WBHS Family Newsletter

December 2024

Message from Administration

Dear West Bend High School Families,

As we approach the end of this year, I want to thank you for your continued partnership in supporting our students' academic and personal growth. The month of December brings important milestones and opportunities to highlight below!

As the holidays approach, I want to share my thanks for the incredible partnership we share with our families. Together, we create a positive and supportive environment that allows our students to thrive. On behalf of the staff at West Bend High Schools, I wish you and your loved ones a season filled with joy, rest, and togetherness.

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season,

Jennifer Potter

Executive Principal

West Bend East and West High Schools

Important Dates

December 2: Scholarship Kick-Off Night (7:00-8:00 p.m. in the Auditorium)

December 5: End of Mid-Quarter 2

December 12:

STUCO Blood Drive (6:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in the South Gym)
Winter Chamber Orchestra Concert (6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium)

December 16: Winter Choir & Orchestra Concert (6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium)

December 17: Senior Grade Level Meeting (7:15-7:44 a.m. in the Auditorium)

December 18:

Junior Grade Level Meeting (7:15-7:44 a.m. in the Auditorium)
Orchestra Winter Concert (7:00-8:00 p.m. in the Auditorium)

December 19: Sophomore Grade Level Meeting (7:15-7:44 a.m. in the Auditorium)

December 20: Freshman Grade Level Meeting (7:15-7:44 a.m. in the Auditorium)

December 21-January 1: No School - Winter Break

January 2-3: No School for Students | Staff Professional Days

January 13: Mandatory Senior Graduation Meeting (7:15-7:44 a.m. in the Auditorium)

January 15: College Goal Wisconsin (FAFSA) (6:00 p.m. in the West Cafeteria)

January 15-17: Semester 1 Exams

Important Reminders & Updates

WBHS 2024 Blood Drive

The annual Blood Drive organized by the WBHS Student Council will take place on Thursday, December 12, from 6:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Any students, staff, or community members who are 17 or older can sign up donate. Students who are 16 may donate with parental consent form and must meet the height & weight requirements (on slide 5 of this slideshow). STUCO's goal is to have 300+ pints donated!

If you are interested in signing up to help save lives, please click here!

Special thanks to the following students for sharing their talents to help promote the 2024 Blood Drive: Mackenna Steiner (poster design), Kiana Overman (digital artwork), Natalie Walter (t-shirt design drawing), & McKennah Orth (informational slideshow).

*Click upper corner of photo to enlarge.

Semester 1 Exams

Semester 1 Exams will take place on January 15, 16, & 17, 2025. More detailed information will be in the January Student & Family Newsletters. Students will have the ability to sign up for study/enrichment sessions with their teachers in the morning on each exam day. Parents/guardians will also have the ability to excuse their student(s) during any period that the student does not have a scheduled exam and/or during the study/enrichment sessions.

Class of 2025 Graduation

Graduation for the East and West High Schools Class of 2025 will take place on Sunday, June 8, 2025, in the high school fieldhouse. The West ceremony will begin at 1:00 p.m. The East ceremony will begin at 4:30 p.m.

On Monday, January 13, 2025, there will be a mandatory Senior Graduation Meeting during resource (7:15-7:44 a.m.) in the WBHS auditorium with our representative from Jostens. All graduates are required to attend this meeting.

Student Diplomas will be ordered for all 2025 graduates by February 28 using their name as it appears in Skyward Family Access. If your student’s name is incorrect in Skyward, please reach out to your student’s counselor to assist with having their name updated.

There will be a detailed Graduation Newsletter sent to all Class of 2025 graduates and their families in mid-January.

Holiday Hoopla 2024

The week of December 16-20 will be the annual Holiday Hoopla Spirit Week at WBHS! Check out the flyer below for the fun-filled dress-up days for students & staff!

Parent Sunshine Committee

The West Bend High Schools Parent Sunshine Committee, in conjunction with our student groups, is spreading cheer this holiday season by showing appreciation for our incredible high school staff. We’d love your support by donating single-serve snack items to brighten their day!

Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050E4AA9A72AA7F85-53311653-wbhs

We’re collecting items now through December 16th. If you’d like to bring perishable items like cheese or fruit, please consider donating closer to December 16th.

📍 Drop-off location: West Bend West Greeter’s Desk, 1305 East Decorah Road, West Bend

Interested in getting more involved? Please send an email to Jenn Potter if you're interested in joining the Parent Sunshine Committee!

Bridging Brighter Smiles at WBHS

Bridging Brighter Smiles is holding their next dental clinic WBHS on January 14 & 15.

Professional Dental Services Provided Right at School Include:

Teeth Cleaning
Oral Health Education
Silver Diamine Fluoride
Referral Assistance
Oral Screening
Dental Sealants
Fluoride Varnish
Sealant Retention Check

Forward Health (BadgerCare) Accepted!

(Other Private Dental Insurance Not Accepted)

To enroll, please fill out the enrollment form at this link or scan the QR code on the flyer!

*Click upper corner of photo to enlarge.

Senior Photo Information

Senior Photos are due by January 10, 2025. Please review these directions and guidelines for submitting your photo.

New this year, senior photos will be submitted directly to Jostens (our yearbook company). Here are the links to submit your photo:

East: https://photos.jostens.com/YD6U8N
West: https://photos.jostens.com/6JEYX7

*Click upper corner of photo to enlarge.

Counseling Office Updates

For Parents/Guardians of Seniors

Here is a reminder of some resources that students have been accessing and that you may find helpful over the next few months:

Career Readiness Calendar – Check back often for updates on visits, programs, and sessions!
College Information Slideshow – Know the timeline and the terms to keep on track in the college process!

Slide 7 walks students through how to send their transcript to a college

Direct Admit Next Steps – You received your offer letters….now what?

Watch this video tutorial

Career Readiness Center Updates

Local Scholarship Kick-Off

Attention 2025 Seniors & Parents and Guardians: Scholarship Kick Off Night is Monday, December 2, at 7:00 p.m. in the Silver Lining Arts Center (auditorium). COLUMNS will be on hand to present scholarship information and all the information seniors need to complete this year's scholarship applications. Moraine Park Technical College and the Washington County Charitable Foundation will also be on hand to answer any questions students and parents might have about their offerings.

Badger Girls State Applications

Junior Girls, are you interested in learning more about State Government and Leadership Skills? American Legion Auxiliary Badger Girls State applications are now available in the Career Readiness Center. See Mrs. Barnes for your Application today!

College Goal Wisconsin

Mark Your Calendars! College Goal Wisconsin provides free information and assistance to families completing the FAFSA. College Goal Wisconsin is offering both in-person and virtual FAFSA Completion Events starting in January 2025.

West Bend High School is hosting a College Goal Wisconsin session on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 beginning at 6:00pm in the West cafeteria. Family members and their senior are strongly encouraged to attend!

To register for a FAFSA Completion Event or to request additional information, please refer to collegegoalwi.org.

WBSD Way Team Updates

All students at WBHS had a Quarter 1 Behavior Goal of: ”By the end of the first quarter, 90.5% of students will have 0-1 major referrals in the category of Be Respectful.” Students finished out the first quarter by crushing it - 99% of students met this goal! Students were able to celebrate by throwing pies at their teachers/administrators during the monthly class assembly. One lucky resource in each grade also received Monday morning donuts.

The data in the first quarter also tells us that we need to continue reinforcing expectations around personal tech use. As a reminder, all personal tech needs to be out of sight (not visible) while in the learning environment. Any support you can provide in assisting with this would be greatly appreciated.