Meet Our New Principal
August 18th marks the beginning of another great year at River Forest High School. With a new year comes new chances, new memories, and new faces. We will be seeing one new face in particular very frequently this year. Meet our new Principal, Mr. Randall Horka!
Mr. Horka started out his journey as a student at Highland High School. From there, he attended Purdue University Lafayette where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in education, specifically History and Physical Education. After Mr. Horka began teaching, he observed how administrative leaders made a dynamic impact on the student body, as they were the “teachers of the teachers.” This observation and admiration led to Mr. Horka’s return to school to obtain his Masters in School Administration after seven rewarding years of teaching.
When asked how he knew about River Forest, Mr. Horka said, “The River Forest school community has built a solid reputation across our region that I found admirable and intriguing. I had always known River Forest to be a unique and special place to live and work.”
Mr. Horka had always dreamed that he could one day be the principal of school that closely shared his values: a high regard for academics, leaders that would guide their students to graduation and beyond, and a community that would rally behind their student athletes.. Mr. Horka discovered all of this and more at River Forest and was “honored beyond words” when asked to be the new principal.
No great administrator comes anywhere without goals. Mr. Horka’s goals include successfully preparing each student for graduation and beyond, creating an atmosphere of “Ingot Pride” both in the school and the community, and working closely with Mr. Quigg to train and encourage our student athletes. Without a doubt, Mr. Horka will be a powerful catalyst for change this year at River Forest.
Athletics
Fall athletics are kicking off at River Forest! Here are some of the few great things the different teams are doing now.
Football- The River Forest Ingots recently participated in their first scrimmage game of the season on August 14th against the Gavit High School Gladiators. Though no score was kept, both the Ingots and the Gladiators played intensely and left the game excited for the rest of football season. Says Sophomore Chandler Guess, “The game was really good. I’m looking forward to future scrimmages against the Gladiators.” With the beginning of school comes the beginning of the season and the Ingot football team is ready for a fantastic season.
Volleyball- After a long summer of practice, the volleyball team officially begins their season on August 17th, with their first game at Oregon-Davis High School. The first, exciting home game is August 18th. With six games in August alone, and vigorous practice every day in between, the Ingot Volleyball team will be a figure to watch this season.
Cross Country- The Ingot Cross Country team participates in their first meet on August 25th at the Triangular in Lake Station. All members are eager both as a team and individually, with each athlete wanting to see what they are capable of. For some team members, like Junior Juliana Ramos, this will be the first meet they have ever participated in.
“I am excited. It’s my first meet so I hope it will go well. I think we have some great runners,” says Juliana Ramos
Teacher Shout Out
What do you get when you cross an English teacher, an avid fan of KISS, and an enthusiastic lover of coffee? None other than Mark Sopko. Mr. Sopko teaches the 10th grade English and Honors English classes at River Forest. Follow the strong scent of coffee and you will find his classroom, which is filled with a mixture of educational photos and KISS posters. Mr. Sopko is definitely one of the most unforgettable teachers at River Forest.
Before becoming a teacher, Mr. Sopko wrote and edited a local newspaper for 15 years. When asked about why he became a teacher, Mr. Sopko replied, “I became a teacher because I have a sincere love for reading and writing. When you have a love for something, you want to share it with others. I hope my enthusiasm shines through with my students.”
The best part about teaching? “Hands down, without a doubt, unequivocally, the best part of teaching is the students.”
In his free time, Mr. Sopko keeps busy with his close friends, family, and always has a dog in his life. His favorite activities include reading and writing, exercise, music (“I am a rock star trapped in a 50-year-old English teacher's body,” Sopko jokes) and enjoying nature.
Student Shout Out
Look on the courts of River Forest, the football field at halftime, or in the honors classes, and you are likely to find Hailey Bianco. Hailey, pictured right, is a freshman at River Forest. Hailey is an outstanding example when it comes to sports and academics alike. After a long day of classes and learning, many students go home and relax. Not Hailey. After school, she changes into her volleyball uniform for two hours of practice. 30 short minutes after volleyball practice is over, auxiliary practice begins. Hailey uses those 30 minutes to accomplish some of her homework. Auxiliary practice is another two long hours of flag twirling and rifle throwing.
When I remarked on how exhausting it must be to be an honors student, a member of auxiliary, a member of the drama club, and a JV volleyball player, Hailey said, “Yeah, it’s a lot but I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t truly love what I was doing.”
In her free time, Hailey enjoys hanging out with friends and going to the mall.
After graduating, Hailey wants to continue playing volleyball and further her music education, but would truly love to make a career out of film design.
“I’ve loved doing it since I was in 5th grade,” says Hailey. She is currently unsure of what college she will attend, but will no doubt be successful wherever she goes.
Upcoming Events
August 17th- Volleyball game at Oregon- Davis
August 18th- First day of school
August 18th- First Volleyball Home game against Morgan Township at 5:30 pm
August 20th- Football game at Wheeler High School at 8 pm
August 22nd- Volleyball game at LaCrosse High School
August 24th- Volleyball game at Hobart High School
August 27th- Volleyball game at Edison High School
August 28th- Football game at Boone Grove at 8 pm
September 4th- First Football home game against North Newton at 8 pm.