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
Jessica Steger, East junior, will serve as The Current‘s Editor in Chief for the 2017-18 school year. She replaces graduating senior Hannah Bensen. Congrats, Jessica!
Filed under School News and Features
By Priyanka Trivedi, Current Staff
Two conference rooms at West Bend High Schools have been renamed after two former principals.
Mary Skalecki and Patrick Gardon were both honored by having conference rooms inside West Bend High Schools named after them in the fall of 2016. The Skalecki conference room is located outside the main office while the Gardon conference room is in the attendance area.
“The conference rooms dedicated are the two most visible conference rooms,” said Ralph Schlass, a current assistant principal who worked with both Gardon and Skalecki. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
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
Every 15 Minutes program asks students to confront the dangers of drinking and driving
By Hannah Bensen, Editor in Chief
While hundreds of students looked on, West Bend East High School teacher Jeff Rondorf was taken away in an ambulance.
The Every 15 Minutes program took an unusual twist this year by including a faculty member in its plotline. Rondorf, a business education teacher, “died” on Friday due to injuries sustained in an accident caused by a drunk driver. The events were not real, but they simulated the graphic realities of such an incident. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Today juniors at the West Bend High Schools witnessed a mock fatal accident involving their classmates as part of the Every 15 Minutes program. These snapshots, taken by Editor in Chief Hannah Bensen and staff reporter Gabrielle Diaz, capture how the event realistically showed the trauma of such an incident. Juniors and seniors will assemble Friday in the auditorium for a followup presentation about the potential consequences of drinking and driving.
Filed under School News and Features
By Hannah Bensen, Current Staff
In the boys locker room, only two of the eighteen shower heads are functioning.
The West Bend High Schools locker rooms have not been updated since they were built in 1970. As a result, East athletic director Dennis Ziegler is looking into potential plans to renovate the locker rooms and other high school athletic facilities. He hopes to implement these plans in stages over the next five years. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features, Sports
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
Filed under School News and Features
Why is there a steady drip in the hallway every time it rains?
By Jessica Steger, Current Staff
Contrary to the belief of some students at the West Bend High Schools, the garbage can in the hallway by West Library is, in fact, not for garbage. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
By Hannah Bensen, Editor in Chief
When Patricia McIntyre first heard about President Trump’s travel ban, she was immediately concerned about how the policy might affect her family. Continue reading
Filed under Community
West Bend students participated in the Women’s March in Madison
By Hannah Bensen, Editor in Chief
Cassiy Walker and Andie Schibline may not be of voting age, but they do not let their youth prevent them from participating in American democracy.
On Saturday, Jan. 21, Walker and Schibline were compelled to take part in the Women’s March in Madison. It was the first act of protest for Walker, a West Bend East High senior who will turn 18 in February. Schibline, a senior at West High, had some experience with peaceful demonstrations, having previously protested at the Trump rally in August at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
By Hannah Bensen, Editor in Chief
One West Bend student is about to experience his very first white Christmas.
Juan Pablo Cofré, a Chilean foreign exchange student who attends East High School, is used to being warm for the holidays.
“I have never had Christmas in the snow. It is always really, really hot for Christmas [in Chile],” Cofré said. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
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
Filed under Community
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
Filed under School News and Features
Changes are in store for January exams
By Hannah Bensen, Editor in Chief
For students enrolled in year-long courses, Galileo tests will not be used as part of their exam scores in January. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
West senior is headed to the seminary
By Hannah Bensen, Editor in Chief
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
Filed under School News and Features
VIEWPOINT
By Hannah Bensen, Editor in Chief
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
Filed under Viewpoint
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
Filed under School News and Features, Viewpoint
By Hannah Bensen, Editor in Chief
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
Filed under School News and Features
![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
Devenport’s work ethic earned her a state championship
By Anthony Schlass, Current Staff
During her junior season, West skier Sarah Devenport won the girls giant slalom state championship in La Crosse with a time of 32.72.
It nearly made her ill. Continue reading
Filed under Sports
By Beth Williams, Current Staff
With graduation right around the corner, numerous WBHS seniors are taking the time to finalize decisions about their futures.
For East senior Elizabeth Bensen, however, the decision was not quite so easy.
“I applied to 14 schools,” Bensen said. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
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
Filed under School News and Features
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
Narendra Patel talks about his career, his influences, and what inspired the sculpture that welcomes visitors to East High
By Hannah Bensen, Current Staff
Soon a plaque will be added to the colorful sculpture in the East yard.
The sculpture, titled “Confluence,” was designed by artist Narendra Patel. The plaque will be placed on the base of the sculpture for viewers to read. Since the sculpture is owned by the West Bend Friends of Sculpture, that organization will decide the final wording of the plaque, with input from the artist. Patel’s wife, Durga, says that the plaque might be installed before the school year ends. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
East athletes witnessed a startling event
By Hannah Bensen, Current Staff
The track workout for East runners Alli Trampe and Cassie Bodart took a dramatic turn on Friday.
Trampe and Bodart were running on River Road around 7 p.m. when the pair spotted a deer coming from the cornfields heading towards the road. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features, Sports
The WBHS snowboarders found success in their inaugural season
By Hannah Bensen, Current Staff
It’s a rare occurrence for any team to qualify for state in their first year of existence, but that is what happened for the WBHS snowboarding team. However, the team had to overcome a fair share of obstacles before achieving that success. Continue reading
Filed under Sports
By Hannah Bensen, Current Staff
After a two-year hiatus, the West Bend High Schools talent show is coming back.
Randy Reysen, a West social studies teacher, coordinated auditions and worked with the PBIS committee and a marketing class to bring the show back to West Bend, which is happening Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Silver Linings Arts Center. Continue reading
Filed under Entertainment, School News and Features
By Hannah Bensen, Current Staff
Next week brings a time of great stress for students: exam week. And this year, exams are going to look very different. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
By Hannah Bensen, Current Staff
According to WBHS tradition, this time of year means milk cartons being dropped 50 feet from the roof of the auditorium.
This tradition was a project done for physics class. Students were required to construct a protective system in a milk carton that would keep an egg, which was placed inside, from breaking. They could use whatever materials they wanted, but many students opted to use packaging materials, such as Styrofoam peanuts. Other students got more creative, using jell-o, shampoo, or even tomato sauce.
But now, for the first time in over 30 years, the egg drop has been canceled. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
By Hannah Bensen, Current Staff
Anna Dougherty, East senior, is a procrastination offender.
Currently she is taking U.S. History, a class notorious for its Chronicle Project. This project requires students to create a book or binder detailing 20 major events of their lives. It also must include images, an introduction, and a conclusion. It is very hard to pass the class without completing the project. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
What’s the origin and meaning of the new sculpture?
By Hannah Bensen, Current Staff
When a new 20-foot tall sculpture appeared outside of the West Bend High Schools auditorium last spring, students were left wondering how the creation got there and what it meant. Continue reading
Filed under Community, Entertainment, School News and Features
By Hannah Bensen, Current Staff
Some people always knew exactly what they wanted to be when they grew. For Karen Wysocky, it was clear to her that she wanted to become a teacher.
On Monday, May 4 in the auditorium, Karen Wysocky was chosen for the 2015 Rolfs Teacher of the Year for demonstrating the qualities of a great teacher. Continue reading
Filed under Entertainment, School News and Features
Director of school nutrition hangs up the apron
By Hannah Bensen, Current Staff
Managing the biggest restaurant in the county is a huge task, but Lynne Gross has been doing it for a long time.
As the director of school nutrition for the school district, Gross is the brains behind the school breakfast and lunches. However, after a 33-year reign, Gross will retire at the end of the school year. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
By Hannah Bensen, Current Staff
When life throws you a curve, sometimes it is best to keep on competing.
This is the belief of Brandi Kreger, an East junior who won the conference gymnastics meet last weekend. This is all the more remarkable considering that Kreger has scoliosis. Continue reading
Filed under Sports
The West Bend Current 