Photo By: MAX HARVEY
A message from the Superintendent
Dear Baldwin Families, I hope you and your family are doing well. As the first semester comes to a close, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to each of you for your continued support of Baldwin Schools. Through your support, we can offer students many opportunities that promote and inspire success after high school.
One such opportunity we are fortunate to provide to students is this magazine. Through a creative collaboration between Kit Harris’s Journalism class at Baldwin High School, and the Lawrence JournalWorld, students seeking journalism as a potential
career are provided with a platform to have their work published and shared with the Baldwin community. We hope you enjoy the creative and journalistic talents of our students, while also learning more about what is taking place in Baldwin Schools.
In closing, Baldwin continues to be a wonderful place to raise a family. This is true in large part due to the pride that each community member has for this amazing community. As we work to provide our students with meaningful and enriching experiences, we want you to know our goal is to continue to ensure each student is prepared to “positively impact the world through academic, social-emotional, and behavioral success.’ This is what #BaldwinBuilt is all about.
Respectfully,
Mark Dodge Superintendent
Baldwin USD 348
Preparing students to positively impact
ON THE COVER:
Senior Nick Johnson and the BHS boy soccer team had a big season with a final record of 17-2-2 and earning a 3rd place trophy in the 4-1A State playoffs. The team also hosted a special event, a “988 Game” wearing teal jerseys, pictured here. The event was to promote suicide prevention and awareness.
Find it on usd348.com
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Baldwin City USD 348 715 Chapel St., P.O. Box 67 Baldwin City, KS 66006
The Bulldog Bulletin is a biannual magazine which includes content provided by the Baldwin High School journalism class and is produced by the Lawrence Journal-World.
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Mark Dodge
Seniors working in elementary school
Emberlynn Neil
Students are involved in many things, such as going to the PC and working as paras during one of their school hours. This is what two students do.
“My favorite part is creating a connection with each kid. Seeing their faces light up when they see me brings me joy,” senior Malin Harris said.
Two seniors are enrolled in the program, but there will be three more next semester.
“Getting to make a small influence on someone’s life is why I chose to work with kids,” senior Justice McWilliams said.
Working at the PC doesn’t only help the kids, it allows the students to learn about what their future could be like.
“I decided to work as a para
because I want to major in Elementary Education next year, so getting experience with working with all types of kids,” Harris said.
Harris and McWilliams leave during 4th & 5th hour every day to go to the schools to do their job.
“My high school student is Malin Harris,” Primary elementary school Life
Skills teacher Kaylyn Stout said “While she is here, she typically takes over the para role and will take the student(s) to lunch, recess, bathroom breaks, or work times in their classroom.”
Harris works with kids who suffer from Emotional Dysregulation which is a mental health symptom that makes it hard to control your emotions and how you act on your feelings.
“My students can sometimes experience emotional dysregulation and both ladies are great about helping to calm the students down and get them back on track.” Stout said, “We could not do this without them.”
“I love working with the kids because it makes me feel like a helpful person,” McWilliams said.
If interested in being involved in this program, students should see BHS counselor Autumn Weiss.
Music Brings Life to Baldwin High
Elli Lisher & Lily Breedlove
The music program at Baldwin High School holds significant importance, offering students a variety of opportunities for engagement. Through offerings such as band, jazz band, choir, and the annual musical, students are provided with numerous opportunities to actively participate and develop their musical talents.
Senior Carson Blevins is involved in all of the music programs listed above.
“Being in the many music programs of Baldwin can be challenging, however, it lets me understand music in a more comprehensive manner,” Blevins said. “Being in band has allowed me to learn from the ground up and jazz band has challenged me to understand difficult songs and add to it with improvisation. Joining choir has made me listen to what is being performed and hear the music before played or sung. All of this has allowed me to be a better musician and create songs of my own. While this takes up a large portion of my time, I enjoy performing, creating, and listening to music and prefer making music over other things.”
This is a huge year for the Baldwin Band because of the size. This improves the quality of the band tremendously.
“I think the band plays more musically this year,” band director Stuart O’Neil said. “We’re a little bit bigger, we were in the 30’s last year, and in the 50’s this year. Everybody is sweet, they seem to enjoy each other, we’re playing really well, and we’re very musical.”
The Band had ten students audition and make it to the KMEA District band. Along with KMEA the band also got two one plusses for their marching and performance at the State Fair in September.
“This year we have been more successful than the
years in the past,” explains Drum Major Lily Breedlove. “We have a very impressive band and we have a great sound. This is definitely the best band we have had, with Mr. O’Neil as our teacher.”
The Baldwin Choir had five students make it into the KMEA District Choir.
“There was a lot of preparation and hard work. I am really thankful that Ms. Naughtin gave us class time for preparation,” Petra Morris said. “I felt like my singing and my excerpt auditions were not the best that I could sing.”
The Baldwin Jazz Band is also showing great improvements. They got into the KMEA Workshop in Wichita. Only two jazz bands out of the whole state get to participate in this performance.
“The jazz band worked very hard last year and auditioned for the KMEA Workshop,” Lora Breedlove said. “Luckily we got in this year and I am very excited to play in Wichita in February.”
This year’s musical was Shrek The Musical. There were over seventy students involved in the musical this year ranging from seventh grade to twelfth grade.
“Shrek was the most creative musical that I have been a part of,” Jaeden Landreth said. “It does not take itself too seriously which sets it apart from musicals in previous years.”
Four sport coach Jesse Austin does it all
Ridge Kellerman
BHS Alum Jesse Austin is now a do-it-all all-teacher coaching four sports: football, junior high wrestling, high school wrestling, and track and field.
“First thing that comes to mind is it’s very time consuming, a lot of time away from home and weekends and it’s a lot of mentally bouncing around,” Austin said. “Trying to get focused and reteach myself things going from this sport to the next sport and moving on from rules and whatnot, time-consuming but can be fun.”
Austin went to BHS playing all of the sports he is currently coaching.
“A part of it is I feel a little indebted to the coaches I had at Baldwin and a little indebted to the kids at this school because I’m from here, I played sports here,” Austin said. “The whole reason I have a college degree and things like that are because of my coaches and going to Baldwin so I kind of feel like I owe it to Baldwin and I owe it to kids and parents. Things like that, just trying to give back what was given to me.”
Out of all the sports Austin coaches, he does have two favorites for different reasons.
“Football is by far my favorite sport, it’s my passion. I would say probably the most enjoyable and rewarding one is maybe coaching throws,” Austin said, “because I get to visually see kids get better. Football just has so many X’s and O’s and you’re constantly scheming against another coach and their program.”
When coaching that many sports, you are bound to coach many people.
“I play three sports for coach Austin and It’s been an honor to play for him,” 8th grader Jett Rood said. “He is a great coach and fun to play for.”
New Culinary class added at BHS
Hailey Hale
A new class has come to BHS, and the scents and smells are something sweet. Caylee Tannahill is the BHS Culinary teacher. This year she has a new class called Baking and Pastry.
“A lot of students tend to gravitate toward either liking baking or cooking more, this allows students the opportunity to really focus on the specific area they like the best,” Tannahill said.
Tannahill has been an educator at BHS for 2 years. She started Baking and Pastries this year because students tend to favor baking or cooking more so it’s a way to expand
your experience. The recommended class to take first is culinary essentials but after that it’s really up to the students to decide what they would like to do.
“In Baking and Pastry we will cover a really wide range of recipes,” Tannahill said. “We will make different types of breads, croissants, macarons, learn to make espresso, and so much more.”
In the class she teaches students how to make a large range of new recipes. Tannahill says the main difference between her culinary class and Baking and Pastries is the type of cooking that will be done.
“The main difference between Baking and Pastries 1 & 2 and
culinary 1 & 2 is just the type of cooking we’re doing,” Tannahill said. “Culinary we do a lot of classic French cuisine and cooking methods (mainly savory dishes), whereas Baking and Pastries is mainly, well, baking different types of pastries and such.”
In order to gain her class Baking and Pastries, she asked about adding the class, and taught it during student teaching and taught it at her previous school. As a result she has around 23 students enrolled.
Last year she taught culinary classes every hour besides the 1st and 2nd hour. This year she teaches culinary classes and Baking and Pastry classes every hour except for the 1st hour of the day.
Weisel creating new opportunities
A new Spanish teacher at BHS is helping students communicate and have better opportunities this year, Berenice Weisel.
Weisel always wanted to teach from a young age. Her first language was Spanish and while she was learning English in elementary school, her teachers helped her learn a new language in a fun way and now she wants to have the same opportunities with her students.
Weisel is a Spanish 1 teacher in the high school and a World Language Exploratory teacher at the junior high.
“In Spanish we are learning all of the basics of the Spanish language and we dive into the culture of Spanish speaking countries,” Weisel said about her classes. “In the World Language class we explore various languages.”
This year marks Weisel’s 12th year of teaching; she worked in a middle school in Lawrence before coming to Baldwin.
“Throughout my years there I taught specialized classrooms, 7th Grade English, and English as a Second Language, where I helped students who spoke other languages learn English,” Weisel said.
Weisel is a new teacher but is already making an impact on students’ lives already by exploring other cultures.
“In Spanish we are learning all of the basics of the Spanish language and we dive into the culture of Spanish speaking countries,”
Bernice Weisel
“She helps people learn different languages and communicate in the school which benefits the school by giving more opportunities,” 8th grader Spencer Carr said.
This helps students interact with different people and cultures.
“Everyone is so kind, helpful, and supportive,” Weisel said.
“Joining the Baldwin School District was a perfect fit, and all of my colleagues have made me feel right at home and welcome, for which I am so thankful.”
Students have said that she is very involved in the community.
“She fundraises and goes to our soccer games,” 8th grader Jackson Schwartz said.
Most students at BHS have explained that they would love to take her class or a class similar to her’s again.
“I love her teaching and how she teaches us,” 8th grader Allison Searl said.
“She shows us how to do things well and it is informal and fun,” 8th grader Sutton Drummond said.
Acey Currie
BHS welcomes new Athletic Development class
“So we test a lot of things, we test squat, we test deadlift, pullups, bench press, and vertical jump.”
A new BHS class called Athletic Development was created by PE teacher Jon Collum, a new teacher and football coach that loves coaching athletes at BHS.
“I decided to create Athletic Development really just to give our student athletes more options as far as the type of training they can get involved in,” Collum said. “There are a lot of different training styles and I just wanted to do something a little bit different.”
Athletic Development provides
a different variety of workouts and focuses more on becoming a better athlete with more explosive movements.
“Athletic Development focuses more on explosive movements,” junior Cooper Carr said. “It’s more than just working on powerlifting.”
A typical workout in Athletic Development is a little bit different than most weights classes at BHS.
“So usually we just start off with our warmup and then we do some plyometrics and box jumps,” senior Garret McLaughlin said. “After all that we just finish up with our core lifts.”
In Athletic Development they test many different types of exercises, they have a few different exercises they test which makes the class different.
“So we test a lot of things, we test squat, we test deadlift, pullups, bench press, and vertical jump,” freshman Braxsten Heck said. “We usually test our maxes once every 3 or 4 weeks.”
During school, Athletic Development is a great way to stay in shape and get stronger in a way that benefits athletes. No matter how strong students are, Athletic Development will get students stronger and more athletic.
Griffin Fletcher
Braxsten Heck
Exchange student enjoying experience from Japan to US
Henry Heersink
For many, being 7,166 miles from home can be a scary experience but foreign exchange student Kaiser Namizato is making the best of it.
“My time here is good, I like the people and the schools,” Namizato said.
Namizato comes from Urasoe, a town in Okinawa Japan, where culture in and out the schools are much different.
“The school I went to is totally different,” Namizato said.
The way we do things in and out of class is also different from schools in Japan.
“We can go outside during class and no one speaks up to teachers,” Namizato said.
Our dress code is also different
here. We can wear pretty much whatever but the story is different from where Namizato lives.
“We have to wear uniforms,” Namizato said.
The class system and school layout is also different.
“We don’t have vending machines or things like the bay, the teachers move instead of students, and you can’t choose the classes you want,” Namizato said.
Namizato also dislikes things about the schools here.
“One thing I like is that I’m able to eat snacks during class. One thing I dislike is time between classes. In Japan we get 10 minutes between classes,” Namizato said.
Namizato loves his time here but he wants to do something after.
“I want to become the governor of Okinawa,” Namizato said.
Seniors making college decisions
Elli Lisher
The BHS senior class has mixed feelings about graduation, and where they are going to go afterwards. It can be a very stressful decision deciding what you want to do with the rest of your life, and leaving friends and family members can be the hardest part.
“I’m pretty nervous (about graduating),” senior Lily Breedlove said. “I’m nervous about leaving my little sister, Lora. That’s kind of the saddest thing for me.”
“I am both nervous and excited about graduating,” senior Kiley Montney said. “I know I will miss my friends when I leave for college, but I also know that since I’m staying close to home I will still see them.”
“I’m very, very excited to graduate
in May,” senior Mikayla Michael said. “It’s definitely going to be here faster than I think, and it will be bittersweet, but I think overall I am ready for it to be here.”
The class has many different plans for after graduation, whether it’s staying close to home, going out of state, or taking a year off.
“I’m planning on going to college, and I want to go out of state,” Breedlove said. “But if that doesn’t work out, I’ll stay close to home.”
“My plan is to hopefully attend Washburn University or Johnson County Community College to get my license to be a sonographer,” Montney said.
“After graduation I plan on attending Emporia State University,” senior MaecyLynn Wolff said.
Picking your major is also a huge decision when it comes to after graduation. Picking your major is something that basically decides what you want to do in your future, and while it can be changed, you really want to find the right one for you.
“I’m majoring in elementary education or special education,” Breedlove said. “I want to teach 5th or 6th grade, so I can teach someone a little bit older but not too old.”
“If I major in nursing, I want to work in the NICU, but if I major in sports admin, I would love to go work for the NFL in broadcasting or advertising on social media,” Michael said.
“I plan to major in psychology then go on to work with children in human services,” Wolff said.
BHS cheerleaders signing with Baker
“I
Four BHS cheerleaders are signing with the local college to become Baker University Wildcats. Eboni Gerrard, Malin Harris, Mikayla Michael and Niella Phillips all are moving on to the next level in their cheerleading careers.
Harris wanted to sign with Baker because of her connection to the university.
“I have grown up in Baldwin and my childhood was spent on Baker campus, so it always just felt like home,” she said.
Harris and Michael both wanted to cheer because of Patty Lenning.
“I can still remember the day I picked up a cheer form in 7th grade and Patty told me she was so excited to see me be a cheerleader,” Harris said. “I am the cheerleader I am today because of her.”
wanted to sign with Baker because their cheer team was very welcoming and they were all so nice, especially the coaches,”
Mikayla Michael
“I wanted to cheer because Patty Lenning urged me to join the team in middle school,” Micheal said.
Harris has been cheering for 5 years, Michael 4 years, Gerrard 3 years, and Phillips 5 years.
“I already knew I wanted to go to Baker and I was not sure I wanted to cheer in college and when I got accepted I just decided that I would try it and went and got to go stunt with them and I realized I wanted to. Also I get to cheer with some of my best friends for four more years,” Gerrard said.
Michael found a very welcoming environment with the Baker cheer squad.
“I wanted to sign with Baker because their cheer team was very welcoming and they were all so nice, especially the coaches,” Michael said.
Gerrard wanted to sign with Baker because all her friends were doing it.
“All my friends were doing it and I thought it would be a good way to spend more time with them cause they were always cheering so I decided to do it to be with them and just for fun too,” Gerrard said.
Phillips’ sister inspired her to start cheerleading.
“My sister inspired me to start cheer,” Phillips said. “I was in middle school, and my sister got into the high school cheer team. I would go to her practices and learn new skills until I started cheer in 7th grade.”
Macey Pohlmeier
Back to the PC for BHS students
Caleb Lang
BHS Science teacher Morgan Burns is taking her Integrated Science class back to the elementary school.
“This project has been going on for a long time for our 10th graders,” Burns said.
“Last year this project was a blast for them,” Burns said. “Everyone had a really good time and enjoyed it so much.”
Burns talked to Primary Center PE teacher Kara Roland at the PC and during their time all the 1st graders in her class go outside so they can do the obstacles that we set for them.
“Roland helped us get all the equipment that we needed for obstacles,’’ Burns said
Burns’s students are the ones giving the 1st graders their PE time. Burns’s students normally do this event on a Thursday or a Friday.
“This is the most fun project that her kids like doing in her class,” Burns’s said.
The upperclassmen like going over to the PC and interacting with the 1st
graders and playing with them.
“The PC kids really like when the upperclassmen talk to them and play with them and help them get through the obstacles,’’ Burns said. “Anytime little kids beat the high schoolers it puts a smile on their face and makes their day.”
It takes the upperclassmen five days to prepare for their obstacle course. Burns helps the students get ready by helping them calculate speed
and distances. Burns also helps them by reminding them that they are 1st graders and finding events for them to do.
“The upperclassmen have one day to run through their obstacle course and to see if there are any errors or corrections that they need to fix or repair,” Burns said. “The funnest part of the class is to learn and teach, while having fun at the same time.”
Troth takes on role as district curriculum director
Ashlea Troth, BHS class of 2003 is the curriculum director for USD 348. One of her best memories being a student at Baldwin is always feeling supported.
“I remember always feeling supported and cared for by the teachers and staff in Baldwin. I had a great education in Baldwin and have great memories from my education experience,” Troth said.
Troth is very grateful for the teaching community.
“Baldwin district has some of the best educators there are and I’m so glad to be able to work beside such wonderful teachers,” Troth said.
Troth enjoyed working with children and she has always wanted to do something that involved kids.
“I always enjoyed working with children,” Troth said. “I knew I wanted to do something that involved kids and after spending some time working in a school during college, I knew I wanted to go into education.”
Troth enjoys working in Baldwin and working with the educators that taught her.
“I really enjoy working in Baldwin,” Troth said. “It is so fun to get to work with some of the educators that taught me. I know they have so much knowledge and experience and they are always happy to share and help other teachers.”
Macey Pohlmeier
ASHLEA TROTH ON THE RIGHT.
Yearbook staff hard at work
Briley Smolen
How do we remember everything that happened in one school year? With a yearbook of course.
We have new chiefs with new ideas and goals for this year’s yearbook. They include Lily Breedlove, Savana Gooch, Malin Harris, Irelyn Kennedy, Mikayla Michael and Kenlee Miller.
“A goal I have for this year’s yearbook is to make it as memorable as possible,” Harris said. “It being my senior year, I want to make it fun for my senior class and so later down the road I can show the amazing yearbook from my senior year.”
Putting a year’s worth of memories into a book takes hard work and dedication. The challenges the students face can be difficult
“The hardest part of being in charge of the yearbook is making sure there are no mistakes,” Gooch said. “It can be
very hard to make sure everyone that is working on it knows how to make everything work together, and making sure all the pages have the same layout, fonts, font sizes, no spelling errors, amongst other things. When making a yearbook all you really hear about are the mistakes that people see, not necessarily how good it might look or how hard we worked. So it is important that we work to make sure there are as few mistakes as possible.”
The class does not stop once you leave the door. At most sporting events you will find contributors to the yearbook
snapping pictures of the event.
“They are pretty important, I am also concerned as to getting better photos and increasing my experience as a photographer,” junior Caddian Rider said. “To me, capturing the school spirit is important because I have realized that me and many other people are going to look back at these year books in 20 years and cherish the memories so they have to be exciting and eventful.”
The theme for this year’s yearbook is vibrant. To purchase a 24-25 yearbook students can order online at www.walsworthyearbooks.com.
Roland takes over girls high school basketball
5, 4, 3, 2, 1, swish.
Basketball is loved in many ways, including by the coaches. There is a new head coach for high school girls’ basketball this year.
“I am really excited to get to play for Coach Roland,” sophomore Audrey Searl said, “She did an amazing job as an assistant coach in previous years and I think she will do a great job as head coach this year.”
Having a new coach could help or hurt your playing experience.
“I will play my hardest no matter what, but I think Coach Ro will help me get better because she has been in Baldwin’s girl’s basketball system for a
while now,” freshman Naomi Goodwin said.
Many players will miss their old coach, but others might be excited for a new coach.
“Toot was a good coach. I like him because he could have fun,” sophomore Emme Nigh said, “but he also knew when to be competitive and
always believed in us.”
Here is a freshman’s opinion on having a new coach.
“I am very sad that Mr.Toot retired, he was one of my favorite coaches,” Goodwin said, “I am glad that Coach Roland is the new head coach because I trust her and have known her since elementary school.”
Players this year again are excited for a new coach.
“I am sad that Coach Toot retired because we all loved him so much as our coach,” senior Lauren Berg said, “but I am excited to have Coach Roland as our head coach this year and to learn and grow with her. We will get a fresh start and learn different plays and a different style of coaching.”
Paityn Whitaker
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Gabe and Katelyn Spurgeon, with their three children Grayson, Thomas, and Olivia at South Baldwin Farms
Kevin E. Hughes, MD
Jen Schweda, APRN
Bonnie J. Cramer, MD