Red ‘n’ Green
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018
The
VOLUME 50, ISSUE 9 222 Memorial Drive Berlin, WI 54923
A BERLIN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT OPEN FORUM SINCE 1924 Newsbriefs Harry Kujawa
Reporter
Construction technology class builds wood kiln Science teacher Patrick Arndt and tech and engineering teacher Joel Johansen’s classes have collaborated to build a solar powered wood drying kiln. “The solar wood drying kiln is another tool that allows BASD teachers to be effective. When we can make the learning experience authentic for BHS students we try to do just that. This allows us to get kids into the process hands on,” Johansen said. The wood kiln will be used regularly next fall. Jody Ziemann’s class teaches Spanish to 4K Working with younger students in the elementary or lower level is not a new activity for Jody Ziemann’s higher level Spanish classes. “In the past we’ve worked with second graders with my Spanish Four class,” Ziemann said. Teaching some basic Spanish to these young kids is extremely helpful to them at that age. “The kids love it. It’s great for them to start learning another language when they are young because they can pick it up so much faster,” Ziemann said.
Knoke brings 53 years of teaching to end Mercedes Zabel Bryn Hermanson Reporters After teaching thousands of students at Berlin High School over the course of 53 years, history teacher Gary Knoke will officially retire at the end of this school year. From being the school-wide history guru wanting to share his knowledge, to treating each person as an individual, Knoke has made himself into one of the most influential teachers at BHS. “Everybody knows Gary has had a huge positive effect on thousands of kids in our community,” Principal Lynn Mork said. “He will be dearly missed for that.” As seen in the classroom for half a century, Knoke’s enthusiasm for learning about the world stemmed from being in the army, and was what made him want to become a teacher. “I was in the army stationed in Germany for almost three years, all during peacetime. It opened up the world for me and made me want to share with young people the joys of expanding one’s world,” Knoke
Prellwitz finishes teaching career, influences students
Co-teachers Amy Wenig and Gary Knoke discuss “The Kite Runner” during first hour Human Spirit, one of the last classes Knoke will teach. Wenig and Knoke have been teaching together for 11 years. “Not getting to see him every day is going to be hard,” Wenig said. Photo: B. Hermanson said. From growing up a couple houses down from Knoke, to being one of his high school students, to now being col-
Wenig retires after impacting education, shaping futures
Bryn Hermanson Business Manager
Mercedes Zabel
From helping students and staff with his advice, to providing a happy environment when he’s around, history teacher Bob Prellwitz is closing the book on his 33year teaching career. “Bobby is still always willing to help out no matter what the situation is. Whether it be personal or professional, he’ll help you out,” Principal Lynn Mork said. Prellwitz’s supportive and helpful attitude has benefited everyone, especially one of his best friends, guidance counselor Matt Willett. “There have been so many days where I’ve asked his opinion on things, if it was dealing with a student or athletics,” Willett said. “I value his opinion so much. He’s levelheaded, he’s been through it and he certainly has qualities I look up to from being kind, polite and welcoming.” Not only did Prellwitz teach students history, he taught them the important things in life, like how to be a better person. “He had an impact on my education by teaching me that letter grades and percentages don’t define character. He taught me that it’s important to be kind, to be uplifting, to care for and include everyone around,” senior Caley
With 33 years of experience, being able to connect with students and faculty, and always being one of the first ones in the building each day, tech and engineering teacher Marty Wenig is bringing his teaching career to an end. “I’m going to miss the camaraderie with the other teachers. It’s kind of a bit of a family when you work with people in a setting like this, especially the guys I eat lunch with and our joking and kidding,” Wenig said. One of the faculty members that Wenig has eaten lunch with for many years is tech and engineering teacher Joel Johansen. Working alongside of him, Johansen has learned patience, sincerity and professionalism. “There’s a right way to do this great job we are tasked with as teachers. Marty Wenig put a great deal of his life into doing it right,” Johansen said. “No corners were cut, no kids were written off, no time was wasted. He valued the responsibility he had to educate this community’s young people and there’s an awful lot of value to that.” Along with his professional attitude is a helpful and friendly
History teacher Bob Prellwitz teaches his first hour Modern World Studies class. Photo: B. Hermanson Huggins said. “He also taught me that people are not going to remember you by how well you did in school, people are going to remember the way you made them feel.” Even though Prellwitz will still be involved with the school through coaching, he says he is going to miss the classroom interactions. “I just really love the relationships with students and the joking around. I feel that I’ve made a little bit of a difference in some of them and that’s rewarding. I’ve been really lucky from day one to be part of a great faculty that has just been compatible,” Prellwitz said. “I’m going to miss this.”
leagues and co-teaching with him, English teacher Amy Wenig has formed a lasting relationship and countless memories with Knoke.
“He has been such an important part of my life, and he truly is family to me. We truly are a team. We finish each other’s sentences, we finish each other’s ideas and it’s going to be hard without him,” Wenig said. “I have learned to become a better person from him. He’s one-of-a-kind and he will never be replaced. The impact he’s had on all of the students that have gone through his class is immeasurable.” Knoke has made an impact and difference in many people’s lives in the community. In return, they’ve considerably impacted him. “I’ll miss everything, BHS has been like a second family. I’ll particularly miss students who love to learn,” Knoke said. Through his numerous years of teaching, Knoke has shown many people what it is like to be a genuine and influential person. “He’s so many different things to me. He’s a coworker, a friend, a family member,” Wenig said. “If we all had just a small part of Gary Knoke in our lives, the world would be a better place.”
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disposition that has impacted those at BHS. “Marty is a great friend,” Principal Lynn Mork said. “He offers positive suggestions when you need it and is always willing to make things better in our school and help out students.” As Wenig brings his teaching years to a close, wife and English teacher Amy Wenig says she is excited for the new possibilities
Tech and engineering teacher Marty Wenig works with sophomore Zach Cason during third hour Production Woodworking. Wenig decided to become a teacher after realizing tech courses were his favorite part of high school. “I enjoyed the type of work and environment, it kind of led me in this direction,” Wenig said. Photo: B. Hermanson
his future holds. “I know he has new things he wants to do and experience, and this is going to be a great opportunity for him,” Amy said. “I really am looking forward to what’s coming next for him because I know he has a lot in store.” From colleagues to students, Wenig has created meaningful memories and relationships that have positively affected BHS throughout his 33 years of teaching. “I will really miss Mr. Wenig’s passion for what he taught. Everything I have learned from him in these past four years has impacted my education, but will also help shape my future,” senior Ben Piechowski said. “I hope that I encounter teachers at college who are as devoted to their subject as Mr. Wenig was.”
In this
Issue
- A letter to BHS pg. 2 - Teacher memories pg. 3 -Senior section pgs. 4-5 -Trapshooting pg. 7