BR golfers take second at State Championship

Clear out room in the trophy case and get the banner ordered. The B-R golf team brought home the second place trophy at the Class D State Golf Championship in North Platte. The BR team shot a 699. Heartland Lutheran finished first with a 684 and Friend ended up third with a score of 704. Preston Peters was the only B-R medalist, in a three way tie for second with a 153. Auston Darnell barely missed medaling, placing 18th with a 167. Nick Sjuts shot a 185, Brady Petersen had a 194, and Seth Steinmeyer shot 206. Congratulations B-R golfers and Coach Brook Darnell, on your second place finish. Photos of B-R provided by Steve Wageman, Heartland Lutheran.

Foreign Exchange students

With a small senior class next year, it would be a good opportunity to have foreign exchange students attend our school. Here is a list of expectations for host families. If you know of someone in the school district interested in hosting, have them contact the school. THE HOST FAMILY OF A FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENT IS EXPECTED TO: * Be a welcoming and open-minded family * Treat their student as a member of the family, not as a guest * Share established reasonable family rules and chores * Guide their student in learning throughout the experience * Talk often with the student’s counselor at school * Discuss any questions and concerns with the program representative * Share American culture and lifestyle with their student * Show an interest in learning about their student’s culture * Include their student in family and community activities

State Golf update

The Bancroft-Rosalie golf team is in 3rd place after the first 18 holes. They trail 2nd place by 1 stroke and 1st place by 6 strokes. Preston Peters is in tie for 3rd place at 8 over par. The final 18 holes will be completed Wednesday.

State Writing Results

The Nebraska Department of Education released the results of the Statewide Writing Assessment. The fourth grade had 100% of students meeting the benchmark for writing proficiency. The B-R eighth grade had 67% of students meeting benchmark (the state average was 63%). Bancroft-Rosalie had 22% of 8th graders exceeding the state writing standard and Lauren Zuhlke scored a perfect 70. The B-R eleventh grade had 57% meeting benchmark (the state average was 62%). Bancroft-Rosalie had 21% of 11th graders exceeding the state standard and Baylie Reil scored a perfect 70.

Summer speech and drama camp this week

Nineteen students grades 3-8 are participating in the Panther Pride Speech and Drama Workshop this week at Bancroft-Rosalie School. The workshop runs Monday-Thursday with a Public Performance Thursday May 24 at 10:00 am.

Jess Tietz and Erin Sorensen compete at State Track Today

Jessica Tietz throws the discus at 9:00 am this morning.

Erin Sorensen runs the 3200 meter run at approximately 11:55 am.

Election Day

The big vote in the Village of Bancroft is on the city sales tax. I personally will be voting for the sales tax. The decrease in state aid to municipalities, like Bancroft, has left the town short of funds. The village board has made spending cuts and now the only way to balance the budget is to increase revenue. The sales tax is a better option than increasing property taxes or raising utilities.

I will be voting to support the sales tax to give the Village of Bancroft the funds they need to adequately serve the people of this community.

Lieutenant Colonel Rob Kreig update

Former B-R student Lieutenant Colonel Rob Kreig has been in the Army since attending West Point Academy after high school.  Rob graduated from thre Academy in 1994 and earned his Masters from Kansas State in 2010. He is currently stationed at Fort Sill, OK and will be taking over command of the 1st Battalion, 30th Field Artillery stationed at that base on May 24. Quite an accomplishment.
We hope to have Lt. Col. Kreig back to speak to students at a Veterans Day Program when his schedule allows.

School Board Meeting Agenda

Bancroft-Rosalie Community School

Regular Board of Education Meeting Agenda

Monday, May 14, 2012 --- 7:30 p.m. in Bancroft

1.   Call to Order

2.   Open Meetings Act

3.   Roll Call

4.   Read and approve the minutes of the April 9, 2012 Board Meeting.

5.   Treasurer’s Report

      A. Approve the Bills

      B. Financial Review

6.   Review Agenda

7.   Public Hearing

8. Building Project:

      A. Accept bids for mechanical system and for fire suppression system.

9.   Administrator’s Reports:

      A. Superintendent’s Report

      B. Principal’s Report

10.     Old Business:

      A. Approve purchase of 65 passenger bus.

11.     New Business:

      A. Approve negotiated agreement with the teachers.

      B. Set wages for activity bus drivers and substitute cooks.

      C. Approve softball coop with Wisner-Pilger and Lyons-Decatur.

      D. Accept resignations of Candess Headlee and Marla Slaughter

      E. Offer teaching contracts for:

           1. science

           2. speech-language

           3. preschool

           4. elementary

           5. special education

      F. Gaylann McClain

12. Discussion Items

      A.

13. Executive Session-

14.     Future Planning- Next scheduled meeting- June 11, 2012 at 7:30 pm in Bancroft.       

15.     Adjournment.

Improving National Graduation Rates

Here is a recent report on national graduation rates from The Center for Public Education (www.centerforpubliceducation.org). It is disappointing to see that Nebraska is one of ten states that had a lower graduation rate in 2009 than in 2001. Bancroft-Rosalie issued 31 diplomas at last nights graduation ceremony, but we won't have a 100% graduation rate because the rate includes students that stopped attending high school. I support increasing the mandatory age of attendance to age 18. 
Report: High school graduation rate climbing nationwide.
According to the report, the U.S. high school on-time graduation rate increased from 72 percent in 2001 to 75.5 percent in 2009.
Ten other states made significant gains in their graduation rates during this same time period: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin.
On the other hand, 10 states actually had lower graduation rates in 2009 than in 2001: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, New Jersey, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Rhode Island, and Utah.
Wisconsin is the only state with a 90 percent graduation rate.

What’s Working
• Getting more students to read by the fourth grade. This is an early indicator of whether a student will eventually graduate.
• Establishing early warning indicator and intervention systems to predict potential dropouts. (One-third of states currently collect all the data needed to implement such a system).
• Sixteen states report no plans to implement an early warning system.
• Provide sustained and quality adult and peer support to all students who want and need the support.
• Massachusetts and Minnesota along with several other states and districts have established mentoring programs to promote student success with good results.
• Raising the compulsory school attendance age coupled with support for struggling students. (Of the states with graduation rates above the national average, nearly two-thirds require students to be in school until age 17 or 18 or until they graduate).
• Provide all students (including those who have dropped out) clear pathways from high school to college and career training.
• Ten states are now implementing innovative, high-impact reforms to boost student postsecondary successes in this area.

B-R to graduate 31 tonight

Bancroft Biz Buzz 10:00 am today

Employment Opportunities

Custodian/Bus Drivers

Bancroft-Rosalie School is seeking applications for a custodian/bus driver. This position will be a 50 hour work week, 52 weeks a year. Must be available to work evenings during school activities. Benefits include single insurance, sick leave, and two weeks paid vacation.

Duties will include housekeeping and driving school bus routes. A CDL and a level I bus driver license are required.

Classroom Para-educator

Bancroft-Rosalie School is seeking applications for a Special Para-educator. The Para-educator will be responsible for working with students one-on-one and in small groups. The applicant must meet the federal “highly qualified” requirements before school begins.

Regular hours will be 7:45- 4:00 pm. The starting wage is dependent upon experience. Some benefits will be provided. 

Interested persons can apply at the Bancroft-Rosalie School office in Bancroft, NE.

403-648-3336

Former student Derek Frese to speak at Nebraska Coaches Clinic

Former B-R grad Derek Frese has been selected to speak at the Nebraska Coaches Association in Lincoln this August. Here is the press release from the clinic brochure.

"Coach Frese is in his fifth season at Nebraska Wesleyan as a throws coach. He has been named the Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year for the three consecutive track & field seasons. During the 2011 season Frese had three athletes earn six NCAA III All-American awards, including four women's All-American awards at the outdoor championships. He also coached two athletes to NWU school records in the weight throw and shot put. Frese came from Northwest Missouri State University where he served as a graduate assistant track and field coach for two seasons."

Powerdrive finishes 2nd at State

Behind the skilled driving of Morgan Smith and Paige Tietz, the B-R car placed 2nd in the Standard class at the State Powerdrive race at Werner Park in Papillion. Elkhorn won the championship.

The B-R exhibition class car won the E race. This was the 61st race won by B-R since 2001.

NeSA Testing completed

Math NeSA testing was completed this morning. The juniors were 79% proficient in Math and 86% proficient in reading based on last years cut scores.

Because of their effort and good performance on the test the junior class has earned a trip to the Henry Doorly Zoo on May 15. Nice work.

Fine Arts Banquet

Six new members were inducted into the Bancroft-Rosalie Chapter of the National honor Society. They are Eric Browning, Levi Beutler, Josi Bruning, Olivia Nottlemann, Brady Petersen, and Tyler Ruge.

Mr. Meyer recognized three artists for Artist of the Year- Matthew Wegner, Jessica Tietz, and Paige Tietz.

Mr. Jason Smith awarded the Arian Award to Olivia Nottlemann.
The John Phillip Sousa award winner is Jasmine Greenfield.