News from the Neihardt Site

Olsen’s Tree Service, from Norfolk, began work on trimming and removing some trees around the Neihardt site October 30. Bids are still being reviewed for the retaining wall project around the Neihardt Study. The addition of ADA accessible restrooms to the Neihardt State Historic Site has been approved. Construction is planned for this summer and may be completed by Neihardt Day. The ADA restrooms will be an addition extending off the library, and the front entrance will have automatic-opening doors. A one or two space parking area will be added between the crab apple trees on the sidewalk leading to the front entrance. This will require removal of at least one of the trees.

Sub-District Volleyball

Health Screening Information

In the Fall Bancroft-Rosalie School sends home the results of the students health screening with their report card. The health screening report includes all of the health information that the school is required to collect on the student. We received a phone call regarding the inclusion of the Body Mass Index results as part of the report. The Department of Health and Human Services requires this to be measured, but it is not required that we send it to parents. That is a decision we made because we want this information to be available to the parents. It is up to the parents to decide if this information is useful to them or not. The Body Mass Index is determined by inputting height and weight data into the Center For Disease Control website and generating a report. We are not making judgments about any individuals, just sharing what we have. We are operating on the belief that parents want to know as much about their child as they can in order to help the child/student. If a parent requests it, we will not send home the health screening information for their students.

B-R and L-D Board committees meet

A joint BR and LD Board committee meeting was held last night to continue the discussion of cooping high school sports beginning in 2016-17. The boards shared information on what was discussed at their October board meetings. The sharing of FFA and Powerdrive programs is also being considered. Bancroft-Rosalie parents and patrons will have the opportunity to express their opinions at both the November 10 and December 8 Board meetings.

Bancroft-Rosalie did not meet NCLB requirements, but is not a needs improvement school yet

Under the federal law No Child Left Behind, 480 Nebraska schools and 52 districts were designated in need of improvement because 100 percent of the students were not proficient as required To be designated in need of improvement, the school does not meet annual yearly progress for two consecutive years in any category. Bancroft-Rosalie Elementary and secondary schools both made AYP in all areas in 2012-13, but did not get 100% proficient in 2013-14. But I doubt anybody had 100% proficiency in both reading and math last year. As a result, federal sanctions will be applied to 265 of those schools and to 50 districts ― sanctions requiring districts to set aside funds, offer school choice or tutoring or to restructure. We have a year to see how schools deal with the federal sanctions, because B-R will be sanctioned in 2015-16 (unless the state of Nebraska requests a waiver of No Child Left Behind and it is accepted by the federal government). A waiver would require Nebraska schools to meet several federal requirements, including tying student performance to teacher and principal evaluations and having state standards that are comparable to the Common Core Standards.

Football game time set for 7:00 pm Thursday at Randolph

Bancroft-Rosalie plays at Randolph in the first round of the football play-offs

Game time to be decided later.

Governors Race gives voters a clear choice

The editorial below was published in the Cedar County Newspaper last June. It addresses exactly why I believe rural Nebraskans need to support the candidate that has spent his life working on rural issues.

Senior Job Shadowing Tomorrow

Bancroft-Rosalie Community Schools would like to thank the following businesses and organizations for providing job shadowing experiences for our seniors tomorrow: Pender Implement Singing Hills Animal Hospital Triple A Lawn and Sprinkler Brehmer Manufacturing Burgess health Center Allen Public School Pender Times U.S. Army Countryside Vet Clinic Midwest Diesel Nebraska Games and Parks West Point-Beemer Public Schools In addition, we want to thank St. Francis Hospital in West point for allowing our Health Science students to job shadow once a month.

ACT results- Giving them onsite improved scores

All juniors and seniors took the Fall ACT test this year at school during the school day. This was the first year this option was available. The results are in and nearly all seniors bettered their previous scores. The juniors will have a second opportunity to take the test at B-R in April and then again next October. Since 100% of students were tested, it is likely that the overall average score will decrease. But at this point the decision to give the ACT during the school day was a good one.

B-R students at "Bright Lights"

The Bright Lights program is bringing together students from the four Cuming County schools to work on projects that could improve Cuming County. Students have been assigned to four teams, mixing the students so they work with people from other schools. The four B-R students involved are Justice Johnson, Kylee Marr, Kylee Cole and Tess Nottlemann. In the photo, Kylie C, Kylie M and Justice are involved in a small group discussion. Kylie C and Justice are on team "We The Boss". Kylie m is on the "Community Constructors:. Tess is on the "All For All" team.

B-R Blood Drive a big success

This was the best drive Bancroft-Rosalie school has had since our very first one in September of 2008. 18 people registered, there were 16 successful donations, and 19 units of blood were collected. These donations will save up to 48 lives! There were also 6 people that donated for the very first time. The next drive is scheduled for Monday, January 12th from 11-2 again at the school.

Microwave available for students at lunch

The microwave is located on top of the pop cooler in the Commons area. Students can use the microwave to heat their lunch.

Front Page of the 1927 Rosalie Newspaper

A copy of the newspaper found in a Rosalie "time capsule". The Rosalie Bulldogs and the Bancroft Tigers battled to a 0-0 tie in Football. Does anyone know anything about Bancroft being the Tigers? If you would like a copy of the paper for easier reading you can pick one up at the school office.

Bancroft-Rosalie School Board Meeting Summary

The Bancroft-Rosalie Board of Education met Monday, October 13, 2014 at 7:30 pm in Bancroft.

In old business, the board approved the purchase of a used ten passenger van.

In new business, the board reviewed the school transportation program and the school insurance program. The board recognized the Bancroft-Rosalie Education Association as the exclusive bargaining agent for teachers for 2016-17 and discussed the timeline for teacher negotiations.

Several patrons were in attendance for discussion on the possibility of cooping all high school sports with Lyons-Decatur beginning in 2016-17. The board asked for input regarding the upcoming discussions with Lyons-Decatur. There were a variety of ideas and suggestions brought up and discussed. The board will continue to gather information and is in no hurry to make a decision on the coop.

 The board went into executive session to discuss negotiations.

New state rating system for schools- AQuESTT

Nebraska is adopting a new rating system for its schools. The system, referred to as AQuESTT, will replace the old system of ranking schools based on their state assessment scores. In the new system schools will be classified as Excellent, Great, Good, or Needs Improvement. The three schools most in need of assistance will be designated priority schools. The school classification will be based on how schools meet each of the six tenets of a Quality Education System. Those tenets are described on the attached page below.

Softball team is District runner-up

October 13 School Board Meeting

Bancroft and Rosalie Fire and Rescue donate smoke alarms to grades 4-6

Families of B-R students in grades 4-6 will be receiving a smoke alarm courtesy of Bancroft Volunteer Fire and Rescue and Rosalie Volunteer Fire and Rescue. Here are fifth graders with their detectors. Students were asked to place the smoke detector in or near their bedroom.

East Husker Conference Volleyball Tournament

History lesson- Nebraska Czechs in the Oklahoma Land Rush, 1893

This article is from the Oklahoma historical society. Captain Caha and his in-laws, the Cerny's, made up the "Gang of Bohemians", as the Oklahoma Court referred to them. My great-grandfather and his brothers were in this group of "Oklahoma Sooners." The Cerny's eventually moved back to Nebraska. "The land office contest against Captain Caha and his brother and about twelve others, involved some of the best agricultural land in the new country. These people were not of the old boomer crowd but they came down to the South Canadian from Omaha, Nebraska and were formerly from the Czecho-Slovakia country. They were of the business type of men and Captain Caha was the leader of the party. They seemed to have gotten a good early start and located on some of the finest land in the new country along Mustang creek southwest of Oklahoma City. They were contested before the Register and Receiver of the land office, and all lost their claims, although they had sworn that they left the line at the South Canadian exactly at twelve o’clock. They were prosecuted in the United States court for committing the crime of perjury. I think all of them received a short sentence in the federal jail except Captain Caha. Cris Madsen has the explanation of why the shrewd Captain did not go to jail. These cases were pending for a year or two as they were appealed from the land office to the Commissioner of the general land office at Washington. While these cases were pending on appeal, Ezra Banks, one of the contestants, wrote the story in rhyme that had quite a circulation nearly forty years ago. Here is the way he tells it: "Captain Cahas’ Mules." By Ezra Banks. April the twenty-second, The great and noted day, When through the land of promise, Our horses ran away. There were some fast Bohemians, And mules one lovely pair; They beat the mounted squadron, Of course they did it fair. There were men of every color, Of every race and tribe; There, on the South Canadian, We started side by side. Except those loaded wagons, With plunder, grub and tools, They filed their crew for Mustang Led by a pair of mules. Twelve hundred to the wagon This was the average load; Thirteen miles the distance, And very rough the road. In less than fifteen minutes, If they obeyed the rules— They only touched in places, This famous pair of mules. Dark brown is their color— Fifteen in their stocking feet; A person just to look at them, Would think them easy beat. Their owner got to Mustang, And dug a dozen holes Before race horses got in sight This fast pair of mules. Some were skillful stockmen— The saddle was their home; With horses well selected, Bred and trained to run. When they’d run half the distance They dropped their heads like fools; They got in sight of Mustang And saw the Captain’s mules. There is nothing in the stock line Has ever been produced; For nothing on the race track Has ever been turned loose. Nor nothing found in training In old Kentucky schools Can anything like equal This dashing pair of mules. Men may work with lightning; Inventors learn to fly; The world in editorials May boast of Nellie Bly. The specials on their east lines With Vanderbilts or Goulds, But none can make the record Of Captain Cahas’ mules. If another country opens, As will likely be the case, And Congress makes -the blunder To have another race. I bow in sweet submission And still obey the rules, But organize a company And buy the Captain’s mules. Most of these Bohemians remained in the country and made good citizens and they were joined by many more. They are prosperous farmers and business men and no people, according to their number, have contributed more to developing the resources of our state.

Homecoming cadidates

Senior candidates for Homecoming King and Queen: Carsten Tietz Ian Nottlemann Derek Ahlers Kylita Gomez Suzanne Ras Jerrica Tietz Brianna Wegner The King and Queen will be crowned at the Homecoming Pep Rally Wednesday Night at the Football Field

Author Bruce Hopkins this Sunday at the Neihardt Site

Letter from Nebraska Commissioner of Education regarding No Child Left Behind in Nebraska

Bancroft-Rosalie did not achieve 100% of students proficient in Reading or Math in any of the grade ranges Grades 3-6, Grades 7-8 and Grade 11. Therefore, we are rated NOT MET for annual yearly progress according to No Child Left Behind. Here are the B-R proficiency levels at each grade range per subject: Reading 3-6 92% 7-8 75% 11 86% Math 3-6 89% 7-8 73% 11 93%

Softball District next Thursday and Friday at Wisner

We are the #3 seed and play at 11:00 am Thursday.

October School Board meeting will discuss Cooping all sports with Lyons-Decatur Beginning 2016-17

Parents and community members- At the October 13 School Board meeting the board will be discussing cooping all sports with Lyons-Decatur beginning in 2016-17. Board members and administration are interested in how each of you feel about this possibility. Please attend the meeting or contact a school administrator or school board member and share your opinion so your voice is heard. There has been mostly positive feedback from the coop of junior high sports and the youth football and summer baseball. There are always a few things that need to get worked out, but the players have gotten along well, they are having fun, and the teams have been successful.

Bancroft Tax Poster

Election Day is November 4. We need all eligible voters to get out and voice their opinion by voting.

Update on the Student Center- Panther Pad

Pictures of the new carpet on the south. Next step- wash and paint the walls, replace the ceiling tile.