SDW District Newsletter - Fall 2018

To develop in our students the capacity and skills to become

Community, College, and Career Ready Volume 1, Issue 1

2018-19

Superintendent’s Message

SCHOOLS TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS

I’d like to personally welcome you to the School District of Waukesha.

Welcome to the first issue of a community newsletter from the School District of Waukesha. Based on our recent survey, residents would like more information about our school district mailed to them.

We are one of the largest districts in Wisconsin, with more than 12,000 students. Each student has individual needs, interests and ultimately, career ambitions.

With our focus on personalized learning and innovative programs, as well as charter schools, magnet schools and academies, our district offers multiple opportunities to connect with every student, whether it is in a traditional classroom setting or in a specialized program. The learning methods are endless.

Through the strong support of our business partners, we offer pathways for students to pursue careers in fields such as manufacturing, engineering, and design.

12 - Grades: 4K - 5 3 - Grades: 6 - 8 3 - Grades: 9 - 12

CHARTER SCHOOLS 1 - Grades: K - 8 Waukesha STEM Academy 1 - Grades: K - 12 eAchieve Academy 3 - Grades: 9 - 12 Waukesha Academy of Health Professions Waukesha Engineering Preparatory Academy East Alternative School

This issue provides you with factual information about our schools, as well as stories about our students and award winning teaching staff.

All of these opportunities prepare our students for college, career and community readiness more than ever before.

As one of the most fiscally responsible districts in the state, we take pride in conserving costs. Therefore, this newsletter was created internally and was printed with cost in mind.

We are proud of our schools, our students and our outstanding educators who guide them along their academic paths.

We invite you to take a closer look at the many opportunities we offer.

Economically Disadvantaged

For additonal information, email us at

Todd W. Gray, Ph.D

Limited English Proficiency

pr@waukesha.k12.wi.us

We are proud that 80 of our graduating seniors have scored a 30 or above on the ACT. That being said, we prepare them for life; not just to take a test. Standardized test scores do not provide a complete representation of our students’ potential to succeed after their school years.

We could not provide the high-quality, educational opportunities without the continuing support of parents, our business and educational partners, and our community members. Collectively, we are keeping our Waukesha Schools strong and robust.

MAGNET SCHOOLS 1 - Summit View Elementary

STAFF Professional: 1, 027 Support: 562

STUDENTS 12,607

Minority

Superintendent School District of Waukesha

Students with Disabilities

STATE REPORT CARDS Out of the 21 schools receiving an overall accountability rating, 19 of them, or 85.7% either meets, exceeds, or significantly exceeds expectations.

Significantly Exceeds Expectations Exceeds Expectations Meets Expectations

93.7 STATE REPORT CARD Waukesha Engineering Prep Academy (WEPA), located at Waukesha South High School, achieved one of the highest scores in the state at 93.7, which significantly exceeds expectations. It is ranked 4th in the state, according to the DPI.

80 EARNED 30+ on ACT The Class of 2018 had 80 graduates score a 30 or above on their ACT.

$5 MILLION in SCHOLARSHIPS Our seniors earned $5 million in scholarships.

25 SPORTS The number of sports offered through our district.

40 CLUBS The number of clubs & activities offered.

Tech Ed

Preparing Students to be College and Career Ready

AVID Excellence!

Grayson Cooley, 2018 Graduate, Represents Waukesha at the National AVID Conference.

In Waukesha, there are multiple opportunities for students to experience hands-on project learning with area businesses. Hundreds of students take advantage of co-op internships, youth apprenticeships, and a robust technical education curriculum.

Through a partnership with Waukesha County Technical College, Waukesha’s Dual Enrollment Academy gives high school seniors credits for both high school and college with hands-on training in high-demand occupations such as building and construction trades, IT and hospitality.

Our dual enrollment students graduate with a high school diploma as well as a technical school diploma, an industry certification and most often, significant job offers. For the 2018-19 school year, a record 39 students have been accepted into the program.

Perhaps what sets us apart from other school districts is the strong partnership among our area businesses in Waukesha MADE. MADE stands for Manufacturing, Automotive, Design and Engineering. MADE is a collaboration among school district educators and businesses that builds mutually beneficial relationships to promote student engagement and careers in the trades. More than 300 high school students interact with our MADE program annually.

METALS FABRICATION 374

North High School

Tech Ed Students

South High School

ENGINEERING DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT Waukesha Engineering Preparatory Academy

DIGITAL ELECTRONICS Waukesha Engineering Preparatory Academy

West High School

WOODS/ADVANCED WOODS/CONSTRUCTION West High School

GRAPHICS North High School South High School

“In order to get to the places you’ve never been, you must do things you’ve never done. That can be uncomfortable. This is what AVID does best. It gets you comfortable with being uncomfortable.”

Never before has note-taking strategies and a focus shift to inquiry-based learning been turning average students into college bound high achievers.

- Waukesha South Graduate Grayson Cooley, AVID participant who has been accepted at UW- Madison.

AVID - Advancement Via Individual Determination is the nation’s largest college preparatory program available in schools across the country, including the School District of Waukesha. It is research-based with proven student achievement results.

AVID elective students take rigorous courses, learn time-management skills and are supported by specially-trained teachers. AVID not only teaches students to absorb new information; it trains them to continuously ask questions to get to the conceptual root of each lesson. The AVID elective class also focuses on improving students’ writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading skills.

Yet it often carries a stigma that it’s only for students needing remedial help.

AVID program participants at Waukesha South were so successful that 100% of its graduating seniors in 2018 were accepted to colleges, and some of them have received full scholarships to universities such as UW-Madison.

Because of this success, the School District of Waukesha is implementing AVID at the middle and elementary school levels for the 2018-19 school year….one of the few districts in Wisconsin to do this at this level. Currently, AVID is also at Waukesha North and will be starting at Waukesha West this fall.

Waukesha South Graduate Grayson Cooley spoke at the national AVID Summer Institute. There are about one thousand AVID students who enter the Summer Institute speaker contest, and Grayson was one of two who shared his story in Minneapolis, MN on August 1.

Congratulations Sarahi!

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID WAUKESHA, WI PERMIT #648

2019 WI Teacher of the Year 222 Maple Avenue Waukesha, WI 53186

Sarahi Monterrey, an English Learner (EL) teacher at Waukesha North High School, was named one of Wisconsin’s two High School Teachers of the Year in May. Sarahi will represent the state in the National Teacher of the Year program this upcoming school year. Her approach to teaching embodies a genuine belief that every student has the ability to learn, grow, and overcome obstacles. Monterrey meets her students where they are and encourages them to reach high.

Dual Language

Did you know?

Our Dual Language program at four elementary schools allows students to proficiently speak, read and write in both Spanish and English. It begins in 4K and extends through 8th grade. At the high school level, Spanish and Advanced Placement Spanish are available in grades 9 - 12. Nearly 100% of our 9th grade Dual Language students earn a 4 or 5 in AP Spanish.

Additionally, our graduating seniors have the opportunity to be awarded with the Seal of Biliteracy and recognized as a Global Scholar.

First Day of School: Tuesday, September 4, 2018

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