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
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
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
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
West Bend’s Charity Week will help fund a 9/11 memorial in nearby Kewaskum
By Grace Peplinski, Current Staff
The rumors were floating around school: Was West Bend really inviting Kewaskum to its charity dance? And was it because of low turnout in the past? Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
By Abby Gawrych, Current Staff
For choir teacher Tess Tranel, the West Bend theater stage is both a fresh and familiar experience. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Three class sets of VR goggles are available to teachers
By Grace Peplinski, Current Staff
Some students at West Bend High Schools have gotten a taste of reality, virtual reality that is.
The West Bend School District has been trying out different virtual reality, or VR, programs that will assist with students’ learning and understanding on a variety of different topics. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
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
Two seats on the West Bend School Board will be up for grabs in an at-large election on April 3.
Joining incumbent Monte Schmiege on the ballot are three challengers, Chris Zwygart, Kurt Rebholz and Mary Weigand. Leaving the board is Tim Stellmacher, who was appointed to the board mid-term and did not file for 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
Why are you running for school board?
Well, I have three years of experience in the district. I think it is important to have some experience on the board rather than new members every single year because it does take some time to get acclimated to the business of the school board and what it’s all like, what the responsibilities are, what you should be doing and what you shouldn’t be doing. So it takes quite a bit of time to get acquainted to all of that. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
What are your budgeting priorities for the school district?
Seventy-five percent of the money goes towards staffing so that is a big component of that and then you’ve got a component which would be for construction materials and all of that. The district is putting 1.4 million dollars into retaining the school grounds. Those are the primary ones and we also have debt that we have to pay for. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
What is the board’s role when it comes to curriculum changes?
That’s an interesting question because I have a different opinion on that. Some people will say that we need to leave that to the experts and I don’t necessarily believe that. If we had policies or some way to describe what curriculum should look like that would be one thing, but we really don’t. And things change so much that it is difficult to do that. I think the board’s role is oversight. But I worked with administration to update our policy to allow the board to approve standards and curriculum and this is modeled after what Green Bay does, as a matter of fact. And the board is also responsible by law and action in August to authorize a list of board-approved standards so there is a precedent of the board approving standards. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
By Grace Peplinski, Current Staff
The recent cold snap won’t bother Elizabeth Widen. After all, she spends much of her time in Antarctica.
Widen, a research scientist, gave a presentation to students in Paul DeLain’s Advanced Placement Environmental classes Jan. 30 in the Silver Lining Arts Center. Students learned about the research going on at the bottom of the planet. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
By Grace Peplinski, Current Staff
In “Jasper Jones,” a young man balanced on the edge between childhood and adolescence discovers a dark secret in his pristine hometown of Corrigan, Australia.
This interesting, impactful movie is just one of the many foreign and domestic films playing in this year’s Milwaukee Film Festival, which started Sept. 28. Continue reading
Filed under Entertainment
How prepared are you for the Advanced Placement tests?
“I feel pretty prepared. Our teachers all did a really good job at balancing things out over the year so we’re not cramming much in at the last second. And we have some time to review so overall I feel pretty good. Mostly I like to look at the review material that the teacher gives out, I don’t like going back in the textbook myself. The teachers usually do a pretty good job at giving us stuff that we could go over in order to be successful.”
Justin Scherzer, East sophomore
Filed under School News and Features, Viewpoint
The West Bend Current 