General - Bay City Western High School

band dance hdr

List of articles in category General
Title
Staff Directory
S.T.E.A.M.
Welcome Western High!
Welcome to Bay City Western High
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Why Western?

Programs

Student Clubs

Full STEAM

If You Wish You Were A Warrior...

Western High School offers academics, special programs and clubs to enrich our student body! Take a look at what makes us WARRIORS!

Leadership Opportunities

We've got many in-school opportunities as well as partnerships with SVSU and Community Organizations.

Educational Experiences

WHS offers students a path to a robust educational experience preparing them for college and career readiness.

F.I.R.S.T. Robotics

Our robotics club has competed in FIRST World Championships and provides experiences for any student with a variety of interests.

Music and Theater

We host annual full-cast productions including musicals like "Grease" and "Aladdin" involving dozens of our best talent.

Athletics

With a long history of Award-Winning Teams and World Class Athletes, we offer a wide array of sports to choose from.

Extracurriculars

With over 20 extracurricular clubs and activities, WHS offers a path to meet the needs and interests of all students.

Athletics

Bay City Western is proud of our long history of Award-Winning Teams and their Athletes! WHS offers many opportunities for students to participate in team and individual sports, including:

Detailed information for Registered Students can visit the Athletics Department page. Please visit the Athletics Office and Mr. Thayer for more information. You may also contact the Athletic Department at (989) 662-2700!! GO WARRIORS!!

Performing Arts

BAND

Our program consists of two ability-based concert bands, two ability-based jazz bands, marching and pep bands with dozens of performances each year.

The Bay City Western Band program's mission is to “Pursue excellence through music, as a family”.

Our program is regularly recognized for its excellence by the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, local colleges and our community. Our program stresses the importance of student leadership, student relationships and personal excellence.

You can visit our WHS BANDS website at https://www.westernbands.net

CHOIR

We have several Choral groups for all levels of experience. Please contact our Choir Director for more information.

DRAMA / MUSICAL THEATER / THEATER TECH

BCPS Theatre provides opportunities for students to work with peers to create amazing theatrical productions. WHS combines with Central High School to cultivate the talents of our actors and tech crew. There are countless ways for students to contribute to the BCPS Theatre productions. Our team combines work ethic and team work to create the successful productions that have come to be expected from BCPS Theatre. Parents are an integral part of our team.

We value their dedication and contribution to our success and encourage a high level of participation. Whether you are a budding actor or want to contribute behind the scenes, BCPS Theatre is a phenomenal place to learn and participate in every aspect of a top quality high school production.

Sustainability Program

The WHS greenhouse has been transformed into a biology lab in which students conduct original research.

Students design, implement and publish experiments on plants to evaluate possible solutions to increased resource usage by an ever growing human population. Investigations include studies on water preservation, increased crop yields and alternative farming methods.

With multiple growing spaces, vermiculture and hydroponics units, the greenhouse provides authentic learning opportunities in laboratory practice, problem-solving, data collection and analysis, experimental design and professional collaboration. Come grow with Western High School science!

Visual Arts

WHS ARTworks is dedicated to providing students the opportunity to surprise themselves by using basic artistic techniques that build upon each other in order to enable the students to pursue work of the highest quality! Our Art Club meets weekly, and students are encouraged to pursue projects on their own as well as work together on large community based projects that brings Art to the halls of the Western complex and surrounding community.

Take a moment to follow our FaceBook and Instagram sites showcasing the amazingly talented WHSARTworks students!

https://www.facebook.com/WHSARTworks/
https://www.instagram.com/whsartworks/

Art Club

WHS ART Club will meet throughout the school year for student directed studio time as well as working collaboratively on community projects for the school and our surrounding neighborhoods. WHS ART Club will meet in the Art Room directly after school to pursue our creative extravaganzas!

Art Club WHS INSTAGRAM

Art Club WHS FACEBOOK

Blankets for Hope

Blankets for Hope is a charity group that was started by Olivia Mitzryk (WHS Class of 2022). When Liv was younger, she experienced the generosity of another when she was given a tied blanket that was made by a volunteer. She remembers that the blanket gave her a sense of security during a really scary time in her life. Because of this, Liv wanted to give other children in the same situations that same comfort and sense of security, so she created Blankets for Hope.

With several donations from community members, approximately 25 - 40 students get together each week to create tied blankets for children that are admitted to the local hospitals. Just before Christmas break approximately 25 students traveled to McLaren Bay Regional hospital to deliver 30 blankets that will be given to children that are admitted to the hospital. With the help of students like Olivia, we will continue to support students in hospitals with additional Blankets for Hope!

Equestrian Team

Bay City Western’s Equestrian Team is part of The Michigan Interscholastic Horsemanship Association (MIHA). Today there are approximately 340 teams, and 2000 riders across the state of Michigan. BCW has had an Equestrian Team every year since 1984. We also have a Middle School team, for 5th through 8th grade students.

The Equestrian Team riders compete on their horses against other area schools in 3 District meets held at the Midland Fairgrounds in the fall. They compete in various riding disciplines, such as Western, Hunt Seat, Jumping, Trail and Timed events. Riders earn points for the team based on placings in the classes. The top 2 teams in each division go on to compete at a Regional meet. The top two teams from the Regional meets go on to compete at the State Championship meet.

All meets are held at the Midland County Fairgrounds. WHS equestrian team has met high standards in recent years. In 2018, the team was the district, regional and State Reserve Champion. In 2016, the team was district and Regional Reserve Champion.

National Honor Society - Aesthetikos

NHS - The Aesthetikos Chapter of the National Honor Society at Western High School is a voluntary organization in which students are recognized for their record of academic achievement. Juniors and seniors who have maintained a 3.5 GPA and have logged at least 32 hours of volunteer service before the second semester of their junior year are invited to apply for membership in NHS. Membership demands a continual commitment to maintaining good character, displaying leadership, and providing service.

In the past, service to the community has involved coordinating blood drives, raising money for the Auburn Food Pantry & the Al Bryant Leadership Scholarship, volunteering at Breakfast with Santa, tutoring Western Middle School students, and assisting peers in Math and Science. All NHS members will have a minimum service hour requirement throughout their year of membership.

Relay for Life

whs relay for life The Relay for Life Team at Western High School is a group of students and staff members that are passionate about fighting to end cancer. The team will fundraise for the American Cancer Society throughout the school year with various events, while also raising awareness in the school and community. The team is part of the Bay County Relay for Life event that takes place in May. Any student can join our team! For more information, please connect with the staff advisor, Beth Gehoski (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Facebook Page

Remind: text @whs-relay to 81010

Robotics Team

Western High School's Robotics Team participates in FIRST Robotics Competitions (FRC)

Robotics is more than a club or varsity sport - it is a full circle business experience where high school kids fund, design, build and compete with a new robot each year. The team Rise of the Warrior Bots participates in FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competitions (FRC). The team consists of anyone in grades 9-12 who have in interest in team building and having fun!

Yes, the team has exciting experiences for kids interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) by completing all the electrical and mechanical design and build, programming for a new competitive event each year. But is it more than that. There are also opportunities for students interested in arts and design, accounting and finance, web design and social media, community relations and much more.

BCW Team #5603 rocks the competitions with its mascot GOAT (Greatest of All Time) which signifies the very essence of Gracious Professionalism in FIRST. Our trophy case is full of Spirit Awards where our team out-cheers the competition, rooting for its alliance in matches and supporting its drive team with their voices and designs.

The highlights of the team include winning the 2018 Midland Dow District event and qualifying for the World Championship twice, including its rookie year. The team was created in 2015 and now in its sixth year has a strong core mentor group which has great expectations for the upcoming years.

Speed and Agility Training

Winter Speed and Agility training is for any high school or middle school student who wants to improve their speed, agility, and overall athleticism. Various workouts are used; students are timed in distances from 10 meters to 40 yards every other week. Our focus is on improvement. All student athletes from any sport are welcome to participate regardless of ability.

Student Council

WHS Student Council provides a rewarding opportunity for student leaders to be involved in creating the culture at WHS. Elections take place in May via online voting by the student body. Every year, Student Council is responsible for organizing the Homecoming activities including the voting, pep assembly, parade, announcing the court at halftime, and the dance. A winter dance is usually held in late January or early February, in which the council chooses the theme. In May, the Junior council members organize Prom. Some of our activities include attending conferences to learn what other councils are doing and how to improve ours. We also attend a weekend conference in Grand Rapids to network with councils from around the state.

For the past several years, the students have attended a Detroit Piston’s leadership conference. At the end of the school year, members have attended a Loons baseball game. Annually, the students coordinate various fundraisers to assist the community. In the past, we have donated to the Good Samaritan Rescue Mission, the Bay County Women’s Shelter, Toys for Tots, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, River of Jordan, and India to assist with replacing a school roof. Any student who is interested in gaining leadership experience is encouraged to participate in Student Council.

Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)

Students Against Destructive Decisions is a club that unites students to make positive decisions that advance their health and safety. We put on a variety of peer-to-peer events to empower and engage teens to successfully confront the risks and pressures that challenge them while making a positive change in our school climate and community. SADD meets most Wednesdays after school and counts as volunteer hours. For more information check us out on Instagram @bcwsadd or stop in to see Mrs. Heller, Mrs. Kieser, or Mrs. Bertalan.

S.T.E.A.M.

STEAM Education is an approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking.

These programs aim to teach students innovation, to think critically and use engineering or technology in imaginative designs or creative approaches to real-world problems while building on students' mathematics and science base. STEAM programs add art to STEM curriculum by drawing on design principles and encouraging creative solutions.

Science Olympiad - Science Olympiad introduces students to many different areas of STEM through projects, labs and tests in a fun and competitive atmosphere. Each year, 15 students prepare for 23 different events related to science, technology and engineering. Events can range from Anatomy and Astronomy tests, to chemistry and physics labs, to bridge and gravity vehicle construction. Students compete against several other schools in the region in each of the events. Students who perform well enough are invited to the state competition.

For more information on Science Olympiad, visit soinc.org