What’s Happening: Camp Tecumseh
From Thursday, May 3rd to Friday, May 4th, the sixth graders from Westville went on their annual trip to Camp Tecumseh. Camp Tecumseh is a YMCA camp in Brookston, Indiana where students have the opportunity to learn new things about their environment and bond with their fellow classmates.
Students boarded the bus on Thursday morning with an hour and a half bus drive ahead of them. Upon arriving at the camp, they settled into their cabins where they would be staying and then had lunch before their busy day of camp adventures. From arrival to departure, the students were always busy. They went hiking on trails and participated in activities and simulations focused on communication, optimism, survival skills, and team building.
On Thursday night, the students trekked out to a campsite where they had a campfire. During the campfire, they all did skits, sang songs, and told scary stories before heading back to their cabins. The next day, students continued to rotate through the activities and simulations before finishing off their trip on the camp’s famous slide, “The Bullet”. After everyone had gone down the slide, they packed up the bus and headed back to the school.
Camp Tecumseh is a wonderful tradition at Westville that allows student to have fun, learn new things, and experience new responsibilities. It builds upon life skills that are taught at school, is a wonderful learning and bonding experience for everyone involved.
What’s Coming Up: Academic Awards and NHS
On Monday May 21, Westville Middle and High School with be having their annual Academic Award Programs. During these programs, students in grades 7-12 will be recognized for their academic achievements of the past school year and be given an award for these achievements. The induction of new members into the school’s NHS and NJHS clubs will also take place at these programs along with the announcement of senior scholarships.
The Middle School Program will start at 2:00 pm in the Blackhawk Gym. Prior to the High School Program, NHS inductions will start at 6:00 pm. The High School Program will then begin at 7:00 pm.
Students from all grades will be honored for accomplishments such as making the honor roll, being the highest academic achiever in their grade, or being the most improved in their grade. After the awards ceremony, seniors will be receiving scholarships from local clubs and organizations.
The Awards Program is a great night where the school recognizes all of the students who have achieved academic accomplishments. It’s a great way to end the school year so be sure to come out and see all of the wonderful achievements of this year’s students!
Teacher Spotlight
This month’s teacher spotlight is Mrs. Schnable. Schnable has been a teacher for thirteen years, ten of which she has been at Westville. Before coming to Westville, she was an Athletic Trainer and teacher at Boone Groove for three years. When she started at Westville, Schnable taught Health, PE, and weight training for three years, but then transferred over to Middle School Social Studies where she still teaches today.
Schnable found her passion in the classroom and enjoys many aspects of teaching.
“I really enjoy the energy and being able to come in everyday and do something different,” said Schnable.
Along with her classes, Schnable is further involved in the school community through the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). She has sponsored the group for eight years and enjoys the positive environment that the club provides.
Schnable is looking forward to many remaining events of the current year along with upcoming events for the next. She leads the planning for the 8th grade trip to Washington D.C. and is excited for the upcoming call out meeting. She is also excited about a new trip that she is planning for the 7th graders to go to the Oriental History Museum in Chicago for next year.
In her free time, Schnable likes to get in touch with her creative side. She enjoys scrapbooking, Pinterest, and going to the theatre. She also loves spending time with her family, going to the beach, and traveling to see other cultures and parts of the world. Schnable is a very fun and energetic teacher who brings great spirit and enthusiasm to the classroom and Westville is very grateful to have her.
Student Spotlight
This month’s student spotlight is Morgan Adney. Adney is a sixth grader at Westville and has attended the school since kindergarten. Her favorite subject in school is Science because she enjoys participating in the interactive experiments and working with her fellow classmates.
Adney loves many things about her school but her favorite would have to be the teachers.
“The teachers are all so nice,” said Adney.
Adney is very involved in the school community and participates in softball, volleyball, and basketball, her favorite of these being volleyball. She has an extra interest and passion for volleyball because her older sister, Emma Ray, plays and and helps teach her about the sport.
When Adney isn’t at school or participating in sports, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and playing basketball. She also likes to watch movies, her current favorite being The Greatest Showman.
Being a sixth grader, this is Adney’s last year in elementary school, and while she has loved it, she is also looking forward to being in middle school. One of her favorite memories of elementary school includes the sixth grade field trip to Camp Tecumseh, but she is very much looking forward to meeting her new middle school teachers and having passing periods. Adney is a very ambitious and determined student who has a bright future ahead of her as she heads into the new atmosphere of middle school.