April English Student of the Month, Tarrin Halvorson

Kay Gibbon-Lee's English Student of the Month--Tarrin Halvorson

Tarrin Halvorson is an easy choice for English student of the month.  I have Tarrin in Communications and her work ethic is outstanding.  She is meticulous about completeing her assignments and her quiet contributions to class are insightful and genuine.  The daughter of Terry Halvorson and Turi McIlquham, she is enthusiastically involved in our school's varsity soccer team as well as a summer league.  She also made second team BRC All Conference for soccer last year as a sophomore.  Tarrin is a member of Faith Lutheran Youth Group and has volunteered at Agne's Table.  Her post secondary goals include attending UW-Stout for a marketing degree. Given her ambition, I am confident she will accomplish anything she puts her mind to.

Alexis Pomietlo, April English Student of the Month

Warren Bowe’s English Student of the Month—Alexis Pomietlo

The great 17^th century British lawyer and judge Sir Edward Coke once said that “there is no jewel in the world comparable to learning.” I would edit that statement to read that “for a teacher, there is no jewel in the world comparable to a student who loves learning.” As a student, Alexis Pomietlo is a truly valuable diamond.

The daughter of Tom and Jill Pomietlo, Alexis is my selection for English Student of the Month. As a junior in AP English Language and Composition, Alexis has proven herself to be a reader, a writer, and a thinker of complex texts and ideas. The best thing about Alexis as a student is that she knows that questions are the key to learning, and she is not afraid to ask those questions, nor does she rely on others to give her the answers; she is willing and eager to seek out the answers for herself. When she is not working at Olson’s, painting, hiking, teaching CCD, practicing yoga, or managing the Chi-Hi wrestling team, Alexis is probably reading, reading, and reading!

Alexis’ educational goals include attending Thomas Aquinas College in California for her undergraduate studies and eventually pursuing a graduate degree in theology.  

Sam Gaier, March English Student of the Month

Mr. Pamperin's English Student of the Month: Sam Gaier

I’m pleased to choose Sam Gaier my English Student of the Month. Sam is a student in my Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature class, and I’ve been impressed all semester with the depth of his insights about the complex ideas and challenging literature that make up so much of the best science fiction. Whether discussing the problem of dwindling resources, the morality and sustainability of an energy system based on fossil fuels, or the intricacies of time travel and quantum mechanics, Sam has been a consistent contributor to class. His thoughtful, intelligent participation has challenged his classmates (and his teacher) to think more deeply. At the same time, Sam is able to make important contributions to class without dominating the class conversation. I really appreciate having him in class.

Sam is the son of Paul Gaier and Katie Hartsough, and a junior at Chippewa Falls Senior High School. He plans to attend a four-year college after graduation. Outside of school he enjoys hunting, reading, waterskiing, and spending time at the YMCA.

March's English Student of the Month, Kelsey Arneson

Roger Skifstad's English Student of the Month 

Kelsey Arneson, grade 10, daughter of Marcia and Shane Arneson, is my choice for student of the month.  Kelsey is one of the most enthusiastic students I have in English 10 this year.  Whether writing her autobiography last semester, editing other students’ work, participating in literature discussions, or researching her current media project, Kelsey always puts her best into her work.  She is sincere in her interactions with her peers, and I’m always impressed with the level of maturity Kelsey displays each day.  Kelsey is certainly the type of student/athlete that Chi Hi calls its own. 

Kelsey plans to attend a 4 year college after graduating from Chi Hi – and plans to major in Biology or Chemistry.  Currently she is a busy woman!  Kelsey plays on the softball team, enjoys skiing with her family, wakeboarding, reading, and just being with her family and friends.  Besides being a great student Kelsey also finds time to be a vital part of our community.  She has volunteered her time with Agnes Table in CF, Central Lutheran Church, Safety Town and Tar Wars for Sacred Heart Hospital, as well as a Coat Drive. 

Tanner Huppert, Karen Drydyk's February English Student of the Month

 Karen Drydyk's English Student of the Month

 Tanner Huppert, son of Terry and Krista Huppert, brings an enthusiasm and earnest curiosity to every Communications class.  Tanner consistently finds the benefit of everything he learns and applies it to his life, constantly moving towards the betterment of himself. His love of communication is amplified by his passion for singing, creative writing, acting, dancing, painting, drawing, and writing and playing music. In between all of this, Tanner also finds time to work with PALS here at the high school, serve meals to community members at Agnes’ Table, play games with individuals at a long-term care facility, and teach Sunday school for kids ages three to five. Overall, Tanner’s verve for learning new things and inspiring others is contagious. Fittingly, he aspires to major in music and minor in composition in college, and he’d ideally like to become a vocal education teacher. With Tanner’s love for nearly every form of communication available to humankind and his compassion for his community, he is sure to succeed in any and every endeavor he chooses. He is a joy and a pleasure to have as a student and as a fellow citizen.

Julia Nunes, Amanda Hoepner's December English Student of the Month

Amanda Hoepner's English Student of the Month

I chose Julia Nunes for English Student of the Month because she comes to class each day with a positive and enthusiastic attitude.  This enthusiasm carries over into her writing, writing that has grown throughout the semester.    In each essay and poem that she writes, Julia takes new risks, and her writing style grows because of it. 

Julia is one of those students who has integrity; she wants to do an assignment well, not just for the grade, but because she cares about doing her best.  And I appreciate that.  It has been so great to have a student like her in class. Julia is the daughter of Matthew and Amanda Nunes of Chippewa Falls.

Brianna Sedlacek, Ruth Lovejoy's December English Student of the Month

Ruth Lovejoy's English Student of the Month

Brianna enjoys English and is always excited about the current assignment. Her enthusiasm is an inspiration to anyone around her. Brianna’s work always reflects her commitment to excellence, her progress as a writer, and her unique style and voice. Every assignment is completed in detail that goes beyond the requirements. Brianna often stops by outside of class to ask questions, or just talk about English. Brianna not only completed a unique and interesting visual presentation for her mythology speech but also taught me how to build a Prezi. I believe Briana shows leadership qualities that will serve her well in achieving her future goals. At school, Brianna is in Band and Marching Band . Outside of school, she is actively involved in the youth group at her church. After high school, Brianna would like to become an anesthesiologist. Her parents are Joe and Lynn Sedlacek.

November English Student of the Month, Emily Allen

 Lisa Crocker's English Student of the Month

I love Emily’s enthusiasm for writing.  She understands the writing process and is not afraid to take risks as she works on her papers.  As a result, her writing is creative, full of personality and humor, a delight to read.  Emily is not only a writer but an artist as well.  She showed her creativity in a Life Map she created in the form of a comic book with clever illustrations to accompany her ideas.  I also appreciate Emily’s contributions to the class as she helps other students to revise and edit their papers.  It is a pleasure to have a student like Emily in class.

Emily enjoys music.  She plays the guitar and the piano and is involved in the Chi-Hi Marching Band.  She is also a member of Spanish club and is considering a career in foreign language. Emily is the daughter of  Helen (Berniece) Allen and Mark Allen.

November English Student of the Month, Zach Pasano

 Molly Nowlan's English Student of the Month.

Zach Pasano is my selection for English Student of the Month. Zach is a junior in my World Literature course and I’ve been impressed with his leadership in our class this semester. I had Zach as a student previously, for his entire freshman year, and it’s been lovely to see how he has grown and matured intellectually since then. Although he’s always been a conscientious and earnest learner, Zach has become a key component of every discussion about literature, asking smart questions and frequently encouraging others to participate in the discussion as well. In addition to Zach’s excellent scholarship, he’s kind and compassionate, making him a more than worthy recipient of this award. Zach is the son of Gina Badalamenti.

October English Student of the Month, Amamda Farnham

 Pam Bowe’s English Student of the Month

Amanda Farnham, daughter of LeAnne Addy, is my English student of the month.  Amanda, a student in my Contemporary Literature class, comes each day with much energy and eagerness.  I truly appreciate how Amanda contributes to in-class discussions, which are crucial in this class as we discuss various novels.  Recently, during a literature circle discussion, Amanda asked several thoughtful and thought provoking questions that lead the rest of her group into a higher level thinking discussion.  She is a leader without taking over.  These skills will come in useful for Amanda’s future, especially since she hopes to work in politics someday.  Amanda is also involved outside of the classroom as a cross country manager, as a member of both Athena and NEHS, and in the Holy Ghost Youth Group.  I look forward to having Amanda in my class for the rest of the semester.

October English Student of the Month, Sheyanne Eliason

Greg Adams’ English Student of the Month

I love student writers who approach topics and provide perspectives that I would never think of myself. Sheyanne Eliason is an exceptional writer who continually surprises me with the sophistication she uses in writing about very ordinary topics.

Last year I was impressed with Sheyanne’s ability to craft vivid poems about crankin’ country music, shooting back road curves and riding in pickup trucks with boys. Her poetic voice and mature charm made Sheyanne stand out among the other sophomore writers.

This year I am excited to have Sheyanne in my Intermediate Composition class where she has again impressed me with her writing. Her essay comparing country artists Brantley Gilbert and Jason Aldean was filled with insightful observations about music and personality, like Rolling Stone meets CMT.