Class of 2019 Learns About High School Course Offerings

by Carney Lentz

After an introduction in the NHS multi-purpose room, parents
and students were divided into two groups.  Teachers from
each department in the high school shared what classes are
available for students to put into their four-year plans.
-photo by Carney Lentz

Students and parents of eight grade students in Necedah attended a Freshmen Registration event yesterday evening.  29 students and their parents/guardians attended this event.

Guidance, teaching, and administrative staff were available from 5:30-7:30 to help students and parents understand the options available to them as high school freshmen and beyond.

Clarissa Malecha-Freitag, guidance counselor, welcomed students and parents to the event.  She then explained some of the programs and opportunities available at Necedah High School.

Those in attendance were then split into two groups to hear presentations from teachers.  Each department had a five to ten minutes to explain to the students and parents the requirements and the opportunities for their respective departments.

After these sessions, students and parents returned to the multi-purpose room to receive freshmen registration forms and some final instructions for filling them out.  Staff members were available to answer questions about courses and help parents fill out forms.

At the end of the evening parents and
students started filling out schedules
for their freshmen year.
-photo by Carney 

Clarissa Malecha-Freitag, guidance, gave students and parents
some final suggestions before they started filling out schedules
for their freshmen year.     -photo by Carney Lentz

NHS Students Present Great World Texts Work to Peers from Around The State

Logan Myhre and Logan Plantz
carry their bookcase project through
the halls of NHS to load it on  the bus.
-photo by Carney Lentz

by Carney Lentz

The autobiography of an 18th century composer and philosopher is not a common feature of high school curricula.  Students in Necedah’s AP Literature and Composition, AP Language and Composition, and Global Literature were faced just that challenge this year.

The UW-Madison Humanities Council sponsors the Great World Texts program in order to encourage just such studies.  Great World Texts includes training for teachers and a conference that all of the participating students attend.

The conference hall where students displayed
their work and answered questions from other students.
-photo by Carney  Lentz

This year the focus text for the program was Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Confessions.  This work by Rousseau is an autobiography that covers in great detail his life, loves, and work.  

After reading from Confessions, students needed to complete a project that displayed their critical, analytical understanding of the text.  Projects can take an endless variety of forms.  There are the standard poster board and essay as well as the more unusual interpretive dance or musical performance.

Necedah sent 20 students to the conference on Wednesday, March 25.  Their individual or group projects were shared in a display hall and one project, Kristin Darnell’s poem inspired by Rousseau, was shared during an assembly of all students taking part in the conference.  Each school had the opportunity to highlight one project during these plenary sessions.

Olajuwon Cawthon from New Horizons Charter School
spent the day playing the part of
Jean-Jacques Rousseau as part of his project.  Here
Danielle S. Allen asks "Rousseau" a question.
-photo by Carney Lentz

In addition to offering students a forum for sharing their work the conference included a keynote presentation and questions/answer session lead by Danielle S. Allen.  Allen is a political scientist.  She spoke to the students about her work on the Declaration of Independence.

Necedah High School Students attending the Great World Texts Conference:

Kristin Darnell

Breanne Housworth and Deneille Lessard wait
for the second plenary session to start.
-photo by Carney Lentz

Isaiah Dutscheck  

Michaela Horak

Breanne Housworth

Anastasia Knapinski

Deneille Lessard

Sean McNally

Jessicah Murphy

Logan Myhre

Vanessa Zipperer (far left) and Olivia Nokovic (far right) were able
to take part in an acting demonstration as part of the conference. 
-photo by Carney Lentz

Olivia Nokovic

Angel Pintarro

Logan Plantz

Megan Plantz

Stephanie Rattunde

Hailee Ruskowsky

Elyssa Sheley

Cheynne Sterbenz

Amber Zander

Amanda Zielinski

Vanessa Zipperer

Stephanie Rattunde and Megan Plantz
created a map that displayed Rousseau's
travels.   -photo by Carney Lentz

Hailee Ruskowsky and Elyssa Sheley
shared their sculpture project.
-photo by Carney Lentz

Cheynne Sterbenz created a piece of art inspired by Rousseau's
autobiography.  -photo by Carney Lentz

JCST Features Jordan Murphy in All-SBC Story

David Paradise reports:  "Necedah was third in the league at 9-5 behind first-team selections senior Jordan Murphy and freshman Miles Saylor. It was Murphy’s third straight season earning All-SBC honors."

Read the full article here:  http://www.wiscnews.com/juneaucountystartimes/sports/high-school/basketball/boys/article_c5d8d900-ca44-5dfd-8140-2d9dfb3c3004.html

WRJC Previews Powerlifting Nationals

WRJC reports:  "24 lifters from the Necedah Powertlifting Club will be in action this weekend including Tanner Hutchins, Dalton Staller, Shan Bloomer and Jared Thomas on the boys side along with Kendra Bartels, Alexys Daniels, Abby Saunders, Remington Trewyn, Samantha Kristian, Melanie Hess, Crystal Schnapp, Steph La Voy, Steph Rattunde, Alena Trinidad, Tristyn Hutchins, Rhiannon Mach, Megan Plantz, Morgan De Guire, Amanda Zielinski, Hailee Ruskowsky, Anni Knapinski, Tessa Wertjes, Kaitlyn Hernandez and Lacey Winters on the girls side."

Read the full story here:  http://www.wrjc.com/sports/our-area-will-be-well-represented-at-the-high-school-powerlifting-nationals-this-weekend-in-milwaukee/

Necedah Student Writes Poem Inspired by Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Confessions

Kristin Darnell read her poem, "Made Like No Other," in front
of approximately 300 high school students from around WI.
-photo by Carney Lentz

by Carney Lentz

Kristin Darnell created a poetic response to Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Confessions. 

Darnell took part in the University of Wisconsin Center for the Humanities "Confessions in Wisconsin" conference on Wednesday, March 25.

Darnell also represented Necedah High School during one of the plenary sessions, a gathering of all of the participating students during which each school has to share at least one project.

Made Like No Other

By Kristin Darnell

Made like no other I am one of a kind

I have no imitator please keep that in mind.

I speak the truth, so have no doubt

These are my confessions, please hear me out.

My life started as a tragedy with the death of my mother

To which I was blamed by my father and brother.

As I grew up, I was very advanced

Or was it my age that I conveniently enhanced?

From early on I read with my father

Till the break of dawn when the swallows would holler.

Sure I was mischievous as a child

But is urinating in a pot really that wild?

I grew up and had acquired many lovers

Some of which lasted longer than others.

I quit my apprenticeship and for that I am pleased

Until I ran out of money and became bereaved.

I converted to Catholicism and it was a bliss

I even explored priesthood until things went amiss.

My obsession with stealing was a weakness I faced

Until I confided in books, which I openly embraced.

I grew to be successful and was very well known

Through my philosophical work; I worked alone.

Made like no other I am one of a kind

I have no imitator please keep that in mind.

Hillsboro Represents Scenic Bluffs Conference at State, Wins Second Place in Division

by Vanessa Zipperer

Hillsboro took on Green Bay New Lutheran Thursday, March 19 at the Kohl Center for their semi-final game, looking for a bid to lead them into the championship game.

They were neck and neck with the whole time, but Hillsboro was able to widen the lead in the closing minutes to send them to Saturday’s championship game.

Hillsboro’s first year varsity coach, Curt Hildreth, was interviewed multiple times.  One of his interviews with News 8000 he said, “We had our struggles early on in the season that were well documented but our guys came together when it matter and we got this done and we are just so proud of these young men.”

The WIAA Division 5 championship game was on Saturday and Hillsboro took on Young Coggs Prep. It was an intense game. Hillsboro trailed the whole game, but it was very close. Young Coggs Prep took the gold ball home with them and Hillsboro took the silver ball home, losing by 6.

Hillsboro boys had displayed wonderful sportsmanship and had a really good season this year. They had two losses in conference, both of them against Bangor.

The Tigers started out their first regional game against Weston really strong, defeating Weston without a problem. In their second game they took the Royall Panthers down. The following day they beat the Wonewoc-Center Wolves, making the Hillsboro Tigers regional champions.

Their first sectional game was against Gilmanton, who had taken Bangor down by a point the prior week. The Hillsboro game against Gilmanton was a more challenging for the Hillsboro Tigers but they still added another win to their record.

It came down to their last sectionals game against Shullsburg.  The game started out great for the Hillsboro Tigers, they had the lead in the first half. Shullsburg came back with a couple point lead after half time. Hillsboro shut them down fourth quarter and finished the game with a 48 to 35 victory.

Max Stockwell said during an interview with News 8000 after their win against Shullsburg, “I have been dreaming of this since second and third grade, I can’t put this into words what it is like.” Max Stockwell scored his 1000th point in the second regional game against Royall.

Necedah Team Has Great Weekend as NHS Plays Hosts to State Powerlifting Meet

by Amber Zander

The Wisconsin High School State Powerlifting competition was held at Necedah on March 14 and 15.  The girls’ team held onto their winning streak and reeled in a state title for the 13th year in a row.

Charlie Vandaver was the only male to qualify for state from Necedah.  Even though he was the sole lifter for the team, he managed to bring home a 3rd place team trophy.

Many American Records were broken at this meet, including one by Necedah’s Lacey Winters.  Winters broke the American Record for deadlift for 198lb weight class by successfully completing a 450lb lift. Stephanie Rattunde also set a record that day with a 300lb squat in the 97lb weight class.

Fifty-seven different schools were at the meet with a grand total of 296 lifters. The Necedah girls team placed 1st in division 3 with 95 points. The boys team finished third with a total of 6 points.

Full results from the state meet are available here:  http://www.liftwhspa.org/uploads/2/5/7/9/2579534/final_final.pdf

Necedah State Powerlifting Highlights:
-Lacey Winters breaking American Record (state and national) in deadlift of 450lbs in 198lb weight class, placed first
-Morgan Deguire placed 3rd in 132lbs
-Tristyn Hutchins placed 1st in 114 lbs
-KaitLynn Hernandez placed 2nd in 198lb weight class
-Amanda Zielinski placed 2nd in 132 lbs
-Remington Trewyn placed 12th in 132 lbs
-Alena Trinidad placed 2nd in 105 lb
-Stephanie Rattunde breaking a squat record of 300lbs placed 1st in 97lb
-Anni Knapinski placed 4th in 165 lbs
-Tessa Wertjes placed 9th in 181 lbs
-Kendra Bartels placed 18th in 123 lbs

Charlie Vandaver, the sole boys team competitor for Necedah,
secured a team third place for the Necedah.
-file photo from 2/14/15 meet by Carney Lentz  

-Jamie Bistodeau placed 10th in 148 lbs
-Abigail Saunders placed 11th in 132 lbs
-Chrystal Schnapp placed 15th in 181 lbs
-Stephanie LaVoy placed 2nd in 97lb
-Rhiannon Mach placed 7th in 123 lbs
-Lexi Daniels placed 19th in 123 lbs
-Therese Arbansas placed 9th in 198 lbs
-Hailee Ruskowsky placed 8 in 165 lbs
-Megan Plants placed 3rd in 123 lbs
-Charlie Vandaver placed 5th in 181 lbs

JCST Features NHS Students Taking Part in Great World Texts Program

Ed Legge visited Necedah High School on Thursday, March 19 to speak with teachers and students involved in the Wisconsin Humanities Council's Great World Texts program.

He wrote:  "The approximately two dozen students will join 500 or so of their peers in discussing their recent intellectual grappling with the work of 18th-century political philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau — known as the 'father of democratic theory' — and specifically his autobiographical book 'Confessions.'”

Read the full story at the Juneau County Star-Times website: http://www.wiscnews.com/juneaucountystartimes/news/local/article_4c176597-7fc3-5155-b6ad-1e2a29df8f1d.html

Artworks on Display at NHS

by Carney Lentz

The Necedah High School art department is continuously changing out the artwork on display.  Here are a few of the pieces currently displayed.

painting by Charlie Vandaver, photo by Carney Lentz

multi-media piece by Jenny Moore, photo by Carney Lentz

"Day of the Owl" by Amber Zander, photo by Carney Lentz

painting by Anthony Seebruck, photo by Carney Lentz