Kelsey Kruzel, a graduating senior, has been active in many facets of Boyne City life.

And remember, no matter where you go, there you are.  No statement is truer for the seniors about to graduate from Boyne City High School.  As students are getting ready for the end of the year, many find themselves sifting through boxes of old art projects, language arts essays and report cards.  As well as sifting through all the papers, many come across old memories and dreams.  Curled up with a blanket on the living room floor, these soon-to-be graduates relive a journey they will never forget.

This is a preview of one of several articles written by the students of the Boyne City High School journalism class.  In support of BCHS, The Gazette prints their newspaper as a special pull-out section.  See this article in full, along with many more in the 5/26 BC Gazette, or subscribe to our Online Access.
On a personal note, it has been a pleasure working with the Seniors from the Journalism Class.  I am proud of each of them.  -Chris Faulknor, Editor

Tina Stephenson, Wendy Wahlen, Wayne Everest, Jill Habasco, Jan Stephenson, Al Stephenson

Students of Boyne Falls’ very own Orion School were hard at work on the morning of May 5th.  Busily transplanting flowers and vegetables donated by Cherry Hill Greenhouse, the students worked with a smile.  The transplanting, only a small step in the larger plan, was part of an ongoing project to help the area in memory of a recently lost friend, Judy Everest, who passed away two years ago of unexpected illness.

For more on Judy and the efforts of Orion School, pick up a copy of the May 12th edition of The Boyne City Gazette

 PARENT’S NAMES: Russ and Mindy Bohnet

 GRADE: 11th

 SCHOOL ACTIVITIES: Ski Team, National Honor Society

 HOBBIES AND INTERESTS: Skiing, Girl Scouts, family and friends

 FUTURE PLANS: Win a state skiing title, complete Girl Scout Gold Award

 STAFF COMMENT:

 “Kaitlyn is a conscientious, dedicated student. She is a pleasure to have in class.”- Michele Deming, History teacher.

 “Kaitlyn has a great work ethic in class. She is a serious, dedicated student.”

-Jeanne Heath, English teacher

 “Kaitlyn is focused, positive, and productive. She is an admirable student and citizen of BCHS.”- Aaron Fritzsche, English teacher

 “Excellent student. Self motivated and has high expectations of herself.”

-Sandra Clausen, Math teacher

 “I am always impressed with her hard work and dedication to academic excellence.” –Andy Bryant

Board Bits for March 2010

Board President, Ken Schrader, opened the meeting with a presentation from District Media Center Specialist, Cindi Place about the various activities that take place throughout the year in the middle school.  From the One Book One Read program where everyone in the middle school all reads the same book to the summer reading program, all of the monthly programs are designed to engage the reader in an effort to enhance the student’s interest in reading. 

The building administration presented on the progress being made in each building towards a district wide instructional goal to improve student’s engagement in each lesson being taught.  The building principals reported they have been extremely pleased with the progress based on their daily visits to the classrooms. 

The Middle School Student Council representatives reported on their activities over the last month. 

Business Manager, Irene Byrnes, provided the Board with an overview of the proposed amendments to the district’s budget.  Due to recent unforeseen revenue coming to the district, combined with other budget adjustment, the budget shortfall anticipated last July shrunk by approximately $87,000.  

On the Consent Agenda 

A. Approval of the Minutes 

The regular board meeting minutes from the February 8, 2010 and the special board meeting minutes of February 15 and February 25, 2010 both discipline hearings were approved; as well as the Finance Committee meeting minutes of February 26, 2010. 

B. Business and Finance Items 

The Board took action to approve Gross Payroll and Liabilities as paid in the amount of $790,656.35; General Fund bills as  paid in the amount of $124,585.52; Athletic Fund bills as paid in the amount of 1,710.95;  and Food Service bills as paid in the amount of $22,087.83, for a total of $939,040.65 for all funds during the month. 

The Board publicly recognized from the consent agenda, two donations made to the middle school and/or it’s after school programs.  Mr. Tom Mannusa donated an air hockey table to be used in the after school 21^st Century Program and Victor and Wilhelmine Miller donated $250.  Both donations were graciously accepted. 

C. Personnel Items 

The Board recognized high school Art Teacher, Nancy Belford and middle school Paraprofessional, Lauri Hardy as recipients of the Michigan Education Association’s 2010 Outstanding Persons In Education Award.  Both employees will be honored by the organization at a regional awards banquet later this spring. 

D. Curriculum & Program Items 

The Board approved the administration’s request to allow the DECA Club to travel to Dearborn, Michigan from March 12 -14, 2010, to attend and compete at the DECA state conference.�
 

VIII. Agenda Action Items 

The Board approved the budget amendments discussed earlier during Business Manager Irene Byrne’s presentation.  An amendment by nature is a revision to the original budget approved in July which allows for a mid-year comparison of the yearly financial position at a specific point in time. 

IX. Discussion Items 

Superintendent Alger reported that a resolution was reached with the teacher’s union on a grievance that had been filed earlier in the year.  He reported that both sides worked well to solve the problem of compensating a teacher for extra time worked while minimizing the impact of the decision on future staff scheduling scenarios. 

Superintendent Alger also noted that while a Special Board Meeting for the purpose of conducting a student discipline hearing had been publicly advertised for Sunday, February 28th, the meeting had been cancelled.  Procedurally, the student discipline hearing was nullified after a building level review team met to modify the student’s program based on the student behaviors and educational needs. 

Superintendent Alger provided the Board and those in attendance, a snippet of the upcoming Financial Vision Series scheduled to start Thursday, March 11^th at 7:00 p.m.  The first of the two part series is designed to educate those in attendance about the district’s budgetary process and the goal for the second session is to create a priority list of essential program offerings for use by the administration in preparation for budget decisions later this spring. 

The next meeting of the board will take place on Monday evening, April 19^th at 7:00 p.m. in the cafeteria of the Early Childhood Education Center.

Boyne Area students continue to enjoy free skiing as a part of a long tradition at Boyne Mountain.

With one of the best ski resorts in the Midwest literally across the street, could you really blame students for playing hooky to hit the slopes?

But for the better part of a century, students at Boyne Falls haven’t had to sneak around to enjoy the outdoors and snow, thanks to a deal brokered between the late Everett Kircher and the Boyne Falls Public School system.

In the early 1950’s an agreement was made between Kircher and the district involving a land exchange. Under the original contract land owned by the school would be given to Boyne Mountain and vice-versa, in addition to the land swap students would be able to enjoy the Mountain one day a week during the winter for free for the next 50 years.

“The contract has since been renewed on a yearly basis and Boyne Mountain intends to continue as good neighbors and in the spirit of community to offer free skiing opportunities to the students of Boyne Falls Public Schools,” says Erin Ernst, Public Relations Manager for Boyne Resorts.

Although the original terms of the agreement have long since expired, students at Boyne Falls continue to ski free at Boyne Mountain once a week because the program has had such a positive impact on the community.

“It’s been part of our school for a long time,” says Principal Paul Zagata, “the kids really look forward to it, its one of the nice things about Boyne Falls”.

But kids, before you start bugging your parents to transfer to Boyne Falls you should know it’s not just a day of free skiing.

“The program has become more coordinated and better defined in the last 20 years,” says program director Brittney Book. She says the kids learn to follow instructions, develop their listening skills and interact with other people in the community.

“It’s not a free ski, it’s a structured environment,” adds Zagata, “it’s part of the curriculum.”

See the full story in this week’s Boyne City Gazette!

The Boyne Area Kiwanis hosted their Annual Awards Breakfast for the winners of the Tenth Grade Eddie Essay Contest. Students at Concord Academy and the Boyne Falls and Boyne City Schools answered the question: “If you had $50.00 to give to your favorite charity, which one would it be and why?”

The Kiwanis project teaches the students about the importance of giving and informs all of us about the many great charitable organizations that we have in our community. The Eddie Essay is named in honor of a Kiwanis member’s brother, Ed Hughes, whose life and spirit exemplify the nature of giving.

A committee of Kiwanis members selected a winner from each school as well as a grand prizewinner from the essays that were entered. The 1-2 page essays were evaluated on the basis of content as well as grammar, spelling, and sentence structure. The students read their essays aloud to their proud parents, teachers, principals and Kiwanis members. The tenth graders’ inspiring words touched many hearts at the awards ceremony on December 3, 2009. See for yourself as you read their essays.

Pictured from left to right are Halle Poole (BCHS), Michaela Zimmerman (CAB), Magdalena Wasylewski (BFHS), and Danielle Reynolds (BFHS)

Representatives from the charitable organizations also attended the breakfast honoring the winning students and received donations of a $50.00 contribution from the students made possible through Kiwanis, co-sponsors from area businesses and Eddie’s family and friends. The winning essays were written by Danielle Reynolds from Boyne Falls about the Boyne Area Free Clinic, Halle Poole from Boyne City about Community Christmas, and Michaela Zimmerman from Concord Academy Boyne about Hands and Feet Camp. The grand prizewinner, Magdalena Wasylewski from Boyne Falls wrote about Nehemiah House. The grand prize organization received a $100 contribution. Huntington Bank surprised the essayists with a $50 Savings Bond generously donated once again this year.

For additional information regarding the Eddie Essay Contest, contact Bernadette Beyer at 582-0670. The Boyne Area Kiwanis Club is a part of a global organization of volunteers that is committed to changing the world one child and community at a time. All are invited to join the Club at Robert’s Restaurant in Boyne City for our meeting each Thursday at 7:00 AM. For more information contact President Ed Vondra at 231-582-6532.

By: Parker Ameel, BCHS Journalism

After years of going to football practice everyday in the fall it becomes a piece of a player’s life. It is always there, as inevitable as the sunrise. But, one day the sun no longer casts its light on that part of life anymore. Eventually there comes an August where you no longer rise at six every morning to run, sweat in the sun, and everyday of schooling is not followed by a practice. For Boyne City High School senior football players this can be very difficult. Most will never again formally put on another pair of shoulder pads, strap on a helmet, tape cleats, or put knee and thigh pads in pants the night before a game. On Friday nights we were once players, now we will just be mere spectators. In Boyne City, when your time is up and the seconds have expired on the last game clock, there is an overwhelming sadness, but also a deeper level of pride.

Growing up through the Boyne City football program becomes a way of life, an honorable duty to community, teammates, and yourself. Unlike any other sport, football is arguably the most team oriented game. Teammates are not just comrades on the field, they become your best friends. Coaches become more than just coaches, they become leading figures that you can trust. Boyne City is a town that has a passion for collaboration and unity, football is a staple in Boyne, where every Friday night stands are filled and fences lined to watch the young athletes of the town. Many of the fans in the stands were once players on the same field, now their children or grandchildren are playing for the same name on the front of the jerseys. There are a lot of reasons why last names echo in the hallways generation after generation, but one thing is for sure, people who graduate from Boyne do not just come back to make their own families years later for no reason. There is an athletic and academic atmosphere here that is irresistible, and something to be proud of. Boyne City football is an exemplarily model that portrays the unique excellence that being a Rambler entails.

There are many seniors this year who have followed in the footsteps of older siblings in the tradition of Boyne City football. Both of my older brothers played football for Boyne, and my dad coached junior varsity for 20 some years. Current senior, Dalton Looze has had many relatives roll through the program, including his grandpa Ervin “Shorty” Smith who taught and coached at Boyne. With every group of guys playing on varsity from season to season it is certain that there is a handful that have had brothers, uncles, cousins, or their father play for the Ramblers. But irregardless of having family ties in the program or not, it is certain that Rambler football alumni are proud of their high school, teammates, coaches, and the town they come from.

The Rambler football team has had nineteen conference championships, twelve playoff appearances (nine straight), five district finals, a district championship, a regional championship and three state championships. These accumulations rival any public school in the conference or area. Yet, one of the factors that position Boyne Football apart from other schools is the operations of its program. When the Pop Warner program was started in 1998, the goal was to have the teams run the same way from peewee to varsity. The objective was simple, consistency: same offense, same defense, same positions, same drills, and the same moral build of quality and character in players. Likewise, from year to year kids do not have to be re-taught plays or positions; they simply just pick up where they left off the year before. This program has proven its success in Boyne, and is imperative to the strength of the Boyne City Rambler Football program.

Because of its storied history and commitment to hundreds of young men, their coaches and their families Boyne City Football has truly been a “band of brothers” whose ties run generations deep. I am proud to have been a member of this fraternity.

-Parker Ameel

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