Articles from Feb 24, 2022

A club at Norris High School that hasn’t drawn a lot of attention until now but is actively making a difference in the community is the recycling club. This club, run by Noah Niemeyer and Ella Dibburn, dedicates itself to bettering the recycling program at Norris. They have done this with the help of the Living to Serve grant for $1,200 through FFA.

When applying for this grant, Noah, as president of the club, had to describe the recycling problem in the school and lay out a detailed plan of how to solve it. The problem they identified was Norris High School had no unification in their recycling: people were unaware of where to recycle because the recycling bins were either old cardboard boxes or nonexistent, so papers and plastic bottles were often put in the trash.

Their proposed solution was to buy recycling bins for all of the classrooms along with four big bins to put in the hallways. On behalf of the club, Noah states, “We didn’t feel like the recycling was as effective as it could be if we had actual bins, so we wanted to change that.” They have already distributed these bins in the four short months after having received the funds.

That’s not all they want to change; future plans are already in motion. One of these plans is to inform the student body about the recycling club and program. They have begun spreading the news by putting up posters in the hallways depicting recyclable and non-recyclable items. They hope to extend the reach of their influence by eventually participating in an elementary school event to educate the younger generation on the importance of recycling. They also plan to purchase composting equipment for the forthcoming composting program being put together by other Norris students. Noah says, “Since recycling and composting kind of go hand-in-hand, we thought we could work together with the grant money on this.” The timeline for this partnership isn’t definite yet, but they expect it will take off within this year or the next.

The recycling club is only three years old and has already done some incredible things for this school; there is no doubt they will continue to be an inspiration as they grow and advance.

On Jan. 29, a house fire in Pierce claimed the lives of three children, ages 12, 15, and 17, while their parents and a kindergartener were able to get out of the house alive. On Thursday, Feb. 3, the Norris community wore blue to show support for the family and community. The idea came about when a student who recently transferred from Pierce to Norris approached student council members and filled them in on what happened. Mrs. Hansmeyer, a teacher who helped organize the cause, said the following when asked how she had heard of what happened.

“She (a student at Norris who transferred from Pierce at semester) went to a couple of our student council members and said, 'Hey, this happened' and we didn’t really hear anything about this, primarily because of where we are in Nebraska. She said this is what happened and asked if we could wear blue.” Students could bring donations if they wanted to. In total the Norris School District raised around $900 on Thursday with additional donations coming through until Monday.

Hansmeyer said she was amazed and pleased with the amount that was raised. “I think we have great staff, but what this told me is that it is Covid, it is hard, it’s toward the end of the week,” Hansmeyer said. “We are tired, we don’t know really even where Pierce, Nebraska, is, and yet everyone personalized it and thought if I lived there, if I was a staff member in that school, that would affect me greatly.” The donations collected were sent to a local bank in Pierce that was handling the donations for the family.

As a student at Norris High School, I don’t truly know many of my teachers, and as far as knowing my peers, I tend to only know those in my friend group. So, I decided that it could benefit us all to get to know both our instructors and classmates, not just by the sports a student plays, or by the subject a teacher teaches, but by their hobbies and interests outside of school. The Norris community is so large and diverse that we often are blind to the traits we all bring to the table, so it is my goal that by reading about others in our community we can start new conversations with the people around us and build friendships to last the duration of our high school years, if not lifetime.

Teachers are the center of our district. Their careers are centered around teaching students of all ages the information to help them succeed in life. Without teachers, students could not blossom into the people they are, with the constant need to learn more about their aspirations and favorite subjects.

Mr. Olbricht is a biology and Earth Science teacher at Norris High School. In the past three years of him being at Norris, he has also taught Life Systems and Science 9. He also coaches baseball and helps out with the GSA here at school.

What may come as a surprise to some, is that Mr. Olbricht hadn’t originally planned on being a teacher. “I have always had a passion for science, learning, and have always loved kids, but it wasn’t until I started working with elementary students with special needs that I knew I was a teacher at heart. This experience and my love for science led me to teach high school scientists! At this time, I had already graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a biology major and had signed up for the medical college admission test (MCAT). Needless to say, my life led me to a different career, and I love it!”

When asked about why he pursued a career in education, Mr. Olbricht said this: “In short, because I want to make a difference that lasts forever. I had the realization while in my early adulthood that by affecting a person in a way that changes their thinking or view on life or learning can be perpetuated on those they interact with, and so on, changing innumerable lives,” and went on to say that, “Whether it’s a smile that makes someone’s day, a question that shows someone you care, or the spark that ignites a passion, those acts get immortalized, and what better way to make a difference than to teach young people?”

Mr. Olbricht says that his teaching style has absolutely changed over the past few years, and said his first time teaching was nerve wracking. “I think I listened to “Just Breathe” by The Unlikely Candidates on repeat for the first week. I would basically rehearse each class period during my first period plan, even taking notes on things I wanted to include. Not much planning occurred during the first month of my teaching, but I feel much more prepared during this, my third year of teaching.”

Usually, our view on school is dependent on our own experiences with our classmates and teachers. “I did enjoy school growing up. I am fortunate in that the systems of teaching and learning worked in my favor and the material came easily to me, but I recognize that that isn’t the case for everyone. I think that this does, admittedly, affect my teaching style in that I have a habit of “nerding out” about my teaching content,” Mr Olbricht said. “However, I think that this shows my passion for learning, and I hope that students will learn to embrace their passions.”

Mr. Olbricht wants his students to know that he enjoys art, which he likes to create in his free time. “I also enjoy lifting weights, hiking, and I actively promote understanding and support of mental health awareness,” he said.

I find that teachers' hard work goes unrecognized by students quite often, with students' concerns relating to their own assignments and projects. As the Norris community continues to grow, it is our duty to recognize the hard work, dedication, and generosity of those around us. Mr. Olbricht is just one of the teachers in our district that encourages students to excel in the classroom and take their ideas and aspirations wherever they may lead them.

The Norris High School Spanish Club is one that few people participate in, but everyone knows about. The Spanish Club is run by Megan Good, who has taught Spanish at Norris for 13 years. One of the club’s favorite activities is their annual Valentine fundraiser. Throughout over 25 years, the Norris Spanish Club has sold adorable valentine options to high school students and staff. One year they even raised over six hundred dollars in sales! No matter how much money they make, the Spanish Club always puts it towards the next big project. For example, this year the Spanish Club is participating in the World Language Fair and is using the money to cover the cost of entrance fees.

The Valentines are always a huge hit for the students. For one student, a tradition has flourished surrounding the Spanish Club Valentines. After years of their older sibling sending Valentines to their class, the student decided to continue this as soon as they reached high school. There will be plenty more Valentines headed their younger sibling's way. The types of valentine treats have changed drastically throughout the years. They have gone from balloons, to stuffed animals, to flowers. This year, the Spanish Club sold a card, stuffed animal, and a sucker. For the foreseeable future, these treats will be what Norris students and staff can be looking forward to. Spanish Club is full of invested students who love service and are driven. Spanish Club grows to “whatever the students want it to be, if they want it to be super involved that is what we make it” says Good. The Spanish Club has been a staple in the Norris Community for many years, and it will continue to grow and change. The Valentines are only the tip of the iceberg for what the club does and has in store for the future.