Sponsor- Bob Heid
The Kankakee Valley (KV) Academic Teams competes in several different competitions throughout the year. Students can try out for one or more of these competitions. Most of the competitions that we participate in are sponsored by the Indiana Association of School Principals. KV has been involved with academic competitions for the last 30 years.
At the current time, we are planning on competing in Academic Spell Bowl and Academic Super Bowl. Spell bowl is not a spelling bee. Each member of the team spells one round against spellers from each of the other teams. All students in the spell in a round are given the same words to spell. The winner is the team with the highest number of points.
Academic Super Bowl is a competition where we have science, math, social studies, Fine Arts, and Literature squads. All of the science squads compete at the same time by answering 25 multiple choice questions. The rest of the subject area squads are tested on the same day. The last event in the competition is Interdisciplinary where the questions can come from any area
Sponsor - Allison Bierma
ASL club is a student-run club where students learn about deaf culture and American Sign Language, and have fun doing it!
Sponsor - Tony Cochran
Dues: $5.00
Art Club is a creative group of people out to make our world a colorful and beautiful place for all to live.
Sponsor - Julie Walstra
Book Club is for anyone who is interested in talking and learning about books/reading. We take time each month to discuss what books everyone might be reading, what is new, and requests for books for the HS library. We also read to the preschool students once a month.
Sponsor - Traci Blanco
Dues: $50 - Includes Local, State, National Dues, and Regional Leadership Conference Registration. Dues can be covered by fundraising efforts.
Business Professionals of America is a national career and technical student organization that encompasses all things business. Students have the chance to compete in business related events at the local, state and national level. Areas of business that are emphasized are Financial Services, Administrative Support, Information Technology, Digital Communications & Design, Marketing Management & Communications, and Health Administration.
Kankakee Valley had 12 students qualify for the National Leadership Conference in Nashville, TN, across six different events, and many additional students earned placements in the top 10.
Below are the top ten placers and their events (* Denotes National Qualifier):
*2nd - Visual Design Team: Simone Blanco, Aubrey Hanger, Emmie Przybylski
*2nd - Computer Animation Team: Gavin King, Declan Murr, Hunter Patrick, Max Wilson
*3rd - Economic Research Team: Carson Armstrong, Jase Barrera, Conor Stabnik
*3rd - Economic Research Individual: Nathan Edmonds
4th - Broadcast News Team: Duke Blanco, Lillie Cantwell, Raymond LeGrand, Rex Wilkins
4th - Human Resource Management: Max Duttlinger
*4th - Fundamental Desktop Publishing: Duke Blanco
*5th - Personal Financial Management: Emmie Przybylski
6th - User Experience Design: Bradyn Berry, Lincoln Bryant, Hunter Munoz, Trevor Poplawski
6th - Parliamentary Procedures Team: Cole Armstrong, Milo Herz, Eli Hildebrandt, Jackson Hooker, Trent Poplawski, Landyn Smedley, Shane Tallos, Jackson Tomich
6th - Ethics & Professionalism: Max Duttlinger
9th - Bryce Birch - Fundamental Word Processing
BPA December 2023 Mary Cardaras, Dec 4 2023, 9:38 AM
On December 2nd, Kankakee Valley High School hosted the Region 1 Business Professionals of America Regional Leadership Conference. Region 1 is the 2nd largest region in the state and students from 9 local schools including Chesterton, Crown Point, Hebron, Lake Central, Kankakee Valley, Merrillville, Portage, Hobart, and Rensselaer gathered to compete for a chance to qualify for the BPA State Leadership Conference in Indianapolis, IN. Students competed in over 50 different business related events in various business related areas including Finance, Business Administration, Information Technology, Digital Communications, Marketing, Management and Human Resources. Kankakee Valley had 40 dedicated students in more than 20 different events qualify to compete March 10-12 at State, with KV students taking 1st in 12 different events! Students have been working since September on their projects and will continue to work tirelessly to perfect them between now and the State Conference. Please congratulate them if you see any of them!
KV BPA Regional Leadership Conference Results
Chloe Boer
150 - Financial Analyst Team
1st
Ava Donnowitz
Colleen Grafton
Juliet Starr
Aubrey Hanger
155 - Economic Research Individual
1st
Isaac Deardorff
160 - Economic Research Team
1st
Max Duttlinger
Ayden Fuqua
Trevor Poplawski
Colleen Grafton
165 - Personal Financial Management
1st
Ava Donnowitz
220 - Basic Office Systems & Procedures
1st
Mason Kitchen
400 - Fundamental Desktop Publishing
1st
Simone Blanco
420 - Digital Media Production
1st
Simone Blanco
500 - Global Marketing Team
1st
Aubrey Hanger
Emmie Przybylski
Lane Zander
535 - Human Resource Management
1st
Max Duttlinger
540 - Ethics & Professionalism
1st
Emma Bell
560 - Presentation Team
1st
Adalynn Blake
Ella Carden
Audriana Wilson
Brady Sampson
600 - Medical Coding
1st
Matt Rose
145 - Banking and Finance
2nd
Bryce Birch
230 - Fundamental Spreadsheet Applications
2nd
Mason Dase
410 - Graphic Design Promotion
2nd
Peyton Mills
510 - Small Business Management Team
2nd
Mallorie Rose
Donald Stam
515 - Interview Skills
2nd
Gabe Kistler
525 - Extemporaneous Speech
2nd
Jonathan Sams
545 - Prepared Speech
2nd
Luke Bayci
600 - Medical Coding
2nd
Liam Ooms
145 - Banking and Finance
3rd
Bryce Birch
505 - Entrepreneurship
3rd
Ava Dase
520 - Advanced Interview Skills
3rd
Jonathan Sams
525 - Extemporaneous Speech
3rd
Emmie Przybylski
555 - Presentation Individual
3rd
Liam Ooms
430 - Video Production Team
4th
Matt Rose
Zack Frieden
535 - Human Resource Management
4th
Aubrey Geeve
545 - Prepared Speech
4th
Tess Bell
100 - Fundamental Accounting
7th
Ashley Stasny
125 - Payroll Accounting
7th
Ashley Stasny
165 - Personal Financial Management
8th
Adyson Feddeler
265 - Business Law & Ethics
9th
Tess Bell
165 - Personal Financial Management
10th
These students are in "State Only" events and are awaiting results on if they qualified for these particular events and should know in early January.
Ava Dase
435 - Website Design Team results pending
Lily Jones
Donald Stam
Dylan Wireman
Logan Burke
450 - Podcast Production Team results pending
Eli Deardorff
Gabe Kistler
Lane Zander
Luke Bayci
460 - Visual Design Team results pending
Zack Frieden
Mason Kitchen
Brady Sampson
Samuel Gartshore
440 - Computer Animation Team results pending
Myles Kitchen
Owen Lubotina
Noah Sessions
Juliet Starr
425 - Computer Modeling results pending
Coach Gina Myers & Coach Rita Elliott
Champions Together promotes social inclusion through intentionally planned and implemented activities affecting systems-wide change. To earn the banner (which KV does each year) we have a team of students (with and without disabilities) along with staff member(s) who create, fundraise, plan and follow through on at least ONE event with the school and community. Rita Elliott has led the team of students to create the Champions Together Basketball Game held annually. The team designs shirts, fundraises, solicits donations and prepares for an exciting night cheering on the KV Kougars Boys JV and Varsity Basketball team.
United as One (club) is designed to meet monthly during SRT to promote inclusion, inviting all students with disabilities to hang out with general education peers and play games, dance, and socialize together.
As Champions Together and United as One are similar so we combined the 2 this year under the name CHAMPIONS TOGETHER. This way the students have the opportunity to be included in activities inside and outside of the school day. Rita Elliott and Gina Myers are now co-leading this amazing group of kids.
The Clay Target finished up their Fall season and were 6th in their Conference for trap.
Sarah B. was 7th top overall female in State and 5th female in Conference with a 20.10 average
Juliet S was 9th overall female in State and 6th female in Conference with a 19.30 average
Haylee H was 10th overall female in conference with a 16.4 average
The skeet team was 4th in Conference
Waylon D was 8th overall male in the State and 8th in Conference and with a 20.20 average
Congratulations to all!
KV Clay Target League: Sponsor Dave Hass
Club participating in the Indiana Clay Target League, meeting at Oakwood Gun Club. We promote safe and responsible handling and storage of firearms, good sportsmanship, engage in a team building environment and develop students to be role models for peers and others in the firearms community. We will have a fall and spring competition season. Firearms and ammunition are not provided. There are no club dues but there are fees involved at the range and ammunition
Sponsor - Traci Blanco
Dues: Varies based on uniforms and dance gear purchased.
The Dance Team is a club that is practice and performance based. The Dance Team usually practices 2 to 3 times a week learning different types of routines and techniques. They perform at most home games for Varsity Football and Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball. The Dance Team traditionally starts in the spring, has some practices and a Summer Dance BootCamp in order to get ready for the new school year. We also hold a kids camp in winter.
Sponsor - Kate Faust
Dues: $5.00 with an additional fee if interested in shirts
This club is for anyone interested in ways to help the environment, learning more about how humans impact the world around us, and developing service projects to raise awareness about environmental issues and clean up our local spaces. We are looking for anyone interested in making a difference for our planet!
Sponsor - Dann Ellenwood
FCA is a club for students who want to not only grow in their faith, but also, following the example of Jesus, help their community grow and thrive through athletics.
Sponsor - Jennifer Fase
Dues: $11.00
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is a national organization (CTSO) for young men and women in Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS). FCCLA offers intra-curricular resources and opportunities for students to pursue careers that support families. Since 1945, FCCLA members have been making a difference in their families, careers, and communities by addressing important personal, work, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences education.
ONLY OPEN TO STUDENTS IN MRS. FASE’S Culinary Arts Classes.
Sponsor - Garrett Bitterling
Dues: $20.00 for returning members, $0 for first year members
FFA is a dynamic youth organization that changes lives and prepares members for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. FFA develops members’ potential and helps them discover their talent through hands-on experiences, which give members the tools to achieve real-world success.
Sponsor - Jennifer Fase
The Hospitality Club are those students in Mrs. Fase’s Culinary Arts Classes.
Sponsor - Tara Kingma
Dues: $10.00
This club "interacts" with our community, including our school children. Club members will host a veteran's breakfast honoring those who've served and protected our country, They will give gifts to children in need, raise money to donate to charitable organizations, become a pen pal to a second grader and write encouraging and positive notes back and forth throughout the course of the year. Interact members should also be willing to embrace other community needs as they arise.
Sponsors - Nick Boersma/Nick DeJarlais
Jazz Band - KV sports a rich history of Jazz Education. Dating back to the found years of the school corporation. The Jazz Bands perform a variety of music from pop to rock to funk to swing. We support having two Jazz Bands at KVHS one is a traditional Saxes, Trombones, Trumpets, Rhythm Section, and the other is open to nearly any other instrumentation. The ensemble meets twice per week starting in mid/late October and goes through mid March.
Jazz Strings - Jazz Strings is the newest addition to the Jazz program here at KVHS. Jazz strings play music from the pop and rock idiom, and some swing music. String players learn the basics of how to read and perform swung music. The ensemble meets twice per week starting in mid/late October and goes through mid March.
Sponsor - Lisa Faletto
The KVHS Jazz Choir - The Valley Jazz Singers - is an extra-curricular vocal ensemble that specializes in jazz and popular music styles. The group is open to all KVHS students and members are selected by audition. The jazz choir performs at school concerts, ISSMA competition, and at many community events throughout the school year. Each May, they host the Jazz Cabaret Night which features dinner and an evening of vocal Jazz, musical theater and popular music.
Sponsor - Bridget Helms
Sponsor - Dave Hass
Content coming soon!
Sponsor - Jen Gilger
SADD empowers and mobilizes students to engage in positive change through leadership and smart decision-making. All students collaborate to create a healthier and safer world, one positive decision at a time. Activities include helping organize blood drives with the American Red Cross, mock car crash, and hosting a spirit week. Students are encouraged to bring ideas and activities that can help students benefit positive decision-making.
Sponsor - Nancy Coster
The purpose of this club shall be: 1. Promote interest in the sciences; 2. Provide experiences in the sciences above and beyond the classroom setting; 3. Provide career information in the sciences; 4. Enhance the involvement of science students in competitions
Sponsor - Michael Lovely
Dues: $5.00
The duties of members shall be to maintain a high level of academic achievement in all courses. Members should promote the learning and understanding of the French language and Francophone culture at KV and in our community. Members should actively participate in the programming organized by the society such as National French Week, Carnaval, and French Innovation Week. Members who will become alumni are encouraged to continue their study of the language and culture and to promote understanding of the diversity that a world language can foster.
Sponsor - Mr. Thise
Dues: $25.00 (includes a club t-shirt)
Student Council is a student-led organization whose goal is to serve the student body and improve the school’s culture. We organize and support various activities throughout the year including homecoming and teacher appreciation. If you are looking for a way to make an immediate impact on the school while improving your own communication and leadership skills, this is the club for you!!! Opportunities for in-state travel and additional leadership training may be available.
Sponsor - Amanda Suarez
Dues: $25.00 - includes shirt
Sunshine Club is a community service based organization. The Sunshine Club is dedicated to working and supporting local groups and charities. If you join Sunshine expect to work with others, volunteer at school and community events, and demonstrate your leadership and communication skills.
Sponsor - Nick Boersma
Sponsor - Lauren Anderson
Student Publications, or Yearbook, is a class dedicated to documenting the school year, the students of KVHS, and learning skills while doing so! In Student Publications, students will learn photography skills, journalism techniques, design, and editing using the Jostens' program "Yearbook Avenue." The class will require dedication to event coverage, meaning a lot of work will need to be done outside of the classroom. Students will have the opportunity to become a leader, with many leadership roles available. If a student is in the class for both semesters, they get a free yearbook for that school year. Freshman need to fill out an application form to be considered for the class. If a student fails the first semester, they will be removed from the class.
Click here for the Yearbook Intstragram Account