Exploring Accounting Careers

The $1,349 award from the Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The Educational Foundation Accounting Careers Awareness grant will allow students to tour and meet with accountants from Milwaukee’s Palermo Pizza Factory and the Milwaukee Art Museum. It will also pay for new classroom accounting software, Richardson said.

“We are greatly encouraged by Wisconsin teachers’ interest in advancing high school accounting curriculum, networking with CPAs and professors, learning about accounting careers and higher education, and encouraging young people to study accounting and become CPAs,” said Renee Johnson, president of the WICPA Educational Foundation.

Accounting is one of dozens of career readiness classes offered to Beloit Memorial students through REACH Advanced Career Education. The School District of Beloit’s Career and Technical Education programs allows students to explore career options, participate in work-based learning and youth apprenticeships and receive college credits.

The post Grant allows Beloit Memorial students to explore accounting careers appeared first on School District of Beloit News.

A few of our proud 4.0 students serving as “Spokesmodels” for 2nd Term BMHS Honor Roll.
(Alexa Larson, Hannah Gurholt, Aminah Crawford)

Perfect Honor Roll (4.0)

Grade 9:

Grade 10:

Grade 11:

Grade 12:

High Honor Roll (3.5 or Above)

Grade 9:

Grade 10:

Grade 11:

Grade 12:

Honor Roll (3.0 to 3.49)

Grade 9:

Grade 10:

Grade 11:

Grade 12:

The post Beloit Memorial High School | 2nd Term Honor Roll appeared first on School District of Beloit News.

Rotary Club of Beloit
Student of the Week
October 2016

Proud and Persevering

“It brings great honor to see our daughter achieve all her accomplishments throughout these past four years at Beloit Memorial” said Sara. “Her diligent work habits and focus started as a young child. As parent’s we taught her that nothing in life comes easy. You must work very hard to reach your goals.”

This hard work paid off. Ardita recently received the four-year Presidential Scholarship to Beloit College. Her parents were ecstatic about the scholarship. “It brought butterflies to my stomach, because of the positive impact it has on our families lives” said Sara.

Ardita accomplished a lot to reach this point. To start with, she is not a native English speaker. Her family is from Albania, and “as a young child, she spent a lot of time with her grandmother who only spoke Albanian. Despite these challenges, she mastered English. Furthermore, in high school she learned Spanish as well.”

She also maintained a straight “A” average as a student at Beloit Memorial. Her mom claims that her induction into the National Honor Society during her sophomore year propelled her to the next level.

The pride she had in her work improved drastically. For example, she would retake tests over and over that were a B+, just to get a better grade.

At the end of the day, Sara believes Ardita excelled because of the numerous teachers that helped her explore her eagerness to learn.

“We can’t thank the Beloit School District enough for giving our daughter an enriching experience over the past 12 years of school” said mom. Speaking of her daughter’s teachers, “they were there when she needed them. They would stay with her late and never said no to her requests for help or further explanations on a subject matter.” The “amazing teachers” at Beloit Memorial were there to help her succeed.

Personal Growth In Extra-Curricular’s

“As parents, we are proud of the direction Ardita chose. She seized the opportunities available to her.” Sara observed, “In high school, there are so many things you can do right or wrong, but Ardita chose the right path.”

That is why Ardita joined several extra-curricular programs instead. They exposed her to a diverse array of educational experiences she would not have had the opportunity to discover elsewhere.

These experiences provided her with a greater self-confidence in herself and all she does. “When children receive recognition for their work, it brings out the best in them. It encourages them to talk about what the future may bring.”

From One Parent To Another

Given their experience, when asked what guidance she might offer to younger parents just beginning their journey with school age children Sara offered, “As a parent, I would encourage mothers to talk to their child. Encourage and remind them why they are doing what they do. Paint that picture in the sky helping them to see it and run with it.”

Sara elaborated, “Be involved in your child’s life and show them love, no matter what. It all starts at home.” Ardita’s parents believe being there is what matters, not whether your child goes to a two or four-year university. It’s their choice.” Ever the proud father, Eddie chimed in, “You’ve never disappointed me.”

The post Ardita Fadilovski (17′) | Our Students Our Stories appeared first on School District of Beloit News.

Mizahna Burner and Proud Papa Pasquell

Dance Strengthens Bonds Between Father, Daughter

For the 10 th year in a row, daughters and their fathers or significant male figures throughout the community are invited to attend what has become a proud and ever more popular tradition at Beloit Memorial High School (BMHS).

On the calendar for 3:00 to 5 p.m., Feb. 25 th in the high school’s Barkin Arena, this year’s event is $15 per couple with tickets sold at the doors which will open at 2 p.m. for photos. As in the past, proceeds help support programs at BMHS.

 

 
Beloiter Pasquell Wisdom has taken his daughter Mizahna, 13, to the event for seven years and says he cannot wait to attend this year’s Father Daughter Dance.

“I believe it is very important for a father to be involved in his daughter’s life,” Wisdom explains. “It is important for a daughter to have a strong male figure. It is super important. And the dance helps with that. It helps you understand her and your daughter understand you.

 
Continuing, he says, “One of the things I enjoy is seeing everyone there on the ‘up’ side. We all have hard or bad moments, but the dance can also get your mind off of that. And the dance also gives you a legitimate reason to dress up.”

Parent Jim Cronin who previously attended with his daughter Olivia echoes Wisdom. “This is something these kids remember for a long time if not forever,” Cronin said. “Getting dressed up for a ‘date’ and getting flowers should happen more often with fathers and daughters, but unfortunately life gets in the way. This event allows dad and daughters a chance to circle the calendar, if you will, for a chance to do so.

“Another side benefit is you have fathers and daughters from all different walks of life and all of us are in the same boat. We are dads to daughters who pretty much have us wrapped around their little fingers.”

Olivia Cronin and her proud Papa Jim

 
Last year, there were an estimated 900 to 1,000 attendees, according to BMHS Vice Principal John Kaminski who has organized the event for the past several years and says he is looking forward to an even greater number.

Since the dance began and was held in the high school cafeteria, attendance has tripled, Kaminski said. In 2015 the event was moved to the larger Barkin to accommodate increasing interest.

Over the years, in addition to the dancing, daughters have been given the opportunity to share memories about fathers and vice versa, and fathers and significant males have been given flowers to present to their daughters.

 

 
Kaminski said he has heard many positive comments from fathers over the years, all of which “reinforce why we do this.” Here are a few:

‘My daughter has been talking about this event for three weeks.’
‘This is our fourth year and it has become an annual event for us.’
‘I work 60 hours a week including Saturdays but this is one Saturday I do not miss with my daughter.’ ”

As Kaminski always says, “Dads – this may be your last chance to dance with your daughter before her wedding day!”
 

Donations Needed

The dance committee is accepting donations of cookies and punch. Please drop off items at the high school in care of John Kaminski.

The post Father Daughter Dance 10 Year Anniversary | 2017 appeared first on School District of Beloit News.

4th Grade

Aldrich

Devlin Champion – Top Scoring Student
Abigail Middleton
Kamille Thomas – 8th Place
Kaley Lopez
Kyleah Hereford
Alex Hernandez
ALT: Michael Wolf

Cunningham

Alex Funk – 1st Place | Top Scoring Student
Adriana Bell – 3rd Place
Connor Ludlum – 7th Place
Cameron Stackhouse – 2nd Place
Lavelle Maxon – 9th Place
Kendall Tracy – 5th Place
ALT: Brennan Murphy

Fruzen

Carter Fallin
Alexander Rougvie – ALT 2 | Top Scoring Student
Caroline Severson
Madelyn McKillips
Ava Wehrli
Aidan Greenlee – ALT 3

McNeel

Abigail Shellberger
Caitlyn Rochester – 6th Place
Emma Hersey – 4th Place | Top Scoring Student
Kayden Moore – ALT 1
Sara Cohen
Cruz Oropeza

5th Grade

Aldrich

Ami Cano – 3rd Place | Top Scoring Student
Karla Chavez
Trinity Winfield
Emily Rodriguez
Erika Matamoros
Savannah Jacot

Cunningham

Mason Webster – 7th Place
Andrew Cafengiu
Hannah Zuniga – 1st Place | Top Scoring Student
Anne Keintz – 2nd Place
Alissa Warren – ALT 2
Chance Cornell

Fruzen

Luka Kovak – ALT 3
Brody Scott – 6th Place | Top Scoring Student
Aidan Donovan – 4th Place
Sarah Ramsden – ALT 1
Brooks Mitchell – 9th Place
Max Allen
Ryu Nikora – 8th Place

McNeel

Patrick Rochester
Gavin Mellom
Jadyn Gibson
Lauren Slatter
Ian Yadon
Jillian Traver

6th Grade

Aldrich

Brooklyn Westbury
Cristian Daye – 1st Place | Top Scoring Student
Sophia Garduno
Zeke Wheaton

Cunningham

Noah Leisher – 9th Place
Top Scoring Student
Jahir Guevera
Hayleigh Terrell

Fruzen

Kai Wong – 4th Place
Will Spiak – 3rd Place
Aidan Cain
Gabe Bukove – 2nd Place
Top Scoring Student
Ke’Shawn Leavy
Ayden Wehrli – 5th Place
ALT: Marcela Ramirez
ALT: DeCarlos Nora

McNeel

Amery Stuckey
Savannah Kirkpatrick – 6th Place
Peter Portwine – 7th Place | Top Scoring Student
Ajani Adama – 5th Place
Madyson Miller
Kylie Sandmire
DeAndre Harrell

7th Grade

Aldrich

Yoan Rangel – 9th Place
Nahcere Smith – 7th Place | Top Scoring Student
William Poff
Victor Matamoros
Felipe Zamora (Jr)

Cunningham

Jaiden Cox – 5th Place | Top Scoring

Fruzen

Sara Clark
Naoki Nikora – ALT 1
Jackson Moore – ALT 3
Olivia Cronin
Kelechi Anyanwu – 8th Place | Top Scoring Student

McNeel

Yasir Adama – 2nd Place | Top Scoring Student
Kayle Olson
Anna Olson – 3rd Place
Dalton Raykowski – 1st Place
Auston Wells
Ben Johnson
Andrew Kleinschmidt – ALT 2
Diana Sanchez – 4th Place
Kassidy Thomas – 6th Place

8th Grade

Aldrich

Danny Brown
Top Scoring Student
Peris Byrd
James Vences – ALT 3
Pratham Patel
Sincere Smith
Nicholas Day
Cherish Quince

Cunningham

Eric Funk – 3rd Place | Top Scoring Student
Jaelyn Ryan – 2nd Place
Gabby Traver – ALT 2
Olivia Larson – ALT 1
Cesar Lopez – 1st Place
Jayson Terrell – 6th Place

Fruzen

Megan Scott – 5th Place | Top Scoring Student
Natalie Bittner
Kana Wong
Sydney Prowse
Juan Pena
Ashley Minton
Katie Kramer

McNeel

Jack Johnson
Edwin Mora
Grant Yadon
Brian Kleinschmidt
Pedro Rosales – 4th Place | Top Scoring Student
Sebastian Kirkpatick

Proctors

Aldrich

Danny Brown
Nicholas Day
Pratham Patel

Cunningham

Eric Funk
Jaelyn Ryan
Olivia Larson
Gabby Traver

Fruzen

Kana Wong
Megan Scott
Sydney Prowse
Natalie Bittner
Ashley Minton

McNeel

Jack Johnson
Grant Yadon
Brian Kleinschmidt
Edwin Mora
Pedro Rosales

BMHS

Ben Leisher
Devin Stavn
Jacob Christensen
Deo Edward
Nick Wadle
Isabella Moore
Jesus Jurado
William Marshall
Gustavo Badillo
Jesus Jurado
Ter’Rayjanay Pepper
Hunter Hirst
Hanna Wolf
Mitchell Pham
Rees Graves
Thomas Kelly
Devin Wolf
Casper Clark
Noah Avery

The post Math 24 District Tournaments appeared first on School District of Beloit News.

McNeel Intermediate School – 2nd Term, 6th, 7th, 8th Grade 4.0 students – 2016-17

Perfect Honor Roll (4.0)

Grade 6:

Grade 7:

Grade 8:

High Honor Roll (3.5 or Above)

Grade 6:

Grade 7:

Grade 8:

Honor Roll (3.0 to 3.49)

Grade 6:

Grade 7:

Grade 8:

The Goofy McNeel Intermediate School 2nd Term 2016-17 4.0 students

The post McNeel Intermediate School | 2nd Term Honor Roll 2016-17 appeared first on School District of Beloit News.

EN ESPAÑOL

Summer Stretch 2017 will stretch students’ minds and help them retain what they learned during the school year.

There is reading, writing, math and afternoon learning fun and games designed to enrich, enlighten and challenge all students.

FREE
Registration Due By Mon May 15, 2017
Reserve your spot today!

Transportation:

Busing for students who live farther than 2 miles for Intermediate schools and 1 mile for Elementary schools from summer school site.
*If you need busing, register ASAP.

After School:

At school site with YMCA or Boys & Girls Club until 5:30 p.m. There is a cost. You must register with YMCA or Boys & Girls Club for after school programs.
*Parents are responsible for transportation home.

Registration

Skylar Listenbee | HBCU Tour 2017 Attendee

6th Annual Beloit Memorial HBCU Tour

By Lakya Jackson, Beloit Memorial MEO student

“The first trip was a trial run, but after its success, we knew we had to keep it going,” says Regina Hendrix, director of the Beloit College Help Yourself Program and coach of the Beloit Memorial High School (BMHS) Knightingales cheer and step teams.

Referring to the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) tour, she explains, “Now, it is like a well-oiled machine. Because so many people have become aware of our efforts, we are gaining community and district support.”

Rick McGrath | School District of Beloit News

The Hendrix sisters have been taking students on tour since 2012, visiting many HBCUs to gain knowledge of the institutions, from history of each and the significance of such schools to admissions requirements and financial aid possibilities to career and further degree preparation.

For the sixth year in a row, 22 students from BMHS will be flying to Houston, Texas to visit Prairie View A&M University and Texas Southern University. Students will also be traveling to Mississippi and Tennessee where they will visit six more HBCUs including Dillard University, Grambling State University, Xavier University of Louisiana and Alcorn State University.

Xavier University. Among the eight HBCU campuses students will be visiting.

Eligibility

Any student was allowed to fill out an application for the trip electronically as long as they met the established requirements. Students had to have an interest in education for after high school, in historically black education at such institutions and provide leadership abilities along with references. Students were also required to pay $600 unless they were fortunate enough to receive donations through fundraising to cover all types of travel expenses including airfare, lodging, entertainment, attractions, and breakfast. A limited number of students are allowed to participate in an effort to maintain affordability.

Students attending the 2016 HBCU Tour at Tuskegee University, Tuskegee AL

Students Raising Funds

Students have been provided with two fundraising opportunities to date including a Krispy Kreme doughnut sale and a soul food luncheon at Beloit Memorial High School, which were both huge successes. The Rising Knights HBCU is also co-sponsored by BMHS Knightingales, Beloit College Help Yourself Programs and The Minority Excellence organization to help educate and promote prosperity in youth.

Students attending the 2014 HBCU Tour at Tennessee State University, Nashville TN

Twenty-Two Students | HBCU Tour 2017

Skylar Listenbee, a sophomore at Beloit Memorial High School, will be another one of the 22 students attending the tour, which begins March 27th. Listenbee says she wants to go into the medical field at an HBCU and has thought about becoming a radiologist, kinesiologist or a pediatric nurse. Recently, Listenbee completed a radiology job shadow at Mercy hospital in Janesville, Wisconsin, along with a few other BMHS students. When asked why she wanted to go on the trip, she stated, “I just think it’s an excellent opportunity because it teaches us about college and what we should expect once we get to that level.” Listenbee went on to explain, “I expect to get a new understanding and to be able to set new goals for college on what I should expect.”

The History and Importance of the HBCU Experience

Elwood Robinson | TEDx Augusta

The post Beloit Memorial Rising Knights HBCU Tour 2017 appeared first on School District of Beloit News.

Meet Terri Gartland, the Meemic Foundation's first grant recipient in Wisconsin. The Merrill Elementary school teacher in Beloit, WI, used her grant money to introduce a puppet program to her music classes that's running strong five years later.

The post Merrill Elementary Community & Business Partners | Meemic Foundation appeared first on School District of Beloit News.

Rick McGrath | School District of Beloit News

See First-Hand & Meet with Staff

This evening of information is designed to help make each student’s transition to Beloit Memorial – whether new to the school or getting ready for a new grade with more rigorous courses – a success. The annual Expo provides the opportunity to see, first hand, what is offered at Beloit Memorial High School. Staff will present details about curriculum, scheduling, course and program offerings. Current students will also help provide more information as they give demonstrations of class lessons, and information on courses and clubs from their point of view.

Visitors will get to tour classrooms, the Knight Spot Student Lounge, state of the art career and technical education areas, Cardio and Strength centers, and natatorium.

Breakout Sessions:

• College & Career Readiness Course Opprtunities
• Extra Curricular Opportunities
• iPad Expectations
• Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) & Code of Conduct

Visit With:

• Academic Departments
• Student Clubs
• Student Organizations
• Athletics Dept. & Team Reps.

School District of Beloit Opportunities:

Meet with representatives:

• Open Enrollment
• Gifted and Talented
• Dual Language Immersion
• Beloit Health System Services

Beloit Memorial High School | 1225 Fourth Street, Beloit

The post Beloit Memorial High School Expo Knight 2017 appeared first on School District of Beloit News.

Ms. Martinez 4th Grade Class | Fruzen Intermediate School – Madison Reading Project

Literacy is a Life Skill

Madison Reading Project is a literacy based non-profit organization providing new and used books and programs to at-risk children in South Central Wisconsin. In 2016 Madison Reading Project donated over 10,000 books. Their goal for 2017 is to give 25,000 books to area children.

Amy Mueller, reading specialist at Fruzen Intermediate School has worked with Carie Castree from the Madison Reading Project to help supplement the classroom libraries of two 4th grade teachers, as well as to secure a variety of books for reading interventions and Reader’s Workshop.

So far, Fruzen has received over 600 books from the organization. As you can see from the photos, Fruzen students are grateful for their partnership and support.

Ms. Genin’s 4th Grade Class | Fruzen Intermediate School – Madison Reading Project

Mr. Kleinschmidt, Principal & Ms. Mueller, Reading Specialist | Fruzen Intermediate – Madison Reading Project

The post Fruzen Intermediate School & Madison Reading Project appeared first on School District of Beloit News.

I would like to say thank you to all our Reading Specialists in the District, and a special shout out to Mrs. Steudemann and Mrs. Westbury!! This would not have happened without their collaboration.

Also, thank you to the teachers that allowed our student-athletes to come into your classrooms and read to your students! Our student-athletes had a great time reading and interacting with your students.

After watching them read and answer numerous questions, there is no doubt we have some outstanding young people! The excitement and feedback from them will make the next tour so much better!

If you see any of these BMHS student-athletes, please give them a pat on the back for a job well done!

[See image gallery at beloitschools.org]

The post The Reading Tour | 2017 appeared first on School District of Beloit News.

Rick McGrath | School District of Beloit News

Rotary Club of Beloit
Student of the Week
November 2016

Beloit, Their Adopted Community

Parents Julie and Charles Lewis says the benefits of an education here were not just two or three but many fold and began early in the twins’ grade school years.

This was, they note, also true for their oldest child, Maisie, who graduated in 2015. At that time, in a story about Maisie as Rotary student, Julie said, “Beloit Memorial is a special place. We are happy our children Maisie, Avery and Nora have had the opportunity to attend Beloit public schools. We are originally from the Twin Cities. …Maisie was born in Minneapolis. We moved to Fulton, Missouri, where Chuck was teaching when Maisie was a baby. In 2003, we moved to Beloit when Chuck accepted a teaching position at Beloit College,” she continued, adding that they could not be more happy than to have become a part of the district not to mention Beloit College and the community as a whole.

A Thank You to Teachers

Talking about Nora and Avery currently, Julie says, “I would say that their time at Morgan Elementary was wonderful. Full credit to then Principal Tina Hansen and teachers like Emily Allen, Kaila Schaefer, Jan Albert and Michelle Anyuiu.

“Morgan was a loving, supportive environment. Mrs. Hansen took full advantage of her Sage funding so Avery and Nora had classrooms limited to 12 to 15 students for first through third grades, which really enhanced their reading skills. Plus they took several field trips each year to Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison and locally in Beloit. Even the youngest children were allowed to go.”

In middle school, Julie continues, “They were allowed to take advanced math classes at Aldrich. Miss Duzinski made that possible by teaching differentiated math for those students who were ready for it.

“At Beloit Memorial, they were lucky to have (current superintendent) Dr. Johnson as their principal for two years and then Dr. Salzman for one year after that. Dr. Johnson both brought in and developed some great teachers, coaches and staff including Deb Prowse, Dawn Poepping, Matt Flynn, Chris Behrens and Gary Stuedeman. Avery and Nora have also had the opportunity to take several AP courses and attend classes at Beloit College through the Porter Scholar Program.

Opportunities in Extra-Curricular

“Last but not least,” Julie adds, “Avery played varsity baseball and volleyball and Nora has traveled the country with the Beloit Memorial Jazz Orchestra. They are in National Honor Society and Environmental Club and Avery writes for the student newspaper and for the Beloit School District news webpage.”

“They are two hard-working students and they took advantage of the opportunities offered by the SDB. We are grateful that the SDB had so much to offer.”

The post Nora and Avery Lewis (17′) | Our Students Our Stories appeared first on School District of Beloit News.

Students To Run Blender Café

By Lakya Jackson, Beloit Memorial MEO student

“It’s going to be amazing” Angela Sanchez, the newly hired manager of The Blender, started to explain. Scheduled to open at the end of May this year, The Blender will sell a variety of smoothies, coffees, lattes, sandwiches, wraps, granolas, and yogurts at fair prices. The Blender was sponsored by the Hendrix Foundation, Homes family, and others. “It’s going to be a cross between program and business just because it’s a mix of school projects and then it is going to be a business for the community of Beloit.” said Sanchez, a 25 year old Beloit native who says she is very excited about the opening of The Blender.

Student Requirements

To be hired, students had to be either in or plan on taking hospitality classes at the high school, be 15 and a half years of age and have good academics. Sanchez had Starbucks managers come and interview the students in Beloit Memorial’s library. Sanchez explains, “What they [students] did was they had interviews with Starbucks. So we had a bunch of managers from Starbucks all around Wisconsin come and they did interviews with them and they [students] did two different interviews with two different managers.” Then from that point the applications were looked over by Sanchez and that’s when the actual hiring process began.

Manager Angela Sanchez

Angela Sanchez | Manager, The Blender Cafe’

Sanchez, who is the daughter of Salvador Sanchez, owner of the local Salvador’s restaurant, believes that food and beverage runs in the family. Sanchez is the middle child with two siblings. She attended University of Wisconsin–Stout where she acquired her hotel restaurant tours and management degree. She states that her father played a huge role in her decision to major in food and beverage saying that she “grew up in the restaurant business.”

To become the manager of The Blender, Sanchez had to apply, submit a cover letter, provide references, a transcript, proof of the required education and be interviewed. “It wasn’t too bad,” she noted, explaining that her tasks will consist of budgeting, mentoring and being there for the students, and pretty much oversee the entire operation. Sanchez says she just hopes that the restaurant takes off and stays successful while keeping students involved, and that the setting diverse and comfortable. She emphasizes, “I want The Blender to be a place where all types of people feel comfortable.”

A Shining Example of Public/Private partnering together to help students.

Thank you to the following and too many more to try and thank individually here.

• The Beloit Public Library
• The Hendricks Family Foundation
• Kerry Ingredients
• Starbucks
• Friends of Beloit Public Library
• Rotary Club of Beloit
• Klobucar Construction
• Angus Young & Associates

The post The Blender Café appeared first on School District of Beloit News.

Rick McGrath | School District of Beloit News

Rotary Club of Beloit
Student of the Week
December 2016

If there is one word that comes through when Joel and Jeanne Otto talk about the experiences of their daughter Marissa during her time as a student in the district and at Beloit Memorial High School (BMHS) in particular, it is gratitude. This sense of appreciation, they say, is becoming even more pronounced as Marissa prepares to graduate in June.

“We feel thankful and blessed to have had Marissa be able to be a part of the School District of Beloit and to be graduating from BMHS with the class of 2017,” Joel and Jeanne say. 

Beloit Memorial Jazz Orchestra

“The opportunities Marissa has had with being a part of the band program, and in particular the Beloit Memorial Jazz Orchestra (BMJO) the last three years, have truly been amazing,” they say, noting that their daughter plays the flute for wind ensemble and piano for the Beloit Memorial Jazz Orchestra. …She also sings for the BMJO…. Trips to California, New York multiple times, New Orleans multiple times, Florida, Memphis, Minneapolis, Purdue, and many other regional festivals and competitions have broadened her horizons and instilled so much confidence in her, not to mention how these experiences have increased her knowledge of our nation’s music history and culture. 

“She has also adopted an amazing work ethic through the dedication and hours of practice time and rehearsal required to hone her skills, working with her rhythm section, and working together with the Jazz Orchestra overall. Marissa has been able to learn about personal responsibility through her involvement with the band program as well, by always checking in with teachers for what might be missed when gone for band trips, and always following through after the trip to get all required assignments and work done.” 

For Marissa and our family,” Joel and Jeanne continue, “her opportunity to be involved with the arts programs here at BMHS has been great, including her involvement in several of the musical productions. …She is playing piano in the pit orchestra for the spring musical this year, Mary Poppins. And I know she really enjoyed the production of Shrek that the high school did a couple of years ago.

AP Courses

“Finally,” they add, “the opportunity Marissa has had to take multiple AP courses during her time at BMHS have given her a huge advantage. In addition to earning 20 plus hours of college credit, she has been able to learn and understand what it takes to pursue and succeed with college level education. This huge benefit of having so many AP classes available has definitely set her up and prepared her for a successful future into college and beyond.” 

As Joel and Marissa look forward to the conclusion of Marissa’s high school career, they say, “We are thankful that Marissa has been able to study, learn, and grow in so many ways during her time at BMHS. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the teachers and school district employees who have helped make her high school experience so memorable and successful.”

The post Marissa Otto (17′) | Our Students Our Stories appeared first on School District of Beloit News.

Historically Black College and University Tour Experience

Flying on a plane for the first time would’ve been the most exciting thing about my Rising Knights HBCU College Tour if I had not visited six Historically Black Colleges and Universities for the first time as well. There was a constant adrenaline rush from the time we boarded our flight March 27th until the time we landed back at home April 4th. We visited the states of Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia and Texas where we toured six HBCUs and participated in recreational activities such as laser tagging, shopping, a Mardi Gras world tour, the Bulls vs. Pelicans basketball game and sightseeing.
 
The schools on our itinerary were Prairie View A&M University, Texas Southern University, Alcorn State University, Xavier University Of Louisiana, Dillard University and Southern University College. At each campus, we were able to tour athletic centers, cafeterias, bookstores, dorm rooms, libraries, chapels and more. We also discussed scholarship and admission requirements, tuition costs, origins of the colleges and teacher to student ratio. Lillian Facione, an Xavier University alumni who graduated in 2014 as a Doctor Of Pharmacy, told her story of graduating a year late due to time management struggles in school. “That’s when I realized I just had to do what I needed to do in order to finish. I asked for help, I followed a very detailed schedule, etc. Failure was not an option for me.” After falling short, Lillian began to understand that success requires hard work. Facione is now currently employed at Laniappe Pharmacy in Baton Rouge, LA which is owned by Eric Peters who is also an Xavier alumni. Facione’s advice for young people on a pursuit to prosperity includes recognizing your weaknesses and to address them.
 

Amazing Experience for Students

On our tour, we also completed volunteer work while staying in Louisiana for a program called Love in Action Outreach. Love in Action is a program that aids the less fortunate by providing dry, boxed and canned goods. They also provide clothes, shoes, hats and belts for all ages and genders at a very low price. Our job while volunteering was to fold and then separate the donated clothes into their assigned bins and to stock and organize the food shelves. It was a great experience and it was nice to be able to help out a community almost 1,000 miles from my own.

Touring the campuses and meeting all of the minority students on a pursuit to prosperity was so inspirational. I felt like I had finally fit in at a school setting at these colleges. I was surrounded by people who looked like me, worked just as hard as me and wanted to beat the odds by obtaining a higher secondary education. This tour was an experience every high school student should be able to acquire because it goes beyond a teacher’s “Do your homework so you can go to college!” advice and shows reality. This tour allowed me to gain memories, personality traits and knowledge that I will be able to use for a lifetime and, for that, I am truly thankful.

[See image gallery at beloitschools.org]

The post Rising Knights HBCU College Tour appeared first on School District of Beloit News.

Rick McGrath | School District of Beloit News

School District of Beloit 2017 Teacher/Student/Parent honorees:

The post Community invited to Knight of Distinction appeared first on School District of Beloit News.

Rotary Club of Beloit
Student of the Week
January 2017

Early Reader & WCATY

As graduation from Beloit Memorial High School approaches, Todd and Deb Peterson are thinking both ahead to what they see as a bright future for their daughter and back on what they view as an excellent education that began early in grade school.

Explaining that when he thinks about his daughter’s education in the district, he has to start at the very beginning. That is, he says, with Gaston Elementary and Danielle’s teachers recognizing her strengths.

“Danielle learned to read pretty early on,” he says, “and I think because of her skill level, her teachers recommended her for the Gifted and Talented Program. Then they got her into WCATY.” Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth, according to its website, is a University of Wisconsin-based “non-profit organization committed to providing year-round, state-wide programs for academically talented youth from the elementary grades through high school.”

Early School Experiences

Noting that Danielle participated in the Center program through seventh grade, Todd said, “For the kids, it must seem like they are taking college classes. The program was a lot of work, but Danielle always did very well. And we think this is because of her early experiences in school here.

“Her teachers saw her strengths and helped her to begin to realize her potential. She loved to read. And she liked math and to write. And her teachers helped her advance in these areas.” As important, he stressed, “…her teachers taught her to think critically and grasp concepts which helped her even more.

“Danielle has always been the type of student who you couldn’t hold back. Her greatest problem has always been that there are not enough hours in the day to experience all of the new things she wants to,” Todd continued, adding that because of all of the support she received before high school, she was looking continued forward to challenge in high school.

In fact, he said, Danielle was especially happy for sophomore year to arrive when she could take her first Advanced Placement (AP) class. “She really wished she could take more than one as a sophomore,” Todd said, noting that she took AP History. “That taught her to take really good notes and that was invaluable learning.

“From there, the next year, she took a few more AP classes, Calculus One and Two. This year, she has AP Chemistry and Statistics and a couple more. These have all helped her make the most of every minute and learn the way she wants to learn.”

Confidence in preparation

Outside of the classroom at Beloit Memorial, Danielle has been active in Girls’ Volleyball and Soccer and the National Honor Society, Todd added.

If they had known then what they know now, meaning when Danielle entered school in the district, he and Deb would not have had even the least of worries about their daughter being ready for the future after high school, Todd said.

The post Danielle Peterson (17′) | Our Students Our Stories appeared first on School District of Beloit News.

The Beloit Bulls | STUDENT athletes traveling basketball team. Students from Aldrich, Cunningham and McNeel Intermediate Schools participating.

Academics, Citizenship, Basketball

You attend tryouts for your high school basketball team, play well, receive a scholarship to a Division I institution, and play your way into the professional leagues. Today’s road to basketball greatness, however, has a few more twists and turns. Today’s traveling basketball teams are large in number and frequent in talent. Some focus on the brand of the team, while others focus on the quickest path to the National Basketball Association. One team in Beloit, WI, the Beloit Bulls, dares to be different.

The Beloit Bulls is a competitive youth travel basketball team consisting primarily of sixth graders. The program stands on the principles of academics, hard work and community service. The team name, “Bulls,” stands for brotherhood, unity, loyalty, leadership and scholarship.  The team practices as much as four times per week and participates in as many as three tournaments per month. Beyond basketball, the minimum grade point average requirement is a 3.0 and participation in a mandatory community service event each month.

The team was started in 2015 by Larry Blake, a well-known Beloit basketball coach and community member. When Coach Blake was offered the varsity head coaching position at South Beloit high school, Coach Shelvin Garrett, a Beloit native stepped into the role. “We recognized an unfilled need to get the kid’s skills and teamwork on a more competitive level earlier in their playing days, said Garrett.” “That is what we were and are committed to doing.”

Character Counts

So what makes this team different? Perhaps an ideology that extends beyond basketball. “The young men also need to realize that they are part of something bigger than just themselves,” Garrett said. “The goal is to foster the attitude of hard work on and off the court.”

The team held its first tournament, the “Beloit Basketball Bonanza,” in April of 2017. The first of its kind, this tournament showcased talent on middle school and high school levels.

Although this team may not be a fast track to the NBA, it’s in full speed on the route to manhood. Stay tuned; the class of 2023 is set to shake the town, the conference, and maybe even the state.

[See image gallery at beloitschools.org]

The post Beloit Bulls Traveling Basketball Team Own the Future appeared first on School District of Beloit News.

EN ESPAÑOL

Summer Stretch 2017 will stretch students’ minds and help them retain what they learned during the school year.

There is reading, writing, math and afternoon learning fun and games designed to enrich, enlighten and challenge all students.

FREE
Registration Due By Mon June 5, 2017
Reserve your spot today!

Transportation:

Busing for students who live farther than 2 miles for Intermediate schools and 1 mile for Elementary schools from summer school site.
*If you need busing, register ASAP.

After School:

At school site with YMCA or Boys & Girls Club until 5:30 p.m. There is a cost. You must register with YMCA or Boys & Girls Club for after school programs.
*Parents are responsible for transportation home.

Registration