Once again an array of events has taken place on the Bishop Noll campus. In the past couple of weeks we have had students involved in many activities in the classroom, on the athletic field and on the stage.
In the academic arena Noll recently completed its first academic quarter. A large number of parents and guardians participated in our parent-teacher conferences. More than two hundred students made the honor roll during the first quarter demonstrating outstanding academic achievements of our students. Our freshman made it through the first phase of high school and our seniors are nearing the end of their Bishop Noll experience.
In the classroom some students launched rockets. Noll science teacher, Becky Dostatni, ’00 introduced juniors and seniors in Physics class to projectiles. The rockets were launched from the center of our football and soccer fields. Dostatni said the purpose of the activity was to use equations and concepts that her students have been learning this year to calculate the height to which the rocket climbed and its average acceleration.
Some students recorded the time that it took for the rocket to reach its highest point.  Others used an altiscope to find the angle at which the rocket can be viewed at it highest point from a certain distance along the ground.  Finally, others used a tape measure to find the distance on the football/soccer fields from the launch site to where the person is standing with the altiscope.
On the athletic field, our winter sport teams are gearing up for their prospective seasons. Our Warrior athletes will be in the water, on the basketball courts, in the bowling lanes and on the wrestling mats devoting hours of practice, building character and demonstrating sportsmanship.
Several new head coaches join the winter sports season at Noll. Lorenza Jara, ‘01 has been appointed head coach of freshman girls’ basketball. Jara teaches Physical Education and Health and Noll. The Wrestling Warriors welcome first year head coach, Brian Hrabovsky ’02 to the wrestling mats. Ben Chin, ’03 has been named freshman boys basketball head coach and Sam Krucek, Sr. will coach our bowling team. Congratulations to our new head coaches and best of luck in your seasons.
Noll students will take their final bows this weekend as our fall musical, Disney’s Beauty & the Beast comes to end. Performance times are 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 5 p.m. on Sunday. Contact BNI for more information and don’t miss the opportunity to see Noll students at their best.
We begin our Thanksgiving Holiday break next week and my next column is scheduled for Nov. 30. On behalf of the Bishop Noll community I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. Please take some time to enjoy and relax with friends and family. Again, thank you to all of you who contribute in so many ways to make our school – more than a high school – a family.