English Department

• Mr. Andrew Brunner: abrunner@bths201.org
• Ms. Carnetta Chalmers: cchalmers@bths201.org
• Mrs. Kelsie Coyne: kcoyne@bths201.org
• Mr. Stephen Garland: stgarland@bths201.org
• Ms. Kay Guebert: kguebert@bths201.org
• Mr. Tyler Herron: therron@bths201.org
• Ms. Olivia Hodson: ohodson@bths201.org
• Mrs. Jules Hunter: jchunter@bths201.org
• Mr. Adam Jenkins: ajenkins@bths201.org
• Mr. Nick Johnson: njohnson@bths201.org
• Ms. Anna Kurtz: akurtz@bths201.org
• Mrs. Jennifer Lewis: jelewis@bths201.org
• Mr. John Lodle: jlodle@bths201.org
• Ms. Ashley Mims-Spriggs: amims@bths201.org
• Mr. Russ Reidelberger: rreidelberger@bths201.org
• Ms. Christine Schaab: chschaab@bths201.org
• Mr. Julie Schloesser: jschloesser@bths201.org
• Mr. Alex Schobert: aschobert@bths201.org
• Mrs. Ashley Short: ashort@bths201.org
• Mr. Lucas Spriggs: lspriggs@bths201.org
• Mrs. Lannette Story: lstory@bths201.org
• Mrs. Amber Thurnau: athurnau@bths201.org

9th Grade

• English 1-2 (4000)
• English 1-2 Honors (4002) *
• English 1-2 (4006) *

10th Grade

• English 3-4 (4133)
• English 3-4 Honors (4132)
• English 3-4 (4149)

11th Grade

• English 5-6 (4153)
• English 5-6 Honors (4152)
• English 5-6 (4154)

12th Grade

• English 7-8 (4602)
• English 7-8 Honors/AP (4540)
• English 7-8 (4608)

Additional Electives:

• African-American Literature
• Creative Writing
• Film as Literature
• Journalism
• Mass Media
• Public Speaking

Advanced Placement

• English 7-8 Honors/AP (4540)

St. Louis University

• English 7-8 Honors/AP (4540)

Southwestern Illinois College

• African-American Literature (4610, 4611)

• Public Speaking (4467, 4468)

Honors Credit

• English 1-2 Honors (4002)

• English 3-4 Honors (4132)

• English 5-6 Honors (4152)

• English 7-8 Honors/AP (4540)

Little Theatre
Advisor:  Mr. John Lodle
jlodle@bths201.org

Belleville West Little Theatre stages five productions each school year—the fall play, a night of one acts for freshman and sophomore casts, the children’s play, the contest play, and the musical. Little Theatre sponsors monthly information meetings, social events, workshops for actors and technicians, and a spring honors reception.

Thespian Troupe #369
Advisor:  Mr. John Lodle
jlodle@bths201.org

Thespian Troupe #369 is a chapter of the International Thespian Organization, an honors organization devoted to the theatre arts. In order to qualify for membership, students must complete a minimum of 300 hours in the Belleville West theatre, at least 150 in technical work. New members are inducted into the troupe twice each year.

Fall Play
Directors:  Mr. John Lodle & Mr. Jamie Klein
jlodle@bths201.org & jklein@bths201.org

West presents three evening performances and two matinee shows (for local junior high students) of the fall play each October. Students in all grade levels may audition at the start of the school year, and a large student tech crew builds the set, organizes costumes and props, and runs lights and sound. Recent shows have included both classic dramas and modern comedies.

Freshman-Sophomore One Acts
Directors:  Dr. Brandon Hentze, Mr. Adam Jenkins, & Ms. Grace Bartlett
bhentze@bths201.org, ajenkins@bths201.org, & gbartlett@bths201.org

The one act plays are open to any freshman or sophomore interested in experiencing theatre—either onstage or backstage. Traditionally, three plays are cast each year in October. Performances are held in the middle of November. Students interested in auditioning or in working on tech crews should watch the bulletin for more information.

Children’s Play
Directors:  Dr. Brandon Hentze, Ms. Anna Kurtz, Mr. Jamie Klein  
bhentze@bths201.org, akurtz@bths201.org, ajklein@bths201.org

The children’s show is a musical production that is performed for local grade school students. Students who are interested can audition for singing and non-singing roles or can choose to work backstage on the technical crew. Auditions for the show are in November, and rehearsals are in December and January.

Contest Play
Directors:  Mr. John Lodle & Mr. Tyler Herron
jlodle@bths201.org & therron@bths201.org

The contest play, held each march, offers theatre students a unique opportunity: the 40-minute show travels and competes against other schools. Students in all grade levels may audition (usually in December), and a large student tech crew builds the traveling set.  Rehearsals are held in January through March.

Musical
Directors:  Mr. Nick Johnson & Mr. John Lodle
njohnson@bths201.org & jlodle@bths201.org

The theatre season concludes with the musical, held the first weekend of May.  Students in all grade levels may audition for the large cast of singers and dancers.  Students may also join the technical crew (to build sets, run lights and sound, organize costumes), or play in the pit orchestra.

Speech and Acting Team
Advisors:  Mr. Adam Jenkins,  Mr. Russ Reidelberger, Mr. Tyler Herron, Ms. Anna Kurtz
ajenkins@bths201.org, rreidelberger@bths201.org, therron@bths201.org, akurtz@bths201.org

The speech and acting team competes all over Illinois (and various other places for nationals) in categories such as dramatic and humorous acting, public speaking, current events, and radio broadcasting.  A student can compete in just one of those areas or in all of them.  Practices are held about once a week

Debate/Student Congress
Advisor:  Dr. Brandon Hentze
bhentze@bths201.org

Debate is a competitive public speaking squad that participates in two formats:  Public Forum and Student Congress. Public Forum is a competition in which partners debate current events.  Student Congress is a mock session of Congress.  The season runs from September through March.

Harambee
Advisor:  Ms. Carnetta Chalmers
cchalmers@bths201.org

Harambee is an organization of students interested in experiencing African-American history.  Students involved pledge to establish a harmonious culture for the school. The group’s mottos is “Let’s all pull together.”  Students must pass every class each triad and demonstrate good character.  Activities include the Harambee Show, social events, fundraisers, community service, and cultural field trips.

Book Club
Advisors:  Mr. John Lodle, Julie Schloesser 
jlodle@bths201.org, jschloesser@bths201.org

The Book Club provides students with an opportunity to read and discuss books simply for enjoyment. The club meets off campus four times during the year (in October, December, January, and April) to discuss books which the members select.  Students may register at an information meeting in August

National English Honor Society

Advisors:  Mr. John Lodle (jlodle@bths201.org) and Mr. Alex Schobert (aschobert@bths201.org)

The objectives of NEHS are to encourage and recognize literary and intellectual thought, advance students’ knowledge of English, aid the civic community with its appreciation of reading and writing, and encourage students to participate in community service.  The hope is to encourage a dedication within students toward the pursuit of English knowledge that benefits our campus and community.  NEHS members will plan and participate in such events as the Shakespeare festival, the author visit, National Poetry Month, Banned Books Week, BW Book Club, and various fundraising activities.

Visit Our Site

Advisor:  Mrs. Amber Thurnau
athurnau@bths201.org

Page One, the Belleville West Literary and Art Magazine, is published in May of each year.  Students from all grade levels may submit poetry, short stories, essays, photography, and art from September through March. Applications for staff positions on the magazine are available each spring.