The 2012-13 schedule gets finalized, the girls basketball team earns statewide recognition for academics, and we find out about local frolfing options.

Find out about FCCLA state, an up and coming rapper who calls Black River Falls home and a new team.

US Representative Ron Kind talks about his visits to Black River Falls schools, students talk about a favorite teacher–Mr. Wrobel, and athletes reveal their superstitions

Due to safety regulations, the BRFHS receive new bats that ensure a safer game for all players.

After much dispute, the NFHS and NCAA will be switching to new bats this year. The change was spurred from player injuries and in some rare cases death, from being hit by a ball flying off the bat too fast for a player to react. The switch will be going from a Ball-Exit-Speed-Ratio certification, or BESR to a Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution certification.With BRF baseball starting March 19 the team is getting ready for the season. Both players and coaches are preparing for the change but aren’t too worried.

“We just have to get used to them. It’s not really that big of change it’s just how the ball comes off the bat,” said senior varsity player Taylor Nichols.

BBCOR bats are thicker than BESR bats allowing for less flex. According to the NFHS, “the new standard ensures that performances by non-wood bats are more comparable to those of wood bats.”

Because of this change, some players are preparing for smaller sweet spots on the bats, which could affect their performance.

“Personally I don’t think it will cause too much of a difference in my performance. The bat will have a little less of a sweet spot so the ball won’t travel as far,” said junior varsity player Ryder Vold.

In BBCOR bats the ‘trampoline effect’ has been lessened and as a result the ball will come off at much slower speeds.  Although there are some negative results of this, like less homeruns, it most importantly ensures the safety of players, an aspect most coaches and players appreciate.

“I think it’s just a matter of keeping kids safe, especially the pitcher,” said junior varsity coach Jake Dahlke. Those pitchers have a split second to react to some of those hits and the way the ball was flying off some of those bats was just not safe.”

The end of term three is almost here, and we’ll be saying goodbye to several seniors. Find out why some are leaving.  See some interesting hands-on Physics projects coming out of the science labs and learn about a switch to BBCOR bats for the baseball team. Catch the final of five interviews with school board candidates–this one is with Durwood Amundson.

Senior Dan Anderson tries something knew and learns how to knit with Foreign Language teacher Jennifer Rukavina.

Though school was cancelled Wednesday, February 29, the Leap Day activities were rescheduled for the following day Thursday. The idea for the health and wellness mini-courses stemmed from an email Principal Tom Chambers received regarding a Fuel Up to Play 60 grant.

“I had received an email for the Fuel Up to Play 60 grant, and looked at it and it was connected to the NFL, and [it] talked about health and wellness, nutrition, fitness in schools,” said Chambers. “The grant was a $1,000 grant to the school to help initiate fitness or supporting fitness in nutrition programs.”

From there, Chambers sent the grant to At-Risk Coordinator Alan Barczak, who then formed a committee, got permission from Superintendent Ron Saari, applied and eventually received the grant.

“We then started to plan this day to kick off the program,” said Chambers. The check will be used for the purchase of new equipment in the Physical Education department. Besides attempting to improve the Physical Education program, the Leap Day was inspired by the grant.

“We started talking to the teachers, and the teachers were all very creative and came up with ideas for the sessions that had to do with fitness and nutrition,” said Chambers.

Activities that tookplace were of wide variety, varying from chess to kick-boxing, and swing dancing to snowboarding. English and Social Studies teacher Brad Lobenstein took part in the Bruce Mound trip with Art and Design teacher Laura Duvall. He was able to try something new.

“I was one of the chaperones that went out to Bruce Mound. [I] watched the people snowboard, ski and tube,” said Lobenstein. “I also got to try doing that myself. I am not much of a snowboarder. I tried it once and rode my board down the hill. On my butt.”

Alike Lobenstein’s snowboarding attempt, the mini-course-like day was a trial and error. Chambers hopes the students and staff enjoyed the day.

“I’m anxious to hear from all the groups and all the teachers and kids to see how they enjoyed the day,” said Chambers. “Overall, I think it was a success.”

Though the day was considered a relaxing one, allowing students and staff to take a break from their normal schedules, the day also placed an emphasis on health and wellness.

“It think it [health and wellness] is important because if you look at the statistics, there’s a very large number of children…who are overweight and obese and it’s an epidemic that creates health problems throughout their lives,” said Chambers. “So, it’s something that’s really important for students to think about, and to think about how to lead a healthy life, how to be physically fit and how to be nutritionally healthy in the way they eat. I thought it was important to use this as a way to help get the message out to the kids and start build some strong habits in that area.”

“We’re just hoping that it’s a sign to the students that nutrition is important for good health,” said Chambers, “it’s important for learning.”

TABO members place posters on lockers around the school to inform the student body about the dangers of violence.

Teens against bullying others, otherwise known as TABO, is one of the newer clubs at BRFHS. TABO gives participants a chance to make a change, against bullying.

TABO has been putting up posters, trying to get the message around the school to stop bullying and dating abuse. Each poster tells about a different kind of abuse, how it can affect you and how you can stop it. Members are in progress of making a video. One member of TABO, sophomore Merrissa Spurling, is excited about starting.

“Right now we are shooting a video for YouTube. I’m very excited to be working on it, and being apart of it, it’s going to be really cool, and informative,” said Spurling.

TABO is also getting ready to talk to the middle school about bullying.

“Right now we are finding activities, then we will be getting trained to go talk to the middle school kids. We will be talking to them about bullying and dating abuse, and what they should do if it happens, or if they see it happening,” said Spurling.

Sophomore Allison Sweeney also tells what will be taught to the middle school kids.

“We will be going over and teaching the middle school levels about self esteem, social awareness and anti bullying tactics,” said sophomore Allison Sweeney.

TABO is also in the process of coming up with more activities to do throughout the school.

“We are brainstorming ideas for campaigns, posters, training, videos, etc. We already made some posters, which are up around the school,” said Sweeney.

In TABO, they focus on member equality. There is not one single leader that runs it all, but instead, everyone gets a chance to share their ideas.

“We don’t have specific roles. We basically have each other as supporters. We share ‘roles’,” said Spurling. “We just want to help younger kids and our classmates.”

Though many find it difficult, TABO members feel as if they are making a change within the school.

“In a way yes [I feel like I am making a change], especially to those who are being bullied. It shows that they are cared about,” said Spurling.

Sweeney agrees.

“I definitely think we are doing a great job,” said Sweeney. “I love hearing people walk through the hallways talking about them because then we know that people are actually seeing them and paying attention.”

Sweeney would recommend the club to anyone, TABO is welcoming any new members.

“I love TABO, it’s a lot of fun,” said Sweeney. “ It’s a great club to get involved in.”