Red ‘n’ Green
THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019
The
222 Memorial Drive Berlin, WI 54923 VOLUME 51, ISSUE 9
A BERLIN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT OPEN FORUM SINCE 1924 Newsbriefs NatalieCeman Ceman Natalie Reporter Reporter Show Choir prepares for annual concert After numerous months of preparation, Soundwave will be showcasing their pieces at their annual concert on June 5 in the auditorium at five p.m. “A lot of choreography and practice has gone into this,” senior Rhiannon Elendt said. “We have six whole group performances and roughly three small groups and four soloists.” Admission is free and the group encourages community members to attend as well. Wordsmiths of Berlin host short movie and screenwriting contest In an effort to showcase creativity and give students a venue to be recognized, the Wordsmiths of Berlin, advised by English teacher Andrew Riese, hosted a short movie and screeenwriting contest open to all students. “We wanted to provide a platform for different interests throughout the school,' English teacher Andrew Riese said. The contest was held from May 3-20 with the top three entries earning cash prizes.
Walker says farewell to BHS
Ryan Breeden Editor-In-Chief
After 32 years of teaching, physical education teacher Michelle Walker will be retiring after this school year concludes. “I’m a believer that we don’t live to work, but work to live our lives how we want to,” Walker said. Walker says she is forever grateful for her time at BHS, but feels it is time to pass the torch. “I was given a great opportunity to be here for a long time and thoroughly enjoy what I do, but I wanted some other young person to have the opportunity to do the same,” Walker said. Walker's absence will certainly not go unnoticed. “Her experience and passion will be irreplaceable,” Principal Lynn Mork said. Along with being grateful for her opportunity, Walker has loved every second of it. “I’m very passionate about this,” Walker said. “I love what I do, but I’m ready to start the next chapter of my life.” During her time at Berlin, Walker has made an impact not only on her students, but also on the staff. “Mrs. Walker has been a mentor and friend to me since I started at Berlin nine years ago,”
Walker plays pickleball with her Body Sculpting class. “Mrs. Walker brings fun and excitement to every class and there is never a boring time in class with her,” junior Madysen Longsine said. Photo: R. Breeden physical education teacher Joe Stellmacher said. “I try to emulate her passion and energy on a daily basis.” Looking back on her career, Walker’s favorite part of her job was the relationships she formed. “The relationships have been amazing, the most satisying thing is connecting with the kids and helping them grow any way I can,” Walker said.
Walker’s connection with the students has been prominent since day one. “When I had her as a teacher, she taught with such a high energy and positive energy, and she still teaches that way today which has such a positive impact on our students,” Stellmacher said. Even though she is retiring, Walker will still be involved with the school.
“I am not going to just leave. I want to still be involved and attend school functions,” Walker said. As Walker gets ready to call it a career, she has nothing but thanks for everyone around her. “The administration, teachers and students have kept me in this career for so long and made this time so enjoyable,” Walker said. “Words cannot express how grateful I am to the community.”
Musicians earn high ratings at state level Botany holds annual plant sale Carlie Streck
Deacon Eberhardy
Reporter
Hundreds of musicians from all across Wisconsin participated at State Solo & Ensemble held at UW-Oshkosh on April 27. Musicians from over 60 schools gathered to perform their best pieces at state. Musical performances ranged from solos and duets to large ensembles such as the BHS percussion ensemble and the Soundwave show choir. Many musicians felt that their months of hard work and preparation paid off, including senior Calob Congdon. “For the state of Wisconsin it’s very rigorous in order to go before a state judge,” Congdon said. “So when you get to that point, it means that you’re at such a level
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-Seniors! Seniors! What's your number?, pg. 4-5 -Track sweeps conference, pg. 8
Soundwave performs two pieces at State Solo & Ensemble. “When I step onto campus at state, it feels like ‘oh my gosh, I made it.’ It just feels so great knowing that somebody recognized your hard work,” senior Calob Congdon said. Photo: L. Mularski that the district judge really believed that you had something special and that you’ve really perfected your piece.” In order for musicians to get the opportunity to perform at state, students must compete in the District Solo & Ensemble and score a 1* on a Class A piece [the highest score on a most difficult piece]. Musicians then go on to polish the pieces that advance and perform them at the state level a month later. “District is important, but going to state means you’re the best
of the best, so it’s like any sport going to state except with music,” sophomore Sadie Goettl said. Over half of the events that BHS entered at state received a 1 gold rating, [the highest score awarded at state], but for most musicians, the goal at state is just to perform to the best of their ability and showcase all their hard work. “When you get to the state level your goal is honestly to just to do your piece the best that you can,” Congdon said. “Advancing to state is an absolutely rewarding and amazing experience.”
Reporter
The Botany and special education classes held their annual plant sale on May 17. The money raised by the plant sale helps fund activities for the Botany and special education classes. “The money goes back into the greenhouse to buy seeds, fertilizer and materials,” special education teacher Noel Simon said. Botany and special education students work together to plant, fertilize and water the plants. This year, science teacher Pat Arndt decided to try some new plants. “We tried some new flowers that are perennials, the purple coneflowers and shasta daisies, and we tried some new tomatoes species, the little bumblebee’s and the principe borghese,” Arndt said. “We did try some new stuff, but we have our good standards that we know sell well so we try to stick to those.” The sale has many variet-
ies of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, flowers and herbs including basil and thyme. “Eggplant is my favorite and I really like the lime and the lemon basils and the genovese basil because I’m a huge pesto fan,” Arndt said. Botany is a mixture of outdoor and classroom work. The Botany class works to plant in the greenhouse and clean the sculpture garden. “Working in the greenhouse was my favorite because it’s a breath of fresh air from the classroom” senior Katie Rozmarynoski said. The plant sale is not just a learning experience for the students, but for the teachers as well. “I do not have a lot of gardening experience so at first I wasn't sure if I was qualified to grow all these plants, but I’ve learned a lot,” Simon said. “I feel like I could do it at my own house. Now I could plant something, take care of it, even transplant it because I did not know anything before that.”