Tristan Morgan was selected to participate in the first annual Patriots of the Plains Honor Band. 350 students applied, and 97 students were accepted. These students participated in rehearsals led by the professional National Guard musicians of the 43rd Army Band before putting on a Concert including "The Star-Spangled Banner", "Children's March", "Glaciers", "Travelin’ Music", and the finale, "The Stars and Stripes Forever."
Our Transition Class had an incredible day putting their independent living and social skills to the test! Students enjoyed a meal at Lazlos, practicing ordering food, budgeting, and using table manners. Later, they attended a Professional Bull Riding event — what an exciting way to put their knowledge to the test and enjoy a high-energy night together! This experience helped students build confidence, make memories, and apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world situations. We’re so proud of how . . .
Throughout this year, students in Mrs Mick's math classes have been working hard to learn new concepts and master old concepts. Three students have earned 13 college credits in math; way to go!!! We are now wrapping up the year and look forward to next year. Next year, seven students will be taking Precalculus for dual credit, ten students will be moving on to Algebra II, ten students will be taking College Prep working to better their math understanding, and 16 students will be entering Geometry. It's been a great year!!!
Seventh-grade readers explored the life of Shadow Children in the Shadow Children sequence of novels by Margaret Peterson Haddix.
Southern FFA and Ag classes had the great privilege of making benches and tree decor boxes for the upcoming Cattlemen's Ball. The ball is going to be held in Blue Springs, and all proceeds will go to the great cause of cancer research. Students worked hard to make 6 benches and 10 tree boxes. The ball will be held June 6th-7th. We hope you have a chance to attend. After the ball, the benches will be auctioned off all in the name of cancer research. Good Job, Kids!!
Where has the school year gone? It is hard to believe that we are finishing up the 2024-2025 school year. Our staff and students have had a very busy year, but I believe that March, April, and May are the busiest months of the school year. With the arrival of spring came many activities. Our students are involved in track, golf, eSports, Speech, and quiz bowl. Vocal and instrumental music students spend many hours preparing for district competition, where both groups had great performances, as well as putting on numerous concerts to . . .
The first High School Girls wrestling team had an up-and-down year, but the girls worked extremely hard and showed improvement each week. Mya Frase won two individual tournaments this year and ended the season with a winning record. Pearl Short ended the year one win away from qualifying for the state tournament, and Audi Renderos fought hard all season and showed a lot of improvement.
Current members of National Honor Society held new member inductions on Tuesday, May 6, as part of the Honors & Awards Recognition. These members are Jazlyn Schell, Carsen Goes, Samantha Kelsay, Emma Spencer, and Olive Sabey-Vogele. New members are Autumn McKernan, Destiney Lechman, Isabella Hopper, Mya Frase, and Caroline Heard (absent).
To finish out the last two weeks of the school year, with the seniors now being gone, the juniors in Mrs. Schluter’s Personal Finance classes are reading select chapters from the book “How to Adult: Personal Finance for the Real World.” This book was written by Jake Cousineau, a high school business instructor. He wrote it with his goal being to connect with high school kids and help them learn about the concepts of personal finance and building wealth. The topics of avoiding costly financial missteps, budgeting, . . .
Students created projects related to a type of therapy of their choice. Part of their project was to bring a show-and-tell. Gracie chose "play therapy" and brought in her nephew, Daniel. Students were able to color, play games, and interact with Daniel.
The Sophomores read the novel Speak during the 4th quarter. They listened to a presenter from the Hope Crisis Center, learned about domestic violence, and discovered ways to help someone who is in a violent situation.
On May 7th, Mr. Tunink accompanied 18 Sophomore Biology students to the Henry Doorly Zoo. Each of these students earned the opportunity to try their hand at a scavenger hunt in the zoo. If they found 50 of the 55 animals in the zoo, they would earn themselves and their partners a way out of taking their Final. This year, there were 4 of the 5 groups that found all 50 animals. We use an interactive app called Goosechase to prove that students found the correct animals. Students take pictures with their devices, and everything posts . . .
Spanish 2, 3, and 4 students enjoyed a trip to Playa Azul in Beatrice, NE, to practice their Spanish skills. Students recently completed a unit on vocabulary and verb tenses associated with ordering in a restaurant, and they got the opportunity to practice those skills in a real-life situation by ordering their meal and conversing with the waitstaff completely in Spanish. Thank you, Playa Azul, for affording them this excellent opportunity!
It’s been a busy but rewarding end to the school year at Southern! My classes have been hard at work finishing up projects for the Honors and Athletic Banquets, senior slideshow, graduation, and the Southern Legend yearbook. Some projects are wrapped up, and a few are still in progress—but it’s been an incredible year getting to know and work with such amazing students!
Spring has been incredibly busy in the music department! Choir competed in both MUDECAS and District contests, scoring Superior ratings at both events. Soloists, Jace Dorn and Brooklyn Mitchell, also earned Superior ratings!
Students involved in Physical Education are using the last week of school to test their lifting power production max performance. They are testing in Standing Broad Jump, Standing Vertical Jump, Bench Press, Back Squat, Incline Bench Press, and Hang Clean. We are comparing numbers to our previous max performances from the 1st semester (right before Christmas). We can compare numbers and see where the students have had the most improvement.
Jobs for America's Graduates is offered to 8-to 12th-grade students at Southern Schools. Throughout the year, JAG students have been learning about options for their future that include colleges and career opportunities. We have hosted guest speakers, toured businesses and colleges on field trips, explored career options, budgets, etc.
Tchoukball is a non-contact sport originating in Switzerland. Tchoukball is a sport that incorporates parts of other games including handball and basketball. Strategy and decision making is vital for success, it also helps with hand-eye coordination.
The Accuplacer Placement Test for community colleges was given again at Southern High for interested students. The test contains Reading and Math portions and is not timed. High School Students are allowed to retake the test…there is no cost to students while in high school.
Just when you think things will start slowing down because the winter sports seasons are over, you look at the calendar and realize that slowing down is not an option. The months of February, March, and April are filled with many activities. Spring sports have started practicing with JH starting in the next couple of weeks. Both the junior high quiz bowl and high school quiz bowl teams have been meeting and preparing for competitions that are taking place and will continue over the next several weeks. Senior and Junior High vocal and . . .
The junior class is actively preparing for the upcoming ACT testing event, which will take place on March 25, 2025. Today, they are working in their English class on the final editing of their persuasive writing essay, which is practice for the actual writing test. One of the five test sections of the ACT is Writing, and they will be required to write a persuasive essay in 40 minutes. Practicing their writing skills and building confidence helps them gear up for the actual test!
Students reviewed Holocaust identity cards and their stories. They were then directed to a page where they found out if their Holocaust individual survived or died.
Seventh grade reading class is reading the Shadow Children series by Margaret Peterson Haddix. They are starting the third book in the series next week. They have finished two novels in the third quarter!
Mrs. McKinney and Mrs. Thernes' Job Skills and Community Awareness classes have been learning about resources and businesses available in the community for students after they graduate high school, such as the barber shops, banks, food pantries, and more. They have taken several small field trips to experience these different resources before they graduate.
Third quarter is the time that PreCalculus and Calculus students have the opportunity to enroll in dual credit math courses through Peru State College. These classes are a lot of hard work for students, but can start them on the path to college graduation while still in high school. These courses are available at a reduced cost and will transfer to other colleges/universities as long as students receive a 70% or higher. PreCalculus can earn three credit hours for College Algebra, and Calculus students can earn five credit hours. I have . . .
Southern FFA had a busy February with contests rescheduled due to weather, and then being all in one week. Students competed in poultry judging, ag sales, floriculture, livestock management, and meats. The team placed 4th in meats, qualifying for state in April for the 3rd year in a row. Good job students.
The Southern boys wrestling team ended the season with a great finish. The boys peaked at the right time, ending the season with 4 state qualifiers, a 4th place finish at the district tournament, and a 6th place finish at the state tournament, the first top 10 finish since 1982. All four state qualifiers earned a win at the state tournament with Wyatt Forney finishing as a runner up and Drake Troxel becoming Southern's 10th state champion and first champion in 44 years.
Recently, Steve Behrends from Diller Electric spoke with JAG students who were interested in learning more about being an electrician or the education or experience that it would take to be an apprentice or journeyman. Students learned that they do not need to pursue a bachelor's degree to be successful in their career. Steve also shared his personal expectations for his employees to be prompt and 'present' when they are reporting for work and being paid by another for their time.
JH Quiz Bowl students have done an excellent job preparing and competing in their events this year! On February 13th they competed at Cliffton-Clyde Middle School in Kansas and the A team (Landen, Addy, Greyson, Ethan, and Levi) won 1st place. Then, on February 25th they competed at Clay Center Middle School and both teams took home 1st place in their leagues tonight! Great job, Raiders! We are so proud of you!
Senior High Quiz Bowl has been working hard this 3rd quarter to prepare for several events. Our team has recently competed in 2 events within the last few weeks. B103.1 out of Nebraska City hosts a radio quiz bowl event that starts in February. Southern had 4 students (Olive Sabey-Vogele, Emma Spencer, Carsen Goes, and Lily Dyer)who competed against 19 other local teams. Unfortunately, Southern did not have the best of luck with questions and was eliminated from the tournament and ended in a tie for 12th place. Southern also . . .
Preparing for success starts with confidence! Southern students had the opportunity to visit Maxon’s Barber Shop to learn the importance of proper hair care for the workplace. A fresh cut and professional grooming can make all the difference in making a great first impression. HUGE THANKS to Maxon’s Barbershop for sharing their expertise and helping our students get workplace-ready!
7th-grade students up their reading comprehension skills as they read and write daily. This quarter, they have read one novel, five short stories, one poem, and three articles. Way to go 7th Graders!
The state of Nebraska recently implemented the Computer Science & Technology Act. This act requires that students must complete five hours of computer science and technology education before graduation. CS4NE reached out to Mrs. Schluter to interview her about her thoughts and preparations for this brand-new course that many business teachers across the state are finding themselves nervous about teaching for the first time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5Pl2lfYlM4
The Fall Season concluded, which saw Smash and Chess go farther in the postseason compared to the prior season. The winter season kicks off after Christmas break.
In Mr. Tunink's classroom, you usually encounter something science-related unless you are a 7th or 8th grader this year. These select students are fortunate enough to get to learn strategy games with me. From these games, students are allowed to learn the rules, strategies to succeed, and expectations for how to play them appropriately. Mr. Tunink gives lessons and assignments that present real-world problems that can be solved with the skills from our games. Fair play, kindness, thinking ahead, cooperation, teamwork, and politeness . . .
The junior high wrestlers had a very successful season and finished with a team record of 51-28.
Southern Ag. class and FFA have been busy this quarter completing community service, Leadership Development Events, and Livestock Judging. Students have been learning and competing to show their skill and knowledge of what they have learned. All have stepped out of their comfort zones and took on new challenges to help them grow.
Spanish students were asked to research an authentic or traditional Hispanic food or drink and then submit the recipe they found. They were then tasked with either making the food and/or drink to bring and share with the class or writing a paper about the food/drink and its cultural significance. Most students chose to make the food/drink they researched and bring it to class, and we enjoyed a day of learning about and trying Hispanic foods and drinks in class. This is such a fun project for students to experience a little bit of . . .
JAG students work together to solve puzzles. This simple tasks helps improve many work ethics, like team work, communication, following directions problem solving, and critical thinking.
During second quarter the junior class completed their two fundraisers; wreath sales and The Waffle Man. They sold 76 wreaths this year and had 197 people enjoy waffles. These fundraisers not only help pay for prom but also follow them through their senior year. We would like to thank everyone who helped support their fundraising efforts; with a special thanks to parents who helped sell wreaths and donated their time to make The Waffle Man a success.
Students in Psychology are finishing up their Psych disorders project where they get to choose a disorder and research it.
The 8th grade students are learning about size, proportion, and style of things from their pop culture. They are utilizing their attention to these details by creating large snack sculptures inspired by Andy Warhol.
The Southern JH and Freshman were taught CPR by Mrs. Allington during Physical Education class. Having students that have been trained in life-saving care is important in case of an emergency. If CPR is needed, statistics show the majority of the time it is a person you know.
FBLA members attended the JA Spark entrepreneurship workshop held at UNL’s College of Business. Students listened to local entrepreneurs present on how to write a business plan, developed their own plan, and then pitched their plan/product to a panel of judges.
Are you looking for a job, seeking experience, or need career support? contact Vocational Rehabilitation for further information. http://www.vr.nebraska.gov/
Job Skills Class has been working hard this semester creating items from recycled feed bags! They have been practicing following multi-step directions, assembling items, sewing, cleaning, and fine motor skills through this activity. Students are hoping to sell these reusable bags to help raise money for an end-of-the-year field trip of their choice!
Students have been actively exploring new technology, whether it’s creating projects with the GlowForge, mastering Premiere Pro, flying drones, or designing with Canva. They’re staying engaged and productive!
High School Choir Students attended the Pioneer Conference Choir Clinic in Sterling on November 12th. This was the first time all Pioneer Conference schools came together at one location for this clinic! The students had a long day of rehearsals, followed by an amazing performance. Southern's own Brooklyn Mitchell auditioned and was chosen to perform a solo at the evening performance!
Southern High School students met with Southeast Community College dual credit staff members to learn more about dual credit opportunities for Junior and Senior students to get a jump start on their post-secondary degree and explore career opportunities while still in high school.
The Student Council had a memorable week of preparations for 2024 Homecoming Hollywood Boulevard. Our Homecoming King Cooper Warford and Queen Olive Sabey-Vogele were crowned and over 100 students joined us for a great red carpet dance. Thank you to everyone who was involved in helping the Student Council put on a successful evening to wrap up a great Spirit Week.
Fall eSports season has started once again! Students this season have competed in both online chess as well as Super Smash Bros. Students have seen success so far this season against students from schools across Nebraska.
Freshmen and Sophomores have been working to prepare for the Pre-ACT with the Baylor Test preparation. Sophomores felt the strategies and tips helped them in taking the Pre-ACT. The program is provided for Southern students and can boost their scores for the standardized test.
JAG elects officers for 2024-2025 ~ Congratulations to Secretary, Taiton Decker ~ President, Brandon Carmichael ~ Vice-President, Gwen Mendenhall
The 7th & 8th grade PE classes have been improving their volleyball skills by playing "King/Queen of the Court"
The junior high football team finished the season with a 3-2 record. The boys showed a lot of improvement throughout the season and finished the season on a 2-game win streak.
The High School and Junior High bands combined to march in the Richardson County Fair on Thursday, September 12th. The band, dressed in our school band uniforms, put on our best performance of "Smoke on the Water" for the fairgoers. The students had fun riding the carnival rides and partaking in the other fair events before returning home.
High School Choir has been busy preparing for our upcoming performances! Both Jr. and Sr. High Choirs will be performing their first concert on October 21st, followed by the Veterans' Day Program on November 11th, and the Sr. High Choir will travel to Sterling on November 12th, where they will prepare for a concert that evening with other schools from the Pioneer Conference.
FBLA officers and select members attended the state Fall Leadership Conference held at Midland University in Fremont. While there, they listened to the keynote speak on honing in on their own leadership potential. Then, they attended workshops for their respective officer positions. After that, they were able to attend several breakout sessions to learn about how to get more involved in FBLA as well as about current business and career topics of interest.
Planning for prom has begun! Juniors are making the basic decisions about theme, DJ, and meal. They will then be working on all of the in death decisions to make prom a night students will enjoy, try to top next year, and remember. Juniors will be fundraising the first semester to earn money for prom. In October they ran concessions at the homecoming football game, they will be selling holiday wreaths towards the end of the month, and December 13th they will have The Waffle Man at the Tri County home basketball game. We hope that the . . .
outhern will be hosting a trip to Puerto Rico in June of 2026. The recruitment meeting will be October 10, 2024 @ 6:30pm at the High School in Room 209. Any staff and current 6-11th grade students are welcome to join us! On this trip, students will be experiencing a variety of fun activities: - Walking tour of San Juan - Tour of El Yunque Rainforest - Visit to El Morro - Puerto Rican dance lesson - Cooking Class - Cabo Rojo salt flats and wildlife refuge - Bioluminescent bay boat tour - Snorkeling excursion . . .
The Jr. High VB team took 2nd place the their home tournament, Oct. 5. They had a hard battle, missing two of the regular starters, but survived a close match with Wilber-Clatonia to put the Raiders in the Championship game. They took Tri-Couty to a 3rd set, but fell short in the end. The players worked hard and played as a team.
Mrs. Baumgartner's Sociology and Psychology classes toured the Tecumseh Prison. They were able to Tour the Prison grounds and learn about jobs within the prison. During their tour they spoke with an inmate for an hour and were able to ask questions.
Art 3 & 4 students were allowed to paint the BigGive signs posted around our community. The Cohorsts provided the wooden planks for the students to get full creative liberty to spread the BigGive message throughout our community: Give Where You Live!
SCC’s Career Days provide students with hands-on experience and an opportunity to get a firsthand look at career opportunities in each industry. Careers in Construction Day was held at the Milford campus; Careers in Ag Day was held at the Beatrice campus.
Students in Job Skills are expanding their Southern Swigs and Sweets business and creating merchandise. Thank you to the patrons for contributing the feed bags.
WOW!! It seems like school has just started and we are already seven weeks into the first quarter. Everything is in full swing and our students and staff have been very busy in the classroom and with activities. I have been extremely pleased with our students and how they have come into the year ready to learn and how responsible they have been when it comes to showing up to class prepared and getting work completed. Also, the respect they have shown towards fellow students, and staff members and the respect they have shown towards . . .
The Southern Diller Odell Softball Team has had a successful season so far. The girls have been working hard and are 9-10 on the season. The Thunder were Champions of the Auburn Invite, placed 5th at the Falls City Invite, and won the Wilber Triangular. Keep up the great work, Thunder!
Southern FFA has been up to a lot this first quarter. We attended Husker Harvest Days, turned around, and competed at Range Judging in Belwood Nebraska the next day. We have land judging in October along with some community service activities. We stay busy learning and growing, enjoying every minute of it.
The Freshmen Health Class had a guest speaker to discuss the dangers and trends of drug abuse in Gage County. SRO Mike Hager discussed many different topics that influence drug abuse. He also discussed the primary drugs of choice in our area, and why certain drug use is prevalent. He was able to answer questions the students had about drug laws and the use of synthetic "legal" drugs.
FFA has had a busy last quarter of school. From competing and attending state FFA Convention to the FFA banquet. The students have been learning and gaining valuable skills that will help them in their future career goals.
