Middle School Market

As part of 7th grade Social Studies classes, Mr. Gentilli and Mr. Swenson hosted the first of three Middle School Markets this winter. Students develop, create, market, and sell a product. After each market in the middle school's Literacy Lounge, students can reflect on their successes and areas for growth and make changes for the next market. This interactive project focuses on economic concepts that students are learning in class. Items sold today ranged from pizzas, to stickers, and smoothies. The timing for last-minute holiday shopping was ideal!

Winter Band Concert

On Tuesday, December 17, Belleville Middle and High Schools' Band students performed in their annual winter concert under the direction of Stephanie Meir. The middle school band of just over 70 students opened the night with four pieces. The Jazz Ensemble came onto the stage next with another three pieces including a "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and a vocal solo by Miles Fahey in "Silver Bells." The night concluded with four additional songs by the nearly 60 students in the Symphonic (High School) Band. These four songs featured nine different soloists.

Congratulations to Mrs. Meir and her students for filling the auditorium with holiday cheer!

Young Samaritans at Work!

Given the direction that the club has taken in the last two years, including fundraising with their pie auction at last Friday night's home basketball game, the Young Politicians' Club has changed its name to the Young Samaritans. Not surprisingly, 14 members of the newly re-named organization came into school on a Sunday, and under the direction of their adviser Mr. Hodgson, made 30 blankets to donate to the Dane and Green County Humane Societies for pet beds and kennels. Now that is the Wildcat Way in this season of giving back to your community!

DECA Camp Gray Leadership Conference

Over the weekend of December 13-15, five Belleville High School DECA students attended a leadership conference at Camp Gray near Baraboo, Wisconsin. Jenna Banfield, Ella Campbell, Ceci Grefsheim, Shylah Lietz, and Sage Mullen banded together with the Oregon DECA chapter to participate in many activities that challenged each other to think about what it means to be an effective leader. The activities included a shoe minefield, human battleship and blindfolded rope art. [Submitted by Mr. Farrar]

More Than Cookies and Sprinkles!

Today (12-13) students in Mrs. Gartley's Child and Family Studies course spent their class time at the Sugar River Senior Center (Belleville) for our annual cookie decorating activity. The high school students were all smiles stating how "fun" it was not only to decorate holiday cookies, but to "connect" with local seniors on a plethora of topics during this season of giving! [Submitted by Teresa Gartley]

Winter Choir Concert

On Thursday, December 12, audiences packed the newly renovated auditorium for the annual Winter Choir Concert. Parents, relatives, and the community watched as nearly sixty 7th and 8th grade students students performed three songs, including solos by Lincoln Bair and Ellie Doyle

After months of 7am practices, two dozen members of the Vocal Jazz Ensemble also performed three songs. The Women's (Treble) Choir put on a show with five more songs. Their renditions of "Changes" included six soloists. The night ended with four additional songs from the almost 100-strong high school choir. This included solos by Miles Fahey and Michelangelo Dohm on "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?"

Congratulations to Mrs. Krueger and her students for their performances that put the audience in the holiday spirit!

High School Students-of-the-Month

On Thursday, December 12, Belleville High School staff recognized Students-of-the-Month for November. Students were treated to a pizza lunch and received a personalized certificate from their nominating teachers. They also received movie passes through Marcus Theatres' Student Motivation Program. Teachers from each department noted that these students showed academic strength, hard work, and modeled proper behavior for their peers.

Congratulations to these Wildcats who are going strong into the winter months!

Michael Walker, Elise Mousseau, Miles Fahey, Sophia Grady, Madysen Herritz, and Samantha Behr

Not Pictured: Cody Koeppel

Science Olympiad at Boyceville

On Saturday, December 7, the Belleville Science Olympiad Team competed at 13th Annual Boyceville Invitational Tournament. Nearly 60 different schools competed in this competition- 32 at the high school level, with 19 at the middle school level. This included teams from four states. The Belleville Platinum Team placed 5th overall and 2nd in Division 2 behind host Boyceville. However, when compared only to other small schools, Belleville beat Boyceville!

Perhaps equally impressive was an older couple at Fazoli’s on the return trip commenting to Coach Smith how impressed they were with our students' behavior!

RESULTS

1st Place
Detector Building: James Gustafson and Carson Heller
Disease Detectives: Emma Anson and Risandi Bartle
Experimental Design: Emma Anson, Hansi Bartle, and Elise Medenwald
Machines (JV): Matt Loshaw and Cole Monroe
Protein Modeling: Roxana Grunenwald, Gina Salmela, and Mason Schwoegler
Robo Cross (1st overall for the entire tournament): Hansi Bartle and Logan Niesen
Solar Power: James Gustafson and Jack Nolden
Write It Do It (Trial Event): Hailey Butenhoff and Erin Przybyl

2nd Place
Code Busters: Gianna Diaz, Jacob Kean, Jack Nolden
Designer Genes: Roxana Grunenwald and Elise Medenwald
Dynamic Planet: Emma Anson and Zach Thole
Forensics: Risandi Bartle and Roxana Grunenwald
Fossils: Emma Anson and Gianna Diaz
Geologic Mapping: Mason Schwoegler and Zach Thole
Horticulture: Katie Bowers and Zach Thole
Machines: Carson Heller and Jack Nolden
Mystery Design: Hansi Bartle and Mason Schwoegler
Ornithology: Gianna Diaz and Jacob Kean

3rd Place
Astronomy (JV): Tyler Beyer and Christian Hakala
Chemistry Lab: Gianna Diaz and Jack Nolden
Gravity Vehicle: Carson Heller and Logan Niesen
Horticulture (JV): Matt Loshaw and Cole Monroe
Ping Pong Parachute: Logan Niesen and Gina Salmela
Sounds of Music (JV): Andy Lloyd and Cole Monroe

4th Place
Astronomy: Roxana Grunenwald and Jacob Kean
Circuit Lab: James Gustafson and Zachary Thole
Detector Building (JV): Tyler Beyer and Matt Loshaw
Geocaching: Jack Nolden and Zach Thole
Ornithology (JV): Tony Diaz and Jeremy Matteson
Sounds of Music: Jacob Kean and Mason Schwoegler
Water Quality: Katie Bowers and Zachary Thole

5th Place
Code Busters (JV): Skyler Beyer, Jeremy Matteson, and Jordyn Roberts
Dynamic Planet (JV): Hailey Butenhoff and Miles Fahey
Water Quality (JV): Tony Diaz and Jordyn Roberts

6th Place
Boomilever: Hansi Bartle and Logan Niesen
Geocaching (JV): Tony Diaz and Josh Kean
Horticulture (JV): Josh Kean and Jordan Wilder

Middle School Students-of-the-Month

On Friday, December 6, Belleville Middle School staff recognized Students-of-the-Month for November. Mrs. Schmitz hosted a breakfast for this month's students. They also received a certificate, Catty Shack buck to the school store, and the chance to put their handprints up in the Literacy Lounge.

Congratulations to these Wildcats who are entering the holiday season in the right spirit!

Front Row (L-R): Ben Remy, Jack Erickson, Ryker Swenson, and Brennan Keyes
Back Row: (L-R): Brianna Behr, Stacey Vega, Evan Berna, and Dylan Hilgendorf