The West Bend Joint School District #1 has named Ms. Darci VanAdestine as principal of West Bend East High School, and Mr. Ralph Schlass as principal of West Bend West.
Ms. VanAdestine’s administrative team for East High School will include Assistant Principals Jen Johannsen and Ryan Tomczyk. Along with Mr. Schlass, the administrative team at West Bend West will include Tyler Wood and an assistant principal will be hired to fill the remaining open position on the administrative team.
In the coming days, the West Bend School District administration will be conducting a full search for the open assistant principal position. Additional timelines and communications regarding the transition will be forthcoming.
“The administrative teams at West Bend West and West Bend East are committed to building a strong culture and providing the leadership to ensure a smooth transition that builds on the excellence of the West Bend High Schools.” said Laura Jackson, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning.
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Board of Education Appoints Two High School Principals
The West Bend Joint School District #1 Board of Education has introduced Mr. Ralph Schlass and Ms. Darci VanAdestine as principals of the West Bend high schools.
Mr. Schlass has been an assistant principal at the high schools since 1999. Ms. VanAdestine has been with the WBSD since 2014 serving most recently as the assistant principal/director of high school teaching and learning. Both are recognizable faces to the students and parents in our system, respected members of our community, and parents of students in the West Bend Schools.
“I’m delighted Darci and Ralph have accepted the offer of principals for our two high schools. They are dedicated, student-centered, friendly and approachable. They have a strong desire to see children excel through an array of academic and extracurricular offerings. Additionally, I am grateful for our Superintendent’s belief in the capacity of the high school staff to transition to two principals sooner rather than later.” said Tiffany Larson, School Board President. “The two-principal, traditional model for our high schools increases the principal’s visibility and lends itself to more meaningful relationships between students, staff, and parents. This model was in place within our district for decades with excellent results. We believe this arrangement will contribute to a positive culture and increase student achievement. In the end we must always ask, ‘What is best for kids?’ We have an exceptional team and a caring community that seeks to support our public schools, and that’s what matters most.”
“Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, Laura Jackson, and I will immediately begin working with Mr. Schlass, Ms. VanAdestine, and the staff at the high schools to ensure that processes are in place so this change is a positive experience for our students and families. I’m confident that West Bend High Schools will continue to provide a great high school experience for the children we serve.” said Erik Olson, Superintendent of Schools for the West Bend School District.
Mr. Schlass and Ms. VanAdestine will begin planning for this transition tomorrow. The Board will ratify their contracts on August 14, 2017.
Traditionally, summer breaks include fun in the sun, summer jobs, adventures with friends and the occasional luxury of staying up all night and sleeping all day. For 20 of West Bend High School Band’s student leadership team, they have the privilege of adding the WBHS Band’s Student Leadership Summit to their summer agendas this year.
Lead by WBHS band directors Leah Duckert-Kroll and Corey Murphy, this annual, two-day summit provides drum majors and section leaders in the WBHS bands the opportunity to explore what it means to be a servant leader, a philosophy modernized by Robert Greenleaf and a quality that can often be an underdeveloped character trait, yet is so imperative to a successful future in any career path. The servant leadership philosophy means that in order to lead, you must first be willing to serve others. One must have a genuine desire to help, and lead in a way that empowers others by making sure that their needs are met.
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In this philosophy there is an inherent difference between wanting to be a leader and wanting to help others, a key difference that Ms. Duckert-Kroll is very passionate about. “Our band’s motto is Excellence with Pride. Effective leadership and positive influence exhibited by our student leaders creates a ripple effect amongst our band members, which ultimately translates into success at every level.” said Duckert-Kroll. “This summit gives our student leadership team the opportunity to grow as individuals and function as a cohesive unit. I love watching the students challenge themselves and each other, while having fun and creating important memories. It’s rewarding for both Corey and me to watch these leadership transformations take shape.”
During the two-day summit, student participants are taken on an immersive journey through a variety of interactive leadership activities including round-table discussions, team-building exercises (including a custom “Escape Room” experience designed by Mr. Murphy himself!), jigsawing John Maxwell’s “21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership” and exploring lessons on band leadership from the philosophy of Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser. Additionally, the students participated in exercises using nonverbal communication methods in order to complete a desired task, as well as completed the Communication Response Style assessment, a 20-question survey designed to help identify and understand each of the student's communication styles.
Student participants in this summer’s two-day summit included:
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Spencer Hikade, Drum Major, Senior |
Malorie Wolf, Drum Major, Junior |
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Chloe Larscheidt, Drum Major, Sophomore |
Lena Hayes, Drum Major/Drumline Section Leader, Senior |
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Alan Christianson, Drumline Section Leader, Senior |
Julie Bries, Color Guard Section Leader, Senior |
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Melissa Fry, Color Guard Section Leader, Junior |
Bridget Krause, Flute Section Leader, Junior |
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Sarah Best, Flute Section Leader, Junior |
Melanie Hennes, Clarinet Section Leader, Junior |
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Ashleigh Kasten, Clarinet Section Leader, Senior |
Dustin Banh, Sax/Horn Section Leader, Junio |
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Jacob Lewis, Sax/Horn Section Leader, Senior |
Jake Clemetson, Sax/Horn Section Leader, Senior |
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Nick Matsunaga, Trumpet Section Leader, Senior |
Ben Chapel, Trumpet Section Leader, Junior |
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Tommy Spangenberg, Low Brass Section Leader, Senior |
Jonathan Kroll, Low Brass Section Leader, Junior |
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Michael Novotny, Low Brass Section Aide, Senior |
Last week, five East and West students, packed their bags and flew to Anaheim, CA to compete in the 2017 Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) National Competition!
Accompanied by their advisor Allie Holtzer, the fantastic five joined 12,000 students from across the world for several days of competition, networking, learning opportunities and a little bit of fun! The FBLA program provides students with a unique opportunity to develop leadership and business skills that can be used in a variety of careers.
The East and West student participants included:
- Kara Conley
- Claire Frick
- Victoria Hunt
- Adam Lucka
- Kelsey Nowack
Special congratulations to Claire, who placed 4th in the nation in the elite category of Future Business Leader!
This week, ten East and West high school students along with their parents and staff members from Froedert & the Medical College of Wisconsin’s West Bend Campus at St. Joseph’s Hospital celebrated the completion of a two-week, immersive journey through various healthcare professions as part of the 2017 West Bend Healthcare Academy.
Thanks to the WBSD’s great partnership with Froedert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, the vision of Amy Maurer, Program Specialist for Community Engagement at St. Joseph’s Hospital, and Patty Noonan, teacher and West/East High School liaison for the program, the Healthcare Academy provides students with real-life, hands-on experiences and learning opportunities across multiple disciplines within the field of healthcare.
Acceptance into the Healthcare Academy begins with an application process. From there, students prepare for and participate in panel-style interview sessions with hospital staff and teachers. Of the 47 applications that were received, 20 students participated in the interviews, and ten were selected to advance through the two-week program. Every morning for 3 hours and over the course of 10 days, the students rotated departments and shadowed healthcare professionals as they tackled day-to-day operations within the healthcare system. No two days were the same.
Some experiences; such as witnessing a live C-section, assisting nurses in the birthing center, interacting with patients in the oncology department, observing both in-and-out-patient rehab programs, and witnessing life in an ICU or ER, are experiences that the students never anticipated being given the opportunity to be involved with. For many of the students, the Healthcare Academy helped bring clarity to future career paths once graduating from high school. “There is always a need for healthcare services.” said Timmy Kissel.
Congratulations to the following students for completing the West Bend 2017 Healthcare Academy:
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Natalie Adamo |
Timmy Kissel |
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Kylie Casper |
Emily Kolb |
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Kathryn Harter |
Serena Kuefeldt |
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Danielle Kappler |
McKenzie Schmidt |
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Trevor Kehring |
Priyanka Trivedi |
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Relive East and West Graduations online at:
EAST: https://thecube.com/event/737096
WEST: https://thecube.com/event/737097
West Bend Community Television Rebroadcast Schedule:
http://www.ci.west-bend.wi.us/Community-Television/
- Tuesday, June 13th: 6pm - Replay East Graduation / 8:30pm - Replay West Graduation
- Wednesday, June 14: 12pm (Noon) - Replay East Graduation / 2:30pm - Replay West Graduation
- Thursday, June 15: 7pm - Replay East Graduation / 9:30pm Replay West Graduation
- Friday, June 16: 12pm (Noon) - Replay East Graduation / 2:30pm Replay West Graduation
- Sunday, June 18: 12pm (Noon) - Replay West Graduation / 2:30pm Replay East Graduation
Last night, the West Bend East Baseball team celebrated the 15th anniversary of winning the WIAA State Championship! We brought back the 2002 East Suns Baseball team for a special recognition ceremony, prior to last night's game.
Notable 2002 Team Stats:
- Overall record: 28-4
- 16-0 in North Shore Conference play
- Defeated Baldwin-Woodville 7-3 in the State quarter-finals
- Defeated Whitefish Bay 6-0 in the State semi-finals
- Defeated Muskego 7-6 in the State Championship Game
The 2002 West Bend East Suns Baseball Team:
- Head Coach: Doug Gonring
- Assistant Coaches: Craig Larsen, Curt Schroeder
- OF: Andy Schneider
- P: Luke Sternig
- 3B: Adam Wiedmeyer
- P/3B: Josh Boyer
- P/OF: Andy Kastner
- P/IF: Ryan Rohlinger
- Mike Chianelli (team member who has since passed away)
The end of the 2016-17 academic year has arrived, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to say a heartfelt THANK YOU. As I conclude my first year serving this wonderful community, I am pleased with the accomplishments of West Bend School District staff and students, and the support that we have received from our great community.
Thank you to our students for everything that you teach us as administrators, teachers and staff. Your creativity, enthusiasm and dedication is inspirational. Your accomplishments throughout the year are a source of great pride. Continue to practice kindness, leadership and celebrate the diversity that makes each one of you so special!
Congratulations to our 2017 graduates! You have reached an important lifelong milestone and have a blank slate ahead of you - one that I know each one of you will paint full of experiences, life lessons and achievements that shine just as bright as each of you. I’m proud of your accomplishments and wish you nothing but the best as you continue your journey into adulthood!
Thank you to our parents for your unwavering support and involvement. I recognize and appreciate the important role you play in your child’s education. From helping with homework or career planning, attending events, volunteering at the school, providing leadership in PTOs, or attending parent teacher conferences and keeping connected with school staff: your involvement makes a difference.
Thank you to our amazing staff: administrators, bus drivers, educational assistants, learning coaches, maintenance staff, support staff, school nutrition staff, teachers, and those in educational services center office. Each of you makes a difference as we strive for our ambitious aim of Excellence for All. There are so many lessons to be learned both inside and outside of the classroom, and you provide students with many opportunities to blossom into inspired and engaged citizens and community members. I am so grateful for the care, support and guidance that I see demonstrated every day.
To our community members and business partners, I am thankful for your involvement and support in our schools. The commitment demonstrated reinforces my belief that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world.
Students, staff, parents, community members and businesses are all an important part of the West Bend School District. Thank you for your continuous support and contributions to making our schools the great places they are to learn and grow, work and be. Wishing all a safe and fun summer!
Erik Olson
May 18, 2017
West Bend High Schools along with West Bend Police Department and other community agencies will be holding a “Mock Traffic Crash” today, May 18, 2017 at 1 p.m.
During the morning, announcements will be read to the students regarding the program and “Mock Obituaries” about the students who are participating.
The “Mock Traffic Crash” will have students from the high school ROLE PLAYING a crash caused by a drunk driver. In this “Mock Crash” the West Bend Police Department, West Bend Fire Department, Flight for Life helicopter, Washington County Sheriff’s Department, Washington County Medical Examiner, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Myrhum-Patten Funeral Home will be part of the event. You will hear sirens and see the police and fire departments responding with their equipment and working around the “Mock Crash Scene”. This is not a real accident, it is a teaching tool used to show the students the consequences of driving drunk. No one will be hurt when you see them loading people into the ambulance or Flight For Life helicopter.
This event will take place on the corner of River Road & Decorah Road across the street from the school. Traffic will be redirected to go around the “Mock Traffic Accident” scene.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call me at 262-335-5545.
Sincerely,
Tracey Conners
Principal
The West Bend School District has selected Jeridon Clark as principal of West Bend East/West High Schools. For the 2016-17 school year, Tracey Conners, Director of Elementary Education for the WBSD has served as interim principal.
Clark has served the Mequon-Thiensville School District in many capacities since 2011. He is currently the Executive Director of Organizational Alignment and Digital Learning. He is also an adjunct in the Nursing program at Concordia University. In 2014-2015, he served as the Executive Director of Information and Technology. From 2012-2014, he served as the Director of Information and Technology. In 2011-2012, Clark served as the Information & Technology Manager. From 2009-2011, he served the School District of New Berlin as the Associate Principal/Activities Director. From 1996-2009, Clark taught math and computer science at Homestead High School. He taught technical education at Steffen Middle school from 2005-2008. In 2007, he taught a continuing education class, How the Web Works, at Cardinal Stritch University.
“We’re excited to bring Jeridon’s strong leadership and energy to our administrative team,” said Erik Olson, Superintendent of Schools for the WBSD. “Jeridon has an impressive track record of building a positive school culture, caring about students and promoting academic success.”
Clark is currently a doctoral candidate at Cardinal Stritch University where he earned a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and a second Master’s degree in Computer Science Education. Clark earned his Bachelor degree in Mathematics Education with a Computer Science minor from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
“I am looking forward to being able to work with the great staff, students and parents of the West Bend high schools. It is an honor to have the privilege to be part of the West Bend team and continue the success for which West Bend is known,” Clark said. "I look forward to getting to know the staff, students, and parents of the West Bend community."
Clark is a member of the Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association (WEMTA), the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) and CESA #1, Technology Leaders Network.
Clark and his wife, Jennie, have five children. Their oldest child is a sophomore in college and their youngest child is in first grade.
