1 NEW AND VIEWS

February/March 2021

Dear Parents/Guardians, It is hard to believe we are already into the second semester. The first half of the year has flown by and I suspect the second half will go by equally as fast. Our students continue to impress me Wausau West High School with the level of respect and maturity they exhibit. Without question, this has been a challeng- Office Hours: ing time for our students; however, their resolve has been impressive and inspiring. To me, this 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. speaks volumes to the strong values you, as parents, have instilled in your children. Thank you!! Principal: As we begin this new semester, I would like to encourage you to continue your involvement in Jeb Steckbauer – 715-261-0855 your child’s education. A new semester for some means continuing to work hard to keep up with classroom expectations; for others, it is a chance for a new beginning. Whatever the case, Wausau West High School the beginning of the semester is very important. Many subject areas build a foundation of Office - 715-261–0850 knowledge early on in the semester and the rest of the semester builds from there. When stu- Office Fax - 715-261-3260 dents get help early on they ensure that they have the proper foundation to understand future Office Hours: 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. material. When students begin to feel overwhelmed or they find they do not understand the material presented, it is critical they find time to meet with their teachers immediately to ensure Website: west.wausauschools.org they gain the knowledge base needed to move forward in learning the curriculum. Our Flex Associate Principals: Mod system accommodates this wonderfully. In most cases, students and teachers can meet Arrin Woller – 715-261-0871 within the normal school day. Please help encourage your child to seek out the resources they (Programming) need to be successful. Asking questions in class, meeting with teachers during their open labs (virtually or in person), emailing teachers with questions, and reaching out to their school coun- Amber Haluska – 715-261-0861 selors are just a few of the many ways for students to find the help they need to be successful. (Special Education )

The following items are things to look for in the near future. We will communicate more infor- Jon Tomski – 715-261-0862 mation as it becomes available: (Pupil Services)  ACT Testing -- This is for all 11th grade students and it is scheduled for March 9, 2021.  Forward Testing -- This is for all 10th grade students. Date TBD Athletic/Activity Director:  ACT Aspire -- This is for 9th and 10th grade students. Date TBD Brian Miller – 715-261-0874

 West Referendum Proposed Upgrades -- More information will be coming in the form of Other Important Numbers: district mailers, advertisements, and open meetings. Counseling Office – 715-261-0890 Nurse’s Office – 715-261-0851 Stay warm and thank you for your continued support of Wausau West!! Attendance Office – 715-261-0880

Career Center – 715-261-0853 Jeb Steckbauer - Principal

ADVISOR/ADVISEE VIRTUAL NIGHT MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 3:30 - 8:00 P.M. Advisor/Advisee Night is a time for high school parents and students who are currently in 9th, 10th and 11th grades to meet with their homeroom advisor to discuss goals and finalize course selections. The following questions will help generate discussion with your child prior to this Advisor/Advisee Night. 1. Have you signed up for the courses that are required for next year? 2. Have you thought about what you would like to do after you graduate? 3. If you’re thinking of college or technical college, do you know what courses you need to meet that college’s admission require- ments? 4. What courses can you take to help you prepare for your future? 5. Have you read the online course/registration handbook located on our webpage under the info tab? Online Course Registration Handbook? 2

PARENT NEWS

MONTHLY MATERIAL PICK UP

February 4 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. We will be continuing our monthly material pick ups for virtual students and those who may be quarantined. These pick ups will February 5 7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. be the first Thursday & Friday of each month. Students should March 4 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. contact their teachers to see if there are materials to pick up. March 5 7:30 a.m.– 3:00 p.m. April 8 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. April 9 7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. May 6 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. May 7 7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES - MONDAY, MARCH 8, 4:00-8:00 P.M. We will be using PTCFast.com™ like we used in October to make scheduling conferences as convenient and efficient as possi- ble.  Watch for a letter your students will be given along with their Progress 3 reports in homeroom around February 25.  For assistance in scheduling conferences, please call 715-261-0860.

NEW ADDRESS? NEW PHONE NUMBERS? PLEASE READ ON...

As a parent/guardian of a Wausau West High School student, you are a recipient of school communications regard- ing your child’s progress. This information includes grades, parent/teacher conference information, attendance, as well as school notices and mailings. As a parent/guardian, you will receive these mailings provided your mailing ad- dress, email address and phone numbers are current.

The address and phone number currently in our directory can be reviewed by going to the Parent Portal. Click on “more” under Message Center and then “Address Information.” Should you need to update your address or phone number, please notify the school by doing one of the following: 1. Stopping by Wausau West’s Programming Office to complete the change, 2. Emailing your updates to [email protected], or 3. Call Julie Cordova at 715- 261-0875.

Parents/guardians (who are identified as being secondary households) do have the option to discontinue this com- munication. To request that the above identified communications stop, a written notification from that person is re- quired by Wausau West. For this change to occur, we ask that the written correspondence identify the student(s) attending Wausau West and include the date, your name, phone number and signature. Please note, the person requesting that the school communications end can only do so for their name, address, and phone number.

Should you have questions, please contact me at (715) 261-0871.

Sincerely, Arrin Woller, Associate Principal Wausau West Programming SECOND SEMESTER SCHOOL FEES Now is a great time to look over your student fee page. Students can view their fee page in Infinite Campus and parents also have access via the Parent Portal. *Do you have a balance due? If so… *Do you understand why? *Did you add a class with a fee? *Drop a class with a fee? Semester two class fees should be paid in full by February 5, 2021. Payment can be made online via the Parent Portal ($2.00 convenience fee), in the Business Office at school, or by mailing it to Wausau West High School, Business Office, 1200 West Wausau Avenue. If you have any questions regarding your student’s school fees, please contact Kathy Folino, Business Office Manager, at 715-261-0899. 3

DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

ACT & SAT TEST DATES LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP ACT Assessment & ACT Assessment DEADLINE Plus Writing Registration IS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Test Dates Deadlines Every year many of our local institutions give scholarships to Wausau West students. If you are a senior in the top 25% of April 17, 2021 March 12, 2021 your class, this opportunity is for you. June 12, 2021 May 7, 2021 The applications window for local scholarships will be February July 17, 2021 June 18, 2021 8-19, 2021. Qualifying students will receive an email with a SAT Registration link to the online application when it becomes available. Applications must be submitted by midnight on Friday, Febru- Test Dates Deadlines ary 19, 2021 with NO EXCEPTIONS! March 13, 2021 Feb. 12, 2021 All applicants must also participate in a ten-minute interview May 8, 2021 April, 8, 2021 with the scholarship committee. Information regarding the stu- June 5, 2021 May 6, 2021 dent applicant is very pertinent to the committee in their task of scholarship selection. Scholarships will be based primarily on Wausau West High School’s Code is academics, character, and school involvement. Scholarships 502417. This code will be needed for both will be presented at the Senior Awards Program on Monday, May 10, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium. the ACT & SAT test registration.

CAREER CENTER INFORMATION

Looking for a job? Students who are looking for part-time employ- ment are encouraged to stop in and learn about current employ- ment opportunities. Employers contact the Career Center directly. You can find their postings on the job board. Job application and resume help are also available.

Colleges are not allowing their representatives to visit campus this semester. If you have a question for a college/university/technical school, please stop by the Career Center. Mr. Jensen can help reach the schools so questions can be answered.

Contact Information: If you have questions related to career planning, college or employment, please contact Ray Jensen, Career Center Coordinator, at 715-261-0853 or [email protected] 4

COLLEGE CREDIT PROGRAMS Students can earn up to 18 credits in these programs. Please see your counselor regarding enrollment criteria. ECCP/SCN students must reapply each semester.

UW System: Early College Credit Program (ECCP). A high school pupil in a public or private school in the state will be permitted to enroll in a UW System institution, or a private, non-profit institution of higher education, to take one or more nonsectarian courses, for which the pupil may earn high school credit, post-secondary credit, or both.

Under the ECCP, the costs of courses is shared among the institution of higher education (IHE), the school district, the state, and in some cases, the pupil’s family. A pupil’s family cannot be charged for any portion of the allowable tuition amount if the pupil is earning high school credit as a result of enrolling in the course (even if it is a dual enrollment situation, under which the pupil earns both high school and post-secondary credit).

The Application Deadline For Summer/Fall 2021 is March 1, 2021

STUDENTS MUST REAPPLY EVERY SEMESTER

TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM

“Start College Now” allows high school students the opportunity to take college courses at Technical Colleges. Feel free to review and download the application from Wausau West’s Counseling website. Students looking to take courses in the fall semester must turn in the application by March 1, 2021.

STUDENTS MUST REAPPLY EVERY SEMESTER

Contact Mr. Kelter with any questions you may have @ [email protected] or call him at 715- 261-0891. 5

WEST DIGITAL LIBRARY

Whether A or B week or fully virtual, students still have access to hundreds of ebooks and periodicals to use for their own reading or class assignments. All items are available on the West Library Itslearn- ing course or at https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/20447. Both require student user name and password to access the resources.

New to the library this year is Flipster. This database houses digital magazines both popular and re- search periodicals. User name is: s6246075 Password is: Wausau!1

Soraapp.com contains our digital fiction and audio books. These books can be downloaded to chromebooks or phones for off wifi access.

If your son or daughter prefers print books over digital media, students can place holds on print materi- als through https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/20447. The materials will be ready for pick up in between doors by the Main Office entrance in about 24 hours during regular school hours.

Jenny Eder, Library Media Specialist, is available to help students who have questions or who need help with their device.

WAUSAU WEST SPRING CONCERTS

 Virtual Solo Ensemble Festival - Registration opens Tuesday, February 23. The deadline to submit events is April, 9 @ 5:00 p.m.  Orchestra Concert - Monday, March 22, 7:00 p.m.  Wausau West Pop Concert - April 23, 24, 26 & 27. Limited in-person attendance with live streaming tickets available.

Please be our guest and enjoy the musical excellence provided by our student musicians. Thank you for your continued support!

6

DEPARTMENT/ACTIVITY INFORMATION

COMPUTER SCIENCE NEWS

New CS Course. Next year we are excited to offer a new second semester CS course in Cryptog- raphy - the science of using secret codes to maintain the privacy and security of information. While the study of cryptography is ages old, it has found renewed importance as a foundation of modern cyberse- curity. The course explores the rich history of cryptography as well as the motivation behind using en- cryption systems, and teaches how to implement a range of cryptographic algorithms in Python. The Cryptography course is open to any student who has successfully completed the Fall course Introduc- tion to Programming.

Computer Club: All students are welcome to join the West Computer Club. This is a like- minded group of computing enthusiasts that meets bi-weekly to discuss and share all things re- lated to using computers. Past activities include gaming parties held in the Commons, designing and building a PC, building arduino-powered robots, providing mentoring to middle school stu- dents, and guest lectures from industry experts. So far this year, we only meet virtually, and we’re always interested in acquiring new members. You do not need to be enrolled in computer science courses to participate in the club. Contact Mr. Quinn for more infor- mation.

Robotics is Virtual This Year! Due to Covid re- strictions, the Robotics Team did not participate in the normal regional Vex VRC tournament competitions this Fall. Instead we entered in the international CoderZ League competition, where students in grades 8-12 designed code to drive a virtual robot through increasingly complex terrain challenges. As we gear up for next season, several opportunities for students who might be interested in robotics are emerging. Vex Robotics has launched an online, self-paced training program that teaches students how to design and write code for controlling robots. There are also new hands-on labs that offer instruc- tion on how to design and build competition robots. It has never been easier than it is now to learn how to design, build and program a robot. This is great news for robot enthusiasts!

Virtual Spring Training is a 10-week online course that is open to all students. You will be working in a state-of-the-art integrated programming environment that links embedded instruction with a simple, easy-to-learn block- based coding format to learn and practice the basics of robot control. You do NOT need to be on the robotics team to par- ticipate in this activity. All that is required is an internet-connected device. This completely virtual, self-paced course of- fers an easy on-ramp to the world of computer science. Programming (virtual) robots is both fun and chal- lenging. There’s something for everyone of all ages and interests. Yes, adults can do this too!

Robotics Team Recruiting. If you are interested in STEM careers, robotics has a LOT to offer. The West Robotics Team is growing, and we have capacity to add more students who are willing to commit to learning and participating in team activities and competitions. The best way to find out if robotics is for you is to simply join the Spring Training that starts in February. No commitments are required, and you’ll get a taste of what robotics is all about. Contact Mr. Quinn for more information.

Summer Robotics Academy. This is the next step towards pre- paring to join the West Robotics Team. Students who have a positive expe- rience in Spring Training should consider attending the “robotics bootcamp” that is held during Summer Learning, June 7-25. We’ll meet for 4 hours each day, Monday-Thursday to engage in a professional curriculum designed to get you ready for competition in the Fall. This is also an im- portant opportunity to begin collaborating with team members to start planning how to build your team robot for next year’s Vex Robotics Chal- lenge. On the last day of the academy, students will hold a mock competition with the robots that they built and programmed, in- cluding an audience of parents. 7

DEPARTMENT/ACTIVITY INFORMATION

DECA Districts 2021 (Virtual) ...On the Road to STATE!

DECA District competition looked a little different this year. The conference was 100% virtual. Eleven schools compet- ed in the conference. This year’s competitors showed real commitment as they were asked to find time in their sched- ules to commit to competition. Students took a 100 question exam online and participated in one role play and had to upload their presentation to YouTube to be scored by the judges. West students did an amazing job and had 34 com- petitors that placed in the top four of their event.

The following students will be moving onto the State Conference March 3-5. The State conference will also be 100% virtual. If you see them, make sure to congratulate them!

Jackson Ngo, Sophie Sinz, Emmy Skogstad, Chloe Vandenberg, Dylan Warnecke, Caleb Tuley, Karlie Knoll, Sammi Federici, Amber Frostman, Abby Names, Sophie Wokatsch, Oscar Krueger, Fletcher Haggerty, Mason Voigt, Andrew Tischer, Paige Harvey, Nick Knezic, Elena Mrotek, Lucca Tonelli, Ben Bolz, Lexi White, Grace Albee, Lexi Schauls, Ani- ka Parks, Nathan Hartman, Will Matteson, Rhys Burnett, Beckett Teske, Maddux Federici,Tim DeLoye, Allison Raasch, Jack Ecke, Nick Rass, Mollie Lemke, Ashley Zoborowski, Lindsey Lucht and Eli Wagers.

THE WAUSAU WEST SPANISH CLUB SUPPORTED OUR COMMUNITY DURING CHRISTMAS

The Wausau West Spanish Club wanted to be part of the big challenge that several groups in the community worked hard to make possible for kids less fortunate in our community. Our club offered their service to support this great goal that the Toys for Tots program did for the community with the help of the Salvation Army in Wausau.

On December 15, 2020, the Spanish Club participated in sorting and packing toys at the Salvation Ar- my Center in Wausau. This was a great learning experience to work as a team for a great goal. We wished all of the families Merry Christmas and Happy New year 2021! (Feliz Navidad y Feliz año 2021)

Señora Brandner Spanish Club Advisor Wausau West High School 8

HEALTH INFORMATION

FEBRUARY IS CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION MONTH!

Career and Technical Education (CTE) provides learners with the knowledge and skills they need to be pre- pared for college and careers. CTE gives purpose to learning by emphasiz- ing real-world skills and practical knowledge within a selected career focus.

Students in CTE programs take specialized courses, in addition to required courses, and often have the opportunity to participate in internships, engage with mentors, and practice what they are learning through hands-on pro- jects. Wausau West is a leader in Career and Technical Education!

There are many value-added offerings CTE programs bring students and our community. Students can earn dual credits, gain employment opportunities, attend competitions and at- tend amazing field trips.

Career and Technical Education provides students with exceptional experiences built on career pathways and strong business partnerships. The departments within CTE include:  Agriculture and Natural Resources  Business and Information Technology  Family and Consumer Science  Health Science  Marketing and Entrepreneurship  Technology Education and Engineering

9

SPORTS INEWS

MANDATORY SPRING NCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER PARENT/ATHLETE MEETING FOR STUDENT ATHLETES The mandatory video for parents/guardians of spring Athletes interested in participating in either athletes will be posted virtually un- Division I or II athletics at the college level der the athletics tab on our website will need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. There are certain eligibility require- Monday, March 22 ments prospective student-athletes need to The video will cover the athletic code, meet. To find out more about eligibility harassment, hazing, Covid-19 precautions, requirements and the NCAA Eligibility ticket information and general athletic Center visit: www.eligibilitycenter.org. information. There will be a short quiz after you have viewed the video. Gathering this information and applying to Parents/guardians & athletes only have to the Clearinghouse is the responsibility of the view one mandatory video per year, so if you student-athlete and their parent/guardian. completed the video/quiz in the fall or winter, your obligation has been met. A student- athlete will not be allowed to compete until the parent obligation has been fulfilled.

If you have any questions you can contact Brian Miller at 715-261-0874.

SPRING SPORTS BEGINNING PRACTICE DATES

Monday, April 19 Monday, April 12 Girls/Boys Track Boys Softball Monday, May 3 Boys

Monday, April 26 Girls Soccer

10

FROM THE OFFICE OF A.D. MILLER

NEWS FROM THE ATHLETIC OFFICE

WINTER WARRIORS! AD Miller here! Our winter sports teams are in the midst of a full schedule. Schedules are being crammed into a much smaller space than a usual year. The result? Lots of games and lots of schedule changes!

Curling is getting underway this week to join the other sports that are already in action. Alpine and Nordic Ski, Boys and Girls Hockey, Boys and Girls and . Our skiers are making good showings on the hill and in the country and other teams are having very nice seasons. If you check the WVC Statics website at http://www.valleystats.org/ you can keep track of how our teams are doing. A couple of highlights are, an undefeated Girls Basketball team and a Wrestling team that fin- ished the dual season with big wins over Marshfield, Rapids, and SPASH. They will be heading into the regional tournament with high expectations.

Our competitive clubs are in virtual action. A highlight this month was the DECA district competi- tion. West had 34 competitors that placed in the top four of their event. They will be competing in the virtual state competition March 3-5.

All this the kids have done while wearing masks – trying so hard to keep socially distanced - staying home if not feeling well and patiently handling a quarantine if they were exposed. The West family is super proud of our kids and coaches for their perseverance, attitude, and effort as “pandemic athletes.”

There is a full tournament slate scheduled for the WIAA Tournament Series. The dates can be found on the WIAA website at www.wiaawi.org.

Be safe and “Be a Real Teammate.”

Respectfully, Brian M. Miller – CMAA

Athletic and Activities Director 11

HEALTH INFORMATION 12

PARENT NEWS

AP Exams - May 3 - 14, 2021

Exams are administered at NTC Center for Business & Industry except for Foreign Language exams which are given at Wausau West. Be sure you know where you are going! Watch for an email with your ex- am schedule including dates, times, and room numbers.

You are required to arrive at the testing site no later than 30 minutes before your exam:  7:30 a.m. for the morning administration.

 11:30 a.m. for the afternoon administration.

Students may not be dismissed until an exam has officially ended; don’t ask to leave early if you finish before the end of the exam. If you play a sport or have a job, it’s your responsibility to inform your coach or employer of your AP Exam obligation, and arrangements should be made accordingly.

Get a good night’s rest before your exam and eat a nutritious breakfast. It’s advisable to bring a sweater, in case the room temperature is below your comfort level.

Good luck to all taking AP exams!

If you have any additional concerns, please feel free to contact Karen Hill at [email protected].

STUDENT COUNCIL

Student Council will be hosting a blood drive on Friday, February 12, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Come join us in saving lives and helping us earn scholarship money. Here is the link: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive

Enter 54401 for the zip code and select West.

13 School Based Dental Program for the 2020-2021 School year! Bridging Brighter Smiles, Inc. will be offering preventative dental care right at your school! Visits are held throughout the school year. All students 4k - 12th grade are encouraged to enroll.

Services Provided:  Oral Screenings  Dental Cleaning  Fluoride Varnish Applications DENTAL CARE  Dental Sealants RIGHT AT SCHOOL  Silver Diamine Flouride  Referral Assistance

To enroll your children simply visit: https://enrollment.bbsmiles.org to complete our easy enrollment form right on line.

We accept Forward Health (Badger Care) card only. (We do not bill/accept other private dental insurances)

Charitable care is offered for those students who do not have the financial resources to access dental care.

Additional policies and procedures have been implemented to mitigate the spread of Covid-19.

Questions? Call (262) 896-9891 or visit www.bbsmiles.org 14

PARENT NEWS 15 Wausau West Drama Presents:

Show dates: March 19, 20, 21

Based on the celebrated novel by Daniel Wallace and the acclaimed film directed by Tim Burton, BIG FISH tells the story of Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman who lives life to its fullest…and then some! Edward’s incredible, larger-than-life stories thrill everyone around him—most of all his devoted wife Sandra. But their son, Will, about to have a child of his own, is determined to find the truth behind his father’s epic tales. Overflowing with heart and humor, BIG FISH is an extraordi- nary musical that reminds us why we love going to the theatre—for an experience that’s richer, funnier and bigger than life itself.

Big Fish will be live streamed directly to your own living room

WSD CONTINUOUS NONDISCRIMINATION NOTICE The Wausau School District does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of sex, race, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability. Federal law prohibits discrimination in education and employment on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or disability. Anyone who believes that the Wausau School District has inadequately applied the principles and/or regulations of Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Section 504 or the Americans with Disabilities Act, may file a complaint with the WSD Equity Director at the Longfellow Administration Center, 415 Seymour Street, Wausau, Wisconsin 54402-0359, or by telephone at 715-261- 0500.

Lub Wausau School District txwv tsis pub leejtwg ua saib tsis taus ib tus neeg twg txawm yog hais tias nej yog pojniam los yog txivneej, yog haiv neeg dabtsi, ntseeg dabtsi, poj koob yawm txiv yog leejtwg, nyiam pojniam los yog txivneej li cas, muaj mob nkees li cas los yog xiam oob qhab li cas. Kevcai nyob rau tebchaws no txwv tsis pub leejtwg yuav ua saib tsis taus nej yog nej tuaj nrhiav haujlwm ntawm peb txawm yog nej yog haiv neeg twg, muaj noob nyoog li cas, cev nqaij daim ntawv yog xim dabtsi, nyiam pojniam txivneej, ntseeg dabtsi, los yog muaj kev xiam oob qhab li cas. Yog leejtwg ntseeg tau hais tias lub khoog tsev kawm ntawv Wausau School District ua tsis raws li txojcai thiab/los yog cov lus teev tseg nyob rau Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Section 504 los yog Txojcai Tiv Thaiv Haiv Neeg Mekas uas Xiam Oob Qhab, nej sau tau ib tsab ntawv tsis txaus siab tuaj rau tus saib xyuas tej teebmeem zoo li no uas yog tus WSD Equity Director nyob tom Longfellow Administration Center, 415 Seymour Street, Wausau, Wisconsin 54402-0359, los yog hu rau nws ntawm tus xovtooj 715-261-0549.

El Distrito Escolar de Wausau no discrimina contra las personas por motivos de sexo, raza, religión, nacionalidad, ancestro, credo, embarazo, estado civil, orientación sexual, o discapacidad física, emocional, mental o de aprendizaje. La Ley Federal prohíbe cualquier tipo de discriminación en la educación y empleo por motivos de edad, raza, color, nacionalidad, sexo, religión o discapacidad. Cualquier persona que crea que el Distrito Escolar de Wausau ha aplicado inadecuadamente los principios y/o reglas del Título VI, Título VII, Título IX, Sección 504 o del Acta para Americanos con Discapacidades, podrá presentar una denuncia ante el Director de Igualdad del Distrito Escolar de Wausau al Centro de Administración Longfellow, 415 Seymour Street, Wausau, Wisconsin 54402-0359, o por teléfono al 715-261-0596.