Playing the game is not always about the scoreboard
By Lily Mottet, Current Staff
With the end of the football season approaching, West senior Mason Wallschlaeger is putting everything he can into each game. Continue reading
West Seniors Aim to Break Eight-Year Losing Streak
Local Students Demand Government Action on Climate Change
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
Climate Strike 2019
PHOTO ESSAY
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
Rise Together to Prevent Addiction
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
Youth Impact Club Will Promote Mental Wellness
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
Welcome to the 2019-20 School Year
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
Battle of the Buses 2019
(Slinger Speedway High School Challenge School Bus Figure 8 Race. June 16, 2019.)
Filed under School News and Features
Five Years of Memories
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
Prost Named Rolfs Teacher of the Year
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
The Hot Lunch King
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
The Current Staff Recognized by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association
Eight total awards is a new school record
Four members of the West Bend Current earned six first place prizes in a statewide contest. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Remembering Local Heroes Lost to War
As a Memorial Day tribute, this video honors the 29 graduates from the West Bend High Schools who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. The video, which was produced by East social studies teacher Scott Mindel, was shown Friday to all WBHS students in their resource period.
Filed under Community, School News and Features
Video Announcements 5/24/19
(Video created by students in West Bend High Schools’ advanced video production class, under the supervision of Michael Bentdahl, East High technology teacher.)
Filed under School News and Features
Video Announcements 5/17/19
(Video created by students in West Bend High Schools’ advanced video production class, under the supervision of Michael Bentdahl, East High technology teacher.)
Filed under School News and Features
Student Club Takes Over Patty’s Closet
Service loans out formal clothing to students
By Caitlin Marsch, Current Staff
Thanks to the work of volunteers, students in need will be able to look sharp while attending Saturday’s prom and other school functions. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Aw, Snap! She’s Never Seen a Marvel Movie
By Justin Scherzer, Current Staff
While the whole world lined up to see the ever-anticipated “Avengers: Endgame,” one West Bend student opted to save her money.
In the past decade, there have been 22 hit films released in the massively successful Marvel Cinematic Universe, but East High School senior Grace Peplinski has never seen a single one. Below, Peplinski explains how she lives life without superheroes. Continue reading
Filed under Entertainment
The Current View: Endgame
What are your thoughts about “Avengers: Endgame”?
“Bring tissues to the movie, it’s sad. You really have to see it to get the full experience and to have seen the previous movies, otherwise it won’t make sense.”
Peter Steffen, West junior
Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features, Viewpoint
Impact 4 Life 2019
IMPACT 4 LIFE
On Thursday, juniors at the West Bend High Schools witnessed a mock traffic accident to learn how choices can have destructive consequences. Today’s assembly continued the lesson and included these videos produced by WBHS digital media students.
Filed under School News and Features
Dolphins Game Show
PHOTO ESSAY
The theme for the 2019 Dolphins synchronized swim program was “Dolphins Game Show.” The program ran last weekend in the West Bend High Schools natatorium. These photos were taken Saturday by Olivia Langdon, Current Staff.
Filed under School News and Features
New to WBHS: Citizen Advocates
Organization supports students with disabilities
By Grace Peplinski, Current Staff
On Thursdays in the hidden J hallway, there is a group that makes catapults to shoot cotton balls!
This year, an organization called Citizen Advocates has come to the West Bend High Schools. Citizen Advocates is a non-profit organization that supports students with disabilities by doing activities and forming friendships with other students in the building. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Tooting Our Own Horn: NEWSPA Awards 2019
Dietel leads with 11 awards
Members of the West Bend Current set a school record with 28 individual awards in a statewide contest for high school journalists. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
West Bend Talent Included in Lake Country Film Festival Lineup
By Justin Scherzer, Current Staff
Three future film directors may currently be walking the halls of the West Bend High Schools. Continue reading
Filed under Entertainment, School News and Features
The Second Annual Anatomy Classes’ Blood Drive
PHOTO ESSAY
For the 2nd Annual Anatomy Classes’ Blood Drive, students studying human anatomy and medical interventions partnered with the Blood Center of Wisconsin to host a blood drive Thursday at the West Bend High Schools. The drive complemented their academic units on blood, organ donation and “How to Prevail When Organs Fail.”
Filed under School News and Features
Competitive Winter Guard Enjoys Inaugural Season
Team earned second place at Midwest Championships
By Caitlin Marsch, Current Staff
Which new team competes with sabers and flags? Continue reading
Filed under Sports
Video Announcements 4/5/19
(Video created by students in West Bend High Schools’ advanced video production class, under the supervision of Michael Bentdahl, East High technology teacher.)
Filed under School News and Features
Jackson Elementary Feels Like Home
New job for area mom leads to a surprising reunion
By Kael Beltmann, Current Staff
Karen Carlson is back on the playground at Jackson Elementary School, this time with a whistle. Continue reading
Schools Must Encourage the Youth Vote
VIEWPOINT
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
I will likely be one of the few local teens participating in our American democracy on Tuesday. Continue reading
Video Announcements 3/22/19
(Video created by students in West Bend High Schools’ advanced video production class, under the supervision of Michael Bentdahl, East High technology teacher.)
Filed under School News and Features
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
