West grads help lead major university athletic programs
By Anthony Schlass, Current Staff
Two ambitious individuals from West Bend have upgraded from playing high school sports to directing big time collegiate athletics.
Both Craig Pintens and Mike Houck are highly respected officials at their respective universities. Pintens, a 1994 West High School graduate, is now at the University of Oregon and is the Senior Associate Athletic Director. Houck, a 1990 West graduate, is at the University of Oklahoma and serves as the Assistant Athletics Director/Strategic Communications. Continue reading →
There’s something off about the buzzed-about episode of “Black Mirror”
At what point does satire become propaganda?
Simply put, satire is caustic criticism, whereas propaganda is the demonization of a target in order to push what the author views as “good.” The two can be hard to separate at times (especially since satire of propaganda is pretty popular), but it’s important to know what’s what.
Habitat for Humanity dedicated its latest house to the Komp family, amid many of the dedicated volunteers who have helped with the building.
In addition to the home, the Komp family received a check of $1,085.94, which was raised by the West Bend East National Honor Society through a holiday loose-coin drive. Continue reading →
Former teacher will serve a fourth term in the Wisconsin State Assembly
By Hannah Bensen, Editor in Chief
State Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt has always had a passion for politics and education, and he had a chance to combine both those interests as a government teacher at Fond du Lac High School.
Now, Thiesfeldt will continue to translate his educational positions into policy. He was re-elected to a fourth term as the Republican representative for Assembly District 52 on Nov. 8.Continue reading →
Unlike a wizard, you don’t need a wand to save lives, just a needle.
The West Bend High Schools’ Student Council hosted a blood drive Wednesday with the BloodCenter of Wisconsin. It was held in the south gym, with students, teachers, and community members all coming in to donate blood.
The blood drive has been held in years past, but this year StuCo added some extra spirit by creating a Harry Potter theme. For Kelly Sorce, a family and consumer teacher and StuCo adviser, it was a dream come true. Continue reading →
As six-year-old Saleem Soden tried to sink a putt at a mini golf course, the cameras were rolling, the lights were on, and everyone was watching.
Saleem and his mother Hadwat acted as extras in “Another Yesterday,” a feature film directed by Steven Heil in Oshkosh throughout the month of October. Hadwat and Saleem are the wife and son of Joel Soden, a math teacher at West Bend East High School. Continue reading →
Ruth Ruh, long-time administrative assistant, will retire Dec. 22
By Hannah Bensen, Editor in Chief
Ruth Ruh has been going to high school for nearly 30 years.
This streak will come to an end Dec. 22 when Ruh will retire as the administrative assistant to the principal, a job she has had since 1992. Ruh was a high school student herself at West Bend High School, and she graduated in 1969. Continue reading →
Math courses are trying a new student-led curriculum
By Abby Gawrych and Lily Mottet, Current Staff
East ninth grader Jordan Jentsch never expected to act as the teacher in her math class.
The WBHS curriculum for algebra and geometry was altered this year, moving to a group-based learning style. Some of the high school teachers believed that a group approach would be beneficial to the students. They started their research a year ago but the plan was first implemented after observing the teaching style in person at a high school in Oshkosh. Continue reading →
The West Bend High Schools drumline beat out their competition, literally.
The drumline traveled to Milwaukee Nov. 26 for the annual Fresh Coast Drumline and Basketball Competition. The competition was held at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, with the drumline placing second out of seven schools. The competition was judged by professional percussionists.
Besides bragging rights, another perk to placing in the competition was the prize money. The drumline received $500 for their second place finish. This money is used to directly benefit the drumline through the purchase of new equipment. Continue reading →
The music program at West Bend High Schools is experiencing a new era.
Seth Matuszak and David Pecsi are the new faces of the music department. Matuszak teaches orchestra while Pecsi teaches choir, and as new teachers, they have been learning right along with the students as the year continues. Now that each has a concert or two under the belt, they are thinking about combining the skills of the choir and orchestra for some of the upcoming shows. Continue reading →
Hall of Fame coach has guided generations of local talent
By Justin Scherzer, Current Staff
Not many NFL coaches can claim a 45-year tenure, but there’s one living in West Bend.
Of course, the NFL in question is the National Forensics League, and the coach is Doris Sexton, who has served as a forensics and debate coach for East High School since 1971. Continue reading →
Each tennis state qualifier from WBHS is a valedictorian candidate
By Auburn Larson, Current Staff
West Bend girls tennis has been serving up aces both on and off the court for the past four years.
This season four East seniors and one West junior qualified to play in the WIAA Division 1 Girls State Individual Tennis Tournament in Madison on Oct. 13-14. Perhaps even more impressive, though, is that all five girls have a perfect 4.0 GPA and are potential valedictorians. Continue reading →
Katelyn Schultz is not your prototypical student-athlete, but she recently accomplished one of her greatest feats.
Schultz, a West junior, competes in horse competitions and this year she went to Nationals, the largest single breed show in the world, and her horse won.
“It’s something I never thought would happen because it’s really expensive, but my parents support me so much. I was so shocked. You never think you’re going to be the one to win,” Schultz said.
Even with all of her success, Katelyn does have an everyday obstacle: She was born without depth perception, making sports like volleyball and basketball difficult to play. Continue reading →
Gabbie Becker again flipped over the Trump magnet on the fridge, much to her mother’s chagrin.
As with the country as a whole, the 2016 presidential election has divided the Becker family. Gabbie, an East senior, has reservations but prefers Hillary Clinton, while her mom, Paula, a West Bend real estate agent, plans to vote for Donald Trump. Continue reading →
It’s the question that many high schoolers are asked to consider at some point in their lives: What do you want to be when you grow up?
This question is often met with ambiguous and uncertain answers, but for West senior Max Rettler, the answer is clear. He wants to become a priest. Continue reading →
Last week, a high school library aide was prevented by school administration from setting up an information table regarding the 2016 elections.
The display would have equally included books, bumper stickers, and buttons for the Democratic and Republican nominees in the elections for president and US senate. The intention was to educate students, not endorse a candidate. Continue reading →
It was just a matter of time before West shortstop Evan Albrecht followed in the footsteps of his three West teammates and lifelong best friends.
By committing to Purdue University, Albrecht becomes the fourth Division I baseball commit for the Spartans, behind teammates Anthony Schlass (Oklahoma), Nathan Burns (Oregon State) and Jack Thelen (Wisconsin-Milwaukee). Albrecht, a junior, has played two seasons for the Spartans and has two more to go.
The recruiting process was not the most enjoyable for the sure-handed shortstop. Continue reading →
How do you convey the sensation of liking the initial premise of something, but hating the end result of that premise? That’s my dilemma with “Glitch.”
To elaborate, “Glitch” is an Australian series now on Netflix about six people who are resurrected from the dead. Each of these six people come from different time periods and different walks of life, but share one thing in common: they are obsolete. Simply put, the world moved on after they died and those that cared for them are either dead, senile or not the people they knew while they were alive. Continue reading →
Dennis Ziegler, the new East athletic director, has committed to a year-long challenge. He has extended an invitation to all East sports teams to give him an athletic challenge, and he will fulfill that request at their practice for that day.
On Tuesday, Ziegler joined the boys varsity soccer team for a pk5 shootout, acting as both a goalie and a shooter. He previously ran with the girls cross country team, running eight Decorah Hills, and joined the girls volleyball team by performing a five-ball drill with them. Continue reading →
There’s nothing like watching the same story become a completely different one in a matter of moments.
“Right Now, Wrong Then,” a South Korean film that played at this year’s Milwaukee Film Festival, differentiates itself from those in its genre with the original idea of blending the same story into two separate ones, transformed by adjustments in a few subtleties. Continue reading →
SAGA members raised more money for the AIDS Walk & 5K Run than any other high school group in the state
By Kaitlyn Von Behren, Current Staff
The WBHS Sexuality and Gender Alliance fundraised over triple their goal for this year’s AIDS Walk & 5K Run.
SAGA’s goal was $500, and the total raised was $1690. Donations were collected in late September and early October.
The AIDS Walk & 5K Run was held Oct. 1 at Milwaukee’s Summerfest Grounds. The event is put on by the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin to raise funds to increase access to life-saving health care among those with HIV and AIDS. Continue reading →
The left brain and right brain merge seamlessly to create Bill Millonig, former East math teacher and current artist.
In August, a painting by Millonig was chosen as the winning trout stamp for 2017. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources holds yearly contests for the stamps, which residents must purchase to hunt or fish the particular species. Continue reading →
Local veteran will appear at Monday’s film screening at UW-WC
By Allison Trampe, Current Staff
Some people know Anthony Anderson as a neighbor, some as a war veteran. Others know him as a lead in the new documentary “Almost Sunrise.” Continue reading →
Last week I was transported to a small town in China.
“Kaili Blues,” a movie playing at this year’s Milwaukee Film Festival, is a terrific work of art that evokes emotion and engulfs audiences with an emphasis on visualization. I was entranced by the images floating across the screen as a complicated story unfolded in front of my eyes. Continue reading →
“He who fights with CGI monsters should look to it that he himself does not become CGI…. When you gaze long at the spasming, spinny camera, the spasming, spinny camera gazes into you…”
Another summer hath come and gone, yet the eternal wheels of Television keep turning. Preacher was orange, JoJo’s was weird, but there’s a particular series that really stood out to me over the summer season… it’s Berserk 2016. I’ve said it time and time again, I’m a hardcore fan of the Japanese Berserk and highly recommend the stellar, if poorly animated Berserk 1997. It only took 19 years without a proper continuation to the series for Berserk to finally get a continuation of its story. Continue reading →
What’s the most interesting thing you did over summer?
“So I was out at around 11 at night and we were looking for turtles. I had seen them underneath a rock and so I put a stick underneath the shell and I grabbed it by the tail. We measured the shell, and it has to be 12 inches, and then we took it back. We ended up making turtle soup out of it. The meat is pretty tough, so you have to slow cook it, but it was pretty good. I would recommend it. ” Logan Woods, East senior
Like many other West Bend dads, Erik Olson took some pictures, socialized with other parents, and then walked his two youngest kids to school for their first day. Then, he went to work as the new superintendent of the West Bend School District. Continue reading →
Do you have a passion for writing? Do you enjoy learning new things about different people? Consider utilizing these interests by joining The Current staff as an investigative reporter or columnist. Is photography or watching films a hobby of yours? Combine your passions as a photographer or entertainment critic.
There is a wide array of positions available for a number of different interests. Please see Mr. Beltmann in room S95 for details.
West junior returns to her team after a traumatic injury
By Anthony Schlass, Current Staff
After spending a year sidelined, Rachel Walecki returned to the soccer field in May.
Walecki tore her ACL during her sophomore soccer season and it’s been a long battle to get back on the field with her West teammates. Continue reading →
Students with a negative balance in their lunch accounts are turned away
By Kara Conley, Current Staff
Rules are rules, even when it comes to lunch.
Lunch provides a small amount of time for students to enjoy food and conversation in the middle of the day. However, some students are unable to share in the food part due to the hot lunch policy regarding account balances. Continue reading →
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