Every year Buffalo high school sends out a survey to all the students and teachers to take. Although we all may or may not participate in completing the survey students –or even take it seriously- very few students and some teachers might not know just how much this survey impacts the way this school runs. The administration takes this survey and its responses very diligently, using all of the responses to acquire an accurate portrayal to how students are coping with this year of high school.

 The survey is 45 questions, with 40 of them being multiple choice and the final five questions being a short answer response. Every student is asked to take the survey but it isn’t required. This survey shows increases and decreases of student responses from previous years compared to the present year, as well as our school survey results compared to a nation overall response. Our school makes many decisions and changes based off of these forty-five simple questions. What the survey shows is working is the students (93 percent of them) feel supported by a teacher. And 88 percent saying that they feel supported by another adult which is an increase from 83 percent in previous years. As well as 74 percent of students feel that they can comfortably report bullying, which may seem lower than most, but is a huge increase from the 66 percent from last year. The administration can then look to see what students said about not being able to report bullying, such as; what demographic of students say they are being bullied, or is it people that are in the free lunch category. All of this can be seen just from survey results.

Because of this survey, a change in SSR will take place. It will be going into effect sometime next year. When the administration saw a flaw in something, they work quickly to fix it, and next year’s change will be sure to do so.

Nationally the school is well above the average with an outstanding 93 percent of response takers stating that they feel that Buffalo High School is welcoming place, whereas nationally it’s only at 60 percent. About 24 percent of Buffalo High School students feel that bullying is a problem, but it is still lower than the national average of 40 percent.

“Schools just don’t give out these kind of numbers,” said Assistant Principal Kris Thompson. “These are crazy good numbers.”

Students are not the only one who benefit from the survey, the BHS staff hold meetings to evaluate how their school year went and what they would like to see change.

Next year, when the survey comes around, take a second look at each of the questions and take it seriously, because big changes can happen to our school based off of these answers. So give the school good responses to work with and remember just how far one survey can go.

This is just Spier’s first year on the track and field team.

“It was exciting to break the record,” said Speir. “But I actually ended up getting out thrown in the meet. So I was a little bummed at first. Breaking a 27-year-old record is a big accomplishment for me though.”

Spier has a passion for basketball. Her schedule with multiple sports can sometimes conflict with one another, and managing them can be a tough task.

“Track is fun, and the schedule is flexible so it allows me to get to basketball,” said Speir. “All the people are fun to be with and we have goods times together.”

Speir has made a name for herself in the Mississippi 8 Conference, and even throughout Minnesota.

Although he could have retired years ago, Urdahl returns each year for the love of what he does and the people that surround him on a daily basis.

“I never tire of it,” said Urdahl. “Seeing kids learn from what I’ve taught makes me a happy guy. I love teaching here at BHS.”

Story continues after the video. 

Urdahl wakes up at three in the morning, every weekday. He  first waters, feeds, and beds his cows and calves. After doing the early day chores around home he showers and heads over to Perkins where he eats his breakfast and sips on a cup of coffee while grading papers or just simply doing math problems. By seven A.M. Urdahl gets to his classroom, C-107, and prepares for his day of teaching students.

“He lives math, and wants people to get the same excitement he gets out of it,” said former student and English teacher Ryan McCallum. “I recognize the feeling he got when he was teaching, I get the same feeling as a teacher now.”

Urdahl has spent the last 30 years of his career at our school. On a daily basis he shows up to class with the same enthusiastic outlook as the weeks and years before.

“I couldn’t teach if I didn’t enjoy it,” said Urdahl. “I think the quality of students I’ve had over the past years is a part of the reason I’ve kept going. They’ve worked hard and shown success in what they’ve done.”

Many students as well as current teachers view him as a role model. Some have grown to know him as a kind and caring person.

“He is a mentor to me, and I look up to him because he is extremely kind, compassionate and intelligent,” said math teacher Emily Greeley, “I admire the fact that he has taught for so long and still loves it.”

Story by Kyle Cole
Video by Samantha Sansevere and Blair Solberg

“In the off season for football I am in track, so I stay in good shape and it keeps my agility and speed at a good level,” said Junior Mitchell Valli. “I also lift weights and do exercises specifically for wide receiver. I am always in an off season for different sports, but they all keep me in shape for the others. Being a multiple sport athlete is great.”

For many sports there are ways to play year round. By continuously playing it will help you stay in shape while also developing into a better player.

“I play at Northern Lights Volleyball and I work out three nights a week,” said Sophomore Kylee Zumach.”It  keeps me in shape. I’m never sitting, always going. So I never have time to get worse.”

Off season leagues and workouts are key to getting better. Over time practice will make a player become  better and it will push them to the next competitive level. Joe Mauer didn’t do serious off-season conditioning last year, and his stats reflected that. He played only 82 games last year because of injury and had a .283 batting average.

“When I started thinking about sitting down and taking the ACT I got nervous,” said Physical Education teacher Nick Guida. “To know I was going to have to concentrate for a long period of time was a big deal. I think I ended up getting a 24.”

Schools like Buffalo High School and Maple Lake High School offer classes that teach students how to prepare for the ACT and a hint at what it is going to cover. Hours can be spent just trying to learn the format of the test itself.

“I’ve taken some classes after school that have helped me know whats going to be on the test,” said Junior Jackson Schepp. “I have also taken some online pre-tests that gave me an idea of what the test is.”

The ACT test is important when it comes to college. The higher the score you get, more colleges will accept you. The lower the score, the less opportunities you have.

The weather was unusually warm and the girls dug right into the field for practice after school. As a new season starts, the team looks to repeat as Mississippi 8 Conference Champions.

Last year, after a bye because of the high seeding from the 20-4 record, the Bison team won their first section game, but ended up losing 1-0 to Prior lake and 7-4 to Mankato to wrap the season up. Expectations are high for the new year.

“We’re going to mix it up a lot this year to see what best fits with all the new players,” said Junior Bailey Braatz. “But we expect nothing less than last season, we expect better.”

Players have a good feeling about the the dugout and are preparing to go just as far as the previous season.

“There is plenty of talent on our team this year,” said Junior Maddie Loomis. “It should work out to be a good season, we have good personalities on our roster and there is great chemistry there.”

Games are approaching quickly, with the first game coming on Tuesday, April 10, and the team in preparing for another solid season.

“It makes me realize the big picture now,” said Casey. “The responsibility level to be a captain is much higher than just being another kid on the team.”

Excitement was shown from each of the new captains  and they are all looking forward to becoming a leader and carrying the team together as a family.

“It was a humbling experience to know that my peers see leadership qualities in me, and they trust me to lead them.” said Warpula.

Team manager Maggie Walstrom has been with the team for two years now and has seen new captains play different roles in both seasons.

“I’m excited for the guys and happy that they are the new captains,” said Walstrom. “I have a feeling that next season will go pretty well. all three guys are good leaders and each have interesting characters.”