New Elementary Teacher at BCHS
By Taylor Easland
The students of Battle Creek Elementary School will have a new teacher coming this fall: Miss Jamie Frisch. Frisch will replace Mr. Blake Mooney who is leaving at the end of the school year.
Frisch grew up in Madison, Nebraska, and attended Battle Creek High School before obtaining a bachelor’s degree from Wayne State College. She is currently working on a master’s degree through the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Frisch stated that she “loves working with kids”. She added that it is so enjoyable to see the "light bulb" go on when they finally understand a concept. Frisch began teaching in the fall of 2018 in Stanton, where she has been a fourth grade teacher for the past four years.
Frisch is excited to make the move to Battle Creek because she wanted to get closer to home and family. Frisch stated, “The community [of Battle Creek] is very welcoming and supportive.”
Frisch is engaged and will be getting married in September. Some of her hobbies include crafting, reading, quilting, and crocheting.
New 6th Grade Teacher at BCPS
By Breanna Borchers
Battle Creek Elementary School would like to welcome Mrs. Rachel Zohner to its staff in August. Zohner will be teaching sixth grade.
After graduating from Deuel High School in South Dakota in 2016, she attended Northern State University in Aberdeen, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in K-8 Education in 2019. Zohner is currently working on a Master’s Degree in Teaching and Learning.
In 2021, she married Battle Creek native Caleb Zohner. She explained that because of his job as a farmer, they decided to make their home here.
Zohner grew up with three younger brothers and learned early on that she loved being around children. Her love for children and passion to encourage them to strive for their goals make her an excellent asset to the school. She indicated that she looks forward to being involved with families and students in the BC area. Although she is coaching certified, Zohner mentioned that she wants to be sure she is doing her best in the classroom before she takes on any extracurricular activities.
Outside of teaching, Zohner enjoys dedicating time to church activities and spending time with her family. Welcome to Battle Creek, Mrs. Zohner!
West Holt Track Invite Heat Sheets posted under Athletics/TrackandField
https://5il.co/1963n
Spring Fling Concert, including all 7th and 8th grade students!
District Music Contest
The Braves take on Pierce and Cedar Catholic in a triangular starting at 4:00 at Hartington Country Club. #GoBraves
Schedule of events for the junior high track meet today starting at 11:00.
A Farewell to Vocal Teacher Laura Johns
By Raina Lade
Battle Creek High School will be saying goodbye to its vocal music instructor at the end of the school year. Miss Laura Johns, who has been at Battle Creek for six years, will be leaving the community for the Pawnee City Public Schools. She will be the K-12 vocal music instructor there as well as the technology integrationist. She will be replaced by Miss Abigail Robinson, a recent Wayne State grad and Norfolk High alum.
Johns grew up in Tecumseh, Nebraska, and is excited to move closer to her hometown. She stated that she is leaving to be closer to her family and to her fiancé, Kyle Dieckgrafe. Johns’ departure means the district also loses her fourth grade son, Timmy.
Battle Creek wishes Miss Johns and Timmy all the best in their new adventure.
Elementary Teacher Blake Mooney Leaving the District
By Haley Hrabanek
Mr. Blake Mooney, a fourth grade teacher at Battle Creek Elementary, is leaving the district in May to take a similar position in Neligh, Nebraska. Mooney has been teaching and coaching in Battle Creek for the past three years.
Mooney grew up in Covington, Georgia. He attended Peru State College in Nebraska where he earned his teaching degree.
Mooney indicated that he is leaving Battle Creek to spend more time with his family and in the community of Neligh where he and his wife Chelcy live. He mentioned that he is a volunteer firefighter there, a member of the men’s club, and he coaches youth baseball and football.
Chelcy is an English teacher at the high school in Neligh, and Blake will be teaching fifth grade at the school. Mooney added that he hopes to coach the cross country squad next year.
The couple has four young children: Hunter, Haylee, Hank, and Harlow.
Kindergarten Teacher Leaving BCPS
By Taylor Easland
Long time kindergarten instructor Jacki McCracken will be packing up her classroom in May and leaving the district after 13 years of teaching some of the community’s youngest learners. McCracken will be replaced by Mrs. Jaci (Weidner) Rethwisch, a 2011 Battle Creek alum.
McCracken graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University and worked as a grant coordinator in Iowa prior to coming to Nebraska. She will be relocating to southeast Iowa with her husband Adam who took a job there in 2020. McCracken stated that she hasn’t decided whether or not she will be teaching full time or just substitute teaching; it all depends on what is available in the area. The McCrackens hope to settle within a 20 mile radius of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where Adam works as a plastics engineer.
McCracken’s oldest child, Caydon, graduated from Battle Creek High in 2019 and is currently a junior at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He is studying chemical engineering. Her youngest child, Meghan, will be graduating from BCHS in May of this year and plans to attend Truman State University in Missouri. She plans to study to become a midwife.
McCracken stated, “After spending 14 years in Battle Creek, we will definitely miss our friends and colleagues here.”
Freshman Blaze Day off to a good start!
Family and Consumer Science Teacher Leaving BCHS
By McKinley Hanson
Battle Creek High School’s FACS teacher Kelsey Reiman will be leaving the district at the end of the school year to take a position with the Hartington/Newcastle School District.
Reiman grew up in Butte, Nebraska, and attended Boyd County Schools before attending Wayne State College where she earned her bachelor's degree in secondary education.
Reiman leaves Battle Creek for Cedar County where her fiance Cole Schumacher is employed. The two are busy planning for their upcoming wedding this summer.
When asked to comment about her time at Battle Creek, Reiman stated, “This year is one I will never forget.” She added that it was wonderful meeting some amazing students, and she said she greatly enjoyed working with the FCCLA program. The group was very successful this year, qualifying six for national competition to be held over the summer in San Diego, California.
BCHS wishes nothing but the best to Miss Reiman as she continues her career and life in her new home. The students of Hartington/Newcastle are certainly lucky to have her.
The 2022 Speech & Drama Awards were held Monday, April 11. It was a great chance to celebrate our year and honor our students! Congrats to our seniors and the honorable mention and outstanding members of the year!
Another Battle Creek Alum Set to “Come Home” to Teach
By Brennen Weidner
This coming fall, kindergarteners at Battle Creek can expect to see a new face in their classroom: Mrs. Jaclynn (Weidner) Rethwisch, who will be replacing Mrs. Jacki McCracken. McCracken is leaving the district after 13 years of service.
Rethwisch grew up in Battle Creek and graduated from Battle Creek High School in 2011. She continued her education at Wayne State College, graduating in 2015. For the past few years, she has been working as an esthetician at Mirage Med Spa in Norfolk. She is currently student teaching at St. John Lutheran School and will be all set to have a classroom of her own in the fall.
Rethwisch has always aspired to become an elementary teacher, stating that she loves working with children and being able to make a difference in their lives. She is grateful for the opportunity to pursue her dreams here in her hometown of Battle Creek.
Rethwisch and her husband Gage have a two-year-old son named Knox, and they are expecting another baby in June.
In her free time, Rethwisch enjoys spending time with her family. They especially enjoy going on walks and playing in the park.
2021-2022 Athletic Banquet
New Science Instructor at BCHS
By Kaitlyn Pochop
Battle Creek High would like to welcome Mr. Junior Aguilar to its staff next fall. Aguilar will be teaching science, replacing Ms. Rebecca Fischer who is leaving the school after four years of service.
Aguilar grew up in Pierce, Nebraska, and attended Pierce Public Schools before earning his post-secondary education at Wayne State College. Aguilar is currently completing his student teaching at Wisner-Pilger High School, teaching physics, biology, and chemistry. In addition, Aguilar served as an assistant coach for the speech team.
Aguilar mentioned that he applied for the Battle Creek position because he is pretty familiar with the town. He stated that it is close to home, and he has great respect for the school and the students. He mentioned that he is most excited about getting to know all of the students at BCHS.
Aguilar will be teaching physical science, anatomy, chemistry and physics at Battle Creek. Outside of teaching, Aguilar hopes to assist with speech among other activities.
Outside of the classroom, Aguilar loves to spend time with his wife Abbey, and he enjoys playing cards and watching football.
Battle Creek Public Schools is very excited to welcome Junior Aguilar to our staff this fall.
Shop kids clean up nicely.
Congratulations to Battle Creek High School class of 2022 Prom King and Queen Tait Heimes and Meghan McCracken.
Wonderful performance by the JH band at the Norfolk JH Instrumental Music Festival!
