Teachers at Decorah Elementary School organized a car parade today to connect with their students. Students haven’t seen their teachers since schools were closed March 13 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The parade started on Vine Street and traveled through several neighborhoods. Staff members from Silverbrook Intermediate School will parade Monday starting at 5 p.m. Distance learning starts Tuesday.
Filed under Community, School News and Features
VIEWPOINT
By Caitlin Marsch, Current Staff
I never thought that my senior year at the West Bend High Schools would be abruptly altered by a deadly virus. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features, Viewpoint
Students understand, but still feel disappointed
By Elise Marlett, Current Staff
Global illness concern has forced the West Bend High Schools band to reconsider their own safety.
Even before today’s announcement that the West Bend School District will close for the next four weeks due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, the WBHS band had postponed their spring break tour of Italy. Since the trip will now take place during the spring break of 2021, current seniors will not be able to attend and are being issued full refunds. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
West senior heads to U.S. military academy in June
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
James Miller’s childhood dream of attending West Point is at long last becoming a reality. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
By Annika Olson, Current Staff
The West Bend Student Council has asked DJay Mando to put a new spin on Charity Week. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
Celebrate with food and entertainment
By Megan Landvatter, Current Staff
For the third annual Black History Month Celebration, the West Bend High Schools are welcoming the Water Street Dancers. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
What are your thoughts about standards-based grading, the alternative to traditional letter grades that has been used this year in some high school classrooms?
“I like it because it’s in favor of the students.”
Mara Perkins, West senior
Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features, Viewpoint
For students of the closed Pathways Charter School, the transition to WBHS has been an adjustment
By Megan Landvatter, Current Staff
In Jack Elliot’s first week transitioning to West Bend East High School, he had to drop two classes—his first time ever doing so. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
By Elise Marlett, Current Staff
The orchestra program is putting on their largest performance in history. Continue reading
Filed under Entertainment, School News and Features
Drum major Larscheidt challenges Tillman for first chair
By Megan Landvatter, Current Staff
Leah Duckert-Kroll, in her 17 years working with the West Bend High Schools Band program, cannot remember having two drum majors who play the same instrument. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
School board will recognize East teacher who won a state award for his many activities on behalf of local veterans
By Darick Fait, Current Staff
Honoring veterans is one of the things that Scott Mindel has chosen to spend much of his time doing. It was just a matter of time before he received the recognition he deserves. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
Rollout of new career planning vehicle hasn’t been smooth
By Rachel Gergetz, Current Staff
The very tool meant to help students is causing them confusion. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Students can help custodians by properly using the trash and recycling bins
By Elise Marlett and Noelle Mentch, Current Staff
Custodians at the West Bend High Schools may be working harder to protect the environment than students realize. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
VIEWPOINT
By Stephanie Snyder, Current Staff
Fitting in at a new school can be frightening.
Pathways Charter School was closed by the West Bend School District in June, which means this fall Pathways students like me moved to East and West High Schools fulltime. The transition hasn’t always been easy. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features, Viewpoint
By Annika Olson, Current Staff
Leah Duckert-Kroll has put together an unusual twist for the upcoming West Bend High Schools band concert next week. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
For local foreign exchange students, this month’s school shooter threats were a culture shock. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Plans include a new district safety coordinator position
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
Improving campus security has now become a top priority at the West Bend High Schools. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
Before last week, Kayla Lemens had never been afraid to come to school. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
By Lily Mottet, Current Staff
For West art teacher Deborah Prahl, teaching Advanced Placement Art History has been a goal for a long time. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Friday’s Veterans Day assembly at the West Bend High Schools featured many area veterans and a rare visit by the U.S. Army Drill Team from Fort Meyer in Arlington, Virginia. Photos by Olivia Langdon, Current Staff.
Filed under Community, School News and Features
Veterans Day assembly will feature internationally recognized drill team
By Darick Fait, Current Staff
While sitting in his tree stand last November, Scott Mindel decided that in 2019, Veterans Day at the West Bend High Schools would be bigger and better than ever. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
Soles4Souls will send donated shoes to those who need them
By Caitlin Marsch, Current Staff
This year, the Spanish program’s usual Day of the Dead celebration at the West Bend High Schools will have a global impact. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
Twin Day: The administration of West Bend East and West High Schools dressed as triplets during homecoming week. From left to right: John Graf, Zachary Daniels, Tyler Wood, Michelle Marschel, Patrick O’Connor and Ralph Schlass. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Rausch.
By Noelle Mentch, Current Staff
They might be new to the school, but that doesn’t mean they are new to the game. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
West senior will attend prestigious culinary school
By Caitlin Marsch, Current Staff
For West Bend West High School senior Maddy Coultas, a passion for the culinary arts led to being accepted into her dream college. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Are students allowed to use phones for academic reasons during resource and study hall?
By Kael Beltmann, Current Staff
Maddie Fell wanted to do her homework, but her teacher said no. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
WBHS has implemented a solution designed by two seniors
By Rachel Gergetz, Current Staff
After struggling for years with misplaced Chromebooks and tangled cords, two West Bend East High School students decided to invent a solution. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
With cars racing past them on Main Street, a group of local students raised homemade signs to call for change. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
Members of SEED, the environmental club at the West Bend High Schools, participated in today’s West Bend Climate Strike at the Regner Park Labyrinth. The local demonstration was part of a worldwide effort demanding government action on climate change. Photos by Veda Selin, Current staff.
Filed under School News and Features
Students give standing ovation to 13-year-old speaker
By Elise Marlett, Current Staff
Walking into the auditorium, students were expecting a drug and alcohol presentation like any other, but were pleasantly surprised. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
Suicide prevention is deeply personal for the new club’s adviser
By Elise Marlett, Current Staff
Anticipating high student turnout, a new club has moved its first meeting to one of the largest rooms in the school. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
Perhaps you have a passion for storytelling. You crave the written word. You take photographs to share your interests and ideas. Maybe you are curious about how our lives are affected by the events unfolding within and beyond the walls of the West Bend High Schools.
If this sounds like you, then the Current extends an invitation to join our award-winning staff of student journalists. Consider serving as an investigative reporter, columnist, photographer, cartoonist or entertainment reviewer. We uphold a mission to consistently provide accurate and balanced news for the local community as we engage the principles of authentic journalism.
For more information, please see Mr. Beltmann in room S95.
(Photo of Samantha Dietel courtesy of Hannah Kane.)
Filed under School News and Features
(Slinger Speedway High School Challenge School Bus Figure 8 Race. June 16, 2019.)
Filed under School News and Features
Principal Darci VanAdestine says farewell to East High
By Alissa Ihlenfeld, Current Staff
Before leaving West Bend East High School, principal Darci VanAdestine has a few more laughs to share. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
By Alissa Ihlenfeld, Current Staff
Richard Prost didn’t always know he wanted to be a teacher.
Prost, a West Bend East High School science teacher, was given the title of Teacher of the Year by the Rolfs Educational Foundation May 6. He accepted the award in the East Library amidst family and colleagues. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
By Noelle Mentch and Darick Fait, Current Staff
Many things have changed since the 1990s, but Scott Mindel’s daily lunch routine hasn’t. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
