The Demon Daily Telegraph

10/04/2026

12/11/2025

RvMS 8th Grade Trip to Roane-Jackson Technical Center!
By Ryder Keyes

On November 18, 2025, the 8th graders from Ravenswood Middle School took an amazing field trip to the Roane-Jackson Technical Center, and it was definitely one of the most eye-opening experiences of the year. As an 8th grader, I (Ryder Keyes) thought this trip was a really great opportunity for me and my classmates to see what kinds of programs we could get involved in once we reach high school.

During our visit, we got to tour different classrooms and see what students were working on. Some of us checked out the automotive program and watched students work on real engines, which was super cool. We also visited the welding shop, where we learned how they use sparks and metal to create things. The health sciences lab showed us some of the equipment used for practicing medical skills, and the computer tech room had students working on coding and building computers. Every station showed us something different, and it made the whole trip exciting.

Seeing all of these hands-on programs helped me picture what high school might really be like. Before this trip, I didn’t fully understand how many options there were. Now I feel like I have a much clearer idea of what I might want to do in the future, and I know my classmates feel the same way.

I would like to thank all of the staff at Ravenswood Middle School for arranging this incredible opportunity, and also the teachers and students at Roane-Jackson Technical Center for showing us around. Visiting Vo-Tech gave me a better idea of my interests, my goals, and what paths I might want to take in high school.

12/10/2025

Red Ribbon Week
By Izzy Carpenter, Emma Hill, Audrey Mitchell, and Ivy Richards

During red ribbon week, the Ravenswood Middle School had many students who dressed up to support saying no to drugs. Red Ribbon Week is an annual alcohol, to***co, drug, and violence prevention awareness campaign observed in October in the United States. Monday the 27th to Friday the 31st students were given certain themes to dress up as each day that were chosen by our student council members.

Monday - Teachers dress as students, students dress as teachers

On Monday the 27th of October, teachers dressed up as students and students dressed up as teachers. Some dressed up as specific students and teachers—Mr. Gump, the 8th grade social studies teacher, dressing up as William McNeily, an 8th grade student, and Erica Snodgrass, a 7th grade student, dressing up as Mrs. Chapman, the 7th grade science teacher—while others dressed up as the general idea of a student or teacher.

Tuesday - Wear your favorite sports gear or favorite hat

On Tuesday the 28th of October, students wore their favorite sports gear or their favorite hat. The reason for two different themes is to include those who may not play a sport, or those who do not like hats. Many wore sports gear from their own sport or sports team that they like, while hats had a wide diversity of what was seen.

Wednesday - Represent your country by wearing red, white, and blue

On Wednesday the 29th of October, students dress up in red, white, and blue to represent our country. Some students wore the colors in everyday clothing items, like shirts and hats, while others painted the colors on themselves. A lot of students and teachers participated.

Thursday - Wear your Halloween costume

On Thursday the 30th of October, students dress up in their halloween costumes in honor of Halloween. One of our students, Audrey Mitchell, dressed up as a sims character which was creative, unique, and it made our day more entertaining.

Friday - Say no to drugs and wear red

On Friday, October 31st, students wear red in honor of the end of red ribbon week. Not only is red the main color that represents red ribbon week, but it is also one of our school colors. About everyone wore something red to support stay drug free, many clothing items being Ravenswood Middle School shirts, red jackets, and some people even painted red on themselves.

12/10/2025

October Students of the Month at RvMS
By Abby Clendenen and Jada Douglas

In October, Ravenswood Middle School recognized several amazing students from 6th, 7th, and 8th grade for showing strong values and working hard every day. Each student shared the personal qualities they try to live by and what they think helped them earn this honor.

6th Grade
Addy Vannest says she tries to live by kindness and respect. She believes she earned this award by always treating others with kindness.
Caden Patterson focuses on being a good friend and doing his best in school. He says being a good friend helped him stand out.

7th Grade
Sarah Casto says she stays true to herself and doesn’t let others change who she is. She thinks being a good friend and keeping her grades up helped her earn this recognition.
Ryan Thompson values being a good student and being nice. He believes his hard work, responsibility, and kindness made a difference.

8th Grade
Layla Casto tries to be a good person every day and believes doing her work helped her receive this honor.
Brooklyn Comer focuses on being nice to people and staying on top of her assignments. She says helping others is what helped her earn this award.
Enan Helm lives by working hard and being kind. He believes being nice and completing his work helped him be chosen.

Congratulations to all of our Students of the Month for showing what it means to be responsible, hardworking, and kind!

12/10/2025

Coach Dalton Gandee Shares His Goals for the Season

By Cass Bennett and Pancho Rodriguez

This week, we sat down with Coach Dalton Gandee of the RvMS Boys Basketball team to learn more about what he expects from the team this season and how he helps players grow both on and off the court.

Coach Gandee said his main expectation is simple: “Show up, work hard, and be successful.” He believes that if the team stays committed every day, the results will come naturally.

One of the things he’s most excited about is watching the players improve throughout the season. He enjoys seeing their confidence grow as they learn new skills and better understand the game. Coach Gandee has been coaching for seven years, and he says helping players develop is one of the best parts of the job.

When it comes to practices, Coach Gandee focuses heavily on fundamentals, but he still makes sure the team has fun. He includes important skills in competitive drills and games so players can improve without getting bored. A typical practice includes conditioning, fundamentals, offensive sets, defense, and running plays.

Coach Gandee also explained how he handles good and bad performances. After a strong game, he encourages players to keep improving instead of getting comfortable. After a tough game, he focuses on what needs work without bringing anyone down. “It’s about learning and moving forward,” he said.
Some of the key skills he hopes players will improve this season include layups, man-to-man defense, and rebounding. He also gives players chances to build leadership by appointing team captains and using drills that require communication and teamwork.

Playing time, he says, depends on players showing up, improving, and doing what the team needs. Sometimes matchups with the other team also affect who plays when.

Overall, Coach Gandee’s philosophy is to keep expectations high while remembering that this age group is still learning. His main goal is for players to grow, learn the right way to play, and have a positive season.

Good luck to our boys basketball team this season! ❤️🖤🏀

11/12/2025

Ravenswood Middle School Nominates September Students of the Month

By Jada Douglas and Abby Clendenen

Each month, we take time to celebrate students who are making a positive impact in our school. Whether it's through leadership, academic effort, or helping others, these students show what it means to be great role models. Here's what our September Students of the Month had to say:
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Sixth Grade

Sadie Long
Sadie says her friends motivate her to do her best in school every day. When she faces a tough subject, she tries her best to work through it—but isn’t afraid to ask for help when she needs it. Her biggest inspiration? Her mom, who supports her through her educational journey.

Logan Kerns
Logan’s favorite subject is social studies because he enjoys learning in a class where the teacher is kind and engaging. He works to be a positive role model by doing his best and helping others whenever he can. His advice to other students? “Try your best.”
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Seventh Grade

Brooklyn Mosser
Brooklyn believes that one of the most important qualities in a student leader is the willingness to help others. She’s active in basketball, volleyball, and softball, and enjoys being part of a team with her friends. Brooklyn has also helped classmates by explaining math problems step-by-step when they were struggling.

Chris Burdette
Chris says Mr. Johnson has made a big impact on him because he's a fun teacher who makes learning enjoyable. When challenges come up, Chris focuses on trying his best. Being student of the month means a lot to him—it shows he's setting a good example for others.
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Eighth Grade

Ayden Lott
Ayden gives credit to Mrs. Haines for helping him succeed by making learning more fun and understandable. When school gets tough, Ayden skips the hard problems and comes back to them later. To him, being student of the month means he’s a “good kid” who’s doing the right things.

Izzy Carpenter
Izzy says Ms. Tupper has made a big difference in her life by teaching her that it’s okay to make mistakes and be herself. When facing challenges, Izzy stays calm and thinks carefully. Being student of the month is special to her because it means she’s a good role model and doing well academically.

Kendellyn Casto
Kendellyn gives thanks to all her teachers, saying they’ve helped her through challenges along the way. She handles school by doing her work and asking for help when needed. For Kendellyn, student of the month is proof that she’s working hard and setting a positive example.
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We’re proud of all our Students of the Month for showing kindness, dedication, and leadership. Keep up the amazing work—your efforts don’t go unnoticed!

11/03/2025

Staff Spotlight- New Assistant Principal Mike Riggs

by Cass Bennett and Pancho Rodriguez

Our staff spotlight this week is on our new assistant principal, Mr. Mike Riggs! He comes to Ravenswood from Boone County, West Virginia. We got the chance to interview him earlier this week to learn more about him.

When asked why he chose to come to Ravenswood, Mr. Riggs said he was looking for a new job and had “heard nothing but good things” about our school.

Mr. Riggs has been a head principal for 11 years and an assistant principal for a year and a half. Before coming here, he worked at Sherman Junior/Senior High and Van High School. He attended the University of Charleston, where he earned degrees in English, Mass Communications, and Education.

Growing up, Mr. Riggs loved playing basketball. His hometown is Boone County, and as a kid, his dream job was to be a news broadcaster. He said he got the idea to go into teaching after mentoring with Energy Express.

So far, Mr. Riggs says he really likes Ravenswood—and we’re happy to have him here!

10/27/2025

Ravenswood Middle Teacher of the Week

By Addison Enoch and Brantley Stewart

Ravenswood Middle School’s teacher of the week this week is Shane Johnson. Mr. Johnson is the 6th grade science teacher; it is his 5th year teaching. He has taught science, art, exploring tech, and discover your future. Out of all the subjects he has taught he said his favorite subject to teach is space “because that’s what the kids are interested in.”

We interviewed him about his teaching career. When we asked Mr. Johnson what inspired him to become a teacher, he explained that coaching his daughter and working with kids influenced his decision to become a teacher. The most rewarding part of being a teacher for Mr. Johnson is seeing his students become productive members of society.

As former students of Mr. Johnson’s, we know that the school science fair is a hectic time of the year. Mr. Johnson stated when asked about his favorite teaching moments, “One moment I will never forget is when Jeremy Valencia spent over $100 on his science project.”

Mr. Johnson keeps students motivated and engaged in his class by making sure to not take himself too seriously. “I try to have fun with my students and engage with them on their level,” he explained.

Congratulations to Mr. Johnson for being Ravenswood Middle’s teacher of the week! His commitment to students and our school community continues to inspire us all.