The 2024 GACC One Act Play Production team includes, front row, from left: Charli Wesche, Candela Abellan Alloza, Anna Hugo, Maddie Thiele, Marie Wardyn, Rebecca Jansen, Caleb Ridder, Isaac Wooldrik;

back row: Amiah Dirkschneider, Paisley Skoda, Alaina Eames, Hannah Roede, Elizabeth Hasemann, Julianne Ridder, Haidan Hakel, Elijah Steffensmeier and Colin Smith.

The GACC One Act Play Production performed "Knock, Knock" for the last time at District competition on Tuesday. They received a Superior rating from all the judges, scoring 55 out of 60 points. Although they did not advance to the State One Act competition, the group had a successful season.

"The kids all had a great time, and we received Superiors from all the judges at both Conference and District competitions," said One Act Coach/Director Renee Eames.

Congratulations to the following students for receiving an Outstanding Performance Award at the District One Act Play Production competition:

As a house service project, Rocco will be gift wrapping presents on Sunday, December 8, from 1-3 p.m. Gifts can be dropped off at the north door of the high school

An All-school Mass will be held at 8:15 a.m. on Monday, December 9, in Celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. School will be held on December 9.

Support your House by contributing to Guardian Angels Central Catholic’s Food Drive. All items will be donated to the West Point Community Food Pantry.

Competition Rules:

NO expired items will be accepted and your House will receive negative points for any expired donations.

• 3-1 point food items: canned meat (points depend on size of can);
• 3 point food items: jelly, peanut butter, boxed/bagged cereal, shampoo (NO travel size), lotion (NO travel size), body wash (NO travel size);
• 2 point food Items: canned stew, Hamburger-Helper-type boxed meals, boxed side dishes (potatoes, rice, pasta), deodorant (NO travel size), toothpaste (NO travel size);
• 1 point food items: canned soup, canned fruit, canned vegetables, macaroni & cheese, bar soap (1 point each), paper towels (1 point per roll), toilet paper (1 point per roll).

Bring your items to your House Dean’s classroom. The competition ends at precisely 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 12. Any items received after 3:30 p.m. on December 12 will NOT count toward a House’s points.

The Omaha World Herald has recognized the following students for the Class C All State Softball Awards:

The Booster Club is selling raffle tickets to win a delicious prime rib! Raffle tickets will be sold at the Thursday, December 12, varsity basketball games, and at the Friday, December 13, varsity wrestling invite.

The 2025 GACC Pro-life calendars are hot off the press, and are available for purchase in the High School and Elementary offices, Flower and Gift Gallery, and St. Mary's rectory. The calendars are $20. Make checks payable to St. Mary's Catholic Church (write Pro-life calendar in the memo).

The winter sports season is fast approaching, so we need to fill gate worker slots for basketball games and wrestling meets. Please click the links below to sign up for the game(s) or meet(s) of your choice. Your help is greatly needed and greatly appreciated!

On Wednesday, Mrs. Doernemann's Workplace Communications class toured the Smeal Fire and Apparatus manufacturing facility in Snyder. The students learned how the company custom designs and builds fire equipment that is sold world-wide.

Pictured above, clockwise from top, are students who participated in the tour: Carter Bramlet, Ethan Engelmeyer, Thomas Karnopp, Ian Kreikemeier, Dominic Johnson, Simon Kreikemeier;

partially visible in back, Hayden Throener, Trey Schlecht, Alejandro Perez. Logan Rolf, Luke Hagedorn, Abraham Lopez and Dylan Schinstock are not pictured, but also took part in the tour.

December

9 All-school Mass in Celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, 8:15 a.m.

13 Staff Professional Development/School of Faith - NO SCHOOL

18 Christmas Program, 6:30 p.m.

19 Finals - Noon Dismissal

20 Finals - Noon Dismissal

21 SPA Paper Trailer

23 - 31 Christmas Break - NO SCHOOL

January

1-3 Christmas Break - NO SCHOOL

10 Corn Hole Tournament

18 SPA Paper Trailer

26-31 Catholic Schools Week

31 School of Faith - NO SCHOOL

Northeast Community College will offer Driver's Ed classes in West Point on June 2 - 5, 2025. For more information and to register, download the registration form below.

* Please note - the $50 early bird price is good until January 15, 2025.

The GACC Fine Arts Fundraising Festival of Virtual Games is back and LIVE on Facebook! Last year, the Festival of Virtual Games raised more than $4,000 for our Fine Arts programs.

To get in on the fun, and play to win some great prizes, go to Facebook and search "GACC Fine Arts Fundraising," then click the button to "Join Group."

• Anyone age 18 and older in the United States can participate in the fundraiser. You can conveniently invite ALL your family and friends - no matter where they live in the U.S. - to play fun virtual games that benefit our school and give them a chance to win great prizes!

• Each virtual game offers a limited number of bids to win the specific prize for that game. The bid price is different for each game. Each virtual game is open until all the bids are purchased (details for each game are posted with that game).

• All proceeds benefit the GACC Fine Arts programs, including Band, Speech, One Act, Musical, and Art. If you have any questions, or want to donate a prize for the fundraiser, contact Charissa Steffensmeier at 402-380-9871.

The GACC Capital Campaign is making great strides! Download the pdf below for more details on what has been completed so far during phase I, and plans for the future during phase II.

You can now file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Form with 2023 tax information. While the FAFSA priority deadline is May 1, 2025, financial aid is disbursed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Information to gather:

• Federal Student Aid Account or FSA ID (username and password created to gain access to the U.S. Department of Education's online systems).
• Social Security Number
  
• 2023 federal tax information or tax returns
• Records of untaxed income
• Cash, savings and checking account balances
• Name, DOB, SSN and email address of parent (if dependent student)

Did you know children whose parents are State Employees may qualify for 100% of their tuition to be paid at Northeast, Southeast, Metro and other Nebraska Community Colleges? More information can be found by clicking the link below:

Don't miss out on these scholarship opportunities:

• Nebraska Poultry Education Scholarship: Due - Dec. 15
• Hagan Scholarship: Due - Jan. 15

Applications are open now for the U.S. Department of State's FULL scholarships for U.S. high school students to study abroad!

Dates for 9-12th Grade Students: Feb. 12, Apr. 23

Dates for 7-8th Grade Students: Mar. 12, Apr. 16

Students are invited to join a camp at the University of Nebraska at Kearney from 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. to learn about health sciences, professions in healthcare, UNK scholarships, and other opportunities. There is no cost to attend. Students may come with their school or health science club. Camps will have no more than 50 students.

Learn About Careers

It’s an exciting day for students to learn about health sciences and careers in healthcare.

First-hand Look

Participate in hands-on activities and interactive sessions all designed to help students learn about healthcare professions.

UNK Opportunities

Students learn how UNK is helping them to become successful through scholarships and other opportunities.

Click the link below to register

For questions, reach out to Sara Bruner at 308-865-8144 or bruners@unk.edu.

Share your idea for making a difference and earn a $1,000 scholarship. This is your chance to tackle a challenge and make your mark! Submit your 2-minute video to share your idea - big or small - and earn a $1,000 scholarship.

This competition is open to students in grades 6-11.

Eight winners will be selected to:

• Recieve a "Change Maker" $1,000 Scholarship to be applied when you come to UNL
• Personalized campus visit (in-person or remote)
• Lunch with the Dean of CASNR
• CASNR Team will visit your classroom (in-person or remote) to regonize the Change Maker Winner
• CASNR media feature of the Change Maker

The video needs to address one or more of the following Grand Challenges:

• Feeding the World
• Water for the Future
• New Energy
• Climate and the Future
• Biodiversity, Sustainability and Environment
• Health
• Engaging Diverse Communities
• Developing Tomorrow's Leaders

Contest opens December 1, 2024 -- Deadline is noon on February 1, 2025.

Northeast Community College is hosting Hawk Visit Days once a month this year! This year's dates include morning sessions only (9:30 am - 11:15 am/11:45 am if eating in the cafeteria).

• Tuesday, February 20, 2025

• Wednesday, March 5, 2025

• Thursday, April 1, 2025

Each session will include a tour of campus and our residence halls, a student panel, a Next Steps presentation, and lunch in our Hawks Point dining hall!

Registration is limited to 150 students per day on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Walter Scott, Jr. Pathway Scholarship supports students pursuing up to a two-year degree in approved skilled and technical fields of study. This scholarship covers full tuition and fees, plus room and board for up to four consecutive semesters. Download the .pdf below for more information.

Learning and Leading Through Christ

Email: justin.wardyn@gaccbluejays.org
Website: www.gaccbluejays.org
Location: 419 East Decatur St., West Point, NE 68788