October 29th Weekly Blog

Purpose Corner - This week on purpose corner we discuss school data in regards to attendance and behavior as well as the implementation of AVID strategies within our classroom and what criteria are used for assessment.

Please click here for this 3:52 video

Perfect ACT Score of 36!! - Congratulations to West Junior Brady Chyla and Senior Naveen Albert for their perfect 36 on the ACT exam!! Just so you have an understanding of this accomplishment, approximately 2,000,000 people took the ACT exam in the last year and approximately 2,760 students or 0.136% received a 36 on the ACT. These students are hard working individuals and have earned their place among this rare company.

West Fall Athletics Celebration!!

Girls Cross Country - Congratulations to the Girls' Cross Country Team for another outstanding finish to the season in placing 5th in Division 1 at the state meet held in Wisconsin Rapids this past Saturday. Brook Lytle placed 12th overall in the state and paced the team to an outstanding finish. Seniors Brooke Lytle, Allyssa Reeves, Kaitlyn Smetana and Kaya Kuokkanen have been part of teams who have placed 8th, 4th, 5th and 5th in the state over their 4 years!! Outstanding work!

Girls Volleyball - The Girls Volleyball team became Sectional Champions this past weekend and are heading to the state tournament at the Resch Center in Green Bay this week!!! The girls knocked off #1 seeded and conference rival Mukwonago to earn their trip! Their first-round match is this Thursday at 4:30 p.m. against another conference opponent Arrowhead. Congrats girls! Students remember to sign up for our fan buses to go and support the team!

Varsity Football Team - The mighty Wolverine Football team defeated Waterford this past Friday night to advance to Level 3 in the WIAA Football Playoffs meaning they are one of the final 8 teams in Division 2 in the state once again!! The team plays Brookfield Central this Friday night for a chance to advance to the final 4. Please come out and support them as they play at Brookfield Central. Also, they are up for the Air National Guard team of the week after their victory so please vote often for them by accessing this link!  

Christmas Clearing Council - West High School clubs and activities have consistently partnered with the Christmas clearing council to support students and their families in our community during the holiday months. If you are interested in financially supporting local families please consider donating to the Council and continue to look for West students leading fundraising efforts for the CCC. A little more about the CCC... the Christmas Clearing Council of Waukesha County (CCC) promotes and coordinates giving to families in need during the Christmas season. They provide a clearinghouse that matches these families with area groups, families, businesses, and individuals who wish to help people less fortunate on a person-to-person basis. In 2017, the CCC coordinated giving to more than 1,900 families and nearly 4,400 children in Waukesha County.

Challenge Day Momentum - I will continue to update some of the things we will be doing to keep our momentum from Challenge Day! I encourage anyone to access the Challenge Day website to learn more about it. https://www.challengeday.org/

  

Principal Advisory Council - Below are the names of the individuals on the Principal Advisory Council for 2018-2019. We met most recently on Wednesday, October 17th and will continue to meet monthly throughout the school year. Please access the minutes for more information about our discussions for this school year. The meeting minutes are linked here:

Cheryl Jeffers	cmjeffers@yahoo.com
Bret Reichert	br@wi.rr.com
Bridget Clementi	clementi101@wi.rr.com
Deanna Krell	dkrell@wi.rr.com
Deshondria Baggett	dbaggett@wi.rr.com
Gail Young-Lane	jlane1@wi.rr.com
Jon Eckmann	Jon@promarkpainters.com
Kim Keller	kim.keller@wecenergygroup.com
Krista Bitzan	smileyfish76@hotmail.com
Lawrence Oberbruner	loberbruner@gmail.com
Lee Ann Jaskolka	Ljaskolka@wi.rr.com
Lori Johnston	ljohnstongd@gmail.com
Marilyn Toshner	mtoshner71@gmail.com

Archived Announcements (Link) Please access this link to find all of the information in our daily announcements from previous weeks.

Preview of this week: Please check the calendars here: West Main Page Calendar (Link)

October 22nd Weekly Blog

"Purpose Corner" - This week I discuss the professional development our teachers recently experienced this past month and how that compliments our Theory of Action.

Please click here for this 3:30 video

"Challenge Day" - What a week it was last week as 300 students and 75 adults volunteered to be part of three days of small group work for "Challenge Day" centered around being real about who we are as people with our celebrations and our struggles. On our fourth day, the entire school was allowed a glimpse into this same mindset, all for the purpose of knowing we all struggle and can relate, and that we must have each other's backs!! Last week has propelled us to do more to support one another and I will continue to showcase what that looks like throughout the course of this school year. For now, I will share with you our West logo (embedded is universal sign language for love) to support the work of "Challenge Day" and some pictures from our all-school assembly, with some great dancing among staff and students!! I encourage anyone to access the Challenge Day website to learn more about it. https://www.challengeday.org/

  

"State Marching Band" - Though I was out of town and not available to attend the marching band state competition, I had spies everywhere who confirmed what I knew all along, that the Cadets of Waukesha West worked their tails off all year to deliver a dynamite performance once again at Perkins Stadium on the UW-Whitewater college campus. Congratulations to the Cadets, band directors and all the parent/volunteer support for another outstanding season which resulted in multiple first-place finishes in various competitions and a second place finish at the state competition! Way to go Cadets!

"Circle of Friends" - Is one of the many clubs we have at West High School that invites all students to join in and be social together! they most recently went on their annual trip to Skateland for some fun and games! If any students are interested in joining in please contact Mrs. Montanye at bmontany@waukesha.k12.wi.us  All West students are welcome!

"Random Acts of Kindness (RAK)" - RAK continues to promote a positive and kind culture throughout the halls of West High School. You will see positive sayings posted on our walls and students lockers, as well as today members providing bracelets to students as a reminder to build a kind and positive school culture! Please enjoy the pictures of the bracelets many West students received today. What a great reminder to start off your day with a "kind" mindset!

"Principal Purpose" - For anyone who comes into West High School these days you will notice a portable chalkboard like you would see at a local cafe' that is used to advertise for the flavor of the day. This board is not for that purpose but to offer a visual to prompt students to get into a proper mindset. The "Principal Purpose" sign holds a statement or saying for the day, meant for any and all to read and apply as needed in their day. I utilize quotes I find, or possibly hear, and even makeup myself as some possible wisdom for anyone looking. It will be a fixture when I am in the building throughout the school year. Yes, I do keep track of the saying and the date it is shared. Below was my saying for 10/22 as we transition into the Fall season. let this also be a lesson to all students to practice good handwriting skills, as I clearly need better feedback and then practice application!!

Principal Advisory Council - Below are the names of the individuals on the Principal Advisory Council for 2018-2019. We met most recently on Wednesday, October 17th and will continue to meet monthly throughout the school year. Please access the minutes for more information about our discussions for this school year. The meeting minutes are linked here:

Cheryl Jeffers	cmjeffers@yahoo.com
Bret Reichert	br@wi.rr.com
Bridget Clementi	clementi101@wi.rr.com
Deanna Krell	dkrell@wi.rr.com
Deshondria Baggett	dbaggett@wi.rr.com
Gail Young-Lane	jlane1@wi.rr.com
Jon Eckmann	Jon@promarkpainters.com
Kim Keller	kim.keller@wecenergygroup.com
Krista Bitzan	smileyfish76@hotmail.com
Lawrence Oberbruner	loberbruner@gmail.com
Lee Ann Jaskolka	Ljaskolka@wi.rr.com
Lori Johnston	ljohnstongd@gmail.com
Marilyn Toshner	mtoshner71@gmail.com

Archived Announcements (Link) Please access this link to find all of the information in our daily announcements from previous weeks.

Preview of this week: Please check the calendars here: West Main Page Calendar (Link)

October 8th Weekly Blog

"Purpose Corner" - This week I continue to highlight the topics teachers are focusing on for this year within their inquiry groups as well as the essential questions that will drive the work they are doing and strive to keep the focus on the purpose of their work.

Please click here to access this 2:15 video

"Homecoming Recap" - Thank you to all staff and students for an outstanding Homecoming week! School spirit was high along with some great Powder Puff play (Sophomore Champs!) and a great pep rally this past Friday afternoon. Saturday's dance once again showed how West students rise above others as their dancing was appropriate and overall every student did an outstanding job!! There were more than 700 hundred students in attendance...outstanding!!! Once again we honored two alumni of distinction during our ceremonies this past Friday, please enjoy the Wall of Fame inductees biographies.

"West teacher Showcase" - One of our English teachers Mrs. Amy Menzel was recently published in the Wisconsin English Journal. An excerpt and link below to her article, Just One More Thing, congratulations Amy! Her passion for reading is one of the multiple things our staff has done to grow the love of reading for West High School students and the results have been seen through our most recent ACT score. In the area of reading, our scores grew by almost a full point while the state average dropped from the year before! Keep up the great work!

https://wisconsinenglishjournal.org/2018

"West Choirs" - Our main office is the fortunate recipient of choir practice on certain days. They come around to fill the halls with their gracious music, please enjoy the video taken of our choir practicing in front of our office staff....simply outstanding.

Please click here to access this 2:34 video 

"Challenge Day" is coming soon! - At West, we have continued to focus on a positive message for breaking down barriers among students through bringing "Challenge Day" to our campus the week of October 15th. Our Wolverine Leadership Academy has supported this program in coming to West High School. The "Challenge" week will involve three days of group activities which includes 100 students and 25 adults per day. Each day is a new group of students and a mostly a new group of adults. The fourth and final day will culminate with an all-school assembly on Thursday morning October 18th. Here is the link for the "Challenge Day" website for having a better understanding of what these days are about. Participation for staff and students is 100% voluntary. I look forward to seeing the positive impact these days will have on our school culture!  

Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences - We are having our two nights of Parent/Teacher conferences at West High School starting Thursday, October 18th from 4:00 - 7:00 P.M. and again on Tuesday, October 23rd from 4:00 - 6:00 P.M. Both nights of conferences are by appointment only. These appointments are ten minutes in length. To sign up for conferences click here. Teachers will be in their classrooms per our usual format. Teachers manage their own conferences so parents will experience different processes when meeting with each teacher. Communication from parents to teachers is critical for success and technology allows us to communicate better than we ever have. With that being said, I ask all parents to consider if they truly need to come in and take a teachers appointment slot if their child is meeting/exceeding expectations, but of course, all are parents welcome.

Principal Advisory Council - Below are the names of the individuals on the Principal Advisory Council for 2018-2019. We met most recently on Wednesday, September 26th and will continue to meet monthly throughout the school year. Please access the minutes for more information about our discussions for this school year. The meeting minutes are linked here:

Cheryl Jeffers	cmjeffers@yahoo.com
Bret Reichert	br@wi.rr.com
Bridget Clementi	clementi101@wi.rr.com
Deanna Krell	dkrell@wi.rr.com
Deshondria Baggett	dbaggett@wi.rr.com
Gail Young-Lane	jlane1@wi.rr.com
Jon Eckmann	Jon@promarkpainters.com
Kim Keller	kim.keller@wecenergygroup.com
Krista Bitzan	smileyfish76@hotmail.com
Lawrence Oberbruner	loberbruner@gmail.com
Lee Ann Jaskolka	Ljaskolka@wi.rr.com
Lori Johnston	ljohnstongd@gmail.com
Marilyn Toshner	mtoshner71@gmail.com

Archived Announcements (Link) Please access this link to find all of the information in our daily announcements from previous weeks.

Preview of this week: Please check the calendars here: West Main Page Calendar (Link)

NO BLOG NEXT WEEK on 10/15 as I will be out of the office and focused on Challenge Day!!! I will be back on the 22nd of October!

October 1st Weekly Blog

"Homecoming 2018" - The theme for West Homecoming 2018 is "All around the World!" Spirit Week Themes are... Monday: PJ Day Tuesday: Tacky Tourist Wednesday: Class Color/T-Shirt Day Thursday: USA/America Friday: West Spirit. Class Hallway Decorating is tomorrow Tuesday, October 2nd right after school! Students, please be there to help make our hallway's look amazing and festive! Homecoming Dance permission slips are available in the main office from. Tickets for our dance are on sale all week and are $10 per person. 

Wall of Fame Induction - As part of our Homecoming tradition, this Friday we will be honoring the newest members of our West Wall of Fame, William (Bill) M. Strom and Jason Sansone, MD. All students and community members are invited to come and join us for the induction ceremony at 3:15 P.M. on Friday, October 15th in our main entrance atrium. Their induction credentials are below. 

"Challenge Day" is coming soon! - At West, we have continued to focus on a positive message for breaking down barriers among students through bringing "Challenge Day" to our campus the week of October 15th. Our Wolverine Leadership Academy has supported this program in coming to West High School. The "Challenge" week will involve three days of group activities which includes 100 students and 25 adults per day. Each day is a new group of students and a mostly a new group of adults. The fourth and final day will culminate with an all-school assembly on Thursday morning October 18th. Here is the link for the "Challenge Day" website for having a better understanding of what these days are about. Participation for staff and students is 100% voluntary. I look forward to seeing the positive impact these days will have on our school culture!  

Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences - We are having our two nights of Parent/Teacher conferences at West High School starting Thursday, October 18th from 4:00 - 7:00 P.M. and again on Tuesday, October 23rd from 4:00 - 6:00 P.M. Both nights of conferences are by appointment only. These appointments are ten minutes in length. To sign up for conferences click here. Teachers will be in their classrooms per our usual format. Teachers manage their own conferences so parents will experience different processes when meeting with each teacher. Communication from parents to teachers is critical for success and technology allows us to communicate better than we ever have. With that being said, I ask all parents to consider if they truly need to come in and take a teachers appointment slot if their child is meeting/exceeding expectations, but of course, all are parents welcome.

Principal Advisory Council - Below are the names of the individuals on the Principal Advisory Council for 2018-2019. We met most recently on Wednesday, September 26th and will continue to meet monthly throughout the school year. Please access the minutes for more information about our discussions for this school year. The meeting minutes are linked here:

Cheryl Jeffers	cmjeffers@yahoo.com
Bret Reichert	br@wi.rr.com
Bridget Clementi	clementi101@wi.rr.com
Deanna Krell	dkrell@wi.rr.com
Deshondria Baggett	dbaggett@wi.rr.com
Gail Young-Lane	jlane1@wi.rr.com
Jon Eckmann	Jon@promarkpainters.com
Kim Keller	kim.keller@wecenergygroup.com
Krista Bitzan	smileyfish76@hotmail.com
Lawrence Oberbruner	loberbruner@gmail.com
Lee Ann Jaskolka	Ljaskolka@wi.rr.com
Lori Johnston	ljohnstongd@gmail.com
Marilyn Toshner	mtoshner71@gmail.com

Archived Announcements (Link) Please access this link to find all of the information in our daily announcements from previous weeks.

Preview of this week: Please check the calendars here: West Main Page Calendar (Link)