WBHS Family Newsletter

March 2025

Message from Administration

Dear WBHS Families,

Spring is just around the corner, and with it comes a busy and exciting time at our high schools! As we move into March, I want to share a few important reminders:

Spring Testing – Local, state and national assessments will take place in both March and April. As a reminder, our ACT is March 18. Our PreACT Secure and WI Forward is April 10.

Spring Break – A reminder that our schools will be closed from March 24 - March 28. We hope this time allows students and families to relax and recharge before the final stretch of the school year!

As always, thank you for your support in helping our students succeed. If you have any questions, please reach out.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Potter

Executive Principal

West Bend High Schools

Important Dates

March 18: ACT Testing (see below for important details)

March 21: End of Quarter 3

March 24-28: Spring Break

March 31: Classes Resume

April 3: Sophomore Class Meeting (7:15-7:44 a.m. in the Auditorium)

April 4: Freshman Class Meeting (7:15-7:44 a.m. in the Auditorium)

April 10: Pre-ACT Secure Test (Grades 9 & 10) | Forward Test (Grade 10)

April 16: Parent Advisory Committee Meeting

April 18: No School

Important ACT Info & Details for March 18

Monday, March 10

Important Reminder for Parents of Juniors: There is a mandatory homebase on Monday, March 10, for ALL juniors. During this time, students will set up their MyACT accounts and receive important information about the upcoming ACT test. Please encourage your student to be on time and attend homebase.

Tuesday, March 18

Juniors will take the ACT on Tuesday, March 18, and should report directly to their assigned testing location by 7:15 a.m. Testing room locations will be shared with juniors during homebase on Monday, March 10.

To ensure a quiet testing environment, freshmen, sophomores, & seniors will have a virtual learning day. Please see below for grade-level specific activities for students:

Freshmen & sophomores will be expected to complete Xello activities. (Xello is an online college and career readiness program that helps students explore career options, build skills, and create academic plans for their future.) These activities, along with a Google form, will be sent to students the morning of March 18 via their WBSD email.
Seniors will be expected to complete their senior survey which will be sent to them the morning of March 18 via their WBSD email.

If you plan to send your freshman, sophomore, or senior student(s) to school on March 18 during the virtual day, the East cafeteria will be available as a workspace for them.

ACT Schedule

See below for the ACT Test Schedule for March 18.

Students with accommodations will have an alternative testing schedule. Please ask your child’s coordinator for more information.

Reminders for Juniors:

Get a good night’s rest.
Eat a healthy breakfast.

Review the message below from ACT regarding items allowed in the testing room. Personal technology will not be accessible until dismissal on test day.

All items brought into the test room are subject to search. Items suspected of being used to engage in misconduct may be confiscated and retained.
Cell phones, smart watches, fitness bands, and any other devices with recording, Wi-Fi, internet, or communication capabilities are prohibited.
You may not handle or access such devices during testing or during breaks.
All electronic devices must be powered off and stored out of sight.

Important Reminders & Updates

Attendance Communication

Starting next week, we will begin sending email notifications to families regarding unexcused student absences that occur in the morning. These emails will be sent at 10:30 AM each day to ensure timely communication and support positive student attendance.

Our goal is to work together with families to address attendance concerns as quickly as possible and support student success. If you receive an absence notification and believe it is an error, please contact our Attendance Office at 335-5595 to provide an excuse or clarify the absence.

Thank you for your partnership in promoting consistent school attendance.

Charity Week Recap

The 21st Annual WBHS Charity Week was a MASSIVE success!! A total of $80,955 was collected for the various charities chosen by the WBHS Student Council for this year's event. This year's donations brought the grand total of donations since the first Charity Week (in 2004) to over $500,000 benefiting local charities!

We are so grateful to all of the students and staff in the school district who donated to this drive as well as all of our community partners:

Alpha Custom Apparel
American Companies
Delta Defense
Kettle Moraine YMCA
Next Level Builders
Nifty Nibble Cafe
PSA Laboratory Furniture
Regal Ware
Shooting Star Travels
Skip & Cindy Clark Family
Steiner Electric
Tennies Ace Tru Value
WBHS Student Council
Weimer Bearing
West Bend Insurance
West Bend Sunrise Rotary
Westbury Bank

Check out the images below for a full recap of the funds raised and some fun-filled pictures from the week!

*Click on the upper corner of the photos to enlarge.

Parent Advisory Meetings – Reminder

We value your input and invite you to join our upcoming Parent Advisory Meetings! These meetings are a great opportunity to collaborate, share ideas, and stay informed about important events at the high school.

Meeting Dates & Topics:

April 16, 4:30–5:30 PM: Planning for a great Staff/Teacher Appreciation Week in May (RSVP Link)
May 21, 4:30–5:30 PM: Celebrating the year with end-of-year Celebrations (RSVP Link)

All meetings will be held at the high school. Please use the RSVP links above to RSVP to each meeting that you’ll be able to attend. RSVPs will continue to be shared in each newsletter, so keep an eye out! We look forward to seeing you there and working together to make this year a success.

Counseling Office Updates

Summer School Registration

Summer School Registration opens on Monday, March 10, and is completed through the Family Skyward portal. Summer School can be utilized both for credit advancement and credit recovery. Please visit the Summer School website for more information and available options. Counselors will be sending home letters shortly for those students who are recommended to complete credit recovery.

Here are some important things to note:

In person Classes available for Physical Education and Credit Recovery
Virtual Classes available or a variety of classes, including Physical Education and Health
In Person Physical Education Classes fill quickly

Direct Admit Wisconsin

Dear Parent/Guardian of Juniors:

The Universities of Wisconsin will offer three paths to first-year student/freshman undergraduate admission:

Traditional first-year student/freshman admission application process
Direct Admit Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Guarantee

All three paths to admission require students to meet the minimum admission criteria. Neither Direct Admit Wisconsin nor The Wisconsin Guarantee provide guaranteed admission into a specific major, program, school, or college. Rather, they provide admission to Universities of Wisconsin universities.

Direct Admit Wisconsin offers early and proactive admission to participating Universities of Wisconsin for rising seniors at participating Wisconsin high schools. The UWs collaborate with participating high schools to review student academic records (high school courses and GPA) at the end of their junior year and make offers of admission to participating UW universities without the need to submit a traditional admission application.

An email was sent to all Junior Families and Students on Monday, February 24. Please refer back to it for more detailed information and your opportunity to opt into the Direct Admit Wisconsin program.

Self Harm Awareness Month

March is Self-Harm Awareness Month, a time to increase awareness and understanding of self-harm and its impact on young people. As parents, your support and vigilance can make a big difference. Be aware of signs such as unexplained injuries, withdrawal, or mood changes, and encourage open communication about mental health. If you suspect your child is struggling, consider reaching out to school counselors or a mental health professional for support. Together, we can help create a safe space for our students to seek help and heal.

Career Readiness Center Updates

Start Exploring Careers - Hop on the Business Bus Tours!

Students have the opportunity to "Hop on the All Around the Bend Business Bus Tours" and get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at West Bend’s most exciting businesses in the career fields that they're interested in!

April 10 Tours (7:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) - Juniors & Seniors Only

Group 1: Marketing
Group 2: Entrepreneurship

April 11 Tours (7:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)

Group 1: Manufacturing
Group 2: Healthcare

Sign up for a date and one group using the link! Permission slips are available in room 2417.

Earn and Learn

It’s not too late to sign up for a Youth Apprenticeship. Applications are still being accepted. The Youth Apprenticeship (YA) program is a program that combines school-to-work experience paid, on-the-job training that makes real world connections for students.

The overview of the YA program is as follows:

450 hours of employment over the course of a year (200 hours can be completed in the summer)
Paid at least minimum wage for hours worked
Course that aligns with the job with one credit Monthly meetings with high school career coordinator Quarterly self-reflections
Semester grades assigned by employer

Interviewing Workshop

Does your student need some tips for interviewing? Encourage them to join business professionals on March 11 and/or March 20 to learn how to increase their confidence when applying for a job! Sign up now!

Career Planning Available

Are you undecided about your life after high school? Still figuring out the career pathway that might be best for you? Unsure of the college that has your major? Taking the ASVAB might help! The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) CEP (Comprehensive Educational Plan) is a comprehensive and completely FREE career planning resource that aligns students' strengths and interests with an after-high-school plan.

The ASVAB will be administered on April 8 in Room 2719 beginning at 7:30 a.m. It will last about 90 minutes. If you would like to participate, you will need to register for the exam by April 1.

WBSD Way Team Updates

Expanded Release Information for 2025-2026 School Year

For families of current Sophomores and Juniors:

If your child meets all the eligibility requirements for Expanded Release by the end of this semester, they will have the opportunity to begin the new year with the privilege of Expanded Release—pending your approval!

As a reminder, below are the requirements to earn expanded release:

Students have 1st period, 7th period, or consecutive study halls and lunch periods off AND/OR are requesting Period 0 off Tuesday through Friday.
Students are on track for graduation and have earned at least the amount of credits listed at time of application. (At the start of the 2025-26 school year, juniors must have 11 credits, and seniors must have 17 credits.)

Students must enter through the main West doors only when using the pass. Students will exit only through the main West doors when using the pass.
Students will carry their student ID and pass with them at all times and will present either/both to any staff member who requests to see them.
Students will maintain a B- average (3.0 GPA) at all reporting times (mid-quarter and report card).
Students will attend my scheduled classes.
Students will attend all scheduled homeroom classes and assemblies unless excused by a parent/guardian.
Students will not request a teacher or class change in an effort to receive a release pass.
Students will not engage in any behavior that results in a major behavior referral at any time.
Students acknowledge that they have no outstanding fees or I am on a plan to pay them.

If your child does not qualify at the end of this school year, they can (re)apply at the first grading period next school year. That means the hard work they put in right now will pay off next year!

If expanded release is an interest to you or your future Junior/Senior, please encourage them to stay focused and meet the requirements. If you have any questions about eligibility, please contact your child’s counselor or an administrator.

WBHS Highlights & Celebrations

A group of East and West High Schools students attended the 67th Annual Youth Government Day last month. These students learned about how community government works and toured the Washington County Courthouse and its various departments.

The WBHS Multicultural Club’s 8th annual Black History Month Celebration was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who came to this amazing event featuring inspiring musical & dance performances and speeches as well as interactive demonstrations for all!

Be sure to check out the East and West Facebook pages for more highlights of the great things happening here at WBHS!

For highlights from our athletics teams, clubs, and co-curricular teams, be sure to check out the East and West Athletics' Facebook pages, too!

Don’t forget to read our latest edition of our electronic school newspaper, The Current, for the latest updates, stories, and student highlights!