Silence the Violence, Increase the Peace

Belleville West Harambee presented Silence the Violence, Increase the Peace on Wednesday, February 8.  The group will host its annual Soul Food Day on Friday, February 17.  Harambee students will also perform for area feeder schools at the end of February.

Speech Team Takes Sectional Title

At the IHSA Sectional Speech Competition on Saturday, February 11, Belleville West advanced 11 out of 14 events to the state tournament,  and taking first place out of 23 schools. Congratulations to our state competitors: Seniors Sterling Beckmann, Eli Bernstein, Vondell Burns, David Felts, and Myesha Harris; Juniors Cody Essien and Lauren Jones; and Sophomore Taylor Damann.

Harambee Prepares February 8 Performance

The Belleville West Harambee organization will present its annual performance this Wednesday, February 8.  Classes may attend the performance during fourth and fifth hours.  The evening performance will begin at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students, senior citizens, and children.

The theme of this year’s performance is “Silence the Violence, Increase the Peace.”  The performance will include poetry, vocal numbers, African dance, and hip-hop dance.  The evening performance will feature a special guest speaker and a local musical artist.

Speech Team Takes Regional Title

At the IHSA Regional tournament on Saturday, February 4, Belleville West set a state record by scoring 83 out of a possible 84 points! In the fourteen events, West won thirteen first place awards and one second place award. Congratulations to the eleven members of the regional team who will compete at the sectional tournament in Benton this Saturday:

SENIORS: Sterling Beckmann, Eli Bernstein, Vondell Burns, Zac Chamberlin, Katherine Eckert, David Felts, and Myesha Harris

JUNIORS: Cody Essien, Lauren Jones, and Taylor Keel

SOPHOMORE: Taylor Damann

Speech Team Wins JV State Tourney

The Speech and Acting Team’s underclassmen competed in the first-ever JV State Tournament at Illinois State University, placing first out of 18 schools!  Gold medals were given to students who placed in the top three in each event, silver medals to places four through six, and bronze medals to semi-finalists.  West’s GOLD medalists were Taylor Damann, Julie Graham, Dean Fults, Kole Schlich, and Da’Vyne Moncure (in two events).  SILVER medalists were Jenn Riess (2 events), Bethany Dain (2 events), Julie Graham, Taylor Damann, Angel Riley, and Jacob Cange.  BRONZE medalists were Anabel Gonzales, Dean Fults, Angel Riley, and Abby Poelker.

Hy News, the BW Student Newspaper, Goes Online

Since the 1930s, the Hy News has been the voice of Belleville West.  The award-winning student newspaper goes virtual this year,  adding an online presence to accompany its monthy print editions.  Check out it out here:

http://sites.bths201.org/west/activities/hynews/

Speech Team Finishes Season on Top

At the final EFL (Egyptian Forensic League) tournament of the season, the BW Speech and Acting Team took top honors, defeating the second place team by more than 50 points. 

Individual varsity event champions included senior Eli Bernstein (in both extemporaneous speaking and impromptu speaking), senior Katherine Eckert (in special occasion speaking), senior Sterling Beckmann (in radio speaking), and senior Vondell Burns (in oratorical declamation).  Second place varsity finishes went to senior Jorden Guldner (in dramatic interpretation), senior Katherine Eckert and junior Cody Essien (in dramatic duet acting), senior Sterling Beckmann (in informative speaking), sophomore Taylor Damann (in special occasion speaking), and senior Zac Chamberlin and junior Taylor Keel (in humorous duet acting).  Third place varsity finishes went to junior Cody Essien (in dramatic interpretation), senior Cornelius Allen (in impromptu speaking), senior David Felts (in both humorous interpretation and original comedy), and junior Lauren Jones (in poetry reading).

Congratulations to coaches Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Reidelberger!  Congratulations to the BW Speech and Acting Team!