The Weekly Update

Please check Skyward Family Access on Monday, September 2 for final bus pick-up and drop-off times and locations as small adjustments may take place this week. Look for "Busing" on the left-side menu of Skyward.

Families that travel through the West Bend intersection of Main Street and Decorah Road for school drop-off or pick-up should consider an alternate route for at least the next month due to construction. If that is not possible, please allow for some extra time due to the lane closures and traffic. We have been told that the construction should last about one more month.

If your child walks to school or home through that intersection, please advise them of this information from the City of West Bend engineer:

• The West Bend Police Department will have a crossing guard at this corner as they have in past years along with extra staffing on site to help.

• The south crosswalk (corner where Kwik Trip is located) will be closed for several weeks. Pedestrians can reach and go through all sides of the streets by using the north, east, and west crosswalks.

Our school staff is busily preparing for the school year this week. Medical and safety training as well as professional development sessions are taking place. Throughout the 2024-2025 school year, professional development will focus on:

• Grades K-4: Amplify CKLA (new science of reading resource)

• Grades 5-12 Math: Lesson Elements

• Grades 5-12: Learning Targets and Standards Alignment in Units of Study

• Career and Technical Education: Continuous Improvement

• Interventionists: Tools and Training

Teachers and others will have valuable work time and preparation time in their classrooms as well as building collaboration meetings. Another part of the professional development for all staff is sessions on student engagement and well-being.

The East and West High Schools Technology and Engineering Department has recommended the purchase of two new Career Connections textbooks to support the high school construction courses. The materials are available for review and feedback:

• Education Service Center, 735 S. Main St., West Bend, through August 28 between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• West Bend Public Library, 630 Poplar St., West Bend, from August 29 to September 5 in normal operating hours

• Appointments can be made outside of these hours by contacting Tim Harder, director of facilities and technology, at tharder@wbsd-schools.org or 262-335-5630.

Community members, families, staff, and students are invited to an open house to learn more and ask questions on the facilities referendum taking place on November 5, 2024 as part of the general election. Date and locations of the open houses include:

• Wednesday, September 18 at West Bend East High School cafeteria, 6-7:30 p.m.

• Monday, October 14 at Jackson Elementary gymnasium, 6-7:30 p.m.

Can’t make the open house and want to know more? Please call Superintendent Jen Wimmer at 262-335-5435. Or, go to the WBSD Referendum website.

The West Bend School District Annual Meeting and Budget Hearing will take place on Monday, September 23 at the Silver Lining Arts Center at the high schools. The community is invited. Residents of the West Bend School District attendance area over age 18 are allowed to vote on the resolution presented during the meeting. There will be a verification of residency (bring a state-issued ID for proof of residency).

Check-in begins at 6 p.m. The budget hearing begins at 6:30 p.m. and the annual meeting at 7 p.m.

By attending the meeting, you will learn about the preliminary 2024-2025 budget. The resolution is on the proposed tax levy, however there will be two versions as the tax levy may change if the referendum on November 5 is passed. The final tax levy vote is completed by the school board at its second meeting in October.

At its regular meeting on Monday, August 26, the West Bend School Board heard referendum legal guidance from Quarles and Brady LLP. Reports for the Curriculum Committee and Superintendent were given.

In addition, the board held discussions on the Agenda and Resolutions for the September 23, 2024 Annual Meeting; Annual At Risk Plan; Fiber Lease/Swap Agreement; and Career and Technical Education Updates. Finally, the board took action on Disposal of Instructional and Library Materials; Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) 6 Service Agreement; Policy 731.5 Metal Detector Use Second Reading; and Policy Series Review 100: Board Operations Second Reading.

If you are interested in reviewing the details of the meeting, see this tutorial on how to access the agenda with links to the supporting documents. The video of the meeting is also available.

In Spring 2024, East and West High Schools had the highest number of students taking Advanced Placement (AP) tests in the last five years!

What are AP classes? A group of classes developed by the College Board and taught by our teachers to give high school students an introduction to college-level classes. Students complete an AP exam at the end of the school year and if they earn a three or higher (of five), they earn college credits.

How did they do? There were a total of 507 East and West students who took 910 AP tests. Of these students, 444 scored a three or higher on their tests. The rate of students who earned a three or higher has increased at both schools in the past five years.

How many AP classes do East and West offer? To whom? Twenty-seven AP courses are available at East and West High Schools. West Bend Virtual Academy (WBVA) students have access to many AP classes as well. All East, West, and WBVA students are eligible to take an AP class if they choose to take on college-level work and the opportunity to earn college credit while in high school.

There are various events and activities available on the WBSD’s Community Bulletin Board!

West Bend East Spirit Wear

Kiwanis Steak in the Park

Kettle Moraine Symphony Performance

Fiesta Latina 2024

West Jr Spartans Grades 5-8 Boys Basketball

West Jr Spartans Grades 3-4 Boys Basketball

East Junior Suns Boys Basketball

East Jr Lady Suns Basketball

Cub Scout Pack 3796

Cub Scout Pack 3784

Cub Scout Pack 3787

Sturgeon Fest

Try Hockey for Free

Lifeguards Needed at Camp Silverbrook

YMCA Fall Program Registration

Spanish Class for Adults