The Weekly Update

Thank you to the community members, staff, family members, and students who attended community meetings and focus groups, and those who completed the survey on the high schools configuration.

Additional focus groups with students at both Badger and the high schools will be completed in the next two weeks. Feedback and survey results will be presented to the West Bend School Board at a March board meeting.

The West Bend School District Early Learning Program and its community partners are hosting an Open House for the 4K program on Thursday, March 19, 4:30-6 p.m. If your child will be attending one of the 4K facilities, plan on attending so they can get a look at their classroom and more.

Please tell any other families who may be interested in the West Bend School District Early Learning Program to come check out these amazing sites. Go to the Early Learning Program website for all the locations and enrollment details.

The 2026 Rolfs Educational Foundation Awards and the Support Employee of the Year Awards will be given out in May. Submit nominations by March 15, they can be completed by any employee, community member, parent, or student in grades 5-12.

The Rolfs Educational Foundation Award is for teachers demonstrating exceptional teaching ability, including innovative and imaginative instruction, enthusiasm for their subject, strong communication with students, and a genuine concern for student well-being.

The Support Employee Award individuals whose work reflects the district’s core values, including Learning for All, Innovation, Visionary Leadership, Results/Data-Driven Decisions, Customer Satisfaction, Our People, Commitment & Engagement, Stewardship, and Integrity.

To get more detail and make a nomination, please visit Rolfs and Support Awards on the website.

The West Bend Schools proudly recognizes our school police officers for School Police Officer Appreciation Day (and every day). Our School Police Officers are mentors, role models, problem-solvers, and trusted adults for our students and staff. Our sincere thanks to the West Bend Police Department for its partnership and to these outstanding officers who serve our entire school community each day:

Officer Donath

Officer Heinz

Officer Knutson

Officer Olson

This week is also Wisconsin’s Adult School Crossing Guard Recognition Week. We are so grateful for all the community members who help keep our students safe going to and from school and for the Jackson Police Department and West Bend Police Department for their important role in helping to keep crossing areas safe.

The Curriculum and Instruction Department presented the winter academic assessments results to the West Bend School Board on February 9. The assessments provide snapshots of how students are performing in alignment with academic expectations and also identify students who might be at risk of poor academic outcomes. To view the entire presentation, go to the school board meeting video at 38 minutes.

Winter assessment highlights:

• PreACT (grades 9 and 10): Students meeting expectations in English, reading, and science was the highest rate in three years.

• STAR (grades K-8): Students demonstrating grade level proficiency increased in each grade.

• aimswebPlus (grades K-4): Students demonstrating strong progress in early literacy skills.

At the February 9 School Board meeting, our Student Services team shared a positive mid-year update on student engagement and behavior goals.

Both the district’s long-term and short-term goals are on track. During the first semester, 96.5 percent of students had zero or one major behavior referral. Encouragingly, the number of students with repeated major referrals continues to decline.

Watch the full presentation on the website, beginning at 22 minutes, and review the presentation slides.

Multiple members of the West Bend Boys Swimming and Diving team qualified for the WIAA State competition this coming weekend at Waukesha South High School. Congratulations to the following student-athletes:

• Wesley Aleithe: 50m freestyle, 200m freestyle relay, 400m freestyle relay, and 200m medley relay

• Drew Gundrum: 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 400m freestyle relay, 200m medley relay

• Colton Multerer: 200m freestyle relay, 200m medley relay, 400m freestyle relay

• Gavin Paruch: diving

• Jay Paruch: 200m freestyle relay, 400m freestyle relay, 200m medley relay

• Ben Sadjak: 200m freestyle relay

• Will Tibbitts: 50m freestyle, 100m butterfly

Jack Lubinski and Colin Weber of the West Bend Wrestling team qualified for the WIAA State competition taking place on February 26-28 at the Kohl Center at UW-Madison.

At the recent 2026 WIARA State Snowboard Championships, Gavin Schauble took second overall after finishing first in Slalom, second in Boardercross, and 12th in Giant Slalom. Great job Gavin!

There are various events and activities available on the WBSD’s Community Bulletin Board!

Prom Con (sponsored by high school clubs)

MOWA Family Fun Events

MOWA Summer Youth Workshops

Jackson Youth Summer Baseball and Softball

Kettle Moraine Figure Skating Club Learn to Skate

Camp Invention Summer Camp

Warriors Rugby for Grades 5-8

Allenton Youth Softball and Baseball

AFS Exchange Students Information

Riveredge Nature Club Events

West Bend East Dance Dancing with our Stars Event

MPTC February Lecture Series

Project SEARCH 2026 Guided Tours (at West Bend Insurance)

Riveredge Family Events and Maple Sugarin'

Free Parent and Family Support Groups from Charlie Health

Volunteer Center

Volunteer Center: Nominate a Champion, Celebrate the Champions Event, Springtime Spreads, Camp Superhero Leaders and Campers, Partner in Kindness Events

YMCA

Free Swim Lessons

Free Community Swim

Splash and Dash Fundraiser

Winter 2 Program Registration

Hiring Camp Counselors