All Gilchrist County Schools will be closed this week (11/24-11/28) for Thanksgiving break. Schools will reopen on Monday, 12/1. We hope that you all have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving! 🦃
Today, Bell High School was able to give out 20 Thanksgiving baskets (a turkey with the sides) to 20 families in need! Thank you so much to Scaff’s for donating 2 cases of turkeys, several community members, and our students and staff for their generosity! We would also like to thank Mrs. Karla Waldron, Mrs. Selena Luna, and our high school student ambassadors for all of their help with organizing this worthwhile project! 😊
As many of you know, Bell FFA members have been very busy over the past week with Career Development Events and Leadership Development Events. We are incredibly proud of our students and their efforts.
These events are academic and intracurricular in every aspect. These students are completing complex mathematical formulas, analyzing graphs and data, researching and complying manuscripts, and so much more! It is so impressive the high level our students are performing! Thank you so much to Mr. Brett Wasden and Mrs. Debbie Jones and for all of our teachers and staff for helping students develop their skills!
Now, to the good news!
On Thursday, 11/20, we competed in the Sub-District Leadership Events. Results:
🏆 Champion Opening and Closing Team: Team members include Elliott Beach, Maggie Marquis, Aubrey Townsend, Carly Goodson, Luke Spears, Ayden Burns, and Eli Walker
🏆 Champion HS Prepared Public Speaking: Krista Scott (Topic: Food Security is National Security)
🏆 Champion MS Prepared Public Speaking: Emma Thomas (Topic: The Challenges of Mental Health in Rural America)
🏅Reserve Champion HS Parliamentary Procedures Team: Team members include Sara McGowan, Lexi Westover, Aubrey Legler, Kaylee VanAernam, Sidney Robbins, and Nathan Sensabaugh
🏅Reserve Champion HS Extemporaneous Public Speaking : Adysen Burns
🏅Reserve Champion MS Extemporaneous Public Speaking: Jenna Banks
🏅Reserve Champion Creed Speaking : Kason Philman
BHS is the only school who placed in EVERY category in a very competitive area!
On Tuesday, 11/18/25, we competed statewide with 351 other schools in Virtual Events that allow us to move to state finals! Results:
🏆MS Livestock Team Advance (7th in the state): Top 4 team members were Maggie Marquis, Chaz Glass, Eli Walker, and Ashlynn Jones
🏆HS Livestock Team Advances (27th in the State): Top 4 Kaylee VanAernam, Chayse Walker, Evan Keirs, Emily Carreras
🏆MS Dairy Team Advance (7th in the State): Top 4 team members were Layton Rhodes, Karl Borek, Emalynn Ritchey, Siorus Eade
🏆HS Environmental Science Advances (10th in the State): Top 4 team members were Jesse Watson, Brayden Smith, Talia Iovinelli, and Adam Elkins
Notable mentions:
Maggie Marquis was 3rd overall in MS Livestock out of 572 individuals!
Jesse Watson was 3rd overall in HS Environmental Science out of 303 individuals!
Congratulations to this group of amazing students! We are so proud of each of you!!!
These events are academic and intracurricular in every aspect. These students are completing complex mathematical formulas, analyzing graphs and data, researching and complying manuscripts, and so much more! It is so impressive the high level our students are performing! Thank you so much to Mr. Brett Wasden and Mrs. Debbie Jones and for all of our teachers and staff for helping students develop their skills!
Now, to the good news!
On Thursday, 11/20, we competed in the Sub-District Leadership Events. Results:
🏆 Champion Opening and Closing Team: Team members include Elliott Beach, Maggie Marquis, Aubrey Townsend, Carly Goodson, Luke Spears, Ayden Burns, and Eli Walker
🏆 Champion HS Prepared Public Speaking: Krista Scott (Topic: Food Security is National Security)
🏆 Champion MS Prepared Public Speaking: Emma Thomas (Topic: The Challenges of Mental Health in Rural America)
🏅Reserve Champion HS Parliamentary Procedures Team: Team members include Sara McGowan, Lexi Westover, Aubrey Legler, Kaylee VanAernam, Sidney Robbins, and Nathan Sensabaugh
🏅Reserve Champion HS Extemporaneous Public Speaking : Adysen Burns
🏅Reserve Champion MS Extemporaneous Public Speaking: Jenna Banks
🏅Reserve Champion Creed Speaking : Kason Philman
BHS is the only school who placed in EVERY category in a very competitive area!
On Tuesday, 11/18/25, we competed statewide with 351 other schools in Virtual Events that allow us to move to state finals! Results:
🏆MS Livestock Team Advance (7th in the state): Top 4 team members were Maggie Marquis, Chaz Glass, Eli Walker, and Ashlynn Jones
🏆HS Livestock Team Advances (27th in the State): Top 4 Kaylee VanAernam, Chayse Walker, Evan Keirs, Emily Carreras
🏆MS Dairy Team Advance (7th in the State): Top 4 team members were Layton Rhodes, Karl Borek, Emalynn Ritchey, Siorus Eade
🏆HS Environmental Science Advances (10th in the State): Top 4 team members were Jesse Watson, Brayden Smith, Talia Iovinelli, and Adam Elkins
Notable mentions:
Maggie Marquis was 3rd overall in MS Livestock out of 572 individuals!
Jesse Watson was 3rd overall in HS Environmental Science out of 303 individuals!
Congratulations to this group of amazing students! We are so proud of each of you!!!
Congratulations to these "Leaders of the Pack!" 🙌🎉
YEARBOOK INFORMATION!
*The last day to preorder a yearbook at the cost of $60 is Friday, December 19th. The cost will increase $70 when students return to school in January 2026. Be sure to order your yearbook before the deadline.
*Senior pages must be completed and paid in full by December 19, 2025. There is still a limited number of pages that can be purchased. A full page is $250 and a half page is $150. Please contact Mrs. Janet Johnson if you would like to purchase a senior page.
*The last day to preorder a yearbook at the cost of $60 is Friday, December 19th. The cost will increase $70 when students return to school in January 2026. Be sure to order your yearbook before the deadline.
*Senior pages must be completed and paid in full by December 19, 2025. There is still a limited number of pages that can be purchased. A full page is $250 and a half page is $150. Please contact Mrs. Janet Johnson if you would like to purchase a senior page.
GAME TIME CHANGE!
The boys JV/Varsity games that were scheduled for tonight (11/17/25) at 5:00 and 6:30 have been moved to 6:00 and 7:30.
The boys JV/Varsity games that were scheduled for tonight (11/17/25) at 5:00 and 6:30 have been moved to 6:00 and 7:30.
The Bell Library has an event coming up and could use some volunteer students that need community service hours!
They will be setting up for a book sale at the library on Friday, December 5 (right after school) and then will begin teardown at about 3 PM on Saturday, December 6 (after the Bell Christmas parade ends).
Students, if you are interested, please contact Mrs. Kim Kenney at 813–625–2678, as she manages the student volunteers for the library.
They will be setting up for a book sale at the library on Friday, December 5 (right after school) and then will begin teardown at about 3 PM on Saturday, December 6 (after the Bell Christmas parade ends).
Students, if you are interested, please contact Mrs. Kim Kenney at 813–625–2678, as she manages the student volunteers for the library.
Congratulations to Coach Mac and the girls!!! 17 wins in a row for middle school going back to last year! 🙌
BHS Senior Alayna Harvey was selected to represent Bell High School and play on the West team! 🙌🏐 Alayna will be playing at The Prep Zone All Star Showcase for Volleyball in Alachua on Tuesday, 11/18 at 6:00 PM. Congratulations, Alayna! 🎉
High School Students:
The Gilchrist County Museum, Inc has been declared by the State of Florida to be a non-profit organization and is in need of people to help with different4 aspects.
The Museum has on file a form, which can be copied, which the student can fill out and present to any one of the volunteers during a museum event to prove hours which the student has volunteered.
STUDENTS: If you would like to volunteer with them, please contact Ms. Geneva Cornwell at president.gcm@gmail.com or by phone at 352-949-4588.
**Make sure you have your hours documented on the Gilchrist County School (BHS) volunteering form and turn them in to Mrs. Weeks (BHS High School Guidance Counselor) throughout your volunteering time.
The Gilchrist County Museum, Inc has been declared by the State of Florida to be a non-profit organization and is in need of people to help with different4 aspects.
The Museum has on file a form, which can be copied, which the student can fill out and present to any one of the volunteers during a museum event to prove hours which the student has volunteered.
STUDENTS: If you would like to volunteer with them, please contact Ms. Geneva Cornwell at president.gcm@gmail.com or by phone at 352-949-4588.
**Make sure you have your hours documented on the Gilchrist County School (BHS) volunteering form and turn them in to Mrs. Weeks (BHS High School Guidance Counselor) throughout your volunteering time.
Just a reminder!
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all the things that we have to be thankful; there is always, always, something to be thankful for! BHS would like to provide Thanksgiving food baskets to needy families, and WE NEED YOUR HELP! We are asking that, if possible, students and staff bring in a food donation (listed below by grade level). The turkeys will be purchased from Scaffs with a donation of 2 cases from Scaffs and the remaining turkeys will be purchased by an anonymous community donor. Donations of food items are completely voluntary; however, we feel that this is a great way for us to “give back” and help others! ALL FOOD DONATIONS SHOULD BE TURNED IN TO YOUR FIRST PERIOD TEACHER NO LATER THAN THURSDAY, 11/20/25 to give us time to assemble baskets.
6th Grade: 1 can of green beans
7th Grade: 1 box of stuffing
8th Grade: 1 box instant mashed potatoes
9th Grade: 1 box stuffing
10th Grade: 1 box of instant mashed potatoes
11th Grade: 1 can of green beans
12th Grade: 1 box/package of cookie or brownie mix
Staff: 1 box cornbread or biscuit mix
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all the things that we have to be thankful; there is always, always, something to be thankful for! BHS would like to provide Thanksgiving food baskets to needy families, and WE NEED YOUR HELP! We are asking that, if possible, students and staff bring in a food donation (listed below by grade level). The turkeys will be purchased from Scaffs with a donation of 2 cases from Scaffs and the remaining turkeys will be purchased by an anonymous community donor. Donations of food items are completely voluntary; however, we feel that this is a great way for us to “give back” and help others! ALL FOOD DONATIONS SHOULD BE TURNED IN TO YOUR FIRST PERIOD TEACHER NO LATER THAN THURSDAY, 11/20/25 to give us time to assemble baskets.
6th Grade: 1 can of green beans
7th Grade: 1 box of stuffing
8th Grade: 1 box instant mashed potatoes
9th Grade: 1 box stuffing
10th Grade: 1 box of instant mashed potatoes
11th Grade: 1 can of green beans
12th Grade: 1 box/package of cookie or brownie mix
Staff: 1 box cornbread or biscuit mix
Don't forget about the Senior Seminar coming up on 12/11/25!
Check out this information about Florida Gateway College's CTE Dual-Enrollment Program! Contact the High School Counselor, Mrs. Lilian Weeks or the contact information on the flyer for more details!
SENIORS, Parents and Families,
Are you interested in attending college at FGC for FREE??? This is a great opportunity for any student who may be interested in post-secondary education, even if your ultimate goal is to be at a bigger institution like UF, FSU, UNF, UCF, etc. You can always attend a college first, and then transfer after 2 years, especially if it is FREE!!!
Attached is information for the application process for the FGC's Board of Trustees Scholarship. I would highly encourage EVERY senior to apply!
The application is available on FGC's website at www.fgc.edu/scholarships
Please see the attached documents for more details!!! The deadline to turn in the scholarship is March 2nd, 2026!!!
DON'T WAIT! APPLY NOW!!!! There is NO hard copies of the application. It is online at : www.fgc.edu/scholarships
Good luck!!!
Are you interested in attending college at FGC for FREE??? This is a great opportunity for any student who may be interested in post-secondary education, even if your ultimate goal is to be at a bigger institution like UF, FSU, UNF, UCF, etc. You can always attend a college first, and then transfer after 2 years, especially if it is FREE!!!
Attached is information for the application process for the FGC's Board of Trustees Scholarship. I would highly encourage EVERY senior to apply!
The application is available on FGC's website at www.fgc.edu/scholarships
Please see the attached documents for more details!!! The deadline to turn in the scholarship is March 2nd, 2026!!!
DON'T WAIT! APPLY NOW!!!! There is NO hard copies of the application. It is online at : www.fgc.edu/scholarships
Good luck!!!
Get help with your FAFSA!
Our participating Spelling Bee 🐝 middle-schoolers did a great job yesterday and we are so proud of them all! Participants were: Kayden Grizzle, Kevin Bonilla-Martinez, Liam Robbins, Jace Powell, Jake Craw, Katie Foster, Kelvin Carcamo-Diaz, Aubrey Keller, McKenzie Dampier, and Seianna Godwin. In first place was Seianna Godwin, with McKenzie Dampier as runner-up! Congratulations to all participants; strong work! 🎉
Congratulations to these students for displaying the character trait of "honesty!" We are so proud of these amazing students! 🙌🎉😀
Allison Ream, Skyler Calkin, Kason Philman, Mia Rohena, Ella Petrello, Fitch Graden, Kelly Figueroa-Funes
Students in Grades 9-12!
Enter the Florida Farm to School Essay Contest by Monday, 11/17/25 for a Chance to Win Up to $3,000 for College!
Time is running out! There are only 5 days left for Florida high school students to enter the 2025 Florida Farm to School Essay Contest.
Don't forget to submit your original essay on one of our 2025 topics celebrating the invaluable contributions of Florida farmers and the benefits of eating local foods.
Why Enter?: The top three winners will receive college savings awards via Florida Prepaid 529 Savings Plans provided by FDACS and a generous match from R.C. Hatton Farms, totaling:
🥇 First Place: $3,000
🥈 Second Place: $2,000
🥉 Third Place: $1,000
Winners will also be honored in person at the Florida Farm to School Conference in April 2026 in Tampa.
Deadline: The contest closes November 17, 2025 at 11:59 pm ET.
How to Enter: Review rules, complete the entry form and upload your essay at FarmToSchoolFL.com/Essay.
ENTER NOW: https://farmtoschoolfl.com/initiatives/farm-to-school-essay-contest/
Enter the Florida Farm to School Essay Contest by Monday, 11/17/25 for a Chance to Win Up to $3,000 for College!
Time is running out! There are only 5 days left for Florida high school students to enter the 2025 Florida Farm to School Essay Contest.
Don't forget to submit your original essay on one of our 2025 topics celebrating the invaluable contributions of Florida farmers and the benefits of eating local foods.
Why Enter?: The top three winners will receive college savings awards via Florida Prepaid 529 Savings Plans provided by FDACS and a generous match from R.C. Hatton Farms, totaling:
🥇 First Place: $3,000
🥈 Second Place: $2,000
🥉 Third Place: $1,000
Winners will also be honored in person at the Florida Farm to School Conference in April 2026 in Tampa.
Deadline: The contest closes November 17, 2025 at 11:59 pm ET.
How to Enter: Review rules, complete the entry form and upload your essay at FarmToSchoolFL.com/Essay.
ENTER NOW: https://farmtoschoolfl.com/initiatives/farm-to-school-essay-contest/
Seniors/Senior Parents: Florida Gateway College representatives will be here on January 14, 2026 to help any seniors with their FAFSA application process if needed.
As a reminder, today is an early release day with students being released at 1:00.
