WBHS Family Newsletter
April 2024
Message from Administration
Dear WBHS Families,
I hope you had a rejuvenating and enjoyable Spring Break. As we return to school, let's bring back that refreshed energy and enthusiasm for learning!
We completed our PreACT Secure for 9th and 10th graders and the ACT testing for our 11th graders on March 19th. Overall, the day was a success and many students shared they felt prepared and ready to showcase their academic abilities. Please stay tuned for further details regarding how to access the results from these assessments.
As a reminder, we regularly conduct drills to ensure preparedness for various emergency situations. These drills are essential in familiarizing both students and staff with the necessary procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. These practice opportunities include hold, secure, lockdown, evacuate, and shelter drills. We will continue to update families when a drill has occurred at our site. If you have any questions about our safety drills, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Wishing you and your families a wonderful month ahead. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Potter
Executive Principal
Important Dates
April 3: End of Third Quarter
April 9: Make-Up PreACT Testing for 9th & 10th Grade Students
April 10-11: WI Forward Testing for Social Studies for 10th Grade Students
April 10 (7:00 p.m.): Chamber Music Concert at the Old Courthouse
April 16 (6:00 p.m.): Community Conversation on Facilities #2 (see below for details)
April 25 (6:00 p.m.): Community Conversation on Facilities #2 (see below for details)April 25 (7:00 p.m.): Spring Band Concert in the Auditorium
Important Reminders & Updates
WBHS Staff Appreciation Week
May 6-10 is WBHS Staff Appreciation Week. We are asking students and families to please take a moment to fill out this google form to share a message of appreciation for special staff members at WBHS. If you’d prefer to write out your own special note, here is a template you can download and print. Blank copies of these cards are also available in the main office. Paper copies of the staff appreciation messages should be turned into the office no later than 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 3. The Google Form will also close at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 3.
Safe and Secure Drills
April is a month to review safe and secure drills. Please take a few minutes to review our Standard Response Protocol with emphasis on the procedures for a Hold, Secure, and Lockdown.
Upcoming Assessments
Makeup PreACT Secure for 9th and 10th grade students. Students and parents/guardians will be contacted with specific details for April 9 via email.
Please review parent/guardian letter from the original testing date so your student is prepared for taking the makeup test: PreACT Secure Parent/Guardian Letter
Wednesday, April 10 - Thursday, April 11: WI Forward Exam
WI Forward Testing for Social Studies: 10th Grade
Students will be testing in their social studies class on both days.
If students are not currently in a social studies class, they will be provided a room location during their study hall or agreed up class.
Counseling Office Updates
Final Transcript Information for Graduates
Graduates must request their final transcripts through parchment.com. When requesting them, please select Hold For Grades and they will be held until after Semester 2, when all grades are in and finalized. Final Transcripts will be available and uploaded starting Friday, 6/21 to make sure all final grades are in and GPA is updated.
Encouraging Student Engagement
Students are most successful when they are in class, focused and engaged, and the distractions are as limited as possible. Please help us in supporting students in their academic success. Here is a thought-provoking article for families to consider regarding contacting your student during the school day. Click here for the article.
Parents/Guardians of Juniors
It’s time for your student to start planning for Life After High School! Many students already have a set plan, but many are still stumped! Junior Students will receive this information in an upcoming resource period, but feel free to review with them ahead of time!
If your student is planning to attend a traditional college/university following high school, check out this information. This information will be presented through our Career Readiness Sessions during Resource on 4/5 and 4/10. Encourage your Students to sign up!
Career Readiness Center Updates
As summer approaches the Career Readiness Center is helping students plan for the future. We have a lot of workshops planned for our students with our local business partners and Career Readiness Workshops for students to attend.
On 4/10, we will be hosting a Summer Hiring event from 10am-2pm in the South Gym for our students to meet with, apply, and in some cases do on-site interviews with local businesses looking for employees. To see the entire calendar of Career Readiness events and workshops at the High School visit our Career Readiness Calendar and sign up today! If you have questions please contact Mrs. Barnes in the Career Readiness Center.
WBSD Way Updates
For the month of April, WBSD Way is focusing on promoting respectful behaviors in a variety of environments within our building. Using the established language of our behavioral matrix, we will be reviewing what respectful behaviors look like in the cafeteria, classroom, hallways, and bathrooms. Some students demonstrating responsible behaviors will be celebrated by receiving a WBSD Way ticket. These tickets can be dropped off in the main office for the chance to win any of the monthly prizes.
In addition, we are launching our annual West Bend High School Grad Grams! Grad Grams are a way to leave a lasting memory or wish with a graduating senior. The West Bend High School WBSD Way team and volunteers collect, assemble, and present these booklets to graduating seniors on graduation day. The WBSD Way wants to give at least 1 Grad Gram to each graduating senior again this year.
You can pick up paper Grad Grams from any school district office (limited amount), bookkeeper (limited amount), download them from the East/West homepages, or use the Virtual Grad Gram Link (also on the homepage).
Grad Gram submissions are due by Friday, May 24th. Thank you!
WBHS Highlights & Celebrations
Congrats to Mr. Willmas’ Advanced Construction Class for being featured in the Winter 2023-24 Issue of Teaching Today - WI. The article can be found on pages 4 & 9 of this publication.
Helpful Links for Families
WBHS Contact Information
Address:
1305 E. Decorah Road
West Bend, WI 53095
Phone Numbers:
(262)335-5530 (East Office)
(262)335-5570 (West Office)
(262)335-5550 (Attendance)
(262)335-5580 (Counseling Office)
Athletics Websites: East | West
Administration
Jared Kiesow- East & West Assistant Principal Grade 9
jkiesow@wbsd-schools.org / 262-335-5587
Laura Krause-Emerick- East Assistant Principal Grades 10 - 12
lkrauseemerick@wbsd-schools.org / 262-335-5571
Dave Riley - West Assistant Principal Grades 10 - 12
dsriley@wbsd-schools.org / 262-335-5532
Susan Saric - East & West Assistant Principal
ssaric@wbsd-schools.org / 262-335-5569
Dave Uelmen - Associate Principal
duelmen@wbsd-schools.org / 262-335-5592
Jennifer Potter- Executive Principal
jpotter@wbsd-schools.org / 262-335-5629
Counselors
Kara Phillips - East students with last names A-G
Stephanie Stuve - East students with last names H-O
Kris Kemp - East students with last names P-Z
Matt Coyle - West students with last names A-G
Jenni Hanni-Schmitz - West students with last names H-P
jhannischmitz@wbsd-schools.org
Nicole Miller - West students with last names Q-Z
Juliana Delgado - Freshmen Transition Coordinator, 504, and Virtual Learning
Michelle Cattelan - School Psychologist