Post Messenger Recorder -

With the start of school just over a month away, the construction projects at Belleville Middle and High Schools are taking shape! These include the remodeling and addition to the STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Math) area, an expansion of the fitness center, a secure and improved front entrance, a road connecting the West parking lot to the Church Street lot to improve accessibility around the building and new lighting in the Middle School.

Belleville Middle and High Schools have made extraordinary gains in the last three years.  The 2017-18 school year will introduce a few changes in our academic programming and procedures: Changes in grading for the Class of 2019 and beyond, with the conversion to letters grades and a 4.0 grade point average scale. Full-day professional learning opportunities for staff, eliminating most early release days on the school calendar. A Middle School Response to Intervention (RtI) block that does not conflict with Band and Choir. An updated Homework Central site allowing parent access to all teachers’ Google homework calendars. Anticipated changes to National Honor Society selection.

Once again, Belleville Middle and High Schools have expanded their course selections for students and now offer: Project Lead the Way Computer Science, Middle School Gateway (Project Lead the Way) Computer Science, Advanced Placement BC Calculus, Project Lead the Way Engineering Design and Development, German Culture and Art Metals and Jewelry.

We will also welcome several new 7th-12th grade staff members.  Heather Schmitz will serve as the Middle and High School Associate Principal.  Ben Holm (Mathematics) and Emma Vogel (English Language Arts) will join the Middle School staff.  Kelly Kallien (English and Social Studies) will join the High School staff.  In addition, Michelle Staff-Smith (Special Education) will teach at both the middle and high school levels.  Similarly, Olga Heberer will serve as both the High School Gifted and Talented Coordinator and Middle School Spanish teacher.  Finally, Rebecca Clark has been hired as our district nurse, and Erikke Nystrom-Grothaus from CESA 5 will fill the role of Special Education Director.

The administrative team continues to place great emphasis on responsive and timely communication with parents and students. Please “like” our Belleville High School Facebook and Belleville Middle School Facebook pages and follow us on Twitter @BVillePerryN.  We encourage both students and parents to use the #BellevilleWildcats hashtag to promote accomplishments by our students.  The principal’s blog is also updated regularly with school news and event coverage.  You can always check the calendar on the district’s website for the times and dates of important events.  Finally, please feel free to call the district’s central telephone number at (608) 835-6120 anytime with questions or concerns.

Belleville Middle and High Schools’ students and staff continued to amaze last year.  Our accomplishments included: Seven 8th grade students receiving Top 10 Yahara River Writer recognition. The 8th grade class’s Quilts of Valor presentation and appearance on “Sewing with Nancy.” Matt Loshaw winning the 24 Math competition. BHS students taking a school record 147 Advanced Placement exams and passing 78.18% of those tests. Eleven BHS students receiving state Forensics gold medals. Twelve Middle and High School students receiving “1s” at State Solo & Ensemble. Three Academic Bowl individual champions. BHS’s LifeSmarts team representing Wisconsin at the national competition. The Science Olympiad team earning a second consecutive trip to the state competition. Both the boys’ and girls’ soccer and track teams, along with the wrestling team, winning conference championships. Noelle Maire becoming the first state cross country champion in school history.  The launch of The Prowl student newspaper. Mr. Neumann’s classes’ Little Free Libraries projects. Mr. Hodgson’s nomination for LifeChanger of the Year.

We are confident that even more can be accomplished with school staff, students, parents, and community members listening to one another and working together.  It’s a great day to be a Wildcat!

Nate Perry,

Belleville Middle and High School Principal