December 2024 District Newsletter

✨ Click the play button below to view a video message from Dr. Foeckler:

This month, we are focusing on a key component of the District's mission as outlined in the Focus Plan:

"The Whitefish Bay School District, in partnership with families and community, is student-centered with a tradition of educational excellence that honors the diversity of all students..."

Student are encouraged to hold themselves to high expectations in their learning through utilizing strategies in their reading response activities. Because students learn differently, they are encouraged to explore a range of strategies and determine which ones work best for their own personal learning. Hear about some of the strategies that Cumberland 5th graders utilize to enhance their learning.

Thank you Ms. Ennis, Emerson, Alissa, Jesse, and the entire class for sharing their learning processes and demonstrating ways to honor diversity in the classroom!

Our district is working to develop a plan to ensure our facilities are best suited to meet the needs of our students, staff, and community. Based on feedback from our community and our district’s goals, we’re focused on developing ideas around collaborative spaces and modernized learning environments. We invite you and your family to share their thoughts with us through the opportunities outlined below:

Your student’s perspective is essential as we plan improvements to support your academic, social, and future goals. We want to hear your student’s ideas on how updates to classrooms, common areas, and other school facilities could enhance their experience at their school.

Please let us know if you would like your child (grades 3 - 12) to participate in a focus group by clicking here to add their name and your agreement to allow them to participate in the group during the week of February 24-28. The focus group will include 5-7 students and be about 15-20 minutes long with a facilitator and notetaker. If you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out to Dr. Jamie Foeckler, jamie.foeckler@wfbschools.com, 414-963-3901.

We are excited to invite you to participate in a focus group as we develop a plan to ensure our facilities best meet the needs of our students, staff, and community. Your insights are invaluable as we evaluate the condition of our school buildings, evolving educational practices, projected enrollment trends, and other factors to shape recommendations for repairs and updates to facilities to the school board and administration.

The focus group will occur during the week of February 24-28 and will last approximately 15-20 minutes, facilitated by a leader/notetaker. If you would like to participate, please click here to confirm your participation. For any questions, feel free to reach out to Dr. Jamie Foeckler, jamie.foeckler@wfbschools.com, 414-963-3901.

Thank you for your support in improving our schools!

As a Village, we share the collective responsibility to enhance a culture of safety for all.

Winter and Cold Months in the Community

Pedestrians, remain alert when traveling in our community. Dress for conditions, which includes wearing appropriate footwear with good traction and wearing easily visible colors and/or a light when visibility may be more challenging. Put your phones down and keep your eyes up. Use sidewalks and crosswalks, and be sure to watch for snow and ice. Follow traffic signals by crossing the street only when you see a walk signal, or after making eye contact with a driver whose vehicle is stopped at a stop sign. Avoid crossing the street mid-block or moving between parked cars.

Bicyclists, it is important to remain focused while riding your bike. Biking during the winter may not always be the best option due to snow and ice, so be sure to check the weather forecast before leaving home for the day. Since you travel very quickly, your surroundings can change in less than a second. Be sure to ride your bike single file and on the correct side of the street. Use hand signals to alert those around you to your direction. And always be sure to wear a properly fitted helmet, in case of a fall or other accident.

Drivers, please remember that driving a vehicle is a great responsibility. As a driver, you have the ability to accelerate and change direction more quickly than someone walking or biking. Your vehicle is much larger than someone who is walking or biking, which means that additional responsibility lands with you to ensure that everyone remains safe while traveling. Maintain constant focus on your surroundings by ignoring alerts from your cell phone while you are driving.

Be aware of cold weather conditions, keeping in mind that it takes longer to come to a stop when there is snow and ice on the roads. Obey all traffic laws and traffic signs, and be sure to allow extra time for braking, accelerating, or changing direction.

In preparation for driving during winter, it is helpful to make sure you have the following in your vehicle: ice scraper/snow brush, sand and shovel, jumper cables, flashlights, first aid kit, cell phone charger, boots, gloves, blankets, and warm clothes.

Parents/guardians and community members, please model safe traveling behaviors for children and demonstrate how to plan ahead and use good judgment when traveling. This includes to and from school and picking up/dropping off students. Children easily pick up on both positive and negative habits and look up to adults around them, often emulating their behaviors. Please also remember to look out for our many students as they travel throughout the community. We want everyone to arrive safely at their destination.

Let's be safe together.

Students, parents, school staff, or community members can submit a school safety concern or threat via the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of School Safety (OSS) SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT (SUSO) Resource Center, a 24/7 threat reporting system. SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT allows students and community members to confidentially report tips on potential harm or criminal activities directed at school students, school employees, and schools. It can be used to identify concerns such as, but not limited to threats to schools, as well as other daily safety concerns students encounter, such as bullying, drug use, self-harm, and suicidal ideation.

We share the collective responsibility to enhance a culture of safety for all.

Whitefish Bay resident families of students who turn four on or before September 1, 2025 are invited to a 4K Overview at Cumberland or Richards Elementary School on Friday, December 6, 2024 at either 8:40 am or 1:30 pm.

This event will be hosted by the Elementary School Principals and include a welcome from 4K Teachers, a short story with Library Media Specialists and a question and answer session. Please use this link for more information and to RSVP for this event. You may also contact Cumberland (414-963-3943) or Richards (414-963-3951) with any questions.

4K Online Enrollment for the 2025-26 school year will open on Monday, December 9, 2024. Visit our website for more information about the enrollment process.

Historically, there has been more interest in the morning session than there are seats available in classes. Therefore, elementary schools use a lottery system to determine those who will be enrolled in the morning session.

In order to be included in the lottery drawing for the morning session, families must complete an online Enrollment Application and indicate your preference for the morning session. This process includes uploading required Immunization and Residency Verification documents to the application and presenting your student’s birth certificate to your school’s main office in person before noon on Friday, January 10, 2025.

The School District of Whitefish Bay is hiring a Custodian II - 2nd Shift at Richards Elementary School! This position assists in providing safe and welcoming school spaces for students, staff members, families, and community members.

The successful candidate must be available to work second shift (2:30-11:00 p.m.), Monday through Friday. During the summer and select non-school days (winter break, spring break, etc.), this position may be assigned first shift hours. The District will provide training and equipment!

If you are interested in learning more about this amazing opportunity to serve the students, staff members, families, and community members of Whitefish Bay, please contact Brian Chase, Director of Buildings and Grounds and Safety, at (414) 963-3926 or brian.chase@wfbschools.com. Ready to apply? Click here to submit your application!

The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) recently released District and School Accountability Report Cards for the 2023-2024 school year. According to the DPI (2024), “Report cards are provided annually and give information to parents and communities about how their school or school district are performing by presenting data on different topics. Report cards include data on multiple indicators for multiple years across four Priority Areas (Achievement, Growth, Target Group Outcomes, and On-track to Graduation), as well as course and program participation information for grades 9-12.”

We are proud to share that once again, The Whitefish Bay School District received a rating of Significantly Exceeds Expectations [94.3] on our most recent report card, the highest rating available. In addition, all four of our schools received the same high distinction.

The report cards are compiled from various data points that highlight the achievements of our students and the strength of our staff. Our report cards contain ample evidence that our students continue to perform at the highest levels on standardized tests. Not only do our students perform well, but our report cards indicate that our staff grows learners at the highest rates in the state of Wisconsin, a distinction that is true across all demographic groups. The report cards indicate that we are making positive progress toward one of the goals of our Focus Plan: “Every student will continuously grow to meet or exceed academic learning targets and social emotional competencies.”

It is true that the school and district report cards are only one measure of the success of our schools; in fact, some of our district’s greatest achievements cannot be captured quantitatively. Nevertheless, these report cards should be a source of pride for all members of our school community because they are one indicator among many that The Whitefish Bay School District is An Exceptional Place to Learn.

Please visit the school and district report cards using the links below:

• View the Cumberland Report Card

• View the Richards Report Card

• View the Middle School Report Card

• View the High School Report Card

• View the District Report Card

Should you have any questions related to the District or School Report Cards, please reach out to Mike O’Connor, Director of Teaching and Learning Services, at mike.oconnor@wfbschools.com.

Come hear about each one of our school’s continuous improvement efforts at each of the Annual School Reports. All School Reports will take place at the High School LMC at 7PM.

Each of our schools has developed and refined a school improvement plan aimed at ensuring an aligned and collective commitment around all students' learning and growing in a supportive and caring environment.

• Whitefish Bay Middle School, December 11, 2024
• Richards, January 8, 2025
• Whitefish Bay High School, February 12, 2025

In 2003, Whitefish Bay School District made a commitment to monitor and reduce its energy consumption. Through Board Policy and a partnership with Cenergistic, Inc. (formerly Energy Education, Inc.), we developed a baseline of energy usage for each of our schools, began to make changes and track the impact. The linked report shows the district's level of energy conservation from August 2003 through July 2024.

Since 2003, Whitefish Bay School District has saved an estimated $5,589,576 as a result of energy conservation and efficiency efforts.

What an incredible accomplishment. Thanks to the dedication of Whitefish Bay High School students and community, this year’s food drive brought in 425 pounds more than last year!

For the past 10 years, our partnership has helped feed countless neighbors, showing the powerful impact of coming together as a community. Bay Gives Back has truly created a legacy of generosity and support in Whitefish Bay.

Bringing people together and helping those facing hunger in our community would not be possible without you!

The School Board and School District invite you to attend School Board Meetings. Board meetings begin at 7PM in the High School Library Media Center, unless noted otherwise.

• December 11 -- Business & Committee Meetings with the Middle School Report
• January 8 -- Regular Business Meeting with the Richards School Report

Subject to change. Please view BoardDocs for up to date meeting notices and agendas.

Stay Engaged! Click the links below to learn about what has been discussed and what action the Board has taken during their recent meetings. Additional information can be found in BoardDocs.

• November 13 Regular Business Meeting
• November 20th Committee Meetings

Third graders recently had the opportunity to visit Schlitz Audobon Nature Center. See more photos.

Richards fifth graders were exercising their creativity in art class! See more photos.

Whitefish Bay Middle School held its annual Veterans Day assembly on November 8th. Guests included Veterans from the community and Zablocki VA Medical Center. See more photos.

High School students participated in a mock election on November 5th.

Activities Newsletters are shared throughout the school year on the High School's website. Check back frequently to stay up to date with athletics and activities! Read More.

Do you have good news to share with the school district? We would love to hear from you.

Email: districtnews@wfbschools.com
Website: https://www.wfbschools.com/
Location: 1200 East Fairmount Avenue
Phone: 414-963-3921
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WFBSchools/