Vol 6. January 2025 Versión en español

Dear Regent Scholars and Families,

Welcome back from the break, and Happy New Year! I hope you all had a restful time with friends and loved ones. 

1st Semester - Finish Strong!

As we begin the new year, we’re also entering the critical final stretch of the first semester. This is the perfect time for our scholars to lock in, focus, and finish strong. For those concerned about how they’re doing in their classes, I encourage you to reach out to your teachers now. Seeking help and clarification early can make all the difference. Building and maintaining a strong relationship with your teachers is a key step to ensuring academic success! (Please see Demonstration of Learning Schedule below)

Safety At West 

At West, safety is our top priority. The ALCS incident underscored this point for me and our staff.  As such, we want to acknowledge and learn from the incident (Here at West) before the break, where we mistakenly issued a LOCKOUT instead of a SECURE. This error understandably frightened many of our scholars and staff, and we sincerely apologize for the confusion and concern it caused. Moving forward, we are taking proactive steps to ensure we learn from this incident and are as prepared as possible in any future situation.

In the coming days, we will take the following actions:

1. Engaging with Scholars: 
2. We will meet with our West House Student Leadership group to hear their perspectives and ideas. 
3. Additionally, we plan to create a Safety Advisory Group composed of West scholars. This group will provide valuable insights into safety concerns from a student perspective. 
4. We will also hold listening session(s) during lunch, open to all scholars, to clarify safety procedures, listen to concerns, and provide support.

1. Collaborating with Staff: 
2. Safety and preparedness will continue to be a key focus for our staff. Yesterday, we held an all-staff meeting highlighting the importance of safety at school. We committed to adding a few more drills early during second semester to help with preparedness.  
3. Admin plans to meet with West HS building representatives (MTI) to discuss safety within their unique contexts and gather feedback from them to strengthen our procedures.
4. We plan to engage with District leaders and building services to put in place common-sense safety measures that 

1. Keeping Families Informed: 
2. We are committed to transparency and communication with families. In the days ahead, we will share updates such as these that highlight our work around safety.  We also invite families to reach out to us and share their ideas and/or concerns. 
3. Please review the safety reminder section below. 

Thank you scholars and families for making Madison West the Best…

Sincerely,

Mr. Kigeya

The Madison West 

Multilingual students are finishing their annual ACCESS Test of English Proficiency!

The ACCESS speaking exam (and make-ups) are  scheduled for the first two weeks in January in Room 2404. Students who finish all portions of the test and score a 4.5 (of 6) are considered ‘Proficient’ by the state of Wisconsin, and do not take the test in future years.

Contact Ryan Watson rwatson@madison.k12.wi.us , Rachel Wood rewood@madison.k12.wi.us, Katie Medema kmedema@madison.k12.wi.us  for questions on the ACCESS test, or Faith Hoenecke fahoenecke@madison.k12.wi.us on the State Seal of Biliteracy

Do you have any old computers, printers, or other electronics that you want to get rid of? Bring them to Green Club's electronic waste drive at Rennebohm Park anytime from 9am to 3pm on Sunday, January 12th, to have them properly recycled! We hope to see you there!

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

8:30 – 10:00     Period 1 

10:15 – 11:45    Period 2 

12:30 – 2:00    Period 7

Thursday, January 23, 2025

8:30 – 10:00     Period 3 

10:15 – 11:45    Period 4

12:30 – 2:00   Makeup 

Friday, January 24, 2025

8:30 – 10:00     Period 5 

10:15 – 11:45    Period 6 

12:30 – 2:00    Makeup 

Monday, January 27, 2025

No School – Staff Only for Grade Reporting

We’re starting the second semester by celebrating unity and diversity!

The annual Madison West All Nations Day performance is planned for Friday, January 31st  for students. In addition to the Friday performances, we will have an All Nations opening night for the community showcasing various cultural arts of our students and staff at West on Thursday, January 30th! The Community Night All Nations Performance will be 6-6:45 p.m. in the auditorium, followed by the Multicultural Community Potluck in the cafeteria from 7-8 p.m. All are welcome. If you plan to attend the potluck, RSVP through this form. Thank you for taking the time to complete this and we hope to see you there! 

DIRECTIONS:  Enter the building through the Welcome Center on Ash St. and follow the signs or enter through the Regent street doors and go directly into the Auditorium. If you are bringing food, you can leave it in the cafeteria before taking a seat in the theater. 

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Mr. Sabaka  masabaka@madison.k12.wi.us  or Profe Hoenecke at fahoenecke@madison.k12.wi.us.

Prepare to be immersed in an evening of captivating spoken word poetry and music that celebrates the beauty, resilience, and power of Black love. Join us for West's Black Love event, where talented artists will share their stories, experiences, and emotions through spoken word, exploring the complexities, joys, and challenges of love within the Black community.

This event is a space for expression, connection, and celebration. Whether you're seeking inspiration, connection, or simply a night of powerful performances, West's Black Love event promises to be an unforgettable experience.

Hosted By Mike Alston

Special Guest:

Dellavonte Hune

Lashay ThaArtist 

Hezekiah Ward 

Marlon and Ozanne Anderson 

Chakari Daezhare 

Date: 2/3/25

Location: West High School (Auditorium)

Time: Doors open at 5pm

Cost: Free

Upcoming West High Band & Orchestra Benefits

The Heights

11 N. Allen St. Madison, WI

We will be donating a portion of sales to the West High Orchestra on January 15th and to the West High Band on January 29th. Grab a parking spot early! Join us for a glass before the performances or just swing by to chip in for West Arts!

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)

Are you a junior who is interested in being considered to attend Badger Boys and Girls State? Badger State is a prestigious week-long program, and a life changing experience.   Information about Badger Girls State (June 15-20)

Badger Boys State (June 8-14) educates young leaders on how to become more impactful community members of Wisconsin. During the program, high school students between their junior and senior years learn how our government system works by creating their own city, county, and state level governments. Over 850 participants leave feeling inspired by the lifelong lessons and relationships developed at Badger Boys State.

This opportunity is for juniors only. Students who are interested will be reviewed by our faculty, who will then select a candidate and alternate to attend this summer.  For additional information about Badger State programs, or to ask questions, visit the Van Hise office on the third floor or complete the Google Form today.  

Families,

Your student’s safety and wellbeing within our school is of utmost importance to us. We want our students to feel secure and confident at school and are asking for your support in ensuring this. 

As we move into the new year and second semester, we pause and ask you to review the below document regarding the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) with your student(s). This document provides detailed information on what to do during each of the five emergency protocols - Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, Shelter, and Hold. In reviewing this document with your student, you are helping to clarify any misconceptions, reiterate expectations, and further partner with us to promote and ensure safety within our building.

• SRP In English (Linked)
• SRP En español (Enlazado)

West also offers a number of scholarships to graduating students. The West HS scholarship application will be shared with seniors via email on January 8th, 2025 and the deadline to apply will be January 31st, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. The application will also be posted on the West counseling website.

What is it? Each year, many local organizations and individuals generously provide approximately 45 scholarships for West Seniors.  Each scholarship donor determines the criteria for their scholarship. The criteria vary widely, but may include one or more of the following:  academic achievement, leadership, school/community service, athletic achievement, financial need, special interests/talents, personal character, or intended area of study.

Who can Apply?  ALL SENIORS who have attended high school in the Madison Metropolitan School District for a minimum of three (3) full semesters. The 8th, or final, semester must be at West. West students at the Early College Academies at Madison College are eligible to apply.  In addition, seniors must complete and submit the West High Scholarship application to be considered for these scholarships.

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

Hey West Scholars,

A quick reminder to drive safely in our neighborhood! With so many young scholars, pedestrians, and pets around, it's important to be extra mindful when you're behind the wheel. As the weather changes, roads can get tricky—so please slow down and stay safe for all of us.

Also, heads up: MPD is planning to have a higher presence in our area. Let’s avoid any unnecessary tickets by following the rules of the road. Thanks for keeping our West community safe!

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.

This summer, a committee of West staff, students, and alumni met on the suggestion of naming our new gym, constructed as part of the 2020 referendum, after Lester Luehring. Les was a beloved teacher and coach who worked at West for 24 years before he lost his battle with kidney cancer in 2018.  His passion for education and athletics was evident in his roles as a teacher, coach, and mentor. Beyond the classroom, he coached football, boys' and girls' basketball, and golf, leaving an enduring legacy on the field and court.  More than just a coach, Les was a friend and role model, always embodying the principle of treating everyone with kindness. Before the committee finalizes its decision and submits it to the Board of Education, we invite your input. If you have a name you'd like to propose, please fill out this short form. Your suggestions will be carefully considered before the committee makes its final decision in time for submission to the board during the January meeting.

Starting on January 6, 2025, the library will no longer be open during 3rd hour for student tech support, passes, or study hall students, because the librarian is unavailable. (This may change in the future if we get more staffing, but for now, unfortunately this is the situation.)

APPLICATION WINDOW NOW OPEN!

We are excited to release information for the 2024-2025 application to the Early College STEM Academy. This continued partnership with Madison College expands access to college courses in science, technology, engineering and math in order to increase opportunities for students to earn college credit as high school students at no cost to them or their families. We hope to increase students underrepresented in STEM related careers, including students of color, females, first-generation students, and/or students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

Students are selected to participate in the STEM Academy as a 2-year cohort, attending 11th and 12th grade at Madison College. Students will have access to expertise and state-of-the-art STEM labs and equipment for hands-on learning with Madison College and Madison school district instructors.

Students will earn high school and college dual credits at no cost to them and their families. With those credits, students can be more competitive when applying to four-year colleges. We know from research that students who participate in dual credit courses have greater success going to and staying in college, as well as achieving higher GPAs and college graduation rates.

Eligibility Requirements

• Minimum 2.25 grade point average
• 90% attendance rate
• Submit application by January 24, 2025 at 3:00 PM

If eligible, a selection team will review applications and set up an interview with each applicant at their high school. Upon acceptance, Madison College will notify students and families by early March 2025.

We encourage you to attend an information session with Madison College to learn more about this opportunity. Please save the date for one or more of the information sessions listed below. You may also contact your student’s counselor with questions.

• Jan 16, 2025 6-7pm, via Google Meet Link here  

You may also view the website for more information, including a link to the application.

Dear 11th grade students and families,

MMSD has partnered with Madison College to offer four Academies, where students would spend their senior year at Madison College earning college credits and completing the requirements of their high school diploma. The four Academies are as follows:

Early College Education Academy

Early College Biomedical Academy

Early College Networking & Cybersecurity Academy

Running Start: Personalized Academy

Eligibility Requirements

• Current junior
• 90% attendance rate
• Commit to taking all senior year classes at Madison College
• Submit application (open now) by January 24, 2025 at 3:00 PM

If eligible, a selection team will review applications and set up an interview with each applicant at their high school. Upon acceptance, Madison College will notify students and families by early March 2025.

We encourage you to attend an information session with Madison College to learn more about this opportunity. Please save the date for one or more of the information sessions listed below. You may also contact your student’s counselor with questions.

• Jan 16, 2025 6-7pm, via Google Meet Link here

If you have any questions, please contact your student's School Counselor.

Take care,

The West School Counselors

We'd like to thank Genin's Autocare - a portion of oil changes in May and November are donated to West High School Tech-Ed Program. The current total of all time donations to West by Genin's is at $32,735.94. Thank you to Genin's and please remember this local business when looking for your auto needs.