Belleville East
Social Studies Department
Department
Information
Course
Guide
Email A Teacher
- David Appel: dappel@bths201.org
- Mark Brackman: mbrackman@bths201.org
- Jeff Creek: jcreek@bths201.org
- William Garrison: rgarrison@bths201.org
- Katie Hoerner: khoerner@bths201.org
- Kyla Kloever: kkloever@bths201.org
- Brian Loehring: bloehring@bths201.org
- Matthew Mason: mmason@bths201.org
- Katherine Mertens: kmertens@bths201.org
- Molly Morgan: mmorgan@bths201.org
- Marc Novaria: mnovaria@bths201.org
- Keith Padgett: kpadgett@bths201.org
- Ryan Presson: rpresson@bths201.org
- Amy Schulte: aschulte@bths201.org
- Andrea Seipp: aseipp@bths201.org
- Lauren Sexauer: lsexauer@bths201.org
- Derek Vallem: dvallem@bths201.org
- Jen West: jewest@bths201.org
- Ryan Wiggs: rwiggs@bths201.org
- Douglas Zerjal: dzerjal@bths201.org
Courses Offered
9th Grade
- AP Human Geography (Honors)
- World Geography (College Prep)
- World History (Honors)
- World History (College Prep)
- World History (Core)
10th Grade
- Civics (Honors)
- Civics (College Prep)
- Civics (Core)
*Each 10th grade course fulfills two requirements for graduation. First semester fulfills the consumerism requirement and second semester fulfills the government requirement. Students are required to pass tests on the flag, Declaration of Independence, Illinois Constitution and United States Constitution in order to receive graduation credit during the second semester.
11th Grade
- American Studies (Honors credit for History and English)
- U.S. History (Honors)
- U.S. History (College Prep)
- U.S. History (Core)
- Psychology (AP)
- Psychology (College Prep)*
- Sociology (College Prep)*
- Global Issues (Honors)*
*American Studies and all levels of U.S. History fulfill the graduation requirement for U.S. History.
12th Grade
- American Government (College Prep)*
- American Problems (College Prep)*
- Psychology (AP)
- Psychology (College Prep)*
- Sociology (College Prep)*
- Sociology (Honors)*
- Global Issues (Honors)*
*Semester course. Fulfills graduation requirement for government. Students are required to pass tests on the flag, Declaration of Independence, Illinois Constitution and United States Constitution in order to receive graduation credit. Fulfills graduation requirement for consumerism.
AP / Dual Credit Courses
Advanced Placement
- AP Human Geography
- AP Psychology
St. Louis University
- American Studies –U.S. History
- Honors Global Issues Honors
Honors Credit
- AP Human Geography
- World History (Honors)
- Civics (Honors)
- American Studies (Honors credit for History and English)
- U.S. History (Honors)
- AP Psychology
- Global Issues (Honors)
- Sociology (Honors)
Department Clubs and Activities
ACTION CIVICS
Action Civics is a non-partisan group started by students in 2017 to provide opportunities to become more civically active on campus and in our communities. This group manages the Belleville East Food Pantry and gets involved in numerous activities on campus when needed, emphasizing student voice. Students discuss and address problems and invite stakeholders to speak to the group and brainstorm ideas for taking informed action at Belleville East. We meet twice a month on Tuesdays in F200.
- Sponsor: Mrs. Andrea Seipp
- Location: F200
- Contact: aseipp@bths201.org
HISTORY CLUB
History Club meets twice a month to discuss historical events, host debates, play historical games, and generally celebrate history. As a club, we are committed to uplifting diverse history and we host several events around the school each year. All students and grade levels are invited to join history club! Meetings are held on Wednesdays after school.
- Sponsor: Ms. Lauren Sexauer
- Location: F201
- Contact: lsexauer@bths201.org
MODEL U.N.
In Model U.N., students pretend they are delegates from various countries serving on U.N. committees. Participants research issues and formulate negotiating positions based on the real interests of the countries they represent. Depending on the committee they are assigned to, delegates might develop global environmental policies or advise the U.N. Security Council.
- Sponsor: Mr. Marc Novaria
- Location: F Building
- Contact: mnovaria@bths201.org
YOUNG DEMOCRATS
This club is open to all students interested in discussing and learning more about the American political system. In this group, students meet with elected officials, get involved in political campaigns, and discuss current issues.
- Sponsors: Mrs. Shelley Watts
- Location: G Building
- Contact: mwatts@bths201.org
YOUNG REPUBLICANS
YR meets to discuss political events at the local, state, and national level. Come join us to see what the Young Republicans are all about.
- Sponsor: Mr. Matt Osborn
- Location: A223
- Contact: mosborn@bths201.org
RHO KAPPA
Rho Kappa is the social studies honors society on campus for qualifying juniors. Membership is a short application process for students who meet specific criteria such as GPA, social studies GPA, and semesters of social studies completed. Rho Kappa members have an induction ceremony in the early fall and activities to promote civic involvement throughout the year including fundraising. Members also complete 10 hours of community service either on campus or within their towns. Rho Kappa members who complete the requirements will wear cords at graduation.
- Sponsor: Mrs. Kyla Kloever
- Location:F303
- Contact: kkloever@bths201.org
Student Recognition
Student-of-the-Grade-Period Program
The overall objective of the Student-of-the-Grade-Period Program is to recognize numerous students in each grade period. The criteria for student recognition is established by the individual teacher. However, the general criteria for selection is as follows:
- Academic improvement throughout the grade period.
- Consistent effort throughout the grade period.
- Appropriate behavior in the teacher’s classroom.
Each student-of-the-grade-period will be recognized by having their picture taken and having it displayed in the H-Node hallway. Students will also receive a personalized certificate for their achievement.
Departmental Honors
The second way students are recognized in the Social Studies Department is through Departmental Honors.
Annually, five seniors are selected by the department for recognition in Belleville East’s Honors Ceremony. One of the five students will be selected as the Most Outstanding Social Studies Student. To be recognized, students must have:
- Been enrolled in a minimum of six semesters of social studies.
- A 3.5 grade point average in social studies courses.
- A 3.5 cumulative grade point average.
- Demonstrated citizenship and leadership in his/her social studies classes.
- Demonstrated citizenship around school and in the community at large.
Previous Most Outstanding Social Studies Student Award Winners:
1968-Jenny Burke
1969-Linda Chamness
1970-James Balough
1971-Chris Dodge
1972-Marcia Steward
1973-Kay Biebel
1974-William Sugg
1975-Bill Gatlin
1976-Bob Cohlmeyer
1977-Brian Lindsay
1978-Robin Landes
1979-Susan Williams
1980-Thomas Manley
1981-Elissa Lockwood
1982-Jeffrey Kopis
1983-Glenn Austine
1984-Angela Mueth
1985-Lisa A. Jones
1986-Thomas Speedie
1987-Chris Harris
1988-Devon Jones
1989-James Boyer
1990-Christine James
1991-Stacy Raab
1992-Mercedes Perez
1993-Mike Hug
1994-Sabrina Kozuszek
1995-David Butz II
1996-Kyla Coates
1997-Natalie Bennett
1998-Duane Phillips
1999-Drew Awsumb
2000-Kathleen Wilson
2001-Breanna Murphy
2002-Louis Oliver
2003-Serena James
2004-Chris Pugh
2005-Chad Watkins
2006-Ashley Freeman
2007-Rebecca Schmitt
2008-John Paul Jones II
2009-Alexander Hinz
2010-Adam Tiemann
2011-Maria Effinger
2012-Mitch Kuldell
2013-Jacqueline Yokoyama
2014-Ryley Blomberg
2015-Laura Kern
2016-Madison Bradshaw
2017-Ivy Truong
2018-Jonathan Hoerner
2019-Ally Dyer
2020-Diana Hoerner
2021-Claire Kolker
2022-Conrad Dahm
2023-Ines Santos
2024-Nicholas Miller