Bellevue West High School
Bellevue West High School is a public secondary school located in Bellevue, Nebraska. The school principal is Mr. Kevin Rohlfs. Their mascot is the Thunderbird and their school colors are purple, gold and white. The school's cross-town rival is Bellevue East. Bellevue West is accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, the highest accreditation available to a Nebraska high school.
The school also serves as an off-campus location for the Omaha, Nebraska Metropolitan Community College.
Music
The school's Marching Band, the Thunderbirds, is under the direction of Byron Braasch. Under the direction of Braasch, the band has become one of the top bands in the region. For example, in 2002 it won 5 competitions: Starfest in Sioux City, Iowa, the Festival of Bands in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Valleyfest in Des Moines, Iowa, Omaha Public Schools invitational overall sweepstakes, and the Festival of Champions at Central Missouri State University.
2001 was a year to remember, with the show "Live From the Casbah!" The band won all five regional competitions they competed in (Sioux City, Des Moines, Omaha, NSBA in Omaha, and Warrensburg). Their final performance was at Bands of America Nationals in Indianapolis. With great leadership from drum majors Cole Stukenholtz and Alex Sheehan and trumpet section leaders Zac Konrad and Jesse Cox, the T-Birds reached the semi-finals and finished 32nd in the country. The band also won the Espirit de Corps award for sportsmanship at the National competition. No other band since has reached this level of success.
The 2005-2006 show was called "Marching Band for Dummies" based on the For Dummies series of books. It features songs such as the National Emblem March, University of Nebraska Fight Song, Shining Star, Malagueña, and Snow Caps. Each song represents a distinct era of marching history.
The 2006-2007 show is titled Bandancing. Songs are from the musical piece Bugs, Bandancing, Dance Mix, and New Era Dance. These songs contribute to an overall dance theme. In 2006 the band finished at the Bands Of America Regional finishing second in their division with a 81.5.
The music department also has three concert bands, two jazz bands, five choral groups, and several other musical activities.
On January 2, 2007 after nearly 20 years of service to excellence, Mr. Braasch announced that he will be stepping down as the director of bands and begin teaching at the new Lewis and Clark middle school. The new director has not been found yet.
The school's varsity choir, West High Singers, has been invited several times over the past few years to perform with the Omaha Symphony. In 2006 they are performing Verdi's Requiem with the Symphony. They compete at District Music Contests regularly and consistently receive superior ratings.
Don Reimer, Bellevue West's main vocal music teacher/director, has been teaching choral music at the school since it's opening in 1977, and retired at the end of the 2006 school year. He is known across the state as a very successful vocal music director, and he was recently inducted into the Nebraska Music Educators Association Hall of Fame. He attributes his successful choral program to the level of music he teaches and the methods by which he teaches them. Beginning as freshmen, the students are taught to sight-read music and determine musical keys as well as count complicated rhythms. Reimer uses methods such as the "Merriwhether Technique" and demonstrating good costal muscle usage to coach his students on importance of tonal resonance and proper breathing. His son, A.J. Reimer, has succeeded him as head of the vocal department with the assistance of Janelle Reetz.
Each year, anywhere from 10-20 students are selected for the Nebraska All-State Chorus, All-State Band, and All-State Jazz Band.
AFJROTC
The Bellevue West Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Program is also one of the best in the nation, and is widely considered to be the top unit in the midwest. They have, as of April 28, 2006, been awarded the title of National Honor Unit 11 years in a row. They are one of the most active groups in the school as pertains to community service, having participated in Hurricane Katrina relief, stocking a local food pantry, spear-heading the local Mothers Against Drunk Driving campaign in Bellevue as well as numerous other community outreach programs.
Outside of the Omaha Metro area the Bellevue West AFJROTC program is known for one thing: Drill Team. Bellevue West's two Varsity Silent Sentry Drill Teams - one Men's and one Ladies' - are among the most elite Drill Teams in the country and are a standard of measurement in the midwest.
History of the Silent Sentry approach
Bellevue West's "silent" form of drilling was initiated in the Men's Varsity team during the 1990-1991 school year by the team commander with the aid of a drill coach and input from the team. It differs from the "call and response" drill technique (used in previous years to floundering success) in that no commands are used during the entire performance. The team relies on an internal count, or beat, to guide the drill. The idea was so revolutionary in the area at the time that the Men's team took home the 1st Place trophies for every meet they traveled to, going as far as the Denver meet. Plans to travel to Daytona for the National Championship were abandoned when permission could not be obtained from the school administration. But, in 2007 they have recieved permission and will attend if funding permits.
Sports
Baseball- Have won one state championship (1978). Appeared in the state tournament four times (1978, 1983, 1989, 1991).
Boys Basketball- Have won three state championships in school history (2000, 2004, 2005). Have been runner-ups also three times in school history (1991, 1999, 2006).
Girls Basketball- Have appeared in three state tournaments (2002, 2005, 2006) and all three times made it to the semifinals.
Football- Has been to the state tournament 5 times since 2001. Has been to the state tournament seven times in school history. The Thunderbirds have beaten cross-town rival, Bellevue East, eight times in a row. Went undefeated during the regular season in 2004.
Boys Soccer- Have been to three state tournaments in school history (1992, 1999, 2006) and were runner-ups in 1999. In 2005 Jordan Helming, goalie, had nine total shut outs
Girls Soccer- Have appeared in one state tournament, in 1988.
Volleyball- Has won 12 state championships (1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006), and been runners-up once (1999).
Wrestling- Had a second place team finish in 1980. Have had ten state champions, those include: Jerry McCaw (twice), Bob Lineberry , Jeff Peterson, Doug Hassel (twice), Mark Traynowicz, Mike Plambeck, Terry Bradshaw, Peter Isham.
Drill Team- Numerous trophies (anywhere from about 75-100 per year). Very successful. There is a men's team and a women's team.
Girls Softball - Made their first State appearance in school history in October, 2006.
Cross Country- placed second at the state tourney in 1995 and placed third in the 2006-07 season. Which was the team's second best finish in school history in a field superior to that of the 95' team. the 2006-07 also traveled to Oregon in December to compete in the open race at Nike Team Nationals
Notable alumni
- Leisha Hailey, actress and musician
- Lora Sarich, Libero, Toledo Rockets college volleyball team; [1]
- Mark Traynowicz, NFL player for the Buffalo Bills and Phoenix Cardinals; [2] [3]
- Mike Slaton, NFL player for the Minnesota Vikings. [4] [5]
- Mister Biggs, Host of the WCKS-FM 102.7 morning radio show; [6]
- Seth Neuffer, film music composer [7]
- Eric Strickland, went on to play at the University of Nebraska, and then in the NBA
- Nathan Hanson, cross-country superstar, champion Lhaso Apso breeder
- Kevin Boyce, Omaha R&B sensation, Varsity Football Flag Runner 01', Came out of closet 06'
Fight song
The following lyrics are put to the song Oregon, Mighty Oregon.
We’re the Thunderbirds of West High
We’re the purple, gold and white
We will cheer our team to vict’ry
We will always prove our might.
Bellevue West is proud and loyal
And we’ll always give our best
We will fight to win our battles
Thunderbirds of Bellevue West.
Spoken:
Cheer, cheer for Bellevue West
Cuz we are Nebraska’s best
Fight, fight with all your might
Thunderbirds, kick some ass tonight!
(Repeat song)