(Video created by students in West Bend High Schools’ advanced video production class, under the supervision of Michael Bentdahl, East High technology teacher.)
The Current View: School Temperatures
What are your thoughts about the heating and cooling systems at the high schools?
“In Mr. Clark’s classroom it is a hotbox and I usually need to take off multiple layers, compared to Mrs. Kastner’s class where she has to keep blankets in the closet because it is so cold. I also never know how to dress because the temperature fluctuates so much.”
Abigail Canfield, West junior
Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features, Viewpoint
Decision 2019: Meet the Three Candidates for School Board
The West Bend School Board will soon have two new faces.
With no incumbents on the April 2 ballot, voters will choose among newcomers Paul Fischer, Christopher Bach and Erin Dove to fill two open seats. Leaving the board are Tiffany Larson and Ken Schmidt. Both chose not to seek re-election.
The West Bend Current asked the candidates about their background. That interview material is presented below in the order that the candidates will appear on the ballot. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
Decision 2019: Board Candidates on the Referendum
What are your thoughts about the referendum?
Paul Fischer
I am in support of the referendum. I, like most people, don’t enjoy paying more taxes, but at the same time, I recognize that it costs money to operate and maintain buildings. We are a large school district, and there’s a lot to manage here, a lot to maintain. You take a look at the age of the high school specifically—a lot of the mechanicals are at the end of life, they needed to be replaced at some point in the past, most likely. But because of the conservative nature of this community, we’ve done what we can to maintain investments in the classroom, potentially sometimes at the expense on the maintenance things, above the ceiling, below the floor, and so forth that you don’t always see. But the time has come where we need to address those things. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
Decision 2019: Board Candidates on Their Vision for the District
What are the unique goals you would seek to achieve while on the school board?
Paul Fischer
My goal is to see the stability of the school district that they’ve attained in the last 12 months, to see that continue for the next 36 months. Beyond that, I really don’t have goals, per se, because I’m not bringing an agenda to the table. I think that’s maybe happened in the past, and that’s been part of our challenges as a community. We all want the same thing: to have well-rounded students coming out that are well-prepared for their post high school experience, whether that’s the workforce or secondary education. And our job is to support that, in the best way possible. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
Decision 2019: Board Candidates on the Importance of Education
Why is education important to you and what is your current experience with education?
Paul Fischer
From a priority perspective, education is the foundation that’s going to set our students up for everything else that happens in life, whether it’s formal classroom education, hands-on job experience, whatever the case may be. It’s giving students that opportunity, and then the onus is on the student to make the best of those situations that they possibly can. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
Gilbert Still Teaching French
CATCHING UP WITH JENNY GILBERT
By Abby Gawrych, Current Staff
For many students taking a French course at West Bend High Schools, Jenny Gilbert’s classroom was one where memories were made. Now, French students at Cedarburg High School are being offered the same chance. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Trumpet Player Selected for Statewide Touring Revue
By Grace Peplinski, Current Staff
While most kids will be spending their summer hanging out with friends, one West Bend trumpet player will be touring with a distinguished music group. Continue reading
Filed under Entertainment, School News and Features
Where’s Walter?
The face of visiting orchestra director Walter Muelling can be found in a beloved WBHS mural
By Lily Mottet, Current Staff
West Bend High Schools orchestra students never imagined the man painted in their classroom was based on a previous student. Or that the student would return to West Bend 13 years later. Continue reading
Filed under Entertainment, School News and Features
Teacher Honored by US Field Artillery Association
By Megan Landvatter, Contributing Writer
A West Bend teacher has been given the Molly Pitcher Award for her contributions to the U.S. military. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
That’s the Ticket
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
Two former West Bend students have partnered in a run for office. Continue reading
Filed under Community
Black History Month Celebration 2019
PHOTO ESSAY
The West Bend High Schools multicultural club presented the second annual Black History Month Celebration Thursday in the Silver Lining Arts Center. Highlights included speakers, food, prizes and a performance by Teju the Storyteller.
Filed under School News and Features
Vandalism Won’t Spoil Black History Month Celebration
Teju the Storyteller headlines Thursday’s event
By Elise Marlett, Current Staff
The leader of the West Bend High Schools multicultural club was in disbelief when she saw what had been done. Continue reading
Filed under Entertainment, School News and Features
Band of Neighbors
West Bend’s Charity Week will help fund a 9/11 memorial in nearby Kewaskum
By Grace Peplinski, Current Staff
The rumors were floating around school: Was West Bend really inviting Kewaskum to its charity dance? And was it because of low turnout in the past? Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
Sisters Study for High-Stakes Exam in France
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
While many West Bend students are preparing for the ACT, Pauline and Julianne Buisard are studying for their “bac” exam in France.
Pauline and Julianne, twin sisters who spent their ninth and tenth grade years at West Bend West High School, returned to their hometown of Nantes, France last August. Now juniors, they have been preparing for their upcoming baccalauréat exam, which they must pass in order to graduate from high school. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
The Ripple Effect of School Violence
Eight percent of county students report they have stayed home from school due to safety concerns
By Elise Marlett, Current Staff
Students at the West Bend High Schools still feel vulnerable one year after the Parkland, Fla. school shooting. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Board Votes to Close Pathways Charter School
By Caitlin Marsch, Current Staff
After a six-year tenure, Pathways Charter School will close in June. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
1,000 and Counting
By Alissa Ihlenfeld, Current Staff
The West Bend High Schools have recently seen not one, but two students reach a major milestone in their athletic careers. Continue reading
Filed under Sports
Leftover Paint Sparks Cross-Hall Rivalry
By Lily Mottet, Current Staff
Painting a hallway wasn’t supposed to renew the rivalry between West Bend East and West High Schools. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Many Students Struggle with Mental Health
Survey results may lead to changes in required health class
By Elise Marlett, Current Staff
More than half of the high school students in Washington County have struggled with their mental health. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Breaking the News: Why the Shakeup at the Local Paper Matters
VIEWPOINT
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
After what happened at the Daily News, I am concerned for the future of local journalism in West Bend. Continue reading
WBHS Athletic Directors are Pioneers
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
The West Bend High Schools are home to two of Wisconsin’s few female athletic directors.
Erin Felber and Molly Hengst have both recently joined WBHS to head the athletic programs. Felber took on the role of West athletic director at the start of the school year, while Hengst began serving as East High’s interim athletic director in December. The two women have entered positions that are typically held by men in Wisconsin. Continue reading
Filed under Sports
East Dance Program Recognized with National Award
Team also heads to state this weekend
By Kael Beltmann, Current Staff
When the West Bend East High School dance team found out they had won a national award, they had no idea they were even in the running. Continue reading
County Health Officer ‘Floored’ by High Vaping Percentage Among Students
WBHS will use education and law enforcement to combat vaping increase
By Elise Marlett, Current Staff
Many teens at the West Bend High Schools appear to be part of what the Food and Drug Administration describes as a nationwide epidemic. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
‘Roswell, New Mexico’ Hits a Wall
Sci-fi show wastes its potential for political allegory
The CW’s “Roswell, New Mexico” is another attempt to keep the “The Vampire Diaries” magic going. Now that that’s out of the way, we can talk about the series’ political message. Continue reading
Filed under Entertainment, Viewpoint
Taking a Different Approach
Social studies teacher uses a “flipped classroom”
By Alissa Ihlenfeld, Current Staff
There are few traditional things about Dave Talma’s classroom. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
‘Did You Hear Anything?’: Shutdown Keeps Area Family in Limbo
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
The ongoing U.S. government shutdown has led a woman with local ties to worry about her husband’s travel visa application. Continue reading
Filed under Community
Music Department Surprised by Budget Changes
Officials say teachers should continue their programs as planned
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
By the time orchestra director Seth Matuszak learned what his budget was for the year, it was nearly spent. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
No Changes Planned for WBHS Cell Phone Policy
All students will eventually have a Chromebook
By Justin Scherzer, Current Staff
Area schools are implementing cell phone bans, but the West Bend High Schools will not follow suit. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Revising the Social Studies Advanced Placement Courses
By Megan Landvatter, Current Staff
Changes in Advanced Placement structure have shaken up a few classrooms at the West Bend High Schools. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Holiday Community Blood Drive 2018
PHOTO ESSAY
The West Bend High Schools Student Council hosted a community blood drive today in the south gym by partnering with the Blood Center of Wisconsin. Many students, staff and members of the public donated their time and blood.
Filed under School News and Features
Spanish Club Sets Up Shop
Bracelets and purses made by Central American artists are for sale
By Ellie Scott, Current Staff
The West Bend High Schools Spanish Club is helping color the world, one pulsera at a time. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Dangerous Behavior Correlates With Transition to Junior Year
By Elise Marlett, Current Staff
It has been determined that sophomores and juniors take more risks than students in other grade levels.
According to the results of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey administered in April to Washington County students, there are aspects about the transition between sophomore and junior year that increase the likelihood that students will engage in dangerous activities. Several students at the West Bend High Schools have thoughts on why this is a trend in the data. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
