Temporary guidelines will govern student trips to France and Germany
By Cassidy Scherzer, Current Staff
For the first time since 2018, students at the West Bend High Schools are traveling on international language trips. However this year, it looks a little different.
Continue readingFiled under School News and Features
By Cassidy Scherzer, Current Staff
Let’s do the math: When Cullen Brickner scored a perfect 200 on the General Educational Development Option II math exam, it was the highest score by a West Bend School District student in the 13 years the program has existed.
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By Caroline Peplinski, Current Staff
The coronavirus pandemic forever changed the lives of nearly every human on the planet. Current juniors at the West Bend High Schools, for example, have never had a normal year of high school.
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By Cassidy Scherzer, Current Staff
One area student has gained behind-the-scenes experience at the Bend, West Bend’s historic theater that survived the Great Depression and now a global pandemic.
Continue readingFiled under Community, Entertainment
How has COVID-19 affected your reading habits?
“I have always been a very avid reader, and I can honestly say it only increased over Covid, especially over the spring break. I checked out 42 books from the library.”
Dana Timmermon, West senior
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Filed under Viewpoint
By Leah Schmidt, Current Staff
If the pandemic era has felt a little like being isolated in a swamp, Tess Breit believes area audiences are ready for a fairy tale experience.
Continue readingFiled under Entertainment, School News and Features
COVID-19 presented challenges for choir, band and orchestra
By Kayla Lemens, Current Staff
After eight long months, the music department is finally returning to normal.
Continue readingFiled under School News and Features
By Kayla Lemens, Current Staff
A new lounge at the West Bend High Schools has created new opportunities for students and, according to some staff members, new headaches.
Continue readingFiled under School News and Features
COVID-19 will not cancel this year’s Dolphins show
By Norah Johnstone, Current Staff
This might be Bridget Pfiel’s second year coaching Dolphins, but it’s her first show.
Continue readingFiled under Sports
Area teachers and former video store clerks ponder what Family Video’s closing means for the culture of film viewing
By Elise Marlett, Editor in Chief
It’s the end of an era.
As of February 28, all Family Video locations across the country are permanently closed, including the location in West Bend. With Family Video being the only remaining video rental store in West Bend prior to closure, local movie lovers must accept a transition from discs to streaming. For many, the transition prompts deep feelings of nostalgia as the culture of film viewing has changed so drastically in the past decades.
Continue readingFiled under Community, Entertainment
By Noelle Mentch, Current Staff
Kurt Rebholz believes that his financial background and openness to different ideas are some of his strengths that make him a great member of the school board.
Continue readingFiled under Community, School News and Features
By Megan Landvatter, Current Staff
After serving on the school board for the past three years, Chris Zwygart believes that he is ready for a second term.
Continue readingFiled under Community, School News and Features
By Megan Landvatter, Current Staff
After watching her three daughters graduate from West Bend West High School, Jody Geenen hopes to give back to her community once more.
Continue readingFiled under Community, School News and Features
By Megan Landvatter, Current Staff
A year ago, Chris Meyers spent his Friday nights seating customers at Texas Roadhouse. Now, he spends his Friday nights wiping down menus.
Continue readingFiled under School News and Features
By Elise Marlett, Editor in Chief
The COVID-19 pandemic couldn’t cancel this decades-old tradition. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
By Elise Marlett, Editor in Chief
The West Bend High Schools have a new approach to limiting the spread of COVID-19. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
By Amber Georgenson, Current Staff
After months of renovations, the West Bend West High School library is reopening for student and faculty usage. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
To stem the spread of COVID-19, students will be split by last name into two groups that will alternate between in-person and virtual learning starting Wednesday. What are your thoughts about the new cohort model?
“I actually really like it because it is a good way to limit the spread of COVID while still being able to go to school.”
Lydia Winklbauer, East senior
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Filed under School News and Features, Viewpoint
By Caroline Peplinski, Current Staff
Today marks the first opportunity for clubs and co-curriculars at the West Bend High Schools to connect in person this year.
Filed under School News and Features
VIEWPOINT
By Elise Marlett, Editor in Chief
I do not envy those in power in this school district whose choices have the potential to drastically alter the lives of my friends, family and teachers. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features, Viewpoint
By Elise Marlett, Current Staff
As of Tuesday, Diane Malicki has sewn an estimated 75 face masks for her neighbors in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Continue reading
Filed under Community
By Caitlin Marsch, Current Staff
After a safer-at-home audition, West Bend West High School junior Brionna Banovich has been selected as one of the top eight student bassoonists in the state of Wisconsin. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
West Bend graduate is a public health scientist in New York City
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
The City That Never Sleeps now resembles a ghost town.
That’s what Kacie Seil, a former West Bender now living in New York City, says about how the COVID-19 outbreak has affected her current home.
Seil, an epidemiologist who attended Yale University after graduating from West Bend East High School in 2006, serves as a research scientist for data integrity at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. As a resident and analyst, Seil has seen the impact of the coronavirus pandemic up close. Continue reading
Filed under Community
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
Andrea Sargentoni says he “underestimated” the virus at first
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
Italian student Andrea Sargentoni, like many people around the world, underestimated the severity and swift spread of the coronavirus.
Sargentoni was working through his fifth and final year of high school in Ancona, Italy, when his country’s first cases of COVID-19 were reported in late January and early February. The number of coronavirus cases and deaths rapidly escalated to the point that Sargentoni, who spent last year studying at West Bend West High School, now lives under a national lockdown. Continue reading
Filed under Community
Twins were in Spain when President Trump announced new travel restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
Last week, two West Bend graduates were uncertain that they would be able to return home to the United States. Continue reading
Filed under Community
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
The West Bend Current 