NCWHS podCATS

Hosts Joe Burgess and Tim Franz catch up with 2017 Graduate Gracie Ecker who works in Chicago in the data analytics field.

Hosts Joe Burgess and Tim Franz catch up with Class of '17 alumn Glenn Kinley. Glenn is currently a sports broadcast/tv personality for WCIA in Champaign, Illinois. Don't miss this opportunity to see what Glenn has been up to.

Join us for a discussion about our parking lot and bathroom issues as well as talking with some of the major players in this Spring's Musical. Hosts Joe Burgess and Tim Franz are joined by freshmen Amelia Holmes and Carley Lange where we discuss some of the issues of locked bathrooms and parking lot issues before and after school. Tim Franz and guest host Cullen Matthews talk with the head mus...

PodCATS Season 4, Episode 1 - Behind the Stopwatch Hosts - Joe Burgess, Tim Franz Co-Hosts - Mathia Atchison, Cooper Franz Topic - Are We Prepared for Life Beyond Normal West? Game - Snake Draft for "Things we wish we taught in high school" Guests:  Track Coaches Rici Brack and Greg Rogers

Check out this episode which discusses the Unit 5 Art Show hosted at Normal West. PodCATS Hosts Joe Burgess and Tim Franz interview Art Teacher Kailey Peterson and Normal West students Jasper Thomason and Natalie Sokulski talk about the Unit 5 Art Show and what it entails. The show is at Normal West on Tuesday, April 15th from 5-8 - don't miss the opportunity to learn more about it and come in...

Hosts Joe Burgess and Tim Franz are joined by Co-Hosts Benedicte Diamonika and Faithe Streily to talk about Spring Break, including what are plans are (were) for this Spring Break and what type of Spring Break destinations and activities make the most sense.

Host Joe Burgess interviews Laura Stephenson, Peg Modglin and Kristy Fairfield to talk about the Learning Resources department.  Topics include their backgrounds in education, the ever-changing regulations around special education, and the diversity in the Learning Resources department.  Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about a very important department that supports so many teachers and...

Hosts Joe Burgess and Tim Franz catch up with 2016 Normal West Grad Reganne Camp.  We discussed her time as a softball player for the Wildcats, which included a State Runner-Up finish and what teachers and coaches had a profound impact on her.  We also discussed her career at Amazon and what she is up to currently.  Don’t miss this opportunity to catch up with West grad Reganne Camp.

Hosts Joe Burgess and Tim Franz catch up with 2022 Normal West Grad Paige Lemenager. We discussed her time at Normal West, including her involvement with FFA and Livestock judging. Paige then talked about what Livestock judging is like at the collegiate level, and finished with talking about her favorites West food, teachers and memories. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about what 2022 P...

Hosts Joe Burgess and Tim Franz catch up with 2016 Normal West Grad Kyler Stork. We discussed what his days were like at West, his college basketball days at Greenville and Eureka, and his days as a professional basketball player overseas. Don’t miss this opportunity to catch up with Kyler Stork!

Host Tim Franz interviews Social Studies teachers Tony Berardi, John Bierbaum and Jill Brody to find out more about why they became teachers, what they like about teaching Social Studies and what they would be doing if they weren’t teaching. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about a few of the outstanding teachers in the Social Studies Department.

Season 3 - Episode 12 - Music In Our Lives Co-Hosts Mazin Syed and Chris Bishop join Mr. Burgess and Mr. Franz to talk about how music permeates our lives.  We talked about our favorite music, how music makes memories stand out, and other elements of music like concerts. 

Hosts Joe Burgess and Tim Franz catch up with 2021 Normal West Grad Corey Walker.  We discussed his transition from Western Michigan to WIsconsin, reflected on his playing days at Normal West, his most influential teachers and moments at West, and what lies ahead.  Don’t miss this opportunity to catch up with Corey.

Co-Hosts Cooper Franz and Mathia Atchison join Mr. Franz and Mr. Burgess to talk about holiday traditions and what we typically do over the holiday break.  Mr. Burgess and Mr. Franz reminisce about their holiday breaks as students, as well as some of the traditions they either long for or continue to uphold.  The podcast ends with a “Holiday Food Starting Lineup” where each host gives their top fi...

Co-Hosts Cooper Temples and Tyler Hoss join Mr. Burgess and Mr. Franz to recap most of the Fall Sports seasons.  The next session is an Extended Cut video which features Mr. Rumps asking Normal West students and staff about their Thanksgiving traditions, favorite foods, etc.  The podcast wraps up with a ranking of NFL teams into tiers.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to get to know some of the member of the Science Department and some of the courses that the Science Department offers.

Mr. Burgess interviews PE Teachers Chad Aubin, Curt Brown and Molly Sharer-Barbee and learns more about the life of a PE teacher. They discuss their educational upbringing, what led to them become a PE teacher, and dispels some of the PE Teacher Myths. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about the PE department.

Co-Hosts Emma O’Brien and Julia Knuth join Mr. Burgess and Mr. Franz to talk about Pop Culture and today’s trends and news.  They discussed Millie Bobby Brown’s recent wedding, the announcement of Suni Lee as Woman of the Year for Glamour Magazine, Dancing with the Stars tidbits, Mr. Franz’s resemblance with Will Byers of Stranger Things and plenty of other pop culture news.  Mr. Burgess then inte...

If you have had any experience or tie to Normal West, other than casually, you are NOT GOING TO WANT TO MISS THIS EPISODE! Mr. Burgess and Mr. Franz have the unique opportunity to interview all Four of Normal West's principals, past and present. The Four take turns talking about memories of the opening of West and all the traditions and events along the way of our 30-year history. We end with "Wil...

Season 3 - Episode 3 Part 1 Celebrating West - Wall of Fame Inductees No Co-Hosts this week - just an opportunity to interview some legends at Normal West.  Part 1 is an interview with 2024 Wildcat Wall of Fame Inductees Mandy Garner (Class of 2001) and Drew (Andrew) Loy (Class of 2016).  Don’t miss this opportunity to find out more about these two very talented and well-deserving Wildcats and the...

Co-Hosts Benedicte Diamonika and Faithe Streily joined Mr. Burgess and Mr. Franz to discuss Homecoming 2024, including some tips to help have the best experience at the dance, as well as other homecoming activities such as decorating, PowderPuff and the assembly. (0:00-15:03)  Next, Mr. Franz was joined by Senior Board advisors Sara Maynerich and Abby Primo and Senior Board President Bailey Vaux t...

What is an Interventionist? What do they do at West? Who are they? Find out the answer to these questions in the most recent installment to the PodCATS Department Spotlight.

Co-Hosts Cooper Franz and Evan Pattelli joined Mr. Burgess and Mr. Franz to discuss what they were most looking forward to this school year (0:00-14:30).  Next, Mr. Burgess and Mr. Franz welcomed guests Leah Marlene, recording artist and Normal West grad, and Sara Williams, Choir Director at Normal West. Topics included Leah’s musical journey, including her time on American Idol and her impression...

Co-hosts Natalie Nenne and Mallory Witzemann join the show for the final time to discuss several topics such as their most impactful classes and teachers and their favorite experiences from Normal West (0:00-9:48) . Next, MTSS Coordinator Rexie Lanier joins the show to talk about her teaching career and what she’ll be doing in retirement (9:49-30:27). We finish with a discussion about “Things we j...

Don't miss this opportunity to get to know three members of the Normal West Math Department, including Mrs. Saal, Ms. Kraus and Mr. Hatzer.