Beatrice School Year Is Underway

Classes are in full swing at Beatrice Public Schools as the new school year started last week.

Superintendent Jason Alexander says administrators and staff were anxious for students to come back for another year.

“One of the things we have really emphasized with staff this year is that there are two thousand reasons why we do what we do. We have two thousand reasons why we show up everyday and they are counting on us everyday to show up and do our jobs and do them in a way that they know they can count on us on being here.”

Early enrollment numbers for Beatrice Public Schools is slightly lower than the start of school last year. Alexander says its not uncommon for the numbers to fluctuate throughout the year.

“Currently right now we have 2,086 students enrolled in preschool thru 12^th grade. That’s about 37 less students than we started with last year at this time. That number can change….it can fluctuate. When I broke those numbers down and looked at them it fluctuates across the board. We have 16 more in the middle school….27 more in the half-day preschool but we are down a little bit in full day preschool.”

Along with the start of classes also comes the start of extra-curricular activities. Activity Director for the high school Cale Kaiser says band camp was held earlier in the month for band students. Kaiser says fall athletes have been getting ready for competition that starts this Thursday.

“We have the returning state champion softball team…they are a well oiled machine when you go and watch their practices. They are a lot of fun to watch. For our football team we have over 60 members on the team this year which is the most we have had in the recent years. Our volleyball team…I would argue that we have the youngest coaching staff in the state. We have two former students of mine and they have been terrific so far so its going to be exciting to see what they come out and show.”

This Thursday Beatrice girls golf competes against Fairbury at the Beatrice Country Club. The Lady O softball team travels to Lincoln Pius Thursday and the volleyball jamboree takes place at the O-Zone featuring Beatrice, Freeman and Diller-Odell volleyball teams.

Kaiser says Friday night will feature the fall kick-off event.

“Doors open at 5 o’clock. It’s going to be at the House of Orange. We have Chick-Fil-La, we have Beatrice Nutrition and Tropical Sno serving that evening. We have some seniors signing posters and we are going to introduce all of our fall activities and then at 7 o’clock we have our football scrimmage that will take place to give us a sneak peak of our football team.”

A full schedule of school events can be found on the school’s website.