Inside this edition:
March 2018
• Board of Education Candidate Profiles • Friends of Fairview South Awarded $15,000 Grant • Brookfield Jaycees Honor Burleigh Elementary Teacher • Elmbrook Education Foundation Circle of Friends Event • Alumni Spotlight - Chris Vosters, BEHS Class of 2009 • LAUNCH Celebrates Successful First Semester • Middle School Musicals • Preschool Accepting Applications • Kindergarten Enrollment in Progress • Summer School Registration
First ‘Family University’ Event Focuses on Families of Teens On Saturday, January 13th, nearly 200 community professionals and district family members participated in the first-ever Family University event at Brookfield Central. The event began with a keynote address by Dr. Richard L. Holloway, Professor of Family Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, and was followed by several sessions presented by community professionals on relevant topics for families with teenagers. Topics ranged from mindful parenting, to building resilience in kids at a young age, to social media awareness for families. “It was great to see families learn, share and connect with one another,” said Amie Farley, Brookfield Central Associate Principal and one of the “It was great to see event organizers. “When it comes to parenting, it is important for families to know they are not alone and families learn, share that there are many resources; community providers, and connect with one school staff, and other parents ready to help them another.” navigate the challenges of parenting a teenager. Thank you to all of our facilitators and attendees.”
Two Brookfield Central Students Achieve Perfect ACT Scores
L to R: Gene Lee and Sophia Sun
Seniors Gene Lee and Sophia Sun both achieved a perfect 36 score on the ACT last February. Each year over 2 million students take the standardized exam, with only 2,760 students achieving a composite score of 36. In order to achieve a 36, students must answer all questions in the four subject areas of English, Math, Reading and Science without any errors. Congratulations Gene and Sophia on your fantastic achievement!
Message from the Superintendent Recently, our District presented to over 200 school administrators and board members from across the state about ways to engage one’s Mark Hansen, Superintendent community on issues that matter. Each year we have over 40,000 interactions with families, students, staff, and community members through surveys, listening sessions, annual updates, weekly emails and hosted events. More important than the volume of interactions, is the quality of feedback we receive and the relationships we develop through open dialogue and transparent reporting. We will continue to find ways to share information and connect people to the critical work of the District. Thank you for your active engagement and support of the Elmbrook Schools!
Board of Education Candidate Profiles
Two candidates are running unopposed for two seats on the School District of Elmbrook Board of Education. Each Board member represents the entire school district; therefore residents should select one candidate for each seat. The general election is Tuesday, April 3, 2018. Each candidate was asked to provide responses to the following two questions: Question 1: Why have you chosen to seek election to theElmbrook Board of Education? Question 2: What personal philosophies and experience do you have that will help you best represent the Elmbrook electorate? JEAN LAMBERT (INCUMBENT) – AREA IV 15150 Tulane Ct., Brookfield, WI 53005 LambertAreaFour@gmail.com Question 1: During my first three Board terms, I actively participated in processes that resulted in a balanced budget without significant staff reductions and class size increases. Further, I provided leadership to the Community and Legislative Engagement committee to foster relationships with elected officials so the needs of the district and impact to the district of policy and financial decisions are clearly understood. I bring the perspective of private-sector business to the table for all personnel matters: employee relations, compensation, personnel policies, etc. There’s more work to be done: • Improve K-3 literacy • Proactively address enrollment/capacity issues • Re-locate the Central Administrative Offices Question 2: Education is the foundation of success. The challenges are to seek continuous improvement, cut waste and lead via reliable metrics while maintaining fiscal control. My board experience, education and extensive business/leadership experience have prepared me well to serve our students and families. Family: Spouse: Roger Lambert; Seven children – 4 graduated from Brookfield Central. Five have graduated from college and one is currently enrolled at Whitewater and another at UW Madison District Resident: 43 years Education: MBA from Marquette University 1991; Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Nursing 1987; RN Diploma from the Milwaukee County General Hospital School of Nursing 1977 Recent awards/recognition: Elmbrook School Board Member since 2009; Project Management Certification (PMP) from the Project Management Institute; Girl Scouts of America 17 Years of Service; Boy Scouts of America 12 Years of Service Profession: Senior Financial Analyst – Froedtert Health
SCOTT WHEELER (INCUMBENT) – AT-LARGE 4745 N 158th St., Brookfield 53005 • wheelersa@gmail.com Question 1: Education is critical to the future of our children and leads to a strong community and society. With five children who are attending Elmbrook schools, I want to keep this district one of the best in Wisconsin. In the last three years, I have seen firsthand the quality education provided in Elmbrook, and I want to maintain great schools while being fiscally responsible to the taxpayers. Question 2: I want to ensure every student has the chance to succeed in school by providing the best curriculum, technologies, and extracurricular activities to help them learn and grow. I am proud of our work adopting new math, science, and social studies curriculums. I am committed to resolving our long term capital needs without going to referendum. I will continue to work on the best uses of technology in the classroom and hope to reduce the time our students spend taking standardized assessments. I would be honored to have your vote. Family: Spouse: Andrea Wheeler; Five children – 9th grade daughter at East, 8th grade son at Pilgrim Park, 5th & 2rd grade sons at Burleigh, and a son who will begin kindergarten at Burleigh next year District Resident: 7 years Education: 2002 – BA Biochemistry from Brigham Young University; 2006 – Masters of Education in Instructional Technology from Utah State University Profession: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints- where I provide training and supervision for volunteer religion teachers in Eastern Wisconsin
Friends of Fairview South Awarded $15,000 Grant Last Fall, the Friends of Fairview South parent organization received a $15,000 grant on behalf of Fairview South’s students. The grant was provided by the Eppstein Uhen Foundation and provides funding over three years for student experiences in the community. “We are thrilled to have this ongoing fiscal support to continue to meet the unique needs of our students,” said Dr. Tanya Fredrich, Elmbrook Schools Director of Student Services. “Exposing our students to learning opportunities in our community is an important part of our curriculum and their development. We are grateful to the Eppstein Uhen Foundation for the award, and to Kathy and Lauren Davis for their pursuit of this grant.”
Alumni Spotlight: Chris Vosters – Brookfield East Class of 2009
Brookfield Jaycees Honor Burleigh’s Marlo Dentice-Johnson
Chris Vosters path to broadcasting this year’s Olympic Figure Skating event can be traced back to his success in Forensics at Brookfield East. Vosters began his education at an area parochial school before transferring to the newly-remodeled Dixon Elementary in 2002 for fifth grade, and then advancing to Pilgrim Park and Brookfield East. “Having come from a parochial school,” said Vosters, “Elmbrook put me in a bigger environment with fantastic facilities, teachers, and resources that allowed me to thrive and be challenged. The experiences helped me to think critically and molded me into who I am today.” Vosters’ high school highlights included a State Team Championship in Forensics and an individual state championship in Radio Announcing. He was quick to recognize his Forensics coach, Mary Wacker, who served as an incredible role model in his life. Following graduation in 2009, Chris continued his “I love what I do and my education at the University education in Elmbrook has of Wisconsin - Madison, and allowed me to launch a worked at the student radio station as the Sports Director career that gives me great and play-by-play announcer fulfillment in life.” for various UW sporting events. He graduated in 2013 with a degree in Arts and Journalism. After college, Vosters broadcasting career began in the Northwoods Baseball League and quickly advanced to a full-time position with the Great Lakes Loons in Midland, Michigan. Additionally, Chris began broadcasting events for the Big Ten Network, Fox Sports, and NBC. This year, he has been covering figure skating for NBC and has been brought on to help announce the Olympic Figure Skating event on NBC’s 4K feed. “It’s really cool to be a part of the NBC network, where they are using technology to provide innovative content for sports fans around the world,” Chris noted. He will return to NBC in March to also cover the Paralympics. “ I love what I do and my education in Elmbrook has allowed me to launch a career that gives me great fulfillment in life,” said Vosters. For more alumni stories and district updates, follow Elmbrook Schools on LinkedIn or join the new Elmbrook Alumni Network to engage with fellow alums at alumni.elmbrookschools.org!
The Brookfield Jaycees honored Burleigh Elementary Third Grade Teacher, Marlo Dentice-Johnson, as an Outstanding Educator at the Distinguished Service Awards Banquet on February 23 for her involvement and impact on her school and our community. Marlo’s work with Burleigh’s 100-member Student Council has engaged students in a variety of leadership and community service opportunities. One such example, the Community Outreach Committee, connects students with volunteer projects at organizations such as Children’s Hospital, Make-a-Wish, and the Hunger Task Force. In addition to her work with student council, Marlo is a leader in the classroom and also serves on the District’s Math Leadership Team. Each year the Brookfield Jaycees honors an educator, a firefighter, and a police officer for their leadership in the Brookfield community. Congratulations Marlo for receiving this recognition!
Circle of Friends Lunch Event Celebrates Innovation in Education The Elmbrook Education Foundation (EEF) will host the third annual Circle of Friends Luncheon on Tuesday, May 15th, at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center to celebrate our community’s commitment to excellence in public school education. The event showcases an “Innovation Station” experience, with several examples of innovative projects and practices from across the district. New this year will be a ‘School A La Carte’ lunch featuring small plate stations from eight fabulous restaurants in the Elmbrook area. The lunch event will also feature keynote speaker, Peggy Coakley, President and CEO of Coakley Brothers, and a 1981 Brookfield Central graduate. Peggy has been recognized as a leader in business innovation. The Circle of Friends event will raise funds to support Elmbrook’s 7,000 plus students and the teachers who impact them. The focus of this year’s fundraising efforts continues to be the District’s Nature Center, located on the campus of Brookfield East High School. To secure your tickets or for more information, visit http://COF18.gesture.com.
LAUNCH Celebrates Successful First Semester LAUNCH, the District’s innovative program connecting rigorous coursework with profession-based learning, celebrated a successful first semester by hosting a Community Night showcase in December. Students presented their company projects and recommendations, answered questions about the LAUNCH program, and demonstrated their business-minded professionalism to corporate sponsors, family and community members, and educators. Said LAUNCH Director, Robert Hall, “In just one semester we have seen the impact of a new approach to teaching and learning on students, teachers and area businesses. Our students are applying their learning to real-life business challenges, and continue to impress our project sponsors L to R: Tyler Wallen, Catherine Botchek, Emma Jester L to R: Cameron Quinn, Emily Smyczek with their desire to learn and their quality of work.” LAUNCH currently offers courses in Global Business, Data Analytics and Future Teachers, and will double its course offerings in the 2018-19 school year. To learn more about LAUNCH, visit www.elmbrookschools.org/launch.
Enrollment Opportunities Preschool Accepting Applications
Elmbrook offers 4-year old students an amazing opportunity to jumpstart their learning through our preschool program at Burleigh Elementary. We wecome you to visit www.elmbrookschools.org/preschool for details or to setup your school tour.
Kindergarten Enrollment in Progress
Students who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2018 can join Elmbrook’s Class of 2031 by enrolling online today! We wecome you to visit www.elmbrookschools.org/enroll for details or to setup your school tour.
Summer School Registration Opens March 7
We have an amazing summer school program that offers over 85 courses each year. Course seats are limited, and online registration opens for all Elmbrook families on March 7 at 5:30 pm for Elementary & Middle School students, and March 8 at 5:30 pm for High School students. Please visit www.elmbrookschools.org/summerschool.
Showstopping Musical Performances Over 175 middle school students performed to packed houses as Elmbrook’s renowned fine arts program showcased two musicals at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center this winter. After several months of rehearsals, Wisconsin Hills students performed Shrek Jr., while Pilgrim Park’s students presented Bye Bye Birdie Jr.
13780 Hope Street P.O. Box 1830 Brookfield, WI 53008 262-781-3030 Mark Hansen, Superintendent Kathryn Wilson, Board President Chris Thompson, Chief Strategy Officer Jill Kokta, Communications Coordinator Eric Hagen, Communications Assistant www.elmbrookschools.org
WHMS presents Shrek Jr. – Photo Credit: Selkey Design & Photography
PPMS presents Bye Bye Birdie Jr. – Photo Credit: Dave Schwarz
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