Yearbooks were handed out Friday, May 1 during lunch.

“I love this yearbook,” commented sophomore Mason Magouyrk.

Books remain on sale for $40. See Mrs. Gillmore for your copy.

This year’s theme was Unscripted. The theme is chosen by the previous year’s staff. The current yearbook staff is in the process of choosing the theme for the 2010 yearbook.

This year’s editors are seniors Tiffany Thatch and Nidia Medina. Both seniors bring multiple years of experience to the staff, Thatch with two years and Medina with three years.

“We do not offer Journalism III, so Nidia did not receive credit for her work, at least not on paper, but I give her and Tiffany a lot of credit. Both spent many hours creating this book, during class, during free time, and when deadlines were close, even after school. Both served as teacher’s aides in my room this year,” commented Mrs. Gillmore, yearbook sponsor.

“What few people realize are the number of hours each staff member spends on just one page,” explained Gillmore. “This is a labor of love, often a very stressful labor, at that!”

Other yearbook staff members include Briley Burdin, Tamara Edgin, Mara Espericueta, Megan Holifield, Sydney Lambert, Jill Limbaugh, Layne Parker, Hannah Sturch, and Casey Townsend.

“This is the best book we have created yet, one that could not have been produced without each person on this staff. A huge thank you goes to each of them,” commented Gillmore.

This book is submitted via five deadlines. For each deadline, the publishing company sends proofs for the staff to review. Thus, the staff must meet ten deadlines or pay fines for being late.

Actual cost of the book is approximately $100 per book. To offset this cost, in addition to creating the 252 pages, the yearbook staff also sells business ads and seniors ads to lower the cost book and make it more affordable for the students.

“Creating this yearbook is a real business. We create and produce an item for the public by meeting deadlines and raising the funds to pay the bills,” explained Gillmore.

If interested in being on the 2009 Yearbook Staff, please contact Mrs. Gillmore for an application. A preriquisite is Desktop Publishing. The yearbook is created using Adobe InDesign and Photoshop. Staff members must also attend a one-day camp this summer.

“This combination of the right person at the right time in history has powerful outcomes which can be both inspiring and catastrophic,” wrote Cathy Gorn, the Executive Director for National History Day on the NHD website.

Five different research categories are available: documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, and website.

On March 19, fourteen BHS students competed at Lyon College. The students were Lily Allder, Emily Barrett, Clare Brown, Natanya Clark, Micah Clouse, Tamara Edgin, Danielle Goodwin, Taylor Handford, Shanna Humbrecht, Norma Lopez, Myles Malone, Kirbi McMullin, Jon- Michael Poff, and Angela Woods.

The following students who won first and second place went to the state competition at UCA in Conway on April 18: Lily Allder, Clare Brown, Natanya Clark, Kirbi McMullin, and Jon-Michael Poff.

Clare Brown and Jon-Michael Poff won first place in their category, senior group documentary.

The national competition will take place June 14-18 at the University of Maryland.

Teacher Bruce Qualls organizes the local endeavors and works with the students in his history classes who want to compete in National History Day.

“Last year, I had the honor of taking three students to National History Day. Daniel Roettger, Tiffany Thatch, Halli Taylor and I had a wonderful time while in the Baltimore/Washington area,” commented Mrs. Gillmore.

Next year’s theme is Innovation in History: Impact and Change.

Some of the first changes included new bleachers in the gym.

“The old bleachers were in poor repair,” replied Mr. Campbell.

Changes continue as planning has already begun for the 2009-10 school year. Due in part to BSD support and stimulus funding, six teachers will have a class set of mini laptops when students return in the fall. Those teachers include Ann Ballard, Tammy Gillmore, Lisa Huff, Jeanne Roepcke, Peggy Wells, and Lindley Weygandt.

Receiving these computers involved a competitive application process open to all teachers within the Batesville District.

These teachers will receive five days of training this summer with the Fort Smith School District who have a similar program underway. These two schools will work to form collaborative projects for the 09-10 academic year.

Another change being planned is a renovation of the library into a modern media center.

Teacher Lisa Huff is also currently working to form professional learning networks. This year she worked with one team at the high school. Team members included teachers Bruce Qualls, Stacey Russell, Paula Summers, and Lindley Weygandt, administrator David Campbell, and school board member Paul Hance.

Through another competitive application process, three more teams have been selected for this three-year professional development endeavor. Next year’s teams include one at Sulphur Rock Elementary, the junior high, and another team at the high school.

The new high school team members include teachers Ann Ballard, Tammy Gillmore, Carla James, Kathy Walter, Peggy Wells, and administrator Brent Bogy.

“I am very excited about the technological changes coming our way. I enjoy using tech tools in my classroom, and this will make that so much easier. Students also enjoy that hands-on use of technology. It’s going to be a busy summer planning for these changes,” commented Mrs. Gillmore.

 ”This is one of the biggest honors I have ever received. It affirms my character,” commented Jon- Michael.

Mr. and Miss Pioneer is an admirable title that these students will carry with them for years to come. “I try very hard to always be respectful to my teachers and to be a hard-working student. I always hope that I can act like a Miss Pioneer for the rest of my life,” stated Summer.

Inner pride and self-accomplishment are a couple of the positive attributes of this honor. Jon Michael quoted from The Awakening by Kate Chopin, “It’s not a crown you wear, but an internal spirit of pride in character that you assume like a garment each day.”

Miss Pioneer embraced this title as an acknowledgement that she has been a good student. Summer commented, “I feel like it means that I’m doing a good job in high school.”

These studious students have been unconsciously working towards this honor for quite some time. Jon Michael stated, “I think that Mr. and Miss Pioneer honor those who strive to be the best at whatever they do – I have certainly given my all. Hard work does pay off!”

Recently, a virus outbreak popped up in all of the school district’s computers. Stressful as it was, technicians Clint Lucy, Kathy Carter, and Michael Beaumont gave their all as they tried to rid the computers of this disaster.

“The fight isn’t over yet, but we are well on the way to being healthy again,” added Lucy.

This was no ordinary virus, either. Carter, having only been here for six weeks, took this very seriously.

“The plus side to it was how everyone has worked together and how understanding everyone has been. Problems will occur, how we deal with them speaks volumes about us. This school district has shown how great they are to adapt to the changes and deal with the unexpected,” Carter commented.

Not only do these technicians work with our school’s computers, they have had experiences at schools such as Calico Rock and Cushman. Working with the staff, they find that although problems occur, working together makes fixing the problem a lot easier.

Several teachers have received STARBoards this year.

“We would love for that to be the case, but unfortunately, these STARboards are not inexpensive, and the projector necessary to make them functional must be in place first,” added Lucy.

Whether they are fixing computers or adding to the technology in the district, the team works hard to make life easier within the classrooms.

“Yearbook and newspaper has been a much more enjoyable experience with the ten new computers that “Santa and his elves” (aka Mr. Clint, Mrs. Kathy, and Mr. Michael) delivered and setup in my room before Christmas,” explained Mrs. Gillmore. “The computers are so much faster, and we have fewer shut-downs, which means our stress levels are greatly diminished. A much happier place for those meeting huge deadlines.”

Part of art is to be creative.

“Without creativity, life would be boring,” commented Colton Gregory, a junior in Art I class.

Creativity serves more than just one purpose to make things different.

“You learn more with creativity and you see things in a different perspective too,” added Drew Davidson, a senior in Art II.

Inspiration comes in many shapes and sizes and plays a key factor in art.

“I get my inspiration from the music I listen to,” noted Lily Allder, a junior in Art II.

Another Junior feels strongly about inspiration too.

“My inspiration comes from my everyday life, environment, and hobbies and habits,” commented Shelby Butler, a junior in Art I.

Whether students are in Art I or II, each one finds different comfort in art class.

“Stroking my paintbrush across a canvas gives me a feeling of serenity,” mentioned Allder.

Many find a different reason to be in art class.

“I look forward to art class, and I love Mrs. Sturdivant too,” added Baylee Mathews, a sophomore in Art I.

Art may seem difficult for those who have not taken it yet, but most who are taking it have found that art isn’t so hard after all.

“Before I took art, I could not even draw a straight line, let alone a stick figure. Now though, Mrs. Sturdivant has taught me a lot more about the basics of art and I can draw almost anything I want,” commented Tanya Tye, a junior in Art I.

“Before art I had no artistic ability whatsoever, now that I’m in art, I realize art is everywhere, and I have learned to appreciate it,” added Krystal Pham, a junior in Art I.

Although many of these art students will not major in art, most of them will carry on what they have learned in high school art class with them for the rest of their lives.

Scheduled performances include Friday and Saturday, May 8-9 at 7 PM and Sunday, at 2 PM in the former middle school auditorium. For a few weeks now the buoyant voices of the London cast of the musical Oklahoma! have been heard coming from Mr. William’s Room 8. In preparation of the upcoming Batesville High School production of said musical, Drama and Oral Communications classes alike have been studying the video with gusto.

“Thanks to the hard work of the director and the technical crew, the show’s clinics and auditions went along smoothly,” stated Mr. Williams.

To those who were right for the part, the lead rolls were awarded. Senior Andrew Cox received the role of Curly, along with Nick Daily in the role of Will Parker, Summer George in the role of Aunt Eller, Madison Neaville in the role of Laurey, and Betsy Ives in the role of Ado Annie.

“I’m so excited about being Aunt Eller!” exclaimed Summer. “It’s the part I was looking forward to getting. She’s my favorite character, and I hope I’ll do a good job.”

The cast performed for the high school on Monday, May 4. 

Sponsor Mrs. Weygandt, along with the Quiz Bowl Captain Preston Caldwell, Clare Brown, William and Stuart Allgood, Jon-Michael Poff, NaTanya Clark, Sam Johnson, and Katie Cummins were all in attendance.

“It was interesting to see different teams from across the state,” commented Brown.

After a fierce day of competing, the team brought back the 3rd place trophy. “Batesville played extremely well. We were proud of taking 3rd at State!” exclaimed Mrs. Weygandt.

“I was hoping to win a trip to the State Finals, but getting 3rd was a great way to top off my senior year,” stated Preston Caldwell, who was invited to participate in the Arkansas Governor’s Quiz Bowl All-Star Tournament.

“We are proud of this team’s efforts and their representing BHS in this manner,” commented Principal David Campbell. Thanks for bringing home another trophy for BHS!

Taurus: April 21- May 21 You, my dears, are the watchful ones. You are rational and thoughtful. You have the great ability to hang on when things get rough; you look within yourself to find the courage to make it through whatever might bring you down. Gemini: May 22- June 21 The Gemini tend to be the intellectual one’s of the bunch. You strive off communication with others. You are curious of everything, and take additional effort to wholly appreciate all that you learn.

Cancer: June 22- July 22 Don’t take this the wrong way, but you are the emotional ones. You are willing to familiarize yourself to anything, even if you believe that it should be different. You are peaceful and beneficial as well. You have a caring heart, and generous with every one. Leo: July 23-

August 21 Leo the Lions. You are my polished stars. You find the need to stand up and roar! You’re very buoyant and you hate to see people holding back. You are magnanimous, and you refuse to give up.

Virgo: August 22- September 23 We, as I too am a Virgo, are the down-to-earth ones of the twelve. Though we may not like to admit it, we are slight perfectionists. We hope to make a marvelous impression on the world with our cleverness and encyclopedic type knowledge.

Libra: September 24- October 23 My lovelies, you are the thinkers. You treasure your association with the world. You are rarely at a loss for words, and a brilliant negotiator. People often find that they can trust you easily, and count on you to follow through.

Scorpio: October 24- November 22 The unwavering, charismatic, fireballs of the pack are my Scorpios. Being such an expressive character, you tend to be a slight Drama Queen. You strive for the spectacular, and you take things to the outmost limits.

Sagittarius: November 23- December 22 Affirmative, optimistic, jovial. That’s you Sagittarius! You are undoubtedly good at all that you do and are on of the more auspicious signs. This means you don’t mind taking a hazard or two. You are a people magnet, and your zealous attitude is very contagious. You, my dears, just make people feel good.

Capricorn: December 23- January 20 There are few who are as sensible as you my Capricorns. You are never fearful of hard labor. You can be very shy on occasion, and tend to lack the self esteem that you deserve, and you posses a comical and loving personality.

Aquarius: January 21- February 19 You are my rebels, dear Aquarius. Nobody can tell you how to live your life. You take delight in being exceptional, and extraordinary. You are invigorating and have an amazing amount of energy. You march to the beat of you own drum, with your sassy attitude, and cheeky personality.

Pisces: February 20- March 20 My benevolent Pisces. You are beyond doubt, truly kindhearted and affectionate. You strive to help people and make the world a better place. You can’t stand to see anything suffering, and you do whatever you can to relieve their pain. Caring is your second nature.