The Weekly Update
May 13, 2026
Table of Contents
District News
Students and Community Celebrate Groundbreaking for New Jackson Elementary School
Five Are Named Support Staff Employees of the Year
Staff Appreciation Week is a Success Due to PTOs and Donations
Claim Lost Items at Riteway
Employment Opportunities
2026 East and West High Schools Prom Courts
Get Your Free Grad Grams
School Board News
Recap of May 11 Meeting
Student and Staff Achievements
State Champion in Excel
Student Wins ArtWalk Event
District News
Students and Community Celebrate Groundbreaking for New Jackson Elementary School
Jackson Elementary School students were the featured guests at the groundbreaking for the new Jackson Elementary School on Monday, May 11. Several current third-grade students, who will be the first fifth-grade “graduating class” from the new school, addressed the guests and took part in shoveling dirt. Speakers included Superintendent Jen Wimmer and Jackson Principal Darci VanAdestine. The new school is set to open in August 2027.
Five Are Named Support Staff Employees of the Year
Five support staff employees of the West Bend School District have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to the West Bend School District with the 2026 Support Staff of the Year Awards. Employees eligible include aides, coordinators, custodians and maintenance workers, drivers, clerical workers, school nutrition workers, or other office staff. The 2026 winners are:
Karen Eichmann, Instructional Tech, East and West High Schools
Kristine Glisch, Office Assistant, East and West High Schools
Dawn Goralski, Instructional Tech, East and West High Schools
Abby Haug Special Education Aide, Jackson Elementary
Maija Mayer, Administrative Assistant, West High School Athletics
Read more about each of these exemplary employees in the press release.
Staff Appreciation Week is a Success Due to PTOs and Donations
Last week was Staff Appreciation Week at the West Bend School District and it could not have been celebrated without the Parent-Teacher Organizations at many schools and the generous donations from area businesses for prize drawings for the staff. Thank you to the PTOs for their creative ways of thanking their school staff. Additional thanks to the businesses listed below for their generous donations in recognition of our amazing staff.
Claim Lost Items at Riteway
Families whose children ride buses or vans may have some items at the lost and found at the Riteway terminal. To browse the current collection and retrieve any items, please visit the terminal located at 1145 Lang Street in West Bend. Pictured below is a sample of the items.
Employment Opportunities
The West Bend School District has several job opportunities in summer school teaching, coaching, nutrition services, and more. Please go to our website to access the WECAN employment website. In WECAN, enter “West Bend School District” in the “Selected Employers” section.
2026 East and West High Schools Prom Courts
The West Bend East and West High Schools Prom is taking place this Saturday, May 16 at the Washington County Fair Park. During the event, the East and West prom courts will be honored and the queen and king from each court will be announced.
Top Photo - East High School Prom Court
Bottom row left to right: Lucia Estrada, Chloe Loether, Ruby Kelly, Brielle Hewitt, Anita Sutton
Top row left to right: Sam Wolfe, Graham Jablonski, Cole Gaffney, Dillinger Floyd, Chase White
Bottom Photo - West High School Prom Court
Bottom row left to right: Ava Peters, Veda Cook, Kaira Suttner, Kaelyn Wimmer, Calli Cragun
Top row left to right: Theo Hughes, Ryan Steiner, Kingston Bechler, Jonah Inkmann, Max Dahlberg
Get Your Free Grad Grams!
Don’t let any East and West High Schools graduating seniors go empty-handed by completing a Grad Gram for all the seniors you know. Grad Grams are free, short messages to seniors; all you have to do is write a note of congratulations (this is the Grad Gram). Those notes are compiled and presented to each graduating senior on graduation day.
You can fill out an electronic form on the WBSD website or download a Grad Gram from the same webpage to hand write a note and turn it into any school or the district office. All Grad Grams are due by Friday, May 29. Click here to access the details and the forms.
School Board News
Recap of May 11 Meeting
The West Bend School Board held a regular meeting on Monday, May 11. The board recognized the Rolfs Educational Foundation Award and Support Staff of the Year Award winners. The board also approved the Consent Agenda with:
Minutes of the April 27, 2026 Regular Board Meeting and Executive Session
Minutes of the May 5, 2026 Special Board Meeting
Contracts
Resignations
Traffic Impact Analysis Contract: High School Campus
Girl Scout Camp Interagency Agreement
Out of Country Trip: French Class
Early Onboarding of Mechanical Sub-Contractors for High School Construction
Disbursements posted to May 1, 2026
Several reports were given, including the Curriculum Committee, Construction Report, Financial Report, and Superintendent's Report.
The board held discussions on Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) Service Agreements, Grade 6-8 English Language Arts Resource Recommendation, and Budget Development. The board voted on board officers. The officers for the next year will be:
President: Chris Zwygart
Vice President: Kelly Lang
Treasurer: Joe Pichler
Clerk: Melanie Ehrgott
The board also chose board committee and delegate assignments. The policy committee will be made up of Chris Jenkins, Joe Pichler, Chad Tamez, and Chris Zwygart. The curriculum committee will be made up of Melanie Ehrgott, June Kruger, and Kelly Lang.
If you are interested in reviewing the details of the meeting, see this tutorial on how to access the agenda with links to the supporting documents. A video of the meeting is available.
Student and Staff Achievements
State Champion in Excel
Mason Indiraraj, a senior at West High School, is the Wisconsin State Champion in Microsoft Excel, taken as part of the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification program. This achievement reflects exceptional technical skill, dedication, and mastery of one of the most in‑demand tools in today’s professional world.
Mason has been invited to represent Wisconsin at the 2026 MOS U.S. National Championship in June in Nashville. He will compete against the top Microsoft Office performers around the country for scholarships, prizes, national titles, and the chance to advance to the MOS World Championship.
Student Wins ArtWalk Event
Isabella Totsky, a senior at West High School, was the student winner of the Downtown West Bend Association’s ArtWalk contest. Her winning piece, "The Serenity of Being", will be on banners hung around downtown West Bend.
Community Connections
Community Bulletin Board
There are various events and activities available on the WBSD’s Community Bulletin Board!
General
Cub Scouts Pack 3787 Pancake Breakfast
Summer Family Nature Counseling
Summer Child Nature Counseling
Musical Masquers Summer Camp
Prom Con (sponsored by high school clubs)
MOWA Family Fun Events
MOWA Summer Youth Workshops
MOWA Teen Council
MOWA Teen Volunteering
Big Brothers Big Sisters Golf Fundraiser
4H Inventors Quest Summer Camp
4H Build It Summer Camp
AFS International Exchange Program
Athletics
West Bend High Schools Track Summer Camp
West Boys Basketball Summer Camp
West Summer Volleyball Camp
West Jr. Sparties Fall Volleyball League
East Summer Volleyball Camp
Kettle Moraine Figure Skating Summer Learn How to Skate
Youth Summer Soccer Camp at Shephard of the Hills Church
Volunteer Center
Blend and Breathe Event
Planters with Purpose Event
Calling all Artists
Cooking events: Little Hands Big Rolls, Sauce Boss, Cutie Pies in the Kitchen
YMCA
Before & After School Daycare
Summer 1 & 2 Programs
Youth Performance Classes
New Street Hockey Program
Bucks Basketball Summer Camp
Wraparound Care at Silverbrook YMCA Camp
Family Minute to Win It & Pizza and Swimming
Day Camp