WBHS Family Newsletter
December 2023
Message from Administration
Seasons Greetings!
As we approach the end of the calendar year, I wanted to take a moment to reflect and remind you of the importance of building a strong school community.
As we will soon enter the final weeks of the semester, I encourage all students to take advantage of available academic resources, reach out to teachers and counselors for support, and finish the semester strong. Below you will find our January semester exam schedule. We will once again provide study options, review classes, and enrichment opportunities for our students. Please stay tuned in the January newsletter for more details about our exam schedule and encourage your student(s) to participate in some of the opportunities set forth to promote their growth and achievement.
As a reminder, our schools thrive on your collaboration and support. I invite all families to stay engaged with the school by attending and participating in events when you are available, and encouraging your child to also enjoy the events and experiences we provide. Your involvement is invaluable to our shared success. You can find a number of our upcoming events listed below!
As we prepare to turn the page to a new year, I am optimistic about the opportunities and growth that lie ahead for our school community. Together, we can continue to create an environment where every student feels valued and inspired to reach their full potential.
Thank you for your ongoing support. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a happy New Year!
Warm regards,
Jennifer Potter
WBHS Executive Principal
Important Dates
December 4: Scholarship Information Meeting (7-9 p.m. in the Auditorium) (see Career Readiness section for details)
December 5: Holiday Pops Concert (see flyer for details)
December 8: Mid-Quarter for Quarter 2
December 10: Multi-Cultural Club Rummage
December 13: Mental Health Awareness Conversation (see below for more information)
December 13: Winter Orchestra Concert (7-9 p.m. in the Auditorium)
December 14: Blood Drive
December 18-22: Holiday Hoopla Spirit Week
December 18: Winter Choir & Orchestra Concert (7-9 p.m. in the Auditorium)
December 20: Winter Orchestra Concert (7-9 p.m. in the Auditorium)
December 22: Winter Orchestra Concert (7-9 p.m. in the Auditorium)
December 23-January 2: No School - Winter Break
Reminders & Updates
Principal Advisory Committee
We held our first principal advisory committee meeting last month.The purpose of a principal advisory committee is to provide advice and feedback to the principal on issues and initiatives related to the school community. This committee can help the principal gain insight into the opinions of students, as well as provide guidance and support on decisions that need to be made regarding students. Additionally, this committee can help promote collaboration and ensure that everyone is included in the process. The first topic discussed was feedback regarding the upcoming exam schedule. Other upcoming topics include:
Student engagement in learning
Student Expectations
School safety
School spirit
Classes offered
Semester 1 Exams
Semester 1 Exams will take place on January 17, 18, & 19, 2024. More detailed information will be communicated in the January Family and Student Newsletters.
Mental Health Awareness Conversations
The West Bend School District is going to be hosting a series of four mental health awareness conversations. Each session will feature a panel of parent, student, and community speakers. The sessions are free and open to the public. They will provide families and community members with useful information and resources to help them support the emotional well-being of someone who may be going through a mental health challenge.
The first conversation will be on Wednesday, December 13th at the West Bend School District Office in the lower level Board Room. The topic is: Understanding the Impact of Mental Health on Families. The main theme will be: understanding how an entire family is impacted by a person living with a mental health challenge. We will hear from a family about their experience, supporting their son, who is living with a mental health challenge. They will share their struggles, celebrations, and lessons learned along the way. We will provide an overview of the more common mental health challenges, along with the signs and symptoms. We will also discuss community resources that are available for individuals and families.
Click here to register for Session 1
Click here to learn more about and/or register for the other sessions.
Session 2 - January 10th: Understanding the Impact of Mental Health on School (will be held at the West Bend High Schools Auditorium)
Session 3 - February 7th: Parenting Strategies for Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health (will be held at the West Bend High Schools Auditorium)
Session 4 - March 13th: Coping Strategies, Hope, and Resilience (will be held at the West Bend High Schools Auditorium)
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Shawn Becker: School Mental Health Navigator at shbecker@wbsd-schools.org or by phone at 262-306-4715.
Information for the WBSD Mental Health Awareness presentations can also be found on the district website under “Stay Informed > District News, Family Messages, & More.”
PSAT/NMSQT Scores Released
Students who took the PSAT/NMSQT on October 25 should have received an email or text from College Board on November 16 letting them know how to access their scores to view your score on BigFuture School. If you provided your mobile number on test day, you received a text message with access to the BigFuture School mobile app. As always, you may view your scores online if you have a personal College Board account. The following resources have been linked to help parents and students access and understand their scores to help with post-secondary planning.
How to Access Your Scores:
Video Link: Understanding Your Scores
Understanding Your Scores
Holiday Hoopla Spirit Week
To spread holiday cheer, students and staff are invited to participate in our annual Holiday Hoopla Spirit Week. Check out the flyer with the fun-filled dress-up days for the week of December 18-22.
Senior Pictures
Senior pictures are due by January 11, 2024. To submit a photo, please email a digital copy to wbhsyearbook@wbsd-schools.org. Please cick on the flyer below for all of the guidelines and details for submitting Senior photos.
Riteway Lost & Found
Updates from the WBSD Way Team
The WBSD Way team is focusing on Respect for the month of December. This is one of our four WBSD Way expectations (Respectful, Responsible, Safe and Ready). On December 4th and December 18th homebases will have classroom discussions on respectful digital citizenship and accepting redirection when necessary. Staff is always on the lookout for students meeting our monthly expectations. Students demonstrating respectful 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.
Counseling Office Updates
Financial Aid & College Goal
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should be made available to families in December. For a comprehensive overview of Financial Aid, please click here: A Guide to Financial Aid
Guide to the UW System
Join UW HELP for a live demonstration of the UW Journey app! Learn how students can use UW Journey to determine which UW campuses are their best fit based on their interests and preferences. Registration is required. Feel free to share with your students.
Wednesday, December 6 at 4:30 PM - Register Here
https://wisconsin-edu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RvHXwzVQQI6TvShi4GvsMQ
Save the Date - Gearing Up for High School
SAVE THE DATE: GEARING UP FOR HIGH SCHOOL - JANUARY 24, 6-8pm - This is a great opportunity for your incoming freshmen to learn more about their High Schools. More information to follow!
There will be an informational meeting about Youth Apprenticeships for students and families on Gearing Up night (January 24) at 7:00pm in the auditorium. Youth Apprenticeship (YA) provides high school juniors/seniors an opportunity to explore their chosen career path while “earning while learning” - earning wages and high school credits. Current 8th grade, freshman, sophomore, and junior students and family are strongly encouraged to attend as it is never too early to plan for this work-based learning experience!
Career Readiness Center Updates
Feedback Needed
Carl Perkins is a federal grant the West Bend School District receives to support the Career and Technical Education Department (Business and Information Technology (IT), Family and Consumer Science, and Technology and Engineering). Please help us continue receiving these funds by filling out a short survey. The results will be used for continuous improvement.
Scholarship Information Meeting
The Local Scholarship Kick Off will be Monday, December 4th at 7:00pm in the Silver Lining Arts Center. Senior students and their parents are invited to learn more about the scholarship process and ask questions.
College Goal Wisconsin
Attention, seniors! Representatives will be available to help with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application on Tuesday, January 16 in the West Cafeteria. Times and other information will be communicated closer to the event date.
WBHS Highlights & Celebrations
Staff from the Milwaukee Public Museum visited with Mrs. Mooney's AP World students. The topic of discussion was museum careers. Students got to handle artifacts that included a dinosaur vertebrae!
The Advanced Graphics class and members of SkillsUSA went on a tour of Quad Graphics in Hartford. In this tour, they were shown the process of creating printed paper products for multiple clients and applications.
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