The Hoofprint – Special Edition - May 28, 2006

FFA advances to State: Agriculture teacher and FFA Advisor Todd Lubben demonstrates how to butcher a piece of meat.
Sadie Hawkins Dance: Paige Brummer and her date dance at the First Annual Sadie Hawkin's Dance.
Wrestlers attend State: Cheering on teammates, Seniors Erik Rogness, Justin Franke, and Junior Derek Klatt wait for their match at a home meet. Rogness and Klatt both advanced to State. BAC opens: Students file into the Bison Activity Center (BAC) and wait for instructions at a Track and Field practice.
KB receives 3rd place at State: Between Knowledge Bowl practice, students play videogames to keep entertained.
Senior Skip Day: Senior Eric Anderson takes his Senior Skip Day to wakeboard.
Left to right: Freshman Faith Sandberg dresses in yellow for Class Color Day during Homecoming week. Junior Matt Patterson jumps in the air during the Oliver! the musical. During SSR, Junior Logan Haglund sneaks an Ipod in with her reading. This year introduced SSR on Fridays. Junior Emily Andrews prepares to dive. Girls Swimming placed first at Conferences.
Four page pull-out: Hoofprint special covering 2005-2006
A look back on how events and people shaped the school and the community
Photos by Sara Hauer, Emily Andrews, and Eli Krumholz

“I’m looking toward putting my family in a different setting and seeing how we deal with change. It will be good to get away and recharge batteries.”
-Science teacher Dan Schneider

“Each person leaving can pursue a dream,” said Principal Nick Miller. “They benefit by doing something new, a new challenge or opportunity for them.”
This year isn’t only the last year for the class of 2006, but for some staff as well.
Eight staff will not be returning next fall: Special Education teacher, Jane Berns, F.A.C.S. teacher Vicky Martin, Counselor Anne Bullert who left earlier this year, Business Education teacher Ericka Jessen, Business Education teacher Mark Olson, JMNG teacher Claire Cole, school psychologist Paul Dietz, and science teacher Dan Schneider who will only be gone one year to explore London.
The administrator’s office has already posted the job openings for those positions and in addition, one math, and one EBD (special education).
“Anytime you have changes [in teaching staff] you’re trying to find people who will fit into the culture,” said Miller. “We’re trying to find candidates that will be willing to make strong bonds. There will always be a gap when teachers leave.”
There’s no doubt that all of these teachers will be missed. Martin has been teaching here for 13 years and will retire at the end of 2006.
“I’m going to be 65; I’ve been teaching a long time,” said Martin. “I’ll miss the energy of the school, the interaction with my students and all my friends on staff.”
Martin plans on traveling to see family, attacking her big stack of books, finishing a Sports Illustrated while it’s still up-to-date, sewing and knitting, and exercising.
Jessen has other ambitions for a different career. She is going back to school at St. Cloud State to get her accounting degree and become a Certified Public Accountant.
“I’m sad I won’t be teaching here, but Mr. Phelps and I will still be part of the community and I will still be involved with dance team,” said Jessen.
Not all the teachers leaving are done teaching at the end of this year. Some are merely taking a break, while others are moving to another location. Schneider is taking a year off while he explores London with his family.
“I’m looking toward putting my family in a different setting and seeing how we deal with change,” said Schneider. “It will be good to get away and recharge batteries.”
Olson will remain in the teaching field; he will be transferred to Dodgeville High in Wisconsin. He and his wife want to be closer to their family members.
“I love Buffalo. If Buffalo was 30 minutes from home, I’d be happy for life. I will really miss the coaches, students, and staff here,” said Olson. “My mentor, Mr. Bollum has taught me a lot about teaching and computers. I have been very impressed and really respect the students here as adults.”
“There will always be a gap when teachers leave,” said Miller. “They will all be missed.”

Vitaliy Emelyanov, a 16 year old foreign exchange student traveled from the country of Uzbekistan, which is located North of Afghanistan and arrived January 11, 2006.

"My first opinion of Minnesota was that it was very cold," said Emelyanov. "And the snow was very cool; there was always so much of it."

While Emelyanov's stay with his host family he found similarities between them and his family back home. "My host family is a great family," said Emelyanov. "They are all so sweet and kind to me. I am very happy and lucky to have the family that I have as my host family. My family and my host family are very much alike. They have a lot in common."

Besides coming here to Minnesota and seeing all there is to see here, such as his favorite places like Mall of America, Ikea, and Wal-Mart, Emelyanov has also been to one other state. "I have been to only one state, that state was Illinois," said Emelyanov, "Where I got the chance to visit the city of Chicago. It was an amazing trip."

While attending high school Emelyanov experienced a few surprises. "Buffalo High School was very big, but a very nice school," said Emelyanov. "The students were wonderful. All were so friendly and kind, they made me feel very welcome. The teachers did treat me differently, but they treated me differently in a good way."

Coming from a different country requires getting used to a new school schedule. Emelyanov adjusted to the everyday school day in Buffalo. "Oh my classes are so different," said Emelyanov. "Each one is so different; there is a difference in the education part and the way that the teachers teach the subject. There are also larger size classes than I am use to. The lessons that you receive are more experimental as in more real topics that they talk about, I like the a lot though."

The way a teacher teaches effect the experience. "The teachers are wonderful, they find a way for every student to understand," said Emelyanov. "They have learned how to help everyone, very clever. My first opinion of them was that they all have had experience working with kids. They know what they are doing."

Emelyanov also adapted to AAA. "AAA is very nice because I can do homework or ask teachers about homework. I can even tell them about my problems and they do their best to try and help me," said Emelyanov. "Having SSR during AAA I think is very helpful. It's good for your education, just to have time to sit and read a book. It gets you smarter so it will help you in the future. Also, it is better than studying."

The school is a very busy place with all the activities that go on such as the pep fests and sports. It's always easy to find something going on. "In my school we don't have these kinds of opportunities such as having homecoming week with all of the special dress up days. They were unusual, but fun. I don't think my school would ever do something like that. It would be funny if people came to my school with their pajamas for just one day. I think that everyone would be amazed," said Emelyanov.

As June comes around Emelyanov will be heading back to Uzbekistan. Leaving a school and family, he has gotten the privilege of experiencing something not every student gets to experience in high school. "It's going to be a very sad day for me and I hope that I keep in contact with a lot of people from the United States," said Emelyanov. "I mostly am going to miss my host family. They have given me so many memorable experiences, and I will miss BHS also."

“It's going to be like this year. I don't think it’s going to change much.”
-Junior Andy Williams

“Classes will probably be harder, because it's tenth grade.”
-Freshman Brianna Miller

Left to Right: Before their last concert, Seniors Jenna Nordschcow and Rhandy Southa chat at an orchestra pizza party.

Tossing the ball high, Junior Ron Larson prepares to serve. Tennis remained undefeated in Conferences. Senior Emily Jung carefully sorts through yearbooks in preparation for Student Appreciation Day.

“I'm excited to see what the cover looks like this year, because it's kind of one of those mystery things.”

Drumline places 2nd in region: At a pep fest Senior David Harri, Juniors Samantha Sorenson, and Jason Brummer play in the drumline.

Mock Trial takes 2nd at State: Junior Christopher Robert goes over a case at practice.

Tri-M Variety Show: Freshman Tom Polzine plays classical guitar. Polzine played in two acts during the show.

Girl's Golf places 1st in M8: Bundled up and ready to face the elements, Junior Kathleen Dehmer prepares to swing.

Graduation: Two weeks before graduation, Senior Jessica Wilkens picks up her cap and gown at lunch.

One-Act wins Conference: Senior Jacob Cline recites his monologue at practice.

Photos by Emily Andrews, Ericka Solsten, Sara Hauer, Sara White, and Jackie Calrson