The West Way (Volume 4 | Issue 17)
Fueling Our Bodies and Minds
Chartwells has been visiting elementary schools across the district this fall to help students explore the connection between nutrition, mood and energy. Through interactive activities, students learn how the foods we eat can help us feel our best, sample delicious and healthy options, and discover how nutritious choices can make a difference in their day. Chartwells will continue bringing this engaging experience to all elementary schools. Thank you to Chartwells for making healthy eating fun and meaningful for our students!
Building Reading Skills and Confidence at Jefferson
Students at Jefferson Elementary recently participated in Hannah’s Haven, a special literacy program through the Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS). Through weekly, individualized reading sessions with trained HAWS staff, students strengthen reading fluency and comprehension while building confidence in a positive, encouraging environment. This special partnership provides students with extra support to grow their skills and discover the joy of reading!
November is Career Development & Scholarship Awareness Month.
November is Career Development and Scholarship Awareness Month, making it a great time to highlight the opportunities available to WAWM students as they begin exploring their futures beyond the classroom.
The West Allis-West Milwaukee School District recognizes that strong partnerships between education and industry are essential to preparing students for successful careers. These partnerships bring an unparalleled level of relevance to student learning, increase engagement, and provide meaningful opportunities for students to explore career pathways and gain valuable industry insights.
Take a look at the career clusters and pathways that are currently offered to our students at https://www.wawmsd.org/apps/pages/career-clusters-pathways.
Building Partnerships
There are many ways industry partners can support career planning and workforce readiness, including:
Participating in school career fairs.
Hosting workplace tours and field trips.
Serving as guest speakers.
Participating on school advisory committees.
Providing opportunities for young apprenticeships and internships.
Your partnership can make a difference. Employers and industry professionals that are interested in helping shape the future workforce are encouraged to get involved!
To learn more about partnerships with WAWM, contact Robert Joyce, Manager of College and Career Readiness at joycer@wawmsd.org or by calling (414) 604-3011.
Employers interested in hiring a youth apprentice in their industry area can also click HERE to express interest.
Exploring Scholarships
As students begin planning for life after high school, scholarship opportunities can play an important role in making their future goal more accessible. Our district maintains a webpage featuring scholarships and resources that are available for students and families.
New scholarship information is continually added as it becomes available, making the webpage a valuable resource for students exploring ways to help fund their postsecondary education.
Explore our scholarship webpage at https://www.wawmsd.org/apps/pages/scholarships.
Together, strong educational and industry partnerships, along with access to scholarship opportunities help our students build a foundation for success. These efforts continue to align with our district’s five-year strategic plan and this year's theme, Accelerating Access and Achievement, which focuses on expanding opportunities and supporting student success!
Learn more about our five-year strategic plan HERE.
AT WAWM, we’re not just preparing our students for graduation; we’re preparing for what’s next, The West Way!
A Sweet Surprise at Horace Mann!
Last week, Horace Mann Elementary School celebrated a special surprise attendance day! Dr. Minzlaff joined the fun as a piñata, bringing plenty of smiles, laughter and a little excitement to recognize the students and staff who showed up. A fun reminder that every day at school counts!
Learning & Friendship Across Grade Levels at Mitchell Elementary
First graders in Mrs. Zabkowicz’s class at General Mitchell Elementary School enjoyed a spooktacular afternoon with their fifth grade buddies from Mrs. Pfaff’s class! Students shared their completed spooky houses from a science project on light, played a festive word game and made sucker ghosts together. It was an afternoon filled with creativity, hands-on learning and plenty of Halloween fun! We love seeing these connections across grade levels and the friendships and learning that grow along the way!
Nominate an Educator of the Month
WAWM RCS: Introducing The Popcorn Pickleball League (18+ years)
Looking to have fun, meet new players and improve your game? Join us for friendly competition in a supportive environment! No partner needed! Sign up individually and rotate partners and opponents each game while tracking your own standings. League is on Mondays from November 16 through December 21 from 6:30–9:15pm. FEE: $60 RES/$90 NR. Use code 307902.03 to register on our website or call 414-604-4900 or 414-329-6600. Time to grab your paddle and join the fun!
What's Happening This Month?
Find all district and school calendars here.
Click here for information on upcoming School Board Meetings.
Community members interested in receiving our meeting notices can be added to the list by emailing their contact information to Sarah Shepherd (shepherds@wawmsd.org).