The selection committee for the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Fellowship Program announced that Jennifer Mesko, a speech therapist at West Bend West High School, has been selected as a recipient of the 2016 Herb Kohl Fellowship.

The Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Fellowship program rewards teachers who have demonstrated superior ability to inspire love of learning in their students, have motivated others, and have provided meritorious service both inside and outside the classroom. The Herb Kohl Educational Foundation will award Mesko a $3,000 grant, and an additional $3,000 grant will be awarded to West Bend East High School.

“Throughout my career as a speech therapist, I have known that I am in the field of educating to make a difference with some of our most challenging students,” Mesko said. “I have continuously pursued trainings, courses, and seminars that have facilitated a greater understanding of trauma, poverty, and behavior/truancy challenges. I truly believe in the power of connecting with students. Building relationships is the foundation of education. Without that foundation, many students struggle to connect, struggle to be intrinsically motivated and struggle to succeed.”

Fellowship 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), and regional Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESA).

The Kohl Foundation Scholarship and Fellowship program was established by Herb Kohl, U.S. Senator (Retired), in 1990. To date the foundation has awarded more than $8.2 million to Wisconsin educators, students and schools. “Education is the key to the future of Wisconsin and our nation. I am very proud of the accomplishments of these students and teachers, and look forward to the great contributions they will make in the future,” Kohl said.

Senator Kohl will present the award to Mesko at the regional luncheon on Saturday, April 16 at Kimberly High School.  

The West Bend high schools welcome “The Well Pennies” accompanied by nearly 100 West Bend high school orchestra members, for a special performance in The Silver Lining Arts Center on Friday, May 6 at 7:30 pm. “The Well Pennies” are a nationally-known husband and wife duo from Los Angeles, who have produced multiple albums in the folk-pop genre and performed several covers of popular songs.

This performance will showcase the talent of WBSD high school musicians through a unique collaboration which will provide an educational experience like no other for WBHS students. Profits from the concert will benefit The Silver Lining Arts Center Transformation Project, and also help to fund a new sound system for the high school fieldhouse.

The benefit concert is a student-led project organized by members of Athletes for the Arts with support from community sponsors. Tickets will cost $5 for students and $10 for adults and will be sold at various locations. Tickets will be available at the WBHS bookkeeper's office, the WBSD Education Service Center, or online, starting April 1, 2016. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87Fsy-PAlOo

On Thursday, March 17, more than 1,000 high school juniors from the school districts of West Bend, Slinger, Kewaskum, Living Word Lutheran, and Kettle Moraine Lutheran will attend the Washington County College & Career Fair during the school day at the Washington County Fair Park and Conference Center.

With a “passport” in hand, students will spend an hour and a half discovering information related to their college and career interests by visiting over 120 booths staffed by representatives from business, industry and post-secondary learning institutions so that they can understand the connection between school-based learning and the skills required for workplace success.

Public and private universities from across the state along with, technical colleges, trade schools, branches of the military and apprenticeship programs will be at the College & Career Fair to showcase post-secondary learning options. Employers from across the county will also be on hand to represent a variety of careers and skills necessary for career success in their industries.

The Washington County College & Career Fair is hosted by the West Bend School District, in partnership with other area school districts and the Washington County Workforce Alliance. This unique opportunity is designed to engage businesses, industries and educational institutions with the workforce of the future to support the West Bend School District mission of Preparing All Students for College Readiness AND Career Success.

A Growth Mindset: 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.

The WBHS choir programs present The Cat’s Pajamas on Friday, March 11 at 7 p.m. in the Silver Lining Arts Center (WBHS auditorium). The Cat's Pajamas Vocal Band is a five man acappella group that has been touring around the world since 2005 and has recently appeared on NBC's The Sing-Off.  Founded by Brian Skinner of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, The Cat's Pajamas entered the national spotlight when they placed in the top 10 while performing their Oreo Cookie Jingle for Randy Jackson. After years of performing on Celebrity and Norwegian cruise ships as guest entertainers, The Cat's Pajamas now perform over 200 shows a year in Branson, MO, and across the Midwest as part of their Music in Schools tour. Tickets are available from the high school bookkeeper or at the West Bend School District Office, 735 S. Main St., West Bend.  Tickets cost $12 for adults and $8 for students.

Chalk the Walk. Join the fun, or watch local artists create chalk drawings on the sidewalk between Hobby Lobby and Kohl’s parking lots on Saturday, May 21, from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. for Chalk the Walk, presented by the WBSD Art Department…rain date is May 22. This unique event is open to professionals, amateur artists or families. Registration forms are available at the Chocolate Factory, all WBSD schools, or the WBSD Education Service Center, 735 S., Main Street. For more information, please contact Kiah Wolff@ (262)335-5478, or email mwolff@west-bend.k12.wi.us.

REGISTRATION FORM

Nominations are now being accepted for the Distinguished Alumni Award created to honor individuals who have accomplished notable academic, humanitarian, athletic, artistic, cultural or historically significant achievement since graduation from the West Bend High Schools. Eligible alumni will have the following minimum requirements:

• The nominee is a graduate from West Bend East, West Bend West or the former West Bend High School (Badger)
• Must be an individual who has distinguished him/herself for a significant period of time in his/her chosen field over and above the average individual in that field
• He/she has been out of high school for at least 20 years 
• He/she is recognized by peers in their vocation or avocation for their achievements at state, national or international level
• He/she agrees to be considered for the award and a background check to identify his/her eligibility.

NOMINATION FORMS must be accepted before March 18, 2016.

Last year’s recipients included Mary Hafeman, a 1975 East High School graduate and Jeff Steilen, a 1983 graduate of West High School graduate.

The Silverbrook bands have commissioned world-renowned composer, Michael Sweeney, to write a piece of band music for 5th and 6th-grade bands. The piece, entitled “VIKING!” will make its word premiere on May 11 (6th gr.) and May 18 (5th gr.), with Mr. Sweeney himself conducting!

Mr. Sweeney will also work with the 361 members of the 5th and 6th grade bands as a clinician on March 2, 2016. 

Michael Sweeney is currently Director of Band Publications for Hal Leonard Corporation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, one of the largest publishers of printed music in the world. Michael is directly responsible for the development, production, recording and marketing of new publications for school bands. In addition, he contributes as a composer and arranger in all instrumental areas, and is particularly known for his writing at the younger levels for concert band and jazz. Since joining the company in 1982, Hal Leonard has published over 500 of his compositions and arrangements. 

Mr. Sweeney is a 1977 graduate of Indiana University (Bloomington), where he earned a bachelor's degree in music education and studied composition with Bernard Heiden, John Eaton and Donald Erb. Prior to working for Hal Leonard he was a band director in Ohio and Indiana, working with successful concert, jazz and marching programs at all levels from elementary to high school. 

A winner of multiple ASCAP awards, his Ancient Voices (1994) and Imperium (1992) are featured in the acclaimed Teaching Music Through Performance series by GIA Publications. Other compositions such as Black Forest Overture (1996), The Forge of Vulcan (1997) and Distant Thunder of the Sacred Forest (2003) have become staples in the repertoire for middle school bands. He has received commissions ranging from middle school and high school bands to the Eastman Wind Ensemble and Canadian Brass. His works appear on numerous state contest lists and his music is regularly performed throughout the world. Michael is also in demand as a clinician and conductor for honor bands and festivals. Michael resides north of Milwaukee where he enjoys fishing and playing the bodhrán.

Check out the latest news and happenings at the WBHS in the February NEWSLETTER.