What’s recently happened?
Bishop Noll Institute (BNI) recently celebrated their outstanding seniors at Honors Night. Students were celebrated for their hard work and dedication to academics over their high school career. Students were given a small concert by the Bishop Noll Band and enjoyed a night celebrating their achievements with their families.
BNI recently welcomed the Notre Dame Jazz Band to the school. Bishop Noll Jazz Band players had the opportunity to play with the Notre Dame band for the students to enjoy at the end of the day. The Bishop Noll Marching Warriors had the opportunity to also learn from the Notre Dame band what it takes to be a part of the band in college.
Band members had the opportunity to talk and learn techniques to become better players. The Marching Warriors then took what they learned and performed in the Easter Parade in Whiting. The band had the opportunity to showcase what they learned and what they were working on in class to the public.
Bishop Noll athletics recently announced a new athletic director for the sports program. Cynthia Wilson, a Region athletics veteran, comes to Bishop Noll with almost 20 years of experience. Wilson is known around the region for not only working in athletic administration, but also as a volleyball, softball, and girls basketball coach at East Chicago Central High School. The sports program will be in good hands with her at the helm.
Bishop Noll civil engineering and architecture students are working on elevation surveys by the softball field. These students were shown how to measure the elevation of various features on the school grounds.
What’s coming up?
The Big Event, Bishop Noll’s biggest fundraising event to provide student scholarships, will take place on April 29, 2022. The in-person gathering will take place from 6 to 11:30 p.m. in the fieldhouse at BNI. There will also be a virtual option for those who cannot attend.
The Big Event provides members of the community a chance to bid on packages including donuts for a year, a Florida vacation, Notre Dame vs. Ohio State football tickets, as well as Broadway in Chicago play tickets. The most popular of the packages, Grandmother Teresa Radzieiwcki’s pierogies, are also available to bid on. These are just a few of the 80 items available for community members to bid on leading to the Big Event on April 29. For more information, check out the Bishop Noll Institute’s website.
The Bishop Noll band is preparing for next season and is hosting a meeting for incoming Bishop Noll freshmen who play or have played an instrument. Students and parents/guardians will meet at 7 p.m. April 27 in the school band room at the school. This will be a general meeting about what the band does during the school year with current band members discussing being part of the national award-winning band program.
BNI baseball will host the first Larry Bentley Alumni Classic on May 6, 2022 at Dowling park in Hammond, Indiana. Bishop Noll will be hosting Griffith High School for this event. This event welcomes all alumni, past and present, to enjoy a night out to honor the legacy of Mr. Bentley. The cost to attend is free and first pitch will begin at 4:30 p.m. There will also be a post game party at the Kube, located right next to Dowling Park, beginning at about 6:30 p.m.
Staff spotlight
Bianca Bernal is a biology teacher at BNI. This is her first year teaching here.
“This is my first year as a teacher. However, after this first year, I can confidently say that I am excited about my profession for the years to come," said Bernal.
Bernal graduated from Purdue University Northwest with a major in biology and a minor in psychology.
“One of the best things about BNI is the environment of the school. The small school setting allows students to know and interact with most of their peers. This creates an encouraging environment, where the students help each other. In addition to this, teachers get to know and interact with their students. Seeing the positive relationships among students and teachers creates a nurturing environment that encourages student success," said Bernal.
When asked what she is looking forward to most in the coming year, Bernal shared how she loves seeing her students progress and grow over time.
“Having another set of students come into BNI is something that is exciting, however, seeing what my students this year are able to accomplish next year and the years after is one of the biggest things I am looking forward to the most. I am also excited to not be a “first year” teacher anymore. I’ve gained experience and I’ve had even more ideas about what to add into each chapter.”
Bernal has the special opportunity of teaching a variety of science topics to students, but her favorite is probably genetics.
“The majority of my students are interested in genetics since they understand that the characteristics that they have themselves come from their genetics. Since they can connect with the material so well, it makes them more curious about the subject," said Bernal.
Student spotlight
Gerardo Garcia is currently a senior here at BNI.
Garcia is involved in drama club and video game club. He likes to act in the plays that are held at the school. Currently he is participating in the play "Xanadu" as one of the main characters.