` An Interview with our New Principal Mr. Ryan Eisele A

A Thunderbird Publication
`
An Interview with our New Principal
Mr. Ryan Eisele
By Sydney Vang and Kennedy Cabrera
What are some of your goals for Kastner?
Continue to make Kastner a place where students can’t wait to come to school to learn, compete, and grow as
they prepare for success at Clovis West H.S.
Meet early and often with groups of students and groups of teachers to get feedback about Kastner’s strengths
and areas for improvement.
Work with teachers, coaches, and directors to take classroom instruction and co-curricular performance to the
next level of success.
What positions have you held in the district? I was an English teacher at Clovis East High School, Activities Director at Clovis West High School, GIS at Nelson Elementary School, and Learning Director and Deputy Principal at the Reagan Educational Center which encompasses both Reyburn Intermediate School and Clovis East
High School.
What elementary school did you attend? Fort Washington
What junior high school did you attend? Kastner
What high school did you attend? Clovis West
What colleges have you attended? Westmont College and California State University Fresno
Why did you choose to become an educator? I want to make a difference in the lives of young people as so many
teachers and coaches made a difference in my life when I was
a student in Clovis Unified School District.
What is your favorite part of education? Witnessing the joy in
the faces of students and parents when they are proud of student accomplishments.
What are your hobbies and interests? Watching, playing, and
coaching baseball. I’m a huge Chicago Cubs fan. I am also
very involved in my church.
Tell us about your family? My wife, Sara, is an amazing support, my best friend, and the perfect mom for our three children —Addison (age 8), Trenton (age 6), and Brooklyn (age 2).
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T-Bird Tidbits
By: Todd Yu
Dava Parks wins award for her Collaborative Mentoring program: Kastner ’s Collaborative Mentoring is the recipient of the 2015 GOAL award. The GOAL award (Grazer Outstanding Achievement in Learning) recognizes exemplary, innovative programs that result in positive outcomes for students with disabilities in California.
Mrs. Ruhl’s Mock Trial: Mr s. Ruhl r ecently took her 5th/6th Period class to the Federal Courthouse in Downtown
Fresno. The students conducted a mock trial about cyber-bullying. The trial resulted in a tie! Mrs. Ruhl’s class learned
that courts and trials are extremely important to the U.S. Justice System.
Symphonic Band: Congr atulations to Mr s. Headr ick and our symphonic band students for their SUPERIOR
performance at the CMEA festival!
String Orchestra: On May 1st, the KIT String Orchestra attended a State Competition at Central High School. They
earned a Superior and came back to Kastner proud. Congrats T-Birds!
Mrs. Bukilica: Kastner ’s staff and students love and support our awesome librarian, Mrs. Bukilica.
Kastner Student Travel: 50 par ents and students fr om Kastner will depar t on the big summer tr ip to D.C. and
N.Y. on June 13th. Nicole Barrios traveled to Washington D.C. on April 28th. She visited the Smithsonian Museums,
Arlington Cemetery, and the Lincoln Memorial. Todd Yu recently traveled to Italy. He went to Rome, Florence, Venice, and the Vatican.
Mrs. Garrison: The Gar r ison’s welcomed a bouncing baby boy named Younan Garrison to their family on May 4th!
A baby shower was held on April 10th that included many exciting gifts. A “Mamaroo” infant seat, that rocks automatically, was a big hit at the shower! Congratulations Garrison family!
Color Guard: Kastner Color Guard placed 4th in the High School Division at the SJVCGPR Championships and 1st
place in the Junior High Division at Championships! Taylor Tucker placed 3rd in Flag Solos and Emily Palmer tied for
2nd in Mixed Solo (Flag and Rifle) in the Junior High Division. They will participate in the Rodeo Parade on April 25,
2015. Good luck girls!
Mr. Fowlkes: Mr . Fowlkes’ 15 year-old daughter, Alexis, will be competing at for a chance to compete in the Olympics! She is a level 10 acrobatic gymnast. If Alexis finishes in the top 3 in China, she will attend the 2016 Olympics in
Rio de Janeiro!
Miciah Lee: Miciah Lee will be tr aveling to Flor ida for Water Polo J unior Olympics! Go Miciah!
Mrs. Shurtliff: Mr s. Shur tliff r an the Boston Mar athon on Apr il 20 th! She had a time of 4:21:43!
Kastner’s staff and students are proud of her efforts.
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Kastner Intermediate Presents...
Aladdin Jr!
By Kennedy Cabrera & Sydney Vang
On March 19-21, Kastner was treated to an unbelievable show called Aladdin Jr. It was directed by Mrs. Garrison with an assist from our choir director Mrs. Rios. The show had multiple
stars headlined by Aladdin, Connor Pofahl, Jasmine, Vanessa Mejia, and Caleb Hale as the Genie.
This drama was very upbeat and comical! Vanessa Mejia, or Jasmine, had a beautiful blue costume
and sang very sweetly. Caleb Hale, a.k.a. the Genie, was painted blue! His character was very
amusing and energetic. Caleb Hale stated, “Everyone in the cast is amazingly talented and I feel
such great pride in knowing that I worked with them. I loved this show!” The actors and actresses
performed A rabian Nights, A Whole New World, Prince A li, Friend Like Me, Why Me, and One
Jump Ahead. This musical kept the audience at the tip of their chairs! Champney Pulliam said,
“The Aladdin Jr. play was above and beyond my expectations. I really enjoyed it!”
Aladdin Jr. is a hilarious love story about Aladdin, a beggar, who falls in love with Princess
Jasmine. Princess Jasmine’s father, the sultan, insists that she marry a prince within the next few
days. Jasmine was unhappy with the Sultan’s decision and turned down multiple wealthy suitors.
During the Princes’ introduction, Aladdin is captured by royal guards because he snatched bread.
While Princess Jasmine returns back to her palace, Jafar orders his guards to lock up Aladdin in a
dungeon. There, he releases the Genie out of an old lamp. With the help of Genie, Aladdin was able
to escape out of the cell on a magic carpet. Later, Aladdin uses a wish to make himself a prince,
Prince Ali Ababwa. With this disguise, Aladdin hopes to win Jasmine’s love. In the end, Aladdin
wins Jasmine over not by his disguise, but with his personality and heart.
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T-Birds Shine Bright at Science Fair and Olympiad!
By Hailey Moore and Emmajean Wilson
The KIT Science Olympiad Team went to the state competition and did well! Coach Johnson
commented, ”I was ecstatic when our kids made state. I’m so proud of their dedication and hard
work. They exemplify Thunderbird excellence!” They were also successful at Regionals and placed
fourth overall. Individual students achieved many different medals, including one first place, two second places, one third place, four fourth places, and one sixth place. Analicia Sosa said, “I really enjoyed Science Olympiad. It was a great learning experience.” Overall, Science Olympiad had a great
year!
Kastner contestants of the Fresno County Science Fair impressed the judges and Mrs. McLean.
In fact, 8 of our Thunderbirds won awards at Science Fair. Honorable mentions were Max Philips, Allison Nakazawa, and Andrew Troxell. Makenzie Thomas won 3 rd place. Our 2nd place finalists were
Olivia Lazzarini and Analicia Sosa. Our final two students, Jacob Pace and Tyler Robertson, took 1 st
place, and made it to the state competition! Congratulations to our winners, and let’s go T-Birds!
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The Trip That Changed My Life!
By Champney Pulliam
When you think of Africa, you probably think of safaris, with elephants and zebras, and many other exotic
creatures. However, on my recent trip to Ethiopia, I experienced none of that. My vision of Africa before I left was
probably just like yours, but once I was there, everything changed.
I saw no elephants, no zebras, and no tourists on safari. My view of Africa was a whole lot different. I saw a
bright sun, high in the blue African sky. The parched earth filled the air with dust. Open land and single lane roads
were lined with mud huts on one side and camels on the other. Poverty was everywhere. Being there, in some of the
most vulnerable areas of the world, gave me great appreciation for the things we have here in America. The little
things we take for granted here, like a fast food drive through, being able to brush our teeth with running water instead
of out of a bottle, and having electrical power every day, were luxuries there. For two weeks I lived without these
comforts of home.
During my time in Ethiopia I had the amazing privilege of visiting and working in two schools built for four to
six year old kids in two different rural, unreached villages. The little kids were so adorable! Their tiny faces were
filled with so much joy, even though they had so little. Every time I would walk into their classrooms, they would
welcome me with a song or a “Good morning teacher!”
As soon as I got there, every kid wanted to hold my hand. They would fight to grab a finger or my wrist. Once
they had a hold of my arm, they would rub it to see if the white would come off and I was like them underneath. I will
never forget that incredible memory.
Before leaving for Ethiopia, I packed eleven suitcases full of backpacks that my mission team and I had collected over the past year. I wanted to provide each kid at the school with a place of their own to keep their supplies. Being able to deliver the backpacks to the kids and seeing the happiness on their faces was so heart-warming. At that
point, all of my cares about being dirty, not liking the food, and being tired, went out the window. For two weeks, I
spent my days doing crafts with kids, learning the Amharic language, and loving on the people I met in the villages.
From the teachers and guards at the schools, to the hunched over leather-skinned lady who kissed me on both cheeks
after church, I felt nothing but love and warmth from these amazing people.
The most unexpected memory of my trip, however, was crying like a baby when it was time to say goodbye. I
had no idea these people with seemingly so little, could make such a profound impact on my life. I have already started to plan my return trip and I can’t wait until I get the opportunity to go back and make more memories!
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Up Next: Kastner’s Performing Arts
By Emmajean Wilson
The Color Guard: Our beautiful dancing ladies have worked very hard this year. From their first
performance to the last, these girls have wowed the audience with huge smiles and pointed toes. All of
these twirlers are thankful for the great year that they have had. The great choreography that they had in
their routines are done by students at Clovis West. Great job girls!
String and Chamber Orchestra: This amazing group of talented musicians went to a State Competition on May 1st, at Central High School. String Orchestra scored a Superior, and Chamber got an Excellent earlier this year. These two groups have also gone to a performance at the Shaghoian Concert
Hall and played their concert songs. With a strong session, our astonishing instrumentalists earned exceptional scores and had a great time. Mrs. Oliver, the String Orchestra coach, says that she is very
proud of how well both groups did.
Bands: Next, the KIT Bands have impressed the viewing public since the beginning of the year.
The Kastner bands, instructed by Sandy Headrick, have improved and become a big family over the
months. Recently, the bands, color guard, and percussion were going to perform at the Rodeo Parade.
Unfortunately, because of the poor weather, the brilliant performers were not able to show off their
skills. We Thunderbirds are very proud of our bands.
Percussion: The percussion group has had a great year together. Working with xylophones and
drums, they’ve got the beat! At their festival, they did a great job! Mr. Malatesta is very proud of this
great class.
Choir: The shining singing groups have gone to San Luis Obispo for a performance at Cal Poly.
David Pendley, 7th Grader, loves doing choir. He says that choir is very fun and is a great class. Everybody had a lovely time and year.
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Farewell 8th Graders!
By Madison Campbell
As the 2014-15 school year comes to an end, we say goodbye to our 8th grade class of 2019. This year, we have
decided to ask several 8th grade students about their best memory as a Kastner Thunderbird.
Elizabeth Funk – “I had a lot of fun working with kids in Mrs. Park’s class.”
Morgan Reid – “I liked meeting new friends – and don’t forget the food in yearbook!”
Todd Yu – “My first day of school was unforgettable; I enjoyed the transition from Maple Creek to Kastner.”
Maddie Scalise – “I loved being involved in school – yearbook, softball, and FCA.”
Champney Pulliam – “I loved being on the court with my sisters and beating everyone.”
Gianna Falco – “Being in peer counseling gave me a new perspective on life.”
Thomas Curran – “We beat Granite Ridge in football for the last game of the season!”
Kennedy Cabrera – “It was a great feeling when we got the big W in volleyball against Clark!
Mason Campbell – “My favorite memory is definitely March Madness. It was fun to be able to play basketball with
my friends and just mess around and have some fun.”
Courtney Walburger – “I really enjoyed being a collaborative mentor.”
Cienna Mayfield – “We were back-to-back undefeated champs for water polo!”
Cody Castro – “It was fun being a part of Coach Pen’s basketball team this year.”
Amy Robertson – “Hard work paid off when we won league for soccer.”
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Volleyball Serves up a Successful Season!
By Jacob Pace
The boys’ volleyball team had a great season this year! All players, whether on Junior Varsity or Varsity, improved tremendously. They may not have won as many games as they wanted to, but they had a great time playing
volleyball. When asked about the season, Coach Lance said, "The most amazing thing about this season has been the
way that we fought through adversity. Our teams had a next man up attitude whenever something came up that was out
of their control. I am truly proud of the way that the boys played this year.” If you asked any of the coaches, I assure
you that they would tell you that improving is more important than winning. Everyone on the volleyball team this year
had amazing spirit and were willing to cheer each other on. When asked about his favorite part of volleyball, Bradley
Kennedy replied, “Probably being able to spend time with my friends and the fun activities that we did at practice.” A
wise man (Michael Jordan) once said, “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying
again.” This definitely describes the work ethic of the boys’ volleyball team. If you would like to play volleyball next
year, don’t hesitate to show off your skills in tryouts. Go T-Birds!
Track and Field T-Birds - Just do it.
By Madison Campbell and Champney Pulliam
“Every day, do something so that you go home better than you were the day before. Find out what that will be
today and make it happen.” This is one of Coach Karsevar’s favorite and most famous quotes that he used during the
2014-15 track season. The Thunderbirds improved so much from running to jumping to throwing, just like Amber Jensen, seventh grade sprinter said. “We worked hard to give it our all.” And that’s exactly what they did.
A very hard-working T-bird, Pierson Lamborn, told us as short and sweet as possible, “Run hard.” That was his
technique throughout the season from start to finish. Eli Rios stated, “Everybody fought hard and improved as the season went on.” Whether it was blood, sweat, or tears, Kastner always gave 100% in every workout, practice, and meet –
and it was very evident when the big meets started to roll in. Cassie Rother, eighth grade sprinter and thrower did just
that. At championships, she was ranked eleventh in discus. She came up with a shocking upset and a blue medal. In
addition, another huge upset for the team was Christian Paulino in triple jump. He was ranked third going into
C.I.A.L.S. walked out with a first place. Just like Jordan Diaz told us, “This season was a lot of fun, and we all pushed
through and gave it our all!”
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Batter Up!
By Nicole Barrios and Bethany Ogawa
The 8th grade boy’s baseball team had a great season! They ended with 7 wins, 4 losses, and 3 ties. The boys
worked hard together and kept their heads held high, even on the days they lost. Jack Winn said, “Practices were a blast
and we had a great game against Granite Ridge!” Alex Villi said, “The baseball season was really fun and even though
we didn’t get first, we are all winners!” The 8th grade boys did great this season. They realized it is not all about winning, it is about teamwork and camaraderie.
The 7th grade baseball team gave 110% during this season. They never gave up through the good and bad
times. Using their hard work and determination, they finished the season on a high note. Tanner Ewell said, “Even
though we had some tough games, we gave it our all.” Ethan Messing said, “The game of baseball is really fun. I enjoyed being on a team with all of my friends.” The kids played their hearts out and persevered through the harsh battles.
Here Comes the Boom!
By Sophia Ramirez and Morgan Reid
Kastner Softball was very successful this year. All of the girls in the softball program worked really hard and it definitely paid off. The 8th grade softball team had a good season with 7 wins and 5 losses, placing 2 nd in league. They had a
great team and strong coaching. Coach Gray celebrated every win with the team and supported them throughout the season.
She was a good, helpful, and fair coach, and will be dearly missed by her team. Mary Mets was a great strong offensive
player who really helped the team put runs on the board; she earned the Offensive award. Alongside her was Chaselynn Armas, earning the Defensive award for her great efforts on the field. Another outstanding player on the team was Carli
Wheaton. She always seemed to have a positive attitude and always picked her teammates up. She earned the Character
Award. The recipient of the Coach’s Award was Sophia Ramirez, another great player on the team. The team’s shortstop,
Morgan Reid said, “We got to know each other really well and had a lot of fun together all season.” Maddie Scalise, the
third baseman, stated, “We came together as a team, and improved on the little things that were needed and helped each other throughout the season.” Altogether, the team had an amazing time playing together. The girls look forward to softball
next year at Clovis West.
The 7th grade varsity softball team had a season full of fun memories and new friendships. They came out to every
game with a passion and showed their opponents the drive they had to win games. The girls strived to be the best and
demonstrated their ability when they got the opportunity. They bonded and got to know each other while playing the game
they loved. “We won together and we lost together, and that is what made us a great team,” said Adrian Reid.
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Boys’ Golf Bombs it off the Tee!
By Hailey Moore and Emmajean Wilson
Kastner Boys’ Golf had an amazing season. They have been practicing hard and improving their skills at the driving range and on the course. Their record was 2-2 as of 4/15/15. Coach Fowlkes commented, ”The boys are doing well.
I’m proud of them. They’ve been showing great improvements.” Coach Pen mentioned that he felt there were 4 to 5
players from the team that had the potential to receive a scholarship for golf. He also said the team was an outstanding
group of young men. All in all, boys’ golf had a good season, and will improve to have an even stronger team next year!
Tennis Team Serves up an Ace!
By Jacob Pace
The Kastner Boys’ Tennis smashed through the courts this season! The boys had a rocky start, but soon were
crushing teams in both singles and doubles. The boys fought hard until the end and never gave up. The team bonded in
the end and played not as individuals, but as a unified squad. Stephen Kong, a member of the varsity team said, “We
went from playing singles and doubles to playing as a team.” Nigel Stanley, a junior varsity member, said, “Our team
bonded as the season progressed.
Girls’ Swim team wins Championship!
By Lauren Cotton
This swim season started with a splash as the Kastner team prepared for the shortest season yet. Everyone had to
learn and improve their swimming by the end of the season to make the cut for the CIAL (Clovis Intermediate Athletic
League) championship meet. Two of the biggest meets were the Clark Invitational and CIALS. The girl’s team blew it
out of the water, taking first at both meets. The boy’s team also had strong showings as they took 3rd at the Clark Invite
and CIALS. The girl’s team won 4-0, continuing their undefeated title. The boy’s won 2 and lost 2. Ending the season
with smiles on their faces, everyone had an awesome time swimming at practice and meets.
The dive season was unbelievable with both the boy’s and the girl’s team going undefeated. Dylan A. and Alexi
Archon led both teams to victories with dives such as the front tuck, back tuck, and the front flip. At the Clark Invitational, both the girls and the boys took first. At CIALS, the top girl divers took 5th, 7th, and 8th, and the top boy divers took
4th, 5th, and 6th. Ethan Rij said,” I had a memorable season with all of my teammates, and I loved how we kept each other
accountable in practice and meets.”
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The Year in Pictures!!!
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The Year in Pictures!!!
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