7-12 November Newsletter
Mr. Phil Goetstouwers, 7-12 Principal
We had a pep rally on October 31st to highlight the many successes in extra- and co-curricular activities as well as academics since last spring. Academically speaking, the Iowa Department of Education classified us as a High Performing School for the 2nd year in a row!
In the last month, we've also had multiple State send-offs recently: the volleyball team, Addi Oelke (swimming), Emily Bach (band), and Ian Hertenstein (choir).
At the end of October, we held Parent-Teacher Conferences. In grades 7-12, we had 36% of our students whose parents were in attendance. This is much lower than the elementary, which isn't surprising considering we utilize PowerSchool and Canvas to communicate grades, assignments, and feedback. It is always enjoyable for our staff to visit with the families that do attend and I highly encourage you to take the time to visit with your child's teachers in future parent-teacher conferences.
We celebrated Veteran Days with a Veterans Day program. Retired General Denny Menefee was our speaker and left us with a great message that reminds us of what we have in this country and what is important to keep in mind to preserve our country. Commander Dave Bak, our American Legion, and other veterans joined us in the program. Our band and choir were part of the program, which makes the program that much better.
Our 7-8th graders went to Sioux City's City Hall last Wednesday to listen to the Mayor, visit the museum, and listen to a presentation by engineering/environmental science department.
One of the many ways we try to keep our kids safe is to secure the building, have staff be visible, and work closely with law enforcement. In fact, Hinton Police Chief James Conway and police officer Logan Johnson are frequently in the building saying hi to the kids and being a presence on school grounds. We have also collaborated with them in bringing in a drug dog, which we plan on doing multiple times throughout the year. Vaping is a major concern with teenagers these days and Hinton isn't any different. In addition, it is even a bigger concern what sometimes is in the vapes. Please talk with your children about the dangers of vaping to help prevent any use. Typical procedures include multi-day suspension, ineligibility, and a ticket from law enforcement, which means it is part of a student's record.
Our CTE (Career & Technical Education) Advisory met last Thursday. Here is the link that has the notes from the meeting: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13ka-YLX3Q_4y4-G4NICsCGLQNHOcsObEub-VDDIs1xE/edit?usp=sharing (Warning: These are the quick notes jotted down during discussion). Here is the link to our CTE contact list for networking and student/community member communication: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dX1vn1JghGlhYT_kohiVHKlc-jovz68zwgFWRX9e_zA/edit?usp=sharing If you would like to be added to the list, please email me at phil.goetstouwers@hintonschool.com
My shoutouts this month include our National Honor Society Students! On November 15th, we had our National Honor Society Inductions. Our new inductees include: Kaci Allen, Jordyn Arnold, Bode Binneboese, Avery Burgad, Isabelle DeRocher, Rylee Faith, Gabrielle Friessen, Brooklyn Geddes, Bria Gengler, Ian Hertenstein, Carlene Hicklin, Lauren Kounkel, Ashlyn Kovarna, Aubree Lake, McKenna Nuzum, Mackenzie Peirce, Kadence Peters, Kyra Peters, Carter Petersen, Sara Skuodas, Alyssia Weiland, Dylan Wolff, and Christian Wood.
These students are top-notch and naturally strive to excel in the four pillars on the Honor Society. As you notice, there are many girls that are excelling in our school in these areas. I am very proud of them and the boys that step up as leaders as well. Unfortunately, the boys are in the minority significantly. We need both boys and girls to be a positive influence for their peers and I would love to see more guys step up and be the positive leaders that they can be.
Our staff shout outs this month are for all of our coaches and advisors that put in so much extra time to help our kids do something they love! It's also for our staff members that are more behind the scenes like Amy Kimbell (costumes), Sara Kochen (painting sets), Braeden Weyhrich, Mary Ann Ruden, and Pete and Angela Iverson for the instrumental music for the musical. We appreciate all of their extra time and energy that goes into providing these extra opportunities for the kids. Like most things in education, these staff members aren't getting rich from these opportunities, but utilize their skills and experience they've been blessed with to give back to the students.
I wish you all a safe and Happy Thanksgiving! I know I'm grateful for many things in my life. One of which is the fact we have a great school and community in Hinton and I'm personally very thankful for the wonderful, hard-working staff and students that we have.
Mrs. Mary Ann Ruden, 9-12 science teacher
PHYSICS
The year has certainly flown by for the physics students! They have studied motion in both one and two dimensions. One thing they really have to work on is learning how to utilize all the equations that are possible, and whether or not they need to find more information before they can solve the problem. We spent a class period trying to calculate personal velocities based on different movements. The students used homemade clinometers to try and calculate the height of banners hanging in the gym. The final activity for the unit involved a scavenger hunt around the school based on their homework answers, with food as the prize.
They have moved on to studying different types of forces. They are currently working on applied, frictional, and gravitational force. Several years in a row the students have taken a quiz with a problem about sledding down Titan on a snow day - then we end up having a snow day within a day or two!! We will hopefully avoid that happening before Christmas break. Sledding is a great way to study firsthand the small coefficient of friction between the sled and the snow. Many times I relate moving into a college dorm to the problems involving moving things - just to get them ready for next fall!
CHEMISTRY
The year started off with lots of math and converting for the chemistry students. Hopefully they recognize the importance of including labels in their work. Next they started in with the (sometimes dreaded) significant digits which will continue all year. We worked with how to graph information on a computer and turn it in digitally. After a quick review of properties of matter we moved on to atomic models. The class simulated Rutherford’s famous gold foil experiment, which led to the idea of the nucleus being “in the middle” of an atom. The students got to look at emission spectrum tubes to compare different elements’ spectra. They also burned splints soaked in different chemicals to see what color was produced by that specific metal, which is how “fireplace crystals” you buy at a retail store work. After a quick review of the periodic table, they have moved on to ionic compounds. The next lab will involve heating magnesium ribbon up enough that it combusts on its own.
UNIFIED SCIENCE
The freshmen started out the year learning how to convert between metric and US standards. Next they reviewed maps, and learned about topographic maps, which was all new information for them. The class studied the topography of Hinton. We spent several weeks on basic chemistry topics, which included making oobleck. After that, we switched gears and studied plate tectonics and seafloor spreading. Following that the class moved on to volcanoes. They are currently studying actual data from a volcanic eruption to see how scientists can track data prior to an eruption.
STUDENT TEACHER
Mr. Zach Spieler has been student teaching with me this semester. Zach is a graduate of LeMars Community High School, and is currently attending Wayne State College. He will graduate in December. Along with teaching physics, chemistry, and unified science, Zach took on coaching 8th grade volleyball at the start of the school year. He felt very welcomed by the students and staff at Hinton and has enjoyed his time here. We wish him the best of luck after graduation.
Ms. Braeden Weyhrich, 5-12 band instructor
All-State
Emily Bach was selected for the Iowa All-State Band for a second year in a row! This is the highest honor that can be achieved by a high school musician, and only about 2% of all of the high school music students in Iowa are selected for the festival. Emily and fellow Blackhawk Ian Hertenstein, who was selected for the All-State Choir, rehearsed in Ames from November 17-19 and performed a concert that will be rebroadcast on PBS on Sunday, December 4 at 1pm.
NWIBA
Caden Koopmans auditioned and was selected 2nd chair trombone in the Red Band for the 2022 Northwest Iowa Bandmasters Association Junior High Honor Band Festival! He performed his concert on November 5 at Dordt University in Sioux Center. This was Caden’s second year to be selected for this honor.
Emily Bach and Dylan Hartman auditioned and were selected for the 2023 Northwest Iowa Bandmasters Association high School Honor Band Festival! Emily will be 2nd chair trumpet in the Red Band and Dylan will be 4th chair alto saxophone in the Blue Band. Their concert is on January 7 at Morningside University in Sioux City.
Strong Foundations
Seven 6th graders were recently selected for the Strong Foundations Honor Band in Sioux City! They will spend the afternoon of January 16 practicing and performing at North High with 6th graders from 33 schools around NW Iowa and Nebraska. The students are:
Penny Bower, oboe
Avery Soroka, clarinet 1
Chelsea Oelke, clarinet 2
Payton Hermelbracht, bass clarinet
Ellie Friessen, alto sax 1
Bentlee Harson, alto sax 2
Kinsey Townley, trumpet 2
Gilchrist Grant
In October, the Hinton Bands were selected as a recipient of a $5,000 micro grant from the Gilchrist Foundation in Sioux City. The grant money will be used to buy drumline equipment, which will ease logistical concerns during football season, create more meaningful opportunities for our percussion students, and open doors for new band activities in the future.
Chocolate Fundraiser
Our semesterly Seroogy’s chocolate fundraiser is happening now through December 9. If you are interested in purchasing chocolate for $1.50 a bar, contact a band student outside of school hours!
Holiday Concerts
Our next concerts are coming up in a few weeks! The 4-6 concert is on December 5 and the 7-12 concert is December 15, both at 7pm in the high school gym. The band students have some exciting pieces to share, including a rock version of the Ukrainian Bell Carol, a piece depicting a spooky barbarian Santa, and the annual favorite Sleigh Ride.
Find out about the band’s happenings as they occur by following us on Facebook! Search “Hinton Blackhawk Band.”
HS pep band at the first football game of the season
Caden Koopmans at NWIBA auditions
Logan Jenkins, Evan Griegg, Gabe Lindberg, Alex Lindberg, Caden Koopmans, and Adam Kennedy volunteering at our Pizza Ranch fundraiser
Emily Bach after All-State auditions
Dylan Hartman and Emily Bach at NWIBA auditions
Mrs. Paula Hodgson, special education teacher
Using Podcasts to Learn (and have fun) in Mrs. Hodgson’s Room
We have two times each day that we listen to podcasts in our classroom. This is a time when we work on social skills and gain some insight into different topics. During science, we practice listening skills and being quiet so others can listen and understand while listening to the “Who Smarted?” science podcast. This podcast is as funny as it sounds and uses humor to keep students engaged. During our current events class, we listen to Kid Nuz to hear about what is going on in our country and around the world. After a brief news section, a quiz tests our knowledge and memory.
whosmarted.com
12-15 minute podcast
Science based
Meant for upper-elementary aged students, but these adults enjoy it, too.
Kidnuz.org
5-10 minute news podcast
Quiz at the end
Mr. Craig Hoffman, industrial arts
Industrial Technology
By Craig Hoffman
I am pleased to be blessed once again with a bunch of hardworking and talented students. Although we haven’t had much snow outside yet, there has been a blizzard of sawdust at times in the shop. We once again have a variety of projects going in all our woods, welding and building classes, giving our students the opportunity to outwardly express their inner creativity. Our CAD/Drafting class is just starting to delve into the world of computer aided drafting (CAD). It can be a big shift for some students from the traditional drafting boards and T-squares, but they are adapting well and overall some pretty cool technology. I like every opportunity to incorporate into the classroom the “Value Beyond School '' standard and also stress that there are so many possibilities for students that do not want to travel the traditional 4 year college path and maybe want to explore trade schools or enter the workforce upon graduation. There is no better way to do that at times than field trips to introduce what is actually going on in industry and what jobs are available and what skills are needed to fill those positions. We were fortunate once again to go to the “Build My Future Expo” in Sioux City back in October. We were part of over 1500 area students who went to visit over 30 businesses at the Siouxland Expo Center and have interactive opportunities at their booths. Students could try their hand at everything from shingling, concrete and brick laying, welding and electrical to 3D architecture, skid steer and backhoe operating as well as many more cool hands-on opportunities. Representatives from the Army Reserve, Iowa DOT and law enforcement as well as MidAmerican were also there to explain job opportunities and careers to students.
The year is flying by and it’s a great year, not only in the classroom but also watching students excel in all sorts of extracurricular activities as well. We have had a lot to cheer about here at Hinton this year! As always, if there is a better job than being a shop teacher at Hinton, I don’t know what it would be.
Proud to be a Blackhawk!