Middle School Geography Bee

On Monday, November 25, Belleville Middle School students took part in the annual Geography Bee. Nineteen students qualified through preliminary testing and began this morning on stage. Students are tested on categories such as state nicknames, "Weird but True," and cities of the world. After 15 rounds of questions, Ben Remy emerged as the champion. Aiden Campbell was our runner-up for 2019. Ben will complete an online test before March 2nd in an attempt to move onto the next round of the competition as the Belleville representative.

Thank you to Mrs. Killerlain, the Middle School Advanced Learner Coordinator, for organizing today's competition. Congratulations to all of our participants!

FutureQuest

Belleville Middle School 7th grade students traveled to the Alliant Energy Center today (November 21) to participate in the 3rd Annual FutureQuest- an event put on by the Dane County School Consortium in which 5,300 Dane County middle school students take part. Students had the opportunity to learn about 16 different career pathways, represented by over 65 business and organizations. Students were able talk to employers and engage in interactive simulations.

Thank you Mr. Webber for preparing the students in advance for this field trip through their morning P.R.I.D.E. rotations and the use of new Xello software.

Belleville Science Olympiad Invitational

On Saturday, November 16, Belleville Science Olympiad participated in its first invitational of the year- its own home meet. Belleville placed 2nd out of 28 teams in Division 2 (and 5th overall). Boyceville came out on top in that division, while Marquette University High School was victorious in Division 1.

For BHS, 20 different students medaled in 16 different events. The middle school did not field a full team but still came away with medals in 9 events for 10 different students.   

In 2017, 30 teams participated in the Belleville Invitational. Last year, that number reached 40 teams before expanding to 60 teams this year. This could expand to a maximum of 72 teams for next year's invitational!

HIGH SCHOOL MEDALISTS

1st Place 

Code Busters: Gianna Diaz, Jacob Kean, and Jack Nolden

Designer Genes: Roxana Grunenwald and Zach Thole

Detector Building: James Gustafson and Carson Heller

Experimental Design: Emma Anson, Hansi Bartle, and Roxana Grunenwald

Horticulture: Matt Loshaw and Cole Monroe

Machines: Carson Heller and Jack Nolden

Mystery Design: Risandi Bartle and Jordyn Roberts

2nd Place

Geocaching: Jack Nolden and Zach Thole

Gravity Vehicle: Carson Heller and Logan Niesen

Horticulture: Katie Bowers and Zach Thole

Machines: Matt Loshaw and Cole Monroe

Mystery Design: Hansi Bartle and Mason Schwoegler

Water Quality: Katie Bowers and Zach Thole

Wright Stuff: Hansi Bartle and Logan Niesen

3rd Place

Forensics: Roxana Grunenwald and Emma Veeneman

Geocaching: Hailey Butenhoff and Michael Walker

Geologic Mapping: Mason Schwoegler and Zach Thole

Robo Cross: Hansi Bartle and Logan Niesen

Solar Power: James Gustafson and Jack Nolden

4th Place

Boomilever: Hansi Bartle and Logan Niesen

Mystery Design: Dray Kieler and Tyler Stampfl

MIDDLE SCHOOL MEDALISTS

*Can include freshmen

1st Place

Heredity: Liam Daugherty and Isaac Erb  

Water Quality: Aidan Cook and Veronica Glamm

2nd Place

Circuit Lab: Isaac Erb and Isaac Russow

Food Science: Ethan Rolfe and Isaac Russow

Geocaching: Ben Johnson and Reid Nolden

3rd Place

Dynamic Planet: Ben Johnson and Reid Nolden 

Meteorology: Lexi Radl and Ethan Rolfe

Ornithology: Aidan Cook and Lexi Radl

Solar Power: Liam Daugherty and Josh Kean

Senior Class Photo

Due to conflicts and a series of terrible weather days, the Class of 2020 finally took their senior class photo on Thursday, November 14, ahead of a deadline for the yearbook. While cold and snowy, we had a good time walking to the old Elementary School and clowning around on the playground!

Outstanding School Report Card Scores

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction released its school report card scores on Tuesday, November 12. Both Belleville Middle and High Schools' scores increased from last year, and both schools achieved their highest scores since the system was implemented for the 2011-12 school year. 

For the first time in school history, Belleville High School received an overall score (85.3) that "significantly exceeds expectations." This score is second highest for high schools in Dane County, behind only Middleton at 86.6. It places Belleville High School as one of the top-rated public high schools in the state. BHS scored 15 percentage points higher than the state average in:

• Student achievement.
• School growth.
• Closing gaps.

Belleville Middle School's score of 80.4 places it once again in the "exceeds expectations" category. This ranks it 3rd in Dane County, behind only Waunakee and James Wright Middle School in Madison.

In addition, both Belleville Middle and High Schools topped the Capitol Conference!

Thank you to our staff, and congratulations to our students for all of their effort and hard work!

Link to the entire Wisconsin State Journal article

2019 National Honor Society Inductees

On Monday, November 11, the Belleville Chapter of the National Honor Society inducted 18 new members in a 7pm ceremony in the auditorium. Belleville alumnus and Monona Grove Superintendent Dan Olson served as the keynote speaker to address the inductees. Students had to meet specific requirements for each National Honor Society pillar:

• Scholarship - a cumulative grade point average of 3.67 or higher
• Service - on pace for a Wildcat Service Cord (averaging 35 volunteer hours per year)
• Leadership - 3 positions or roles from a selected list
• Character - a 90% (or higher) rating on a 9-trait survey of current and former high school teachers  

With our school report card about to be released, you will soon see that Belleville High School's NHS members truly are the "the best of the best!"

Congratulations to:

Emma Anson, Jenna Banfield, Kaitlynn Bowers, Hailey Butenhoff, Aysia Ceesay, Royce Clark, Cecelia Grefsheim, Roxana Grunenwald, Bryson Jelle, Regyn Jelle, Erin Kittleson, Kirsten Krantz, Josie Latorre, Elise Medenwald, Jack Nolden, Erin Przybyl, Jasmyne Roberts, and Maddy Weber!

Fall Theater Festival

On Friday, November 8, directors Emma and Michael Vogel presented a night of one-act plays, songs, monologues, and improvisation comedy, otherwise known as the Belleville High School Fall Theater Festival. Between the festival lineup and crew, more than 25 BHS students were involved in this production.

If you missed tonight's performances, we hope to see you here on Saturday night in the newly renovated auditorium at 7:30pm for the second showing of this year's Fall Theater Festival. Tickets can be purchased at the door. They are $10 for adults and $6 for students and seniors.

Students-of-the-Month for October

On Friday, November 8, both Belleville Middle and High Schools recognized their Students-of-the-Month for October. Mrs. Schmitz started the morning with a breakfast for the middle school students. These students also received Catty Shack bucks and the opportunity to put their handprints up in the new Literacy Lounge. During the lunch period, Mr. Perry invited high school students to a pizza lunch. BHS students also received a personalized certificate from their nominating teachers and movie passes from Marcus Theaters' Student Motivation Program. Congratulations to these exemplary Wildcats!

Front Row (L-R); Brian Baxter, Aiden Campbell, Aiden Hatleberg
Back Row (L-R): Lillian Palmer, Ava Benash, Madalyn Desmet, Kaitlynn Henry, Olivia Wenger, Zella Palmer
Missing: Savannah Meland

L-R: Christopher Dohm, Samantha Behr, Vanessa Sarbacker, Xander Cribben, Ashley Hansen, Alexis Lamboley, Destiny Sanabria, Tyler Beyer, and Tyler Fahey

New Art Display

One of Bob Blasdel's last jobs before he retired was to install a new display system outside of the main office to show off art in a prime location for students and visitors to view. On the first day that the pieces went up, they drew a lot of attention. They will be on display for this weekend's One Act Festival. Check out our Wildcat artists!

All-conference Volleyball

The Capitol Conference released its all-conference teams for volleyball last Thursday. As one might expect, Waterloo (now competing at the state tournament) and perennial power Wisconsin Heights led the way with 10 total selections. However, the Belleville Wildcats held their own, garnering three 2nd team selections for the South Division. Senior Erin Kittleson, junior Brooke Everson, and sophomore Ava Foley all earned 2nd team honors.

Congratulations to these Wildcats! We look forward to what the team can accomplish in the future!

Can-crushing Science

Mrs. Smith showed her class today how a heated can can be crushed when the outside pressure is higher than the inside pressure when the can dives into an ice bath. Take a look:

Author Visit- Adib Khorram

The middle and high schools worked collectively with the Belleville Public Library and Belleville Area Cares Coalition (BACC) to bring in Adib Khorram, the author of Darius the Great Is Not Okay, on Tuesday, November 5th. The author presented to both middle and high school students, then to staff, and finally to parents and the community.

BACC purchased copies of the Young Adult novel for the middle school, with every 7th and 8th grader reading the novel in their P.R.I.D.E. block to start each day. These books were then available for high school students to pick up, inspired by Adib’s visit and the book’s themes of bullying and depression. Accordingly, the public library sponsored two Thursday night presentations in October on teen mental health. These events all occurred around Red Ribbon Week at the middle and high schools.

Thanks to Kiley Ogodogu who served as our connection to the author, and to Melissa Whitmore, the secondary instructional coach, for leading the novel’s read-aloud in the middle school.

Vocabulary Work in ELA

Ninth grade students in Mrs. Alsteens's class were focused on vocabulary work from The Odyssey today. They utilized a method called Vocabulary Squares. The method comes from Robert Marzano's book Vocabulary for the Common Core. Students created squares for each word. Each quarter helps them understand the word better. These were put in their learning logs for future study.

All-conference Football

The Capitol Conference released its all-conference football teams on October 29. The Belleville Wildcats were represented with 9 different players at 10 different positions. Sawyer Fahey led the way with two First Team honors- at running back and inside linebacker. Jaxon Pier (defensive back), Tyler Fahey (outside linebacker), and Sean McDermott (punter) were also named to the First Team.

Aaron Arbuckle (offensive lineman), Andrew Remy (offensive lineman), Ben Viney (interior defensive lineman), and Chase Messner (defensive end) were named to the Second Team, while Matteo Latorre (kicker) was an Honorable Mention selection.

Congratulations to these Wildcats for their distinctions on the gridiron!

Capitol Conference Academic Bowl

Belleville High School welcomed nine Capitol Conference schools to tonight's Academic Bowl.

The competition opened with individual team members engaged in a total of 10 written subject area tests in:

• Biology, Chemistry, and Physical Science.
• English 9-12.
• Geography, U.S. History, and World History.

Each test was 40 questions in length. Schools assigned 15 of their students to these 10 tests. The total possible points in the written round was 600 points. Freshmen Annika Esselstrom was the lone BHS individual winner, taking the title in Geography.

The written round was followed by the oral round in which teams were tested with 20 questions in:

• English.
• Science.
• Social Studies.
• Current Events.

Each of these oral round questions was worth 5 points, for a total of 400 points. Combined with the written round, teams could earn up to 1,000 overall points.

Belleville led the competition after the written round. In the end, Belleville won the Academic Bowl, outpacing Columbus (2nd place), and New Glarus (3rd place), by 70 and 71 points, respectively. Congratulations to our knowledgeable students and coaches- Mr. Hodgson, Mrs. Jenkins, and Mrs. Smith- for representing all Wildcats so well!

Pre-ACT Testing

On Saturday, November 2, 47 juniors showed up before 8am to take the pre-ACT exam. This represents 62% of the Class of 2021. Although perhaps slightly persuaded by doughnuts, gift card drawings, and pizza, this group has been preparing for the March 3 statewide ACT date where all 11th grade students in Wisconsin take the test. Core teachers have been working with them on weekly lessons in English, Math, Reading (Social Studies), and Science using Method Test Prep.

Today's hardcopy test results will be returned to students within a few weeks, and they can keep their testing booklets to then review questions answered both right and wrong. Teachers will also receive this data to better inform their practice. We will offer another full length ACT practice test online in mid-January.

I believe that this class has a tremendous chance to top the school record for the cumulative ACT composite score average!

Wildcat Wall of Fame Taking 2020 Induction Nominations

Do you know a Belleville staff member, alumnus, or community member who deserves to be on the Wildcat Wall of Fame, joining C.H. Hageman, Nancy Fahey, John Becker, Brad Stiner, Barb Funseth, LeRoy Freitag, and Yvonne Remy? Nominations can be submitted online using this form, or paper copies are available in the Belleville High School office. The deadline to submit is Monday, December 16. Nominate a Wildcat who has impacted your life or the lives of others! Those with multiple nominations have a better chance of becoming a finalist.

The main page of the district's website now has a link for nominations, and a Facebook post today contains the same information. Spread the word, as the nomination window is a little shorter this year!