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Hello all.

January proved to be a challenging month for Western High School, as weather delays and call-offs threw a wrench into our usual school days. Despite these obstacles, the resilience and adaptability of the students, staff, and parents shone through. Whether it was adjusting to last minute changes in school related activities or finding alternative ways to stay productive during closures, the WHS community pulled through together with the spirit of cooperation and understanding.

As January draws to a close, WHS is not only wrapping up its winter sports season but also gearing up for the intense competition of the IHSAA Tournament. It's a testament to the dedication and hard work of our student-athletes and coaches that they've persevered through the challenges of their seasons thus far.

To all those involved in making January a month of resilience and flexibility, thank you. Your patience, cooperation, and positive attitude have made a difference in navigating the unpredictable weather and scheduling disruptions. As we look ahead to February, let's continue to support one another and strive for success in all sports, competitions, and activities our school participates in. Good luck to our Choir, Band, Welding Team, and sports teams competing in ISSMA, IHSAA Tournaments, or events - your Western High School community is behind you every step of the way!

Mr. Edwards

Industrial Technology teacher Mr. Turner hosted a group of 5th graders and showed them some of the projects in his class.

Mr. Bowers gave his students a real-life look at some famous characters in French history and fiction. During the month of January, he dressed as a character from a novel, movie, or historical period.

Hardarsh Basraon, 10

Mr. Spurgeon and members of FFA hosted an evening of volleyball and games for FFA members from other schools in their district.

If you're a student at Western High School looking to challenge yourself and live an overall healthier lifestyle, then you should consider enrolling in the Advanced Physical Conditioning (APC) class taught by Mr. Stewart (below with McKitrick), our dedicated and knowledgeable football coach. In APC, Mr. Stewart creates a structured weightlifting program where you lift four times a week, focusing on upper body strength for two days and lower body for the other two, ensuring a balanced approach to muscle development. At the start of each semester, Mr. Stewart conducts baseline tests for key exercises, including the squat, bench press, power clean, alongside assessments of your vertical jump and 40-yard dash time to measure your athletic progress. Not only does this class offer you the opportunity to build strength and power, but you also will learn proper techniques and gain knowledge about physical health that will benefit you long after high school. By joining APC, you're almost guaranteed to make progress in your sports or overall health, while being supported by a coach who truly cares about student development.

Matthew McKitrick, 10

HANNA JACKSON In her first year at Western High School, Mrs. Jackson not only planned a new curriculum but also planned a wedding. She got married on December 16, 2023. Mrs. Jackson is from Illinois and attended the University of Evansville, where she studied History. Although this is her first year at WHS, Mrs. Jackson has taught for seven years. One of her goals this year is that the students “grow as individuals by challenging and applying themselves and learn something new about themselves in the process.” Mrs. Jackson likes spending time with her pets, reading, and watching Formula One racing.

Senior Chloe Linn finished in 6th place at the girls' State Wrestling competition.

The boys' wrestling Hoosier Conference Tournament started at noon on a cold winter day. Weigh-in was at 10:00 a.m., so the Western wrestlers showed up at 9:00 to warm up, both physically and mentally, for a dogfight. It was a tough, well-fought meet. The Panthers showed their pride and placed second overall. They came up short two points to Rensselaer, who took home the trophy. Several Western wrestlers placed high in their weight classes:

113 - Brady Shannon (3rd place)

120 - “3 year state qualifier” Tanner Tishner (1st place)

126 - Keegan Tedder (2nd place)

132 - Tyler Linser (1st place)

138 - Erik Hunt (3rd place)

144 - Brady Comer (4th place)

150 - Campbell Robertson (3rd place)

157 - “3 year state qualifier” Mitchell Betz (1st place)

175 - Brody Burns (2nd place)

190 - Brock “City Boy” Frazier (1st place)

215 - Hayden Dillinger (2nd place)

285 - Garret Heady (1st place)

The coaching staff and Aaron Hyman kept the Panthers focused throughout the meet!

Chase Sullivan, 10

Both Tyler Linser and Mitchell Betz won their weight class in the Sectional competition. Several other Panther wrestlers also placed high enough to advance to the Regional round.

Gymnast Ava Wenger performs her routine on the balance beam at the Western Invitational.

The Western boys' swim team once again came away victorious with an impressive win in the Hoosier Conference Swimming and Diving Championships.

Student Services hosted a day for 8th graders to learn about the elective courses offered at the high school. Below, Mrs. Coble speaks to students about taking Japanese as a foreign language elective.

The ASVAB test is scheduled for April 4.

Western High School

Principal Steve Edwards

2600 S 600 W

Russiaville, IN 46979

P (765) 883-5541

F (765) 883-7946

https://whs.western.k12.in.us/