Bluejay Bulletin
GACC High School Happenings May 10 - 16
Honors Night
Leaders & Champions
Front Row, from left: Sydney Hutchinson, Isabel Hass, Emerson Ortmeier;
Row 2: Elijah Steffensmeier, Isaac Wooldrik, Caleb Ridder, Adyson Luebbert, Kate Jansen, Brooklyn Steffen, Abi Toline;
Row 3: Grace Hunzeker, Madie Thiele, Alaina Eames, Julianne Ridder, Becca Jansen.
Masters of Sports
Front Row, from left: Jesse Steffen, Evan Schuetze, Dax Doernemann, Sydney Hutchinson, Isabel Hass, Kelsy Steffen;
Row 2: Isaac Guenther, Joe Schwer, Jocelynn Skoda, Bryce Bailey, Kennedy Baumert;
Row 3: Maverik Smith, Chase Smith, Jordan Timmeran, Cody Hass, Kate Jansen, Abi Toline.
Athletes of the Year
Male Athlete of the Year - Jesse Steffen
Female Athlete of the Year - Isabel Hass
Seniors and Senior Parents
Graduation Reminders:
- Seniors will be honored at the 10 a.m. St. Mary's Mass on Sunday, May 12, in their caps and gowns.
- On May 12, parents and seniors need to meet at 1:15 p.m. in the old gym. Seniors need to be in their caps and gowns. We will walk in from the old gym to the new gym.
- Prior to the ceremony, programs will be placed on the parents and senors reserved seats.
- The graduation ceremony will not be professionally recorded, but feel free to record the parts of the ceremony that are important to you.
- After the ceremony, please promptly return your gown to Mrs. Jansen in the old gym.
2024 Track Teams
"WEATHER ALERT! It has been a constant battle with windy/rainy/cold weather all season. The kids have done well to work through it, and have been constantly improving," said Head Track Coach Allan Lammli. The team did have favorable weather for Districts on Thursday, and qualified seven Bluejays for the State Track Meet in Omaha on May 17-18. Good luck at State!
Members of the 2024 Guardian Angels Central Catholic boys track team are, from left, front row: Barrett Steffen, Elijah Steffensmeier, Colin Smith, Samuel Hass, Evan Schuetze, Chase Smith, Trevor Steffen;
back row: Luke Hagedorn, Jordan Timmerman, Caleb Ridder, Joe Schwer, Dax Doernemann, Jesse Steffen, Thomas Karnopp, Alejandro Perez and Dominic Johnson. Not pictured is Isaac Wooldrik.
Photo courtesy of Mike O'Brien/West Point News
Members of the 2024 Guardian Angels Central Catholic girls track team are, from left, front row: Joelle Peatrowsky, Ashley Ruskamp, Ava Minnick, Jessa Luebbert, Madie Thiele, Amiah Dirkschneider, Ava Nixon; middle row: Abi Toline, Paisley Skoda, Alaina Eames, Adyson Luebbert, Natalie Ruskamp, Brooklyn Steffen, Isabel Hass, Sydney Hutchinson, Mackenzie Schmid, Emerson Ortmeier, Kelsy Steffen;
back row: Peri Guenther, Kate Jansen, Kennedy Baumert, Elizabeth Hasemann, Tessa Lund, Becca Jansen, Charlie Dinslage, Peyton Hutchinson and Jocelynn Skoda.
Photo courtesy of Mike O'Brien/West Point News
State Track Qualifiers
Chase Smith
1st - Boys Long Jump
Jesse Steffen
1st - 100 M Dash
1st - 200 M Dash
Trevor Steffen
2nd - 1600 M Run
Kennedy Baumert
2nd - 3200 M Run
Isabel Hass
2nd - 300 M Hurdles
3rd - Triple Jump
Jocelyn Skoda
1st - Triple Jump
1st - 200 M Dash
1st - 400 M Dash
Kelsy Steffen
2nd - Discus Throw
Initial Live Safe Environment Training on June 17
Anyone who wants to volunteer or work in a Catholic school must be certified in Safe Environment Training. Initial live Safe Environment Training will be held in West Point on Monday, June 17, 4-6 p.m. in the GACC cafeteria. If you would like to volunteer at the GACC elementary or high school, you must complete an initial, live Safe Environment training. Pre-registration for the training is required. To pre-register, go to www.archomaha.org and click on the Safe Environment tab.
Upcoming Events
May
12 Graduation, GACC Activity Center, 1:30 p.m.
16 Noon Dismissal, Finals
17 Noon Dismissal, Finals and Last Day of School
June
17 Initial Live Safe Environment Training, GACC Cafeteria, 4-6 p.m.
T-shirts Need To Be Picked Up ASAP
There are several team t-shirts in the office. Students will not be able to check out on the last day if they have not paid for and picked up their t-shirts. Please pay with exact change or check.
- The following track t-shirts need to be paid for ($24) and picked up:
Johnson
Karnopp,
Perez
A.D. Announcement
All 9th - 12th grade students who compete in an NSAA activity/sport must have a sports physical completed before August 12, 2024. Also, students and parents must complete an NSAA Consent form. Over the summer, completed Sports Physicals and Consent forms may be dropped off at St. Mary's rectory Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Download the pdfs below for the NSAA sports physical form and NSAA Consent form.
NECC Driver's Education
Northeast Community College has added two new instructors to teach Driver's Education at the NECC- West Point campus. Download the brochures below to register for a Spring or Fall class. Please use the CRN# located on the brochure to ensure you get into the correct class.
Summer Drivers Education Course
West Point- Beemer Public School will be offering Drivers Education this summer. If you are interested, call WP-B for details.
Service Hour Opportunity
Get started on your Fall 2024 Service Hours by helping with the Totus Tuus program June 3-7 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. We are in great need of 7th - 12 grade students to help with the 1st - 6th grade Totus Tuus program. There is a sign-up sheet by the high school office, or contact Jen Kreikemeier for more information.
Campus Ministry
Totus Tuus
ATTENTION - Junior Missionaries Needed: 7th - 12 grade students are needed to help with the 1st - 6th grade program! Contact Jen Kreikemeier for more information, or sign up at the high school office. Service Hours will be given.
Totus Tuus Dates:
- Grades 1-6: June 3-7 (Mon-Fri), 9 a.m. - 2:30 pm.
- Grades 7-12: June 2-6 (Sun-Thurs), 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
- Registration grades are based on entering grades for Fall of 2024 (2024-2025 school year).
Cost: $40 per student
Registration forms and information can be downloaded below, and are also found on Sycamore and gaccbluejays.org.
From the Guidance Counselor
- Parents of Grads: At Awards Night, you received a letter from me listing your child's scholarships and how to claim them. Please be sure to have your child write thank you notes to the donors. Also, be sure your child follows directions on how to collect the funds. Some awards are not given until second semester.
- 2024-2025 Schedules: All the students, grades 6-11, have registered for classes for next year. Mrs. Gentrup and I are trying our hardest to get the master schedule done, but we depend on receiving information from other locations before we can finish. If the schedule isn't completed by the end of the year, a Beacon will be sent this summer telling students when they can see their classes for next year.
Kansas State
Click the link below to find out more about Summer Camps at K-State.
Toolmaker and Machining Summer Camp for High School Students
If you are a high school junior or senior, come learn from the best! Join SCC's instructors on May 29-30 for a two day camp where youwill learn how to run various metal cutting machines, such as manual lathes, Bridgeport Mills, CNC Mills and CNC Lathes.
Camp Highlights
- Learn in one of the largest precision-machining facilities in the nation.
- Build your own 2-1/2 pound dead blow hammer.
- Work with various types of metals and metal cutting machines.
- Learn to operate the CNC Mills and CNC Lathes.
- Tour an industry-leading machine shop.
Turn your interests into real-world skills. Reserve your spot today!
Register by clicking the link below
Application Requirements
● Apply to compete: www.missomahamao.org/register-to-compete
● Submit all required paperwork by the July 24, 2024 deadline:
○ Resume
○ Community Service Initiative
○ Candidate Contract
● Compete in the Miss Omaha & Miss Douglas County Scholarship Competition this Fall 2024
Natural Resources High School Program
The Department of Natural Resource Management at South Dakota State University is hosting a Natural Resources High School Program, July 22-26 at Oak Lake Field Station in Astoria, SD. Space is limited and admission is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Lodging and meals are included in the registration. Registration is $300 and closes on May 31, 2024.
The Natural Resources High School Program is a great way to gain exposure to the world of natural resources, including fish, plants, wildlife, soils, invertebrates, and water. The program offers opportunities to gain hands-on experiences in natural resource ecology and management.
The program is intended for high school students entering grades 9, 10, 11 and 12, who have a strong desire to learn more about the natural world or who have an interest in pursuing a career related to natural resources. Permission of parent or guardian is required.
Possible activities the camp offers include Bird Banding, Lake Ecology, Pollinator Diversity, Camera Trapping, Archery, Radio Telemetry, Small Mammal Trapping, Reptile Trapping & Ecology, and Careers in Natural Resources.
More information can be found by clicking the link below, or emailing SDSU.NRM@sdstate.edu, or call 605-688-6121.
Ag Internships available
- Kaup’s has two summer internships available that we are open to seniors getting ready to enter an ag program next fall.
- Kaup's is also interested in sponsoring someone to enter the apprenticeship program at Northeast Community College. This new program allows someone to be employed and attend classes for diesel tech or applicator certification.
- Contact Mrs. Kreikemeier for more information.
UNL Raikes School Computer Science Summer Camp
July 14-27, 2024
The Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is now accepting applications for a summer learning opportunity for high school students. The Raikes School is hosting its eighth year of “Innovate: The Raikes School Way,” led by Executive Director of the Raikes School, Dr. Steve Cooper. The summer camp was highlighted by Forbes in 2019: "STEM-Focused Summer Programs for Ambitious High School Students."
During the two-week, overnight camp students will:
- Learn basic programming skills and innovation concepts through a project-oriented curriculum
- Receive instruction from Raikes School faculty members and experience what classes can be like in the Raikes School
- Visit campus research labs and local employer partners
- Interact with Raikes School students and staff, all of whom play a key role in the competitive selection process to our program each year
Key Details:
- Innovate: The Raikes School Way is a great opportunity for high school students, with priority given to students in the high school graduating class of 2025.
- No programming experience is necessary! (In fact, no experience is preferred)
- Students in the graduating class of 2026 will be accepted on a space-available basis
- The camp will be held at the Kauffman Academic Residential Center, home of the Raikes School, in the heart of Nebraska's City Campus from July 14-27, 2024.
- Cost to attend is $2,050 and covers all housing, meals, instruction, and activities associated with the camp.
- Full and partial scholarships are available - students can apply for scholarships through the Summer Camp application.
Priority Application Deadline: May 6, 2024. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis after May 6 as space is available
Interested students can find more details and complete the application at https://raikes.unl.edu/summercamp/.
If you have any questions about the camp, please email tluensmann2@unl.edu.
Investing in GACC's Future
Investing in GACC means providing for great educators, a great environment, and great facilities in order to offer our students a rich Catholic education. Your gift will have an immediate and future impact for our school. We are so grateful for your gifts - donations, time, and prayers. Find more information about the capital campaign at:
Teens Encounter Christ (TEC)
Who: Juniors & Seniors
When/Where:
- July 19 - 21 at Tintern Retreat Center, Oakdale
Cost: $75
How to Reserve Your Spot: Download and complete all the forms and return with the $75 retreat fee to: Ruth Bloedorn, 493 River Road, Wisner, NE 68791
Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) is a three-day retreat for high school juniors and seniors, as well as college freshmen. TEC draws participants into the heart of the Catholic Faith: Christ's Paschal Mystery (His passion, death, and resurrection) lived out in the Church. The weekend helps youth relate this mystery to the concrete realities of their lives and challenges them to make a deeper commitment to Christ.
Cuming County Extension will host a two-day Tractor and Equipment Safety Training event in West Point on Tuesday, May 28 and Wednesday, May 29. The event is for youths ages 14-15.