What’s Recently Happened
Boone Grove High School (BGHS) has been beaming with excitement recently over its sports teams as they have approached the most intense and exciting part of their season.
Boys basketball played a Porter County Conference (PCC) tournament against neighboring schools in the area. They fought hard but fell short right before making it to the finals. However, it was exciting to watch them all week make it to that point.
On another note, girl wrestlers from BGHS made it all the way to the state tournament. This is the first time in BGHS history.
Girls basketball also had a senior night, which was extremely heartfelt as the team celebrated the four years of hard work and dedication that these seniors have put towards the game.
Overall, the BGHS community is very proud of everything that the athletes have done. Not only are they amazing athletes, but they are great students and people overall. BGHS is proud to be home to these students.
What’s Coming Up
The dreaded SAT testing is coming up for BGHS juniors. The SAT has replaced the standardized testing known as Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress-Plus (ISTEP+). As students prepare for the upcoming test, they will spend countless hours studying and getting tutoring help.
On top of that, many students are preparing for the upcoming academic team meet. This is where schools from all over the area compete in a battle of wits. They compete in science, math, social studies, and fine arts. There is even an interdisciplinary team that combines one member from each of the other teams.
Finally, student-athletes are putting hours of practice time in as they participate in open-gyms and pre-season workouts to get a jump start on their spring sports.
BGHS is booming with hard work and dedication from everyone. The students' determination is an inspiration to all.
Teacher Spotlight
BGHS is filled with not only great students but also truly amazing teachers and staff that put their heart and soul into the school. Becky DeRuntz is just one of the teachers that works to make learning enjoyable for students.
DeRuntz is an English teacher at BGHS who has been teaching for 27 years. She is someone who is loved by her students as well as co-workers because of her amazing personality and her ability to bring style into the classroom. DeRuntz is always wearing amazing outfits and has become known as a fashion icon at BGHS.
Aside from that, DeRuntz is an amazing teacher. Her class is fun and she knows how to keep the students engaged as she tells stories and relates the books the students read in class to life. This is something that is widely admired about DeRuntz because she is not just relaying the information, but she is teaching with passion and showing that books have a deeper meaning than just words on a page.
“I love that every day, I have the opportunity to let a student know how much potential I see in them. I love that I am surrounded by hope. I love knowing that my bright, kind, and curious students will make the world a better place,” DeRuntz said.
DeRuntz is not only incredible during school hours, but she is also always willing to sit with her students after class to help them with whatever they need, whether it is homework or personal life issues that they need to confide in someone about.
Almost every day, DeRuntz can be seen with students in her class after school as she listens and helps her students through whatever they may be going through. She truly cares about each and every one of them, and she makes sure they never leave her room without a smile on their face. She will also occasionally check up on them to make sure everything is still going okay.
DeRuntz is truly one of those teachers that students dream of having not only because of her compassion and patience but also because of the great heart she has and her ability to always make students feel better.
“I think back to what I needed and wanted from life when I was a student and that directs my teaching style. I want students to feel safe and valued and loved. The bond I create with students is based on mutual respect. We don’t have to agree in our discussions but we trust that our voices are heard.”
DeRuntz is a one-of-a-kind teacher who many students are grateful that they had. She is someone who is indescribably remarkable, and she impacts the lives of everyone she meets. The BGHS community is lucky to have not only an amazing teacher but an amazing person guiding the students into their next phase of life.
Student Spotlight
Ella Bono is a senior and student-athlete at BGHS who is known for her amazing talent in basketball. Recently, Bono has celebrated her four years as a BGHS athlete at her senior night.
Bono is an inspiration to many young people as she is an amazing athlete as well as a student. Bono is enrolled in honors classes at BGHS. She has also taken college courses over the summer in order to get ahead in her college education.
If that wasn’t enough, throughout high school, Bono has also played on a travel basketball team to help improve her basketball skills and keep her busy during her off-season. Bono is nearing the end of her basketball career.
“I will miss the bonds I’ve made with my teammates both on and off the court the most. I will also miss the tournaments and hotel stays with my travel team,” Bono said.
As Bono’s season comes to an end, she will continue to keep herself busy with her job of working at a daycare as well as preparing for college.
Overall, Bono is an amazing student, athlete, and person who is extremely determined and driven to succeed in everything that she does. She will surely do great things in the upcoming phases of her life.