WEST BRANCH HIGH SCHOOL Student improvement leads to privileges

Students of the month are those who have shown excellent improvement, the principal said.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
BELOIT -- It's pizza by candlelight for West Branch High School students making great strides in the classroom.
The high school has launched a new incentive program to encourage students to succeed academically, said Peg Kinnick, director of guidance.
Students of the month are chosen by the teaching staff, with one student selected from every major subject area, she said.
The students of the month are those who have shown great improvement in a given subject area during the month, Kinnick said.
How they're honored: Art teacher Dr. Fredlee Votaw assists graphic arts students who take photos of the students of the month, and create personalized certificates, she said. The certificates and the photos are then placed on display in a hallway display case during the month.
At the end of the month, the students of the month are honored at a candlelight pizza party, with pizza and pop donated by Pizza Joe's and Coca-Cola, respectively, she said.
"The idea is to recognize students who show excellent improvement," said Principal Joe Knoll. "It's not always the best students who are recognized. Sometimes it's a student who has raised an F to a C."
He said besides receiving the certificates, each student receives an invitation from Knoll to the candlelight pizza lunch.
Knoll said students and teachers are excited about the program. Teachers are seeking ways for more students to be recognized.
He said the students are selected from all four high school grade levels, and teachers compare notes to make the selection.
Sometimes the choice is difficult, he said.
"In some areas, such as math, there are many more students to choose from than in home economics, for example," he said. "If there's just no way to break a tie, we go to Plan B," he said. "Maybe we're just going to have to get more pizza."
Honorees: The students of the month for September, October and November in each subject area:
UEnglish: Stacy Braden, Bobbi Jo Given, Taylor Woods.
UVocational agriculture: Jen Moore and Andy Santee; Genna Ruthrauff, Lydia Bardo.
UFine arts: Emilie Harris, Chris Benedetti, John Owen.
UBusiness: Julie Weingart, Alyssa Zepernick, Kelly Dragomir.
USocial science: Lisa Davies, Terry Scott, Faith Quinlan.
UForeign language: Mike Ingledue, Colin Smith, Jared Hoffman.
UMathematics: Laura Moore, Amber Kozar, Andrew McCain and Anna Baltputnis.
UPhysical education-health: Amanda Scott, Vana Morgan, Scott Deckerd.
UScience: Matt Beiling, Kevin Kimes, Aubrey Walker.
UIndustrial arts: Drew Romigh, Jim Hardy, Justin Hooper.
UWork study: Bill McMillen, Rachel Stoller, Cathy White.
UOccupational work programs: Justin Yanek, Brian Gorby, Ken Coffman.
UHome economics: Kurt Sobotka, Mary Estock, Amanda Saunier.