Kayla Lemens, West junior, will serve as the West Bend Current’s Editor in Chief for the 2021-22 school year. She replaces graduating senior Elise Marlett. Congrats, Kayla!
Photo courtesy of Kayla Lemens.
Tag Archives: The Current
Award-Winning Reporters Say Goodbye
Three seniors reflect on their time writing for the West Bend Current
Samantha Dietel
For how long have you been a member of the Current and what prompted you to join?
I joined the Current about halfway through my sophomore year. I was looking to get more involved at school, so it seemed fitting to step outside of my comfort zone while also utilizing my love for writing! It certainly helped that Mr. Beltmann, the Current’s adviser, was my teacher that year for Honors English II. Joining the Current was easily the best decision that I have ever made. By now, it feels like it has become a part of my identity. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
Welcome, Editor!
Elise Marlett, East junior, will serve as the West Bend Current’s Editor in Chief for the 2020-21 school year. She replaces graduating senior Samantha Dietel. Congrats, Elise!
Filed under School News and Features
Tooting Our Own Horn: NEWSPA Awards 2020
Local student journalists earn 24 awards
Ten West Bend students have been recognized in a statewide contest for high school journalists. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features
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
That’s the Ticket
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
Two former West Bend students have partnered in a run for office. Continue reading
Filed under Community
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 World Needs Responsible Journalists
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Dear Readers,
When I joined the West Bend Current’s staff of student reporters in December, I was not fully aware of how significant my choice had been. I had thought only of utilizing my passion for writing to see what doors journalism might open for me.
However, I soon realized that I was learning much more than just the structure and mechanics of reporting. I became truly conscious of bias and began to understand why it is so important that I strive to keep my writing as balanced as possible—since, unfortunately, the world is swamped with partiality. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features, Viewpoint
Dietel Selected
Samantha Dietel, West sophomore, will serve as the West Bend Current’s Editor in Chief for the 2018-19 school year. She replaces graduating senior Jessica Steger. Congrats, Samantha!
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
Steger Selected
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
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
Bensen Selected
Hannah Bensen, East junior, will serve as The Current‘s Editor in Chief for the 2016-17 school year. She replaces graduating senior Lauren Sorensen. Congrats, Hannah!
Filed under School News and Features
State Law Should Guarantee Freedoms for Student Journalists
VIEWPOINT
By Lauren Sorensen, Editor in Chief
During first period on Jan. 29, a school aide came to the door of my humanities class and told me that I was needed in the office.
At first I did not think anything of it as I was waiting for a letter of recommendation to be dropped off for a scholarship application. Much to my surprise, though, I found myself in the principal’s office. I was told that I was not allowed to write about a particular topic for the school newspaper. Sadly, this was not the first time I was censored this year.
That is why I feel compelled to endorse new legislation proposed by a group called New Voices. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features, Viewpoint
Let the Facts Do the Talking
Sorensen explains the mission of The Current
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Dear Reader,
At its core, the staff of The West Bend Current is a group of student writers aiming to bring information to both the students and residents of West Bend, while practicing and improving our journalism skills.
As a staff we have developed a sense of identity and a clear mission. Continue reading
Filed under School News and Features, Viewpoint
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
Sorensen Selected
Lauren Sorensen, East junior, will serve as The Current‘s Editor in Chief for the 2015-16 school year. She replaces graduating senior Alex Kopish. Congrats, Lauren!
Filed under School News and Features
School Newspaper Should Ask Questions
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
If it doesn’t go against school code, I would like to make a plea for more questions. Particularly those in regards to all of the testing given in our high school as well as throughout our entire district. Students deserve to know why they are being required to do all of this testing, who initiated it, and why neither the students nor teachers have a say in any of it. I strongly encourage topics like these to be published in the West Bend Current as it’s the media’s gift to bridge the informative gap between the administration and the student body. Continue reading
Filed under Viewpoint
The Current: 2014 In Review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
The Louvre Museum has 8.5 million visitors per year. This blog was viewed about 71,000 times in 2014. If it were an exhibit at the Louvre Museum, it would take about 3 days for that many people to see it.
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
Welcome, Editor!
Alex Kopish, East junior, will serve as The Current‘s Editor in Chief for the 2014-15 school year. Congrats, Alex!
Filed under School News and Features
Wiebe Earns WNA Award
East junior Julia Wiebe has been awarded a prize in the 2014 WNA contest for student journalism.
The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation gave Wiebe third place in the editorial category, for her opinion piece “Study Religion to Expand Knowledge.”
Wiebe’s award marks the second time this spring that The Current was recognized in a statewide journalism contest. Last month five members of the news blog earned a total of seven awards in the 2014 NEWSPA contest.
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 