Tag Archives: Alina Prahl

‘I Never Had a Non-White Teacher’: New Group Seeks Change at the West Bend School District

By Elena Chamberlain, Current Staff

Former West Bend students have started a group that advocates for racial justice in both the community and school district. Continue reading

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Former Students Ask District to Act Against Racial Injustice

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

To leaders and members of the West Bend community:

This is a list of initiatives we would like to see implemented in the West Bend School District.

Right now, the whole world is finally listening to the call for action against racial injustice. We want meaningful change to create a community that works for ALL people. We know that the West Bend School District did not adequately prepare us for an increasingly diverse and inclusive society. We also know that the demographics of West Bend are changing. If we are truly preparing all students for excellence, we must also educate students to become culturally competent and aware of their roles and platforms to dismantle white supremacy in our national culture. Continue reading

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Head Start on College and Careers

Programs give high school students access to local college courses and business internships

By Justin Scherzer, Current Staff

Senior Peyton Janto can often be seen wearing business clothing at school because after four class periods at West Bend West High School he rushes to his internship at West Bend Mutual Insurance.

Janto is among the numerous WBHS students whose daily schedules differ from the traditional school day. Upperclassmen have the option to enroll in programs called Youth Options, Course Options and Co-op Youth Apprenticeships. These allow students to accept internships with local businesses or register for classes and programs not offered at the high school by traveling to locations such as the University of Wisconsin-Washington County and Moraine Park Technical College. Continue reading

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‘Our Thoughts Are Our Own’: Walkout Organizers Respond to School Board Candidate’s Criticisms

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

On Wednesday, March 14th, hundreds of students poured onto the West Bend High School’s football field to honor the seventeen lives that were taken on the Valentine’s Day Parkland shooting. In light of the recent discussion on school safety, we would like to respond to Mary Weigand’s blog post directed at “the protesting students and supportive administration” regarding the walkout. Mrs. Weigand is currently running for school board. We would also like to clarify and enlighten our community members on the events of the day. The following response does not reflect the views of the high school administration. Continue reading

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‘I Couldn’t Just Sit Back’: Protest Organizers Call for Change

WBHS students are divided about how to address school violence

By Elise Marlett and Lauren Oppermann, Current Staff

Four West Bend teenagers have taken the lead after the recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

East junior Lindsay Kramer, West senior Olivia McClain, East senior Alina Prahl and West sophomore Jada Williams organized the West Bend High Schools’ participation in a nationwide moment of silence. The demonstration took place 10 a.m. Wednesday on the football field. Continue reading

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‘They Have Been Through the Worst’: Two WBHS Seniors Help Refugees

By Samantha Dietel, Current Staff

Not long ago, local student Olivia McClain was reading picture books with Syrian refugees. Continue reading

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Tooting Our Own Horn: NEWSPA Awards 2017

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Bensen leads with four awards

The West Bend Current set a school record with 21 individual awards from the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association in a statewide contest for high school journalists. Continue reading

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To Conserve and Protect

West ninth grader advances to nationals in poster competition

By Hannah Bensen, Editor in Chief

Ally Klug spent three hours a night for two weeks working out every detail of her conservation poster.

The art piece was for the Conservation Poster Contest, a nationwide competition that aims to promote awareness of the environment and conservation among young Americans. The hard work paid off for the West Bend West High School ninth grader, as she received first place at the local and state levels and has advanced to the national level of competition in the division for grades 7-9. Klug has yet to find out if she placed at nationals. Continue reading

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A House Divided Against Itself

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By Alina Prahl, Current Staff

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

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Move Over, Steven Spielberg

By Alina Prahl, Current Staff

Five movies by West Bend students have hit the big screen.

The short films were featured at the inaugural Lake Country Film Festival, hosted by the Oconomowoc High School film department at the Oconomowoc Arts Center on April 8. The festival’s intent was to create a platform for exhibiting student films. WBHS was well represented, as its talented student filmmakers received many accolades. Continue reading

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Art Students Enter a New Dimension

ThreeArtStudents

By Alina Prahl, Current Staff

Three WBHS students have decided to break the mold.

Mikki Albiero, Matt Stoll, and Gunner Boettcher have elected to submit 3-D art portfolios for AP Studio Art class. They are the first to do so in the course’s history, according to their teacher Deborah Prahl. In the past, portfolios have been more traditional drawing or other two-dimensional projects. Continue reading

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