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March 2 - Middle School Conferences (4:30 - 8 p.m.)
March 5 - School Board Candidate Forum (7 p.m.)
March 6 - End of Second Trimester; School Board Meeting (6 p.m.)
March 8 - ACT Testing (high school juniors)
March 8 - More Than Sad: Suicide Prevention Presentation (5:30 p.m.); School Funding Presentation (6 p.m.)
March 13 - School Board Meeting (6 p.m.)
March 14 - Creating Moments that Foster Joy and Connection in Your Life and Community (6 p.m.); School Board Candidate Forum (7 p.m.)
March 15 - Elementary Band Festival (7 p.m.)
March 21 - District Choral Festival Performance
March 24 - End of Third Quarter
March 27-31 - Spring Break
April 7 - No Classes (JK-12)
April 10 - No Classes (JK-12); School Board Meeting (6 p.m.)
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Learn more about the activities that have taken place over the past month, and discover what each District division will be addressing in the upcoming months. |
The Division of Academic Performance continues to make progress toward many goals outlined in the Strategic Plan.
Much of the team's time this month has been devoted to developing reports for upcoming Board meetings and participating in school Impact Sessions to understand how each school is moving forward with their School Growth Plan.
The Division of Academic Performance reviewed Policy 5440 with the Division of Pupil + Family Supports and the Board Policy Committee this month, and intends to continue these conversations in the weeks and months ahead. Additionally, the Division will deliver its first "flipped" presentation to the Board and community (a pre-recorded presentation published to BoardDocs prior to a Board meeting) this month.
Audits for K-12 Science, 6-12 Technology Education and 6-12 Project Lead the Way continue to progress as planned. The Division intends to provide an update on these audits at the March 13 School Board meeting.
In February, professional learning was delivered to high school ELA teachers specific to best practices in ELA and to 6-12 Science teachers to preview recommendations from the Science audit. The team continues to work toward the objectives outlined in the Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment (CIA) audit, including studying the text "Rigorous Curriculum Design" by Larry Ainsworth. The team also consistently meets with content team leaders to help them support their teacher teams. The Division's 6-12 Math Curriculum Coordinator, high school math coach and Director of Curriculum brought together a team of math educators in February to begin writing common assessments aligned to standards. The Director of Curriculum, Curriculum Coordinators and the Chief Academic Officer also continue to meet with and support our summer school coordinator.
Under the leadership of the Director of Instruction, work has continued around the development of a coherent district-wide Coaching Model. The Director of Instruction engaged in learning walks with several building leaders and instructional coaches using the WSD Instructional Look Fors.
The PACE learning cycle has been completed at five elementary schools. The remaining elementary schools will receive this learning with building coaches by the end of this school year.
The Division of Academic Performance has been collaborating with the Division of Pupil + Family Supports to develop a comprehensive onboarding plan for new educators and support staff. In further collaboration with the Division of Pupil + Family Supports as well as select administrators, the Chief Academic Officer has also begun working with a core team around alternative programming options for our students that need such an option. The Director of Continuous Improvement and the Director of Special Education hosted Learning for APs and Deans around what it means to be an LEA (Local Education Agency) liaison.
The Academic Performance team has made updates to the District's school reporting tool, which will be shared with the community in August 2023 (slightly later than the originally anticipated timing of June 2023).
Additionally, the team has begun meeting with teachers to bring concurrent learning opportunities (opportunities to earn college and high school credit simultaneously) to high school students.
STAR testing has been completed, and the data team has been working in collaboration with the Division of Academic Performance and instructional coaches to create guidelines for proctoring assessments to ensure consistency. Last month, the Director of Data Quality and Analytics and the data team prepared STAR Reading and Math reports for families. Preparation for the Forward Exam has been underway. Our Data Specialist for Assessment and State Reporting has been working with School Assessment Coordinators, who also serve as our instructional coaches to provide training around test set-up, accommodations and supports, test security, test preparation, testing tools, testing trouble-shooting, etc.
The data team continues to clean up the data systems in the District. One of our Data Managers holds monthly meetings with administrative assistants to support consistency in our school office practices, and the other Data Manager meets with principals to support their schools in building dashboards to support their work in academic and behavioral meetings. The data team is also working to develop methods to filter and dig into data in multiple ways so that we can continue to make data-driven decisions.
The Director of Continuous Improvement and School Growth Coordinators hosted a Community Engagement Session in February where families and community members had the opportunity to provide suggestions and feedback around the draft talent development philosophy statement and programming.
This month and beyond, the Division of Academic Performance will focus on leading Dean and Associate Principal professional learning, responding to the Gifted + Talented and Grading + Reporting audits, revising summer school courses, articulating an action plan to bring concurrent learning options (earning of high school and college credit) to high school students, developing courses for high school English, exercising thought partner visits with principals, developing the elementary math curriculum, improving elementary and middle school summer school courses, cleaning up data inputs, developing the Instructional Framework for consistency in instructional practices, developing alternative programming options, identifying professional learning for coordinators and administrators, providing building-level learning about attendance, enrollment and behavior documentation, creating processes for data input, and reviewing recent data pulls to continue to improve how data is shared with administrators.
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The Division of Human Resources has been busy working on principal interviews in February. Second round interviews were conducted for the Wauwatosa Montessori principalship on Wednesday, February 22 with Administrative staff. Chief of Talent, Ms. Sarah Zelazoski will recommend a candidate to the Board at the March 13, 2023 meeting.
In addition to the Montessori Principal interviews, the Division of Human Resources has posted for the principal positions at East High School, Madison Elementary School and McKinley Elementary School. First round interviews will take place as follows:
- Tuesday, March 7 - McKinley Elementary School
- Thursday, March 9 - Wauwatosa East High School
- Thursday, March 16 - Madison Elementary School
In a continuous effort to increase the competitiveness of WSD's total compensation by employee group, the Division of Human Resources presented compensation proposals and recommendations to the Board at the February 13 meeting. Proposed changes to the Support Staff compensation system, the proposed 2022-23 WEA compensation adjustments and retention bonus payments for teachers and support staff were discussed by the Board. The Board will be asked to take action on these items at the meeting scheduled for March 6, 2023. Recommendations for teacher salary adjustments and teacher/support staff bonus payments for 2022-23 were also presented to the School Board. The recommendation would be to approve bonuses for teachers and support staff (hourly administrative assistant, custodial and maintenance, and educational assistant classified) employees who continued work in the District from the 2021-22 school year and whose salaries increased by less than a total of 4.7% for the 2022-23 school year.
Additionally, the Division of Human Resources team will be attending Wisconsin Association of School Personnel Administrators (WASPA) Spring Conferences on March 21 and 22. Both the Administrator and Support Staff conferences provide useful and up to date information that can be applied to the daily job duties of staff in this Division. The conference will be held at Glacier Bay Conference Center at The Wilderness Resort, Wisconsin Dells.
The Division of HR held an Engagement Session on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. The Human Resources Team gave a high-level overview of the objectives within Strategic Plan Goal 4: High-Quality Staff related to recruitment plans and efforts, development of a human resources dashboard to track progress in improving employee retention, increasing the competitiveness of WSDβs total compensation by employee group, and implementing strategies to increase employee engagement. The presentation will be posted on the Districtβs Community Engagement Sessions web page shortly.
This month, employee pulse survey data will be shared with employees at the building and District level, and an employee engagement survey will be launched to collect additional data.
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In the Division of Operations + Finance, the Facilities team is securing final bids for the 2023-24 facility maintenance projects that were approved by the Board in November. The bid results will be brought to the Board in March via the consent agenda unless bid results are outside of what was estimated.
The Finance & Resource Committee (FRC) meets again in March to review budget projections and scenarios with varying revenue assumptions.
Following the Governorβs budget recommendation last month, the legislature will now amend or adjust a budget recommendation via the Joint Finance Committee. We have developed some βDid You Knowβ items that relate to how Wisconsin school revenues are determined at the State level. We are also close to completing the βItβs Elementaryβ resources and videos to aid in legislature and community understanding of how schools are funded at the State level.
A key focus in March will be the continuing the internal budget planning with updates to the Finance & Resource Committee on March 20 and the full Board of Education in April.
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In February, the Division of Pupil + Family Supports continued work on key tasks in support of the District's Strategic Plan.
DEIA advocates were announced to our school communities. Students, families and staff now have the opportunity to leverage DEIA Advocates as a resource for communication and self-advocacy skills, to help build relationships and to help students and families to effectively communicate their concerns to their school or teacher.
In an effort to increase the sense of belonging amongst our students of color, several community-based youth empowerment organizations have been contacted to provide services for our students. The secondary building leaders had the opportunity to meet directly with the CEO of Be Inspired Works (BIW) and they were thrilled by the possibility of having their students experience the workshop provided by BIW. The Division of Pupil + Family Supports is currently solidifying final steps with three different organizations to begin providing services as soon as possible.
The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility committee has reviewed equity frameworks from school districts around the US and is now beginning to create the WSD Equity Framework.
This month, the Division of Pupil + Family Supports will focus on creating the WSD Equity Framework, finalizing workshops for students of color and identifying training for DEIA Advocates. Additionally, the team held its very first external School Safety Committee meeting last month. This committee is in the initial stages of developing a mission and prioritizing its focus. We are excited about the expertise and passion that is evident in our parents and community members on this committee. This committee will meet monthly.
An ad hoc team was developed to begin planning alternative programming options for students whose needs cannot be met in the traditional environment/educational setting. This team is currently identifying our District's needs, developing a mission and vision statement, and determining small project teams and team leads to support moving this important work forward. These teams will meet 2 times per month through August to build programming options. The teamβs goal is to have alternative services/programming for students ready by day one of 2023-2024 school year.
Our School Culture & Student Success Committee reviewed feedback from Student Services staff regarding the current state and common language for this objective. The committee has done deep analysis of various frameworks that will meet the needs of our District.
The District Academic and Career Planning Committee continues its work to define the ACP framework of βKnow, Explore, Plan, Go,β including how secondary advisory lessons support studentsβ academic and career planning.
Interviews were conducted with two school-based mentoring organizations, with one potential provider (PEARLS for Teen Girls) beginning with after-school groups throughout the second semester at each of our middle schools. Other relevant community-based mentoring organization partnerships are being actively explored.
We are also working to expand Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Abuse (ATODA) supports, improve the process for students returning to school after inpatient treatment and identify consistent alternatives to suspension for vaping offenses.
The Division of Pupil + Family Supports team continues to work with Student Services teams toward ensuring appropriate responses when students experience self-management challenges at school. This includes leveraging mental health professionals (e.g., counselors, psychologists, social workers, and specialists) to support students in crisis.
The team continues to work with Student Services staff to best utilize resources and strategies for assisting with students experiencing challenges with self-management. The team will continue to monitor and clarify the scope of work for our mental health specialists and social-emotional specialists, who have been well received and utilized by our staff, students, and families.
This month, the team will continue to develop alternative programming options, solidifying mentoring services and finalizing the school-based mental health services request for proposals.
Chief of Pupil + Family Supports, Mr. Luke Pinion, continues to meet monthly with all secondary administrators to ensure follow-through on the newly implemented behavioral expectations and to provide any needed support, guidance, or resources. A stoplight report has been created to ensure transparency and accountability around these important items.
The Student Services team continues to further develop, improve and streamline attendance procedures in alignment with Board Policy 5200 and the Strategic Plan.
The Division of Pupil + Family Supports spent a large amount of time this month to create two important School Board presentations: the Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data and Semester One Behavior/Discipline Data. These presentations were the first to be "flipped" and delivered via video (and published on BoardDocs) prior to the Board meeting.
The team planned the first External Safety Committee meeting, which was held in February. Only four community members signed up to participate in this committee.
The Special Education Advisory Committee met to gain feedback regarding the purpose, structure and communication needs for the committee. This month, the Special Education Advisory Core Committee will work to draft the committee mission and possible team names to provide to the full team for feedback.
The Special Education team held an information session focused on Special Education Communication Structures. Attendees were given the opportunity to provide feedback on the format. The structure will be deployed at the start of the 2023-2024 school year with all families. Conversations regarding the process for staffing decisions were scheduled with the Chief of Talent and building principals for the 2023-2024 school year. The range of staffing and allocations based on current needs were discussed for special education teachers. In addition, specially designed physical education needs were discussed. And finally, the team has begun to develop consistent procedures related to the 504 annual review process and move in process. The next 504 process to be developed is initial evaluations for medical based 504 in collaboration with the district nurse.
Also in March, the team will explore transportation options with the Division of Operations + Finance, continue to refine, clarify and produce written attendance procedures, and clarify data collection related to behavior. Work will also continue to staff hard-to-fill positions, including school psychologists and speech pathologists.
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Students in Mrs. Brown's first grade class at McKinley Elementary School celebrated the 101st day of school by taking this fun photo of Mrs. Brown and her 101st Day Dalmatians. |
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Natasha Stadler
Administrative Assistant
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Natasha Stadler, Administrative Assistant in the Division of Human Resources, has been with the Wauwatosa School District for a year and a half. Before joining the WSD team, Ms. Stadler worked in healthcare for many years. She began her career in Radiology, before moving on to Family Practice and OB and then finishing her healthcare career in Hospice. Ms. Stadler states, "I loved caring for the patients, but I was ready for a big change and working in HR suits me well!"
She enjoys working in the Division of Human Resources because she and her colleagues have a common goal: to ensure they are doing what is best for the children in Wauwatosa.
Fun fact - Ms. Stadler's husband, Jason Stadler, also works for the Wauwatosa School District as the Custodial Building Lead. Together, they have four children and they love spending time outdoors hiking, fishing and exploring new places.
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BLOG: Your Principal, Your Hero
by Ms. Jennifer Fotsch, Director of Continuous Improvement
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Today, a building principal must not only attend to the managerial aspects of the job, and maintain a safe, inclusive and encouraging environment for every student, but they must also serve as the teacher of the teachers.
School districts invest in principalsβ leadership practices to establish a strong foundation for student success. In Wauwatosa, we understand that we must take a different approach if we want to achieve different results. Thatβs why the District leadership team has implemented a comprehensive system of support for building principals, which includes:
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An Instructional Leadership Manual to support principals as they execute their important work.
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A thought partner model that supports the development and refinement of principalsβ instructional leadership skills.
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A School Growth Plan structure that serves as a pathway for principals to clearly articulate their vision for school improvement. Click here to learn more about the process of developing a School Growth Plan.
One of the most visible components of the principalsβ system of support is the School Growth Plan. This is a two-year plan that articulates the schoolβs path forward, and guides principals and their staff as they improve the student experience academically and culturally.
Dr. Means, Dr. Marble, Mr. Pinion and I serve as thought partners to building principals. We conduct check-ins every 2-3 weeks, which provides an opportunity for meaningful dialogue and allows principals to calibrate their understanding of high-quality instruction by visiting classrooms with their thought partner. During these check-ins, we also discuss progress toward School Growth Plan goals, analyze and discuss data, and review any resources (financial or staff) they may need.
Impact Cycles are quarterly meetings that take place in November, February, April and June. During Impact Cycles, principals present the progress made toward their School Growth Plan goals and get feedback from a panel of District leaders.
Following the Impact Cycle sessions, the Division of Academic Performance will use a tool to incrementally measure progress consistently across all grade-level schools in the District.
Each June, principals and thought partners will assess what has been accomplished and what is working well, in addition to challenges that arose and strategies that have not proven effective. This is also an opportunity for building principals to articulate what support they need to make further progress in the coming school year.
A focus on instructional best practices and ownership of student outcomes is the cornerstone of the support offered to principals. It is the goal of the District leadership team that these supports will assist principals as they carry out their duties with confidence and address the challenges before them.
All stakeholders in our school community are strongly encouraged to actively collaborate with their school principal to ensure that instructional practices are of the highest quality, student outcomes demonstrate growth and, ultimately, that student achievement continuously improves. We will only see results when our community collectively supports the critical role of the school principal in our School District.
If we all play our part, we will ensure an exceptional student experience, eradicate inequity, eliminate disproportionality, and exceed proficiency for all students. In order to avoid unmet expectations for our students, school principals must serve as the most essential leaders of their schools. When all principals lead through a strategic approach that increases student achievement and ensures school safety, we will reach the level of performance that every student deserves in the Wauwatosa School District.
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Celebrate Women's History Month in March |
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Womenβs History Month began in California as a week in March back in 1978, and it spread across the country the following year. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter made an official National Womenβs History Week. In 1987, Congress passed a law declaring March Womenβs History Month, which we continue to celebrate.
Please click the links below to learn about trailblazing women in history:
Our elementary libraries have great resources for students to learn more including:
She Persisted, by Chelsea Clinton
Profiles the lives of thirteen American women who have left their mark on U.S. history, including Harriet Tubman, Helen Keller, Margaret Chase Smith, and Oprah Winfrey.
Hidden Figures, by Margot Lee Shetterly with Winifred Conkling
Presents a picture book profiling four African-American women mathematicians--Katherine, Dorothy, Mary, and Christine--who were hired by NASA to do the math work that would help the U.S. send the first astronauts into space.
Solving the Puzzle Under the Sea, by Robert Burleigh
Highlights the life, career, struggles, and legacy of Marie Tharp who was a female pioneer geologist and oceanographic cartographer who helped create the first scientific map of the ocean floor.
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Protecting Children from the Negative Impacts of Social Media |
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Social media has given us a platform to connect with the world. We keep up with friends and relatives, learn about different cultures and ideas, and share our thoughts with a broad audience. While there are several benefits to social media, it can also be harmful to our community.
Social media can distract children, disrupt their sleep, expose them to unrealistic beauty standards, bullying, and rumor-spreading. The more we educate ourselves on warning signs and how to monitor students, the better we can help prevent them from these adverse effects.
There are healthy ways to find a balance with social media and mitigate the related risks. Here are a few tips on how to protect children:
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Set boundaries. Ensure your student has a phone use routine, so their phone does not interfere with their sleep, homework, or other responsibilities.
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Have open discussions. Ask your child why they are using social media and ask if they understand its risks. Ask them how social media makes them feel and have a plan if they start to have negative emotions associated with their use.
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Teach social media etiquette. Discuss appropriate behavior on social media. Ensure they carry their core morals on how to treat others as they interact with others virtually.
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Set social media rules. For example, making their account private, not allowing them to accept friend requests from strangers, and having restrictions on what type of content they are allowed to post, consume, and share.
Here are some helpful websites for more information on how to protect our students:
At Wauwatosa School District, we believe in the power of working together to create a healthy, thriving community and we hope our families find these tips helpful. If your child is struggling due to the harmful effects of social media, we encourage you to reach out to a member of your school's Student Services team for help.
You may also reach out to Care Solace's mental health care coordinators that can find an available mental health care provider for you. To access Care Solace's complimentary coordination services, call 888-515-0595 or visit www.caresolace.com/wauwatosa to get started.
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Rescheduled School Funding Presentation |
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In partnership, the Wisconsin PTA, the Department of Public Instruction and Dr. Demond Means will deliver a school funding presentation to Wauwatosa residents on Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Attendees will learn how school funding in Wisconsin works and why it matters.
The presentation will take place at Underwood Elementary School from 6-8 p.m. All community members are encouraged to attend. If you need interpreting or childcare services in order to participate, please email summerju@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us.
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Division of Academic Performance Host Learning to Develop Common Assessments |
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Last month, math educators from Wauwatosa East and West came together to begin developing common assessments for their math courses.
Ms. Melissa Jaques (Secondary Math Curriculum Coordinator) and Ms. Amanda Larson (Secondary Math Coach) supported educators in the process and their collaboration. Amanda and Melissa spent hours prior to the learning experience creating assessment guidelines, reviewing research and data from performance exams such as Forward and ACT to understand which math standards need more time and attention in our learning environments. They also evaluated our current math resources to understand where these standards currently exist. The pair outlined how frequently these standards need to be assessed and monitored throughout the year. Our educators reviewed example questions and considered ways they could gather information on student understanding.
This collaboration highlights the important work that our coordinators, coaches, and educators are doing to become a standards-aligned system and how we can all work together to ensure student success.
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Division of Operations + Finance Welcomes Newest Team Member, Tony |
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Our Buildings + Grounds team is excited to welcome the newest addition to our cleaning staff: Tony!
Tony is an autonomous robot floor scrubber, brought to us by our contract cleaning company, GSF. Tony was initially utilized as a riding auto scrubber while we waited for other auto scrubbers to be delivered, and is now being trained to operate without a rider, utilizing more than a dozen routes at Wauwatosa West High School. Tony primarily works at night and on the weekends.
In one week in February, Tony cleaned over 200,000 square feet in just 13 hours, allowing cleaning staff who would normally operate floor scrubbers manually to perform other tasks!
Tony safely avoids people and obstacles with vision-based advanced artificial and robotic technology and is equipped with automatic braking and parking brake actuation. Tony uses ec-H20 NanoClean technology which electrically converts water into a detergent-free solution that cleans effectively, saves money and reduces environmental impact. Tony is just another example of some of the newest, cutting-edge technology that GSF has brought to the Wauwatosa School District.
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Did You Know? School Finance Facts |
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From strategic investing to per-pupil funding, there's a lot to know about school funding in Wauwatosa! Thankfully, our helpful Funding Facts infographic can help our community better understand the complexities of school funding.
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Thank You, Officer Tracy! |
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The Division of Pupil + Family Supports would like to celebrate and congratulate our long-time School Resource Officer (SRO) Tracy Burbach, who retired from the Wauwatosa Police Department.
ο»ΏOfficer Burbach has spent over a decade supporting the Wauwatosa schools as an SRO, primarily at Longfellow Middle School, and has established countless, positive relationships with our students, staff, and families. Please join us in celebrating and thanking Officer Burbach for her longevity and dedication to the safety of our community!
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Wauwatosa Choral Festival Invites All Members of the Community to Celebrate |
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In honor of this yearβs theme of community and coming together, the Wauwatosa East Choral Department is calling on all members of the Wauwatosa community to participate in its annual Choral Festival on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 7 p.m. inside Wauwatosa East High School. Whether youβre an experienced vocalist/musician or canβt carry a tune, youβre encouraged to join this city-wide celebration of community! If you wish to be involved, please complete this form to indicate how you wish to participate.
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In the Division of Human Resources, Relationships are Key |
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Last month, Chief of Talent Ms. Sarah Zelazoski packed up her laptop and set up a workstation in a different school once a week to increase the visibility and support of the Division of Human Resources in our schools. Building connections and relationships with individuals in the District is critical, and Ms. Zelazoski has worked hard to increase her presence within school buildings to foster these connections and get to know employees personally. Often, the Division of Human Resources receives emails and/or phone calls from employees regarding compensation and benefits, but to actually meet employees where they are to address questions and concerns is a simple gesture that illustrates Ms. Zelazoski's genuine interest in WSD staff members. |
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Enrollment for New Students is Now Open! |
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Enrollment for students new to the Wauwatosa School District for the 2023-24 school year is now open!
As a reminder, enrollment is a one-time process that must be completed by students entering the Wauwatosa School District. Registration is an annual process that all families must complete to ensure each studentβs medical information, emergency contact information, etc. is up to date.
ο»ΏPlease note: families with children who are currently enrolled in the Wauwatosa School District should use their current Infinite Campus Parent Portal account to enroll a new student. Please do not create a new parent portal account if you already have a student enrolled in the District.
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Children's Theater of Wauwatosa Presents Peter Pan and Wendy |
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There's never a dull moment in Neverland, especially if you're friends with Peter Pan! Wendy and her brothers fly off for their first adventures with Peter Pan and Tinkerbell.
Come settle in and watch the adventures unfold as Captain Hook with trusty Smee seek out ways to finally capture Peter Pan. Do you think he will? You will have to come see to find out!
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Wauwatosa West Theatre Presents Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella |
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Magical transformations, the iconic pumpkin and glass slippers too! Tosa West Theatre presents Rodgers & Hammersteinβs Cinderella! Show times are March 10, 11, 16, 17, 18 at 7 p.m. and March 12 at 2 p.m.
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Wauwatosa East Theatre Presents Rock of Ages |
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This April, the Wauwatosa East Theatre presents Rock of Ages, the popular jukebox musical built around classic rock songs of the 1980s. The performance will take place April 14-22, 2023 and community members can purchase tickets later this month at www.tosaeasttheatre.org.
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Elementary Band Festival Scheduled for March 15 |
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The Elementary Band Department is excited to announce the Elementary Band Festival on March 15, 2023 at Wauwatosa East High School at 7 p.m. Over 200 students in the 5th grade band program will be performing select works covering a range of styles and genres. There will also be a special guest appearance of the Tosa East and West High School bands. All are welcome to attend and celebrate the accomplishments of our young musicians! |
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High School Students Excel on National German Exam |
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The National German Exam was administered this year to over 12,300 high school students of German. The Exam, now in its 62nd year, provides individual diagnostic feedback, rewards students through an extensive regional and national prize program, and creates a sense of accomplishment. Exam results provide teachers a means of comparing students in all regions of the country, as well as programmatic data to help inform curricular decisions.
The following students performed at the 90th percentile or above and will receive gold certificates of recognition at an award ceremony in Spring. In addition, if eligible, these students can apply for the AATG/PAD National German Exam Scholarship, a three-week study trip program to Germany. Students who are 18 may apply for a postgraduate scholarship.
Wauwatosa West
Level 4: Eleanor Hannan, Steven Awve
Level 2: Emily Scott, Max Kuhn, Louis Schauer, Eliana Bauer, Henry Riordan
Wauwatosa East
Students performing between the 70th and 89th percentile will receive bronze and silver certificates of recognition. Students at or above the 85th percentile will be recognized at an awards ceremony in the spring:
Wauwatosa West
Level 4: Thomas Foersterling, Mateusz Zielonka, Molly Frost, Carolyn Molter, Camille Socol, Carina Pelzek, Anika Goodman
Level 2: Aili Rogers, Molly Cook, Skyler Weaver, Charlie Hannan, Ben Everts, Marisa Leveille
Wauwatosa East
Level 3: Julius Ryan
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Montessori Students Battle...with Books! |
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Students at Wauwatosa Montessori competed in the Battle of the Books last month. Ten teams in 4th through 8th grade competed to read books from a specified list and then participated in fun competition "battles" with their peers. A battle is a competition where teams earn points by testing their comprehension/trivia knowledge in a Jeopardy style format by answering questions about the books they've read against other teams in the school. The winner is the team with the most points after the "battle" is complete.
The winners of the Elementary division are Preston J., Logan R., Angelina L., and Nathan Y.
The winners of the Middle School division are Joline B., Hazel P., and Jasper H.
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The winners will advance to the state competition level.
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Trojan Dance Team Defends State Hip Hop Title |
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The Wauwatosa West High School Varsity Dance Team secured yet another state championship in D2 Hip Hop at the WACPC State Dance Championship, marking the teamβs fourth state title in the past six years. The competition was held at the LaCrosse Center in LaCrosse, Wisconsin on January 28, 2023.
The Trojan Dance Team (TDT) faced a challenging lineup, but team members had set a goal of defending their 2022 state title at the beginning of the season.
βThe determination displayed by members of the Trojan Dance Team is second-to-none,β stated Dr. Demond Means, Superintendent of the Wauwatosa School District. βTheir performance and championship title is the result of their collective hard work, dedication and commitment to their craft. Congratulations to this hard-working group of student athletes.β
Members of the state champion Trojan Dance Team include Alexxis Beasley, Natalie Byrne, Caroline Callahan, Myana Cooper, Jasmine Dequina, Mina Dunlop, Olivia Fuller, Ella Kresge, Barbie Mallum, Bella Meyer, Morgan Mullen, Ludivine Ohhlsson, Abby Peterson, Tyra Rice, Mari Scheuber, Elise Schneider, Ava Schwantes, Devonya Simmons, TeβHana Titus, An Tran, Maddie Weber and Zahri Weimer. The team is coached by long-time TDT coach and Wauwatosa West alum Anne Shaw.
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Students Paint at Toasting for Tosa West Scholarship Event |
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Three art students - Skye, Lydia and Nary - along with students from the music department at Wauwatosa West High School, showcased their talents at the Toasting for Tosa West scholarship fundraiser last month. Each art student spoke about their piece, and what inspired them.
The paintings were auctioned off at the event. Two paintings sold for $300 and one sold for $275!
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Eisenhower Students Learn New Instrument |
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Senior Kindergarten students at Eisenhower Elementary learned to play the Gyil (Ghanaian xylophones). Students also learned about Master Drummer Sowah Mensah as part of Black History Month.
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Jefferson Students Dig Into History |
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Fourth grade students at Jefferson Elementary School were busy this month building background knowledge for their historical fiction book clubs. |
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Lincoln Elementary Students Host Gallery Night |
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Students at Lincoln Elementary hosted a gallery night in February, where art pieces from each student were showcased. The Lincoln Leadership Club held a bake sale and they led attendees in creating a collaborative art piece that may be installed in the Spark Cafe in the upcoming months! |
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Madison Elementary Students Meet Magic the Mustang |
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On Friday February 17, Madison Elementary students and staff had the opportunity to attend a school dance. Attendees could get a photo in the photo booth, purchase cotton candy from a vendor and enter to win amazing raffles prizes. Each family in attendance received a food ticket for a slice of pizza or a sub, and four raffle tickets. Attendees also met their new mascot, Magic! |
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McKinley Elementary Students Collect Cereal, Create Domino Run |
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Students at McKinley Elementary participated in a Cereal Drive for Tosa Cares. Students collected around 500 boxes and fifth graders used their math and problem solving skills to create a domino run through the school on a whole-school pajama day! |
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Roosevelt Students Enjoy Special Guest Presentation |
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The Roosevelt library welcomed Wauwatosa author, Stef Wade, to share her new book, Every Day's a Holiday, with 2nd and 3rd graders last month. Ms. Wade shared an interactive presentation that had the kids guessing and thinking about what holiday they would create if given the opportunity. Thank you to Stef Wade for promoting reading and writing in our schools!
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Underwood Students Practice Leadership |
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Underwood Elementary School recently created a Leadership Council! Leadership Council is a group of students dedicated to enhancing the experiences of all Fireflies. Special shout out to Ms. Theys & Mr. Jurney, their sponsors. |
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Washington Elementary Partners with The Ability Center to Learn About Adapted Activities |
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Due in large part to a Washington familyβs connection to an amazing organization and the talents of two students, Anna and Ivy Cosgrove, Washington Elementary School received an award to help fund a totally inclusive and amazing event for students.
The Ability Center visited Washington for a PE Takeover in February and will come again to visit in the future. The Ability Center's team takes over PE classes and teaches about various adapted sports and provides some disability awareness training.
To learn more about The Ability Centerβs goal of providing a higher quality of life for people of all abilities by transforming greater Milwaukee into the most universally inclusive recreation destination in the world. and their mission, please click here.
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Wilson and WSTEM Creates Peer Mentor Program |
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School social worker Ms. Sue Walczak initiated a Peer Mentor program for 4th and 5th grade students. Peer mentors filled out applications and attended a short training with Mrs. Walczak. Students serving as peer mentors will assist younger students with classwork and transitions. This has helped with building community between Wilson Elementary and WSTEM, and increasing confidence in students in the upper grades. Pictured is 4th grade WSTEM student Leona H., who is helping a peer with his end of the day routine. |
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Wauwatosa Montessori Students Receive Visit from Author |
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The Montessori Library hosted a visit between the Lower Elementary students and author Elana K. Arnold on Valentine's Day. Ms. Arnold shared her new book Harriet Spies, the second in the Just Harriet series. The students played the game Two Truths and a Lie and learned how Ms. Arnold writes books.
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Longfellow Students Collect Shoes, Donate to Those in Need |
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The students and staff at Longfellow Middle School, in collaboration with the Wauwatosa community, have collected more than 1,500 pairs of shoes to donate to Funds 2Orgs to help those in need.
Thank you to everyone who donated!
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Whitman STEM Students Make History at Future City Competition in Washington, D.C. |
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A team of four eighth grade STEM students at Whitman Middle School will go down in history as the first team in the Wauwatosa School District to attend the Future City Nationals Competition in Washington, D.C. Not only did this talented group of students attend Nationals, but the team called βSouth Perucaβ (Pah-Roo-Cha) is also the first team in the District to win a special award while competing.
The team, consisting of Keira G., Alaina K., Kaia K., and Lucy K., traveled to Washington D.C. with their STEM teachers, Ms. Leigh Knapp and Mr. Ryan DeValk. At Nationals, South Peruca won the award, βMission Possible: Positively Impacting the Communityβ from the National Society of Black Engineers. The award is given to the team whose Future City design promotes the best overall quality of life and demonstrates the greatest potential to positively impact the community for a sustainable future. South Peruca was the only team from Wisconsin to win an award.
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Wauwatosa East Choirs Take Talents to Longfellow |
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The Wauwatosa East Choirs visited Longfellow Middle School on Thursday, February 9th to present their most recent Broadway Cabaret Concert, 'Heroes and Villains.' Officer Tracy, a strong supporter of the arts, was in attendance at the concert. This picture represents the power of who Officer Tracy is and how many lives she has touched in her time as working within the district. The Tosa East Choirs celebrate her retirement and wish her well! |
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Wauwatosa West Students Receive Writing Awards |
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We are incredibly proud that several Wauwatosa West students received awards in the Writing categories of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards including:
Claire Guttormson (honorable mention), Liberty Kaishian aka Allison Little (honorable mention, silver key), Daisy Lehman (honorable mention, silver key, gold key), Eliana Jones (honorable mention, silver key).
An awards celebration for writing award recipients will be held at UW-Parkside in Kenosha on Saturday, April 1, 2023. There will also be a visual display at the Kenosha Public Library the entire month of May.
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Wauwatosa Virtual Academy Takes a Frozen Field Trip |
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Students at WVA participated in a winter ice skating field trip to the Pettit Center in Milwaukee. Every student and staff member that attended had a great time, and students enjoyed watching their teachers trying to stand upright and not fall on the ice! |
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Students at Vel R Phillips Create Freedom Quilt Squares |
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After learning about
historical slavery and
current institutional
slavery, students at Vel R. Phillips honored the historical journey to freedom
by creating freedom
quilt squares.
Students used traditional African textile patterns in
their art honoring the African ancestry of slaves.
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Recreation Department's TBL Gears Up to Finish Season Strong |
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TBL (Tosa Basketball League) is finishing up its season in March. It has been a great season this year with 41 teams and 393 players ranging from 3rd-8th grades. Six players from TBL advanced to the WPRA (Wisconsin Park & Recreation Association) Region 4 Free Throw Contest taking place on March 18th. We also want to recognize Abby Claussen, Recreation Program Coordinator, for her amazing work overseeing this league. |
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Wauwatosa School District | 12121 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa, WI 53226
Ph: (414) 773-1000 | www.wauwatosaschools.org
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