BELLE PLAINE BOARD OF EDUCATION – WORK SESSION
Belle Plaine Community School District
Meeting date/time/location: Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 6:45 p.m.,
Longfellow Elementary School, 707-7th Street, Belle Plaine, Iowa 52208
6:30 P.M. A. CALL TO ORDER
B. ROLL CALL AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM
C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
E. ADJOURNMENT
ITBS and ITED’s
By Christina Brake
Here in the U.S. it is required by law that every student in every school takes district-wide assessments. Though some students dislike having to take them every year; they must “suffer” through them. The Iowa Tests of basic skills (ITBS) and Iowa tests of educational development (ITED) are Iowa’s district wide assessment.
ITED or ITBS tests are very important because they help show where students’ fall academically compared to their grade level peers nation-wide. ITBS are for children in grades one through six. ITEDs on the other hand are for students in grades seven through 12.
To prepare for these tests be sure students get a good nights sleep, eat a balanced breakfast, and are on-time for school. Think about these tests as your chance to show your family and school how much you’ve grown academically in the past year.
Remember that these tests are compared to grade level peers state-wide and nation-wide, so Belle Plaine students…do your best and get prepared.
Belle Plaine Girls High School Basketball
By: Cheyann Markham
The Belle Plaine Girls’ Basketball Team has been off to a great start this season. Head Coach Andy Dahlquist had the following to say about the Lady Plainsmen and their season.
How many girls are out for basketball this season?
“18”
How is your season going so far?
“It has been very exciting with a lot of great games.”
How many returning letter “women” do you have?
“Six: Dani, Joy, Macy, Melissa, Katie, and Julie”
What are some goals for this season?
“To mature as a team and make changes to our offense and at the same time stay in the top half of the conference.”
Do you have a personal goal for your team?
“For each player to improve their game and find their place on this team”
What is a quote or statement that you strongly live by for the team?
“This season is all about keeping our ‘Swagger’! Believe in our abilities and success.”
Are there any big accomplishments your team has had this season?
“We set a new school record for team defense with 11 points against English Valley. Dani Coover broke the all time rebounding record for 5 on 5 at Belle Plaine.”
Who do you play for districts? When? Where?
“We play Springville, here in Belle Plaine, at 7 p.m. on February 10th.”
What is your personal outlook on 10’-11’ girls’ basketball season?
“I could not ask for much more. This is a great group of girls that love to win. I would really like to see us go into regionals and make some noise!”
Take the time to come out to the BP High School on February 10th at 7:00 p.m. and support the Belle Plaine Girls’ Basketball Team with their district game against Springville. Good Luck Lady Plainsmen!
Parent-Teacher Conferences
By Tim Muench
It is that time of year again. Student conferences are scheduled for Wednesday, February 16th and Thursday, February 17th. The conferences will run from 3:30 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. The conferences are held at the Belle Plaine High School and Longfellow buildings in the teacher’s classroom.
The purpose of parent-teacher conferences are for parents to have a chance to sit down for a few minutes and discuss with the classroom teacher about the progress or lack of that their child is making. It is important for parents to attend so that they can partner with the school to help their child have a great learning experience.
Mark your calendars for the 2nd semester conferences. Make sure you schedule an appointment with teachers and advisors. To schedule a parent/teacher conference or reschedule contact the BPHS at 319-444-3720 or Longfellow Elementary at 319-444-3002.
Speech Competition
By Kaleb Gorsch
It is important for people to get involved in extracurricular activities. Extracurricular activities do not just mean sports there are other options. Mrs. Mengler is the Belle Plaine High School speech teacher who offers speech which began December 1, 2010.
Speech involves many different opportunities for competition. Some of those opportunities are radio broadcasting, improv, mime, choral reading, and musical theatre.
This year there are nine participants in choral reading, two groups participating in improve, and a duet act from the Suessical. The speech students participated in speech contest on Saturday, January 15th. The radio broadcasting group, Dillon McGrane, Jacob Reineke, Bailey Gorsch, and Jon Drahos received a one rating and advance to state in Ames at Iowa State University on Saturday, February 5th. Dani Coover and Stephen Muench also received a one and will advance to state with their musical theatre act. All the other speech participates in districts received a rate of two.
Speech competition is something not all students can do, so it makes a pretty unique and special person to perform in front of people you don’t know. Make sure you encourage these speech competitors to do well and wish them luck at the state speech competition in a couple weeks.
Post Season is Nearing
By: Lance Hinschberger
The regular season for wrestling is coming to an end. February 5, is the first day of the post season for the wrestling season. This is the time of the season where all wrestlers buckle down and begin training harder to see that gold medal around their neck. Every wrestler sets their sights on the State Tournament.
To be able to qualify for state, you need to place in the top two at sectionals and then districts. Districts is like a mini state tournament. There are only four wrestlers at districts in every weight class, but only two wrestlers get to move on to state. The State Wrestling Tournament in Iowa is one of the biggest attractions in the state. Thousands of friends, family, and wrestling fans come to the biggest wrestling tournament of the year.
If your team places in the top two teams at sectionals you advance to Regional Duals. There you will have to wrestle a dual meet and if you win you will wrestle the other winning team of the other dual meet. The two winning teams will wrestle each other and the winning team qualifies for State Team Duals.
Sectional wrestling begins on February 5th and Belle Plaine will wrestle at Iowa Valley. The following Wednesday, February 9th, will be the regional duals. The next tournament is districts. Districts is on February 12th at BGM for Belle Plaine. Three days later starts the Iowa High School State Tournament. The state tournament will be held February 16th to February 19th at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. The following weekend is State Team Duals at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids.
The post season is very near. The Belle Plaine wrestlers are working hard to keep their state dreams alive. If you are not busy on one of your weekends the Belle Plaine wrestlers would appreciate all of your support!
Junior High Girls Basketball
By Dani Chilcote
The Belle Plaine Junior High Basketball Season is almost over. They have had the opportunity to practice in the high school gym. Mr. Kurriger coaches the 8th grade girls and Mr. Tegeler coaches the 7th grade girls. Some of the girls have answered some questions about the basketball season.
Emily Bean, 8th grade…
How well do you think you guys work as a team?
“Pretty good, we don’t win a lot but we work good together.”
Do you think you have improved over the season?
“Yes, I have improved a lot.”
Do you think the team has improved this season?
“Yes, they are a really good team to work with.”
What position do you play?
“I am the point guard.”
Carly Stewart, 8th grade…
What position do you play?
“I play mostly wing.”
Do you like practicing at the high school gym?
“I don’t really like it because we had to wake up in the morning.”
What do you like best about basketball?
“Just playing the game and even though we don’t win, I like to play.”
Do you plan on being in basketball next year?
“Yes, because I really like playing.”
Emily and Carly are two athletes that sound like they love the sport of basketball, win or lose. Keep playing, practicing, and working as a team and you will only improve.
Junior High Girls Basketball 2010-11
By Nikki Lown
Junior high is filled with many new experiences. One can get a taste of what’s possible for their high school future with all the activities one can be a part of. Whether it’s football, volleyball, Stadium Arcadium, track, or basketball, there’s always something to do.
The junior high girl’s basketball season is now underway. The coaches are Mr. Tegeler and Mr. Kurriger. They have fifteen players, eight eighth graders and seven seventh graders.
Mr. Tegeler had the following things to say:
What is your favorite part about coaching?
“The best part about coaching is watching them learn how to play.”
What are the girls particularly good at?
“They’re good at attending practice, and they have a great attitude to work and learn.” What do they need to improve on?
“They need to improve on understanding how the game of basketball is played.”
What was your best year, coach?
“My best year was my first year, in 2007-2008. Our record was a great, 8-4.”
Mr. Kurriger had the following to say:
What is your favorite part about coaching?
“I love working with the kids.”
What are the eighth grade particularly girls good at?
“They’re good at trying to make themselves better and the knowledge of the game that they have.”
What do they need to improve on?
“They still need to improve on everything. At the junior high level their picking up on everything.”
Come out and support our future Lady Plainsmen basketball players. They play at home on January 24th. Go Plainsmen!
Jersey Shore
By Melissa Stull
Reality television is beginning to become very popular. One show in particular is Jersey Shore.
Jersey Shore has aired for two seasons and is currently airing the third. Jersey Shore is about eight Italian people. Most of them already live in Jersey or around there. The cast consists of four guidos and 4 guidettes, which is the name they go by because they are Italian. Mike “The Situation,” Ronnie, Vinny, and Pauly D are the guys of the house and Nicole “Snooki,” Jennifer “JWOWW,” Angelina, and Sammy “Sweetheart” are the girls of the house. They work at a t-shirt store on the board walk in order to stay in the house; the owner of the house is their boss at the store.
Jersey Shore is a very popular series for the teenage generation on MTV. Jersey Shore has 2.5 million viewers. But the Jersey Shore Season three premiere broke MTV’s all time record with 8.45 million viewers! Jersey Shore might not be the most appropriate television program for young viewers, but it sure is entertaining!
Jersey Shore airs at 9 o’clock on Thursday nights. So think about watching it the next time you’re flipping through channels.
ITEDS Springing Back
By Kaley Hamilton
Iowa Tests of Educational Development or Iowa Tests of Basic Skills are just around the corner. For the Belle Plaine High School ITEDs begin on February 8th and end on February 11th.
The ITEDs determine many things for the school district. They affect how much money the school receives, determine students’ annual progress, and help revise the school curriculum. Many students think that ITEDs are pointless because they are not graded, so therefore they don’t give all the effort they can. But whether they believe it or not they are important to themselves and to the school. ITEDs are made to compare a student’s ability in several different subjects, including vocabulary, reading comprehension, language, spelling, mathematical concepts and problem solving, computation, analysis of social studies materials, analysis of science materials, and use of sources to their grade level peers state and nation-wide.
Some ways to prepare for ITEDs are to get online and look at the questions on a practice booklet, or ask your teacher if he/she has a practice booklet for you to study. A few good test taking strategies would be to get a good nights sleep, to eat a good breakfast, and to be fully prepared.
So as you can see Iowa Tests of Educational Development are very important not only to students, but also to the school. Even though ITEDs are not graded, do your best, keep your eyes on your own test, and don’t fill in random answers. Not only are you hurting yourself, but you’re affecting the amount of money our school receives if you don’t put your best effort forward.
