Semicentennial Saint
Throughout her 50 years of teaching, Phyllis Valentino has changed the lives of
numerous individuals.
BY JOSEPHINE HOWLETT
M
any people within the
Bigfork community
know Phyllis Valentino as “the
cool lady with a blue streak
in her hair,” or as the “loving
substitute,” but these statements
do little service to the lifetime
of care she has given to many
students.
   This Pennsylvania-born teacher
began her career in Alhambra,
California, in 1969, where she
taught classes to the alternative
program, “the Opportunity
Room.” She later moved to
Bigfork, Montana in 1986, as
a “long term [substitute] for
Kalispell Middle School,” she
said. 
   However, Valentino and her
husband found themselves back
in California for two years until
2003. She recalled her time there,
saying, “I worked mostly with
students who were members of
the local gang, teenage mothers,
and students who had difficulty
in mainstream classrooms.”
Despite being fresh on the scene
of teaching, this program did
not scare her one bit, but she has
“loved every minute of it.”  than just teaching experience to
   At this point in her career,
she was set to retire and move
The Down-Low on All Time Lows
BY SCOUT NADEAU
B uying those reusable straws
and Starbucks cups may have
you feeling like you are helping
the Earth, but in reality, the more
you buy, the more the Earth dies a
little more each day.
   For many years, the world has
been fighting global warming
and pollution. Global warming
is a type of climate change, and it
makes the temperatures around
the world warmer.
Greenhouse gasses such as
water vapor, carbon dioxide,
methane, and nitrous oxide all
contribute to the greenhouse
effect. This phenomenon is
when the gases in the Earth’s
atmosphere capture the Sun’s
heat and trap it. As a result, it
makes the Earth much warmer
than per usual.
There are many organizations
that are fighting global warming,
but there is only so many people
that will stop using plastic bags,
along with using solar panels for
electricity.
However it is not just global
warming that is affecting the
planet, pollution is another strong
factor.  cleaning up plastic in the ocean,
The aftermath of the Amazon Rainforest. Despite the thousands
of miles that separate Bigfork from the Amazon, these effects
will still travel to our own lives. Photo credits to ABC News
BY KEIRA NIEMEYER
T he Amazon Rainforest
is undeniably one of the
most beautiful and unique
environments on the planet. It
is the source of over 20% of the
world’s oxygen, and millions of
living creatures call this jungle
Phyllis Valentino basking
in her lovely Bigfork views.
While her students have
changed over the years, the
love she feels as a teacher
has not.
back to Bigfork at which time
Valentino said, “I thought I was
done teaching, but then I lasted
two months when I applied to be
a substitute teacher, and I have
been here ever since.”
   Valentino has brought more
the Flathead Valley, but also a
deep care for her students and
How climate change has already
affected our generation.
   Most of what we use in our
everyday lives contains plastic.
Plastic bags, cups, straws, clothes,
and even our notebooks.
The recent trend of “VSCO
girls” using metal straws and
saying “save the turtles!” has
been buzzing around; using
metal straws and reusable cups,
bags, and water bottles is a step
to stop worldwide pollution, but
it actually creates more waste.
For example; Starbucks recently
created a paper straw that is
supposed to create less plastic
waste. However, the packaging the
paper straw comes in is plastic.
By doing this, Starbucks created
more waste by trying to decrease
waste, and many other companies
have done the same thing.
    It is hard to make something
that is a hundred percent
reusable, nevertheless producing
it so it does not hurt the planet
even more.  in today’s society, and it may
   “I have four metal straws, and
I bought them to help raise
money for an organization that is
their home. Every year, the
Amazon faces several forest fires. the trees in the area.
So why is everyone panicking
about the Amazon burning this
year when fires are good for
forests?
While fires can help the soil and trees
promote regrowth, this year, the
faculty. She said, “I like being
close to students because I want
to understand them, be there for
them if they need something.”
   She has touched the lives of
so many students, but for junior
Isabella Sloan, “Mrs. Valentino
has not only cared about my
school life but also my personal
life.”  High with being a teacher who
says freshman Jordan Wickham.
Of course, there are countless
organizations for global
warming and pollution, but as
individuals, only so much can be
accomplished.
Even though these
organizations are helping to raise
awareness along with taking
action, global warming is, well,
global.
Humans are a well known
factor in causing global
warming and pollution by
throwing away tons of plastic
each year, alongside digging
oil and releasing smog into the
atmosphere.
   We are essentially deteriorating
the earth, but all of the resources
it provides are what people need
to survive. Without any of it, we
would not be alive today.
   In the end, global warming and
pollution are a well-known issue
never change due to the impact
humans have had on this Earth.
The Amazon’s Ashes
Sections of the Amazon Rainforest are
suffering in devastating flames.
fires have been more detrimental
to the Amazon than beneficial.
The reason for this is that there
has been much more intentional
deforestation in 2019 than in past
years.
Deforestation is the deliberate
removal of trees by humans,
and the reason for this practice
is mostly to clear areas for
farmers to herd their cattle.
Unsurprisingly, a common
method is to create fires to remove
Deforestation can be very
harmful to the environment
as it takes away the home of
many wildlife species. Also,
provide oxygen; as
aforementioned, the Amazon
understands us, how we learn,
how we think, and how difficult
high school can be.”
   Fulfilling that “cool grandma”
vibe, Phyllis Valentino is often
remembered with her colorful
hair. This annual tradition of
coloring one strip of her hair
originated when past student, Zac
Evenson, offered his idea during
homecoming.
   “I wanted to be a part of the
festivities along with the students,
but I was not sure how to do so,”
Valentino admitted. “[Evenson]
said I should dye all of my hair
blue, but I was quick to shut that
down.”
   “My hairdresser then took the
idea and simplified it to one
strip of hair, and I have kept this
tradition ever since.” 
   Along with this and her many
visits to Viking and Valkyrie
activities, Valentino has always
been one to support her students
   Sloan elaborated saying, in whatever way she can.
“She was there for me during    While she may not know when
my grandpa’s cancer and her teaching career will come to
encouraged me to stay positive. an end, it is safe to say that Phyllis
She is someone I can talk to about Valentino is always welcome
anything and that I can trust.” in every classroom with a big
   According to senior Monique heart. In the words of 2018 BHS
Gomez, “[Valentino] has had graduate, Reuben Hubbard, “Mrs.
such a huge impact at Bigfork Valentino is an absolute freaking
legend.”
A patch of plastic float among fish and other sea animals. The
pollution in the oceans and all around the world has become
outrageous. Photo credits: Business Insider.
Rainforest holds a huge oxygen to the facts previously stated, is
supply. However, in order to the fact that the amount of fires is
release oxygen, trees must absorb the highest it has been for over a
carbon. Since the trees in the decade.
rainforest are burning, they are This is concerning, especially
releasing the carbon that they as the fires are damaging this
were storing to turn into oxygen. beautiful forest and forcing many
Now that huge amounts of carbon animals out of their home. In
are being released, it is affecting addition to the harm caused to the
the air quality and causing environment, the smoke and air
pollution. Carbon monoxide, a pollution is harmful to humans. A
very poisonous gas, has also been majority of the Amazon forest is
released as the fire consumes the located in Brazil, a country with a
oxygen supply.
In addition to this pollution, the
fires and the release of the carbon
population of 209.3 million.
This beautiful country and its
inhabitants should not have to
is having an impact on global watch their land being destroyed.
warming. The reason for the The deforestation issue needs to
sudden buzz about the Amazon be solved quickly before more
Rainforest burning, in addition irreplaceable damage is done.