Blogroll
Categories
Archives
- June 2026
- May 2026
- April 2026
- March 2026
- February 2026
- January 2026
- December 2025
- November 2025
- October 2025
- September 2025
- August 2025
- July 2025
- June 2025
- May 2025
- April 2025
- March 2025
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| « Jun | ||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
Blog Traffic
Pages
- Last 24 hours: 4,439
- Last 7 days: 22,337
- Last 30 days: 61,712
- Online now: 16
Speech Team Finishes with Ten Students in League’s Top 25
Each year, the Southern Illinois Speech and Acting League (SISAL) recognizes the top 25 students who compete at tournaments throughout the season. This year, ten Belleville West students placed in the top 25, including the top three overall competitors of the year. Senior Diego Reed finished as the league champion, followed by senior Elise Moore in second place and senior Abby Barger in third place. Also placing in the top 25 were junior Jerry Aplin, senior Sarah Hauser, junior Wini James, senior Grace Kearns, senior Gabe Kurfman, senior Audrey O’Renic, and senior Dallas Watson. Congratulations!
BW Speech Team Competes at the Top of the State
The Belleville West Speech and Acting Team traveled to the Chicago suburbs on Saturday, January 29, where they faced some of the top teams in the state. The Belleville West contingent took third place in the Sheidecker Memorial Tournament at Matea Valley High School.
The following students won individual awards:
Sarah Hauser – second place in Prose Reading
Gabe Kaufman – second place in Informative Speaking
Grace Kearns and Diego Reed – second place in Humorous Duet Acting
Elise Moore – second place in Oratorical Declamation
Wini James – third place in Poetry Reading
Elise Moore – third place in Dramatic Interpretation
Khaleo Price – third place in Special Occasion Speaking
Sarah Hauser and Audrey O’Renic – fifth place in Dramatic Duet Acting
Leontine Rickert – fourth place in Humorous Interpretation
Diego Reed – fifth place in Humorous Interpretation
Diego Reed – fifth place in Original Comedy
Grace Kearns – sixth place in Humorous Interpretation
Dallas Watson – sixth place in Original Oratory
Emma Loewe – seventh place in Original Comedy
The speech team coaches are Mr. Adam Jenkins, Mr. Tyler Herron, Ms. Anna Kurtz, Mr. Russ Reidelberger, Mrs. Leigh Reidelberger, and Ms. Julie Schloesser.
Book Club Makes Spring Selection
The Belleville West Book Club has selected Annie Hartnett’s Rabbit Cake as its next reading selection. The group will meet on April 6 for discussion. Copies of the book are now available for check-out at the circulation desk in the Belleville West Library.
RABBIT CAKE by Annie Hartnett
Elvis Babbitt has a head for the facts: she knows science proves yellow is the happiest color, she knows a healthy male giraffe weighs about 3,000 pounds, and she knows that the naked mole rat is the longest living rodent. She knows she should plan to grieve her mother, who has recently drowned while sleepwalking, for exactly eighteen months. But there are things Elvis doesn’t yet know―like how to keep her sister Lizzie from poisoning herself while sleep-eating or why her father has started wearing her mother’s silk bathrobe around the house. Elvis investigates the strange circumstances of her mother’s death and finds comfort, if not answers, in the people (and animals) of Freedom, Alabama. As hilarious a storyteller as she is heartbreakingly honest, Elvis is a truly original voice in this exploration of grief, family, and the endurance of humor after loss.
Speech Team Wins Final SISAL Tournament of the Season
The Belleville West Speech and Acting Team won the final tournament of the Southern Illinois Speech and Acting League (SISAL) on Saturday, January 22. The tournament was hosted at Belleville West.
The following students won individual awards in the varsity division:
Abby Barger – first place in Original Oratory
Sarah Hauser – first place in Prose Reading
Grace Kearns and Diego Reed – first place in Humorous Duet Acting
Elise Moore – first place in Oratorical Declamation
Khaleo Price – first place in Special Occasion Speaking
Diego Reed – first place in Humorous Interpretation
Wini James – second place in Poetry Reading
Gabe Kurfman – second place in Informative Speaking
Elise Moore – second place in Dramatic Interpretation
Dallas Watson – second place in Original Oratory
Abby Barger – third place in Prose Reading
Sarah Hauser and Audrey O’Renic – third place in Dramatic Duet Acting
Audrey O’Renic – third place in Poetry Reading
Jerry Aplin and Wini James – fourth place in Humorous Duet Acting
Jerry Aplin – fourth place in Radio Speaking
Grace Kearns – fourth place in Original Comedy
Khaleo Price – fourth place in Informative Speaking
Marissa Kearns – fifth place in Humorous Interpretation
Mia Kramer – sixth place in Radio Speaking
Dallas Watson – sixth place in Impromptu Speaking
Brock Becker – seventh place in Dramatic Interpretation
Norah Buescher – seventh place in Humorous Interpretation
The following students won individual awards in the next-in finals in the varsity division:
Kobey Mojzis – second place in Impromptu Speaking
Lizzy Schauster – second place in Radio Speaking
Ronald Anderson-Bey – third place in Poetry Reading
Carmella Vitale – fourth place in Prose Reading
The following students won individual awards in the junior varsity division:
Jordyn Struense and Elda Thacker – first place in Humorous Duet Acting
Ryann Gordon and Mia Kramer – second place in Dramatic Duet Acting
Natalie Hall – second place in Radio Speaking
Marissa Kearns – second place in Original Comedy
Eleanor Schmitz – second place in Poetry Reading
Ryann Gordon – third place in Prose Reading
Natalie Hall – third place in Dramatic Interpretation
Ronald Anderson-Bey – fourth place in Original Comedy
Eric Perschbacher and Eleanor Schmitz – fourth place in Dramatic Duet Acting
Maria Raza – fourth place in Impromptu Speaking
Leontine Rickert – fifth place in Humorous Interpretation
The speech team coaches are Mr. Adam Jenkins, Mr. Tyler Herron, Ms. Anna Kurtz, Mr. Russ Reidelberger, Mrs. Leigh Reidelberger, and Ms. Julie Schloesser.
Extracurricular Leaders Welcome the Class of 2026
On Wednesday and Thursday, January 19 and 20, Belleville West sponsored an open house for the Class of 2026. Student members of English extracurricular activities (Little Theatre, Bellevinois, Page One, and Hy News) shared information with incoming freshmen and their families.
Speech Team Claims Another Win to Start the Semester
The Belleville West Speech and Acting Team started the new year with another victory. The team won the Glenwood SISAL tournament on Saturday, January 15, placing more than 100 points ahead of the next team.
The following students won individual awards in the varsity division:
Jerry Aplin and Wini James – first place in Humorous Duet Acting
Abby Barger – first place in Prose Reading
Wini James – first place in Poetry Reading
Diego Reed – first place in Humorous Interpretation
Diego Reed – first place in Original Comedy
Dallas Watson – first place in Original Oratory
Sarah Hauser and Audrey O’Renic – second place in Dramatic Duet Acting
Gabe Kurfman – second place in Extemporaneous Speaking
Elise Moore – second place in Dramatic Interpretation
Eleanor Schmitz – second place in Poetry Reading
Abby Barger – third place in Original Oratory
Grace Kearns – third place in Original Comedy
Elise Moore – third place in Oratorical Declamation
Audrey O’Renic – third place in Poetry Reading
Leontine Rickert – third place in Humorous Interpretation
Dallas Watson – third place in Impromptu Speaking
Jerry Aplin – fourth place in Radio Speaking
Sarah Hauser – fourth place in Prose Reading
Gabe Kurfman – fourth place in Informative Speaking
Abbey LeChien – fourth place in Original Oratory
Kobey Mojzis – fourth place in Special Occasion Speaking
Eric Perschbacher and Eleanor Schmitz – fourth place in Dramatic Duet Acting
Ryann Gordon – fifth place in Prose Reading
Natalie Hall – fifth place in Dramatic Duet Acting
Grace Kearns – fifth place in Humorous Interpretation
Norah Buescher and Aloisia Rickert – sixth place in Dramatic Duet Acting
Marissa Kearns – sixth place in Humorous Interpretation
Marissa Kearns – sixth place in Original Comedy
Kobey Mojzis – sixth place in Impromptu Speaking
Carmella Vitale – sixth place in Extemporaneous Speaking
Ryann Gordon and Mia Kramer – seventh place in Dramatic Duet Acting
The following students won individual awards in the junior varsity division:
Brock Becker – first place in Dramatic Interpretation
Alyssa Scherer – first place in Poetry Reading
Marley Fuhrman – second place in Original Oratory
Mia Kramer – second place in Radio Speaking
Eric Perschbacher – second place in Extemporaneous Speaking
Leontine Rickert – second place in Prose Reading
Lizzy Schauster – second place in Informative Speaking
Elda Thacker – second place in Special Occasion Speaking
Carmella Vitale – third place in Prose Reading
Natalie Hall – fourth place in Radio Speaking
The speech team coaches are Mr. Adam Jenkins, Mr. Tyler Herron, Ms. Anna Kurtz, Mr. Russ Reidelberger, Mrs. Leigh Reidelberger, and Ms. Julie Schloesser.
Students Gather for Book Club Discussion
Students in the Belleville West Book Club met in the BW Library after school yesterday to discuss Blake Crouch’s sci-fi novel Recursion. The group will hold its next meeting in April.
Student Book Club Meets This Week
The Belleville West Book Club will hold its first meeting of the new year this Wednesday, January 12. The group will meet in the Belleville West Library after school to discuss Recursion by Blake Crouch. Copies of the book are available for check-out at the circulation desk in the BW Library.
RECURSION by Blake Crouch
Reality is broken.
At first, it looks like a disease. An epidemic that spreads through no known means, driving its victims mad with memories of a life they never lived. But the force that’s sweeping the world is no pathogen. It’s just the first shock wave, unleashed by a stunning discovery—and what’s in jeopardy is not our minds but the very fabric of time itself.
In New York City, Detective Barry Sutton is closing in on the truth—and in a remote laboratory, neuroscientist Helena Smith is unaware that she alone holds the key to this mystery . . . and the tools for fighting back.
Together, Barry and Helena will have to confront their enemy—before they, and the world, are trapped in a loop of ever-growing chaos.