pool, and run off of the diving board
again. Now, every time I walk onto the pool
deck, I get excited to jump in. I am taking
something much larger from this than
realizing that I enjoy the swimming unit.
I found that surrounding yourself with
friends, even in hard times, will always
make for a fun experience
.
STUDENT REFLECTIONS
DO YOU HAVE A REFLECTION? YOU CAN BE PUBLISHED
IN THE RAMPAGE TOO! VISIT ROOM 217 TO LEARN
HOW TO SUBMIT A FREELANCE ARTICLE!
Best Romance Reads
ABBY LANE STAFF REPORTER Any day is a good day to read a good book. There are
many genres to choose from too, such as Horror, Mystery,
Romance, Sci Fi, Historical, Fiction, Nonfiction and so on.
If there are so many good books, then why do people choose
not to read? The question is still a mystery to me. Here are
some great romance reads to start you off. See you next week
for another genre recommending.
The Field Party series by Abby Glines
(Must Read)
Open Road Summer by Emery Lord
Challenge Accepted by Amanda Abram
That Boy by Jillian Dodd (Must Read)
The Beginning of Everything by Robyn
Schneider
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum
Young Love by Paige Powers (Must Read)
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
(Must Read)
Where The Road Takes Me by Jay
McLean (Must Read)
Five Feet Apart by Rachel Lippincott
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia
Owens
Ryder Bay Series by Jordan Ford (Must
Read)
All The Little Things by Jamie McGuire
These are just a few of the many great romance
reads out there. I have read all the above except for ‘That
Boy’ (which I have on my bookshelf but have yet to read),
‘Five Feet Apart’, ‘All The Little Things’ and ‘Where the
Crawdads Sing’. As
far as I am concerned
all these books tell an
excellent romantic
tale, ones that I fall
in love with every
time. Not only will
you fall in love with
the book but the
characters too. I hope
you take my advice
and either borrow
some of these books
at your local library
or buy the books.
GOOD READS
Ode to the
Wooden Drawer MAGDELYN ENGLISH
STAFF ILLUSTRATOR & REPORTER
Collections of grays
All in one
Lined up in a row
Waiting to jump right onto that
blank canvas
Creation sparks at the tip
Groups of flowers and children
grow
A star rises, a peak into the
written
My masterpiece comes from
the wooden figure
Standing in my hand
Predicting pictures
Writing stories
Creating cats
Figures dance, swirling around
A tool that is worthy to use.
Bringing gray to life
Showing not all things are
bright and light
Waiting on the tabletop
For someone to drop
Tip on top
Of a blank world
Waiting to be created
One thing started
Another one finished
Explaining stories
Bringing the characters to life
A wooden object with lead
on the inside
A tool, a creation, a thing
To write, to draw, to create
A simple little thing,
Known as…...a Pencil
POEM
FYI There will be a Women’s Panel of Equal Representation held by the Spire & Co.
Club on Wednesday, March 18th 8-9:30am. If you wish to attend, you need to turn in a permission slip to
Dr. Switala by Monday, March 16th.
The following homerooms are our weekly
winners:
Homeroom 31: Mrs. Hough
Homeroom 204: Mrs. Gollapudi
Homeroom 213: Mrs. Dalverny
Homeroom 412: Mrs. Bartoszewicz
Homeroom 418: Mr. Davis
JUST FOR FUN
RAMPAGE
STAFF Design Editors:
Brooke Gray,
Maddie Jewart,
Cameron Perkins
Staff Reporters:
Ava Boyd,
Jordan Burns,
Danielle Bursick,
Ethan Crowell,
Maggie English,
Tom Frey, Mikayla
Goff, Nick Guidas,
Mara Hopf, Ella
Kasperowicz,
Abby Lane,
Steven Lemchak,
Elizabeth Montanti,
Arnoldo Olsson,
Amitva Pal, Josh
Palko, Ethan Silipo,
Emma Van Meter
Copy Editor: Abby Lane
Teacher:
Mrs. Harshman
The RAMPAGE is a
student-created
publication of Pine-
Richland High School,
700 Warrendale Road,
Gibsonia, PA 15044.
The newsroom is room
217. The RAMPAGE
is available in print and
online every Thursday.
It is written by
students, for students,
and will make every
attempt to report all
school-related news.
We welcome freelance
submissions,
suggestions,
comments, and story
ideas from students and
staff. Since this is a
student-publication, we
realize we may make
mistakes; we
encourage readers to
report mistakes to the
newsroom 217; you
may win a prize if you
can locate any/all
mistakes.
Be the first to win! When you complete the word search, bring it to Room 217 for a prize!
SENIOR DANIELLE BURSICK GAME DESIGNER
PR’s Swimming and Diving Team WPIAL Qualifiers: Correction from last week
o Madison Alexander o Delaney Allen o Justin Bogacz o Matt Carper o Mila Cribbs o Eleah Dickson o Luke Farrar o Zoe Farrar o Brennan Kirkpatrick o Anna Kosanovich o Will Laubacher o Grant Lundgren o Dylan McCabe o Megan Medjimorec o Shane Rupert o Alyssa Schonbachler *this name was accidentally spelled wrong o Lily Settembrino o Emily Smallwood o Daniel Steger o Trent Vacula* this name was accidentally left off the list o Rachel Watson o Andrew Wenzel o Valerie Zbezinksi
Some Old-
Fashioned Skills
That Teens Need
to Know Today
ABBY LANE DESIGN/COPY EDITOR
Many teens do not know common
skills. How many do you know? Check
the boxes and see if you’re smarter than
the average teen. Most teens know how to
do 32 of the skills listed below. If you
know less, that is alright. There is always
time to learn. Come to room 217 and tell
the Rampage Staff how much you know.
How to sew on a button
How to make a genuine apology
How to shake hands
How to check tire pressure
How to do laundry
How to make a budget
How to iron a shirt
How to see through job
competition
How to have good table manners
How to read a recipe
How to seek counsel help from
someone experienced
How to hang a picture
How to write a proper thank you
note
How to admit a mistake
How to care for a pet
How to play with a baby
How to set the table
How to read a map
How to write a letter
How to hammer a nail
How to take notice of needs
around you
How to balance a checkbook
How to wash dishes
How to do something well even
if no one is watching
How to give someone the benefit
of the doubt
How to weigh the pros and cons
of a decision
How to take care of a garden
How to read slowly
How to find a book in the library
How to wait and save for
something
How to ask questions to get to
know someone better
How to take a message
How to make a phone call
How to select a gift that the
receiver will appreciate
How to attend a concert or
performance
How to plan a healthy meal
How to fix something instead of
replacing it
How to make scrambled eggs
How to be kind!!!!
OPINION
PITTSBURGH PIRATES:
The Pirates are offering a
complimentary ticket to
students on specific dates
with the purchase of at least
one additional ticket. Flyers
are available in the Main
Office and Guidance Office
with more information.
SHOE DRIVE: PR
Students, do you have shoes
you never use? If so please
drop off any type of gently
worn shoes in boxes in the
main lobby or cafeteria. The
environmental club is hosting
a shoe drive to improve our
environment globally, where
your shoes are upcycled to
people in poverty. Look for
posters in the hallway or send
an e-mail to the address at the
bottom of your screen for
more information Lets get
400 shoes!
SPAGHETTI DINNER: Support the Choir
program by attending their annual Spaghetti Dinner
on Saturday, March 21st, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
between the matinee and evening performances of
this year's PRHS Musical, The Addams Family.
The dinner is held in the PRHS cafeteria and
benefits the PRHS Choral Boosters. Reserve your
spot today! For Ticket Information email Michelle
English at her e-mail.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT:
If any current 9th through 11th
grader is interested in
joining student government for
next school year and is not a
current member, please email
Mrs. Brough or Mrs. Adams
directly for an online
application by Friday March
27th. All current members
planning to return, please check
GoogleClassroom to complete
the online application form.
FYI
MINITHON NEWS:
Want to go to this year's Mini-THON on someone
else's dime? Students who raise at least 50 dollars on
Donor Drive receive free admission, shirt, pizza, and
rave lights! One post to your Instagram/Facebook
could easily pay for you to dance For The Kids. Talk
to someone in Mini-THON to get signed up. It takes 5
minutes, and you could help save lives.
A.W. BEATTIE
CAREER CENTER:
They are holding their annual Fish Fry
this Friday and on March 20th, and 27th.
Dine-in or Take-out. The hours will be
from 12pm to 3pm and 4pm to 7pm.
GUIDANCE INVITATION!
You are cordially invited to
attend College Planning
Night on Wednesday, March
25th in the PRHS Auditorium,
from 7-9pm. This event is
open to all students and their
families who are looking to
start the college search
process. The guest speaker,
Ms. Jennifer Winge, Dean of
Admission at the College of
Wooster, will provide an
overview of the college
admissions process. A question
and answer period will follow.
Did you notice...
Senior Connor Murphy →
Student Section Leaders made an
announcement during all lunches last
week about the importance of
following the RAMS Way while in the
cafeteria. All students are encouraged to be respectful,
accountable, motivated, and safe during all
lunches. Teachers will be rewarding students
with a snack bar coupon for students who
follow RAMS way!