Paul Natzke Bench

Jim and Kathie Natzke (and their dog) were able to stop this morning and see the bench dedicated to Paul. It is inscribed with the saying, "If you can be anything, be kind." The bench is currently at the Middle and High School main entrance but will hopefully have a permanent location near the bus pick-up area.

Thank you to Tara Laberge and Jo Diaz for spearheading the Class of 2020 fundraising efforts. They would like to thank Charlie’s Bark Park, Cate Machine & Welding, and Don's Oak Furniture for their contributions.

The bench will get alot of use and hopefully inspire others to follow the inscription that Paul certainly modeled.

Parent Presenter in Personal Finance and Careers

Through our School-to-Career partnership with Old National Bank in New Glarus, students in Personal Finance and Careers participated in a lesson presented by Branch Manager (and BHS mom), Laura Vorpahl. Today's (11-28) activities included tips to improve how they market themselves to an employer on a job application and how to build a resume.

​Cade Kelly and Mikaela Steckelis chip pitch​

​It's all about the Pitch: Sage Mullen presenting her team's pitch to buy the chips​

7th Grade Political Convention in Social Studies

With the 7th grade political convention scheduled for December 21st, Mr. Gentilli's and Mr. Swenson's Social Studies classes returned from the Thanksgiving break to presidential candidate speeches in the primary round. It takes a lot of courage to address 70 of your classmates in a large-group setting! The students will be learning a lot more about the political process in the next few weeks.

BHS Receives Madison Jazz Society Grant

Speech Class Practice at the Elementary School

Mrs. Alsteens's Speech class took the opportunity to read to Mrs. Meier's Kindergarten class at the Elementary School on Monday, November 20. The high school students were able to utilize some of the skills that they have been honing. What a great learning experience for both groups of students!

Egg "Chuck" Experiment in AP Physics

In AP Physics today (11-16), Mrs. Smith tested the students' egg carton designs. She threw them off the bleachers at the stadium. As you can tell by their shouts and laughter, the students truly enjoyed the experiment. They had to use their knowledge of the impulse-momentum theorem to keep their egg "alive." Unfortunately, some didn't make it!

Physical Science Rockets

Mr. Bussey's Physical Science classes finished firing their rockets today (11-16). Freshmen Victoria Lancaster created a second "egg" rocket. It did not fly far, but it did protect the egg inside upon landing. Students were surprised that although the egg was fresh that it smelled rotten because of the sulphur from the rocket.

Belleville Science Olympiad Meet

Now in its third year in existence, Belleville's Science Olympiad team hosted its first-ever home invitational on Saturday (11-11). As usual, the team performed well, with the varsity placing second in its division. Overall, the varsity medaled in 13 out of 28 events, with the JV placing in three more events.

Coach Meredith Smith wanted to thank staff members Mr. Bussey, Mr. Gentilli, Mrs. Houser, Mrs. Schultz, Mrs. Schmitz, Mr. Schneider, Mrs. Swenson, and Ms. Whitmore, as well as the night custodial staff for helping make the event happen. In addition, 2017 BHS graduate Grace Pryzbyl came back from college to help run events.

1st Place

Otto Anson and Riley Medenwald: Chemistry Lab

Gianna Diaz and Trevor Thole: Herpetology

Hansi Bartle and Connor Theis: Materials Science

Logan and Noah Niesen: Mission Possible

Gianna Diaz and Gary Salmela: Rocks and Minerals

Emma and Otto Anson: Sustainable Energy

Otto Anson and Jack Nolden: Thermodynamics

2nd Place

Cheyenne Koeppel and Lauren Theis: Anatomy and Physiology (JV)

Noah Niesen and Jack Nolden: Code Analysis 

Riley Medenwald and Gary Salmela: Astronomy
Otto Anson and Emma Veeneman: Disease Detectives

3rd Place

Josh Bowers and Connor Theis: Hovercraft
Tyler Beyer and Bryson Jelle: Materials Science (JV)

Logan and Noah Niesen: Mousetrap Vehicle

Tyler Beyer and Jacob Kean: WiFi Lab (JV)

Roxana Grunenwald and Emma Veeneman: Write It/Do It

DECA's Emerging Leaders Conference

On November 12-13, thirteen students from BHS's DECA chapter attended the Emerging Leaders Conference in the Wisconsin Dells. Students participated in numerous workshops that taught them about productivity, engagement, marketing, and leadership skills within both DECA and the larger the business world. After completing the first day's events, students had the opportunity to network with nearly 1,000 students from various DECA chapters around the state. [Submitted by Mr. Farrar]

DECA Trivia Night

On Friday, November 10, DECA held its first-ever Trivia Night. With over 20 categories of questions, 12 teams competed for bragging rights and a small prize. The Catty Shack provided food and drinks for the contestants. There was also a silent auction that was anchored by three metal signs created by Belleville High School's Advanced Trades course. Fun was had by all! [Submitted by Mr. Farrar]

Education + Skills = Career Preparation

Students in Mrs. Gartley's Personal Finance & Careers class spent the last two class periods exploring what it means to invest in themselves for career development. Today, they were placed in teams, given building supplies and a level of education (high school drop-out, HS diploma, associate degree, bachelor degree, and doctorate), along with a physical or communication limitation. Within those constraints, they were to build the highest free-standing tower. 

They discovered that education alone does not guarantee success. While all three teams with post-secondary education created tall towers, the team with less investment in formal education and more reliance on transferable personal and technical skills built the tallest and sturdiest free-standing tower. 

THE WINNERS!

October High School Students-of-the-Month

Belleville High School teachers nominated students-of-the-month for October and recognized them with a pizza lunch on Thursday, November 9.  Teachers found similarities in all of these students including their talent, work ethic, and positive attitude, which they described in a certificate.

Congratulations to the following Wildcats!
(Left to right): Cody McMillan, Ella Michel, Natalie Brown,  Logan Winklepleck, Kylie Herring, Jacob Shrader, and Mitch Mussehl

Veterans' Day Program

Belleville High School students performed tremendously at Wednesday night's program to honor our veterans. Sophomore Alan Woller and junior Julia McNamar read the poems "I Stood Watch into the the Night" and "The Best on Earth," respectively. Senior Noah Fahey sang the "Battle Hymn of the Republic." All three were wonderful in their tributes to the veterans in attendance. Thank you to Connie Urfer and Betty Wolff for helping to organize this event again this year!

Capitol Conference Academic Bowl

The Belleville High School Academic Bowl team, under the direction of coaches Mr. Hodgson and Mrs. Smith, competed in the Capitol Conference meet at Watertown Luther Prep on Monday (11-7) night.  Although there were still some juggling of scores, it looks like the Belleville team took second place behind Columbus. Two Belleville students took top scores in their areas.

Gianna Diaz had the top score for the Physical Science test. Vanessa Erb had the highest score for the U.S. History test. Way to go Wildcats!

Digital Citizenship Day

Students at Belleville Middle and High School took in lessons and discussions that urged them to become positive digital citizens. Now in our third year as a 1:1 technology school with every student with a Chromebook, staff finds it valuable to have these types of discussions on an annual basis. The topics the high school students covered included:

Middle school students discussed:

We used one of our four early release days for the 2017-18 school year to teach the lessons.

Co-Ed Volleyball Tournament

Six teams and one teacher team participated in Friday night's (11-3) 2nd annual Belleville High School Spirit Club's Co-Ed Volleyball Tournament. After pool play, the championship round led to the "Spike Tysons" winning it all. That team was composed of Derek Baumgartner, Daniel Covarrubias, Tashayanna Derke, Jack Gentilli, Sydney Gentilli, and Rachel Heittola. It was a fun night in the gym!

Pop's Cave Field Trip

Mr. Bussey took Advanced Placement Environmental Science students to Pop's Cave (https://www.facebook.com/PopsCave/) near Spring Valley on Friday, November 3. The pictures below show the entrance and the students spelunking through some narrow openings. Mr. Bussey just had back surgery over the summer!

Middle School Students-of-the-Month

On Friday, November 3, Belleville Middle School staff recognized students-of-the-month from October. Teachers spoke to all of the 7th and 8th graders about why they nominated each student. Students received a certificate, Catty Shack buck, and the opportunity to put their handprint up in the Commons. Congratulations to this great group of Wildcats!

Front Row (left to right): Hugo Araujo, Nathan Meier, Nathan Widish, Kaden DeSmet, Kendyl Gastel, Patrick Samon, Adrix Devoe, and Risandi Bartle
Back Row (left to right): Everett Clark, Liam Daughtery, Gavin Boyum, Hayden Boyce, Jordyn Roberts, Zach Thole, James Gustafson, and Trevor Syse
 

BHS takes 2nd in UW-Platteville Math Meet

The Belleville High School Math Team took 2nd in Division 3 at Wednesday's (11-1) 45th Annual High School Mathematics Contest on the UW-Platteville Campus. It included 760 students from 65 schools- a record for attendance.

Schools are placed into 4 divisions based on size. Belleville took two teams to the competition. Team 1 placed 2nd in our division!

Individual medal winners from Belleville include: 

Elise Medenwald

Riley Medenwald

Jack Nolden

Eve Palmer

Erin Pryzbyl

Jasmyne Roberts

Zachary Thole

Fall Sports' All-Conference Awards

Congratulations to all of our all-conference student-athletes from the fall sports' season!

Football

1st Team Offense
Drew Shrader
Danny Enloe: Co-Offensive Lineman-of-the-Year
1st Team Defense
Dalton Fahey
Nathan Mabis
Jackson Richter
Drew Shrader: Defensive Lineman-of-the-Year AND Defensive Player-of-the-Year
Ogden York
Specialists
Cody McMillan (Kicker)

2nd Team Offense
Dylan Gratz
Nate Mabis
Jared Schulting
2nd Team Defense
Danny Enloe
Dylan Gratz
Specialists
Dalton Fahey (both as returner and punter)

Soccer

1st Team
Connor DeLorme
Brock Kelly
Jared Widish
2nd Team
Jack Gentilli
Justin Knoebl
Jaden Kreklow (NG)
Honorable Mention
Tyler Boeck
Devin Brown

Volleyball

1st Team
Rachael Heittola
2nd Team
Jade Halvensleben
Samantha Trainor
Honorable Mention
Sydney Gentilli