Clubs and Organizations
FCA Prepares Food Baskets for the Holidays
On Thursday, December 14, FCA students worked to prepare holiday food baskets for Washington County residents. Through their hard work they created 75 food baskets. Thank you, FCA, for helping to make this season brighter for our neighbors in need.
FCA Holiday Elves pictured above: Tessa Bergmann, Addie Wilson, Andy Goforth, Brance Luessenheide, Gunnar Lanham, and Mrs. Bergmann.
Photo Credit: Mrs. Bergmann
Nashville FFA Attends District Job Interview
Recently, members of the Nashville FFA Chapter attended the District JV Invitational Job Interview Leadership Development Event held at the SIU College of Agriculture Sciences. This contest is designed to help members enhance their interviewing skills for obtaining agricultural jobs in the future. In order to advance to the district competition, members must have either placed 1st or 2nd at the section competition. Members competing in the event submitted a cover letter and resume prior to the contest. These materials must be based on an agricultural job that members are currently capable of obtaining. At the event, members filled out a job application, participated in a face to face interview, and were required to write a follow-up letter. Jayla Ledford placed 1st and Clara Kozuszek placed 6th. Congratulations, FFA Members.
Photo and information submitted by Lily Tejada, Chapter Reporter
Jayla Ledford and Clara Kozeszek
Nashville FFA Places Second in Greenhand Quizbowl
On December 6th, freshman FFA members of the Nashville
FFA Chapter participated in the annual Section 21 Greenhand
Quizbowl held at Nashville Community High School. The teams
were challenged with intense questions of the history of FFA,
parliamentary procedure, historical figures in FFA, officers of the
organization, and many other related subjects of the National FFA Organization and the Illinois Association FFA. Because of their dedication and hard work, the team proudly took home second place. Congratulations, FFA Members.
Photo and information submitted by Lily Tejada, Chapter Reporter
Row 1: Jacob Valdivia, Brock Schuessler, Clara Kozuszek, Alexys Spratt, and Jayla Ledford; Row 2: Abby Cottom, Chloe Kurwicki, Oskar Ryterski, and Mylah Bateman
Scholar Bowl Team Hosts Home Meet
On Tuesday, December 5, NCHS Scholar Bowl hosted Carterville and Christ Our Rock. Nashville's JV team went 2 - 0 for the day outscoring Carterville 160 - 50 in the first match and beating Christ Our Rock 200 - 190 in the second match. The varsity squad ended 1 - 1 beating Christ Our Rock 140 - 40 and losing to Carterville 330 - 160. The varsity high scorer for the day was Jaylin Stofferahn with 6 toss ups. Paul Campanella had 3, and Griffin Bochantin had 2.
JV Team Photo
Back row: Matt Wright, Chase Gill, Jacob McBride, Johnathan Bronke, Coach Spenner
Front row: Anna Carr, Iris Kozan, Lila Kozuszek, Jaylen Jones, Arabella Alfeldt, Landan Pierce
Excellent work, Scholar Bowl.
Photo Credit: Mrs. Spenner
Scholar Bowl Team In Action
The Scholar Bowl team traveled to Anna Jonesboro on Thursday, November 30 for a varsity and junior varsity meet. The varsity team went 1-1 with another game that came down to the last question. They beat West Frankfort (160-110), and they lost to AJ 170-210). "Both of their losses have come down to the wire," Coach Haeli Williamson shared. The varsity high scorer was Griffin Bochantin (9 toss ups). Others with individual toss ups were Jaylin Stofferahn (2) and Isaac Wrzesinski (2). The JV team won both of their matches against AJ ( 130-80) and West Frankfort (190-180) in a tie breaker. The high scorer was Jacob McBride with 7 toss ups. Other students with individual toss ups were Jaylen Jones with 5, and Lila Kozuszek and Johnathan Bronke with one each.
Looking to cheer on the Scholar Bowl?
Home Meet -- Tuesday, December 5, 2023 -- 3:30 p.m.
Home Meet -- Tuesday, December 12, 2023 -- 3:30 p.m.
Meets are held in various rooms at NCHS, including the Media Center and Room #15.
Photo Credit: Mrs. Williamson
Book Club Meeting
It's time to get a jump start on your Book Club readings for the December meeting!
Book Club will meet in Mrs. Olson's room, Room 14, after school on Wednesday, December 13. If you're interested in joining but haven't read (or finished) the book yet, you are still welcome to attend. Bring a snack.
See Mrs. Olson if you have questions.
Image Credit: Google Images
NCHS Math Team Competes in October Events
The results for the October 16th competition: Karlie Stein placed 1st out of all freshmen in the individual event; Jaylin Stofferahn placed 5thand Isaac Wrzesinski placed 6th out of all seniors in the individual event, Ethan San Juan placed 5th out of all juniors in the individual event, and Annelise Shubert placed 4th out of all sophomores in the individual event.
Photo Credit: Mr. Markotay
The results for the October 30th competition: Emma Commetto and Annelise Shubert placed 5th out of all sophomores in the individual event; Karlie Stein placed 4th out of all freshmen in the individual event; Brady Meyer placed 8th out of all seniors in the individual event, and Andrew Jablonski placed 8th out of all juniors in the individual event.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
NCHS Scholar Bowl Members Compete in Scholastic Hi-Q Competition
On Monday, November 6, four NCHS Scholar Mowl members competed in Scholastic Hi-Q at SIU Carbondale. Scholastic Hi-Q is an academically-based game show produced by WSIU Television. The episode will air on TV in a few weeks. The date has not been announced yet. Check back with their coaches, Mrs. Spenner or Mrs. Williamson, to find out the date to tune in to support our NCHS scholars.
Isaac Wrzesinski, Leo Dunahee, Keeley Hug, Jaylin Stofferahn
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Photo Credit: Mrs. Spenner
Book Club Meeting
Book Club will meet in Mrs. Olson's room, Room 14, after school on Wednesday, November 8. If you're interested in joining but haven't read (or finished) the book yet, you are still welcome to attend. Bring a snack.
Do you want to get a jump start on Book Club readings for the December meeting? Check out Mrs. Olson's Book Club site for dates, times, and books of each month.
See Mrs. Olson if you have questions.
Image Credit: Google Images
Lifesavers Prepare for Red Ribbon Week
Did you know that you can be rewarded for wearing your red ribbon? Throughout the week, teachers will randomly distriubte red tickets - like the ones these Lifesavers are cutting out - to students wearing or displaying their red ribbon. You can exchange these tickets for candy in Mrs. Schultz's room. Be sure to keep your red ribbon displayed all week!
Lifesavers Iris Kozan, Lila Kozuszek, Austi Gale, Lily Emge (above), and Khloe Robinett (right) happily help cut our red tickets.
Photo Credit: Brooke Harris
Getting to Know You...With Lifesavers!
LifeSavers is a peer-support suicide and crisis-prevention program designed to help teenagers cope healthfully with the challenges of drugs and alcohol, peer and family relationships, academic problems, aggression, anxiety, and suicide. So, an important part of being a Lifesavers is learning how to listen. These Lifesavers are practicing those skills with fun games - and snacks, of course.
HEADS UP!!!
Brooke, Leo, and Robin are great listeners as they learn more about Landon.
Nothing helps you get to know a person like an intense game of Jenga.
Photo Credit: Mrs. Schultz // Image Credit: Google Images
NCHS Math Team
The NCHS Math Team competed in the SWIC Math Conference that took place at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville on Monday, October 2, 2023. The Math Team is coached by Mr. Markotay. Well done, team.
Annelise Shubert (8th out of all sophomores), Grace Stein (5th out of all sophomores), and Jaylin Stofferahn (7th out of all seniors).
Photo Credit: Mr. Markotay
Calvin Endres, Grace Stein, Annelise Shubert, Robin Habeck, Jaylin Stofferahn, Ava Kinder
Joel Bergmann Selected for National Proficiency Award
Joel Bergmann was selected for a National Proficiency Award in Forest Management and Products from his record books on the work he does at Alfeldt’s Christmas Tree Farm. Joel is a member of the Nashville FFA Chapter of the Illinois Association FFA. Illinois FFA recognizes students in fifty different areas based on their work-based learning, also known as Supervised Agricultural Experiences or SAE. FFA members who demonstrate outstanding agricultural skills and competencies through record keeping, leadership, and scholastic achievement may be considered for this award. SAEs allow students to learn by doing by either owning and operating an agricultural business, working or serving an internship at an agriculture-based business or conducting an agriculture-based scientific experiment and reporting results. Joel, the son of Jeffrey and Wendy Bergmann, was selected as a National Silver Ranking competitor by a committee of agriculture industry representatives and teachers knowledgeable in this work-based area. Joel was previously chosen as the Chapter, Section, District, and State awardee in this area.
Article and Photo by: Lily Emge, FFA Chapter Reporter
National Honor Society Meeting
Attention all National Honor Society Members
Your next meeting will be Wednesday October 4th at 7:30 a.m. in the cafeteria.
All meetings are mandatory.
Image Credit: Google Images
FFA Participates in District Horse Judging at SIUC
FFA members recently participated in the District V Horse Judging Career Development Event. The District competition was held at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois on September 15th. During the contest, participants judged rings of halter horses and patterns that included mares and geldings of different breeds. In the competition, Nashville placed 12th as a team. Clara Kozuszek placed 11th individually.
Article and Photo by: Lily Emge, FFA Chapter Reporter
FFA members that participated were (l to r): Grace Tolliver, Lily Emge, Joel Bergmann, Dallas Burr, Jayla Ledford, and Clara Kozuszek.
FFA Places First in Sectional Tractor Driving CDE
Nobody likes to show off their tractor driving skills more than FFA members! Recently, members from the Nashville FFA Chapter did exactly that when they participated in the Section 21 Tractor Driving CDE. This contest consists of two components: a written test and a skills course. During the written test portion, members answered questions on basic tractor operation and safety. In the second component, members had to drive a tractor through a course while pulling a trailer and practice their backing skills while placing a trailer into a simulated shed. The Nashville FFA Chapter placed 1st at the Section 21 competition with Grayson Schorfheide as the 1st place individual and Levi Huge as the 3rd place individual.
Article and Photo by Lily Emge, FFA Chapter Reporter
Dallas Burr congratulates participants (pictured from left to right): Grayson Schorfheide, Kelton Roethemeyer, Aden Wisely, Avery Piasecki, and Levi Huge.
Math Team Finishes Strong in First Competition
Math Team debuted their computing skills on Monday, September 18, at Southwest Illinois College (SWIC). Students competed in two events in this competition: the individual event and the team event. The individual event involves students taking a multiple choice math test without a calculator. The team event allows students to work together on a math test with calculators. NCHS students placed in individual events. Emma Cometto placed 8th and Annelise Shubert placed 3rd out of all sophomores. Ethan San Juan placed 6th out of all juniors, and Isaac Wrzesinski placed 8th out of all seniors.
Great job, Math Team, and good luck on your next three competitions!
Math Team Members Competition at SWIC (left to right): Emma Cometto, Annelise Shubert, Ethan San Juan, Paul Campanella, and Isaac Wrzesinski
FFA Attends Leadership and Greenhand Events
(Top row l to r) Mackenzie Bauza, Lily Tejada, Makayla Winka, Dallas Burr, Erica Kujawa, Jordan Schuette, Joel Bergmann, Lily Emge, Tessa Bergmann, and Anna Bauza. (Second row l to r) Abby Cottom, Alexys Spratt, Leila Rye, Parker Ebert, Case Jebron, Oskar Ryterski, and Maddy Hasheider. (Bottom row l to r) Clara Kosuzsek, Jayla Ledford, Mylah Bateman, Chloe Kurwicki, and Briar Newcomb.
Photo and Information Credit: Lily Emge
On September 5, FFA chapter officers attended the annual Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT) event held at SIUC. Chapter officers were led by the State Officer Team, including NCHS alumni, Eric Wisely who is serving as the 2023-2024 Vice President. The leadership activities included icebreakers, mazes, and contests, all of which required leadership as well as teamwork.
Also in attendance were new FFA Members who attended the Greenhand workshops to learn more about the purpose of FFA, as well as expanding their leadership skills.
A Great Start to Horse Judging
On August 25th, FFA members participated in the Section 21 Horse Judging Career Development Event held at the King City Saddle Club in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. During the contests, participants judged four rings of halter horses that included mares and geldings of different breeds. In the Section 21 competition, Nashville placed 10th as a team. FFA members that participated were (l to r): Clara Kozuszek, Grace Tolliver, Joel Bergmann, Dallas Burr, and Lily Emge.
Lily Emge, FFA Chapter Reporter
Horse Fun Fact:
Did you know that horses can't breathe through their mouths? They are obligate nasal breathers, which means their nasal passages are separated from their oral cavities.
Book Club Meeting
On Wednesday, September 13, Book Club held their first meeting to discuss Be Not Far From Me, by Mindy McGinnis.
Do you love reading and talking about books ? All students are welcome to join Book Club. Upcoming readings for October, November, and December can be found at Mrs. Olson's Book Club site. Check your copy out and start reading today!
Photo Credit: Mrs. Olson
Jaylen and Grace love what they just read.
Reegan Jones, Jaylin Stofferhan, Jaylen Jones, & Grace Stein
FCA Meeting
FCA held their first meeting on Wednesday, 9/13/23. At the meeting they read over a verse discussing how athletes practice their sport all the time but raising the question about whether students practice their faith all the time. They also discussed different activities they will do during the year such as singing at the nursing home and making Christmas cards. The meeting ended with snacks and a competitive yet friendly game of kickball.
If you're interested in joining FCA, see Mrs. Bergmann in Room #18.
ALL students are welcome to join.
Photo and Video Credit: Abby Knepp
IMG_0.MOVKindness Club
The NCHS Kindness Club is in its fourth year and has close to fifty members. They met on Thursday, 9/14/23, to discuss their upcoming food drive, so they encourage you to keep your eyes and ears open for more information about that community-wide event after Homecoming. As part of their service to NCHS, they also cut out flyers for the November musical. Any interested in joining should contact Mrs. Jen Maschhoff.
Maliah might have been a little surprised by this photo, you think?!?!
Austi Gale served as meeting secretary this week.
Kindness Club Lesson
"The Way People View You"
Sometimes I think about the different characters I play in everybody’s story.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I’m a terrible person in some people's narratives and a Godsend in others.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And none of it has anything to do with the person I truly am.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The lens that others view you through is coloured by their upbringing, beliefs, and individual experiences.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Some people see your bright personality as endearing and others see it as annoying.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Some people think you’re weak and emotional and others feel safe to be themselves around you.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Some people think you’re rude and selfish and others respect the way you stand up for yourself.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Some people admire the way you take pride in the way you look and others think you’re conceited.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And none of it has to do with who you truly are as a person.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
What you have to understand is that you have no authority over how people view you so never try to control the way others see you because the only thing that truly matters when the dust settles down at the end of the day is what you genuinely see in yourself.
~ Cody Bret
Photo Credit: Mrs. Maschhoff
Book Club Meeting
Book Club will meet in Mrs. Olson's room, Room 14, after school on Wednesday, September 13. If you're interested in joining but haven't read (or finished) the book yet, you are still welcome to attend. Bring a snack.
Do you want to get a jump start on Book Club readings for October, November, and December? Check out Mrs. Olson's Book Club site for dates, times, and books of each month.
See Mrs. Olson if you have questions.
Image Credit: Google Images
Blue Banner Meeting
Anyone interested in joining The Blue Banner staff should meet in Mrs. Kollbaum's room, Room 14, after school on Wednesday, September 13.
ALL students are welcome to attend.
See Mrs. Kollbaum or Mrs. Goostree if you have questions.
Image Credit: Google Images / Mrs. Goostree
Academic Challenge Team Sign Up
Anyone interested in joining the Academic Challenge Team should visit Mr. Miller's ACES website and complete the survey. The deadline to complete the survey is Friday, September 29.
See Mr. Miller if you have questions.
Image Credit: Mr. Miller
NCHS Pep Club Meeting
Anyone interested in joining the NCHS Pep Club should meet in the Cafeteria on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at 7:45 a.m.
ALL students are welcome to attend.
See Mrs. O'Rear if you have questions.
Image Credit: Google Images
Math Team Meeting
Anyone interested in joining Math Team should come to Mr. Markotay's Room, Room 25, on Monday, 9/11/23.
See Mr. Markotay if you have questions.
Image Credit: Google Images
FCA Meeting
FCA will meet for their first time this 2023 - 2024 school year on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. in Room 18.
See Mrs. Bergmann if you have questions.
Image Credit: Google Images
Honor Society Holds First Meeting for 2023 - 2024
National Honor Society Members are "early birds" as they showed up for their first 7:30 a.m. meeting on Wednesday, 9/6/23. Officer Abby Knepp reported that they discussed volunteer service hours and the need to give back to and support their communities. Additionally, they planned the Homecoming parade float, considered possibilities for a school-wide activity, and planned for the October 24th school blood drive. Thanks, NHS members, for positively leading events at NCHS.
Photo Credit: Abby Knepp
National Honor Society Officers: Harrison Zgonina, Abby Knepp, Tailer Pelczynski, Joel Bergmann, and Brady Stein
FFA Chapter Events
The NCHS FFA Chapter has been very busy lately. We competed in the horse judging competition on Friday, August 25 in Mt. Vernon. The 2023 - 2024 Chapter Officers have been elected and "are excited for a great year!" Additionally, many students participated in the Farmyard Follies on Friday, August 28 in DuQuoin and several members competed in different agricultural-related events. The team placed 10th overall.
Information and photos submitted by Lily Emge,
Nashville FFA Chapter Reporter
2023-2024 Nashville FFA Chapter Officers: First Row: Co-Vice President Mackenzie Bauza, Secretary Makayla Winka, Sentinel Anna Bauza; Second Row: Historian Lily Tejada, Reporter Lily Emge, President Joel Bergmann, Chaplain Jordan Schuette, Treasurer Dallas Burr, Co-Vice President Erica Kujawa, Greenhand Advisor Tessa Bergmann
Horse Judging Competition Team: Clara Kozuszek, Grace Tolliver, Joel Bergmann, Dallas Burr, and Lily Emge
Farmyard Follies Participants at Duquoin State Fair
National Honor Society Meeting
Attention all National Honor Society Members
This year's first meeting will be Wednesday September 6th at 7:30 a.m. in the cafeteria.
All meetings are mandatory.
Image Credit: Google Images