Volume 1, Number 12 October 30, 2009

“Hear Ye, Hear Ye!” The Blanco ISD

Blanco ISD Celebrates Red Ribbon Week Drug Free Themes, Activities, Programs Featured at all Three Campuses

Blanco ISD students and teachers observed Red Ribbon

Week this week, and reports are that it was a success!

According to elementary counselor Patricia Mangold,

“Red Ribbon Week at the Elementary was so much fun! The

kids enjoyed participating in the daily activities, and were extremely excited when their classes won the spirit stick for

student participation.”

“I hope all students were as excited as my own daughter

was to come to school this week. She couldn’t wait to get

dressed each day! In addition to having a fun week filled

with activities, such as the Safety Fair and carnival, each

class will receive a lesson on drug awareness this six weeks.

It’s fun and educational.”

Middle School counselor Lisa Rogers said, “Red Ribbon

Week gives us another opportunity not only to help students

learn about the dangers of getting involved with drugs, alco-

hol, and tobacco, but also a chance to encourage students to become involved and active in things that they enjoy doing

that will enhance their lives in a positive direction.”

Michele Skillman, High School counselor, said, “We recog-

nized students for their participation in the drug free poster con-

test, and gave awards to the poster winners. We a also had special

dress days to promote awareness for being drug-free. We

awarded prizes for the best dressed each day.” “We also passed out Red Ribbons to the whole student body to

wear to celebrate Red Ribbon Week.”

Skillman went on to tell of a special project of one class.

“Amanda Wier, our 11th grade English teacher, created a video

Board of Trustees Matt Herden, President

Mary Ann Weaver, Vice President

Troy Immel, Secretary

Kirk Felps

Charles Riley

Bernie San Miguel

Darrel Wagner

Superintendent Dr. Buck Ford

Nashville Star runner-up John Arthur Martinez performed and talked

to Blanco Middle School students on Monday about staying off drugs.

Cont’d on Page 2...

The Bell, Vol. 1, No. 12 Page 2 Red Ribbon Week... Continued from Page One...

RED RIBBON WEEK Poster Contest Winners

Kindergarten Lucas Villareal

1st Grade Danae Kimmel 2nd Grade Mitchell Barnet

3rd Grade Taylor Kotfas

4th Grade Jacob Robinson

5th Grade Molly Edmondson

6th Grade 1st Dylan Reinhard, 2nd Victoria Jeske, 3rd

Sara Martinez, 4th Adrienne Lopez, 5th

Ryan Ronces

7th Grade 1st Diego Alegria, 2nd Jacie Handberry, 3rd

Colton Barrow, 4th Courtnie Schroeder, 5th

Reagan Rogers

8th Grade 1st Sergio Gonzales, 2nd Mekayla Button,

3rd Meaghen Seales, 4th Hunter Gustafson, 5th Molly Moore

High School Jessica Solis, Briar Koehl, Shelby Wilson,

Lindsey Winn, Alicia Immel, Justin Gamez,

Presley Savarino, Jose Nunez, Tauna Luke,

Abbey Weaver, Dominaque Dirst, Alex

LeBlanc, Kaleigh Moreland, Nick Moore

in conjunction with her Creative Writing class. The video fea-

tures players from our varsity sport teams, and our Blanco High

School cheerleaders. The video’s theme is “Better Things to do

Than Drugs. The video was presented to the 5th grade and mid-

dle school.”

The Bell, Vol. 1, No. 12 Page 3 “Hear Ye, Hear Ye!”

Panthers Host San Antonio Cole

in District Finale Win vs. Cougars Will Secure

Outright District Crown

It’s Blanco vs. Harper in Battle of

District 27-AA Co-Champs Friday Afternoon Game in Fredericksburg

Will Determine Seeding for Playoff Brackets

Panthers beat Johnson City last week 61—0. (Photo by Anne and Darryl Harvey)

Lacee Hunter duels Harper defense in last meeting

between the co-champs on October 16 . (Photo by Anne and Darryl Harvey)

The Panthers close out their District slate tonight, hosting

San Antonio Cole at 7:30 PM. The Cougars are 5—3 on the

year, and 2—2 in District. The Panthers are 8—1 on the year,

and 5—0 in District. Blanco will clinch an outright District

championship with a win tonight. Head Coach Danny Rogers is treating Cole respectfully.

“Cole still has a chance of making the playoffs; they have to

win their final two games. Cole scores a lot of points each

week. They scored 56 points in beating Johnson City two

weeks ago, and they are coming into our game after an off-

week. They should be well rested.”

“Cole always relies on team speed both offensively and de-

fensively. They have a talented backfield, and prefer to run the

ball to the perimeter of the field to utilize their speed.”

Coach Rogers felt good about the Panthers’ 61—0 victory

over Johnson City. “We came out and played from the opening

kickoff vs. Johnson City. Our guys were focused and ready to play a full four quarters of “Blanco style” football. We exe-

cuted our offense and played outstanding defense.”

Coach Rogers had these thoughts about closing out the regu-

lar season. “Our seniors are the leaders of our team They have

only lost one home game in their six-year career, and they do

not plan on losing another.”

Congratulations to the Lady Panthers!

After sweeping through the second round of district play

undefeated, the Panthers find themselves perched atop District

27-AA alongside Harper with 9—1 records.

However, the District 27-AA Co-Champs will meet one more time this afternoon at 4:30 PM in Fredericksburg to deter-

mine seeding placements for the upcoming playoffs.

Head Coach Amy Hackebeil had these thoughts when re-

flecting on the District season. “I am so pleased with what we

have accomplished this year program wide. Every athlete has

progressed in a positive way on and off the court.”

“I am proud to be a part of this program and to work with my

fellow volleyball coaches who have all experienced success

with each of their teams. The 7th and 8th grade teams domi-

nated in District, and the freshmen clenched a Co-District

championship with a win Tuesday night in Comfort. This year

has been amazing, and the future of Blanco volleyball is very bright.”

As for the immediate tasks at hand, “I am excited about play-

ing another competitive match against Harper. It will make us a

better team. As far as the playoffs, our region has some of the

top rated teams in the state in AA.”

Note: In the upcoming playoff scenario, Blanco will most

likely play the loser of this week’s Karnes City vs. Poth game.

Note: If the Panthers beat Harper tonight, they will draw a first

round bye and play the winner of Schulenburg and the 3rd

place team from District 25. If the Panthers lose to Harper, they

will play Nixon-Smiley in the first round. Site and times TBD.

The Bell, Vol. 1, No. 12 Page 4 “Hear Ye, Hear Ye!”

Varsity Girls Regional Qualifiers

at District Cross Country Meet 7th Grade Girls Sweep to District Title

The District 27-AA Cross Country meet was held last

Wednesday at Comfort, and the Blanco Panthers did well in the

competition.

“We did real well. I’m proud of our kids,” said Head Cross

Country Coach Stuart Schultz. Highlight of the varsity competition was the performance of

the varsity girls. Their third place finish earned them a place at

the Regional Cross Country meet to be held November 7 at

Brooks City Base in San Antonio. Start time is 12:00 noon.

“That is the first time we’ve qualified a girls team to Region-

als. I’m proud of them dedicating themselves to this accom-

plishment.”

Top Ten girls finishers were Abby Beard (5th, 14:02) and

Caitlin Gibbons (8th, 14:18).

Coach Schultz was also pleased with the JV girls, who fin-

ished second overall. “Echo Burkhart finished 4th with a 15:39,

which was her best time ever. Avery Zapata finished 6th with 15:50. I’m counting on them contributing to the varsity next

year.”

In the boys varsity division, both Joseph Romero and Ed-

ward Alvarado finished with their best times of the season.

The middle school division was high-

lighted by a Blanco sweep by the seventh

grade girls. Following up Jamie McClin-

ton’s first place finish, the Panthers claimed

2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 8th places to win going

away.

“I wasn’t expecting that. It was a pleasant surprise,” said Coach Schultz.

The 8th grade girls team finished 3rd.

(L to R) Stuart Schultz, Abbey Weaver, Caitlin Gibbons, Natalie Stah-

mann, Natalie Barnett, Abby Beard, Monica Flores.

FFA Livestock Judging

Team Nabs National Honors

The Blanco FFA Livestock Judging team received Gold

Medal Honors at national competition last week held in Indian-

apolis, Indiana.

Overall, the team of Keaton Dodd, Quaid Haack, Claire

Klepac, and Kaleigh Anderson placed 7th in the nation, and missed out on going to Edinburg, Scotland by only seven

points.

Blanco had a strong overall performance, winning a gold

medal and ranking in the Top 10 in cattle, sheep, hogs, and the

written exam.

In individual competition, Kaleigh, Keaton , and Quaid re-

ceived gold medals, and Claire took home a silver. Moreover,

Kaleigh was named the fourth highest scoring individual in the

nation, and received a scholarship for her performance.

In addition to the competition, the team spent at day at Pur-

due University, taking part in a USDA grading and livestock

evaluation clinic. Following the clinic, the team toured Purdue University’s campus in West Lafayette, Indiana.

The team qualified for national competition by finishing first

place in the state at Texas A&M last spring. Only one team per

state advanced to nationals.

According to Kaleigh Anderson, the experience was memo-

rable. “It was a great experience. We talked to a lot of people

from all over the United States. College representatives talked

to us, wanting us to come to their schools. We talked with rep-

resentatives of the USDA, and the judging coach at Purdue

University. I received a scholarship to use at any college in the

country.” “I want to thank the administration and school board for sup-

porting us to compete at this level. We couldn’t have done it

without them.”

Blanco Livestock Judging team members Keaton Dodd, Quaid

Haack, Claire Klepac, and Kaleigh Anderson placed 7th in the

nation at FFA competition in Indianapolis, Indiana last week.

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Week of Oct. 30—Nov. 8

Fri. Oct 30 Mary Ann Johnson

Sat. Oct 31 Tina Miranda

Sun. Nov 1 Carol Pepper

Tues. Nov 3 Charles Brite Fri. Nov 6 Collin Gaskamp

The Bell, Vol. 1, No. 12 Page 5

FOCUS ON BISD

Elementary School “Collin’s Cam” by Collin Gaskamp

Middle School “Lisa’s Lens” by Lisa Rogers

“Hear Ye, Hear Ye!”

“Book Fair, Red Ribbon Week”

October 26—30, 2009

“Red Ribbon Week”

October 26—30, 2009

The Bell, Vol. 1, No. 12 Page 6

“Hear Ye, Hear Ye!”

Blanco vs. Johnson City October 23, 2009

Photos by Anne and Darryl Harvey