Weekly Update
Falls High School Bronco Bulletin
October 2024
Falls High School Students of the Month
Congratulations to our Falls High School October students of the month! We are very proud of you all! Bronco Pride~ Bronco Power!
Leah Boe and Connor Vance
Avery Dowty
Easton Rolando
Elk's Students of the Month Honored at School Board Meeting
Our Elk's Students of the Month for September and October were honored at the October School Board Meeting. Teachers nominate 2 seniors each month for this special award. Nominations are brought to a committee of teachers who do the final selection. Students are chosen for a variety of reasons, all of which exemplify the high standards of the Elk’s organization. In the spring, the Elks winners will be invited to a banquet where they will be honored and awarded $100. Pictured are Piper Tomczak, Lola Wade, and Landan Snyder. Missing is Kieren Ford.
Falls High INK
Who is Falls High Ink?
By: Joelle Black- FHS INK
The 2024-25 FHS Journalism and Broadcasting Class will be producing an update or article each week in the Bronco Bulletin. The articles are student written and created. The class will work hard to feature a school sport, activity, or event happening to cover and share each week. The students also work hard to bring you a live stream everyday of daily announcements on our Youtube page (follow Falls High Journalism) and get the word out on school news and events through social media and posters. We also select a “Bronco of the Week” each week that exemplifies what being a Bronco Leader is and honor them and they’re standout performance in their sport or activity. We also work with Mrs. West and the entire FHS staff to select students of the month and honor them for being all around great members of our student body.
We would love to introduce ourselves as the 2024-2025 Fall High Ink Crew:
Meet the Falls High ink students and learn what activities they’re in or things they enjoy!
Morgan Demars Junior, plays volleyball
Joelle Black Junior, plays volleyball
Ashlyn Siltman Freshman, plays volleyball and basketball
Tenley Thompson Freshman, plays volleyball, softball, and hockey
Piper Tomczak Senior, plays volleyball, basketball, track and field
Jacksi Ginter Freshman, plays hockey
Karleigh Cassibo Freshman, likes fourwheeling
Kendra Kalstad Senior, likes snowmobiling and four wheeling, swims
Pablo Christianson Junior, plays football
Jake Thostenson Freshman, plays hockey
Christian Kostiuk Freshman, plays basketball
Cooper Crandall Senior, plays football and hockey
Brodie Baldwin Freshman, plays hockey
Mark Sarkisyan Freshman, likes to create things in woods and metals
Zuri Silvers Junior, on the swim team, loves to create art and draw
Jack Berglund Freshman, plays hockey
Landan Snyder Senior, plays hockey, on MHS, Student Council ,KAPE
Abbie Sather Sophomore, runs CC, on Trap Team, on Student Council,KAPE
Aidan Smith Sophomore, KAPE, Yearbook
Our class looks forward to sharing fun articles and activities going on at FHS!
Congratulations to our Bronco Students of the Week!
Hot Metals with Mr. Olson
In our Hot Metals 1 class the kids are using scrap screws, nuts, bolts and other metal pieces Mr. Olson has collected over the years to braze together a sculpture of some kind to improve their brazing skills. There is quite a bit of contemplation deciding what to use for their project. Once they decide what to make they use hacksaws and sander as well as a sandblast cabinet to clean up the metal before they use a torch to heat the metal and add brass to make the pieces stick together.
Learning on the Move!
Students in Mr. Sandberg's Social Studies class moved around the classroom to different stations in order to answer various questions. The movement combined with discussion and collaboration makes for an engaging way to learn!
Check and Connect for Success
Our Check and Connect Mentor, Molly Sheasby creates a positive and welcoming space for her students!
Mr. Olson's Amazing Wood Shop
Remember the piles of wood from a few weeks ago?
Well, they are glued together now and being made into cutting boards in the wood shop.
Students in grades 9-12 are making cutting boards out of Walnut, Maple, Purpleheart, Yellowheart, Osage Orange and Bloodwood. They have to come up with a pattern for their board and glue it together, then run it through the Timesaver sander, trim the board square on the table saw, trim off the corners on the bandsaw and use the disc sander to clean up any cut marks from the bandsaw. After that they will use a router to round the edges before sanding and finishing with mineral oil.
Pick up and Drop Off Information at FHS
AM or PM ~ Pick up or drop off: Please pull into the student parking lot "drive- up lane" by the pool doors.
DURING THE SCHOOL DAY~ Pick up or drop off: Front of Falls High School
Some parents choose to pick up across the street by the church and that is just fine.
Please Note: Buses pull up to the back areas, so please do not pick up at West End unless you have discussed a special circumstance with the office. This creates a safety hazard for students and bus drivers!
Reach out to the office for questions!
Sharing Knowledge through Creativity!
Students in Mr. Kaviuk's History class work on slide show presentations as a culminating activity in the study of the early American Colonies. Students worked in pairs to create presentations, displaying and sharing their understanding and knowledge of the colonies.
Math Students at Work
Ms. Groom works with 6th grade math students using modeling and collaboration in order guide students through the processes.
What is Bronco POWER?
Bronco Power is ....PROUD, OPTIMISTIC, WELCOMING, ENGAGED, RESPECTFUL! #broncopride#broncopower#broncofamily
Signs of Bronco Pride~Bronco Power!
Our talented Mrs. Simon created this poster for our lobby area. Watch for signs of "Bronco Power" around the building! #Empoweringstudentseveryday
Conflict and Bullying
Please talk to a trusted adult if you or a friend are struggling with conflict, bullying. We have attached some resources below as a guide. When we bring a community together, conflicts inevitably arise. If the conflict persists into bullying or harassment it is imperative that students and adults work together to make it stop. At FHS we take this seriously and will thoughtfully and carefully investigate each incidence, help resolve conflict, and address bullying. Everyone deserves to feel safe at school!
Resources
Digital Wellbeing
Handbook HIGHLIGHT:
Cell Phone Policy
Dear Bronco Families~ Why a cell phone policy?
We know that technology is here to stay and is integrated into our everyday world. However, we must have a balanced approach.
The legislators recently passed a new law requiring school districts to have a cell phone policy in place. The principal associations must collaborate to make best practices available to all schools on a range of different strategies to minimize the impact of cell phones on student behavior, mental health, and academic achievement. There have been and continue to be studies done regarding students and their addiction to their phones. This addiction decreases their ability to concentrate in class, causes an increase in negative behaviors in school as well as affecting the mental health of many, to the point of depression and suicidal thoughts. Their brains are still forming and studies show that too much screen time can negatively affect how kids think and develop. We want to help teach and support students to manage cell phone and technology for a balanced approach.
Thank you for your support and partnership as we work to create the best learning environment for our students. We ask that you contact the school if you need to communicate with your child or ask for patience, knowing that they will not be able to call or text you back when they are in class.
🔦🔦Spotlight on our Amazing Staff! 🔦🔦
Mr. Chris Hemstad
Hello!
Currently, I Teach Earth and Space Science in 9th grade and 6th grade. I completed my
undergraduate degree in Geology at Gustavus Adolphus College, in St. Peter, MN and my
Master of Science in Geology at Western Washington University, in Bellingham, WA. After
graduating, I worked as an Exploration Geologist for Kennecott Explorations in the western U.S.
and Canada. In 2000, I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to map the Bedrock of
Voyageurs National Park – the rocks I grew up on! That fieldwork and research led to the
publication of The Bedrock Geologic Map of Voyageurs National Park, a book about the
geological History of Voyageurs National Park, and finally, the chance to teach Geology and
Science here at Falls High School!
I am married to Amber. We have 4 children, Trygg, Isabelle, Eve, and Ila. Trygg and Isabelle
are currently in college. Eve is in 10th grade and Ila is in 8th grade. We are a close family and
love to spend time together outdoors, hiking, travelling, and especially canoeing in the BWCA
and Quetico Canoe areas.
Although, I have always loved teaching others about Geology and how Earth processes have
shaped the planet and human culture, my all-time favorite thing about teaching at Falls High
School is being able to spend my time with such incredible students and faculty.
Mrs. Jeanna Rudolph
Hello! This is my 12th year as an English teacher at FHS! This year, I teach 9th and 11th grade English, 6th grade writing, and two College in the Classroom English classes that we offer through Bemidji State University: Composition I and Understanding Literature. I received my Teaching Communication Arts and Literature B.A.A from University of Minnesota Duluth and my Masters Degree in Education from Bemidji State University.
My favorite thing about teaching is connecting with my students and watching kids’ excitement and engagement in their learning. I also love novel discussions with my students. I get to see the literature through their point of view and love the diverse connections students make with the text.
I have been married to my husband, David, for seven years. We have three little boys: twin 5 year olds, James and Benjamin, and a 3 year old, Franklin. We love spending time with our family and friends, going to our cabin, and swimming in Rainy Lake in the summer. All three boys are in skating/hockey this year, so we will spend the majority of our time at the rink this winter. I also LOVE reading. My favorite genres are historical fiction and psychological thrillers. Our twins are learning to read, so sharing my love of books and reading has been extra fun this year!
In my classroom, I do a “My Favorite Reads” spotlight, so I thought I would share mine:
Favorite Childhood Series: Hank the Cowdog (I’m currently reading these to my boys)
Favorite Nonfiction I read this year: While You Were Out by Meg Kissinger
Favorite Fiction I read this year: The Fury by Alex Michaelides
Favorite Book to Teach: The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
LINKS to Bronco and other school community groups
Please watch for more LINKS to be added in the future!