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Start the New Year with a Reading Challenge
At the start of 2022, resolve to make time to read every day. Try the BW English Department reading challenge, or try one of the many reading challenges you can find online.
English Teachers Share their Favorite Books of 2021
The members of the Belleville West English Department recently compiled a list of their favorite books from 2021. These are books that teachers read during the past year, but they were not all published in 2020.
Mr. Brunner
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
Ms. Chalmers
Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
Ms. Comley
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Ms. Droege
Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane
Mr. Garland
Conflict is Not Abuse:
Overstating Harm, Community Responsibility, and the Duty of Repair
by Sarah Schulman
Mr. Herron
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
Mrs. Hunter
We Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez
Mr. Jenkins
The Institute by Stephen King
Mr. Johnson
Bewilderment by Richard Powers
Ms. Kurtz
The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom
Mrs. Lewis
The Anthropocene Reviewed:
Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green
Mr. Lodle
How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith
Mrs. Mims
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Mr. Reidelberger
Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare
Ms. Richardson
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Ms. Schaab
We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz
Ms. Schloesser
Crying in H-Mart by Michelle Zauner
Mr. Schobert
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Mrs. Short
A Blade so Black by L.L. McKinney
Mr. Spriggs
The Gone World by Tom Sweterlitsch
Mrs. Story
Unbound by Tarana Burke
Ms. Thurnau
We Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez
Dr. Ursani
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Harambee Completes Annual Toy Drive
Members of Harambee, the BW Black student organization, collected more than 100 new toys in their December toy drive. They will donate the toys to the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization. The Harambee adviser is English teacher Ms. Carnetta Chalmers.
Speech Team Finishes Semester with Another Win
The Belleville West Speech and Acting Team won the final SISAL tournament of the semester at Mr. Vernon on Saturday, December 11.
The following students won individual awards in the varsity division:
Abby Barger – first place in Original Oratory
Sarah Hauser – first place in Prose Reading
Elise Moore – first place in Dramatic Interpretation
Elise Moore – first place in Oratorical Declamation
Audrey O’Renic – first place in Poetry Reading
Diego Reed – first place in Original Comedy
Leontine Rickert – first place in Humorous Interpretation
Abby Barger – second place in Prose Reading
Sarah Hauser and Audrey O’Renic – second place in Dramatic Duet Acting
Wini James – second place in Poetry Reading
Gabe Kurfman – second place in Extemporaneous Speaking
Gabe Kurfman – second place in Informative Speaking
Mia Kramer – second place in Radio Speaking
Diego Reed – second place in Humorous Interpretation
Jerry Aplin and Wini James – third place in Humorous Duet Acting
Jerry Aplin – third place in Radio Speaking
Khaleo Price – third place in Informative Speaking
Evan Arnold – fourth place in Radio Speaking
Kobey Mojzis – fourth place in Special Occasion Speaking
Dallas Watson – fourth place in Impromptu Speaking
Evan Arnold – fifth place in Impromptu Speaking
Brock Becker and Emma Loewe – fifth place in Humorous Duet Acting
Grace Kearns – fifth place in Humorous Interpretation
Abbey Lechien – fifth place in Original Oratory
Lizzy Schauster – fifth place in Radio Speaking
Emma Loewe – sixth place in Original Comedy
Kobey Mojzis – sixth place in Impromptu Speaking
The following students won individual awards in the next-in finals of the varsity division:
Ryann Gordon – first place in Prose Reading
Ronald Anderson-Bey – third place in Poetry Reading
Alyssa Scherer – fourth place in Poetry Reading
The following students won individual awards in the junior varsity division:
Ronald Anderson-Bey – first place in Original Comedy
Brock Becker – first place in Dramatic Interpretation
Eric Perschbacher – first place in Extemporaneous Speaking
Eric Perschbacher and Eleanor Schmitz – second place in Dramatic Duet Acting
Eleanor Schmitz – second place in Poetry Reading
Ryann Gordon and Mia Kramer – third place in Dramatic Duet Acting
Natalie Hall – fourth place in Dramatic 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.
Student Magazine Accepting Staff Applications and Writing, Art Submissions
Page One is the Belleville West literary and art magazine. The magazine is currently accepting applications for new staff members for the 2021-2022 school year. The magazine is also accepting submissions of art and writing for this year’s magazine.
Interested students can check out the Page One website to view past issues, to complete a staff application, and to submit work. Staff applications are due by Monday, December 13. Submissions of writing and art are due by Monday, February 21.
English Honor Society Gives Books this Holiday Season
The BW chapter of the National English Honor Society thanks all the students who donated nickels, dimes, quarters, and dollars to the NEHS holiday book drive. The group raised over $750 to purchase more than 120 new books for children this holiday season.
Speech Students Pick Up Three Dozen Awards at Weekend Tournament
The Belleville West Speech and Acting Team took second place at the Waterloo SISAL tournament on Saturday, December 4.
The following students won individual awards in the varsity division:
Brooke Collins — first place in Oratorical Declamation
Sarah Hauser and Audrey O’Renic — first place in Dramatic Duet Acting
Diego Reed — first place in Humorous Interpretation
Diego Reed — first place in Original Comedy
Dallas Watson — first place in Original Oratory
Avita Hall — second place in Dramatic Interpretation
Sarah Hauser — second place in Prose Reading
Gabe Kurfman — second place in Informative Speaking
Lucy Wilson — second place in Oratorical Declamation
Jerry Aplin — third place in Radio Speaking
Gabe Kurfman — third place in Extemporaneous Speaking
Jerry Aplin — fourth place in Impromptu Speaking
Audrey O’Renic — fourth place in Poetry Reading
Jordyn Struense and Elda Thacker — fourth place in Humorous Duet Acting
Norah Buescher — fifth place in Humorous Interpretation
Eleanor Schmitz — fifth place in Poetry Reading
Emma Loewe — sixth place in Original Comedy
Carmella Vitale — sixth place in Prose Reading
Lizzy Schauster — seventh place in Radio Speaking
The following students won individual awards in the junior varsity division:
Alyssa Scherer — first place in Poetry Reading
Ryann Gordon — first place in Prose Reading
Ryann Gordon and Mia Kramer — second place in Dramatic Duet Acting
Marissa Kearns — second place in Humorous Interpretation
Marissa Kearns — second place in Original Comedy
Mia Kramer — second place in Radio Speaking
Natalie Hall — third place in Dramatic Interpretation
Eric Perschbacher and Eleanor Schmitz — third place in Dramatic Duet Acting
Leontine Rickert — third place in Humorous Interpretation
Elda Thacker — third place in Radio Speaking
Brock Becker — fourth place in Dramatic Interpretation
Brock Becker and Emma Loewe — fourth place in Humorous Duet Acting
Carmella Vitale — fourth place in Extemporaneous Speaking
Natalie Hall — fifth place in Radio Speaking
Jordyn Struense — fifth place in Prose Reading
Marley Fuhrman — sixth place in Original Oratory
Eric Perschbacher — sixth place in Extemporaneous 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.
Book Club Chooses First Selection for 2022
The Belleville West Book Club has selected Blake Crouch’s Recursion as its next reading selection. The group will meet on January 12 for discussion. Copies of the book are now available for check-out at the circulation desk in the Belleville West 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.
Little Theatre Holds Contest Play Auditions This Week
Auditions for the 2022 contest drama, Ripcord, will be held virtually all this week. Students in all grade levels are eligible to audition. Interested students may scan the QR code on posters around school for audition information and materials. Audition forms and videos are due by this Friday, December 3.