December 2018

Red ‘n’ Green

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018

The

222 Memorial Drive Berlin, WI 54923 VOLUME 51, ISSUE 4

A BERLIN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT OPEN FORUM SINCE 1924 Newsbriefs Mari Beltran

Reporter

All angels are claimed from Angel Tree Every Christmas season an Angel Tree is put up in the high school office to help others. On the Angel Tree are paper angels which have items on them that people need. Students chose paper angel and purchased the gift and delivered it to the office by Dec. 10. This year all angels were taken.

“We put up the Angel Tree every year and Green Lake County gives us 15-20 angels.

We usually have to ask for more because we exceed the limit, “ organizer Laura Sobieski said.

New on the Angel Tree were paws. Paws are donations that go to the Diamond Dog Rescue for dogs that are in need at the shelter. Adding paws to the angel tree has helped the Diamond Dog rescue in numerous ways.

Administrators have new strategies for improving ACT scores The staff of Berlin High School has decided to focus on the importance of ACT prep. Juniors have the oppurtunity to improve their ACT score on Wednesdays during CIA for only 45 minutes.

“One reason they switched CIA to the middle of the day was just for juniors so they can have uninterrupted ACT time,” Guidance Counselor Ann Ragus said.

Not only do the students have ACT prep time during this period, but they choose what they think they personally need to work on.

“The juniors are able to sign up for five CIA’s for the areas they need help in, they take the test on the subject they’re struggling in and the follwoing week they go back to that class and the teacher for that subect will help them,” Ragus said.

In this

Issue

- Cason heads to Conserve School pg. 3 - Series on Grading for Learning pgs. 4-5 - Club Volleyball pg. 7

Peer Mentor Trip returns for twenty-third year Bryn Hermanson

Reporter

Eight students from Noel Simon’s special education class and 15 student mentors from different grades traveled to the Fox River Mall for the twenty-third annual Peer Mentor Trip on Dec. 14.

“Students from my class get paired with two student mentors from the other classes in the school who had to apply through an application process that we have,” Simon said. “Everyone can shop in the mall, buy Christmas presents, participate in a scavenger hunt, eat lunch and just get to know each other.”

To apply, students did not have to go through a long application process.

“The applicants had to write me a short essay about why they think they should be selected for the trip and what makes them a good mentor for my students,” Simon said.

While the trip’s purpose for the students is to have the opportunity to travel to the mall and shop and to interact with each other, it also allows Simon’s students to build social skills.

“The purpose is to help my students to get to know other students in the school that they might not see throughout the day, build great relationships with other people, as well as for the mentors to kind of get to

On the Peer Mentor Trip, students shopped, participated in a scavenger hunt and got to know each other. “I like getting to know the people we don’t usually get to see throughout our school days and asking them about their life, family and what they like to do every day,” senior John Gonzales said.

Photo: N. Simon know some other kids and give them some experience with these kids and helping out others,” Simon said.

While this trip helps Simon’s students, it hits closer to home for senior and first-time mentor, John Gonzales.

“My oldest brother, Isaiah, has cerebral palsy and is special needs, and this has impacted my life greatly. This taught me from a very young age to treat everyone the same and as the way you want to be treated,” Gonzales said. “Being with different people makes your perspectives on

life change. I just shared with Isaiah the other day that I was going on the trip and he said ‘oh, I remember that, the mall trip was so fun,’ so it truly makes an impact on these students.”

For senior Emily Eagen, this is her second year on the trip.

“It’s fun to interact with them and see them be happy,” Eagen said. “I think it’s fun, a great opportunity. More people should do it.”

The Peer Mentor Trip allows students to interact with each other, and it is something Simon’s stu-

dents look forward to every year when Christmas rolls around.

“I think this trip is special because it’s a really unique trip.

There are not a lot of trips like this and not a lot of opportunities to do something like this with kids that you might not get to hang out with,” Simon said. “I know it means a lot to my students. They talk about it all year, but I think it’s really affecting the kids outside of my classroom and they look forward to it as well. It’s just a good time to get to know someone you might not get to know otherwise.”

First all-school ALICE drill successful Paige Krause

Editor-in-Chief

The new ALICE training for an active shooter has taken place in the Berlin Area School District and has impacted the students, teachers and staff.

“I think it went very well. Being that I was in the coffee shop with my students it made me and my students rethink what they would or could do if something like this were to happen," special education teacher Mark Trampf said. “It leads to a lot of great questions from my students that may be in any area/building at any time on a delivery.”

ALICE has many different options: alert, lockdown, inform, counter and evacuate. The procedure that was practiced was counter (barricade) and each teacher had their own way of doing it.

“Seeing who was in the coffee shop, we get a large influx of students at this time. The students and I then looked around to see what we can block our doors within the coffee shop (two doors).The

doors swing into the shop so that was an obstacle,” Trampf said. “I then had to think who was where and if I have all my students in the shop at this time. I had the students move away from the doors and into the section of the room that had things that they could throw at people and it would keep them out of sight.”

Not only did the teachers feel safe doing this drill, but the staff as well.

“The drill went really well. We got everything we needed done, and all of us in student services did our procedures. It went well and I felt safe,” student services secretary Sarah Judas said. “Even though it was just a drill, it was still nerve wracking.”

This drill made an impact on many teachers and the school environment.

“I believe in practice, so I think that the drill was a step in the right direction, and continuing to practice would be a good thing as far as repetition,” tech and engineering teacher Scott Blajeski said.

Scott Blajeski’s tech and engineering room

“This drill consisted of organizing the barricade. After making the barricade, the students had to spread out throughout the classroom and grab objects to throw,” Blajeski said.

Mark Trampf ’s room in School Grounds "When it happened, I didn't really know what to do. I was unaware. It would have been better if they had someone actually come in and demonstrate it," senior Alisha Amburgy said.

Shawn Erb’s math room “My class put a table and chairs in front of the door and grabbed objects to throw in case of an intruder. I felt safer than usual during this drill,” freshman Camdyn Rohde said.

2

Opinion

FRIDAY, December 21, 2018

The Red ‘n’ Green

Editorial

Berlin High School 222 Memorial Drive Berlin, WI 54923 920.361.2000

Angel Tree has impact bigger than what the eye can see

The Angel Tree has been placed in the office in hopes that generous students and staff members will pick up a little paper angel and make a difference for a family in need this holiday season.

To most of us, it is just something that we hear about during the morning announcements, or something we see when we stop in the office.

But, to the family on the receiving end, it is something a lot bigger.

To that family in need, it is so much more than a flimsy little paper cut out.

The angels show these families that they are not being forgotten and that after all, someone really does care about them.

The tree is not only heartwarming, but restorative of many people’s faith in humanity, as well.

It shows that even in this day and age, where every one of us has our own struggles, people still take that little angel cut out off that tree to

Paige Krause Editor-in-Chief One thing that has been a hot topic for the seniors is underclassmen and respect.

As a freshman, everyone remembers the feeling of coming into high school. The one thing that I remember most was respecting the upperclassmen. I can remember the awe, fear, intimidation and other feelings that were felt especially towards the seniors.

Growing through the years, I have come to the realization that as a senior, underclassmen have no respect for the upperclassmen.

I should not say no respect, but the respect is slim to none. A lot of us do not even feel like seniors. At times we feel like freshmen because of the way underclassmen behave toward us.

For example, at a recent basketball game, there was a lot of things that were witnessed.

Almost the whole front and second row of the student section were filled with under-

make a family’s season that much brighter.

Something that most people may not think about is the impact the Angel Tree has on people who are not even directly involved.

The thought that people right in our own community have hearts big enough to share with others is simply astonishing.

It may ease the anxiety of others who fear what would happen to them if they hit a rough patch, if tragedy or loss struck.

The Angel Tree is a symbol to all that, no matter what, there are people willing and able to lend a helping (or giving) hand.

It puts questions and worries aside, and never fails to put smiles on faces of families this holiday season.

The Angel Tree does nothing but good, and spreads nothing but love. It is a simply pure act of kindness that everyone should participate in at least once in their lives.

The Red ‘n’ Green is printed monthly by Berlin High School and circulated free to students.

The purpose of the Red ‘n’ Green is to be an open public forum for our staff, students and readers. We want to create close ties between the administration, faculty, students and the Berlin community. We will give readers the opportunity to voice opinions. The Red ‘n’ Green will accept only signed letters to the editor, although names will be withheld upon request. We reserve the right to return letters for corrections before publishing. The staff will not print any material that is libelous, obscene or malicious.

Editorials are unsigned as they reflect the majority opinion of the staff. Editorial topics will be covered in a fair manner. However, controversial topics will be covered.

Subscriptions are available.

Please contact the business manager at the below email address or phone number.

Editor-in-Chief: Created by P. Krause

more respect.

Senior Column:

Letter

• •

• •

was no room for them. Our own classmates could not even sit by each other. Is this really how we want to spend our last year here?

This is not only at games, but in the school environment as well.

We only get to be seniors in high school once, and underclassmen will get to have that when the time comes. Until then, they should let the seniors have these opportunities.

As a solution, upperclassmen should simply be treated with

to the

Simply moving up for the seniors when asked Cheering together instead of excluding and doing things by each grade Participating together Being kind to each other and showing respect

These acts can go a long way and can change the feeling that the seniors have about underclassmen.

Another solution as seniors that we can do to better ourselves is to lead by example.

Not only is it just the underclassmen that can fix this problem, but upperclassmen as well. By leading the underclassmen the right way, we can get all of the grades to come together. That would be true team spirit.

Editor

Dear Editor, Teachers should schedule short breaks for students to get up an move around. Sitting for 70 minutes straight isn’t healthy, and we’re doing it for most, if not all of our classes. It’s bad for posture, causes muscle imbalances and problems related to poor circulation, and can lead to mental health issues as well. Also, classes need to be more engaging. It becomes hard to concentrate when you sit quietly, all class, with few chances to give input or participate in discussion.

Senior Isaac Brey

Paige Krause paige.krause@berlin.k12. wi.us

These little signs of respect include:

Are upperclassmen respected? classmen with no room for the seniors. All of the cheers were also started by the underclassmen without input from the seniors.

This is not saying that underclassmen cannot be in the front.

It is just extremely disrespectful that many seniors kindly asked them to move back, but they just got stared at by the underclassmen.

Another thing witnessed at the game was that the seniors were not even able to sit in the student section because there

Created by M. Beltran

Business Manager:

Ryan Breeden ryan.breeden@berlin.k12. wi.us

Reporters:

Mari Beltran Natalie Ceman Isabelle Willett Bryn Hermanson Kalynn Wilson

Adviser:

Shannon Kuehmichel

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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Submit a Letter to the Editor to any Red ‘n’ Green staff member.

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Feature

Cason follows passion, heads to Conserve School

Natalie Ceman

Reporter

Following his love and passion of the outdoors, junior Zach Cason will embark on a whole new path in life, starting in January.

Cason will be saying goodbye to Berlin and hello to Conserve School, a boarding high school three and a half hours away in Land O’ Lakes, Wisconsin, a city of 871 near the Upper Michigan border.

“It’s a semester-long program that I’m in,” Cason said. “It’s all science based there.”

This journey will begin at the end of January 2019, and Cason will return to Berlin around the end of May 2019.

Cason will live in an on-campus dorm as he is immersed in the study of nature as it is incorporated into the general education classes he plans to take.

For example, the history classes at Conserve School focus more on environmental citizenship rather than the more broad subjects regular schools teach.

Natural science in particular is something Cason says he has an ardent fascination for, thanks to his father Chad Cason. He is an accomplished water and pond manager and owner of Cason and Associates, an accredited pond and lake management company.

Junior Zach Cason enjoys a morning of beaver trapping near his cabin. “His passion for the outdoors is obvious,” K-12 Advanced Learning Coordinator Tim Cox said.

Photo Submitted “He introduced me to the out- applying to the school. doors at a young age,” Cason said.

“I knew it was a good opportunity “He’s a successful self-made busi- for further education,” Cason said. ness owner as well.”

This long and thorough process Cason first began exploring the included a test of Cason’s physical option of Conserve School thanks capabilities along with a phone into a recommendation from K-12 terview.

Advanced Learning Coordinator Having met the academic qualiTim Cox who says Cason’s leader- fications, Cason was officially acship and obvious devotion to the cepted in March of 2018. outdoors made him a perfect canCason is the first student from didate for the school.

Berlin High School to attend the “Zach expressed a strong inter- program. est in environmental science,” Cox He says he is excited to pursue said. “He had both high interest this new venture, but as expected, and high ability as well.” he is nervous as well.

After officially choosing to pur“I’m definitely anxious,” Cason sue the opportunity last January, said. “I don’t really know what to Cason began the long process of expect.”

Reporter

Students at BHS have been experiencing eardrum ruptures. According to mayoclinic.org, an ear drum burst happens when there is a hole or tear in the thin tissue of the ear. The tissue separates the ear canal from the middle ear drum. There are many ways an eardrum burst can occur.

“If you stick something into the ear, high pressure can occur. Blasting loud music, or loud noises can cause a burst, or an accident with severe head trauma,” school nurse Terri Mauel said.

Junior Mackenna Ponto first ruptured her eardrum when she was in eighth grade.

“It was during gym class, for the swimming unit. My class had

Normal Eardrum

Created By Kalynn Wilson

found a brick by the pool. We decided we wanted to toss it down to the bottom, then we would go down to retrieve it,” Ponto said.

As Ponto pushed off the bottom of the pool, her eardrum burst as she came up to the surface.

“I had to wear an ear plug if I wanted to go swimming or take a bath. I was told to avoid water as much as possible,” Ponto said.

“If I got water in my ear it would get infected.”

Many different people may experience an eardrum rupture, but they may not have to live with it for a long time, as junior Myah Jodarski had to live with hers.

“I have had problems with my eardum since I was little. I have had a hole in my ear since I was

Ruptured Eardrum

Photo: baptistjax.com

seven. I just got it fixed last year in October,” Jodarski said.

Jodarski no longer experiences any discomfort, but for those who are experiencing or may in the future, a rupture to the ear can cause non-stop pain.

“The pain felt like a normal ear infection, only with constant pain in the beginning,” Jodarski said.

According to mayoclinic.org, symptoms of a ruptured eardrum are general ear pain that subsides quickly, clear pus or bloody drainage. There may also be ringing in the ear. Mauel knows exactly what to search for to dignose an eardrum burst.

“When I look in the ear, I can see a gray to clear drum with mucus.

When it’s normal, mucus usually travels down the Eustachin (a small tube that runs between the middle ear and the upper throat) and if it doesn’t it pushes against the eardrum and ruptures,” Mauel said.

A person also may feel a spinning sensation when an eardrum ruptures.

If students feel these symptoms or cannot take the pain any longer, they may need surgery.

“I had surgery on my ear where they took cartilage from another part of my ear. They took that and placed it into my eardrum,” Ponto said.

3

Students of the Month

Isabelle Willett

Students suffer eardrum ruptures Kalynn Wilson

FRIDAY, December 21, 2018 Fleegal, Lueck chosen for Reporter

During her four years of academic success and school pride, senior Sarah Fleegal has become a top student in her class and December’s female Student of the Month.

“I’m hard working,” Fleegal said.

“I’m also involved in volleyball, track, Student Council, FFA, Encore, Soundwave and LINC Crew.”

Fleegal attributes some of her high school success to the friends that she has made along the way.

“Sarah and I met in second grade, and it just stuck,” senior Clair Werch said. “She’s fun to be around, she’s very smart and she makes friends with everyone.”

In and out of school, Fleegal has been recognized for her contributions to the community and her leadership skills.

“I believe she was chosen as Student of the Month because she’s so involved in school and she always tries to be a leader in everything she participates in,” Werch said.

In the classroom Fleegal has also shown her drive.

“Sarah always comes with good ideas that are fresh”, English teachStrong will and confidence has made senior Dirk Lueck a symbol at BHS and December’s male Student of the Month.

During high school, Lueck has been involved in track, football, cross country and basketball.

He has also recently joined both Science Club and Respect Club as well.

“Dirk is one of, if not thee smartest kids in our grade. As well as being gifted with great athletic ability,” senior Bryce Congdon said.

Everyone knows Lueck as outspoken and opinionated about current events and his passions. Lueck prefers to describe himself with a different term.

“I would describe myself as confident because I feel like I prepare myself well for my situations. I’m also a top student and I’m active in class discussions,” Lueck said.

Lueck also has a passion for the outdoors, which has allowed him to connect with many different people at BHS. “Dirk and I have been able to form a friendship outside

Photo: Red Door Photography er Amy Weing said. “People look to her as a leader in the classroom.”

The determination Fleegal has put into her school work will not stop after high school.

“I’m going to LaCrosse to major in microbiology. I’m looking into medical research because I like the research part of science, and being in the medical field will help people. I really just find it interesting,” Fleegal said.

Her passion for science and work ethic makes her friends optimistic about her future.

“I think she’ll find the cure for cancer, and she will succeed at whatever she does because she is very determined,” Werch said.

Photo: Reeves Photography of athletics and academics because we both have a strong love for the outdoors,” guidance counselor and coach Matt Willett said.

Lueck has proven himself to be different than the rest during his time in high school.

“He is so self-driven, which is rare to see, especially in a high school student. Dirk is really unique that way,” Willett said.

Lueck has plans to attend college after high school. He has his sights set on UW-LaCrosse next fall with hopes of someday studying medicine.

“In the future, Dirk will be successful. I don’t doubt that for a second,” Congdon said.

4

In-depth series

FRIDAY, December 21, 2018 12/21/18

Today's lesson:

“I feel like it’s good in a way, but it’s also a hard way to grade because it’s based on if you’re learning,” freshman Kara Fritz said.

Grading for learning

“I feel it’s n be effectiv won’t push up their le sophomor nentag sa

Q &A

Text and photos by Isabelle Willett

Jody Becker & 6-12 Director of Instruction

Juniors voice opinions about new grading system Mari Beltran Reporter As of right now the grading system at Berlin High School is letter grades. As early as next school year there could be steps toward a new grading system, Grading for Learning, and some have a lot to say about it.

“Personally, I don’t like the system being talked about because it gives kids that don’t care about school an opportunity to be equal with kids that do,” junior Micah Harmon said.

Grading for Learning will only account for some things, like tests and quizzes. Therefore, homework will not count.

“I feel like the system is a good way to learn without competition, but I dislike not grading responsibility, like not doing homework,” junior Isaiah Taylor said. “It’s important to reflect on all aspects of learning through your final grade, not just knowledge.”

Not only does the system count test and quizzes, but the grading scale is very different and may not use letter grades.

“The grading scale of the system doesn’t have enough letters to separate people who know what they’re doing and people who don’t. There are levels in between that aren’t accounted for,” Harmon said.

The grading system will affect students in all differnet ways, good or bad. For Taylor, he says he isn’t affected.

“The system will compare me to kids of lower GPA that haven’t worked as hard to acheive what I have,” Taylor said. “I will also be compared to kids who have worked much harder and have a higher overall GPA. It doesn’t bother me.”

The Grading for Learning systemwill also focus on students getting better grades by letting them retake tests.

“Being able to retake tests over and over, I believe will help students in school because they can’t pass a class without the knowledge they were supposed to learn,” Taylor said.

Many students have different opinions about the Grading for Learning system, whether it will help their grades or make some look not as smart.

“I’ve heard many kids complain about the new system by saying they don’t want to be compared to someone lesser than them. I believe education is not about being better than the next person and that we should strive to learn because it is intrinsic to our future,” Taylor said.

“If you don’t take the time to learn the standard, you don’t pass.”

Do you think Grading for Learning will benefit students?

Anonymous responses

“No, people will stop doing homework, and the test grades will go down rapidly.”

“It has good and bad sides. It’s harder to send grades to colleges because there won’t be actual grades to send, but it may also cause less stress on students.”

“It could potentially give students more time to learn important concepts.”

“It’s going to decrease the motivation for getting good grades, it doesn’t seem stable or efficient.”

Will you do the homework if it’s not graded?

9.5%- Maybe 16.2%- Yes 24.3%- No

50%- Only if it helps me understand the material

9.5%

24.3%

50%

Reporter Bryn Hermanson: Wh Becker: “It really is a focus on the learn grading, which is more of a focus on teach mulate to actually really focusing on the le

Q: Why is the high school making the tra Becker: “The biggest reason is because students and for what they know and don really understand where students are and or don’t know after high school.”

Q: What will students gain from this?

Brandl: “The students will hopefully g derstand’ within a course and ‘what thing ing what you missed. You’ll know where category.

Q: What will the school and teachers gain Brandl: “I’m hoping we, the teachers, w help students be successful in their colleg down of what they don’t understand and w trimester, the students will know the thing cies of the standards.”

Q: What is the goal for “Grading for Learn Brandl: “The overall goal is to help the the students improve on the ACT. There’s n it has helped. It’s a process that if everybod going to help us. There’s going to be hiccu students, and community to make sure it

Q: What is the process of grading?

Becker: “We are still working on what i we are talking about proficient, developi At this point, we are looking at a hybrid sc still need to have a letter grade for college

16.2%

Created by M. Beltran

Survey from Nizar Wattad and Andrew Pribnow

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In-depth series

not going to ve because it h kids to get etter grades,” re Lily Sonaid.

A

t

&

How do you feel about Grading for Learning?

with

Joe Brandl Vice Principal

hat is “Grading for Learning?” rning of students. It goes from traditional hing and how many points you can accuearning of the students. “

ansformation? e we really feel that it’s what best for our n’t know. It will really help the teachers to for the students to know what they know

gain the knowledge of ‘what things I ungs I need to work on’ rather than just seewe missed and how those fall into each

n from this? will understand the exact things that will ge and career lives and then see the break what they need help on. By the end of the gs that helped them get to the competen-

ning?” school improve on state reports and help no proof on our end, but in other schools dy buys into, I feel that in the long run, it’s ups, but we need to work together as staff, works for Berlin.”

it looks like for the high school level, but ing, beginning and insufficient evidence. core for the high school level because we es.”

n

“I’m not a big fan of it. I’d rather see a grade than a number because I believe it pushes people more to do their best if they see a grade,” junior Wyatt Markowski said.

“It’s stupid. I think it’s bad that kids can retake tests multiple times,” senior Kristen Krentz said.

Juniors share pros and cons of Grading for Learning System

Myah Jodarski -Pro: “Students might be able to learn more because they’re not so worried and stressed about their grades.”

-Con: “Knowing they can retake everything, students won’t push themselves as much and might not have as much motivation.”

Joel Paskey

-Pro: “It helps students who can’t learn as fast as other students because they can retake tests a week later.”

-Con: ‘It doesn’t reward students for knowing material faster than other students. On tests if you know the material like you’re supposed to, it shows.”

Bryce Greening -Con: “I personally think there are no pros with the new

standard based grading system.”

-Con : “I think it will be difficult to send the transcripts to colleges now because we will have to change it back to the regular grading system for colleges.”

Natalie Nigbor -Pro: “If I don’t have time to do homework or forget about it one night, it won’t affect my grade.”

-Con: “If I don’t do well on a test it really affects my grade unless I retake the test right away.”

Lauren Wilson -Con: “I don’t see anything good, or fair, about this grading

system.”

-Con: “It will mess up our transcripts, and it’s not as accurate as our grading system now. I don’t know how colleges are going to look at GPA if our grading system is numbers instead of letters.”

Created by Mari Beltran

FRIDAY, December 21, 2018

5

Faculty, staff react to Grading For Learning Ryan Breeden Business Manager Teachers and staff members are ultimately the ones who have to adapt to the Grading for Learning system.

They have to change the way that they teach and how they grade, and that has led to a wide variety of reactions from the faculty.

“My initial concern is that in its purest form, this system could shortchange some kids of being recognized as exceptional,” science teacher Dave Reich said.

Although there are some potential drawbacks to the system in its original form, there can also be some good things.

“It is beneficial because everything gets broken down by standard,” math teacher Samantha Kurth said.

“We want everybody to graduate with the standards.”

One thing that the district hopes to eliminate is kids getting through without truly knowing the material.

“The ultimate goal of Grading For Learning is that no student ‘slips through the cracks’ without knowing the important standards and skills,” Reich said.

It is hard to definitively say what this system will look like in the high school, but the staff is trying to figure it out.

“We’re still not exactly sure how everything is going to be run. We all still have a lot of questions,” Kurth said.

Along with frequent meetings,

teachers are trying to find ways to adapt the system to their classrooms.

“We have been encouraged to experiment with ways to make standards-based grading work in Berlin,” Reich said.

When it comes to experimenting with it, Reich has made his own hybrid system for Biology that he believes could work.

“I think that my hybrid system is the best of both worlds,” Reich said. " I allow the students to do retakes, but only on the core ideas and it awards the kids that know all of the material for the initial test."

While the system has been in the works for several years, everyone wants to be fully ready before any big changes are made.

“It’s important for us to be organized,” Kurth said. “We need to be fully ready for it before we implement it.”

As for the counselors, the feeling is an uncertainty.

“As a counselor, I have so many questions about class rank, grade point average, and honors classes,” guidance counselor Matt Willett said.

A difficulty that the staff faces is that not all questions are answered at this point.

“There are lots of things that are concerning to us, and we can’t get the answers to all of our questions so it’s difficult to really know what’s going to happen,”Willett said.

6

FRIDAY, December 21, 2018

Bryn Hermanson

Arts & Entertainment

Christmas season in New York City a 'must do'

What is the best Christmas gift you have ever received?

Reporter

The New York City skyline seen from the Staten Island Ferry. The most dominant buliding shown is the One World Trade Center, standing at 1,776 feet tall.

Photo: K. Hermanson

“I don’t mean to brag, but when I was little, I got this really cool Star Wars lego set,” junior Steven Lavarenz said.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is up from Nov. 28 through Jan. 7. The tree is then donated to Habitat for Humanity for lumber.

“I got a puppy this year. We named her Medda Barkin after the ‘Newsies’ character, Medda Larkin,” junior Carlie Streck said.

“I got a comforter last year, and it’s so comfortable I still use it to this day,” sophomore Abby Waltenberry said.

av

e Chr t i r o

Created by Natalie Ceman

i s t m a s Mo v ie S

ur v

F

was lit up so that it felt magical and it gave visitors the best opportunity for more candid pictures. Although the smells from the hundreds of food carts were not appetizing at all, if the smell was not focused on, the time was more enjoyable.

The most memorable part of the trip was visiting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and going up to the observatory deck of the One World Trade Center, which provided a great view of the whole island of Manhattan.

Throughout the museum was pure silence, besides the little bit of sound heard from videos that were being shown. Vistors could basically hear each other’s footsteps. The museum included education centers, short films and a memorial section with pictures of all the casualties from September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993 attacks.

The most influential section was “September 11, 2001,” which explored what led up to the attacks the day of 9/11 and the aftermath. This section included audio recordings from people on the hijacked planes, pictures, informational videos of how things happened, newscasts and artifacts found in the buildings or the streets from that day.

Although the 9/11 was the most memorable, the best part of the trip was seeing the NYC skyline from the Staten Island Ferry. The difference of height between all the buildings, especially One World Trade Center, was breath taking and jaw dropping.

Overall, New York City is one of

“I got a t-shirt last year with two gingerbread men fighting, and it said ‘gingas’,” junior Sam Piper said.

e

y

When people say that New York City is “The City That Never Sleeps,” they truly mean that it is “The City That Never Sleeps,” especially during the Christmas season. From Dec. 6 through 10, I was living the big city life.

New York City is decorated in the most beautiful ways during the Christmas season, and it makes visitors feel like they are in a winter wonderland. From trees being wrapped in lights all over the city to the 72-foot tall Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, visiting NYC during this time of the year should be a must on every Christmas lover’s list.

Across the street from the Rockefeller Center is Saks Fifth Avenue, where an extensive light show of a castle is set up on the building with wintery-themed window displays at street level.

The five-minute-long lightshow was extremely visual with music and different colored lights flashing with the music.

A block west of Rockefeller Center was a stack of giant, red sparkly ornaments. This was a perfect spot for candid pictures.

Surrounding this area were more trees wrapped in lights in the formation of a tunnel.

From sparkling outfits to incredible kicklines, seeing the “Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes” was a once in a lifetime opportunity and a must on the to-do list during the Christmas season. During the show, there were musical numbers, amazing visual graphics, a 3D video of the journey to the North Pole, and a surprise appearance from Santa. “The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” was the most jaw dropping part of show. Only six words could describe this jaw dropping performance, 36 Rockettes falling like dominoes, perfectly.

Even though this trip was mainly focused on “Christmas in NYC,” other New York City attractions were on the itinerary.

While in NYC, one of the most touristy things to do is visit Times Square. The best time to go, and the time that I was always there, was later at night. It was less crowded and everything

The 9/11 Memorial and Museum was built in the bedrock of the bases of the Twin Towers and reveales some of the steel box columns that anchored the World Trade Centers.

Photos: B. Hermanson

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

13.5%

The Polar Express 18.8%

A Christmas Story

Elf

Rating out of 5:

24.1%

17.3%

Home Alone the most unique places on Earth due to how much there is to see and do there. While there is a little more magic in the air there during Christmas, tourists would still be able to feel that magic anytime during the year.

23.3%

The Santa Clause 3%

133 people surveyed

BHS Key Club “We don’t make keys, we make a difference.”

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Sports

FRIDAY, December 21, 2018

7

Ski Club returns with many students excited for Nordic

Kalynn Wilson

Reporter

The thrill of whooshing down a clean, white slope. The sting of icy wind. The sudden warmth in the lodge.

Many skiiers and snowboarders love winter because it gives them the opportunity to go to Nordic Mountain with the Ski Club.

Ski Club adviser Nicole LeDioyt takes care of organizing the club’s trips.

“The first Ski Club trip was Dec.16. We left the high school parking lot at 2 p.m. and got back at 8:30 p.m.,” LeDioyt said.

Sophomore Nya Osterberg can't wait until the trip days arrive.

“I did Ski Club in middle school and really enjoyed it.

My parents don’t go skiing anymore and I can’t drive, so this is my only way to get to Nordic,” Osterberg said.

Going to Nordic Mountain can be fun for many people, but for those who have nev-

er gone, they may not know dic. all the things to do there.

“Whenever I go to Nordic, “There are many things you I tend to gravitate towards can do at Nordic. You can go snowboarding. I also spend skiing, snowboarding, tub- a majority of my time at Noring or you can take lessons,” dic, because I work there,” freshman Hannah Nigbor Fritz said. said.

Osterberg has many techWhen students arrive at niques for a successful ski.

Nordic “When t h e y you are “I was very nervous can do skiing my first time. m a n y you I remember my dad tak- and differw a n t ing me on the ski lift ent acslow for the first time. It was to tivites, down, terrible. I got used to it a skier or go after a while,” sopho- s h o u l d t h e i r more Nya Osterberg o w n m a k e said. w a y . a pizza Ostershape berg’s favorite quality about with the tips of the skies.

Nordic is the terrain offered When a person is snowon the different courses. boarding, try to keep a bal“I like how there are differ- ance when going downhill,” ent levels of difficulty for the Osterberg said. hills. My favorite hill is “Kari Being able to give out good Kari." I also love “Nordy’s Nar- tips to new beginners comes row” as well,” Osterberg said. from experience.

Freshman Peter Fritz also “I was very nervous my has a favorite activity at Nor- first time. I remember my

dad taking me on the ski lift for the first time. It was terrible. I got used to it after a while,” Osterberg said. A ski lift is constantly rotating, with skiiers having to hop on and off at the correct moment. Some may get nervous, and they might be fearful their first couple times. Many members of Ski Club are not new to the sport. Some started at a very young age.

“I started skiing when I was three years old and I first went to the mountain with my family,” Fritz said.

When going on Ski club trips, some may bring along their own equipment.

“A majority of the students bring their own ski gear and a few rent,” LeDioyt said.

“There’s a fee for anyone to go, depending on if a person rents skis,” LeDioyt said.

The group’s next ski trip is Jan.13, also to Nordic Mountain.

Ski Club Trip Dates Nordic Mountain Wild Rose,WI Dec. 16 Jan. 13 Jan. 20 Feb. 17

Cascade Mountain Portage,WI Feb. 11

Club volleyball benefits players in off-season Paige Krause

Editor in Chief

As the club volleyball season approaches, some athletes prepare for the season as well as train for the off-season.

“One Wisconsin Central is the team that Lily and I tried out for. Tryouts were in November, and at tryouts the coaches of each team watch you and decide on teams,” sophomore Grace Hoffman said.

The players share their experiences with the club and what it does for them physically.

“I have been in club volleyball for five years. I play club volleyball because it keeps me active during my off-season, and I love the sport of volleyball,” sophomore Lily Sonnentag said. “One of my goals for the season is to improve my skills and better myself, especially in the back row because next year in school ball I will be a back row player.”

Another long-time athlete has been in

club for four years and has some personal goals this season.

“I set personal goals for myself each season. One of my main goals is to get better for the school season, and to get more experience with the sport,” Hoffman said.

Junior Josie Reich has had experience with club volleyball, as well on the One Wisconsin Central team.

“I have been playing club volleyball for six years and it has helped me immensely,” Reich said. “On my team, I am a setter as well as on my school ball team. I love setting because I get to set up my hitters for the kill.”

Not only has this helped Reich with her skills, but for the bonding part as well.

“Club is a really great way to get to know girls who love volleyball in surrounding towns. My favorite thing about club is making friends who feel the same way I feel about volleyball,” Reich said.

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Junior Josie Reich sets up hitters at her Central Club volleyball tournament. “I love setting because I get to set up my hitters for the kill,” Reich said.

Photo: EDGE Photography

8

Sports

FRIDAY, December 21, 2018

Sportsbriefs Ryan Breeden Business Manager

Boys basketball keeps improving The boys are off to a solid start in their first season under Coach Falk. As of Dec. 19, the team sits at a record of 6-1 with a 2-1 conference record.

“Everyone’s working really hard,” senior guard Grant Miller said. “We practice hard so that makes games easier.”

With a month of the season behind them, the team feels good about where they are, but they want to get better every day.

“We sometimes force shots, and we could always play better defense,” Miller said.

The team is adjusting well to having an all new coaching staff and is playing with a sense of urgency.

“Coach has tough practices and works us hard.

He always says that good isn’t good enough, so we work harder,” Miller said.

The tough practices do have their benefits for the team, though.

“We run a lot, so we’re in good shape,” Miller said.

“We never take a practice off and we’re starting to learn how to play together.”

Girls basketball off to strong start With a record of 8-2, the girls are fighting for a top spot in the conference.

“Kettle Moraine Lutheran and Plymouth are ahead of us, but we feel confident that we can beat them if everyone’s healthy,” junior Emily Klawitter said.

The team was without starter Kara Block for a couple of games this month due to injury, with one of those games being against Kettle Moraine Lutheran.

“It was frustrating not having her in during those two games. We think we can beat KML when she is playing,” Klawitter said.

While they have started the season with a winning record, there are still things to improve on.

“We need to hustle back on defense better, and be more vocal while we play,” Klawitter said.

Boys swim focuses on season goals

Isabelle Willett

Reporter

The boys swim team has started their season by turning some heads.

“We are starting out quite strong this season because our times are coming down and all the new swimmers are doing really well,” senior Nathan Wendt said.

At the Indians' most recent meet, senior Sam Ryf broke a pool record.

“Sam broke the hundred fly record in Port Washington,” Wendt said.

In their home pool, the swimmers are focusing more on team workouts with individual goals.

“Coach has been having us practice harder,” junior Andrew Garczynski said.

This new workout routine includes sprints, with an emphasis on each swimmer’s personal strengths.

“We all do the workout as a team, but then we are able to choose what stroke we do,“ Wendt said.

For the swimmers just joining the team, this season has already been a massive change.

Above Freshman Kaden Fritz swims the 200 free relay, with a front crawl stroke. The invitational on Saturday Dec. 8 was a relay meet. Berlin finished nineth out of the twelve teams.

Photo: I. Willett “It’s crazy swimming on the high school level,” freshman Kaden Fritz said. “It’s faster paced and fun.”

The swimmers also have their own personal goals and reasons for doing the sport.

“I was actually talked into joining swimming because I had nothing else going on,” senior Cameron Piechowski said.

The seniors also comment about how much energy they have dedicated to the sport.

“I’ve spent so much time swimming,” Wendt said. “It’s been my life for the past six years and now all of my friends do it with me.”

The team has also put more of a focus on goal setting.

“We all have individual goals and we hope to be competitive

in conference,” Wendt said.

The team is hoping for some support at their home swim meet Jan. 28 against Welland Academy. As for the rest of the season, the team is optimistic.

“Conference isn’t out of our reach,” Wendt said. “We also started our season so well that we hope we can only keep improving from here.”

Wrestling adjusts to smaller numbers Ryan Breeden Business Manager With the number of wrestlers being a bit down this year, the team has had to adjust to some empty weight classes.

“We have three weight classes that are unfilled this year, and that adds a lot more pressure on all of the rest of us to perform well,” captain Bryce Congdon said.

The unfilled weight classes put the team at an automatic disadvantage that is very difficult to overcome.

“We go into a dual meet and we’re automatically down by 18 points,” captain Austin Schrei said.

The team lost a number of wrestlers from last year, but they have also added some new ones.

“We have our new freshmen, but we also have a couple of new wrestlers that are upperclassmen,” Congdon said.

The inexperienced wrestlers are getting experience by being thrown right in with the upperclassmen.

“They all practice with us,” Sch-

rei said. “I try to go hard on them sometimes and teach them some useful things that they don’t know.”

The experienced team members are doing their best to get the new wrestlers ready.

“We’re trying to get them up to speed, but it takes awhile because this is such a tough sport to learn in one year,” Congdon said.

One person who is really making an impact this year is senior Adam Sobieski. He has not been wrestling for very long, but he is wrestling like he has many years of experience.

“This is my second year of wrestling and I am 7-2 overall,” Sobieski said. “It has helped just watching the other guys wrestle and trying to do what they do.”

The team is putting in a lot of work, and not just during the actual season.

“A lot of us go to camps throughout the year,” Congdon said. “I went to a ten-day camp this summer and Austin went to a 28-day camp.”

It is common for some of them to put in extra work after practice, too.

Senior Austin Schrei (top) wrestles during the Appleton West Invite on Dec 15. “I put in a lot of work in the off-season and go to as many camps as I can to get better,” Schrei said. Four Indians advanced to the finals at the invite. Photo: Berlin Journal Photos “I stay after practice almost everyday and work on getting even better,” Schrei said.

They also bring in some outside help to improve techniques.

“We’ve had a couple of bigger coaches come in and teach things,” Schrei said.

Aside from just being successful as a team, there are some wrestlers who could make a splash individually.

“We have some really good guys who can make it to state individually,” Congdon said.

Up Next in winter Sports Friday, December 21 -Girls Basketball: @ Home against Ripon, 5:45 p.m. (JV & JV2), 7:15 p.m.

(Varsity) -Dance team performance

Friday, December 28 -Boys Basketball: @ Home against Randolph, 5:45 p.m. (JV & JV2) 7:15 p.m. (Varsity) -Girls Basketball: @ Manawa, 5:45 p.m. (JV & JV2), 7:15 p.m. (Varsity) -Wrestling: Varsity Invitational @Kolf Sports Field House, @ 9:30 a.m.

Thursday, January 3 -Girls Basketball: @ Kewaskum, 5:45 p.m. (JV), 7:15 p.m. (Varsity) -Wrestling: @ Home against Ripon, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, January 4

Saturday, January 5

-Boys Basketball: @ Ripon 5:45 p.m. -Boys Swim: @ Cedarburg, 1 p.m.

(JV & JV2), 7:15 p.m. (Varsity) -Varsity Wrestling: @ Omro Invite, 10:00 a.m.

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