GHS Newsletter

Greetings and welcome to all guardians/parents, students, staff and other supporters within the Germantown High School Community. As we enter May of the 2023-24 school year, we are pleased to offer forth the GHS monthly newsletter for April, with this edition and one more to go!

The school year accelerates with quite a few events and activities in May. The Advanced Placement Testing window begins on May 6 and concludes on May 17, impacting quite a few students at GHS. Various events for the Class of 2024 are also in May, including, but not limited to: The Germantown Community Scholarship Night Awards on May 15, The Senior Banquet/Ball on May 16, The Senior meeting/picture/walk on the morning of May 31, Graduation practice on the afternoon of May 31 and Graduation for the Class of 2024 on Sunday June 2. With these events, along with so many athletic teams and co-curricular groups in the midst of competitions and activities, it is very busy time of the year!

The April version our GHS newsletter is sponsored by the Social Studies and Science

Departments. We hope you enjoy the information provided by two of our departments, along with the various reminders, important dates and additional information. Our next and final installment will be sent out on or about June 3, 2024.

Sincerely,

Mr. Joel R. Farren

Principal

• GHS ATHLETICS & ACTIVITIES CALENDAR

• 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR

• 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR

• GHS EVENTS CALENDAR

• May 4 Grand March/Prom 4:30-5:30PM- GYM/6:00-10:00PM River Club - Class of 2025

• May 4-5 GHS Post Prom - Urban Air Adventure 11:00PM-2:00AM

• May 6-17 - AP Exams

• May 15 GCSF Awards Ceremony PAC at 7:00PM

• May 16 Senior Ball 5:00-10:00PM The Florian

• May 21 GHS Career Fair for students

• May 21 AP Art and Design Showcase PAC 5:30-6:30PM

• May 21 GHS Spring Choir Concert PAC 7:00-8:00PM

• May 22 GHS Band Finale Concert PAC 7:00-8:00PM

• May 24 No School Memorial Day
  

• May 27 No School Memorial Day

• May 28 Senior Class Exams in Regular Classrooms

• May 29 Senior Class Exams in Regular Classrooms
• May 30 Senior Class Exams in Regular Classrooms
• May 31 Senior Meeting, Group Picture & Senior Walk 8:00-10:27AM / Graduation Practice 12:50-2:33PM Field House

JENNIFER BATZNER, JENNIFER CATALANO, ROBERT FLISS, AARON HAGEN, JOHN JULKA, KENT KOREK, YOLANDE MARTINEZ-JOLITZ, MICHAEL PFEIFFER, DAVID ROMENS, TODD SCHNEIDER

National History Day is an academic enrichment program, actively engaging students in the study of history. This year’s theme is, “Turning Points in History.” As part of the course curriculum, Honors American History students conduct extensive primary and secondary research through a variety of mediums, which include libraries, archival collections, historical museums, interviews, and online databases. Throughout their NHD journey, over the course of sixteen weeks, students are challenged to become historians, and develop their research, analytical, communication and presentation skills. After analyzing and interpreting their sources, students develop a thesis, draw conclusions about their topics’ significance in history, contemplate opposing viewpoints, and then present their work in original papers, exhibits, documentaries, websites, and performances. Resources from the Wisconsin and Minnesota Historical Societies have provided many research lessons, tips, tools, and webinars for students to utilize. The 81 students in Mrs. Catalano’s classes took part in a district level NHD contest in February, where they presented and defended their thesis statements and supporting research during interviews with GHS Social Studies current and former staff members. From there, the top five in each category advanced to the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional competition at UW-Milwaukee in March, and 48 students presented to professors, graduate assistants, librarians, and area educators. As a result of their efforts, twenty students will travel to UW-Madison on Saturday, April 20th 2024, at the STATE NHD contest! Emily Laitinen received a “Labor in History Award” from the Wisconsin Historical Society for her project on “Rosie the Riveter,” and the following historians will represent Germantown High School at the STATE contest: For Exhibits: Ryan Anderson, Carson Tautges, & Natalie Frank. For Documentaries: Elliet Ankerson, Sophie Lee, Madison Burns, Chloe Grimm, Brooklyn Chesir, Julia Joseph, Hannah Leinbeck, Ryan Melka, & Annabelle Newton. For Websites: Sarah Collett, Adeline Timm, Nicole Cramer, Randle Dawson, Maggie Johnson, Clare Kanters, & Lexi Kons. For Papers: Samantha Croke. Topics this year included Loving v Virginia, the Photography of Lewis Hine, Amelia Earhart, Pearl Harbor, the Red Water Invasion, the Manhattan Project, JFK’s Assassination, the National Park Service, and many more! For more information on National History Day, please check out: NHD.org

The students of AP Human Geography recently showcased their knowledge and application of City Models from the Unit 6 “Cities and Urban Land Use / Patterns and Processes” course curriculum. They were tasked with creating a physical model (edible if they so desired!) to illustrate their assigned model, and relate it to a current day example. A presentation included sharing aspects of the infrastructure, urban data, sustainability, and challenges of the city they selected. Creative models included pantry beans, cereals, and dry pastas, 3D Starburst, Legos, and a giant frosted cookie design! We are currently preparing for our AP EXAM on May 7th, reviewing for 60 multiple choice questions and three free responses questions on seven required units of study. More information on this course can be found here.

MERIDITH BERGHAUER, REBECCA CHANDLER, MICHELLE GRIFFIN-WENZEL, SKYLAR HEIN, WES HOOPES, JEREMY KING, TODD KRUPICKA (SARAH THOMPSON), MARK MCCLELLAN, BRIAN MOHS, JAKE SCHROEDER, CAROLYN SOLIE, STACY STOECKLEIN

Big changes have been happening with our courtyard. We now have doors in place in the cafeteria and teachers lounge. This will allow students the opportunity to eat lunch outside and classes to use the space during the day for various activities. Thanks to those that have donated to the cause especially Johnson's Nursery who have so far given $30,000 to the project. We hope to eventually put a greenhouse in the space as well.

Environmental Club and Environmental Science students were busy priming the silent auction rain barrels this Fall. Twenty rain barrels were donated by the Illing Company here in Germantown. The money raised will go toward the greenhouse project and courtyard upkeep as well as other projects at GHS and the surrounding community

Environmental Club and Environmental Science students had their hands full this Fall planting some rather large trees around the baseball field and gazebo. Great job at getting your hands dirty!

Environmental Science students were busy this past Fall testing the water quality at our ponds and the Menomonee River. Students gathered data on Dissolved Oxygen, Phosphates, Nitrates, turbidity, and Fecal Coliform just to name a few. This information is then tallied and sent off to the DNR as a citizen action group service. Students also did a survey on the Benthic Macroinvertebrate population here at GHS. These little creatures are index species and tell us a lot about the health of the aquatic ecosystem.

Environmental Science students were busy this December with the UW-Milwaukee Zebrafish Module. Here, students take a deep dive into the scientific method analyzing the development of embryos as they develop in different concentrations of chemicals found in our aquatic environments. The embryos mimic human embryos in their early stages and the results can be compared to the side effects on human embryos if exposed to the same concentrations of that said chemical.

Students, in Mrs. Griffin-Wenzel’s Project Lead The Way - Environmental Sustainability class, are learning about energy use in their homes and at school. Balancing the need for energy with the environmental cost to our planet is a major challenge. Energy is needed to provide the goods and services that are vital for our global economy. The shift to renewable energy sources and improvements in energy efficiency will play a critical role in our future. The students took an in-school field trip to learn about how the school’s heating and cooling systems work A special thanks to Mr. Neils and Mr. Tews for imparting their wealth of knowledge on the students.

Students in Mrs. Griffin-Wenzel’s Honors Biology class completed a lab titled HNPCC: Detecting Inherited Forms of Cancer. Students created a pedigree using information about a fictitious family that was gathered by a genetics counselor. The students completed and analyzed a simulated DNA-based diagnostic test of samples from said family to identify which members have inherited the cancer-causing mutation. The students combined the results of the DNA test with the family history to finalize their pedigree. They learned about the role of a genetics counselor in communicating information to affected family members. They also reflected on the ethical dilemmas that can arise from genetic testing

Mrs. Griffin-Wenzel was selected by 3D Molecular Designs to attend a five-day summer workshop in June, for science educators, focused on the science of infectious diseases. Mrs. GW will use dynamic interactive models to explore virus life cycles, molecular mechanisms of the immune system, the critical role of vaccines in preventing past viral pandemics, and the new vaccine platforms that promise to limit future pandemics. Mrs. GW will receive models that she will test with her students and provide feedback on how the models fostered and enhanced student learning.

The class of 2025 Enchanted Forest Prom will be held on May 4, 2024. Please https://www.gsdwi.org/prom24 for information.

GHS will be hosting its first ever, whole school Career Day the morning of Tuesday, May 21st! Here is the modified schedule for the school day. Students are expected to arrive at the normal time, 7:10am.

Students will complete a form in Resource on Monday, May 13th to request their top business choices. Students will then be assigned to three sessions based on their selected preferences. They will be notified on May 20th in Resource with the sessions they have been assigned to for the event.

In each session, a volunteer will present about their career, the company they work for, how to pursue a career in their respective field, possible job opportunities, a possible demonstration, and an opportunity for students to ask questions.

If you have any questions regarding the event, please contact Mrs. Fischer at afischer@gsdwi.org.

Alexzandra Fischer

Dean of Students & ACP Coordinator

Germantown High School

Medication Administration Policy

Administration of Non-Prescription Medication Form
Administration of Prescription Medication Form
Self Administration of Prescription Form

Principal: Joel R. Farren

Assistant Principal (A–L): Andrew Rooney

Assistant Principal (M–Z): David Smith

Dean of Students: Alexzandra Fischer

Activities Director: Sara Unertl

Location: W180N11501 North River Lane, Germantown, WI, USA
Phone: 262-253-3400