Louisville Public Schools Middle School/High School Newsletter 202 West 3rd Street Box 489 Louisville, NE 68037 www.lpslions.org The Schwartz Report – A note from Principal Schwartz Mission Statement “Louisville Public Schools will meet the needs of each learner by providing instruction that results in problem solving, communication, and technology skills.” Key Dates 4/23/15 No School For Students Vision statement “Louisville Public Schools will be a progressive district that engages a community of learners in a collaboration towards excellence in academic, work, and social areas as productive members of our global society.” Board of Education Cindy Osterloh, President Kara Habrock, Vice President Sue Laughlin, Treasurer Amy Kerans, Secretary Robert Derby, Member NOTE THE CHANGE: No School for Students on April 23, 2015!! Front Page News Speech Team The speech team finished in 3rd place out of 35 schools at the C-‐1 State Speech Contest held at the University of Nebraska-‐Kearney. Five students broke to finals in six of Louisville’s ten entries. Four students won state championships in their respective events — senior Nathan Minchow in Serious Prose, senior Melody Niemoth in Persuasive, and sophomore Ellie Geise & junior Claire Habrock in Duet Acting. Nathan also won 2nd place in Humorous Prose, Ellie won 4th place in Humorous Prose, and junior Kitt Wilhelm won 5th place in Entertainment Speaking. The following students also competed at the State Speech Contest: senior Holli Gist; juniors Jeni Leversee, Dustin Reckling, Peter Reckling, and Cade Wolcott; and sophomore Natalie Bauermeister. Congratulations! Melody Niemoth, Class C1 NSAA State Persuasive Speaking
Champion, has been chosen to appear on the NET production of NSAA
Championships: Best of the Best. This is a special presentation of the top speech
champions. It will be taped on Tuesday afternoon, April 7, 2015, at the NET studio
in Lincoln. The program is scheduled to be aired on Sunday April 19, 9:00 a.m.11:30 a.m. on NET-1 and www.netNebraska.org. Middle School ECNC Quiz Bowl Margaret Minchow, Member We are in the final 6 weeks of the school year. Here are some tips you can review with your student on how to finish the year strong. 1. Make a list of goals for the remainder of the year. 2. Chunk larger assignments into smaller sections; don’t procrastinate. 3. Collaborate with peers to complete group projects on time. 4. Use an organizational tool (planner, calendar, and etc…) 5. Remain consistent in routines. 6. Limit distractions. 7. Ask for assistance and schedule times to meet with your instructors before or after school. 8. Get adequate rest and eat properly. The 7th and 8th grade Quiz Bowl teams competed at the ECNC Junior High Quiz Bowl meet on Wednesday, March 18th against eleven other teams. 7th grade went into the afternoon single elimination bracket round in the top five while the 8th grade entered into their bracket in the top four. The 7th graders won their first two games and made it into the championship round where they defeated Weeping Water. The 7th grade team consisted of Casey Mason, Mike Rupp, Gracie Krejci-‐Hyde, and Louie Podrazo. The 8th grade team also won their first two games and made it into the championship round against Conestoga. Conestoga has been a tough competitor all year, so it was pretty exhilarating when Louisville's 8th grade team came out on top with the win. The 8th grade team consisted of Drake Sayre, Carsen Knott, Meagan Hay, Julian Covington, and Jack Krejci. Congratulations to both the 7th and 8th grade teams on their ECNC Junior High Quiz Bowl Championship Titles! Middle School/High School News Important Upcoming Dates •
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April 23, 2015 No School For Students – Louisville Track Invite April 27, 2015 Activities Awards Night @ 7:00 p.m. May 3, 2015 Athletic Banquet @ 5:00 p.m. May 12, 2015 Academic Honors Night @ 7:00 p.m. May 12, 2015 Last Full Day For Seniors May 13, 2015 Seniors last day – Graduation Practice and Final Checkout May 13, 2015 Baccalaureate @ 7:00 p.m. May 16, 2015 Commencement @ 3:00 p.m. Speech Team Crowned District Champions The speech team finished runner up at the C1-‐1 District Speech Contest held at HTRS. Eighteen students broke to finals in sixteen events; eleven students qualified ten events for the State Speech Contest at the University of Nebraska-‐Kearney on Thursday, March 26th. The following students are state-‐bound: seniors Holli Gist, Nathan Minchow, and Melody Niemoth; juniors Jeni Leversee, Dustin Reckling, Peter Reckling, Cade Wolcott, and Kitt Wilhelm; and sophomores Natalie Bauermeister and Ellie Geise. The following students also placed: seniors Sam Rose and Trenton Warner; juniors Natalie Knott and Samantha Weideman; and sophomores Emily Downs, Lauren Downs and Alicia Gray. Junior Jeffrey Katz also contributed to the team’s finish. NHS The National Honor Society of Louisville High School inducted nine new members on March 18, 2015. These students met the NHS standards of scholarship, leadership, service, and character and were inducted during a formal candlelight ceremony. New members are Dustin Reckling, Daniel Stohlmann, Kathryn Wilhelm, Natalie Bauermeister, Ellie Geise, Joeleen Jones, Erin Muntz, Anna Niemoth, and Jamie Winkler. The guest speaker was Bob Derby, 1991 LPS graduate and NHS member, who spoke on his life experiences since graduation. He told the middle school and high school student body how following the four pillars of NHS helped him in his life as he got his degree in HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), worked in the industry over 20 years, and started his own business in 2005. He has continued service to the community by serving on the city council and is currently a Louisville School Board member. SkillsUSA The SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference will be held on Wednesday April, 15th through Thursday April, 17th in Omaha, NE. Students will be dismissed on Wednesday April, 15th at 11:00 a.m. and will return to school before the end of the day Friday April, 17th. We will be staying at the Downtown Doubletree Hotel and events will be held at the Century Link Center. The event is free and is open to the public, parents and family are welcome to attend and support your student. More information can be found on my school webpage, please check it out to find a conference schedule and updates. Two middle school SkillsUSA conferences where held during the month of March. One was in Grand Island and the other in Omaha. Students represented Louisville well and brought home several awards. Below is a list of those students and their accomplishments. Please congratulation them for their hard work and efforts in the competitions. This year marks the first year in SkillsUSA history, that middle school students will be attending the SkillsUSA National Conference. Those students who have placed first during their respective state conferences, will be eligible to attend the National Conference in Louisville, Kentucky in June. Congratulations to our first place winners and their accomplishments. Thank you parents, for your support of Louisville SkillsUSA and encouraging your student to be part of this great student organization. Middle School Conference Results: Grand Island Conference: Carsen Knott -‐ 1st place -‐ prepared speech Remington Campbell, Jed McFarland, Cole Kerans -‐ 3rd Place -‐ technical team problem solving Nate Krejci -‐ 2nd place -‐ bridge building Christina Wagner, Jill Deloske -‐ 3rd place -‐ Power Point presentation Omaha Conference: Kyle Hapgood, Audrey Felix, Megan Hay -‐ 1st place -‐ technical team problem solving Jaren Powell, Tyler Hiatt, Doug Euans, Drake Sayre -‐ 1st place -‐ quiz bowl The next SkillsUSA blood drive will be held at the school, downstairs, in the the multipurpose room, on Saturday April, 11th from 9a.m. till 3p.m. Please sign up for a time to donate in the high school office or contact Holli Gist by phone at 402-‐709-‐4080 or by email at [email protected]. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me at 402-‐234-‐3585 x330 or send an e-‐mail to [email protected]. I appreciate your support of Louisville SkillsUSA. For more information about SkillsUSA, go to www.skillsusa.org. Capitol Forum ~ Mr. Bausch Louisville Public Schools was well represented by four Louisville seniors at the 17th annual Nebraska Capitol Forum. Representing Louisville were Nina Hjermstad, Nathan Minchow, Sam Rose, and Trenton Warner. Held on March 23, Capitol Forum is an event that brings together students from 25 schools from across the state of Nebraska. The student delegates gather for a day in the state capitol building to discuss and debate issues of foreign policy, ranging from nuclear proliferation to immigration policy and international trade. Students develop and defend foreign policy options for the United States. Students had the opportunity to hear from Lieutenant Governor Mike Foley and Secretary of State John Gale. At this year’s forum our students had the opportunity to defend their opinions on these foreign policy issues to state senator Bill Kitner over lunch. The day was completed with a question and answer session via video conference with two members of Nebraska’s Congressional delegation. For an hour students grilled members of Congress with questions on a wide range of issues. Activities Report ~ Mr. Geise Congratulations to the following individuals and groups for their amazing accomplishments this winter: The Speech Team and Coaches for their District Runner-‐up Finish and their 3rd Place Team finish at the NSAA State Contest. • Melody Niemoth for being crowned State Champion in Informative at State Speech • Nathan Minchow for being a State Champion in Serious Prose and 2nd Place in Humorous Prose at State Speech. • Ellie Geise for being a State Champion in Duet Acting and 4th Place in Humorous Prose at State Speech. • Claire Habrock for being a State Champion in Duet Acting at State Speech. • Kitt Wilhelm for her 5th Place Finish in Entertainment at State Speech. • Jamie Winkler and Karli Mohler for being awarded NSAA Academic All-‐State for Girl’s Basketball. • Matthew Krambeck and Daniel Stohlmann for being awarded NSAA Academic All-‐State for Boy’s Basketball. • Connor Juracek and Spencer Warner for being awarded NSAA Academic All-‐State for Wrestling. • Sam Rose and Nathan Minchow for being awarded NSAA Academic All-‐State for Speech. • Kalli Mackling for being selected as 1st Team All-‐
ECNC in basketball. Kalli was also selected as Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World Herald Honorable Mention All-‐State in basketball. • Jamie Winkler for being selected as 2nd Team All-‐
ECNC in basketball. Jamie was also selected as Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World Herald •
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Honorable Mention All-‐State in basketball. Maggie Hiatt for being selected as Honorable Mention All-‐ECNC in basketball. Maggie was also selected as Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World Herald Honorable Mention All-‐State in basketball. Daniel Stohlmann for being selected as Honorable Mention All-‐ECNC in basketball. Daniel was also selected as Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World Herald Honorable Mention All-‐State in basketball. Mathew Krambeck for being selected as Honorable Mention All-‐ECNC in basketball. Hunter Dillon for being selected as Honorable Mention All-‐ECNC in basketball. Hunter was also selected as Lincoln Journal Star Honorable Mention All-‐State in basketball. Spencer Warner and Wade Knott for qualifying for the State Wrestling Tournament and for earning 2nd Place at the ECNC Invitational. Connor Juracek for representing Louisville and medaling at the ECNC Art Competition. The Booster Golf Outing will be held Friday, May 29 at Quarry Oaks Golf Course. If you’d like to donate, sponsor a hole, participate or all of the above, you’ll find information enclosed in the Newsletter. This event has been very successful the last few years and has helped the boosters support our student athletes. Enjoy your spring and come out to support the track program. The kids are working hard and are putting themselves in a position to do great things this season. Counseling Comments ~ Mr. Carlson April brings us closer to the end of the year but there is still plenty to do in regards to finishing out this year and preparing for next. Seniors May 1st is when schools need to know that you are attending there. Use this month to make any final visits to schools to solidify your choices, then make sure that you have all materials turned in to complete your applications. Seniors also need to let Mr. Carlson know their plans for next year: College, Career, Military, etc. when they have finalized those plans. For students going to college that makes sure your final transcripts are sent to your school of choice after the semester ends. Just because the school year is ending doesn’t mean that scholarships are. There are still scholarships that have deadlines into June. In fact, the odds go up that you will get those scholarships as many Seniors quit applying too early. Juniors It was great to see many of your families at the Junior Parent Info Night a few weeks ago. If they didn’t make it I will be meeting with the Juniors after break to talk about many of the same things so you will get that info regardless. Things to keep in mind for now though are the following: College bound Juniors should take their first ACT test no later than June of this year. Visit www.actstudent.org to register for the June test. Start your college visits now or over the summer. Don’t wait until your Senior year to start visiting schools! Look for opportunities to gain experience this summer. Whether you are going to a 2 year or 4 year school, or heading right into a career after high school you should look for ways to gain experience in your career areas of interest. Part time jobs, volunteer work, summer camps, etc. all offer ways to gain knowledge and experience. For all students this time of the year is harder and harder to remain focused. Some tips to keep studies on track: 1.) Get homework done as soon as you get home. It is much easier to relax and unwind after school if studies are out of the way. 2.) Limit distractions while studying. Students may think they need to have music or tv on to work but they should try it without. Keep the smart phone away as well since that offers many distractions! They will likely find their productivity goes up! 3.) Don’t study too long at any one time. Study for 15-‐25 minutes on a subject then take a break. We all learn better with repetition and frequent breaks. Taking a 5-‐
10 minute break to move around, play a game, or just do something else is very helpful. 4.) Get plenty of rest. Rather than fighting to stay awake and study it is better to get some sleep and try to get up a few minutes early to study. Studying when too tired is mostly a waste of effort and time. School Psychologist ~ Mona Routley Disability: Liability or Asset? or Both? by Mona Routley, School Psychologist LIABILITY: thing whose presence or behavior is likely to cause embarrassment or put one at a disadvantage. Synonyms: hindrance, encumbrance, burden, handicap, nuisance, inc
onvenience ASSET: useful or valuable thing, person, or quality. Synonyms: benefit, advantage, blessing, good point, strong point, selling point, strength, forte, virtue, recommendation, attraction, resou
rce, boon, merit, bonus, plus, pro (Definitions and synonyms provided at google search for the words) By definition, my hearing loss is a liability since it does put me at a disadvantage; it is a handicap. However, much of my adult life, I have placed myself in situations in which this is seemingly not the case. Oftentimes, I would forget I have a hearing loss. Then, I forget what situations lead to these moments when my liability is evident. Other times I can't prevent being in such situations, particularly those involving groups. My job regularly involves having meetings with 5-‐13 people around a table. Social circumstances often end up having a group of people get together to eat at a restaurant. These are times that I struggle to hear/listen. If I am successful to listen and follow the conversation, I am limited in my ability to participate in the conversation. At these times, my hearing loss is especially known and felt to be a liability. We all only have so much concentration, attention, or mental energy. The general population is able to simultaneously hear the sounds without effort, interpret them as words, listen and process the message simultaneously, and consider what s/he will ask or share. Not so for me. My concentration is focused first on hearing the sounds and distinguishing what they are and how they go together to form words. Secondly, I'm attempting to process the message communicated by those mix of sounds/words. During the group gathering, I am working to keep those two aspects (hearing and processing) within a short distance so that I am able to continue to hear and follow the message as it proceeds. Also, as I seek to hear and understand what's being communicated, I must adjust to the varied voice volumes and pitches. This occurs over and over again as the person speaking changes in the conversation. Because of the mental energy to hear and listen, I am unable to consider what I may have to contribute to the conversation, whether a statement acknowledging what someone shared or a comment to add my own thoughts or examples. So, in large group social settings, I tend to become a wallflower. I'm present. I'm hearing and processing, but I'm not participating. I'm not interacting with others, whether friends or not. Also, because of the effort to listen, if I have had a thought come to me as I'm listening, it's often lost in my efforts to continue to hear and process. Or if I remember the thought to share, the relevancy to the conversation has already passed-‐-‐onto a new topic. That creates frustration, which again leads me to just be a bystander. My hearing loss is a liability. As I was thinking through this, I was intrigued and was aware of different contexts which lead to different results. Social settings are very much as described above. Then, I realized my work meetings have those moments, but less often. So, I considered the difference between being around the table at a restaurant with friends versus at a school meeting. I realized that I often lead the school meetings to share my evaluation findings. Having prepared for these meetings, I have context, which can aid me to anticipate what may be shared or asked. This preparation and anticipation allows me to participate more readily. At school meetings, I am finding my hearing loss to be an asset. My hearing loss enables me to have an appreciation of the student with a disability/difference that we are discussing. So, I can better describe the disability and its impact to those at the meeting. We all want to be understood.* Also, I hope/trust that sharing at the meetings about my hearing loss and the strategies or technology that I use can also help. Parents and teachers may come to appreciate the struggle of the student with a disability. They hopefully will also gain an understanding of why strategies and technology use are needed. Accommodations and technology use are not ways of letting the student off easy or off the hook, but actually ways of enabling the student to maximize his/her potential*/performance. This work is also a more accurate representation of his/her skills and abilities. So, then, the student's abilities need not be DISabled by his/her difference but enABLEd to be demonstrated. Another asset of my hearing loss.....I am a good listener. Though I may not readily think of how or what to comment, formulating questions to continue the interaction can be done quite simply. As a result, people feel heard and I get to know people. We both win. So, my hearing loss is both.........a liability AND an asset. Life has many tensions: opposites that co-‐exist. I am learning to live within various tensions, such as this one. If I only saw my hearing loss as a liability, I would withdraw socially and maybe even vocationally. However, as I continue growing in gratitude,* I also see my hearing loss as an asset, which serves for my own purposes as well as for the purposes of others. *Go to http://msroutleylps.weebly.com/blog for this and related blog posts. Louisville Lions Booster
Golf Tournament
Supporting Louisville MS/HS Athletics
Dear Prospective Sponsor:
The Louisville Lions Athletic Boosters is sponsoring its 4th annual golf tournament on Friday – May 29, 2015 at
Quarry Oaks Golf Course. This annual tournament is a major source of funding for the Booster Club. We truly
appreciate your team’s participation in last year’s event, and hope that you will strongly consider registering a
team in our 2015 Booster Outing!
The Athletic Boosters at Louisville provides funds to support all athletic activities for High School and Middle
School Student Athletes. These include, scholarships for graduating Louisville Seniors that have participated in
athletics and additional equipment used by the sports teams.
Like last year, your company may sponsor a hole, which includes posting your company’s name on a sign on one
of the greens. If you are unable to support us with a monetary donation, you can also support the tournament by
providing in-kind goods that can be used the day of the tournament. For example, perhaps you would be willing
to donate something to be given as a door prize or pin prize during the tournament.
Enclosed is a sponsor letter containing details of the tournament. We are also enclosing a tournament registration
form if you are interested in playing in the tournament.
We are excited for the opportunity to work with you in 2015 and are appreciative of your support in 2014. If you
are willing to be a part of this outing, we would like to have the sponsor list completed prior to May 15, 2015. If
you have questions, please feel free to contact Russ Gray, President of the Louisville Lions Athletic Boosters @
[email protected] or Rob Geise, Activities Director of Louisville Public Schools @ [email protected] .
Thank you in advance for your support.
Sincerely,
Russ Gray – Booster President
Rob Geise – Activities Director
Louisville Lions Booster
Golf Tournament
Supporting Louisville HS/MS Athletics
Tee/Green Sponsor Registration
I agree to be a sponsor for the 4th Annual Louisville Lions Booster Golf Tournament to be held on
Friday, May 29, 2015 at Quarry Oaks Golf Course. Sponsorship cost is $100.00. I understand that the
Louisville Lions Boosters will be making financial commitments well in advance of the tournament date
and that these commitments are being made based on the pledges of sponsors.
By my/our signature(s) below I agree to pay the above amount to the Booster Club on or before May
29, 2015.
_____________ __________________________________________________
Signature
Print Name
I would like the individual or company name on the sponsor sign to appear as follows:
Company Name:
_________________________________________________________________
Billing Address:
_________________________________________________________________
City & Zip Code:
_________________________________________________________________
Contract name & Phone Number:
_________________________________________________________________
Email Address:
_________________________________________________________________
Please send me an Invoice for Sponsoring.
Thank you for your support in helping the Louisville Lions Boosters provide
additional funding for our student athletes.
NOTE: This is a sponsorship donation to the Louisville Lions Boosters not an entrance’s fee to play in the
tournament.
Louisville Lions Booster
Golf Tournament
Supporting Louisville HS/MS Athletics
Where:
When:
Quarry Oaks Golf Course
Friday, May 29, 2015
Time:
Shotgun Start at 1:00 P.M. - Please Check In by 12:15 P.M.
Entry Fee:
$100 Per Player. Includes Green Fee, Cart, Practice Balls, Food & Beverage.
Hole Sponsor:
$500 For Business Hole Sponsorship and Team
$100 For Business Hole Sponsorship Only
Format:
Four Person Scramble
Team Prizes, Individual Prizes and Contests. Golfers Can Purchase Two Mulligans
For $10 On The Day Of The Tournament. Mulligans Can Not Be Used On Contest
Holes.
Please Contact Russ Gray [email protected] or Rob Geise [email protected] With Any
Questions
-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐ Louisville Booster Golf Tournament Registration Form
Registrations Must Be Received By Friday, May 15, 2015.
Entry Fees are $100 Per Player ($400 Per Team) - $100 For Hole Sponsorship Only
Team/Company Name:____________________________________________________________
Player 1 Name:__________________
Phone #___________________
Email_______________
Player 2 Name:__________________
Phone #___________________
Email_______________
Player 3 Name:__________________
Phone #___________________
Email_______________
Player 4 Name:__________________
Phone #___________________
Email_______________
Payment Must Accompany Registration Form. Check or Cash Only. Make Checks Payable
to: Louisville Booster Club, PO Box 593, Louisville, NE 68037.