Bluejays Fly into Another Year
by Kailey Marks
It’s time for the students of Bluejay Nation to get back into the school mode! Students of Pierce Jr./Sr. High School started school on Friday, August 10, at 8 a.m. with a regular dismissal at 3:20 p.m.
To welcome back the students from their summer vacation, the students gathered into the gym for an assembly. The assembly started off with principal Mark Brahmer introducing the names of each staff member and what classes they teach or what department they help in, then later going over the regulations of the handbook before students entered their new classes for the year.
Pierce High School also welcomed two new staff members, Mr. Tyler Legate, who will be teaching grade 8 math and grade 7 science courses, and Mrs. Lambrecht, who will be the new assistant to guidance counselor Mrs. Birch.
The Pierce Jr./Sr. Bluejays received lots of new faces this year with the new students coming from the public elementary, Zion, and a few other schools outside the Pierce district.
This year, PHS also had a big change for the senior high students, as they now have acquired the MacBook Airs. The head of the computer department, Mrs. Treva Dostal, is working very hard to meet students’ needs with the new technology. “We are excited to start a new rotation in our 1:1 laptop technology program as the senior high students will have Macbook Airs to help themselves advance academically,” said Pierce High principal Mark Brahmer.
With a new year also comes the beginning of fall activities! Many sports have already kicked off their seasons, and a few of them are already coming up to a game soon, as golf and softball play this week. They both swing off their season on Thursday, August 16, with the softball game beginning at 5 p.m. against Wisner and the girls’ golf meet at 9 a.m. in O’Neill. The volleyball season also will hit off their season with a jamboree game on Thursday at home against Columbus starting at 6 p.m. Also, the football season will have their blue-and-white scrimmage game on Friday at home starting at 6:30 p.m. Furthermore, the fall cheerleaders and band have been preparing for their upcoming seasons with practices, as well.
Principal Mark Brahmer said, “As it is every year, it’s exciting to start a new school year and to see all the students after months of summer. We anticipate another successful year in the classroom and in our activities.”