Vol 7. February 2025 Versión en español

Dear West Scholars and Families,  

I hope all is well! I am thrilled that the second semester is off to a fantastic start. Scholars and staff are working hard, and it shows. 

But first, let me take a moment to reflect on last week's incredible All Nations Day Celebration. This event showcased the cultures and heritages of our scholars and staff. From the vibrant music, traditional dress, and amazing performances, the celebration reminded us of the diversity and unity that make Madison West so special.  

As we move forward, we are proud to recognize February as Black History Month. This is a time to honor, celebrate, and reflect on the contributions and achievements of Black individuals, groups, and communities.. To mark this important month, we have several exciting events planned:  

We Are One Dance: On Saturday, February 8th (7-10), a dance will be open to ALL scholars. Tickets can be purchased on GoFan for $10.00 until midnight tonight. Prices will increase to $15 at midnight. Doors close at 8:15 on Saturday. Be there!

WI State Superintendent Townhall: On February 10th, our Civics Club scholars will lead a learning opportunity by hosting this town hall, providing a platform for dialogue and engagement. Jeff Wright, Superintendent of Sauk Prairie Schools, will be the special guest. All other candidates decided not to participate. This is not an event open to the public. West does not endorse any candidates for political office. 

Lunchtime Events and Pop-Up Parties: Throughout the month, the Black Student Union (BSU) and other groups will host special lunchtime(i.e.Pop-Up Parties) events to honor Black History Month and celebrate its significance. Other student clubs will also be fundraising. 

Spirit Week and Soul Food Luncheon: The last week of February will feature a special spirit week, culminating in our annual Soul Food Luncheon on Friday, February 28th. This is always a highlight of the year, and we can’t wait to come together as a community to enjoy delicious food and celebrate our shared heritage.  

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in making Madison West the BEST.  Let’s make this month—and the rest of the semester—truly amazing!  

Best,  

Mr. Kigeya  

The Madison West

As we prepare for our upcoming Professional Development Day on Friday, February 21st, we would love your support in showing appreciation for our incredible West High School staff! To help make the day special, we are asking for donations of breakfast and lunch items.

We have created a pre-populated sign-up with requested items to make it easy to contribute. If you’re able to help, please review the sign-up and select an item to provide. Thank you to all who have already signed up! 

Drop-Off Details:

• Non-perishable items can be dropped off at the Welcome Center on Ash St. Wednesday-Thursday, February 19th & 20th from 8:00-4:00.
• Perishable items should be dropped off at the Welcome Center on Ash St to be refrigerated no sooner than Thursday, February 20th (12:00-4:00 pm). You can also drop items off the morning of Friday, February 21st no later than 8:30 a.m. 

Your generosity and support mean so much to our staff, and we truly appreciate your partnership in making this a great day for them. Thank you for being part of our West High community!

Junior Families: Your student received an email on Monday, the 3rd, telling them how to complete their myACT account setup. This should be completed prior to the ACT on March 11th. *Please look at these links to view Taking the ACT - State Testing and District Testing (English | Español). Please reach out to Katie Medema (kmedema@madison.k12.wi.us) or Lori Schacht DeThorne (lschachtdeth@madison.k12.wi.us)  if you have any questions!

The Soul Food Luncheon will be held on February 28th. The West Black Student Union is hosting a fabulous event offering brisket, chicken, and veggie plates with sides of mac & cheese, greens, green beans, corn, yams, etc. All plates come with a drink, cupcake, and a corn muffin. Use this QR code or go to GoFan to secure your ticket to the SOUL FOOD LUNCHEON! All are welcome, this is a community event.

MULTICO AUDITIONS

How to apply

• Must be junior to apply for 1st semester senior year
• Contact Ms. Holly @ hwalker@madison.k12.wi.us to set up a 5 min interview

What is Multico?

• Multico is a daily two-hour class of West High Seniors who were cast to represent the culture and diversity of the Madison Metropolitan School District.  Multico students write and perform short sketches highlighting: culture, bullying, race, gender, sexuality and conflict. Multico tours over thirty elementary and middle schools each year, providing another tool for MMSD classroom teachers to use as we all work towards a more empathetic world.  

• Multico meets 2 & 3 hours of the school day for 1st semester only (student’s senior year).
• All work is completed during class time
• Performances take place during class time (Dec- Jan)

West's health office is hoping to stock some clothing/supplies for students who run into an unexpected need during the school day. We would happily accept donations of clean, new or like-new adult-sized comfy bottoms (leggings/sweats), new underwear, socks, and adult-sized hoodies/sweatshirts. Students may drop off donations in the health office, or families can use the Amazon Wish List to have items delivered directly. We appreciate your support!

Yes, every study of bilingual youth reveals better mental and emotional health.

Know the 5 key strengths of bilingual youth: 

1. Strong sense of identity - (connected to culture and purpose)
2. Improved social connections (reduced feelings of loneliness)
3. Greater empathy (provides a deeper understanding of themselves and others)
4. Career confidence (being bilingual opens doors to opportunity, reducing anxiety about the future)
5. Emotional resilience (increased development of coping mechanisms during stressful situations)

By improving social networks we can elevate the mental health of youth in the Americas. 

Learn how we connect youth to the excitement of a dual language future.

Costa Rica Youth Exchange 2025

MILWAUKEE, WI (JANUARY 29, 2025) – Milwaukee Jazz Institute (MJI) proudly announces that its “A” Train Ensemble has been selected as one of only three finalists in the specialized school category at the 17th Annual Charles Mingus Festival and High School Competition. This prestigious event will take place February 14-16, 2025, at The New School of Jazz & Contemporary Music in New York City.

The “A” Train Ensemble, a quartet of talented high school musicians from Milwaukee, has been rehearsing since September to prepare for this incredible opportunity. Representing Milwaukee’s vibrant jazz scene, the four-member ensemble is:

• Sam Caiola, piano, junior at Guilford High School, nine years of experience
• Emmet Fettig, alto saxophone, junior at Fort Atkinson High School, four years of experience
• Adrian McCants, drums, sophomore at Milwaukee High School of the Arts, eight years of experience
• Thomas Renz, bass, junior at Madison West High School, five years of experience

The Milwaukee Jazz Institute has become a hub for jazz education in Wisconsin, and we are proud to represent the Midwest at this important competition,” said Mark Davis, co-founder and artistic director at MJI.

The Charles Mingus Festival celebrates the music of legendary bassist and composer Charles Mingus while showcasing top high school musicians from across the country. The festival includes workshops, jam sessions, and live performances, culminating in the competition on February 16.

Just a reminder that graduation orders are due. To avoid late fees that start soon, please order online at www.mwscholastic.com, or mail Midwest Scholastic your paper order form and deposit to:

Midwest Scholastic

PO Box 83 

Mt Horeb, WI 53572

If you have any questions, please email Midwest Scholastic at questions@mwscholastic.com

For questions concerning Graduation 2025, please reach out to Katie Medema - kmedema@madison.k12.wi.us

Juniors interested in being considered for membership in the National Honor Society at West need to have volunteered a total of at least 60 service hours in two or more activities; no more than 30 hours from a single service activity. In addition, a student must have earned a cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 3.6.

Juniors who meet eligibility criteria will be invited to apply in early March 2025.

For more information about selection and application deadlines, Click HERE

West’s 2nd annual Equity Symposium on April 9th!

West is excited to be hosting our 2nd annual Equity Symposium on April 9th. This professional conference for our West students and staff is an incredible opportunity to learn about the wide range of equity work being done in our community. We are currently seeking professionals, scholars, and community organizers to propose workshops for students and staff. If you or people you know are interested, please reach out to Sarah Quinn to talk more. Click here for a timeline of important dates.