A BERLIN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT OPEN FORUM SINCE 1924
in This
Red ‘n’ Green
The
Issue
VOLUME 45, ISSUE 7
March 28, 2013
Power Pals gain experience, become role models by
Jenna Horn
The Power Pals of the 20122013 school year, a group of students willing to give their time to fellow students, met for their first lunch meeting on Mar. 20. Power Pals is a social skills group that helps get autistic students involved with other students at BHS. This program allows the special education students to learn how to socialize appropriately. “This group of students becomes role models, hangs out and socializes with the special education students,” special education teacher Mark Trampf said. Though this is a student based group, Trampf and Speech Language Pathologist Karri Youngbauer are the advisors for the 2012-2013 program. “Anyone can join,” Trampf said. “They just need to fill out a mini application and be able to work well with others, along with a few other qualities.” Interacting positively is one of the main things the Power Pals focus on, along with getting more students involved. The group meets every other Wednesday in Trampf ’s room. “The students who are involved with the group will meet in my room during lunch,” Trampf said. “They can meet Mrs. Youngbauer and myself and figure out what we are going to do during the various activities.”
Photo: J. Horn During their first meeting, Speech Language Pathologist Karri Youngbauer introduces some of the Power Pals to what the group will try to accomplish throughout the program. During the Wednesday meetings, the Power Pals plan activities that will be beneficial for all of the students. Fridays opposite the Wednesday meetings, the Power Pals group will take action on their planned activities. “It could be either a board game activity, socializing activity, picnic or going to Riverside and doing a fishing activity,” Trampf said. “It can be anything that the students would really enjoy.” Other groups and clubs around
Annissa Haedt
Over 1,700 kids belonging to the Berlin school district were invited to participate in the newly created program “Read, Run, Reach.” “The concept of the program was created by a medical student intern who was with CHN physician Dr. Paul Nelson,” CHN Wellness Coordinator Pamela Alf said. “She brought the idea to me and asked to create a wellness program.” The goal of the program is to bring awareness to creating healthy lifestyles by promoting literacy, physical activity and being kind and reaching out to others. “Knowing and realizing the importance of this program gives students some of the tools needed to build healthy and enriched lives for their futures,” Alf said. Alf feels this program is a great way to bring awareness to the effects of bullying involving obesity and
Tomato Day supports high school food pantry by
BHS along with the Power Pals will be involved with the special education students, helping them engage in several different activities. Leaders try to make sure the special education students enjoy the experiences they have. “We will be making a schedule for the students and making sure that they know what is going to happen ahead of time during each of the activities,” Trampf said. Along with the experience the special education students get,
the student leaders also enjoy the opportunity to interact with more students around the school. “I was interested in doing Power Pals because the special education students need someone to look up to, but also someone they can have fun with,” senior Michael Coppoletta said. Junior Grace Kropp is also involved in the Power Pals program. “With this experience, I think it will help me get better at working with and helping others with different problems,” Kropp said.
Photo Submitted Program facilitator Pamela Alf kicks off the campaign at Berlin’s St. John’s school with third graders (left to right) “runner” Ella Resop, “reader” Violet Lueck and “reacher” Issac Dament. why it is harmful to society. “Childhood and young adult obesity rates are climbing, with the many health problems that come along with it,” Alf said.“Things such as diabetes and depression are just a couple. All health problems can be positively impacted by the three focus areas.” The 12-week program was designed to challenge kids to read 12 books, run 12 miles and do 12 ran-
dom acts of kindness over the course of the program. “For middle and high school students we have adapted it to be more of a challenge,” Alf said. “Instead, they will read for 12 hours, run for 12 hours and do 12 random acts of kindness.” Senior twins Anna and Ashley Gravunder thought the program was a great idea to get involved in something new. “I thought it would be fun to see if I could do it,” Ashley said. Anna Gravunder feels the reading section of the program is easiest for her. “I am already half way done with the reading portion,” Anna said. The program began on Feb. 25 and will end on May 18 with the CHN “Helping Hands for Cancer” 5K Run/Walk. “If this program positively impacts even just a handful of students or parents in any way, it did what it was intended to do,” Alf said.
Sierra Klawitter
Once again, the Kind Project students have pulled together a fundraiser that supports Berlin students. On Mar. 13, BHS had a Tomato Day. Students and staff joined together and brought donations of pasta and spaghetti sauce for the high school food pantry. They also wore red to show support for the cause. Junior Kinsey Harmon came up with the idea and orchestrated a daily countdown over the PA system, while junior Celia Mueller advertised it with posters. “I thought it would be a great way to get the school involved while giving back to the community,” Harmon said. The food drive was a contest between classes and ran until Wednesday, Mar. 20. “It was really surprising to see how many of the students and staff came together to support the drive,” Harmon said. “I think that shows how tightly bound our community really is.” Students brought items in all week and the winners were Bethann Vaubel’s class, who brought in a total of 79 items which was the most overall and Carissa Fritz and Chrissy Dallman’s class who had the best percentage of items per student, with Missy Daubner’s class close behind. Doughnuts will be awarded to Vaubel’s and Fritz and Dallman’s classes.
Newsbriefs
New program reaches out to all students by
-Ask the Chief pg. 3 -Alternative food choices pgs. 4-5 -Spring sport previews pg. 8
Berlin takes third at Academic Bowl
The Academic Bowl team competed with seven other schools in the conference at BHS on Monday, Mar. 18. After challenging tests consisting of many questions, the team finished third behind Ripon and Fox Valley Lutheran. The following team members placed in their events: Spelling/Grammar - Ashley Gravunder (first) Short stories - Emily Draves (first) and Elizabeth Krueger (third) British Literature/Shakespeare - Brianna Beier (second) Algebra 2 - Maddie Blazel (second) Biology - Ben Kivi (first) Physics - Emily Cox (third) General Science - Connor Nelson (first) and Corey Viars (second) U.S. History - Peter Schrader (first) Geography - Andrew Clark (third) World History - Joseph Bartman (first)
Trivia Night to return
Since 1983, BHS has held an overnight trivia contest. This year the event will be on Apr. 5. All-night trivia is an event in which teams of three to five bring proper materials to study from and answer trivia questions, starting at 8 p.m. and ending at 8 a.m. the next day. The questions vary on topics from history to what is happening around school. Last year’s champions, the Notorious Turtles, plan on returning and winning again this year. “All I have to say this year is one word: destroy,” team member Chantal Fay said.