*Most recent announcements will be at the top of this page*

3/31

• CONGRATULATIONS to our West Bend Badger Middle School Winter Guard for not only winning their round at the 2025 Midwest Color Guard Circuit Championship on Saturday in Tinley Park, Illinois but also being named Grand Champion by scoring the highest during Finals with a 90.13.  The team brought home the SRA Champion Banner, 1st Place Trophy, and Grand Champion Plaque.  Each guard member received a gold medal.  WAY TO GO, GIRLS!  Thanks for doing a phenomenal job representing West Bend & Wisconsin in the Midwest Color Guard Circuit!

Our Staff of the Week is someone who is an amazing human and teacher. She is patient with her students, remaining calm and fair while teaching in a way that all of her students understand her. She is a great role model and he are lucky to have her on our Badger staff. Congratulations to Mrs. Laufer - 8th Grade Math

Badger staff are proud to recognize this week's students of the week:
7th grade - Archer Roell, River Biertzer, Caladae Corona
8th grade - Maria Kimmler & Bella Brumfiel

3/21

• Today is National Down Syndrome Day. We observe this day to raise awareness and celebrate the lives of people born with Down Syndrome. The date - 3/21 - signifies the 3 copies of chromosome 21 which is the cause of Down Syndrome.
• The time has come! The teachers have traded in their grade books for game faces, and they're ready to school the competition. This year's Staff vs Student Dodgeball Game is about to go down, and let's be clear - your teachers aren't just here to teach, they're here to WIN! So students, bring your best moves (and maybe some extra homework excuses), because the teachers are locked in, warmed up, and ready to dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dominate!

3/18

• Today is the last day to sign up for student vs staff dodgeball! Grab your Badger Pride cards and head to room 218 to sign up!
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes will meet tomorrow March 19 from 3:30pm - 4:10pm in Room 212. Andy Christopherson will be our guest speaker this month. Please come for what will be a great message and....YES, there will be snacks. Friendly reminder, you do not need to be an athlete to attend. Any and all are welcomed! 

3/17

This week's Staff of the Week is a teacher who is always there for his students and it willing to lend a helping hand. His students say, "He is the best," and, "A very chill guy." He care about student safety in the classroom and helps students to learn from their mistakes. Congratulations to Mr. Chesick - 7th Grade Science Teacher

Badger Staff are proud to recognize this week's Students of the Week:
7th grade - Amelia Walth & Imahdi Simond
8th grade - Izaihla Moore, Sawyer Flood, Dennis Banks

• This last Saturday marked the official end of the 2025 Forensics season as Badger competed with over 60 other schools at the State Meet! Badger won the 4th place trophy, and many students earned medals. Congrats to the following students for earning medals in the "Power Round":
  Benjamin & Malcom in Demonstration
  Marshall in Impromptu
  Christian in Newsreporting
  Allison in Poetry
  Sofia & Bryn in Special Events
  The following students earned 3rd place:
  Abigail & Clara in Group Acting
  Sullivan, Wyatt, Matthew & Andrew in Group Interp
  Aubrey & Lindy in Special Events
  Lillian in Farrago
  The following students earned 2nd place:
  Sawyer & Adrian in Infomercial
  These students earned 1st place:
  Macy in Storytelling
  Grayson & Charlotte in Newsreporting
• Congratulations to our West Bend Badger Middle School Scholastic Regional A Team for winning the SRA division at Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, IL.  The members are now preparing for their last competition, the Midwest Color Guard Circuit Championship, in two weeks.  Way to go, Winter Guard!
• Great job to all the students who made up the cast and crew of Moana Jr!
• Good luck to our 8th grade students who begin Forward Testing this week!

3/14

• Sign up now in Mrs. King’s room (218) for your chance to take on the staff in an exciting dodgeball showdown.

  Spots are filling up fast! Bring your 5 Badger Pride Cards and sign up as soon as possible to secure your spot.

  Don’t miss out on the competition—stop by Room 218 today!

3/13

• The Badger 8th grade blue volleyball team competed last night in their final match of the season. The energy the girls had throughout the match was amazing. Savaya Ratliff delivered the winning hit to win the first set. Alana Dilworth stepped up aggressively both on defense and offense. Kaylee Thibadeau  had her best match of the season serving tough in the 4th set while also playing great defense. Our team party will be tomorrow in room 135 after school, please remember to return your CLEAN jerseys.
• The 7th grade Badger Gold team ended their season with a phenomenal WIN!  They swept Thomas Jefferson once again winning all four sets! Brooklyn Seidel earned another nickel bringing her to a total of $.20 for the season. Fiona Techlin earned a dime, and came close to two more.  Fiona’s season total was $.15. These girls played their hearts out and improved every single game.  They won every single game of the season except one. Congratulations to Badger Gold for a fantastic season!! 

3/12

• The Badger 8th grade blue team played a tough match last night vs. Thomas Jefferson. Kyleigh Struck earned a nickel with her powerful serving in the 3rd set. Ava Walczak served tough in the 1st set racking up multiple points that helped in the win. Simone Manns was relentless on defense & Savaya Ratliff refused to let the ball hit the floor. The girls have their last match of the season on Weds, and their coaches are proud of how hard they worked all season!
• The 7th grade Badger Gold team swept Thomas Jefferson last night winning all three of their sets! Team captain Grace Koefert did a wonderful job of leading her team to victory.  Fiona Techlin earned a nickel in the very first match giving Badger a strong lead. Calli Dykeman had a fierce return that lead the team to win the game. Samyia Ratliff dominated at the serving line earning herself a nickel.  Not only that, but she helped to keep numerous points with her diligence at the net.  Tonight is the last game of the season for Badger Gold.  Wish them luck playing away at Thomas Jefferson. 

3/10

This week's Staff of the Week was chosen because she is a favorite teacher of many students. She is thoughtful and creative in class, making the room fun and exciting with games for students. She is very friendly and caring to all those she meets. Congratulations to Frau Muhl - German Language Teacher

Badger staff are proud to recognize this week's Students of the Week:
7th grade - Sophia Gabelbauer, Caiden Kleppe, Avi Lovan, Samantha Kocher
8th grade - Sophia Fechter, Elinor Elliot

• Congratulations to our WB Badger Middle School Winter Guard who not only won their Scholastic Division A round yesterday with their COME TO THE SEA show in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, but also had the highest score out of all three rounds...beating out 20 high school teams!  Way to go, Badger Winter Guard. This team will compete again this coming Sunday at Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, IL. Good luck, Girls!!

3/5

• 7th grade Badger Gold cleaned house against Webster Middle School last night winning all 4 of their sets.  Team captain Maddie Hyde set a great example bumping and setting the ball! She also earned her first nickel of the season! Shaleah Chavez scored yet ANOTHER nickel for the season bringing her total to $.50! Remiah Koefert had an amazing quick spike return causing the audience to erupt in cheers! Samyia Ratliff not only had excellent serves last night, but she was a beast with her attacks at the net. The entire team played their hearts out and it showed!  Congrats ladies on a job well done! 
• The 8th grade Blue volleyball team had a competitive match last night against Webster. Sophia McLeod had a big moment, earning her first nickel with strong serving in the fourth set. Alana Dilworth and Makenzie Kreis made an impact at the net with aggressive attacks, while Kaylee Thibodeau and Angel Komp anchored the defense, making key plays to keep the ball in play. The girls will compete at home on Thursday after school, come on out to cheer them on!

3/4

• Anyone interested in Track & Field. Signups will be held Wednesday March 5th in room 212 from 7:35-7:55am. This is only a sign-up parents do not need to attend. If you have any questions please feel free to stop in room 212 and speak with Mr. Hoogester
• Calling all 8th graders heading to Washington DC this summer: Remember to meet in the 1st floor MAC Thursday morning from 7:40-7:50 for a quick meet & greet.

3/3

• Congratulations to our Badger Winter Guard for competing in the WGI Chicago Regional this weekend.  The team had prelims on Saturday and made it into Sunday's Finals where they were awarded 2nd place.  They were the only middle school team from Wisconsin, and they competed against high school teams from Kentucky, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, and Illinois.  
• Hello from your lunch ladies, This week is National Breakfast week. To celebrate, we will have a drawing for a free lunch and line jump from Tuesday to Friday. All you have to do is eat breakfast, you will set a slip, fill it out with name and lunch period, and put it in the container provided. Tuesday Morning we will announce the winners for that day. Please come to the condiment cart and I will greet you.

Our Staff of the Week was chosen because she is a very important part of our staff and she loves doing what she does. She's very friendly to everyone at the school; her attitude and sense of humor makes the front office a welcoming place to be. Congratulations to Mrs. Axness - Attendance Specialist

Badger staff are proud to recognize this week's Students of the Week:
7th grade - Reagan Lauderback, Sophia Richmond, Corinne Atkins
8th grade - Nina Hackman, Maci Spaeth, Analiah Hernandez

2/28

• Congrats to the winners of the February house raffles:
  7A - Wyatt T.
  7B - Carter V.
  78B - Ainsley H
  8A - Landon B.
  8C - Hailey W.
  Please see your house science teacher to receive your large box of Ding Dongs! The March prizes are now on display, drop your full stamp cards into the raffle boxes.
• The Badger 8th grade blue team played a tough Mequon team last night. SImone Manns & Kyleigh Struck earned themselves a nickel last night with tough serves. Dayana Nicolas Merino and Cali Blake played some tough defense while Angel Komp had some great net plays. The girls will be home next Thursday against Weber. Come out an support the team!!
• Calli Dykeman led her Badger GOLD team to an amazing victory over Mequon Steffan Middle School last night!   The team came alive, and the ladies were diving, digging, and attacking all over the court.  Grace Koeferl, Rylie Stoltz, and Remiah Koeferl were fierce defenders, attacking at the net to earn points for GOLD.  This was the "Night of the Nickels" as Shaleah Chavez, Samyia Ratliff, Rylie Stoltz and Fiona Techlin all earned nickels....and Shaleah Chavez earned 2, giving her the coveted "dime".  Although she didn't earn a nickel, Brooklyn Siedel brought in the most points for GOLD, serving up 14 successful serves for points! Great job ladies!  

• Barack Obama was the 44th president of the United States and the first African American commander-in-chief.  As Black History Month comes to a close, let’s use President Obama’s words to inspire us all to be the change we need to make our world a better place.

  "Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek." —Barack Obama

2/27

• Nelson Madela is known for fighting against the racist apartheid system in his homeland, and for equality and freedom for all people.  In 1994, Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the first democratic president of South Africa.  After his term as president, Mandela continued to devote his attention to education, democracy, and equality.  In Nelson Mandela’s quote, he speaks of how we should treat everyone, so that they feel good about themselves.

  "For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” 

  —Nelson Mandela

2/26

• Rock Ensemble will not meet after school today. Rehearsal will resume next week.
• The 8th grade Badger Blue volleyball team had a big win over Slinger last night 3-1. Dayana Nicolas Merino earned another nickel in the first set. Cali Blake played a great match at the net. Kyleigh Struck was great in the back row with some tough serve receiving. Alana Dilworth & Angel Komp played amazing defense. The team competes Thursday in Mequon!
• The 7th grade Badger Gold team pulled off a win by the skin of their teeth against Slinger last night.  Team captain Shaleah Chavez had a remarkable game earning THREE nickels for a total of $.35 and leading her team to victory! Brooklyn Seidel also scored a nickel bringing her total to $.15! It was great teamwork to hear the team encouraging each other! Way to go gold!

• Today we celebrate the birthday of W.E.B. Du Bois.  He was an American sociologist, historian, author, editor, and activist who was the most important Black protest leader in the United States during the first half of the 20th century.  Mr. Du Bois reminds us that we are all one people.

  "I believe that all men, black, brown, and white, are brothers."

  —W.E.B. Du Bois

2/25

• The 8th grade Badger Blue team fought hard last night against Thomas Jefferson. Hailey Buschke earned her first nickel of the season, Savaya Ratliff was a force to reckon with at the net, and Alana Dilworth & Ava Walczak did a great job leading the team at match captains!
• They say "You are what you eat." With that in mind, please continue to turn in your full Badger Pride cards to your house's red raffle bin in order to try to win February's super big box of Ding Dongs! You have until Thursday at noon to enter and winners will be announced Friday morning!
• This past weekend, students competed at the Future Business Leaders of America State Conference. Congratulations to Clara Mintie for earning 1st place in Learning Strategies as well as 2nd place in Career Research; Lilly Wondra for earning 3rd place in Exploring Economics; Ainsley Holtzer & Dane McIntyre for their 3rd place finish in Website Design; and Abi Ruiz for earning 4th place in Interpersonal Communication! All the attendess deserve recognition for their hard work and for being excellent representatives of Badger!
• The 7th grade Badger Gold team did its best last night against Thomas Jefferson middle school.  Team captain Ainsley Winkles encouraged her teammates to do their best and keep their head in the game.  Hazel Krimmer had a tremendous game winning herself a nickel in the first match! Once again, Shaleah Chavez dominated the serving line earning another nickel, bringing her total to $.20 for the season so far! It’s a busy week for the Gold team as they head to Slinger this afternoon to take on the owls.  Wish the girls luck to bring home a win! 

• Today we celebrate the birthday of who many consider to be the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan.  Jordan was competitive from a very early age and wanted to win every game that he played in.  In this quote from Jordan, we can see how failure can help us succeed.

  "I've never been afraid to fail.  Failure always made me try harder the next time"

  —Michael Jordan

2/24

• Youth Impact Club - Don't forget to join Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Becker in room 126 after school tonight.
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes will meet this Wednesday 2/26 from 3:30-4:05 in room 212. Our very own Tony Lisowski, along with Denver Christopherson and Isaac Loether, are our guest speakers. Please come for a great message and snacks!
• For the first time in over 20 years, every single students in Forensics this year is eligible to attend the Wisconsin State Forensics Meet!
  From last Friday's meet, congratulations to the following students for earning medals:
  3rd place - Ben & Malcom in Demonstration, Sullivan, Wyatt, Matthew, & Andrew in Group Interp., Marshall in Impromptu, Christian & Noah in News Reporting, Sofia & BRyn in Special Events, Brooklyn in Humorous Solo
  2nd place - Aubrey & Lindy in Special Events
  1st place - Abigail & Clara in Group Acting, Declan in Informative, Grayson & Charlotte in News Reporting, O'Ryann in Poetry, April in Farrago

Our Staff of the Week was chosen because he is a great teacher who cares for his students. He helps them achieve goals, even earning popcorn parties. He is kind, funny, and great at solving puzzle cubes. Congrats to Mr. Latendresse - STEM teacher

Badger staff are proud to recognize this week's Students of the Week:
7th grade - Colton Malecha, Macy Custer, Lillian Wondra
8th grade - Tyler Vanadestine, Riley Hermann, Evan Kemmeter

2/20

• Badger Gold brought home another victory last night against Thomas Jefferson! Team captain Remiah Koefert set an awesome example by encouraging her teammates and being a true leader.  Shaleah Chavez once again scored another nickel, earning herself a total of $.15 so far this season! Ryleigh Stoltz, Grace Koefert, and Maddie Hyde all exhibited BEAUTIFUL backhanded returns to the other team gaining possession back for the Badgers.  Brooklyn Seidel also had several great saves in the nick of time causing the audience to cheer the team on! Great job to all players and congratulations!!!! 
• The Badger Blue 8th grade volleyball team had another big win last night beating Thomas Jefferson 3-0. Dayana Nicolas Merino & Kyleigh Struck served tough and earned themselves a nickel. Alana Dilworth & Angel Komp were forces to be reckoned with at the net. Hailey Buschke & Kaylee Thibodeaux also played some great defense flying all over the court. Congrats girls on a great start to the season!

• Today’s quote is from Dr. Martin Luther King.  Dr. King is most well known for being a social activist and one of the key leaders of the civil rights movement.  As we remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today, let’s put his words into action so that we can make Badger a place that is filled with love and kindness.

  Here is Dr. King’s quote, 

  Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

2/19

• Today’s quote comes to us from Dr. Mae Jemison.  As a doctor, engineer, and NASA astronaut, Mae Jemison has always reached for the stars. In 1992, Jemison became the first African American woman to travel in space.   Here is her quote that can inspire us to reach for the stars:

  "Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations."

  —Dr. Mae Jemison, first African-American female astronaut

2/18

• Attention Band Students - Combined band rehearsals are this morning. All Stravinsky band members should attend during 1st hour, Holst Band members attend during 2nd hour. All Sousa band members attend during 3rd hour.
• Even though the medals ceremony was cut due to the weather, Badger still walked away with many medals!
  3rd place: Samuel in Impromptu, Macy in Storytelling, Declan in Informative, Sey & Jayleah in Group Interp
  2nd place: Abigail & Clara in Group Acting, Wyatt, Matthew, Andrew & Sullivan in Group Interp, Marshall in Impromptu, Grayson & Charlotte in News Reporting, Allison in Poetry, April in Farrago, Lillian in Farrago
  1st place: Aubrey & Caitlyn in News Reporting, Lindy & Aubrey in Special Events, Adrian & Sawyer in Infomercial
• Attention anyone interesting in joining Kingpin Middle School Bowling Club - Information can be found outside of room 212 or on the Badger Athletic page. Practices start on Monday, Feb 24th. If you have specific questions you may speak with Mr. Hoogester in room 212, or Tom Zernia at Kingpin Bowl.

• Franklin Thomas was an inspiring leader, lawyer, activist, and philanthropist. In today’s quote, Mr. Thomas challenges us to look beyond the color of our skin to see what really matters.

  “One day our descendants will think it incredible that we paid so much attention to things like the amount of melanin in our skin or the shape of our eyes or our gender instead of the unique identities of each of us as complex human beings.”

  —Franklin Thomas, activist, philanthropist, and former president of the Ford Foundation

2/14

• 7th grade Badger Gold brought home another victory against John Long middle school with team captain Brooklyn Seidel leading the way!  Shaleah Chavez earned her first nickel of the season and was super close to getting two more! She scored the most points during the matches with a total of 11 points. Fiona Techlin also had an amazing game.  She scored 10 points throughout the matches and saved the ball multiple times with her swift action and excellent technique! Way to go girls! Keep up the great work.  You’re making Badger proud!
• The Badger Blue team came home with another big win last night beating John Long 2-1! Savaya Ratliff earned her first nickel of the season. Kaylee Thibodeau played some great defense, diving all over the court. Kyleigh Struck was an all-around great teammate on and off the court, plus Alana Dilworth had some great play at the net!

• Valentine’s Day is a day when people will show others how much they care about them.  Today’s quote comes from Maya Angelou who is a famous activist and author.  She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2011.  Her words can guide us in how important it is to show others how much you care about them today.

  “If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.”

  — Maya Angelou

2/13

• Today’s quote comes from famous comedian, actor, and entertainer, Chris Rock.  Rock’s quote reminds us to hang in there when things are tough.

  “No matter what happens or how difficult things become, you will eventually feel better.”

  —Chris Rock

2/12

• Today’s quote comes from Rosa Parks who has been recognized as the “first lady of civil rights by the United States Congress.  Parks became known as a symbol of the civil rights movement, because of her ongoing work to resolve injustice and racial discrimination.

  "Differences of race, nationality or religion should not be used to deny any human being citizenship rights or privileges."

   —Rosa Parks

2/11

• Attention Mafia Club, This week only, we are meeting on Thursday instead of today. See you then!

  Attention Builders Club, tonight after school in the second floor MAC is our February meeting. Come for the snacks, fun project, and awesome friends!

• The 7th grade Badger Gold volleyball team brought home their first win last night against John Long Middle School in Grafton with team captain Ryleigh Stoltz leading the way! Maddie Hyde earned her first nickel of the season followed by  teammate Brooklyn Seidel who won her first dime!  Calli Dykeman had two incredible saves returning the ball with vengeance. Fiona Techlin also had an outstanding tipover stealing the ball back for Badger to win the match! Way to go Gold!  Come and cheer on Badger Gold at our next home meet this Thursday!

• Congrats to our Badger Red 7th and 8th grade girls volleyball teams as they both won their games against Grafton last night.  Outstanding playing ladies!!!

• Badger Blue 8th grade team had a big win last night at John Long winning 3-2. Both Ali Warczak and Kyleigh Struck earned their first nickels of the season. Hayley Buschke and Angel Komp led the team with their enthusiasm and hustle. Come watch the girls compete this Thursday at home!

• Today’s quote comes from Green Bay Packers’ all-time leading receiver, Donald Driver.  He achieved a high level of success because he worked hard and believed in himself.  His quote can help us see how to handle conflict or adversity.

  “Don’t get mad. Don’t get even. Do better. Much better. Rise above. Become so engulfed in your own success that you forget it ever happened.”

  — Donald Driver

This week's Staff of the Week was nominated because he is an amazing teacher who is very passionate about his students and their learning. He goes out of his way to make sure that his students understand what he is teaching, while telling dad jokes and making learning fun! Congratulations to Mr. Chamberlain - 7th Grade Social Studies

Badger staff are proud to recognize this week's Students of the Week:
7th Grade - Natalya Andrescavage, Connor Schultz, Samantha Wolfert
8th Grade - Angel Komp, Makenzie Kreis, Jazlyn RIvera

2/10

• Come by to support Badger Red Volleyball today from 3:30-5:30. Concessions will be sold by Builders Club - all items $1. Also, Builders Club Members, please remember that we will have our February meeting tomorrow after school.
• Badger performed very well at last Friday's Forensics meet at Slinger Middle School.
  3rd place - Marshall in Impromptu, Macy in Storytelling, Declan in Informative, Zetti in Poetry
  2nd place - Wyatt, Matthew, Andrew, and Sullivan in Group Interp, Christian and Noah in News Reporting, Allison in Poetry, and Sawyer & Adrian in Infomercial
  1st place - Abigail & Clara in Group Acting, Nathan in Informative, Aubrey & Caitlyn in News Reporting, Lillian in Fattago, and Brooklyn in Humorous Solo. 
  With this third meet in the books, the majority of students in Forensics are now eligible to compete at State! Good luck this Friday at Central.

• Today we honor Jackie Robinson. Jackie faced a lot of barriers and racism in becoming the first African American professional baseball player.  As we continue through this month, remember Jackie’s words about how we all deserve to be treated.
  “I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me … all I ask is that you respect me as a human being.”—Jackie Robinson

2/7

• Kobe Bryant is famous for being one of the best basketball players in the history of the NBA. He played guard for the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 years. He was known for his tough defense, vertical leap, and ability to score winning baskets at the end of the game. He is widely considered the best basketball player of the 2000s and perhaps one of the best of all time. Kobe won 5 NBA championships with the LA Lakers. His high school team won the state championship his senior year. He won two Olympic Gold medals for basketball in 2008 and 2012. He was the NBA slam dunk champion in 1997.

  The Super Bowl halftime show began as a showcase for various marching bands and drill teams before evolving into the much-anticipated spectacle it has turned into over the years. The modern version of the Super Bowl halftime show, featuring a pop singer or musician, was largely established in 1993 when Michael Jackson performed at Super Bowl 27. This year at Super Bowl 59 when the Chiefs face the Eagles, Kendrick Lamar will be the headliner for the halftime show.

2/6

• On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson stepped onto Ebbets Field for his first game with the Brooklyn Dodgers. It was the beginning of an unparalleled career in baseball. At the end of his explosive nine years as a Dodger, his record included a .311 batting average, 137 home runs, 734 runs batted in, and 197 stolen bases. In 1955, he helped the Dodgers beat the New York Yankees to win their first World Series Championship. Robinson took home the Rookie of the Year Award in 1947, the Most Valuable Player Award in 1949, and in 1962 became the first African American inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

  Claudette Colvin was 15 years old when she refused to move from her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery in March 1955. She was arrested and jailed for her action that day, and ended up challenging the segregation law in court along with three other women. However, Rosa Parks was the one who became an icon because she was already well-respected and was chosen by civil rights organizers to be the face of the campaign.

2/5

• Garret Morgan created many inventions in his lifetime. In 1912 he patented a “Breathing Device” to help firefighters breathe fresh air. In 1922 he patented the first traffic light to have a third “caution” signal—the yellow light that we use today. General Electric installed his traffic light model in cities across the country, making driving safer for everyone!
  
  Ruby Bridges was 6 years old when she was the first Black student to attend a previously all-white school in New Orleans in 1960, after schools in the South were ordered to desegregate. Even though the school was in her own neighborhood, she had to be escorted to and from school by U.S. marshals and had no other students in her classroom, because a lot of white people were angry about the school becoming integrated.

2/4

• Continuing with our acknowledgement of Black History Month - Beyoncé is an American singer-songwriter and actress who achieved fame in the late 1990s as the lead singer of the R&B group Destiny’s Child and then launched a hugely successful solo career. In 2023 she broke the record for most Grammy Awards won by an artist, with 32 Grammy wins over the course of her career.

  What is an EGOT? Technically, it’s the term for someone who has won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony. But more significantly, the acronym signifies an entertainer who has dominated all forms of entertainment, from stage and screen to music and television. It’s a major achievement to win even one of these prizes, but to win all of the top prizes in entertainment is to join an upper echelon of legends. Only 21 people have earned an EGOT. The first African American to win this award was Whoopi Goldberg. Other African American winners include: John Legend, Harry Belafonte, Jennifer Hudson, Quincy Jones, Viola Davis, Common, James Earl Jones, Billy Porter, and Cynthia Erivo

2/3

• Attention all 7th graders - you 8th grade elective sheet is due this Friday, Feb. 7th. If you brought your form to school, please bring it to the counseling office this morning or on your way to lunch. If you need a new copy, stop in the counseling office to pick one up!
• Badger hosted last Friday's Forensics Meet and it was a rollercoaster of excitement! 
  In 3rd place - Christian and Noah in News Reporting, and O'Ryann in Poetry
  In 2nd place - Brooklyn and Gwendolyn each in Humorous Solo, and Vicente in Farrago
  In 1st place - Abigail and Clara in Group Acting, Adrian and Sawyer in Infomercial, Declan in Informative, Paige in Moments in History, Aubrey and Caitlin in News Reporting, and April in Farrago
• February is Black History Month, to honor that, we will be reading about some of the history-making men, women, and events during morning announcements:
  Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland, and eventually escaped. However, she soon returned to Maryland to help her family find their way to freedom, too. Over the next 10 years she went on to make 19 trips into the South, rescuing over 300 other slaves, helping them escape to freedom though the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a series of secret routes and network of safe homes and hiding places that escaped slaves could use to remain hidden until they were safely up north. Tubman was never caught, and never lost a “passenger.” When the Civil War broke out, Tubman became a nurse, scout, and spy in the Union army.
  “Black Wall Street” was the nickname of the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa, Oklahoma, that flourished with Black-owned businesses in the early 20th century. Since white business owners in Tulsa often refused to serve Black customers, local Black residents decided to open their own businesses and institutions, including a theater, a newspaper, a hospital, a hotel, a library, law offices, schools, and more. In 1921, white rioters destroyed the neighborhood with fires, killing hundreds of people—but Black residents worked together to rebuild the area and opened 80 businesses in 1922.

This week's Staff of the Week was chosen because she is a wonderful asset to all the classes she supports. Her first priority is the students she works with as she truly cares about their success. She always come to school with a smile on her face and is ready for the day. Congratulations to Ms. Erens - Special Education Paraprofessional.
 

Badger Staff are proud to recognize this week's students of the week:
7th Grade - Aubrey Palmer, Elliot Howell, Kaylee Schultz
8th Grade - Samuel Agee, Morgan Mikolich, Savaya Ratliff

1/28

• Tuesday Clubs kick off today! Please head to room 223 for Mafia Club or 224 for D&D Club, see you after school.

• Fellowship of Christian Athletes will meet this Wednesday January 29th from 3:30pm - 4:05pm in Room 212. Mr. Troy Loether, Lead Pastor from Kettlebrook Church is our guest speaker this month. Please come for what will be a great message and....YES, there will be snacks. Friendly reminder, you do not need to be an athlete to attend. Any and all are welcomed! See you all Wednesday. 

• This past weekend, students competed in the Future Business Leaders of America Regional Competition. Congrats to Ainsley Holtzer and Dane Mcintyre for their First Place win in Exploring Website Design. Lilian Wondra won 1st place in the Marketing Mix Challenge while Allison Warczak won 2nd Place. In the Career Research category, Clara Minte placed 3rd, Abu Ruiz placed 4th, and Sofia Cummings placed 6th. Congrats to all and good luck at State!
• Basketball "B" team, we have our end of the year party after school in room 136. Please bring your uniform to return. See you there!

1/27

• Congratulations to Ms. Zancanaro's West Bend East Dance Team! This weekend, they competed in regionals and advanced to State Competitions in LaCrosse. Congratulations and good luck!
• Badger Forensics competed at Silverbrook this past Friday, and let's just say, they didn't go home empty-handed! Many students earned first, second and third place awards; the team also earned the rank of 2nd place overall in the "Large School" category! The competition comes to Badger this Friday - good luck team!

This week's Staff of the Week was nominated because she is an amazing special education teacher with endless patience, kindness, and empathy. She shows up for her students every day, and is always willing to lend a hand to fellow teachers and students. Congratulations to Mrs. Dembski - Special Eduation Teacher!

Badger staff are proud to recognize this week's students of the week:
7th Grade - Caffrey Stoltz, Samuel Kluck, Benjamin Moran
8th Grade - Adrian Qerimi, David Alliet, Hucklan Mathie

1/22

This week's Staff of the Week was nominated because she is caring, friendly, empathetic, and supportive of both Badger staff and students. Her patience with tough situations, and ability to problem solve is second to none. Congratulations to Mrs. Mayer - 7th Grade Counselor!

Badger staff are proud to recognize this week's Students of the Week:
7th Grade - Caedin Miller, Elijah Morgan Kempfer, Reid Wnuk
8th Grade - Evan Burkhardt

• Badger's next Youth Impact Club meeting will be Monday, January 27th after school in room 126. See you there!

1/17

• Attention 8th Graders - Get ready for Gearing up for High School Night on Wednesday, January 22nd! This is your chance to explore your future high school, meet teachers, and learn all about what's in store for you next year!
  Here's what you need to know:
  Doors open at 5:30pm
  The event starts at 6PM in the Silver Lining Arts Center Auditorium, followed by a chance to explore the school and visit different departments
  Don't forget to grab your resource folder in the East Cafeteria before or after the presentation
  All 8th graders are welcome, and we hope to see you there! Also, remind your parents/guardians to check their email for an RSVP message about the event and respond if they haven't already!!
• Congratulations to all of the students who were nominated to participate in the spelling bee. Our top 3 spellers are: 1st Place - Maya Spalding Solis, 2nd Place - Caitlin Bifani, 3rd Place - Addie Bieri. These 3 students are qualified to go to the Regional Spelling Bee in Ripon next month!