Battle Creek Public Schools

Congrats to the 2022-2023 BCHS Cheerleaders 📣 Captains:Justine Kurpgeweit, Ashlynn Rath Squad members: Taylynn Aldag, Kenzi Eckert, Amber Schurman, Dani Sheppard, Jenneca Sonder, Leah Tillman Sidnee Hollum, Jaelynn Kesting, Lana Tillman Aspen Greve, Alyssa Jaster, Kolby Kummer

Norfolk Track Classic meet information and start time can be found on: https://sites.google.com/npsne.org/nenclassic/meet-information/2022-meet-schedule

Battle Creek Elementary Student Council Members, in conjunction with the Battle Creek Lions Club, participated in the annual highway clean up. They cleaned up the stretch of highway north of Battle Creek on Highway 121.

BCHS to Welcome New FACS Teacher By Delaney Meinke When school begins in the fall, Battle Creek High will be welcoming a new Family and Consumer Science instructor: Mrs. Brianna O’Brien, wife of ag instructor Billy O’Brien. Mrs. O’Brien will be replacing Miss Kelsey Reiman who is leaving at the end of the school year to take a similar position in Hartington, Nebraska. O’Brien grew up in Albion, Nebraska, graduating from Boone Central High School in 2015. She then attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, studying Hospitality, Restaurant, and Tourism Management. She graduated from the university in 2018. Currently, she is working on a master’s degree at UNL in Family and Consumer Science Education. O’Brien stated that she is familiar with Battle Creek; she stated that she specifically remembers coming to the school for speech meets, and she even performed in the FCS classroom. She also has had the opportunity to learn more about the school through her husband. She was able to meet some of the staff at different events as well as some of the students through assisting with FFA activities. She stated that her entire family was incredibly supportive of her decision to become a teacher, especially Mr. O’Brien. She mentioned that she knew she wanted to teach in this subject area, so when she saw the opening, it was a very quick and easy decision. She is very grateful to become a part of the BCHS family. O’Brien will be teaching a wide array of courses at the school, including some culinary classes, Life Skills, Interpersonal Relationships, Child Development, and Intro to Education. She will also serve as the FCCLA advisor.

Battle Creek to Expand Elementary Facilities By Paytyn Taake In March, the community of Battle Creek voted in favor of spending money to improve the Battle Creek Elementary School facilities. Over the past several years, the enrollment at the school has increased, with numbers reaching high enough to double track all grades from kindergarten through sixth. With an increase in numbers, change was deemed necessary to improve the building and provide adequate space for the students. According to Superintendent Jake Luhr, the total percentage of the elementary portion of the bond comes to just around 50 percent, which will include a new entrance, addition, and renovated classrooms. Plans are still being made, but the new entrance will be placed on the south side of the existing building where parents already drop off and pick up their children. This location will not have a negative impact on traffic flow in the area and will allow for buses to continue to load and unload in the same general vicinity that they currently do. The playground will also remain unaffected, and there will still be a blacktop for the students to play on. Additions to the building will include a new space for nursing services as well as a new administrative office. Elementary Principal Curtis Childers stated, “This was a needed piece because our current entrance is not very identifiable, and we have people go to the wrong doors/areas on a regular basis. Placing the identifiable entrance on the south side of the school makes sense because there is parking on that side, and people tend to try to come in that set of doors already. This will provide a safe drop-off and pick-up area for buses and will make other entrances and exits safer as well.” No new classrooms will be added, but other existing spaces will be renovated into additional classroom space. The old principal’s office is slated to become the new art room, and the current computer lab will become a new classroom as well. Art Instructor Stephanie Nelson is thrilled to have a dedicated art room on the elementary campus. She mentioned, "My elementary students will be able to learn in a structured classroom that will enhance their learning of art in many additional aspects. We will have access to technology for the first time for the elementary art curriculum.” Nelson instructs about 250 elementary students each week. Another aspect of the renovation is changes to the existing shop area, which will be remodeled into new classrooms plus additional bathrooms. New hallways will also be constructed to reach classrooms on the north side of the building. The locker rooms will be turned into a teacher workroom with staff-only restrooms, but there will still be changing rooms accessible for the JV basketball teams which play their games in the elementary gym. When done, the plan calls for two classrooms per grade level as well as fully handicap-accessible restrooms throughout the facility, something the building currently does not have. Battle Creek Public Schools has chosen to pair with Hausmann Construction to complete the renovation, with the goal of having all work done by August of 2023. If the timeline is not met and work must continue after school is in session, Hausmann has assured the school that work can safely continue while school is in session. Hausmann is a well-known construction company that has done various projects in the area, including the recently built Summerland School in Ewing, Nebraska. This project will greatly benefit the youth of the community, offering greater safety and an environment even more conducive to learning. Much thanks goes out to the community for continuing to make education a priority in Battle Creek.

Boys Golf Results @Hartington Inv. Finke 86 Beckman 86 Heimes 91 Miller 101 Reeves 112 Team Results: 364

Boys golf front nine scores from Hartington Tait 45 Boston 55 Ethan 52 Luke 38 Garrett 43

Science Teacher Leaving BCHS By Aurora Hingst At the end of the school year, Battle Creek will be losing a high school science teacher. Ms. Rebecca Fischer will be moving to Cedar Bluffs High School after four years of service to Battle Creek High. Fischer grew up in Scribner, Nebraska, and graduated from Scribner/Snyder High School in 2014. She attended Doane University, earning her bachelor’s degree in secondary education in 2017. She is currently working on a Master’s Degree in Stem Science Education through the University of Nebraska at Kearney and will graduate in May of 2022. This will allow her to teach dual credit courses at her new school. Fischer mentioned that this move to Cedar Bluffs will place her closer to her family and will allow her to attend her younger sister’s activities. She also looks forward to some of the new classes she will be teaching in Cedar Bluffs including chemistry, biology, anatomy, microbiology, and botany. In addition, she will be the sponsor for the Health Occupations Students of America. Fischer is engaged to be married in 2023. Her fiance, Keifer Kotrous, is also a teacher, and the two met when he did his student teaching in Battle Creek in 2019. In her free time, Fischer enjoys gardening and watching her sister play softball.

Congratulations to these outstanding students on being voted April Students of the Month for Battle Creek Jr/Sr High School.

New History Instructor at BCHS By Kaitlyn Pochop The students of Battle Creek will have a new history instructor this coming fall: Mr. Jeremy Weidner. Weidner will replace Mrs. Teresa Christensen who is leaving the school after 28 years of service. Weidner grew up in Battle Creek, Nebraska, and graduated from Battle Creek High School in 2007. He continued his education at Peru State College, graduating in 2011. For the past nine years, Weidner has been teaching at Norfolk Senior High where he was a physical education teacher. While at Norfolk, Weidner coached football and boys basketball. In the fall of 2021, Weidner was an assistant coach for the football squad at Battle Creek. Weidner mentioned that he has always wanted to be back in his hometown. He stated that he is excited to work with the youth in the community and to give back to the teachers, coaches, and many others in the community who helped mold him into the person he is today. Weidner went on to say that he has heard a lot of good things about the staff at both Battle Creek Elementary as well as at the high school, and he cannot wait to be a part of that team. Weidner is hoping to become more involved with the Battle Creek community while he is a teacher at Battle Creek High School. Weidner and his wife Kayla have three children: Harlee who is a kindergartener at Battle Creek Elementary, a three year old son named Boone, and a seven month old son Nash. In his free time, Weidner enjoys spending time with his family, watching and coaching sports, and farming.

Sports physicals will be held at the high school on May 6th from 3:00-5:30. Cost is $25. Forms and payment can be turned into the office by Thursday, May 5th. Contact the high school office with any questions.

The junior high track meet has been moved to Thursday, April 28th at 10:00am in Pierce.

Our Mattress Sale is THIS WEEKEND on Saturday, April 30th, from 10am-4pm in the Battle Creek High School Cafeteria. Every item purchased benefits the Battle Creek Music Dept! 30+ different mattresses on display from Englander, Therapedic and Wellsville, priced up to 50% off retail pricing! Pillows, sheet sets, mattress protectors, bed frames, box springs, weighted blankets, CordaRoy’s Convertible Bean Bag chairs, and Infinity Massage Products also on display! Financing available! Credit cards, cash and checks accepted as payment. All mattresses are made to order and are delivered to your house about 4 weeks after the sale is complete! Come on out and support the Battle Creek Music Dept!!! See you on Saturday, April 30th!!!!

Twenty BC Junior High students competed at the Norfolk Jr High speech meet on Friday, April 22. Everyone performed so well and fought through their nerves! Brynn Schmidt placed 4th in Informative Speaking! Congrats!!

Job well done at district music today!

Choir at District Music!

Great job at District Music Contest BC Band!

Landon Olson extended his school record in the high jump today to 06-09, claiming gold at the West Holt invite. #RareFish #CoyoteCommit

Longtime History Instructor Leaving Battle Creek By Delaney Meinke History instructor Mrs. Teresa Christensen is leaving Battle Creek High after 28 years of service to the district. Christensen is taking a similar position in Stanton, Nebraska, where she and her husband have lived for the past several years. She served as the head volleyball coach for the Bravettes from 1994-2016. Christensen grew up in Fremont, Nebraska, and attended Nebraska Wesleyan University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in 1994. In 2008, she earned a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Wayne State College. In addition to her classroom duties, Christensen will be the head volleyball coach of the Stanton Mustangs. She looks forward to building relationships with the students and staff in her community. The couple has two daughters: Emily is a fourth grade teacher in Central City, Nebraska, and Elizabeth is a nursing student at Northeast Community College. Her husband Keith is the manager of the Stanton Coop. Battle Creek wishes you nothing but the best in your new home, Mrs. C.

2nd Grade Field Trip to Edgerton Explorit Center in Aurora. Perfect day for a field trip!