Volume 4, Number 7 October 5, 2012

“Hear Ye, Hear Ye!” The Blanco ISD

National Champion Bug Team (L to R) National FFA President Ryan Best, Erica Flores, Rance Dollahite, Megan Wier, Monica Flores.

ENR team will be trav-eling to the national contest in a couple of weeks at Indianapolis, Indiana. Jayce Ammons ranked first in individu-al competition. The ENR team also won a $1,000 scholarship.

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 FFA’s Entomology team placed first in the nation at competition held at the Tarleton State University National Invitational Career Development Events, which served as the official national entomology competition. “The opportunity to compete at a National Event does not come along every day,” said FFA sponsor Felice Marek. “It was really hard to start the school year training for a national contest, but this group of students had a goal, they worked hard, stayed focused, and it paid off for them.” “We were all excited and motivated to represent our state.” “Bug Team” members were Rance Dollahite, Erica Flores, Monica Flores, and Megan Wier. Megan was honored as the first high individual overall in the contest. In the entomology contest, students are required to identify insects, the order from which they originate, their metamor-phosis, mouth structure, and significance to humans. The team won a $ 1,000 scholarship for a Blanco High School student. The team qualified for the competition by placing in the top 5% at the state FFA entomology contest this past April at Texas Tech. Also bringing home a first place plaque in the contest was the Environmental and Natural Resources (ENR) team. The

Blanco FFA Entomology Team National Champions Bug Team First in the Nation; Megan Wier First High Individual Overall

ENR Team—National FFA President Ryan Best, FFA sponsor Jason Marek, Skylar Itz, Colton Childress, Jace Ammons, Kyle Sauceda.

The Bell, Vol. 4, No. 7 Page 2 “Hear Ye, Hear Ye!”

Blanco ISD Building Project Subject of Presentation at State Convention

Annual TASB/TASA Convention Premiere Event for School District Officials

Architect Randy Fromberg, Board President Matt Herden, Attorney Paul Hunn, Attorney Matt Burns, Superintendent Dr. Buck Ford.

Blanco ISD’s elementary school building project was the subject of a presentation at the state convention of the Texas Association of School Boards and the Texas Association of School Administrators, held last weekend in Austin. “The annual TASB/TASA conference is the premier gather-ing of Texas school district officials,” said school attorney Matt Burns. “We were very pleased to be able to provide a training option for conference attendees, and to showcase Blanco ISD’s bond construction program.” Burns, along with attorney Paul Hunn and Board President Matt Herden, presented a session titled “School Construction Contract and Purchase Planning.” The session focused on changes in state purchasing laws and procedures for new con-struction, and utilized Blanco’s elementary building project as a prime example of how these procedures are carried out. In May of 2011, Blanco voters approved a $ 7.9 million bond package, which included renovating the district’s old, dilapi-dated yellow school building. The historic building, with a fa-çade dating back to 1923, was in disrepair, and served no in-structional purpose. Inner walls of the structure dated back to 1884. “The unique thing about this project is that it brought a large constituency of the community together—parents, alumni, and older residents who regarded the building as a community

treasure,” said Blanco Superintendent Dr. Buck Ford. “Not only are we renovating a building with walls dating back to 1884, but we are adding two modern wings totaling sixteen classrooms that will provide for the education of our elemen-tary students for years to come.” Attorney Paul Hunn said, “It was my pleasure to showcase the District’s construction project at the 2012 TASA/TASB annual convention. This convention is recognized as the pinna-cle of school board conferences each year, attended by hun-dreds of school board members and administrators from across the state, and what a pleasure it was to demonstrate Blanco ISD’s leadership in construction and historic preservation.” “In fact, rarely do I see a project as well designed and man-aged as the construction and renovation of the District’s old yellow school building. The Blanco community and its school board and administration can take pride in this remarkable fa-cility, which marries the past with the future and ensures mod-ern classrooms while retaining the character of the old yellow school building.” “This takes vision and hard work, as well as the backing of the community, whose members graciously lent their support, assuring that many more generations will enjoy school where their parents and grandparents once attended.” “I appreciate being a part of this project.” BISD Board President Matt Herden said, “People always think that great things are happening in other cities. But great things are happening here in Blanco.” “I felt proud to tell other school districts at TASB about it. This bond construction will not only connect students to the past, but it will also illuminate their future and the city of Blan-co’s future.”

Fromberg Associates, Ltd :: Architecture

Floor Plan

science

The Bell, Vol. 4, No. 7 Page 3 “Hear Ye, Hear Ye!”

Lady Panthers Host Johnson City Tonight

Team Looks to Snap Two-Game Skid as It Takes on North County Rival

Panthers enter tonight’s game with a 2—2 record on the year. (photo Diana Schwind)

The Blanco Panthers open District 14-AA play tonight, host-ing Rogers in a match-up against the #5-ranked team in the state. “Our game against Rogers will tell us a lot about our team,” said head coach Danny Rogers. “Rogers is a physical, run ori-ented team. In their last two games, they have scored 84 and 60 points in the first three quarters.” “We must rely on our defense to get stops, and when our offense takes the field we have to get first downs and keep their powerful offense on the sideline.” “They have three running backs that already have over 600 yards apiece on the ground, which means that you can’t key on only one back.” The Panthers enter district play with a record of 2—2, and district play won’t get any easier. “There are three teams ranked in the top 20 of the state in our district,” said Rogers. “We must play to the best of our abilities each week.” Rogers is ranked #5 in the state, followed by Lexington and Schulenburg. “We look forward to the challenge of playing one of the top teams in the state,” said Rogers. “I’m sure that we will give it our all.”

The Lady Panthers host Johnson City this evening in a battle between two county rivals. “We’re looking forward to Friday night’s match with John-son City,” said head coach Amy Hackebeil. “They are not to be taken lightly. They have two powerful middle blockers who will lead their offense.” The Lady Panthers hope to end a two-game losing streak, coming off a five-game loss to Comfort last Friday, and a tough loss to #1-ranked Lago Vista on Tuesday. “It was a long match in Comfort, our first to five games this year,” said Hackebeil. “In the end Comfort’s consistency and teamwork overtook us in the 5th game.” “Lago Vista was a formidable adversary, ranked first in the state, and they played as such. We hung with them for the first two games, but their outstanding offense and near flawless de-fense was insurmountable.” “I want to thank all the fans who have attended the volleyball games. Energetic, loud and supportive fans in the stands make a huge difference to the girls on the court during the game. We hope to have a packed house for all our upcoming home match-es!”

Lady Panthers prior to Comfort game. (photo Diana Schwind)

Panthers Open District 14-AA Play Tonight

Homecoming Opponent Rogers Presents Formidable Foe in District Opener

Friday night is Blue Crew Night for volleyball. Jay Tope from SA SPORTS will be announcing play by play of each volleyball game. Wear your BLUE and come support the Panthers!

Panther Band Captures Awards at Hill Country Marching Contest

Band on Road to Regional Marching Contest October 13

Meaghen Seales Wins Fredericksburg Cross Country Meet

Blanco Runners in Preparation for District Meet Scheduled for October 24

Blanco Runners at Fredericksburg: Rance Dollahite, Trent Dechert, Natalie Barnett, Meaghen Seales, Bret Nance, Breanna Collins.

(Photo by Jennifer Seales)

The Bell, Vol. 4, No. 7 Page 4 “Hear Ye, Hear Ye!”

Meaghen Seales continues to post outstanding finish perfor-mances in Cross Country, as she won the Fredericksburg Cross Country meet last Saturday with a time of 12:25. “Considering the weather, I was pleased with our perfor-mance,” said coach Stuart Schultz. “Bret Nance had a 13:58, and Breanna Collins ran a 14:08. Natalie Barnett ran a 15:37. We were one runner short of a full team.” “I still want three more of my runners in the 13’s. If we can make that hap-pen, the girls could make it to state, which is our new goal.” On the boys side, Rance Dollahite ran a 19:11 and Trent Dechert a 20:49. “I still would like to see Rance back in the 18’s so he can go to Regional,” said Schultz.

The Blanco Panther Marching Band competed at the Hill Country Marching Contest in Fredericksburg last Saturday. The band was honored with several awards: First Place Band, Conference AA Best Marching Award Best Music Award Best Drumline Award “I want to say ‘Congratulations’ to the Panther Band!” said band director Brian Hecimovich. Tomorrow the band will be competing at the Drums Along the Medina Marching Contest in San Antonio at Southwest High School. The Regional marching contest will be the following Satur-day at East Central High School in San Antonio.

Panther Band at Hill Country Marching Contest (Photo Diana Schwind)

(Photo Diana Schwind) Meaghen Seales

(Photo Jennifer Seales)

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Week of October 5—14 Sat, Oct. 6 Gina Blankenburg Wed, Oct. 10 Tammy San Miguel Michael Seales Thurs, Oct. 11 Dana Mooney Fri, Oct. 12 Amy Arlitt Kurt Shoemaker Keitha St. Clair Sat, Oct. 13 Sheila Mercer

The Bell, Vol. 4, No. 7 Page 5

FOCUS ON BISD

“Hear Ye, Hear Ye!”

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

“Little Diggers”--Coach Hackebeil and Varsity Girls Work with 5th and 6th Grade Girls on Volleyball on Wednesdays

Blanco Elementary “Collin’s Cam” by Collin Gaskamp

Homecoming Parade

10/3/12

The Bell, Vol. 4, No. 7 Page 6

JV and Varsity Volleyball vs. Comfort (9/28/12) Photos by Diana Schwind

“Hear Ye, Hear Ye!”