Red ‘n’ Green
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
The
VOLUME 50, ISSUE 1 222 Memorial Drive Berlin, WI 54923
A BERLIN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT OPEN FORUM SINCE 1924 Newsbriefs Harry Kujawa
Reporter
Late start explained For the first time in Berlin High School history, students will have late starts every Thursday. Classes will start at 9 a.m. The schedule has been modified in order to make this happen. All of these changes do have a purpose. “One of the things we do not have as teachers is time to make sure we are on the same page with what we’re teaching. We just didn’t have enough time. Now we have a chance to meet, and we know that if we as teachers get better, students will as well,” Director of Curriculum and Instruction Jodi Becker said. The process of creating the new schedule was not easy, however. “We have been talking about late starts for several years, and many schools in the area have been doing late starts or early releases each week,” Becker said. “We finally found and finalized a way to free up some time.” The decision for late starts was finalized in April, and the change is here to stay. “This change will last forever. There may be some tweaks in the future, but absolutely late starts,” Becker said. The late starts have had effects on the schedule as a whole, including school starting earlier on other days of the week. “Because of the late start on Thursdays, we made up time by adding to the beginning and not lengthening the day,” Principal Lynn Mork said. On late start days, there are opportunities for students to go to the Boys and Girls Club before school on Thursdays. The doors will open at 7:30 a.m. and students can get help with school if needed, or participate in physical activities. When it is time for school, a bus will take students straight to the school.
inThis
Issue
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Students volunteer at Thrivent Generosity Day Alex McClelland Editor-in-Chief Students joined with community members on Sept 9. for Thrivent Generosity Day at Walmart to fundraise for local organizations and Hurricane Harvey relief. “Thrivent did a nationwide action team day, a generosity day,” event organizer Cathy Hargrave said. “Every Thrivent business in Wisconsin did something that day, and we just wanted to take it to the next level, so we had about 22 action days going on in Green Lake County that weekend.” Grace English Lutheran Church teamed with Thrivent and together they fundraised for organizations such as the Berlin Area School District, the Green Lake Animal Shelter and the Berlin Food Pantry. Senior Trevor Hendrickson supported generosity days by volunteering with Thrivent. “We got a certain amount of money, and then with that money we could do any fundraiser we want and buy anything we needed with that money. Whatever fundraiser we choose, we get signed up for that organization,” Hendrickson said. The Thrivent Generosity Day tent was set up outside the entrance to Walmart. There were three baskets that were labeled Berlin Area School District, the Green Lake Animal Shelter and the Berlin Food Pantry, and each basket was filled with envelopes. “People came in and grabbed an envelope and there was mon-
Senior Trevor Hendrickson shakes hands with community member Eric Hamersma at Thrivent Generosity Days on Sept. 9 at Walmart. Photo: A. McClelland ey in the envelope that they could purchase items with for the organization whose basket it came from. We were hoping they also spent money out of their pocket, so we were just trying to kick start it. In the basket was a wishlist of things they could purchase,” Hargrave said. For Hargrave, having high school students volunteer was important for not only the extra help they provide, but more for the benefit it will have on the future community. “At some point we’re not going to be here so it’s important they (students) realize the importance
of giving back in the community now, and it just makes you feel good,” Hargrave said. Hendrickson said he agrees that it is important for teenagers to be active in the community, no matter what age. “It’s important for me to volunteer in activities like this to show everyone else that no matter what age you are there are different ways for teenagers to help,” Hendrickson said. Sophomore Joel Paskey, who volunteered for this event with Grace English Lutheran Church, helped hand out the envelopes of money for the local food pantry.
“It got me out in the community helping people who needed it,” Paskey said. “It’s a meal for them they can’t get unless we’re here doing this. We were helping people, which is also helping God.” The Green Lake Animal Shelter received two truck loads of supplies and $100 in donations. All five schools in the district received multiple bins of supplies and $15 in donation, and the Berlin Food Pantry received three truck loads full of food and $140 in donations. In addition, the bake sale for Hurricane Harvey relief raised $500 that Thrivent will match.
Roof project to finish on schedule
Kelsi Cravillion
Reporter
The estimated eight-week project of replacing Berlin High School’s roof began on August 14, and is ahead of schedule according to Building and Grounds Supervisor Josh Youngbauer. “Originally, the project was expected to be done in early November,” Youngbauer said. “However, after increasing the number of crew members, the project should be done no later than Oct. 6.” Superinendent Bob Eidhal said there are a number of reasons the project had to be done now. “The renovation is part of a Wisconsin school district system called Energy Exemption,” Eidahl said. “It is a law that allows school districts to raise taxes above what is normally approved, and is made for projects that cannot be afforded in the regular budget.” Eidahl explained that the project was first planned in Janu-
ary 2017 and after following all necessary steps, the school was approved to borrow $1.4 million for the projects that will be tackled. “Between design, oversight, materials and labor, the roof project alone will cost about $1.2 million,” Eidahl said. The remaining money will be put towards other projects such as replacing the cooling tower, water softening system and changing some interior lighting to more efficient LED solutions according to Eidahl. Since there have been consistent leaks in the commons and gymnasium for the last 22 years, it was decided by the school board that the project could not be put off much longer. “The roof is made up of layers of both foam and rubber and because of aging, the layers were shrinking and pulling away from the edges causing the leaks,” Youngbauer said.
The middle of August may seem an odd time to start such a large project, but construction teams from Pioneer Roofing, August Winters and Upper 90 Energy are working to complete this project in a timely manner. “The project began on Aug.14,” Youngbauer said. “After finalizing ideas and money only in May, this was the quickest date we could start in order to get it done before the end of the year, however it does depend on weather situations.” Athough the renovation is going to benefit the school in the long run, some students and staff members are distracted by the work being done and are many times interrupted during class. “The noise is very loud no matter what time of day, and it consistently interrupts instruction of class,” physical education teacher Jeremy Mercer said. “Even before the construction took place,
there were many times where class was interrupted because of the leaks and the attempt to fix them for only short periods. However, I do think that in the long run, the reconstruction will be worth the time.”
Roof project by the numbers
22 $1.2
Number of years the old roof has been on the high school.
Amount (in millions) put towards the reconstruction of the roof. Estimated number of weeks for project.
8