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Speech Team Wins Final Conference Meet of the Season
The Belleville West Speech and Acting Team won the final SISAL tournament of the season. The Southern Illinois Speech and Acting League hosted the tournament virtually on Saturday, January 23.
The following students won individual awards in the varsity division:
Jerry Aplin and Diego Reed — first place in Humorous Duet Acting
Elise Moore — first place in Oratorical Declamation
Abby Barger — second place in Dramatic Interpretation
Gabe Kurfman — second place in Extemporaneous Speaking
Diego Reed — second place in Original Comedy
Anna Buescher — third place in Poetry Reading
Elise Moore — third place in Radio Speaking
Audrey O’Renic — third place in Prose Reading
Diego Reed — third place in Humorous Interpretation
Anna Buescher — fourth place in Prose Reading
Grace Kearns — fourth place in Humorous Interpretation
Audrey O’Renic — fourth place in Poetry Reading
Grace Kearns — fifth place in Original Comedy
Gabe Kurfman — fifth place in Informative Speaking
Abby Barger — sixth place in Informative Speaking
Sarah Hauser — sixth place in Original Comedy
Nyah Marcano — sixth place in Poetry Reading
Wil Bazar — seventh place in Special Occasion Speaking
Sydni Juhas — seventh place in Informative Speaking
Nyah Marcano — seventh place in Prose Reading
Maria Raza — seventh place in Impromptu Speaking
Lucy Wilson — seventh place in Oratorical Declamation
The following students won individual awards in the next-in varsity finals:
Avita Hall — first place in Original Oratory
Sarah Hauser — first place in Poetry Reading
Wini James — fourth place in Poetry Reading
Aloisia Rickert — fourth place in Original Oratory
The following students won individual awards in the junior varsity division:
Wini James — first place in Special Occasion Speaking
Marissa Kearns — first place in Humorous Interpretation
Kobey Mojzis — first place in Impromptu Speaking
Jerry Aplin — second place in Extemporaneous Speaking
Norah Buescher — second place in Humorous Interpretation
Kobey Mojzis — second place in Special Occasion Speaking
Aloisia Rickert — third place in Dramatic Interpretation
Jerry Aplin — fourth place in Radio Speaking
Sydni Juhas — sixth place in Radio Speaking
Maria Raza — sixth place in Extemporaneous Speaking
Mahek Bhakta — seventh place in Original Oratory
Halle Pitre — seventh place in Impromptu Speaking
The speech team coaches are Mr. Adam Jenkins, Mr. Russ Reidelberger, Ms. Julie Schloesser, Ms. Anna Kurtz, Mr. Tyler Herron, and Mrs. Leigh Reidelberger.
BW Book Club Makes Spring Selection
The students of the Belleville West Book Club have selected The Turner House, a novel by Angela Flourney, as their spring book. Copies of the book are available at the circulation desk in the BW Library. The group will meet virtually for discussion on Wednesday, April 7.
THE TURNER HOUSE
For over fifty years the Turners have lived on Yarrow Street. Their house has seen thirteen children get grown and gone—and some return; it has seen the arrival of grandchildren, the fall of Detroit’s East Side, and the loss of a father. But when their powerful mother falls ill, the Turners are called home to decide their house’s fate and to reckon with how their past haunts—and shapes—their future. The Turner House is a striking examination of the price we pay for our dreams, and the ways in which our families bring us home.
Speech Competitors Earn Awards in Two Weekend Tournaments
The Belleville West Speech and Acting Team claimed second place at this week’s SISAL tournament. The Southern Illinois Speech and Acting League hosted the tournament virtually on Saturday, January 16.
The following students won individual awards in the varsity division:
Jerry Aplin and Diego Reed — first place in Humorous Duet Acting
Abby Barger — first place in Informative Speaking
Elise Moore — first place in Oratorical Declamation
Elise Moore — first place in Radio Speaking
Abby Barger — second place in Dramatic Interpretation
Anna Buescher — second place in Poetry Reading
Diego Reed — second place in Humorous Interpretation
Diego Reed — second place in Original Comedy
Grace Kearns — third place in Original Comedy
Gabe Kurfman — third place in Extemporaneous Speaking
Audrey O’Renic — third place in Poetry Reading
Jordan Sinkler — third place in Special Occasion Speaking
Paige Goodrich — fifth place in Dramatic Duet Acting
Dallas Watson — fifth place in Original Oratory
Jerry Aplin — sixth place in Radio Speaking
Grace Kearns — sixth place in Humorous Interpretation
Sarah Hauser — seventh place in Original Comedy
The following students won individual awards in the next-in varsity finals:
Audrey O’Renic — first place in Prose Reading
Nyah Marcano — second place in Prose reading
Anna Buescher — fifth place in Prose Reading
The following students won individual awards in the junior varsity division:
Wini James — first place in Special Occasion Speaking
Kobey Mojzis — first place in Impromptu Speaking
Lucy Wilson — first place in Oratorical Declamation
Beth Heinrichs — second place in Prose Reading
Sydni Juhas — second place in Informative Speaking
Kobey Mojzis — second place in Special Occasion Speaking
Ryann Gordon — third place in Prose Reading
Wini James — third place in Poetry Reading
Aloisia Rickert — third place in Dramatic Interpretation
Jerry Aplin — fifth place in Extemporaneous Speaking
Norah Buescher — fifth place in Humorous Interpretation
Aloisia Rickert — fifth place in Original Oratory
Marissa Kearns — sixth place in Humorous Interpretation
Maria Kramer — sixth place in Radio Speaking
Maria Raza — sixth place in Extemporaneous Speaking
Maria Raza — sixth place in Impromptu Speaking
Mia Kramer — seventh place in Informative Speaking
The team also competed in the Wheaton Warrenville South tournament. The tournament was hosted virtually, with live (virtual) finals on Saturday, January 16.
The following students won individual varsity awards:
Diego Reed — second place in Humorous Interpretation
Elise Moore — sixth place in Oratorical Declamation
The following students won individual awards in the next-in varsity finals:
Sarah Hauser — fifth place in Poetry Reading
Grace Kearns — sixth place in Original Comedy
Anna Buescher — seventh place in Poetry Reading
The speech team coaches are Mr. Adam Jenkins, Mr. Russ Reidelberger, Ms. Julie Schloesser, Ms. Anna Kurtz, Mr. Tyler Herron, and Mrs. Leigh Reidelberger.
Contest Play Auditions Scheduled for Next Week
Auditions for the 2021 contest drama, The Women of Lockerbie, will take place next week. Students from all grade levels are welcome to audition for this haunting, poetic drama about loss, love, and hope. Rehearsals will begin in February. Students will submit audition videos via Flipgrid; audition videos are due no later than Friday, January 22. Students can scan the QR code from one of the audition posters around campus for detailed information.
BW Book Club Meets This Week
The Belleville West Book Club will meet virtually this Wednesday, January 13, to discuss the graphic novel Grass. Any student who has read the book is welcome to attend.
Speech Team Starts New Year with Another Win
The Belleville West Speech and Acting Team won this week’s SISAL tournament. The Southern Illinois Speech and Acting League hosted the tournament virtually on Saturday, January 9.
The following students won individual awards in the varsity division:
Abby Barger — first place in Informative Speaking
Gabe Kurfman — first place in Extemporaneous Speaking
Elise Moore — first place in Oratorical Declamation
Diego Reed — first place in Humorous Interpretation
Dallas Watson — first place in Original Oratory
Abby Barger — second place in Dramatic Interpretation
Anna Buescher — second place in Poetry Reading
Grace Kearns — second place in Original Comedy
Audrey O’Renic — second place in Prose Reading
Jordan Sinkler — second place in Special Occasion Speaking
Anna Buescher — third place in Prose Reading
Elise Moore — third place in Radio Speaking
Lucy Wilson — third place in Oratorical Declamation
Avita Hall — fourth place in Original Oratory
Gabe Kurfman — fourth place in Informative Speaking
Audrey O’Renic — fourth place in Poetry Reading
Diego Reed — fourth place in Original Comedy
Paige Goodrich — fifth place in Dramatic Interpretation
Grace Kearns — fifth place in Humorous Interpretation
Aloisia Rickert — fifth place in Original Oratory
Dallas Watson — fifth place in Impromptu Speaking
Jerry Aplin — sixth place in Extemporaneous Speaking
Caroline Geib — sixth place in Oratorical Declamation
Sarah Hauser — sixth place in Original Comedy
Sarah Hauser — sixth place in Poetry Reading
Kobey Mojzis — sixth place in Impromptu Speaking
Paige Goodrich — seventh place in Impromptu Speaking
Wini James — seventh place in Poetry Reading
Nyah Marcano — seventh place in Prose Reading
The following students won individual awards in the junior varsity division:
Sydni Juhas — first place in Informative Speaking
Kobey Mojzis — first place in Special Occasion Speaking
Mahek Bhakta — second place in Original Oratory
Marissa Kearns — second place in Humorous Interpretation
Wini James — third place in Special Occasion Speaking
Mia Kramer — third place in Radio Speaking
Wil Bazar — fourth place in Special Occasion Speaking
Ryann Gordon — fourth place in Prose Reading
Aloisia Rickert — fourth place in Dramatic Interpretation
Maria Raza — fifth place in Impromptu Speaking
Mia Kramer — fifth place in Informative Speaking
Mahek Bhakta — sixth place in Extemporaneous Speaking
The speech team coaches are Mr. Adam Jenkins, Mr. Russ Reidelberger, Ms. Julie Schloesser, Ms. Anna Kurtz, Mr. Tyler Herron, and Mrs. Leigh Reidelberger.
Start the Year with a Reading Challenge
At the start of 2021, resolve to make time to read every day. Try the BW English Department reading challenge, or try one of the other 2021 reading challenges below!
BW ENGLISH DEPARTMENT 2021 READING CHALLENGE
BOOK RIOT READ HARDER 2021 READING CHALLENGE
POP SUGAR 2021 READING CHALLENGE
English Teachers Share their Favorite Books of 2020
The members of the Belleville West English Department recently compiled a list of their favorite books from 2020. These are books that teachers read during the past year, but they were not all published in 2020.
Mr. Brunner
Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson
Ms. Chalmers
Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusel Salaam
Ms. Comley
Dear Justyce by Nic Stone
Ms. Droege
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Mr. Garland
The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper
Ms. Guebert
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Mr. Herron
Slay by Brittney Morris
Mrs. Hunter
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Mr. Jenkins
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
Mr. Johnson
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Ms. Kurtz
Circe by Madeline Miller
Mrs. Lewis
Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Mr. Lodle
The Paris Hours by Alex George
Mr. Reidelberger
The Test by Sylvain Neuvel
Ms. Richardson
When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole
Ms. Schaab
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Ms. Schloesser
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
Mr. Schobert
Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins
Mrs. Short
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
Mr. Spriggs
The Self-Driven Child by Ned Johnson and William Stixrud
Mrs. Story
Voyager: Outlander Book Three by Diana Gabaldon
Ms. Thurnau
March by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell
Dr. Ursani
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
Theatre Students Celebrate the End of the Semester
Students in BW Little Theatre celebrated the last week of the semester with a (virtual) holiday scavenger hunt. Each day, they posted pictures with winter items that they located or created.
