Volume 3, Number 12 November 4, 2011

“Hear Ye, Hear Ye!” The Blanco ISD

Board of Trustees Matt Herden, President

Troy Immel, Vice President Kirk Felps, Secretary

Tim Nance Charles Riley

Bernie San Miguel Darrel Wagner

Superintendent Dr. Buck Ford

Blanco ISD received seven Gold Performance Acknowl-edgments from TEA, it was announced on Wednesday, No-vember 2. “This is an outstanding honor and accomplishment for our school district,” said superintendent Dr. Buck Ford. “Gold Performance awards are given to recognize high quality per-formance, which is over and above meeting a minimum ex-pectation. I want to thank and congratulate everyone who as associated with this.” Blanco High School received three awards: one for Col-lege Ready Graduates, one for Recommended High School Program, and one for Texas Success Initiative English Lan-guage Arts. Blanco Middle School received one award: Commended Science. The three awards received by the high school were also applied to the District. High School principal Dustin Barton said, “The Gold Per-formance Acknowledgments BHS received are the result of the dedication of staff to increase student achievement. Gold Performance Acknowledgments for College Ready Gradu-ates, Students on the Recommended High School Program,

Blanco ISD Receives Seven Gold Performance Acknowledgments TEA Awards are Based on Quality Achievement

and the Texas Success Initiative in ELA demonstrate BHS’s com-mitment to Blanco ISD’s goal of preparing its students to be col-lege and post-high school ready.” High School language arts teacher Amanda Wier said, “When my scores came in last Spring, I almost danced through the halls! My students made me so proud! They worked hard, used all the strategies they had been taught, and went that extra degree.” Middle School principal Jesse Salazar said, “I’d like to con-gratulate the science department for their accomplishment of achieving a Gold Performance Acknowledgment in 8th grade science. Thanks for what you all do in the service you provide for the students of Blanco Middle School.” Eighth grade science teacher Natalie Jurischk said, “I am very proud of our eighth graders for all their hard work last year. They are a great group of kids that showed an interest in understanding and in helping each other bet-ter understand topics in our science classes.”

Blanco ISD representatives and Gold Performance Awards (L to R) Superintendent Dr. Buck Ford, Middle School Principal Jesse Salazar, High School Principal Dustin Barton, High School English Teacher Aman-

da Wier, Middle School Science Teachers Donna Ashley, Pam Meier, and Natalie Jurischk.

The Bell, Vol. 3, No. 12 Page 2 “Hear Ye, Hear Ye!”

It’s Blanco vs. Luling for Lone Remaining Playoff Berth

Both Teams 2—2 Entering Final District Contest

2001 State Finalist player J. D. Uballe leads Panthers onto field vs. Lago Vista. (photo by Diana Schwind)

The Blanco Panthers travel to Luling tonight in a game that will determine the third-place playoff position for District 13-AA. Both Lago Vista and Marion have wrapped up the first two playoff slots. Both Blanco and Luling enter tonight’s game with identical 2—2 district records. “Our focus is on Luling,” said head coach Danny Rogers. “They are very athletic on the offensive side of the ball. They probably have the best athlete that we have faced all year in quarterback Billy Medford. He is a triple threat as a passer, runner, and receiver. He lines up pretty much at every position throughout the game.” “We must control the tempo of the game and keep their of-fense off of the field. The winner moves on to the playoffs, and the loser is out.”

Lago Vista Game The Panthers lost a heartbreaker to Lago Vista last Friday night 28—22. “We played one of our most physical games of the year against Lago Vista, only to come up short in the end,” said Rogers. “I was very pleased with our effort and execution both offensively and defensively.” “Sometimes you give it all you got and still come out on the losing side, but it was a good feeling watching how hard we played.”

Lady Panthers’ Playoff Run Comes to an End

Loss to #7 Ranked Holliday Closes Out Season

Alex Gustafson receives shot from Holliday in Area playoff action Thursday night. (top and bottom photos by Lisa Rogers)

The Blanco Lady Panthers’ season came to an end Thursday night, as they lost in three games to Holliday in Area round playoff action in Hamilton. Game scores were 25—20, 25—19, and 25—21. “First off, I must say how proud I am of our girls,” said head coach Amy Hackebeil. “They are not the biggest in size, but they sure play with the biggest hearts.” “Holliday played very well. Even though they beat us in three games, there were many long rallies and the game felt closer than it appears. I couldn't’ have asked the girls to work any harder; they left everything on the floor.” Closing out their senior season for the Panthers were Shelby Staats, Alex Gustafson, Lindsey Jenkins, Micaela Klein, Jus-tine Cooley, Abbey Weaver, Presley Savarino, and Kayla Mar-tinez. Coach Hackebeil said, “I really want to thank all our sup-porters throughout the season, from Dr. Ford and Mr. Barton to the teachers we always see at the home games, and from the Blue Crew to our amazing parents! You have made this such an enjoyable season—we thank you!” “And lastly, but most definitely not least, thanks to Coach Mumme who does so much for the volleyball program on and off the court. I am forever in her debt.”

The winner of the Blanco vs. Luling contest will most likely face the loser of Friday’s Hempstead vs. Edna game in Bi-District play.

Would you like an email subscription to our newsletter? Just let us know by

emailing us at bell.subscribe@blanco.txed.net with

the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject.

Week of October 28—November 6 Sun, Nov. 6 Collin Gaskamp Wed, Nov. 9 Horacio Villegas Thurs, Nov. 10 Jennifer Hernandez Fri, Nov. 11 Laura Rice Lisa Rogers

The Bell, Vol. 3, No. 12 Page 3

FOCUS ON BISD

“Hear Ye, Hear Ye!”

Blanco Elementary “Collin’s Cam” by Collin Gaskamp

Halloween (10/31/11)

Blanco High School “Lisa’s Lens” by Lisa Rogers

Blanco vs. Holliday, Area Playoffs, 11/3/11

The Bell, Vol. 3, No. 12 Page 4

“Hear Ye, Hear Ye!”

7th & 8th Grade Football vs. Lago Vista (10/27/11) Varsity Football vs. Lago Vista (10/28/11)

Photos by Diana Schwind

From the Desk of….Jason Campbell As we finish week four, we are at the half-way point, and we are still going strong. Well done my little grasshoppers. As a group we have been from Virginia to California almost three times. Don’t lose focus, and strive for completion. Quitters never win and winners never quit. Don’t let your team down. A team works better as a whole than its parts do individ-ually. Thanks for what you do in and out of the classroom. Remember team has no “I” in it.