#BeABlackKnight
In episode 101, Brooke shares how she ended up in nuclear medicine when it wasn’t even on her career radar in high school, the positives and challenges of her career, the importance of high school science classes, and much more.
To watch on YouTube, visit bit.ly/JoustAboutCareers. To listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or other podcast platforms, search Joust About Careers.
Have a great week!
We appreciate our students giving back to our community!
Summer Facilities Update #4: Remodeled High School Restrooms
Today’s update (4 of 5) highlights the updates made to restrooms throughout the high school over the last six months.
While a majority of the work was done over the summer and finished last week, the maintenance & facilities staff started the renovations last February when they made improvements to the restrooms in the fine arts wing (learn more in the February 2025 Facilities Knight Insight and on the Van Buren Local Schools Facebook page).
Over the summer, the restrooms on the second floor between the library and science classrooms and the staff restrooms were revamped with new sinks, partitions, toilets and urinals, mirrors, ceilings (grids and tiles), LED lights, dispensers, and a fresh coat of paint.
New ceilings and lights were also added to the restrooms between Mrs. Leddy’s second-floor Spanish classroom and Mr. Bunn’s eighth-grade math classroom, and the sinks in the boys’ bathroom were replumbed.
The most extensive renovation took place in the first floor restrooms servicing the gym and cafeteria areas. In order to do the job correctly the first time, both restrooms were completely gutted, including taking down the wall separating the boys’ and girls’ restrooms so longtime plumbing issues could be addressed.
With everything gutted, the layout of the restrooms was adjusted to better utilize the space, including raising the ceilings and reducing the number of sinks and urinals. In addition to the same upgrades made in the other restrooms, new flooring and doors were installed to give us the equivalent of brand new restrooms in one of the most high-traffic areas of our building both during the day and at indoor athletic events.
The response from students has been very positive. High school students Haidyn Sattler and Leah Sheeks both agree that they appreciate the new soap dispensers, fresh paint, and stability of the new stall doors. Likewise, middle school students Mia Howard, Maddie McDaniel, and Adalyn Mimbs noticed how everything from the mirrors to the brighter lights look nice, and they appreciate warm water to wash their hands.
Because of the work of Casey Morman and his team, our students, staff, and visitors can look forward to a more welcoming and comfortable experience on our campus.
In the 100th episode of the Joust About Careers podcast, Thomas shares how he decided to become a pilot, the various paths a person can take to become a pilot, the benefits and challenges of this career, and much more.
To watch on YouTube, visit bit.ly/JoustAboutCareers. To listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or other podcast platforms, search Joust About Careers.
Have a great week!
Students were placed into intergrade teams and started the day rotating among classrooms every 25 minutes to participate in stations focused on developing the Traits of a Black Knight (Respect, Responsibility, and Resilience) and competing in minute-to-win-it games.
In the afternoon, students put their creativity and teamwork to the test as they had 30 minutes to use newspapers to create costumes for two of their team members.
The fashion show then brought everyone together in the auditorium, where the teams’ representatives modeled their work for judges Mr. Stanford, Mrs. Sparke, and Mr. Hafner.
It was a great experience for the students as they built connections, innovated, and accomplished principal Jennifer Barrett’s goal for the event: “Welcome Back Day is one of my favorite middle school traditions. It’s a day where competition, respect, teamwork, and responsibility come to life. Watching our students’ confidence grow as the day unfolds is the perfect way to launch a year full of energy and excitement.”
