Members of WB COLUMNS reported that $646,000 in scholarships were awarded to 161 Graduating seniors from the Class of 2016. WB Columns is the largest high school scholarship program in the Midwest. Scholarships are made available through the Ziegler Family Foundation, Rolls Foundation, Norbert J. Fahey Memorial Foundation, WB COLUMNS Foundation, school generated opportunities and community groups. This year nine new scholarships were available for students. Thank you WB COLUMNS!

Congratulations to the following students who recently placed at the Wisconsin State Future Business Leaders of America Conference

1st PLACE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT*: Ryan Lucka, Beth Williams, and Rachel Uhren

2nd PLACE IN BUSINESS PROCEDURES*: Sammi George

3rd PLACE IN ECONOMICS*: Adam Gergetz

4th PLACE IN ECONOMICS*: Addison McGhee

7th PLACE IN BUSINESS CALCULATIONS: Aimee Solheim

*Will compete at National FBLA competition in Atlanta Georgia in June)

The WBSD elementary administrative team presented a variety of strategies they use at each elementary school to close the learning gap for students in poverty at the April 11, 2016 Board of Education Meeting. The elementary principals and teachers have been learning about poverty and the effects of poverty in the learning process and environment over the past few years. 

Ken Schmidt, who was recently elected to the Board, said, "I am impressed with the engagement of the teachers and also the amount of work that they are doing for students. They are reaching out to the students, and I'm especially impressed with their efforts." 

Continuously Improving English Language Arts 7-12 in the West Bend School District:

Results of the 2015 spring Wisconsin State Assessments (Badger Exam, ACT/Aspire, ACT) in the subject area of English Language Arts 7-12, indicate that students in the West Bend School District (WBSD) demonstrate proficiency levels slightly above the state average as referenced in the graphs below.

To strengthen student readiness in the skill areas of reading, writing, and English (grammar), the WBSD established an English/Language Arts (ELA) Goal Team during the fall of 2015 comprised of ELA teachers from Badger and the high schools and district Instructional Literacy Leaders to focus on the following tasks:

• review student performance data
• review curriculum standards
• review current curriculum for grades 7-11
• review current instructional practices
• recommend improvement opportunities to ELA design for grades 7-11

After reviewing the work of the ELA Goal Team from semester 1 of the 2015-2016 school year, the Instructional Leadership Team recommended that the team further investigate redesign of the English Language Arts curriculum utilizing the Engage New York framework to fit the needs of the WBSD starting with the fall of 2016 for the following five course variations:

• ELA 7 (Badger)
• ELA 8 (Badger)
• English I (High Schools)
• English II (High Schools)
• English III (High Schools)

The ELA Goal Team and Instructional Leadership Team are not redesigning or modifying the Advanced Placement (AP) English courses or 9-12 English elective courses at this time.

The Engage New York ELA curriculum framework originally developed by the New York State Education Department is now published by Jossey-Bass (Wiley) as Paths to College and Career (PCG).  The rigorous framework was designed to allow for adaptation and flexibility in each classroom, while providing a focus on strong instructional practice and student experiences with college and career ready skills.  The curriculum empowers educators to implement and adapt the material to best support students with the English (grammar), reading, and writing skills that are necessary for career and college success while utilizing varied classic and contemporary selections, as well as fictional and informational text.

To prepare for the 2016-17 school year, the ELA Goal Team is customizing the framework, selecting curriculum resources, and deciding on the pacing of each unit/module.  In addition, the WBSD will provide teachers with on-going professional development and one-on-one instructional coaching during the 2016-17 school year. Currently, ELA teachers in 7^th and 8^th grade will use the customized modules during the fourth quarter of the 2015-16 school year to familiarize themselves with the new framework and provide improvement opportunities based upon their experiences with the framework. 

Congratulations to WBSD student artists who were among the top winners for the UWWC Festival of Arts Student Art Contest! The Festival of Arts takes place on Saturday, April 9 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the University of Wisconsin Washington County, 400 University Drive, West Bend.

A total of 220 middle school entries were received from 16 area middle schools, and a total of 164 high school entries were received from 12 area high schools. Only 15 entries per school at both the high school and middle school levels will be displayed at the Festival of Arts.  

A special awards ceremony will take place at 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 9 in the campus theatre. Recognition to first, second, third and fourth place winners will be made at the middle and high school levels. A PowerPoint presentation recognizing all student artists as well as photography contest winners will be shown. Everyone is welcome.

Best in Show – Middle School Level Painting, Jasmyne Beasler, Grade 8, Badger Middle School

Drawing 4^th Place, Lorelei Davis, Grade 7, Badger Middle School

Photography & Digital Illustration 3^rd Place, Odessa Dalton, Grade 8, Badger Middle School

Honorable Mentions:

3D Media, Anna Prahl, Grade 8 Badger Middle School

Collage & Print Making, Evelyn Deluka, Grade 5, Silverbrook Intermediate School

Best in Show - High School Collage/Printmaking, Naomi Loduha, Grade 11, West High School

Collage/Printmaking – Second Place, Kiera Fischer, Grade 10, West High School

Painting – First Place, Cera Propper, Grade 12, West High School

3D Media – First Place, Lisa Flynn, Grade 11, West High School

Honorable Mentions:

Amelia Hansen, Grade 12, West High School 

Rebekah Morici, Grade 9, West High School 

Hannah Nehmer, Grade 11, East High School 

Grad Grams are a personalized way to inspire, congratulate, and celebrate graduates of West Bend East and West High Schools. Each GRAD GRAM is like a greeting card that includes a personalized message, decorated if you wish, and returned to any school in the district. The collected pages are assembled into personalized booklets that are given to each graduating senior in their home base prior to the graduation ceremony. Grad Grams cost two for $1. All the money raised from the sale of Grad Grams will benefit the Compass Program at West Bend East & West High Schools, which is designed to proactively provide positive behavioral interventions and supports for students.  Visit the GRAD GRAMS WEBPAGE for more information.

Emmalee Ciriacks and Adam Gergetz, both seniors at East High School, were selected as recipients for the Herb Kohl Excellence Scholarship award. Excellence Scholarship recipients have demonstrated excellence in the academic arena and high motivation to achieve, have displayed a broad range of activity and leadership outside the academic setting, and have shown strong promise for succeeding in college and beyond.

Excellence Scholarship recipients are selected by a statewide committee composed of civic leaders and representatives of education-related associations and the program’s co-sponsors: The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Wisconsin Council of Religious and Independent Schools (WCRIS), regional Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESA), and the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators.

The Kohl Foundation Scholarship program was established by Herb Kohl, U.S. Senator (Retired) in 1990. Herb Kohl will present Ciriacks and Gergetz with the Excellence Scholarship award at a luncheon on Saturday, April 16 in Kimberly, Wisconsin.

The Dark Side of Digital Technology: Internet, Cell Phones, and Social Media will be presented on April 14, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. in The Silver Lining Arts Center. While digital technology offers a world of communication, education, and entertainment options for our youth, it also has a dark and dangerous side we must be aware of.  This fast-paced presentation takes an in-depth look into the latest trends in digital exploitation of children. Eric Szatkowski, Special Agent with the Wisconsin Department of Justice/Division of Criminal Investigation, will facilitate this valuable presentation, which is sponsored by Friends of Abused Families.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DARK SIDE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY PRESENTATION

The West Bend School District has partnered with School Exec Connect to recruit our new Superintendent.  If you are interested in applying for the position, please click on the following icon or link below. Please use our website to find key information about our District.  Information about West Bend can be found on the West Bend Chamber of Commerce website.

WEST BEND SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT APPLICATION 

English teachers from the English Language Arts (ELA) Goal Team in grades 9-12 spent the past two days working together to continue working on curriculum improvements for the 2016-17 school year, led by Nan Lustig, Literacy Learning Specialist. “We’re infusing the 9-12 English curriculum with engaging texts,” said Megan Coultas, a West English teacher. “Our objective is to foster student growth, cultivate curiosity, and prepare students for excellence.” 

Patricia McIntyre, also a West English teacher said, “The work we are doing is important in honoring the standards with fidelity, while ensuring an engaging experience for students of all interest and ability levels.”  Stay tuned for more updates from the ELA Goal Team.