WBHS Family Newsletter
January 2023
Message to Families from Administration
Happy New Year!
We hope you had a healthy and safe winter break and that your time was filled with warm, happy and memorable moments with your children. As you may have heard, our community experienced a tremendous loss when a current and former student both passed away on December 28th, 2022. I would like to take a moment to share my appreciation of our staff and students during this difficult time. I watched our amazing high school community work together to support each other through this challenging time. I also want to take a moment to thank our families for your ongoing support during this rough transition back from winter break. Many of you reached out to check in and looked for ways to offer support for our students.
We are very fortunate to live and work in such a very caring and supportive community. Thank you for all of your generous support during this time. Your kindness is truly appreciated by our staff and students.
With that said, I am excited to move into 2023 stronger than ever. Cheers to a new year full of hope and promise!
Sincerely,
Jennifer Potter
Executive Principal
Important Upcoming Dates
January 11 (9:00 - 9:30 a.m.): Mandatory Senior Graduation Meeting for Students
January 16: No School
January 18-20: Semester 1 Exams
January 19 (7:00 - 9:00 p.m.): Winter Band Concert (in the Auditorium)
January 20: End of Semester 1
January 23: No school for Students | Staff Professional Day
Mandatory Senior Graduation Meeting
There will be a mandatory senior meeting held on Wednesday, January 11, in the auditorium during resource (from 9:01 -9:30 a.m.). Seniors will be given information from Jostens for ordering graduation materials. A cap, gown, & tassel is required for participation in the graduation ceremony. The base package for a cap, gown, & tassel is $26.95 plus tax. The purchase of announcements and other memorabilia is optional. A separate Senior/Graduation Newsletter will be sent to senior families soon.
Extended Release Plan - Semester 2
Hello Families of 11th and 12th Grade Students,
We hope you had a wonderful holiday break. The second semester is fast approaching and it is time for your child to renew their Junior/Senior Release Application (click on the link to download and/or print a copy). In addition, hard copies of this information began being provided to your child in the Attendance Office starting Wednesday, January 4th. Students may begin submitting completed applications to the Attendance Office on Thursday, January 5th until Wednesday, January 18th. If approved, students may pick up their release passes at the West greeter’s desks starting January 20th.
We are excited to have our students back from the holidays and we look forward to a terrific rest of the school year. Please feel free to contact the offices of East (262-335-5530) or West (262-335-5570) High Schools if you have any questions.
Your High School Administrative Team
Semester 1 Exam Schedule
Updates from the Counseling Office
Happy New Year!
We hope that the holiday season was rejuvenating for you and your families.
Students will be choosing their 2023-24 courses online during the months of January and February. In late January, all course selection materials, including a Screencastify presentation, will be emailed to students and families and will be available in Canvas. Students and parents are strongly encouraged to watch the Screencastify presentation which provides information regarding course selection as well as information about other opportunities for students. Juniors will receive a personal email from their counselor, including a copy of their transcript and course selection information.
In addition, students will benefit from reviewing the Course Planning Guide with their parents and/or guardians. The Course Planning Guide includes course descriptions, graduation requirements, opportunities for recognition and valuable information about planning for the future. The Course Planning Guide will be available on the high school websites and in each student's Canvas account.
Please consider your son or daughter’s future goals when having the conversation about course selection for the upcoming year. Students are also encouraged to talk with current teachers and their counselor if they have questions.
If you have questions or concerns please feel free to contact your child(ren)'s counselor.
Thank you for partnering with us!
West Bend East and West Counseling
Counseling Student Survey
When students come to school, we want them to feel safe and secure. With this goal in mind, students will be asked to complete a short survey during Resource to allow staff to learn how many students believe they have positive connections with adults in the high school building. The survey results will help staff to be more intentional about creating opportunities for all students to feel welcome and supported. Questions include:
What is your last name?
What is your first name?
What year are you in school? (9, 10, 11, 12)
What school do you go to? (East, West)
I started school in the WBSD (in K-4, 5-6, 7-8, during HS, this year)
Do you have an adult you have a positive connection with who works for the HS? (Teacher, Hallway Supervisor, Coach, Nurse, Counselor, Librarian, Administrator, Lunchroom Employee, IEP Coordinator, other school employee) (Yes or No)
If you answered Yes
Please identify the adult(s) you have a positive connection with at the HS- check all who apply (Teacher, Hallway Supervisor, Coach, Nurse, Counselor, Librarian, Administrator, Lunchroom Employee, IEP Coordinator, other school employee)
What are some reasons you positively connect with this adult? You can check more than one of the following: (They listen to me. They ask about my life outside of school. They encourage me. I believe I can ask them for help. They have a genuine interest in my success. If I am struggling with something in my life, I can go to them for help. Other.)
If you checked the “Other” box in the last question please explain below. (fill in a response)
If you answered No
Please share what you believe would be helpful for students to build positive connections with adults at the school. (fill in a response)
Early College Credit and Start College Now Program Information
The Early College Credit Program (ECCP) provides high school students an opportunity to earn college credit at an accredited four-year college/university while in high school.
If any high school is interested in taking a college course this summer through ECCP, be sure to fill out the Early College Credit Program application and return it to a school counselor no later than February 1.
If any student is interested in taking a college course in Fall 2023 through ECCP or technical college course through the Start College Now (SCN) program, the enrollment deadline is March 1. **Please Note: High school students are not able to enroll in summer courses at technical colleges through SCN (Fall and Spring semester enrollment only).
Please talk to your counselor or stop in the College and Career Center for more information if you want to earn college credit while in high school!
Government and Leadership Conferences
These are great government and leadership conferences for students! Students will learn about state government, strengthen their leadership skills, and meet many new and interesting people. The best part? It’s free thanks to scholarships from our local American Legion chapters.
Badger Boys State is scheduled for June 11-17, 2023, at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. This opportunity is available to current high school juniors.
Badger Girls State is scheduled for June 18-23, 2023, at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. This opportunity is available to current high school juniors.
Please see Mrs. O'Brien in the College and Career Center for additional information or to pick up an application. The deadline to apply is January 30.
WBSD ACT Preparation
All juniors will take the ACT with writing test at West Bend High Schools on Tuesday, March 7th. Only the juniors will be at the high school on this day.
There are multiple ACT test prep options available for students in and outside of school including:
Methodize: Students can access the full ACT Prep course in Xello at any time.
All students will receive brief ACT prep lessons using Methodize (in Xello) during their Resource periods.
ACT prep opportunities available at an additional cost through Wisconsin Test Prep and UW-Milwaukee.
Practice ACT Exam on February 20. The deadline to register for this practice exam is February 17. Please register here.
For more ACT Prep options and information, please click on the following link:
School Event & Classroom Highlights
WBHS band students, alumni, and directors performed with The Black Diaspora Symphony Orchestra. Thank you to these musicians for representing WBHS with excellence and pride!
The WBHS automotive program is featured in the Winter Issue of Transportation Today WI on page 16. Check out this detailed review of the program, with quotes from the teacher Mr. Sorce and information on students.
Students in Mrs. Dougherty's and Mrs. Proudfoot's Creative Writing classes became Santa's helpers by writing return letters to West Bend children who wrote letters to Santa at the West Bend Christmas Parade.
Yearbook Ordering Information
Don’t forget to order your 2022-2023 West Bend High Schools yearbook! A yearbook is a great way to capture memories of the year’s activities. The cost is $57 and may be paid with check (WBHS), cash, e-Funds (with a small service fee), in person credit or debit card (with a small service fee) or directly with our publisher Herff Jones. Direct orders with Herff Jones do incur a handling fee per book but this is the only option if you wish to order a name plate for your yearbook for an additional charge. To purchase your 2022-2023 yearbook with Herff Jones, please click here: https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/job/21582. (You will receive a marketing email from Herff Jones every two weeks until either a yearbook is ordered or you unsubscribe in the email.) All orders are due by late April. Please email Sue Maus with questions smaus@wbsd-schools.org.