5th Grade Students Receive New "Seats"

Mrs. Jennifer Piggott’s 5th grade Big Rapids Middle School class has replaced their student chairs with exercise/stability balls. With the help of Donorschoose.org, people were able to donate money to help make this possible. Mrs. Piggott’s classroom received 35 exercise/stability balls, 35 bases along with pumps. The students are doing an amazing job staying focused, improving their posture, getting some exercise and getting their “wiggles” out, all while in class. Thanks to everyone who donated to help make this possible!

8th Grade Community Service Project!

On January 21, 2016, the 8th Grade Class had the amazing opportunity to go out into the community and volunteer their time and services.  The class was split into either a morning group or an afternoon group and worked in small teams at the following locations:

• Salvation Army: Students shoveled for nearby neighbors
• Project Starburst: Students organized and cleaned
• Metron: Students played bingo and games with the residents
• Animal Rescue Coalition (ARC): Students helped clean cages
• Public Library: Students cleaned books
• Spectrum Hospital: Students met with patients and gave them crafts
• Art Works: Students cleaned and organized
• Ed Center: Students hung out with the kids
• Evergreen Assisted Living: Students played games and painted residents fingernails
• Aldrich Farms: Students stacked wood
• Aris Farm: Students put fresh bedding in pens

The 8th grade class had a wonderful time and really enjoyed working within the community.  They would love to do it again.  Special thanks to Kurt Somsel, Karen Morita, and Chris Fox for helping chaperone.  Also, special thanks to Middle School counselor, Julie Jancek, for putting the entire day together!  The Big Rapids Middle School staff and students want to thank the community and the locations that participated for giving them a great experience that they will never forget!

BRMS Winter Cardinal Award Winners!

On January 12, 13, & 14, the Big Rapids Middle School Enrichment teachers gave out Cardinal Awards to students who they felt deserved to be recognized for their hard work and efforts in the classroom. Congrats Middle Schoolers! Here are the award winners:

5th Grade

Front from Left: 

 Qingyao Li, Austin Owen, James Codwell, Harrison Mishler, Logan Lyider, Owen Westercamp, Alec Lipar, Connor Goreman, Will Stickler, and Jack Ruggles

Back from Left:

  Lola Gray, Rylie Haist, Kyra Couch, Courtney Myers, Brooklyn Sumpter, Addison Mossel, Zoe Jancek, Morgan Horvath, Ally Macias, Claire Johnston, Emmalynn Doering, and Mackenzie Wright

6th Grade

Front from Left:

  Ethan Stolieckas, Gavin Marshall, Seth Bassett, Jesse Depree, Ethan Fuller, Clayton Oosterhouse, Brett Eveland, Caleb Jones, Ryan Dwire, and Max Daday

Back from Left:

   Katherine King, Madison Reidinger, Tori Waterman, Madelyn Pincumbe, Laney Jorgensen, Kendall DePew, Kyleigh Klever, Madison Affer, Misti Stratz, Jennifer Canchola, Sabina Walker, Breann Keely, and Joceyln Richardson

7th Grade

Front from Left:

  Jacob Buffin, Isaac Rennie, Jimmy Hansen, Matt Hardesty, Oakely Benson, Maurice Camphor, Keaton Ballard, Jake Roggow, and Evan Bomay.

On January 12, 13, & 14, the Big Rapids Middle School Enrichment teachers gave out Cardinal Awards to students who they felt deserved to be recognized for their hard work and efforts in the classroom. Congrats Middle Schoolers! Here are the award winners:

Back from Left:

Alex Smith, Olivia Owens, Abby Saxton, Megan Mackall, Kirsten Housand,Mary Hobart, Anika Jurries, Anika Lipar, Destiney Wolff, Kayla Hirons, Alexandra Weller, Siri Quist, and Gwen Walczweski.

8th Grade

Front from Left:

Jenna Hatchew, Caitlynn Mass, Catherine Fisher, Madeline Krawciw, Grace Zimmerman, Adelyn Kirby, Kayla Buffin, and Eden Mason.

Middle from Left:

Kate Johnston, Tyler Zimmerman, Cheyenne Reinmuller, Calista Eveland, Maggie Nemeth, Michaela Hamiltion, Ben Decker, Colt Portvliet, and Dayln Ezell

Back from Left:

Rhianna Swinson, Cierra Coby, Emma Hauger, William King, Nate Welch, Trevin Rosenogle, Jasmine Jones, and Aja Crandall.

Hunter Safety Courses Available!

Over 10,300 young hunters have started their hunting experience at the Mecosta County Rod and Gun club. The Mecosta County Rod and Gun club has provided this service free of charge for over 44 years.

This program is a DNR approved Hunter Safety Certification course that is required of all young hunters.

Students in the Big Rapids school district are invited to attend. The course teaches students about hunter safety, ethics and good sportsmanship.  Additionally, students will have hands on experience shooting shotguns, rifles, bow and arrows, and black powder rifles.  Adults are encouraged to attend with their children.

Mecosta County Rod and Gun Club will sponsor two courses this year.

1st course

May 17 (5:30 - 9:00 pm)

May 19 (5:30 - 9:00 pm)

May 21 (8:00 - 2:00 pm)

*Students must attend all three sessions

2nd Course

July 19 (5:30 - 9:00 pm)

July 21 (5:30 - 9:00 pm)

July 23 (8:00 - 2:00 pm)

*Students must attend all three sessions 

It is recommended that students be at least 11 years old to attend! 

All classes will be held at the Mecosta County Rod and Gun Club - 10600 11 Mile Road, Mecosta, Michigan.

Registration for the classes will be May 17th at 5:00 pm and July 19th and 5:00 pm. Directions and further information can be found at the club website:

http://mecostacountyrodandgunclub.org/pages/huntsafety.htm

BRHS Wind Symphony to Perform at DeVos

The Big Rapids High School Wind Symphony will perform at the Michigan Music Conference, the annual state music educator's convention, on Friday January 22nd at 3:00pm in DeVos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids.

The group will be performing two preview concerts: One on Tuesday January 19th at 7:00pm at the BRHS Auditorium (free admission), and the second, at Grand Valley State University in Allendale on Thursday January 21st at 7:00pm (also no admission).

This is a very prestigious honor for the band. Big Rapids is one of only 4 high school bands performing at this year's convention. The ensemble was chosen last year by recorded audition and last spring they found out they would be selected to perform. After finding out about the selection, the process of selecting music began almost immediately. The students received audition music in August for chair position, took the auditions in early September, and have since committed to after school sectionals and Saturday rehearsals along with their normal daily class schedule.

The group will present a 45 minute program of music including a marimba concerto performed by 2011 Big Rapids alumnus Kramer Milan who is currently finishing his master's degree at Yale University in New Haven, CT. This is Big Rapids' 7th appearance at the conference (formerly known as the Midwestern Music Conference in Ann Arbor), which is unprecedented for a district the size if Big Rapids Public Schools, and the second MMC performance for their current director, Mr. Brian Balch.

Tickets at DeVos Hall are $5 for children 11-18 and $10 for adults and are available at Ticketmaster (search "Michigan Music Conference - January 22 Band & Orchestra Performances #2"). The community and many local businesses have generously donated towards the travel and other expenses associated with a program of this magnitude. We hope to see many of our community members attend at least one of the performances!

Pictured is the BRHS  Wind Symphony practicing for their performance