Tag Archives: Kristen Becker

Be Kind, Rewind: Farewell to the Video Store and a Way of Life

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. 

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Filed under Community, Entertainment

Meet West Point Cadet James Miller

West senior heads to U.S. military academy in June

By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief

James Miller’s childhood dream of attending West Point is at long last becoming a reality. Continue reading

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Sweatin’ to the Oldies

Proposed renovations will help control WBHS temperatures

By Jessica Steger, Editor in Chief

As summer draws nearer students seem to be sweating to get out of school, literally.

The West Bend High Schools air conditioning system needed repair during the week of April 30. Officials advised teachers to bring fans from home. The air conditioning was turned on May 23, but many students report that some classrooms remain too warm.

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West Staff Gives Back to the Community

Book-giving event is just one of many planned service projects

By Jessica Steger, Editor in Chief

For the West Bend West High School staff, the ‘giving season’ began before a single Christmas ornament was prematurely sold.

On Tuesday the West staff hosted a book-giving event in the West Library. Prior to the event the school ran a book drive lasting from October to November. During this time over 2,000 books were collected, which were then offered at the book-giving event. Local organizations Family Promise, Boys and Girls Club, Friends Incorporated, Youth Treatment Center, and the Youth and Family Project attended the event, with an open invitation to their clients. Continue reading

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Smooth Rollout for New Testing System

STAR replaces Galileo as the district-wide standardized test

By Jessica Steger, Editor in Chief

The new STAR testing has mostly received stellar reviews at the West Bend High Schools.

For the 2017-18 school year, the West Bend School District implemented a new standardized testing system, STAR 360 Assessments. Although this system is used globally, it is a product of Renaissance Learning, which was started by a parent here in Wisconsin. STAR tests students’ core reading and math skills. Ninth and tenth grade students at WBHS took the math test Sept. 21 and the reading test Sept. 26, and will take them again in January and April. Continue reading

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Indoor Weather

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

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Let’s Get Technical

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Should schools be more skeptical about integrating technology into the classroom?

By Kara Conley, Current Staff

In 2017, when people think of school they no longer think of books, but computers.

Technology in the classroom is changing the way teachers must educate their students and the way students learn. Some students have evolved in their academics due to the increased technological use, but not everyone feels it is for the best. Many teachers and students at the West Bend High Schools acknowledge the value of technology, but are also aware of its downsides.

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The Current View: Summer Highlights

What’s the most interesting thing you did over summer?

KristenBecker“This past summer we took a two-week road trip out to the East Coast.  So we went to Philadelphia, and Washington D.C., and Boston, and New York City. And we went to see a play on Broadway, and we took a tour of the White House and got to pet the president’s dog, which was awesome. And then one of my children ate too much really expensive frozen yogurt and vomited in the intersection of Central Park, so it was a good time.”
Kristen Becker, English teacher

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Filed under School News and Features, Viewpoint

That Doesn’t Smell Like Teen Spirit

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By Alex Kopish, Editor in Chief

Lately, it’s not unusual to see students and staff covering their noses as they make their way from one class to the next.

Throughout several WBHS hallways, the stench of sewage gas has stuck around for months. Tests were conducted by the high school’s maintenance team during the Feb. 16 teacher in-service day to attempt to find the source of the problem. Continue reading

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