This year the Warriors are finding new ways to innovate and keep their students engaged.
Each student in grades 7-12 was drafted into a family by a teacher who became their leader. Students meet with their families once a month to discuss new family challenges and topics like leadership. The families are competing with one another to win the Warrior Family Challenge.
Each month, the families have a new challenge. Last month, students were awarded points for attending different activities and games to support their fellow Warriors. “We wanted to encourage students to attend games and the marching band competition in Yankton to show that we honor and appreciate every Warrior for their participation in sports and activities,” stated teacher Mrs. Courtney Baker. The Warrior Family in the lead after the first challenge is Mr. Johnnie Ostermeyer’s “O ‘Knows’” Team.
One of Ostermeyer’s goals is to try and connect the students with teachers. “Not every kid has a connection with a teacher right now, but if we allow the teachers to draft kids that they kind of know, hopefully in turn the kid will be comfortable with them,” Ostermeyer said.
Senior Callie Olson is a part of Ostermeyer’s Warrior Family, made up of seniors and junior high students. “I think the families are a good bonding experience. We have a lot of smart underclassmen, and I am very proud of all of them,” Olson stated.
The overall goals of this month's challenge are to make reading and English class something students can look forward to. “Our goal is to build a reading culture throughout the school where reading isn’t a chore but something fun that students can connect with,” English teacher Ms. Shiann Hansen said.
The more points students receive for the AR books they read and test over during the month, the more points their family will receive. Some books allow for double the points, like nonfiction books, Golden Sower Nominees, novels in verse, the first book in a series, and a book written by a mystery author.
“I think this is going to be a wonderful way to encourage camaraderie and leadership among the students, while also encouraging reading,” Hansen remarked.
Hansen has a very positive outlook on this new challenge, “I think it’s going swimmingly! A student told me the other day, ‘This challenge makes me want to read…and I don’t like it.’ But that news brings me great joy!”
First-year teacher Kyle Napier also thinks the new Warrior Families are beneficial to the student body. “The Warrior Families have been both fun and rewarding this year. It’s been great to see students getting involved in school activities and being recognized for their participation."
The students will attend their next Warrior Family meeting on November 19 during their homeroom. November’s challenge will focus on service to their community. Families will be challenged to donate items for the food drive put on by the National Honor Society and the Student Council.
At the end of the year, the Warrior Family with the most points will receive a special family dinner during an extended lunch period. Baker stated, “We hope that the students will engage in this friendly competition to improve our overall school culture and community.”