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< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment December 2022 Student of the Month Ashley Knettel Ashley is the daughter of Paul and Alissa Knettel. Ashley says her parents have played a large role in her life and has made her who she is, “My parents have always encouraged me to try my best at anything I accomplish, and they’ll be proud of me no matter what. My parents remind me of this refresher on the daily, which I truly believe is what fuels me to try my best every day. With my family, I enjoy having family dinners, hanging out at our cabin, and sitting down to complete a puzzle with one another.” At Royalton High School, Ashley is involved in a variety of activities, multiple sports to numerous clubs and groups and has enjoyed many of them. “At school I am involved in volleyball, softball, speech, Minnesota Honors Society, and YES Club. I enjoy volleyball and softball because I love the exciting feeling of being a part of a great play and cheering on my teammates when they do the same. I also enjoy speech because it has pushed me out of my comfort zone to try a new activity while having fun and making memories with my teammates. I enjoy the Minnesota Honors Society because I am able to make a difference in the community with my closest friends by running our school’s blood drive and participating in our City-Wide Cleanup. Lastly, I enjoy YES Club, because I have been able to participate in many environmentally friendly projects to better the Earth and our school.” When it comes to her classes Ashley says her favorite class was College Human Biology. “My favorite high school class I’ve ever taken is CIS Human Biology. I have always had a fascination with human anatomy and this course dives very deep into such complex information that I find very interesting. This class stands out to me as a student because I have the opportunity to dissect pig fetuses and sheep hearts to strengthen my learning about biological anatomy. I would suggest other students to take this class if you’re interested in pursuing an occupation in medical science, because you will retain a great deal of valuable information that will stick with you! As for a favorite teacher in high school Ashley says Ms. Alyssa Gerads rises to the top of her list “My favorite teacher throughout high school years has been Mrs. Gerads. Not only is Mrs. Gerads a very intelligent and organized teacher, she also radiates such positive energy to her students with her bubbly and friendly personality. Mrs. Gerads has made my biology and CIS human biology courses important to me because she exposed my love to learn about science with her great teaching methods. Mrs. Gerads inspires me because she obtained her master’s degree at such a young age, which has made me want to work as hard as her to acquire my own someday.” When asked what her favorite high school memory was, she had one that stands above all others and that was 2022 Prom. “My favorite high school memory was definitely my junior prom. My junior prom was such a blast because I had a great date and best friends who also love to sing and dance to our favorite songs and we had so much fun while doing it. I can proudly say the missing voice and sore muscles from singing and dancing all night long was definitely worth it. Besides that, the dinner was delicious and the whole day had a great vibe.” Ashely’s best event/activity she was involved in that stood at Royalton High school has been speech, “The activity that stands out the most to me that I am involved in is speech. Speech has pushed me out of my comfort zone immensely with performing and talking in front of crowds and judges. After my first season of speech last year, I believe I am more comfortable with presenting in front of a classroom, my social skills have greatly improved, and I have made incredible friendships with my teammates and speakers from other schools as well.” When asked what she plans to do next year and where she sees herself in 10 years, Ashley had this to say “I plan to further my education at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities to study nutrition. After earning my Bachelor of Science degree, my dream is to attend school once again to obtain my master’s degree to become a registered dietitian. Over the past few years, nutrition has sparked my interest because I’ve realized how important it is to consume the right foods to properly fuel your body and prevent diseases. In 10 years, I hope that I reached all my academic goals, to be settled down, and to have an occupation I thoroughly enjoy. These goals are important to me because if I succeed in these goals, I know I will have a very successful and happy life ahead of me.” Finally, Ashley’s advice to high school freshmen is, “Slow down, you're doing fine, you can’t be everything you want to be before your time.” This advice is actually a lyric from Billy Joel’s “Vienna”. When life and school become too much to handle some days, I believe it’s important to remind ourselves to destress by taking life day-by-day, and how success doesn't come easy, take your time and it will all be worth it in the end.

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment December 2020 Student of the Month Aubrey Krueger Royalton High School is proud to announce that Aubrey Krueger was selected as Student of the Month for December. Aubrey is the daughter of Isaac and Amy and older sister of Hannah. Aubrey gives her family a lot of credit for where she is today, “My family has taught me to work hard for the things I want in life and never take anything for granted. I feel very blessed to be surrounded by the support of immediate family, my grandparents, and my extended family throughout my high school career. They have been my cheering section for nearly all of my activities, edited my English papers, obtained their bus driver’s license, and always provided me with words of encouragement. I am very thankful that I have such a supportive family! Some of the things I like to do with my family are camping and taking our boat out on the lake in the summer.” At Royalton High School, Aubrey is involved in basketball, softball, volleyball manager, YES Club, BPA and Minnesota Honor Society. Aubrey believes being involved in these activities has played a huge role in her life, “I think everyone should take advantage of the extra-curricular activities at school because there is something for everyone. Being involved in activities has introduced me to some of my closest high school friends.” “I’ve had the opportunity to get to know Aubrey these past 4 years. I’ve seen so much growth in Aubrey as a student and person in the classroom and in her activities like basketball. Her work ethic in the classroom and in her activities has been awesome and it’s been a pleasure teaching and coaching her. I expect her to do great things in the years to come.”- Brad Baumann, Social Studies teacher and Head Girls Basketball Coach. When it comes to her classes Aubrey says her favorite classes were her Math classes. “I like math because it challenges me. I also like that although there are many ways to solve a problem, most of the time there is only one right answer so you can check your work. I would suggest taking a class that challenges you because it helps you learn and grow.” As for a favorite teacher in high school, Aubrey says Ms. Menden really comes to mind, “Ms. Menden challenges me to grow as a student and she also takes time to get to know me as an individual. Even though her class was early in the morning, every day she greeted me with a cheery personal greeting. She inspires me to be the best version of myself I can be in and out of the classroom.” Aubrey’s favorites memory in high school has been Homecoming. “My favorite high school memory was Homecoming. I loved being able to cheer on the football team with all of my classmates/friends and being able to compete in the Homecoming Olympics as a class.” Next year Aubrey plans to attend North Dakota State University to pursue a degree in accounting and in ten years she wants to have taken that degree and obtained a full-time accounting job. “In 10 years, I plan to be settled into a full-time accounting job, married, living in a house in a small town in either North Dakota or Minnesota, and probably starting a family.” Aubrey’s advice to high school freshmen is short but sweet “Don't take anything for granted because it can all be gone in no time!”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment < Back December 2019 Artist of the Month Autumn Larson After Christmas break, Royalton High School named Autumn Larson as December's Artist of the Month. Larson, a junior, is the daughter of Coralynn and Jesse Martin of Rice. She has been "doodling" characters on lined paper for as long as she can remember, and now is focused on turning these characters into something more than just a hobby. "As soon as I could pick up a pencil or a brush, everything that I had been thinking about fades away and I focus only on my artwork until I put the pencil down. During this time, it's a weightless feeling of freedom that I've never felt with anything else despite trying to replicate it with other activities," said Larson. "For a very long time, I've dreamed of creating a world that compares to the numerous books that I have read in the early years of my life. It was this year in my Design class that Mr. Halverson asked us to find an idea that we could really invest ourselves into as the Final Design project. My Ultra Violet project started in my freshman year with Sophie as the main character. She made her slow journey over the years into a shape-shifting creature with 200 years of fictional history behind the world that she lives in. The plot of the storybook will tell the reader how simply that Sophie went from Earth to Lyvida, the fairytale world that her story is set in. In one frame, Sophie is shown at her birthday party, and in the next, she is waving goodbye to her friends. As the story progresses, she discovers that if she wishes to become a fairy, she will need to grow wings. The rest of the story will show snapshots of her future adventures and the characters, like her "adoptive" father, Jinn, who will help her reach her destination in life." "While working with at all of the talented, student-artists who take art classes at Royalton High School, it sometimes is a tough task to select just one student who earned the Artist of the Month honor," stated Visual Art Instructor Carl Halverson. "December had a few artists who could have been selected. It was clear to me after seeing the time and dedication that Autumn Larson put into her original storybook, that she had clearly earned the honor. It's not just a rendered copy of a subject in which a student showcases their improvement in skills that are practiced in an art class. In this case, it is the development of a character that is totally original, never seen before, that comes to life in the artist's choice of medium. The Design goes one step further in the fact that no one knows the storyline until the artist decides where they will take you on their journey. I have an Albert Einstein quote hanging in my room which reads, "Imagination is more important than knowledge." I can teach a student the Knowledge of subject matter through the Elements and Principles of Design or by studying Art History. I can improve a student's technical abilities through the daily exercise and practice of drawing, painting, sculpture, digital media or photography projects. But I can't teach a student the "Imagination" piece that it takes to create the Original work that Autumn has shared with us in her Final Design project. This piece is a gift that never stops giving through the work created by these exceptional young people that I have had the privilege of working with for all of these years. " "I'm very grateful for the teachers that I've had, like Mr. Halverson, who have pushed me to travel down the road of Visual Art," added Larson. "I'm also very grateful for my Mom for believing that my "doodles" would one day be something so much more."

Early Childhood Center Staff directory Paraprofessional Sharon Baron Early Childhood Center Email Special Education Teacher Brandi DeGier Early Childhood Center Email Paraprofesssional Kara Kloss Early Childhood Center Email Paraprofessional Jennifer Oldakowski Early Childhood Center Email Preschool Teacher Leah Suska Early Childhood Center Email Preschool Teacher Amanda Billig Early Childhood Center Email Paraprofessional Jennifer Eiynk Early Childhood Center Email Paraprofessional Patricia Matykiewicz Early Childhood Center Email Custodian Steve Reinhardt Early Childhood Center Email Preschool Teacher Bailey Warzecka Early Childhood Center Email Paraprofessional Becky Bzdok Early Childhood Center Email Preschool Teacher Stacy Huls Early Childhood Center Email Paraprofessional Jessica Nielsen Early Childhood Center Email Paraprofessional Jenny Solorz Early Childhood Center Email Paraprofessional Shelia Wirth Early Childhood Center Email

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment < Back September 2017 Artist of the Month Cole Scofield Cole Scofield, son of Pam and Tony Scofield has been named Royalton High School's Artist of the Month for September. Scofield, earned the honor by taking one of his favorite hobbies, and turning it into his original design project in his Art Techniques class. "Going into this class, I never thought that I would ever be in the top five, and for sure, not an Artist of the Month." said Scofield. "There are so many talented artists in this school. When Halverson described the assignment and talked about choosing a subject that means something to you, I knew what I wanted to do, almost immediately. I love the way Halverson teaches and how laid back he is. It makes the class environment alive and enjoyable. I haven't been in an art class since the eighth grade, and I thought that I would be somewhere in the middle of the class as far as my abilities were concerned. But when he talked about choosing someone or something that you love, like drawing a picture of his wife or his mother holding one of his kids, I understood what to do. My idea came from one of my favorite hobbies which is drag racing. I drag race at BIR, (Brainerd International Raceway). 2017 was my second year racing there with my '71 Chevelle. Memorial weekend and the fourth of July weekend, I took second in my bracket. I am dedicating this design project to my dad. He's been with me since the beginning, from picking out out the car to standing in the winner's circle with me." "Design is based on applying the elements and principles in a step by step process, regardless of the medium used by the artist." stated Royalton High School Art Instructor Carl Halverson. "The goal is to help every student find his or her own strength and then succeed to the best of their ability. I believe every teacher has this goal in mind regardless of the subject matter being delivered. In this case, Cole chose metal as his primary choice of medium. His passion for racing his Chevelle SS, became a personal statement from his very first sketch. The process continued, as he designed and fabricated each letter from metal and carefully placed them on the riveted, rusted steel base. And now for the most important piece of the design. He finished it off by dedicating the project to his father. Dedicated to the man responsible for not only introducing his son to an incredible journey in his life, but also there every step of the way as they shared incredible, invaluable life lessons along the road. You can't show a movie clip or just pick up that kind of learning experience from a book in any classroom. Be it paint, pencil, wood, or metal; it's not the material that determines the value of the piece when it becomes something personal."

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment < Back December 2018 Artist of the Month Kylee Berg Kylee Berg, the daughter of Steven and Tammy Berg was named Royalton High School's December Artist of the Month. Berg, a junior, has been part of the Royal yearbook program, and took Photography this year at the high school. "I have always been interested in art since I have been able to hold a crayon in my hand. Art is a special and relaxing hobby of mind, and not just a hobby but a great class to take in school. I remember how excited I was to have my very first art class in 6th grade. It was an amazing and fun experience for me. I learned so much as a Middle Schooler and enjoyed Halverson's classes every since. I have taken different art classes, such as Painting, Painting 2, Drawing, Yearbook, and Photography. Each class has made me grow as an artist, and learn the different ways you can express yourself through art. My parents have always been encouraging me to do art, and they still do to this day which I thank them for doing such. I believe Photography is one of my favorite art classes I have ever had with Mr. Halverson because I learned different techniques to take great pictures of people in my school, family, and pets. My goal is to take Photography 2 next school year because I learned how much I enjoy taking pictures." Royalton High School Visual Arts Instructor Carl Halverson believes that Berg has the ability to not just listen to what is being taught in the classroom, but apply what is learned far above what an average high school art student would be able to complete. "Over the years, I've had conversations with typical students who have had a tough time applying what was being taught in an art class. One student mentioned, in art classes, all she remembered was that "The Primary colors are Red, Blue and Yellow." I found humor in this response too as I followed this remark up when talking with a math teacher at our school when I echoed this logic explaining to him that, "In Math, all that we learned was 2 + 2 = 4," and in History, all that was taught was , "in 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue," stated Halverson. "At least some students are sharp enough to realize, that the ocean Blue, is indeed a primary color!" Halverson added with a grin. "It's just the opposite with a talented art student like Kylee Berg." added Halverson. In her first six weekly photography assignments that are displayed on the board, she scored at the top of her class, based on techniques taught and rules applied that are far above the average, "Primary colors." The top left displays Berg's photoshop skills in a movie cover-self portrait design piece which use tools like color adjustments, layers, perspective, as well as technical placement, composition, and rotation of subject matter. Her top center portrait uses formal balance and is an extraordinary example of subject placement, in which the background of the circular composition enhances the subject itself, as she strikes a rather symmetrical pose. The top right photographic assignment displays beautiful use of linear perspective that leads the viewer's eyes from the volleyball player in the foreground, all the way down the bench to the standing coach. The American flag, hanging overhead at the top left of the frame, gives a sense of power and stability in not only it's shape, line, and color, but in the representation of a typical icon found in a school gymnasium. The bottom left, displays a macro lens shot of colored pencils that employs a wide open aperture (opening in which light passes through), combined with a fast shutter speed (the length of time that the frame was shot). Not only does the use of line pull the eye back through the standing rows of color, but the depth of field (caused by the ISO and SS of the shot) slowly blurs the focus, increasing the depth even further. The bottom center photo was an assignment contrasting texture with color. The Red flowering cactus is placed in a Green pot (the color's complement or opposite), and the green is carried through to the prickly dark green spikes which emerge from the silky moth pedals. Finally, the bottom right piece uses "The rule of thirds," which in photography composition, is as basic as the three primary colors are to art itself. Keeping major components from the center, Berg carefully presented the center of interest (the trail's ending point on the horizon line), so that the lines of the trail lead you the viewer's eyes down the path. The treeline on the left is almost a perfect third, while the treeline on the right carries more weight, occupying almost exactly two-thirds of the total composition. Ansel Adams, the father of photographic black and white composition in the eyes of many a viewer, is studied as a reference in Photography class at RHS. Adams himself would be impressed to see a high school junior understand and apply some of these same basic elements and principles of design as well as rules used in a photographic sense." Berg may be one of the few, gifted art students who may be earning AP Studio Arts college credit next year as she begins taking 24 photographs which are graded by a college board nationally. Royalton High School's Art department averages over 90% in passing criteria, (one of the highest percentages in the state), when completing and sending art portfolios to the college AP board. The last two RHS student-artists to complete the AP portfolio scored 5's, which ranks as "excellent" and at the top of the college scoring rubric nationally.

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment < Back November 2019 Artist of the Month Jordan Pesta Jordan Pesta, the daughter of Neil Pesta and Brenda Weiss-Pesta, is Royalton High School's November Artist of the Month. She has explored many different electronic mediums besides the usual, traditional applications that are offered at the high school level. "I’ve always loved doing art, ever since I could pick up a pencil. Mr. Halverson has helped me further my career in art by offering instruction and support in classes like Drawing, Painting, and Graphic Illustration to develop my artistic ability and discover a love of different media. My personal favorite mediums are acrylic and watercolor along with drawing digitally on my phone or computer. Illustrating and painting have helped to take the worlds out of my head and onto paper and canvas. I want to share the pictures I visualize and the stories I create with the world as much as I can. Each subject has its own abstract way of being viewed, like my toucan painting or watercolor. They are both original paintings inspired by either things I see in life or just brought life in my head. Since middle school, I’ve been bringing characters to life and developing stories about their lives in my head. I one day hope to illustrate these stories in a graphic novel. Characters are, in a way, bits and pieces of their creator’s personality projected onto said characters. You create what you are, essentially." Pesta's favorite teacher at Royalton High School is visual arts instructor, Carl Halverson. Halverson thinks that Pesta is the most diversified of all of the talented art students he has ever seen. "Jordan excels to new levels in every medium that she picks up," said Halverson. "From traditional to nontraditional artforms; from creating original characters to applying computer generated animation; she transitions so seamlessly. Her original characters tell stories, that are as unique to the reader, as the characters are themselves. The best post secondary options for a student with Jordan's abilities can't be judged by where they are located, but rather, by what they are producing in the way of successful artists. Several artists with a degree earned from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, (Matthew Meyer, Dan Lund, and Justin Weber) for example, were members of the team of animators who created the Disney film Frozen, which won an Oscar. In Jordan's case, I truly believe that she has all of the ability in the world to pursue character development and illustration and as a career. I also believe that any school with a visual art program, in the area or the state for that matter, would welcome Jordan as a student. After all, they are businesses which profit from students attending and filling their programs. But unless they have a program with recent graduates who are extremely successful in their respective fields, they pretty much sound and resemble a "good, honest car salesman", (if one of these types of salesmen actually does exist.) Royalton High School's Visual Arts program has graduates who have become Art Teachers, Graphic Designers, Freelance Artists, Web Page Designers, and Illustrators to name a few of the many careers in the field. We are about to add a Famous Animator to this list in my opinion. All I can do as a high school art instructor, is try to point her in the direction of her strengths. Jordan Pesta has so many artistic strengths, that I believe she will be one of these students who will join the ranks of like the previously mentioned artists above. Artists, who don't sit around at a local pub talking about their glory days of high school. Instead, Artists who have actually held up an Oscar in their hands or published a book that they wrote as well as illustrated. She will be missed around here, but if I were a betting man, I would bet that she will return one day, extremely successful." After high school, Pesta hopes to attend a college centered around artistic careers or offering pathways to the art field. She has been looking into, and is in the process of applying to, the Academy of Art University, the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and the Savannah College of Art and Design.

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment May 2018 Student of the Month Jason Kasella Jason Kasella, son of Amy and Rob Kasella, was named the May Student of the Month by the faculty of Royalton High School (RHS). Jason’s siblings are Jacob, Megan, Katelyn, Krista and Matthew; Jason is the second youngest. Jason’s favorite class is Woods with Mr. Marty Bratsch as his teacher. He likes this class because he can be creative while working with his hands. His favorite teachers are Mr. Marty Bratsch, Mr. Robert Skwira, the Agriculture teacher and Mr. Carl Halverson, the Art teacher. His teachers had these comments about Jason. “When he walked into my room as a gangly seventh grader, he sported the kind of grin that makes you wonder what he's about to get away with. His work ethic was impeccable which brought him to success no matter what the assignment was. Although he's changed a lot since then, these two things haven't changed at all. He still has that big grin and that admirable "farm boy" work ethic. Add to this a quiet confidence and great sense of humor and you've got a young man who is destined to light up the world, in whatever career path that he chooses to pursue”. His Spanish teacher Ms. Lindsey Gruber states, “Jason is a leader among his peers and underclassmen. He is humble, determined, and a hard worker not only in the classroom, but on the mat, field, and in the hallways. These are valued characteristics in school, the workforce, and in today’s society. Jason is well-deserving of this recognition.” Mr. Robert Skwira states that “Jason is a very detailed individual who wants to do a good job and get it done right". Jason is actively involved in Football, Wrestling, and Tech/Yes Club. Jamie Morford, his football coach said, “Jason defines what it means to be a true team player and what we as a staff look for in our Royalton football leaders. He was asked his senior year to move from a position he had held for three years and take a less glorious position. In doing this he knew that this would make our team better and in turn give us a better odds at competing each week. Jason has always been a silent leader but has made huge impacts, not just on game night but every day at practice. He is always looking to push others to make themselves and the team better. Not only has he excelled on the field but does so in the classroom and with his peers. There have not been many like him but it is our hope that his legacy will pave the way for other future Royal Football players and emulate his leadership style and body of work”. His wrestling coach Terry Gorecki states, "Jason is a great leader on and off the wrestling mat. He has a great work ethic and is much disciplined in the classroom and on the mat. He is a great role model for all student athletes." Jason’s favorite memory is “Getting to the finals and being one win away in wrestling to go to state as a team”. After graduating, he plans on working for his father at Kasella Concrete, put up a chicken barn and continue farming. He sees himself in 10 years still working at KCI; possibly in the process of taking it over, owning a chicken barn and a hundred head of beef cattle and living locally with a wife and a few kids. The advice he would give to any freshman is “Try to enjoy school more than stressing about the work.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment < Back March 2019 Artist of the Month Grace Gall Royalton High School recently named Grace Gall as the March Artist of the Month. Gall, a junior, is the daughter of Jason and Terri Gall. Gall has participated in school musicals and loves to involve herself in singing as well as drawing. "I have chosen to draw this picture of Mother Teresa as a gift for my grandmother, Kitty Gall's birthday," said Gall. "It's my way to show her how much I appreciate all of the things that she has done for our family over the years. My intention was to give it to her when I got confirmed, but the picture took me longer than I expected so I couldn't finish it in time." "I don't think that Grace expected to earn an Artist of the Month honor," stated Royalton Visual Art Instructor Carl Halverson. "Grace has taken many different classes in the music and visual art areas at Royalton High School. Some artistically gifted students are never involved in working in an actual art classroom, on a daily basis. Can you imagine a basketball or football team that had no practices, but instead, just showed up at games? Can you imagine a talented band or choir student who just practiced the "same old music, day after day," all alone; then showed up the night of the concert? The result would be much the same as what I see when a student has a lot of talent, but never practices these technical skills on a daily basis. Then you add, in this case, "the Granny Factor." When I see a student really strive to finish a project, the drive is usually not just in the subject matter. It usually focuses on the person who will be receiving the gift. Grace invested more than fifty hours into the drawing of Mother Teresa not because of her love for Mother Teresa. She had a specific goal in mind; To deliver her gift to someone that she loves, someone who is very special." After high school, Gall sees herself going to a small college to pursue a major in Sociology and Music Therapy as well as a minor in art education. After college she hopes to be happily married with a big family.

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment October 2020 Student of the Month Naomi Ferguson Royalton High School is proud to announce that Naomi Ferguson was selected as Student of the Month for October. Naomi says her family has played a large role in her life and has made her who she is, “My oldest sister Collette has taken care of me since I was little, without fail she woke me up every morning, brought me to school and taught me how to grow up, she is the best role model I could have asked for. My second oldest sister Emily, introduced me to most of the activities I’m in and my youngest sister Sofia, even though we have the worst fights, is someone I trust the most. Then my mother, the master of the house, seems to seems to be made of nothing but love, perseverance, and muscle. She is understanding and kind and has done everything from try to teach me math while I was crying at the table to braiding my then 3 feet of hair every morning before school, I will always appreciate our kitchen table talks”. At Royalton High School, Naomi is involved in many activities. She has been involved in Drama, Speech, Knowledge Bowl, Marching Band, Jazz Band, BPA, One Act Play, FFA, Prom Committee, Cross Country, Track & Field, Student Council, Royal Pride Club, Choir and Minnesota Honor Society. Naomi says all of these activities has helped her tremendously as she has grown, “Each one is very different, but they all have something in common: the camaraderie and relationships I have made with the people in them. I have also made significant improvement not only in the activities themselves, becoming a better speaker, musician, singer, actress, and trivia-buff, but also in life, becoming a more confident, dedicated, and all-around better person.” Royalton High School Choir teacher Cheri Ploof says that Naomi is an outstanding musician and is amazing at anything she puts her mind to. Royalton Art Teacher Cathy Tordsen agreed by saying that “Naomi is a very talented artist, with excellent rendering skills!” Social Studies Teacher Brad Baumann added “ If you ask any teacher at Royalton, I think they all would agree that Naomi is a great example for all of our students at RHS with all of her skills and great work in the classroom.” When it comes to her classes Naomi says her favorite class was probably English Composition. “My favorite class was probably comp. Even though it was harrowing, I liked the camaraderie we developed and the relationship between Ms. Menden and our class. I also learned quite a lot, which is always fun. In short, comp was like we were all in an emotionally exhausting book club in which we constantly slapped each other in the face with valuable information. I highly recommend it.” As for a favorite teacher in high school Naomi says it’s impossible to pick just one, “I cannot and will not choose a favorite teacher. Each of my teachers has helped me immeasurably; they have patiently taught and re-taught confusing topics, they have been my confidants, and they have made me a better person. I will be forever in their debt. While I am closer to some than others, they are all truly wonderful human beings who I deeply trust and care for and I could not have lived without.” Some of Naomi’s favorites memories in high school have been with friends and spending time with them in and out of school, “Almost all memories of working in the concession stands have been my favorites. I was always with my best friends and through the hundreds of hours peddling our vittles we became a well-oiled machine. I have so many good memories full of unadulterated happiness that I will never remember clearly: late night cast parties to Perkins, caked in stage makeup: placing at a speech meet: funny jokes, good music, and long nights. While I can’t always remember the events, the feelings I had and the time spent with those I care about are what I will look back on most fondly.” Because of an already busy schedule Naomi does not have a ton of free time outside of school. The time that she does have she spends working at her job, she will participate in 5Ks and likes to draw and ski. But most of her time is spent participating in school sponsored events. Next year Naomi plans to attend North Dakota State University and wants to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. In ten years she hopes to have graduated from NDSU and found a productive career that she enjoys and says “Life, however, is full of goals, all of them stepping stones of improvement with no end; I only hope to choose the path of kindness and make the world a slightly better place.” Naomi’s advice to high school freshmen is, “Have confidence in yourself. Do not be afraid to be your true, unabashed self. Most of the time, my biggest problem in drama, knowledge bowl, math, or whatever I was doing, was that I did not believe I could do it. Once you are sure of yourself, you can do more than you thought you ever could.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment January 2020 Student of the Month Erin Zapzalka Royalton High School faculty selected Erin Zapzalka as their January Student of the Month. Erin, the daughter of Danelle and Tim Zapzalka, learned about hard work and caring for others from her parents: her dad works on the family farm and her mom is a nurse. Erin is involved in numerous activities at RHS. She enjoys band because of her love of music and learning different instruments. She also volunteers with Minnesota Honor Society, helps the environment in Y.E.S. Club, plans events with student council, as well as participating in softball, volleyball and serving as a wrestling manager. Randy Thielges, science teacher and basketball coach says, “Erin is one of the students you can ask anything of her and she will complete the task well and on time.” Director of Bands, Chris Coppicus states, “Erin is a gifted musician. She directs our summer marching band, our concert band and jazz band with her French horn in hand. She is one of our strongest seniors throughout academics, athletics, and the arts.” Her musical talents follow her outside of school where Erin plays trumpet at her church for Christmas and Easter masses. She also volunteers at the Little Falls Humane Society and works at Scheels in St. Cloud. She explains that at Scheels she is able to bridge her love of helping people and her knowledge about outdoor activity equipment together. She hopes that the skills acquired in her job will help as a nurse in her future. When asked about influential teachers, Erin notes that Mr. Thielges, Mr. Schoenrock and Mr. Makela stand at the top of her list. These teachers “have their own way of teaching, and they each have a sense of humor to accompany their teaching styles.” One highlight of Erin’s high school career was the morning the power went out right before school. She and her classmates sat in the Lion’s Den while singing songs and talking which, strangely, created a strong bond between them all. A playoff softball game from her sophomore year stands as one of her greatest sporting memories. “We were down by two in the top of the ninth inning. There were two outs and I was up to bat while two of my teammates were on second and third base. Although I only had 1 strike left before the game was over, I felt no pressure. The next pitch, I hit the ball into the outfield which drove my two teammates home making the score tied. We ended up working as a team and won the game; moving onto the next round of playoffs. Seeing how a team can work together and overcome the challenge of the game has always stayed in my mind. “ After high school, Erin plans to attend the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, with hopes to pursue a career in Registered Nursing. In ten years, Erin hopes to have all of her schooling completed and be working at a job that is “perfect” for her. She also hopes for marriage and a family. When passing on advice for underclassmen,, Erin states, “Yes, homework is important, but so is time with friends and having fun. If you use time management and have a good balance between the two, then you will be successful in school and be able to have fun, too.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment May 2023 Student of the Month Nola Blais Nola is the daughter of Travis and Nadine. When it comes to family Nola says they have been very important to her, “My family has taught me that hard work can get you anywhere. My Mom and Dad are very hard workers and they influenced me to work hard for what I want. I really enjoy boating in the summertime with my family the most.” At Royalton High School, Nola participated in sports and activities, “Throughout high school I have taken part in Softball, Yes Club, and Knowledge Bowl. I have played Softball for a long period of my life. I enjoy the team, program, and being around my friends and making memories. YES Club is something I joined as a senior to and would definitely recommend to anyone thinking about joining. Being outside and seeing different aspects of nature and energy conservation is something I had no idea could be so intriguing. Last but not least is the Knowledge Bowl. I loved Knowledge Bowl. It was such a fun environment. I made a lot of new friends and a lot of wonderful memories at our meets!” When it comes to her classes Nola says her favorite classes are science classes, “My favorite classes are any science classes with Ms.Gerads. She has taught me a lot considering I have taken Biology, Ecology, Zoology, Forensics and Microbiology. As for a favorite teacher in high school, Nola says she has a couple her favorite, “One of my favorite teachers is definitely Ms. Menden. Not only because she is a great English teacher but also because she is so knowledgeable about life and is truly a wonderful advice giver. She is very influential to me because she has seen me at my worst years of school all the way into my best years because she is also my homeroom advisor. One of my other favorite teachers would have to be Ms. Tordsen because she is so wise beyond art. She makes the school environment so inclusive and welcoming.” Outside of school Nola spends a lot of time with family and friends, “Outside of school I love to spend time with my friends and family. I spend a lot of time with my grandparents every week. I set aside time to spend with them because they are pretty much my best friends, they have taught me so much and I really do not know where I would be without them. I also enjoy traveling. My favorite vacation was probably Tennessee which I recently took with my family. I also enjoy my job as a cashier at Coborns. I have been a cashier for almost 3 years and I really enjoy it.” When asked about her favorite memory and activity of high school, this was Nola’s response, “My favorite high school memory was winning the 2022 Homecoming Olympics. Why this is my favorite memory is because everyone was so excited including me and we were all just living in the moment. it was a great time for the class of 2023. Not to mention the football team won the big game that day against Paynesville. The best activity I was involved in was the Yes Club tubing trip this winter. I had such a blast with all my friends and it was a beautiful sunny day and it just was such a fun time. Believe it or not we got all almost 60 of us down the sledding hill at one time. It took a couple of tries but eventually we got it!” Nola’s plans for her future are these, “Next year I will be attending Central Lakes Brainerd for Dental Assisting. I enjoy working with people and I eventually hope continue my schooling to become a Dental Therapist. My long-term goal is to make enough money to do a lot of traveling with my significant other. I hope to buy a house and continue my education in the dental field.” Nola’s advice to high school freshmen was this “My advice to a freshman would be to never sell yourself short. Every person has different capabilities and not everyone is the same. I would say do not be afraid to be different. All throughout high school people want to blend in and be the same but I would say be weird and be different because you will not regret becoming the own version of yourself that you were meant to be. Make new friends and enjoy every moment because it sure does go by fast!