Special Interest

Lifesavers Exam Encouragement

The Lifesavers is an organization dedicated to helping and supporting all students of NCHS.  One of the many ways they do this is to provide words of encouragement at exam time for NCHS students so tomorrow when you come in primed and ready for that first hour exam look for these great memes on your desk to get you motivated to do your BEST.

On Friday, November 11, eleven Lifesavers attended a weekend training retreat.  Row 1: Karissa Bolan, Jaylen Jones, Rei Waldman, Kaylee Mattingly; Row 2: Group Leader Robin Habeck, Annie Shubert, Mrs. Schultz, Mylo Haege, Group Leader Tanner Brooks


Photo Credit:  Mrs. Schultz and Mrs. Kollbaum

Postponing the  Holiday Door Decorating Contest  Didn't Stop Loyal Fans of the Contest

Mrs. Heggemeier's Door, created by her Holiday Helpers: Keeghan Renth, Erica Kujawa, Ella Wesselmann, Kristina Gossman, Alissa Tyler, Mackenzie Bauza 

Mr. O'Rear's Protest Door, created by his students, featuring NCHS Staff...with Mrs. Kollbaum and Mrs. Goostree at the top of Mt. Crumpit.

Photo Credit: Mrs. Goostree

Mr. Miller's Interactive Protest Door, created by his Chem II students, with a musical appearance by Harrison Zgonina.

Message received! Be on the lookout for a door decorating contest in the Spring.🐰🐣

Santa and Grinch Sighting at NCHS

Holiday Spirit Week featured the popular Santa v. Grinch day. But why do they have to be battling for our holiday spirit? Santa and The Grinch appeared in person to show they can be friends, especially during this time of year. 

Photo Credit: Mrs. Heggemeier // Video "Why Can't We Be Friends," by War: YouTube

Christmas Memories

Email your FAVORITE photo of yourself with Santa, his jolly elves, or his best reindeer to Mrs. Goostree and Mrs. Kollbaum for a chance to be featured in the Christmas Memories section of the Blue Banner this holiday season.

Photo submitted by Mrs. Price

MRS. COURTNEY PRICE

NCHS Students Participate in Youth Advisory Council

Mrs. Patton participated with four seniors in Senator Plummer's 2023 - 2024 Youth Advisory Council at the KC Extension Center in Vandalia on Wednesday, December 6, 2023. Mrs. Patton indicated that at the event the students would "discuss a public policy issue and then get to debate it at the state Capitol in the spring where they will experience the legislative process and participate in a mock committee."  She added, "The idea behind this initiative is to engage students interested in careers in public service to connect with elected officials and other leaders and learn about the legislative process."

Joel shared: "Going to the Youth Advisory Council opened my eyes to all of the things that our elected officials do within our state and their independent districts. I got to help create a bill with my group and present it to others. It was a fun experience getting to meet new people, interpreting the lawmaking process, seeing what the life of a State Senator looks like, and learning more about government." 

Photo Credit:  Hailee Grzegorek and Mrs. Patton

Lilly Redman, Joel Bergmann, Senator Jason Plummer, Hailee Grzegorek, and Brady Stein

Hailee reflected: "The Youth Advisory Council was a good insight on politics actually in Illinois. It helped me understand that getting involved in politics is not difficult. Many different school boards or county members are looking for input for different things that they can put funding into.  Jason Plummer was able to explain that there are many different problems at a county level that only take certain steps to succeed, such as extended lunch programs. It was also easy to see that little things such as being a banker can lead to being in the Federal Reserve Board if you keep on pushing and do not give up."  

 Brady shared: "It was a great experience that I learned a lot from and made many great connections.  I was able to look into the life of a congressman and learn the process of how a bill becomes law.  I am thankful that I had bountiful background knowledge that I had learned from Mrs. Patton in the weeks before the conference.  I am also thankful for my school, which has given me the opportunity to go to the council.  I can not wait for the next Youth Advisory Council in the Spring." 

Lilly wrote, "The Youth Advisory Council was such a learning experience.  We were able to interact with our peers and the Senator, formed new ideas, and compromised to propose a new bill. We also got to see an authentic side of politicians. How to get into a position of power, and the personal risks getting there. I'm grateful to get to be a part of this and can't wait for Springfield."

Christmas Memories

The Blue Banner is pleased to feature the first photos of faculty, staff, and students with SANTA.

JUNIOR CHLOE MASCHHOFF

MRS. JENNIFER MASCHHOFF

Photos submitted by Mrs. Maschhoff

SENIOR COLIN ROLF

Email your FAVORITE photo of yourself with Santa, his jolly elves, or his best reindeer to Mrs. Goostree and Mrs. Kollbaum for a chance to be featured in the Christmas Memories section of the Blue Banner this holiday season.

Need Academic Help? We Have You Covered.

It's almost the end of the semester, and that means exams are just around the corner. If you need a little help catching up or making it to the finish line, don't forget about our after school tutoring help with Mr. Markotay in the Media Center. You can visit every Wednesday and Thursday from 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. If you have any questions, please see Mr. Markotay.

Image Credit: Google Images.

Class of 2024 

Illinois State Scholars

Twelve members of the Class of 2024 have earned the distinction of Illinois State Scholar. To be eligible for this honor, students must be in the top half of their high school class at the end of junior year, and score at or above the 95th percentile on the ACT or SAT. 

Congratulations to (row 1) Adele Buescher, Abby Knepp, Leo Dunahee, Keeley Hug; (row 2) Erica Kujawa, Harrison Zgonina, Blaine Emrick, Jaylin Stofferahn; (row 3) Colin Rolf, Brady Meyer, Brady Stein, and Joel Bergmann.

Photo Credit: Mrs. Heggemeier

Students Show Support of World Kindness Day

The variety of kindness shirts worn on World Kindness Day was outmatched by students being a little more concsious of how kind words and actions can make the difference in the lives of people around them. Shout out to the Kindness Club for reminding us of little ways we can express kindness to both others AND ourselves. 

Peyton Murray's kindness vibes are contagious.

Aubrey Rhine, Emma Behrmann, and Brooke Harris start the day with ideas of kindness and a smile. Smiling relieves stress, can elevate your mood, and is contagious. It's science.

Brance Luessenheide and Samuel Kollbaum are matching kindness energy.

Merytt Zgonina and Lainey Fletcher remind us that it is important to choose kindness for others, but also for ourselves. Be kind to you, too, because tomorrow needs you.

Photo Credit: Mrs. Jen Maschhoff // Image Credit: Google Images

World Kindness Day Monday, November 13th

 NCHS students, faculty, and staff, please join the Kindness Club by making kindness your norm.  We also ask that you wear a kindness shirt to school and perform at least one random act of kindness this week or next. 

Image Credit:  Google Images

The NCHS Student Council will host its ANNUAL SCAVENGER HUNT for FOOD tomorrow, Wednesday, November 8th. Students will begin at the North Gym Lobby at 6 p.m. and end at Grace United Methodist Church at 7:30. If your organization or friends would like to form a scavenger hunt team, please see Mrs. Robinson or Mrs. Luessenheide TODAY. 

Image Credit:  Google Images

NCHS Pep Club Tshirt Order

Friendly reminder that the order for NCHS Pep Club t-shirts closes Tuesday, October 31. 🎃 

Click the link here or the image to the right to complete the Google Form Order.  Shirts are $15, and money is due to Mrs. O'Rear.

See Mrs. O'Rear in Room #38 if you have questions. 

Kindness Club Food Drive

Knowing that local food banks were low on supplies, the NCHS Kindness Club orchestrated a school-wide food drive.  First place went to Mrs. Robinson's first hour class for collecting 303 items.  Second place was awarded to Mrs. Heggemeier’s class with 194 items.   The Kindness Club and the food pantry appreciates your support.  

This is what In total 1,228 donations for the food pantry look like.



Photo Credit:  Mrs. Maschhoff

Mrs. Robinson’s 1st hour class  

Volunteers Daven Hug, Palmer Renken, Gage Giacomo, Hayden Kirchner, and Hayden Klingeman helped to organize the food donations.

Go, Little Blue!

There’s a new fish in town! Mrs. Tesha Maschhoff has a new scaly friend with her in the Guidance Office. According to her, she just happened to have an aquarium, and what better place to use it than her office? Blue is a male betta fish, perfect for our blue school! Students can visit Blue in the Guidance Office just because, or when they are feeling blue themselves and need someone to talk to. 

Did you know that the male betta fish are the ones who take care of the eggs? Or that they can breathe air thanks to their labyrinth lungs? Now this is one cool fish! Be sure to stop by and say "Hi" to Blue.

Article and Photo Credit: Jaylin Stofferhan, Class of 2024

Thank You For Giving the Gift of Life

National Honor Society hosted their bi-annual blood drive on Tuesday, October 24. On behalf of NHS, thank you for the GREAT student and staff turn out. If you didn't have the chance to donate, the blood drive will return in the spring.

Kaylee Hodge (left), and Parker Ebert (above) receive encouragement by the American Red Cross mascot, Buddy the Blood Drop. 

Photo credit: Rei Waldman

Hornet Football Playoff Spirit Wear

NCHS Varsity Football has secured a spot in the Playoffs.

They invite you to purchase Playoff Spirit Wear through the link provided by Lee's Sports.  Click here to access the order form.

If you would like to order a shirt or sweatshirt and cannot use the online link, pick up an order form in the main office. Please fill out your size and pay by Thursday to have your shirt ordered. 

Short sleeve t-shirts are available for $16 / $17 depending on the brand.

Long sleeve shirts are available for $22.

Crewneck sweatshirts are available for $25.

Hooded sweatshirts are available for $29.

CHECK OUT This Book 

This week's theme is on food, nutrition, and hunger. Included in the display is a fact sheet with statistics on hunger. In the center of the display is the basket for the Kindness Club Food Drive that ends on Friday, October 20.  The hope is that this display will remind and inform students that hunger is all around them. If possible, students are encouraged to make donations for the food drive and become more aware about hunger and how to help others.  Hunger is not just a problem in "other" places.  Hunger and food insecurity, unfortunately, are everywhere - including in Nashville and Washington County.  Focus and display designed by Mr. Haglund.

Photo Credit:  Mr. Haglund

A Busy Weekend for Volunteers

There were a plethora of volunteer activities during Fall Festival Weekend. Some students began before the sun came up at the 14th Annual Angel for Autism 5K, and others spent the day at the FFA Petting Zoo. Our NCHS Drumline also provided entertainment for Fall Festival goers. Thank you, NCHS students, for volunteering your time during this busy weekend.

IMG_8140.MOV

Video Credit: Vita Bartolotta // Photo Credit: Vita Bartolotta and Mrs. Goostree

CHECK OUT This Book 

This week's theme is "high strangeness" because it's a spooky month.  All of these fun, weird titles are in our library's non-fiction sections. Most of these titles deal with not-altogether-real phenomena and creatures but approach them seriously. Very seriously. Because if the authors aren't going to take their outrageous claims and ideas seriously, no one else will either. Even then, it's a longshot.  Focus and display designed by Mr. Haglund.

ArtSpace 304, which is dedicated to cultivating the arts in Southern Illinois, recently posted a SHOUT OUT to the Poetry Out Loud regional participants.  Two of those participants were NCHS students, including Seth Henderson, Class of 2022 (2nd from left) and Leo Dunahee, Class of 2023 (3rd from left).  The regional competition was held in Carbondale after the local school competition in January 2023.  Mrs. Olson shared that Leo was one of the two contestants to make it to the State round of the competition.  

If you're interested in this year's Poetry Out Loud competition, look and listen for information in the following months from Mrs. Olson.

See You At The Pole

NCHS students gathered together on Wednesday, 9/27/23, to pray together.

Photo Credit:  Mrs. Harriss, Mrs. Olson, and Joel Bergmann

Welcome to NCHS, Ms. Heather Strasburg

Nashville Community High School would like to welcome Heather Strasburg. Heather is currently living in Okawville, Illinois and went to school in Okawville. She went to an Okawville Christian School until fifth grade, then transferred to the public grade school, and graduated from Okawville High School. Heather has joined NCHS as a night shift custodian. Heather has previously worked at Okawville High School as a custodian and also as a librarian. Ms. Strasburg shared, “housekeeping or custodian work is more of a comfort job than a regular job to me.”  She is twenty years old and has no kids. Although she has no kids, she has two guinea pigs and a black cat. Heather explained, “the guinea pigs are a new experience for me.” 


By Landon Urbanski, Class of 2026

Photo Credit:  Landon Urbanski // Image Credit:  Google Images

Mr. Lucas Morgan: A "New" Face at NCHS

Introducing Mr. Morgan! Mr. Morgan is the assistant director of the entire music department here at NCHS. When he isn’t playing the piano for the choir or teaching the band, he teaches young musicians lessons and directs the upcoming musical The Little Mermaid. He also tags along with the Marching Hornets when they perform at football games and competitions. You may have heard of his famous quote during our home football games: “I love football, I love band, I love screaming.” Mr. Morgan graduated from NCHS “way back” in 2016.  He shared, “You’ll find pictures of me in the music hallway if you look hard enough!” While his  “first” impression isn’t quite his first, he says “it's been really refreshing coming back to a school with so much pride in all of its programs, anything you can think of this school does it in spirit.”   He has been involved in music for a majority of his life.  He has been playing the piano since the age of seven, the trumpet since the 5th grade and has sung in choirs and operas. Nowadays he mainly plays the piano accompanying singers and the choir.  He studied primarily vocal music in university. Mr. Morgan is looking forward to working with the jazz choir in the spring.  It will be all one ensemble, and he will get to work with it all on his own. If you see Mr. Morgan around the school, be sure to give him a warm welcome if you haven’t done so already!

By Vita Bartolotta, Class of 2024

Photo Credit:  Vita Bartolotta

Get Ready for See You At The Pole

What started in 1990 when a small group of teenagers prayed at three different schools for their friends, students, teachers, and schools in Burleson, TX, has now spread to a global movement. Each year, more than twenty countries and over two million students participate in meeting at their school’s flagpole before school to pray. This student-led event occurs annually on the fourth Wednesday in September to uplift those around them. But, how is See You at the Pole observed at NCHS? According to Mrs. Bergmann, FCA will be hosting their own See You at the Pole on Wednesday morning, September 27th from 7:30 a.m.- 8:00 a.m. at the flagpole in front of NCHS. It will be a time of prayer when students can lift up their friends, families, teachers, school, and nation to God. It is student-initiated, student-organized, and student-led. Anyone can participate during the thirty minute time period, so come join Mrs. Bergmann and the FCA around the flagpole on September 27th to uplift and pray for those around you. 

Article by: Lexi Welte, Class of 2025

Image Credit: Google Images

CHECK OUT This Book 

This week's focus is on the 1969 novel The Godfather by Mario Puzo compared to the 1972 Academy Award-winning film of the same title.  The display features quotes and scenes (of both movie and book) from this renowned story of family and organized crime in America.  Focus and display designed by Mr. Haglund.

Photo Credit:  Mr. Haglund

Are You Interested in Becoming a Health Professional?

Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) is hosting a Health Professionals Day to engage future healthcare providers in what they have to offer. Students could use a College Visit day to participate in the following:

If you're interested in attending this event, click the button to the right. 

Image Credit: Google Images

We've Got SPIRIT...Yes We Do!

We've got SPIRIT, how 'bout you?

Anyone interested in purchasing Stinger spiritwear?  Click the link here or the image to the right.

See Mrs. Jen Maschhoff if you have questions. 

NCHS 2023 Homecoming Attendants Announced

The votes were cast and tabulated on Friday, September 8, 2023, and the results were announced honoring three young ladies as their class's Homecoming representatives on the 2023 Homecoming Court.


Junior Sailor Gutzler-Dlubala

Sophomore Jadyn Dees

Freshman Claire Stiegman

Photo Credit:  Mrs. Kollbaum

We Can't Hide our Hornet Pride

A special thank you to the Kindness Club for providing magnet sleeves and Mrs. Heggemeier and Mrs. Bond-Ledford's classes for the colorful signs posted on the lockers.  The time and energy to create these is greatly appreciated.

A friendly reminder that the magnets should be returned to the Kindness Club at the end of the year so we can showcase our Hornet pride in the years to come.

Photo Credit: Mrs. Goostree

A September Evening With the Bard

William Shakespeare, often referred to as the bard, is long gone physically, but his masterful works of literature are still alive and thriving in communities around the world.  Nashville is blessed to be one of those communities as Stone Soup Shakespeare, a traveling group of performers, will be presenting Shakespeare’s exciting sea adventure, Pericles, for FREE at the golf course pavilion at Nashville Memorial Park on Tuesday, 9/26 at 6:00 p.m. 

Bring blankets or lawn chairs for this outdoor evening of entertainment. Bring a picnic too.

Sophomores, juniors, and seniors...many of you are very familiar with this Shakespearean company as you have been lucky enough to meet and work with Julia Stemper, Artistic Director of the Stone Soup Shakespeare Company, through the efforts of Mrs. Olson each year.  Click here to read more about the traveling Shakespeare company.

Image Credit:  stonesoupshakespeare.com

HOMECOMING COURT CANDIDATES

SENIOR QUEEN CANDIDATES:  front row:  Abby Knepp, Tailer Pelczynski; second row: Brooke Harris, Lucy Walters,  Makenzy Pedtke

JUNIOR ATTENDANT CANDIDATES:  front row: Carly Kasten, Raelynn Pieszchalski; second row: Sailor Gutzler-Dlubala, Cheyenne Harris, Mia Vogt

SOPHOMORE ATTENDANT CANDIDATES:  front row: Aubrey Rhine, Jadyn Dees; second row: Hanley Presswood, Lily Emge, Austi Gale

FRESHMAN ATTENDANT CANDIDATES:  front row: Claire Stiegman, Lila Kozuszek; second row: Reagan Robinson, Mylah Grapperhaus-Bateman, Peyton Goforth

Photo Credit:  Mrs. Kollbaum

It's a Wild West Homecoming

Homecoming Week is September 18 - 22, and we need YOU to show your HOCO spirit. Mark your calendars and make plans to dress up!

Wednesday: Western Wear

Image Credit: Google Images

Monday: Wear Flannel!

Thursday: Country v. Country Club

Tuesday: Wear Denim

Friday: Spirit Wear! Show your Hornet Pride!

Angel for Autism 5K

Angel for Autism is an organization developed in honor of former NCHS student Traci Story.  Traci was a beautiful young woman who was dedicated to helping children with autism.  Her earthly life ended in 2008, but her goodness and love for others continues with the Angel for Autism organization.  This year's Annual Angel for Autism 5K race is Saturday, September 30, 2023.  If you are interested in participating, please click the registration linked here.  

To learn more about Angel for Autism, visit the website linked here.  

Image Credit:  Google Images

If you are interested in volunteering to help with this community event, see Mrs. Goostree in Room 36 and/or email her at mgoostre@nashville-k12.org.  All volunteers are welcome.

The U.S. Navy Visits NCHS

NCHS hosts U.S. military branches throughout the school year for students who are interested in the military branches after high school.  The U.S. Navy recruiter recently visited and challenged the students to a "plank contest."

Junior Nori Stockon made those planks look easy as she participated in the contest.  She won herself a Navy beanie too for her efforts.  If interested in learning more about the opportunities provided by the Navy, visit the Guidance Office for more information.

Speaking of the U.S. military,  sophomores, juniors and seniors, recent school announcements the week of August 28th have shared that the ASVAB, an aptitude test commonly used by the military,  will be offered at NCHS as a career exploration tool.  Test scores will not be released to the military unless parents request for them to be released.  The Guidance Office encourages you to look in your email for the ASVAB survey to complete this week.   If you missed the survey, contact your guidance counselor for more information about opportunities for taking the ASVAB.

Photo Credit:  Mrs. Kollbaum