The GACC National Honor Society welcomed elementary students on Monday with "high fives." Pictured giving "high fives" are NHS members Joelle Peatrowsky (left), Maverik Smith (middle), Caleb Ridder (partially visible behind Joelle) and Becca Jansen (back).

NHS members Mackenzie Schmid (left), Julianne Ridder (middle), Adyson Luebbert (right) and Kate Jansen (back) welcome elementary students at the start of Catholic Schools Week.

Click the link below to vote for BOTH Guardian Angels Central Catholic Elementary AND High School:

Parents, Guardian Angels Central Catholic is trying a different format for the grades 7-12 Spring Parent-Teacher Conference on February 13. These conferences will be held in the teachers’ high school classrooms and will be BY APPOINTMENT only from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. If you have concerns about your student(s)’ academic performance and would like to meet with his or her teacher(s), you must contact the teacher(s) in advance via their GACC email and schedule an appointment with the teacher(s) on February 13. Likewise, teachers who have concerns about a student’s academic performance may contact parents via email and request that they schedule a time for a conference on February 13. Please note: Sr. Elizabeth Ann Miller will not be available for Parent-Teacher Conferences on February 13.

The GACC K-6 Parent-Teacher Conference will follow their normal format.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this new format for the grades 7-12 February 13 Parent-Teacher Conference, please contact High School Principal Justin Wardyn at 402-372-5326.

Congratulations to Ava Karnopp and Madeline Thiele for being selected to participate in the Nebraska State FFA Choir! They will rehearse and perform at the Nebraska State FFA Convention April 2-4 in Lincoln.

The Early Bird special price of $50.00 for yearbooks has been extended until Feb. 1. Get yours now by clicking the link below to order online.

Download and print the .pdf below for Candy Gram Order forms. Order forms and payment are DUE to the school office by Monday, February 3.

On Monday, GACC high school students "buddied" up with elementary students for fun and games. Julianne Ridder (right) plays Monopoly with Faye Eisenmenger (left) and Brynn Hagemann.

Enjoying a game of Dude Perfect are, from left, Ryder Anderson-Ray, Henry Prinz, Carter Bramlet, Isaac Guenther and Max Guenther.

Due to equipment repair, the SPA can drive that was scheduled for Saturday, January 25, has been rescheduled for Saturday, February 1 at 9 a.m. Parent and student help is needed on February 1.

GENEROUS Service hours will be given!

On Tuesday, Fr. Taylor Leffler, a GACC alumnist, discussed the parts of the Mass with students.

Mr. Schlaebitz personified Tuesday's theme, "Celebrate Our Nation."

Members of the GACC junior high boys basketball team included, from left, front row: Karter Kampschneider, Clatyon Thiele, Tucker Steffen, Carter Gentrup, Owen Eby, Taylor Schold, Levi Strehle, Rexton Stratman;

back row: Keyden Throener, Mason Strehle, Kaidyn Strehle, Joseph Eames, Rowen Dinslage, Anthony Jansen, Hunter Steffen, Lucas Ruskamp.

If you are interested in being a West Point lifeguard this summer, please submit an application. Applications are due February 7, and must be submitted by applicants to the West Point City Office.

Applications are on the city website, and can be accessed by clicking the link below:

Or, email Brittany Larsen at blarsen@wpcadets.net for more information or questions.

On Wednesday, Rebekah Allick, a current Husker Volleyball player, shared her personal story at an all-school assembly. Pictured above is Rebekah Allick (right) and Sr. Elizabeth Ann Miller.

The annual Seniors vs. Teachers volleyball game was held Wednesday afternoon. Although the seniors gave it their all, the teachers were victorious once again.

• Marietta Otte - AMC Theaters
• Jodi Disher - $300 Ultra-Brite Car Wash
• Nora Wardyn - Creative Xpressions West Point
• Laura Ritter - $500 Visa Gift Card
• Jolene Peatrowsky - $250 Chamber Bucks
• Cindy Hugo - Split the Pot ($280!)

ZaraNae Torres (left) and Amiah Dirkschneider competed in one of many Rock, Paper, Scissors games that were held throughout Thursday morning. The top eight winners then competed in a rock, paper, scissor tournament at lunch. Barrett Steffen was the final winner and earned points for his House.

Mr. Wardyn (left) and Clayton Thiele both shoot "paper" during their match.

As we continue to be "Inspired by Our Past and Investing in our Future," we recognize the countless ways God has blessed our community! On behalf of the GACC Capital Campaign, a sincere THANK YOU to everyone who strives to keep our campus community vibrant and thriving! Whether you donate time, skills, supplies, money, grain, leadership, labor, or prayers, we value each and every contribution! Our gratitude is immense!

Parents, please help us reach our goal of completing the fundraising for Phase 1 this year! Print the donation card from our school website (on the capital campaign page), and return it to the school office or St. Mary's rectory. We need your help. As we invest in our people and our campus, the dividends will benefit our children and pay out for generations to come!

The Guardian Angels Central Catholic Supportive Parents Association (SPA) has made the difficult decision to discontinue its paper and cardboard collection efforts effective immediately. SPA is now shifting its focus to its can collection, which will continue at the same site.

After years of serving the community through this program, declining reimbursement along with increasing costs and challenges with transporting the materials have made it no longer sustainable for SPA’s mission of supporting the school.

“We are deeply grateful to everyone who has donated, volunteered, or supported this effort throughout the years,” said Kacie Borchers, SPA President. “This program has been an incredible testament to the generosity of our community.”

For those looking for alternative ways to recycle paper goods, the West Point Transfer Station at 1251 E Sherman St. is an excellent option. The facility accepts paper, magazines, and cardboard, as well as plastics, tin cans, and used oil, allowing community members to recycle even more items. The transfer station is open Tuesday-Thursdays 8-5 and Saturday 8-12.

SPA remains committed to serving the Guardian Angels Central Catholic community and appreciates your ongoing support. "We ask the community to continue supporting us by recycling cans at our site as all efforts made by our committee goes directly back to the students, teachers, and school." says Borchers.

There are still 2025 GACC Pro-life calendars available! You can purchase them 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 Pro-life calendars. Money raised from the calendars funds local Pro-life activities, speakers, supplies and our fair booth.

January

31 Professional Development/School of Faith - NO SCHOOL

February

1 SPA can drive

5 Life Runners T-shirt Day, students may wear their Life Runners T-shirts with uniform bottoms

13 K-12 Parent - Teacher Conferences, NO SCHOOL

14 Staff School of Faith/Professional Development, NO SCHOOL

17 Spring Break, NO SCHOOL

26 Edge, 7-8:30 p.m., enter through the gym doors

GACC students, staff and parents are encouraged to participate in the American Red Cross Blood Drive on Monday, February 3, 2025, 12 - 6 p.m. at the Donald Nielsen Community Center. Please visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: WestPoint to schedule an appointment.

Students can earn a service hour for donating blood. Sixteen-year-olds need a parent consent form signed. Consent forms are in the high school office. Seventeen-year-olds, no consent form is needed, but please inform your parents.

Assistance with Southeast Community College Scholarships

At 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, February 19, Abby Ross from Southeast Community College will come and work on scholarships for students who will be attending Southeast. Parents are welcome.

The 54th annual Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute (NAYI) will be held July 7-11, 2025, on UNL’s East Campus. This is a very popular event, and students always enjoy it.

Applications are now available to students who are currently high school juniors and seniors on our website at:

As always, applications are due on April 15.

We invite you to register for our upcoming spring events at SCC. Space is limited - Register today!

Careers in Technology Day

Lincoln Campus - February 12, 2025

Click the link below to Register:

Careers in Transportation Day

Milford Campus - February 18, 2025

Click the link below to Register:

Careers in Healthcare Day

Lincoln Campus - March 20, 2025

Click the link below to Register:

Discovery Day will give you the opportunity to experience SCC firsthand. Gain information about SCC's Programs of Study, how to pay for college, SCC support services, housing, activities, and more! A campus tour and lunch are provided. There is no cost to attend.

Beatrice Campus:

Monday, February 10 | Wednesday, March 19

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.

Camps are limited to 50 students, so click the link below to register NOW:

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).

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.

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