Cat Chat

A Brandywine Community Schools Podcast, Niles, MI

Season 3, Episode 8: Math Pilots 01/28/2026

Season 3, Episode 8: Math Pilots Join Brandywine Communications Director Kristin, as well as an Instructional Coach and three Brandywine teachers as they discuss the math pilots Brandywine has been piloting. /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/39912315

Season 3, Episode 7: Investigative Journalism 01/14/2026

Season 3, Episode 7: Investigative Journalism Join Superintendent Travis Walker and students from Investgative Journalism for a hard look at producing their podcast, Underestimated. /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/39726695

Season 3, Episode 6: National Honor Society and Merritt Christmas Party 12/10/2025

Season 3, Episode 6: National Honor Society and Merritt Christmas Party Join Superintendent Travis Walker and students from National Honor Society as they discuss the upcoming holiday party, where the buddy up with students from Merritt for a fun, festive afternoon to celebrate the holidays. /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/39336235

Season 3, Episode 5: Tall Tales & Fairy Tales with Second Grade 11/12/2025

Season 3, Episode 5: Tall Tales & Fairy Tales with Second Grade Step into the magical world of storytelling with Superintendent Travis Walker and a lively group of second graders as they dive into their latest adventure exploring tall tales and fairy tales! From larger-than-life heroes to mischievous tricksters, these young storytellers share what they’ve learned, imagined, and loved in their most recent knowledge unit. /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/38842960

Season 3, Episode 4: Sinking Fund Proposal 10/22/2025

Season 3, Episode 4: Sinking Fund Proposal Join Superintendent Travis Walker for an informational podcast on the upcoming Sinking Fund Renewal Proposal on the November 4 ballot. /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/38724365

Season 3, Episode 3: Interest-Based Bargaining 10/08/2025

Season 3, Episode 3: Interest-Based Bargaining 🎙️ Season 3, Episode 3: Understanding Interest-Based Bargaining In this episode, Superintendent Travis Walker sits down with special guests to discuss the process of interest-based bargaining (IBB) — a collaborative approach to contract negotiations that focuses on problem-solving rather than positions. Together, they break down how IBB works, why Brandywine uses it, and how it helps strengthen relationships between administration and staff while keeping students at the center of every decision. Tune in to hear insights, examples, and a behind-the-scenes look at how communication and cooperation shape successful negotiations at Brandywine. /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/38497390

Season 3, Episode 2: The Making of the Yearbook 09/24/2025

Season 3, Episode 2: The Making of the Yearbook Join Superintendent Travis Walker, Yearbook Teacher Mrs. Ulrickson, and seniors Liam and Jacob as they discuss the making of the high school yearbook. /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/38329380

Season 3, Episode 1: Varsity Club 09/10/2025

Season 3, Episode 1: Varsity Club Join Superintendent Travis Walker and Brandywine alums Dave Thompson and Ed Pilarski as they share more information on the history and mission of the Varsity Club. Brandywine Education Foundation website: Dave Thompson: Ed Pilarski: /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/38141190

Season 2, Episode 13: On Location at Fifth Grade Camp 05/28/2025

Season 2, Episode 13: On Location at Fifth Grade Camp Join the fifth graders and Mr. Walker at Camp Friedenswald for an on location episode of Fifth Grade Camp! /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/36725890

Season 2, Episode 12: Legacy of Heart 05/14/2025

Season 2, Episode 12: Legacy of Heart Join Superintendent Travis Walker as he chats with Mr. James Boger, Principal at Brandywine Elementary, about his 30 years at Brandywine and his upcoming retirement. /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/36547145

Season 2, Episode 11: Art & Literacy Night at Brandywine Elementary 04/23/2025

Season 2, Episode 11: Art & Literacy Night at Brandywine Elementary Join Superintendent Travis Walker, Assistant Principal Melissa Foster, Fourth Grade Teacher Maria Abdoo, and two elementary students as they talk about Brandywine Elementary's recent Art & Literacy Night as part of March is Reading Month. /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/36260875

Season 2, Episode 10: Bond Update 04/09/2025

Season 2, Episode 10: Bond Update Join Superintendent Travis Walker for a brief bond update. /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/36053255

Season 2, Episode 9: Published Students in Lest We Forget Book 03/26/2025

Season 2, Episode 9: Published Students in Lest We Forget Book Join Superintendent Travis Walker and Social Studies Teacher Abilyn Janke, along with three of her students that are published authors. The three students interviewed local Veterans and submitted to the Book of Heroes from the Veteran organization Lest We Forget. /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/35867620

Season 2, Episode 8: Student Council Leadership Conference 2025 03/12/2025

Season 2, Episode 8: Student Council Leadership Conference 2025 Join Superintendent Travis Walker, along with Student Council Advisor Sara Paul and three student council representatives as they talk about their recent experience at a student council leadership conference and the new ideas they have for the high school. /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/35651020

Season 2, Episode 7: School of Choice Parents 02/26/2025

Season 2, Episode 7: School of Choice Parents Join Mr. Walker as he chats with three of our School of Choice parents, all who live out of district but have chosen to send their children to Brandywine. /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/35423565

Season 2, Episode 6: Partnership for Children 02/12/2025

Season 2, Episode 6: Partnership for Children Join us for a conversation with members of our Partnership for Children, the PTO! /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/35254135

Season 2, Episode 5: School Board Appreciation Month with Outgoing Board Member Brian Burge 01/08/2025

Season 2, Episode 5: School Board Appreciation Month with Outgoing Board Member Brian Burge Join Superintendent Travis Walker and retiring Board Member Brian Burge to hear about his experience of being a board member over the last eight years! Thanks for all you have done for our district! /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/34758835

Season 2, Episode 4: Speaking with Our Principals 12/11/2024

Season 2, Episode 4: Speaking with Our Principals Join Principals Matt Severin, Elise Sorensen, and Evan Winkler as they discuss their experience in education as school principals. /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/34369830

Season 2, Episode 3: The Lightning Thief Musical 11/13/2024

Season 2, Episode 3: The Lightning Thief Musical Mr. Walker sits down with Musical Theatre Director Daysha Amster and three student actors from this year's fall musical, The Lightning Thief. The musical opens on November 21 at 7 p.m., with evening shows November 22 and 23, along with a matinee at 2 p.m. on November 23 at Brandywine Elementary. /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/33899022

Season 2, Episode 2: Professional Learning Communities 09/25/2024

Season 2, Episode 2: Professional Learning Communities In this episode, Superintendent Travis Walker sits down with staff who attended a seminar this Sunday that deal with Professional Learning Communities, a piece that is utilized in our Late Start Wednesday model. /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/33167017

Season 2, Episode 1 - A Conversation with the Drum Majors from the Pride of Brandywine 09/11/2024

Season 2, Episode 1 - A Conversation with the Drum Majors from the Pride of Brandywine Join Mr. Walker as he sits down with Band Director, Ruth Livengood, and Drum Majors Sydney Olson and Tristan Bower. Learn about what it means to be a Drum Major and how our marching band program works! /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/32992577

Episode 13: Shadow A Student 05/22/2024

Episode 13: Shadow A Student Join teachers Abilyn Janke, Alli Ulrickson, and Sara Paul as they describe their experience spending a day shadowing a student. /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/31355762

Episode 12: A Visit to the Underground Railroad 05/08/2024

Episode 12: A Visit to the Underground Railroad In this episode, we sit down with High School Social Studies teacher, Abilyn Janke, and several of her students who recently took a trip to Cassopolis, Michigan to visit stops of the Underground Railroad. /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/31140808

Episode 11: Wrestling State Champions 04/24/2024

Episode 11: Wrestling State Champions Sit down with Wrestling Coach Rex Pomranka and State Champion Wrestlers, Maddie Ward and Gavin Schoff! /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/30948933

Episode 10: Nate Knapp & Josh Hood 04/10/2024

Episode 10: Nate Knapp & Josh Hood Sit down with head basketball coaches and listen to the amazing run both girls and boys basketball had this season! /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/30770763

Episode 9: Facility Study 03/27/2024

Episode 9: Facility Study Join Superintendent Travis Walker and architect Tony Leininger as they discuss the facility study that was done for the district to assess projects for the bond proposal. /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/30497063

Episode 8: Other Bond Proposal Projects 03/20/2024

Episode 8: Other Bond Proposal Projects Superintendent Travis Walker explains other projects that would be done in the district should the May 7 bond proposal pass. /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/30443778

Episode 7: May 7 Bond Proposal Potential Projects 03/13/2024

Episode 7: May 7 Bond Proposal Potential Projects Sit down with Superintendent Travis Walker, CTE Director Kirk Shafer, Band Director Ruth Livengood and Musical Director Kevin Smith to learn about the main potential projects should a bond proposal pass in May. /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/30291003

Episode 6: How Does School Funding Work? 03/06/2024

Episode 6: How Does School Funding Work? In Episode 6 of Cat Chat, we sit down with Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations, Ray Wilburn, to discuss the ins and outs of school funding and explain the upcoming bond proposal. This is part one of a four part series. /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/30192738

Episode 5: Flight School 02/28/2024

Episode 5: Flight School Meet Owen Glass, an eighth grader at Brandywine Middle/Senior High School, who is currently enrolled in flight school! /episode/index/show/8c8211ad-9640-4575-a11e-43525e9a3403/id/30131638

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