Local student journalists earn 24 awards
Ten West Bend students have been recognized in a statewide contest for high school journalists. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Eric Beltmann
Tooting Our Own Horn: NEWSPA Awards 2020
Filed under School News and Features
East Grad Worked Behind the Scenes at the Milwaukee Film Festival
Twenty short film collections are included in this year’s Milwaukee Film Festival
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
Moviegoers may have a West Bend graduate to thank for the forthcoming Milwaukee Film Festival’s setlist of short films. Continue reading
Filed under Community, Entertainment
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
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
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
Welcome to the 2018-19 School Year
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
Unique and valuable stories can be found in nearly every hallway of the West Bend High Schools. Will you take part in sharing them to keep the district community informed?
To those intrigued, the Current would like to offer an invitation to join our award-winning staff of student journalists. Consider serving as a reporter, columnist, photographer or entertainment reviewer. Please remember that it is our mission to consistently present fair and accurate information as we aim to establish a strong foundation in journalism.
For more details, see adviser Mr. Beltmann in room S95.
Filed under School News and Features
The Student Becomes the Teacher
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
It’s all coming full circle for Danielle Schumacher.
Schumacher, an English teacher at West Bend West High School, has agreed to take on the Honors English II course for the upcoming school year beginning Sept. 4. She replaces Tiffany Gitter, who left for another district opportunity, and thus will now partner with East English teacher Eric Beltmann, who was her own teacher for the very same course over a decade ago. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Tooting Our Own Horn: NEWSPA Awards 2018
Student reporters earn 19 total awards
Five West Bend students earned blue ribbon honors in a statewide contest for high school journalists. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Tooting Our Own Horn: NEWSPA Awards 2017
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
Filed under School News and Features
Welcome to the 2016-17 School Year
![2016.05.23 - Hannah Bensen [crop]](https://westbendcurrent.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/2016-05-23-hannah-bensen-crop.jpg)
By Hannah Bensen, Editor in Chief
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.
Filed under School News and Features
Tooting Our Own Horn: NEWSPA Awards 2016
WBHS journalists score 12 awards in statewide contest
For the second year in a row, The West Bend Current received top recognition from the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association.
Judges for the 2016 NEWSPA contest again gave blue ribbon honors to The Current for a website not published as part of a journalism class, saying that many of the stories “reflect an original, enterprising approach to news gathering.”
The website’s student reporters also took home eleven individual awards. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Flitter Named Teacher of the Year
Prizes pile up for East social studies teacher
By Jessica Steger, Current Staff
It’s been a good year for Jessica Flitter, East social studies teacher. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Hallway Pass or Medieval Flail?
By Jessica Steger, Current Staff
It is common knowledge that high schoolers are not world-renowned for their self-control. So when handed a wooden pass with a long lanyard, it is only natural for them to start swinging.
West Bend students are not immune to this temptation, and numerous examples of this behavior can be found in the WBHS halls on any given day. Some students and teachers feel that the restroom passes have become a danger in the halls. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Welcome to the 2015-16 School Year
By Lauren Sorensen, Editor in Chief
Calling all current event enthusiasts! Would you like a hand in keeping both the students of the West Bend High Schools and community members informed about what is going on? The Current invites you to join our staff of reporters, ranging from movie reviewers to photographers to investigative journalists. There is always a story to write at The Current. If this draws you in, please see adviser Mr. Beltmann in room S95.
Filed under School News and Features
Tooting Our Own Horn: NEWSPA Awards 2015
Kopish leads with three prizes in statewide journalism contest
Students at West Bend East and West High took home seven individual awards in the 2015 NEWSPA contest for student journalism. The West Bend Current also earned blue ribbon honors for online publication. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Stop the Presses! East Graduate Chosen to Lead College Newspaper
Shelby Larson edits a draft of The Fourth Estate, the student newspaper at UW-Green Bay.
By Alex Kopish, Editor in Chief
Shelby Larson’s strong passion for writing has made her the editor-in-chief of not one, but two newspapers.
“Mr. Beltmann asked me if I ever thought about being a writer. I had thought about trying it but I never thought I was good until he told me I was,” Larson said, remembering her 10th-grade English teacher. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Blue and Gigantic
Former student donates art piece to English teacher
By Lauren Sorensen, Current Staff
Sitting in Eric Beltmann’s stifling hot English class in May could prompt a student to set their gaze upon the artwork on the room walls, rather than the grammar being taught at the front.
If students look to their left, their eyes may be drawn to a print of the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg from The Great Gatsby, which students read fourth quarter in Beltmann’s 10th grade honors English class. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Teachers of the Year
Two high school teachers given Rolfs award
By Lauren Sorensen, Current Staff
As her family pushed aside the curtain, Cindy Mennig’s eyes began to well up. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Who Does Number Two Work For?
The men’s restroom near the East social studies hallway has recently been the scene of several mysterious scatalogical crimes.
By Mike Smale, Current Staff
School bathrooms have always been scary to germ-fearing students. However, school bathrooms in the last month have not only gotten grosser, but also weirder. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Tooting Our Own Horn: NEWSPA Awards 2014
Wanasek and Smale earn top honors in statewide journalism contest
Students at West Bend East and West High took home seven awards in the 2014 NEWSPA contest for student journalism.
The Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association gave blue ribbon honors to Natalie Wanasek for her academic news writing and to Mike Smale for his feature photography. Smale led all staff members with three prizes. All awards were given to The West Bend Current, the news blog advised by Eric Beltmann. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
The West Bend Current 