Part 2- Celebrating the Heroes Behind Fossil Ridge High School’s Success

Bailey McBride and Giana Loewenkamp • March 12, 2025

Custodians, secretaries, hall monitors, and kitchen managers are the backbone of our school. They help bring smiles to students’ faces and ensure that kids have a good learning experience at Fossil.

Steve Leslie talking to a Fossil student in the commons. (Bailey McBride)

Student Monitors

Students and staff rely on student monitors to make sure our hallways are clear and safe. Steve Leslie is one of two student monitors who work at Fossil. Leslie has been a student monitor at Fossil for five years.

“I like the term student monitor because my number one focus here is the safety and well-being of our students,” Leslie said.

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Kitchen Services

Tammy Ripplinger (right) and Dixie Loofboro (left) after serving breakfast to Fossil students.
(Bailey McBride)

To a high school student, lunch is just a small portion of the day. But for Tammy Ripplinger, it’s so much more.

It is a mission to keep everyone well-fed with good food. Ripplinger has been working at Fossil for six years but has been in food service for schools for 21 years.

“There’s a lot of kids that don’t get a decent meal, so this might be their only meal that they really get,” Ripplinger said. “I order all the food and do all the production records about how much to prepare.”

Jenni Ford working in Fossil’s West Wing office.
(Bailey McBride)

Wing Secretaries

The Wing Secretaries are a vital part of the continuous cycle of education at Fossil. They play many roles in students and staff’s everyday lives.

Ford has been at Fossil for three years and her favorite part of her job is working with students. Ford’s office can be found in Fossil’s west wing.

“I support our counselors in the wing and upstairs as well. I give students a safe place in my office if they need a place to take a break or just to get away from the stress of school. Then I manage all of the AP exam logistics for the school,” Ford said.

Custodians

Mark Vadowsky sweeping in the Fossil Commons.
(Bailey McBride)

When walking into school, many do not notice that the floors are clean, trash cans are emptied, and the classrooms are prepared for a day of learning. So who are the people behind it?

Mark Vadovsky is one of the many janitors at Fossil Ridge that keep our school clean and working correctly. Vadovsky has been a custodian at Fossil for six and a half years.

“I keep the school clean, do any maintenance, minor fixings, clean the school, make sure everything’s good and in good working order for safety,” Vadovsky said.

Vadovsky likes being a custodian because every day is a new challenge. “It’s interesting. It changes every day, different stuff.”

These dedicated staff members make Fossil Ridge a welcoming and successful place.

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About the Contributors

Bailey McBride, Social Media Manager

Bailey McBride is a sophomore taking Journalism 2 for the first time. McBride took journalism and decided to continue it because she found it more interesting and fun to explore than a regular English class.

McBride was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado, for most of her life except for one year when she lived in Florida when she was younger. She finds herself to be a Spring person because she enjoys the weather and blooming of nature. McBride is a homebody who loves a night out as much as she loves a night in. She finds comfort in routine and reading books that help her learn to be successful. One goal this year she has is to go to Coachella for her 16th birthday. McBride also hopes to be more focused in school, journal, and read. She loves reading self improvement books.

For movie genres, she enjoys sci-fi, murder documentaries, Christmas movies, and rom-coms. She also has interest in listening to podcasts like Anything Goes by Emma Chamberlain and Morning Rae by Allana Blumberg. Every year McBride and her family vote on a trip they take. She has a love for Boston when she first went there on a school trip and then with her family. McBrides expresses her excitement for the city and says she would love to attend college there.

Giana Loewenkamp, Social Media Manager

Giana Loewenkamp, sophomore at Fossil Ridge High School, is entering her first year as a staff writer on Etched in Stone. Loewenkamp is excited about the freedom journalism offers and looks forward to publishing her work. She is also eager to make new friends in the newsroom.

Important values for Loewenkamp include honesty and being a good person. She credits her mom as a significant role model in her life. Loewenkamp has two older sisters who both live at home. She also has two dogs, a fish, and a cat.

Some of Loewenkamp’s personal interests include CrossFit and R&B music. She enjoys “The Middle” and “Modern Family”, two 2009 sitcoms. While Loewenkamp has no specific plans for after high school, Loewenkamp is considering applying for jobs that utilize her journalism skills.