Student Life

Ecology Club

The purpose of Ecology Club is to build a community of like-minded, diverse individuals who are interested in ecology, evolution, zoology, botany, and/or anything else dealing with life and the outdoors. The ecology club volunteers in the Bellevue community and initiates programming and education within the club and student body.  

Sponsor: Jody Petrow (Jody.Petrow@bpsne.net)

Book Club

The Bellevue West Book Club meets the 2nd Thursday of each month from 3:00-4:00 in the Library.  Those of us in Book Club have a variety of interests and personalities, but what brings us together is a shared love of reading.  

Each month, students are encouraged to read and participate in online book discussions in Schoology. Sometimes the books we are reading are ones that students have voted on and have been purchased specifically for Book Club. Other times, the books are ones that students have chosen from the library shelves.

When we meet in person, we enjoy getting to know each other better by having snacks and playing games. We are a very relaxed and welcoming group!

Sponsor: Kari Schroder (Karissa.Schroder@bpsne.net)

JROTC

Air Force JROTC Kitty Hawk Air Society ​- The Kitty Hawk Air Society is a scholastic and community service organization within AFJROTC.  The society is limited to the top 25% of the corps of cadets and prides itself on the academic achievement of its members and the service it provides to the Bellevue and greater Omaha communities.  Prerequisite is having an A-average in the JROTC class and an overall B-average in all other subjects.

Air Force JROTC Marksmanship Team - The AFJROTC Marksmanship Team provides varsity and junior varsity opportunities for cadets to shoot 3-position (kneeling, standing, and prone) air pellet rifle and compete both locally and nationally.  Through team training, practices and competitions, cadets learn shooting skills, safety and responsibility.  Prerequisite is being a cadet in good standing in the JROTC program.  

Model Airplane and Rocketry Club - The Air Force JROTC Model Airplane and Rocketry Club provides cadets an opportunity to build and present facts about various airplanes throughout the history of the Air Force. Additionally, the Model Rocketry Club allows cadets to build and launch a model rocket.  Prerequisite is being a member of the Air Force JROTC program.

Sponsors: Scott Vanderhoof: (Stephen.vanderhoof@bpsne.net) and Guy Hale: (guy.hale@bpsne.net)

Robotics Club

The robotics club focuses on robot design, programming, and operation through the use of VEX robotics competitions and CEENBOT robotics competitions.  No experience needed!  We will train in any area of interest.

Club meets on Thursdays in room 619, 3:30-4:30, with extra practices and weekend competitions throughout the year. 

Sponsor: Dan Parkison (Daniel.Parkison@bpsne.net)

Strategic Games Club

The strategic games club was created as a way to promote activity at Bellevue West focused on student interaction with peers in the area of computer gaming and design.  Club meets on Tuesdays in room 619, 3:30-4:30.

Contact Dan Parkison (Daniel.Parkison@bpsne.net)

CyberPatriot Club

CyberPatriot is the National Youth Cyber Education Program.  At the center of CyberPatriot is the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition. The competition puts teams of high school and middle school students in the position of newly hired IT professionals tasked with managing the network of a small company. In the rounds of competition, teams are given a set of virtual images that represent operating systems and are tasked with finding cybersecurity vulnerabilities within the images and hardening the system while maintaining critical services in a six hour period.  Teams compete for the top placement within their state and region, and the top teams in the nation earn all-expenses paid trips to Washington, DC for the National Finals Competition where they can earn national recognition and scholarship money.​ CyberPatriot meets on Wednesdays from 3:30-4:30, with extra practices and weekend competitions throughout the year.

No experience needed!  We will train in any area of interest.

Sponsor: Dan Parkison (Daniel.Parkison@bpsne.net)

Culinary Arts Club

The Culinary Arts club is for Culinary Arts students.  It is intended to be the first step on the path to a career in the culinary field.  It provides students with skills for more advanced class work and exposure to the word of professional cooking.  Students meet during class time and GPS.

Previous activities include:

Baking cookies for staff children who visit Santa Claus.

Going to dinner at various restaurants.

Participation in the Metro Culinary Competition.

Sponsor: Lori Huffman (Lori.Huffman@bpsne.net)

GSA

The Gender and Sexuality Acceptance Club is a club for both straight and LGBTQ youth.  The purpose of the club is to promote a supportive environment for LGBTQ students in our school and beyond, and anyone who supports that mission is welcome.  The GSA at West was founded in the middle of the 2013-2014 school year. Some of our social activities included a Christmas party, pizza and movie night, a group outing to a movie at Aksarben about a GSA, and the East GSA’s pool night.  We plan more such activities for next year.

The club meets weekly for an hour after school, and provides leadership opportunities through officer positions and event-planning.  There are also a variety of community scholarships graduating students can apply to based on LGBTQ-supporting activities they have been involved in during high school.

Sponsor:  Breanna Potter (Breanna.Potter@bpsne.net)

Mascot Club

The mascots are goodwill ambassadors and always strive to improve the image and school spirit of Bellevue West High School.  We participate in a variety of events throughout the school year performing at all varsity football games, men’s and women’s basketball games, pep rallies, freshman orientation and registration, and various other activities as requested.

We are a varsity level club and active members of the club have the opportunity to earn a varsity letter.  Each member is expected to make academics a priority and being able to participate at games and events is conditional upon maintaining strong academics. The club provides opportunities for students to be involved, have fun, and develop social friendships, team-building skills, and leadership.

Sponsor: Colleen Veys (Colleen.Veys@bpsne.net)  

West Welcomers

West Welcomers is a student organization that works to acclimate new students to Bellevue West High School.  Participants in West Welcomers work with new students as they become familiar with Bellevue West by walking them to class, showing them where their locker is located, discussing lunch and hallway procedures and assisting new students as they adjust to the climate and culture of Bellevue West.  West Welcomers is a proactive organization that is key to not only developing but maintaining the positive culture that students have created at Bellevue West.  

Sponsor: Colleen Veys (Colleen.Veys@bpsne.net)