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March 22: End of Q3
March 30 - April 8:
Spring Break
April 12-14: WestTap presents Crimes of the Heart
April 16: Senior Graduation Meeting during Flex
April 17: Pops Concert
April 21: Prom
April 25 & 26: SDNB Testing Days/College Tours
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Principal Message 
Dear West Parents and Families,
As we reflect on recent events and the nationwide discussions and considerations relative to school safety, we wanted to assure you of the importance we place on the safety of our students, staff and others who are part of our school community. We will continue to be as proactive as possible so that our schools remain places that support and inspire learning. We want students to take comfort in knowing we are trying to create a place where they know their safety is a priority.
I have personally been told by many of our students that, on a day to day basis, they consider our school a safe place. While we all can be happy this is the case, this may be both a blessing and a challenge. While this is very good news for us, the recent events and national focus have created a larger discussion around this topic. Students have been more engaged in the conversation about school safety and expressing their thoughts to both school and district staff. We encourage this communication and Superintendent Garza has recently held meetings with both students and parents around the topic of school safety, continuing to share information and hear thoughts as we continue our focus in this area. I had the opportunity to be involved in the student meeting and was appreciative of the thoughts our students shared.
Our district is grateful for a close partnership with the New Berlin Police Department, who provide regular trainings for our staff and the presence of a school resource officer in our building. We also monitor and cross reference our ongoing practices with school resources to ensure the training we provide is best practice and is consistent with national, state, and local recommendations.
While it is devastating to think of a violent act being attempted in one of our schools, it is important to remember that our students, parents, and staff are our best line of defense. We rely on our entire school community to inform a school official and local law enforcement if they are aware of any threat so we can thoroughly investigate. We take all reports very seriously and will apply consequences up to or including expulsion for any threat - real, implied, or made in jest.
We also understand that locks and safeguards are only part of our work in the large umbrella of safety. Our staff care deeply for each student and work every day to provide an environment necessary so each individual can grow and learn. Our staff has people who are trained and well versed in identifying, assessing, referring, and supporting students who may be struggling. We have community partners who stand ready to assist parents or students in need.
Perhaps, at this point, you are asking, "What can I do as a parent?"
-Talk with your student about reporting concerns to school staff or law enforcement. If they are concerned about their safety, the safety of others, or about the actions of someone encourage them to talk to you, us, or any trusted adult. We continue to encourage those in our community to live by the motto of, "If you see something, say something".
-Stay informed and connected to our school's communications.
-Listen to your student(s) and help them process any concerns they may have.
-Get to know your student's friends and families. Establish a network to exchange information with other parents.
-Monitor and supervise your student's reading material, television, video games, music, and internet usage for appropriate content.
-If you have firearms or weapons in your home, please secure them.
School safety is our collective responsibility. Thank you for doing your part to ensure our schools are a safe place where our students can learn and grow in a caring environment and thank you for your support and trust in our school and district.
We are hopeful that this message marks a continued positive and successful school year. Our wishes for a safe and enjoyable upcoming spring break for your children and families.
Sincerely,
Michael Fesenmaier and the West Administrative Team
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Robotics Team Competing at Regionals
Watch NB Blitz Team 5148 compete via live stream March 22-24
The FIRST
(For Inspiration and Recognition of Science & Technology) Robotics
Wisconsin Regionals are under way at the UWM Panther Arena in downtown
 Milwaukee, and New Berlin Team 5148 has been working hard designing, building, and programming robots to compete head to head on a special playing field.
FIRST Robotics teaches students and mentors to utilize science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to not only build robots, but also encourages students to pursue education and careers in STEM-related fields. The program helps students become leaders and innovators and provides an opportunity to develop critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and entrepreneurial skills.
New Berlin Blitz Robotics - Team 5148, founded in the Fall of 2013 and comprised of West and Eisenhower students, has a mission to increase awareness, generate interest, and develop skills in the engineering field in our local area while designing and building awesome robots!
The Wisconsin Regionals are running March 22-24 and will be live streamed if you are curious to see them in action. Check out Team 5148's facebook page for the link to watch the competition on live stream. Additionally, you can attend the free event in person at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, 400 W. Kilbourn Ave, Milwaukee. WI 53203 now through Saturday.
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17-18 School Year: State Championships
NBW Dance wins State Title
Congratulations to the following members of our New Berlin West Pom & Dance Team who won the Division 2 State Competition in Hip-Hop in Lacrosse! What an outstanding achievement by the entire squad and staff!
Coaches: Tina Coe & Angela Algrim
Hannah Sidesky (C)
Sarah Hamilton (C) 
Amberlee Webster
Maddie Butzine
Kyra Mushall
Sara Tavernia
Stephanie Tucker
Katherine Tsoris
Allison Zimmerman
Halle Stackhouse
Danielle Miller
Blake Randolph
Mercedes Stieff
Megan Laurent
Makenna Billstrom
Academic
Decathlon
Wins D3 State Title
Congratulations to the NBW AcDec team, who are officially the Division 3 Champions in the state of Wisconsin with 41,498.7 points! The team is coached by Kevin Dyke and Nicole Thompson. Way to go, AcDec! 
Here are some category rankings for each student:
Ryan Aspenleiter- 5th in math, 4th in essay
Alex Underwood - 5th in literature, 5th in economics, 4th in speech, top scoring Honors student for NBW
Brynn Flanders - 4th in literature
Cat Vink - 9th in music
Nate Garris - 6th in essay
Cristian Riecica - 4th in speech, top scoring Scholastic student on our team
Jadelyn Guzman - 4th in music
Samantha Delain - 5th in interview, top scoring Varsity student on our team
Steven Klaske - 7th in economics
Varsity Chess Team Sweeps State Tournament
Congratulations to our varsity chess team, which finished undefeated this past weekend in Oshkosh for the State championship in Varsity Division 2.
Varsity Team Members:
Jacob Biese, Derek Schaeper, Nick Dorshak, Cole Anderson, & Ryan Aspenleiter
Coaches:
Mr. Anderson, Mr. Aspenleiter, & Mr. Simpson
In addition, 2 players were further awarded the top player at their respective boards:
Top Board 1 player (Varsity Division 2) -
Jacob Biese
Top Board 3 player (Varsity Division 2) -
Nick Dorshak
Finally, the team (along with JV players
Sam Jimenez, Eli Oldenburg and Coach Aspenleiter) took part in a Chess Bughouse tournament at state, and finished with a 3rd place team trophy!
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Thank You NBW Parents
A huge thank you to all the generous parents who contributed to the Teacher Appreciation Dinner before Spring Parent Teacher Conferences. As always, the food is delicious and the appreciation felt is wonderful! Additional thank yous to Jodi Miller and Kelly Timmers for organizing and planning the meal. It is undeniable that West parents are the best parents!
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Srta. Thompson Earns Study Abroad Scholarship
The National Spanish Examinations, a program of the American Association  of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, provides teachers with opportunities to continue their professional development to design instruction and assessments from first-hand experiences with Spanish language and culture. Nicole Thompson of New Berlin West was selected to win one of two scholarships for Teacher Study Abroad in Costa Rica. She will be taking two graduate courses in literature and culture at the Universidad de Costa Rica in San José this summer and will be living with a host family for four weeks.
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Prom 2018
The New Berlin West Prom will be held on April 21, 2018. The evening will begin with the Grand March in the New Berlin West PAC, followed by dinner and dancing at Davian's in Menomonee Falls and Post Prom at Dave & Buster's in Wauwatosa. This is a high school event hosted by the junior class, and is open to any junior or senior who is interested in attending. Freshman and sophomores may attend only if they are invited as a guest by a member of the junior or senior class. Tickets will be on sale March 26 - April 11.
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Crimes of the Heart Opens April 12
in the New Berlin West Performing Arts Center
Crimes of the Heart, a tragicomedy by Beth Henley, relays the story of the three Magrath sisters, Meg, Babe, and Lenny, their assorted relatives and past relationships. Reuniting at Old Granddaddy's home in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, each sister has endured her share of hardship and misery and is forced to face the consequences of the "crimes of the heart" she has committed. Crimes of the Heart presented by West Theatre Arts Program, opens April 12 with 3 performances April 12, 13 and 14th at the West Performing Arts Center in New Berlin, WI.
Celebrating 40 years, Crimes of the Heart won the 1981 Pulitzer Prize and several other awards and nominations. In 1986, the movie featured Sissy
 Spacek, Diane Keaton, Jessica Lange, Tess Harper and Sam Shepard. It deserved several Oscar nominations and put the play in front of many artists, audiences and even, launched a novel by Claudia Reilly. The play is set in the old southern kitchen of their grandfather's in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, five years after Hurricane Camille. Opening to Lenny (Alyx Knueppel), the oldest sister, we discover from her dialogue with Chick (Payton Pruitt), the priggish cousin next door, that Baby (Olivia Vernon), the youngest, is out on bail after having shot her husband in the stomach. The middle sister, Meg (Audrey Moczulewski), who quickly outgrew Hazlehurst, is back after a failed singing career on the West Coast. While they wait for news of the family patriarch, their grandfather, who is living out his last hours in the local hospital, they mull over their troubles, grave and yet, somehow, hilarious. The sibling relationship tell the story of their past, the loss of both parents, marriages and love interests. Babe works with the awkward young lawyer (William Dettlaff) who tries to keep Babe out of jail while helplessly falling in love with her. Meg relives a past relationship with her old flame, Doc Porter (Brooklyn DiPietrantonio). In the end, the play is the story of how its young characters escape the past to seize the future-but the telling is so true and touching and consistently hilarious that it will linger in the mind long after the curtain has descended.
Crimes of the Heart will perform at the West Performing Arts Center in New Berlin April 12-14, 2018. Show times are at 7pm. General seating ticket prices are Adults $9, Seniors (60+) $7, and Students $5. Seating is reserved. Tickets can be purchased on-line, with the bookkeeper at New Berlin West Schools or at the WestPAC box office the day of the show. See
www.nbexcellence.org/community/westpac.cfm for more information. Call (262) 789-6406 for voice.
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Vikings in the News...
Journal Sentinel: New Berlin West Athletics Dept navigates crazy 48 hours of ticket demand necessitated playoff swap
The WIAA boys basketball sectional final between Whitnall and Pewaukee drew crowds by the thousands to West as we hosted the popular game that sold out within minutes. The Athletics & Activities department, along with student volunteers, NBPD, and extra help from staff collaboratively demonstrated that our Viking community is nothing short amazing!
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School District Updating its Text-Messaging Notification System
The
School
District in New Berlin is updating its
School
Messenger
text-messaging notification system, and we need your help in order to be able to reach you via text.
All families that wish to receive text messages from the district must "opt-in" to our
School
Messenger
text messaging service. This can be done by simply texting "Y" or "Yes" to 67587, after you make sure your contact information is up to date in Infinite Campus!
If you do not "opt-in"
by Wednesday, March 28, and your contact information in Infinite Campus includes a cellular phone number, you will receive a one-time text message notification from School Messenger on March 28, asking you to "opt-in" to the text messaging service in order to receive important school information. When you receive your "opt-in" request March 28, you may choose to enroll by replying "Y" or "Yes", or not enroll. Additionally, once you enroll, you can opt out of the messages at any time by replying to one of our messages with "Stop".
The ability to text our families is important to us. We can notify families quickly in the event of a school closing, late bus or other safety alerts. We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we update our communication services.
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Parent Resource - Should Your Child be Playing this Game?
The School District of New Berlin is committed to sharing resources with parents and guardians to help you monitor your child(ren)'s physical, social and emotional well-being. We want to bring to your attention things you might not be aware of that may be affecting your child(ren) or his/her friends.
For example, did you know that Doki Doki Literature Club is a popular computer game that comes with a warning that it is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed?
The game is a "visual novel" that allows the player to interact with members of a school's literature club. All of the characters are anime, or cartoon, characters. It is considered a psychological horror game. Characters feel anger, obsession, depression and emotional distress, with some characters depicted dying by suicide. The narrative of the story and the scenes depicted might be difficult for young people to process in a healthy way.
If you know your child plays or has played this game, please consider using the game as an opportunity to talk about some of its complicated issues, specifically suicide and depression. Here is a resource that can help support that conversation:
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SAYES: Senior Advocate Youth Exchange Service
This "Make A Difference Program" was established in New Berlin in 1998. The mission of this program is to bring together people of all ages by uniting New Berlin young citizens and their families or peers with New Berlin Senior Citizens.
The volunteers in this program assist senior citizens and people with disabilities with tasks they may no longer be able to do. (For example: mowing a lawn,weeding, snow shoveling.)
This program provides individual students, families, athletic teams, clubs, church groups, public service groups three specific ways to ,"Make a Difference":
- Volunteer - Meet community service requirements, enhance you resume, or complete a service mission or graduation component
- Donate service and materials - Printing, office supplies, postage, or professional expertise
- Make a tax-deductible donation
The SAYES program needs volunteers to continue to "Make A Difference" in the New Berlin community. In the past, individuals and groups have volunteered.
Both Football teams from Eisenhower and New Berlin West, along with their coaches, have a long history of commitment to this program. However, the program is need of more volunteers to meet the increasing demand for assistance.
Once you sign up with the SAYES office you will receive a phone call welcoming you to our volunteer list. In the past we have had individuals sign up for one time, for a specific month and even some of our volunteers have signed up to volunteer for a year. Some of the volunteers sign up with a friend, with their family or with a club , activity or a team. You will also receive a phone call informing you of the name and address and phone number of the individual you will be helping. You will also be informed prior to reporting to the address what you will be doing at the site.
Please consider volunteering for SAYES.
START WHERE YOU ARE. USE WHAT YOU HAVE. DO WHAT YOU CAN.
"We can all learn so much by helping others in our community. As a member of the Board of SAYES, I can tell you what an impact you as an individual, family or as a member of a team can have in the New Berlin community," says Mary Jane Whitty. "I truly believe this and can tell you from experience how powerful the gift of time can be."
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Industry 4.0 Community Information Night is May 8
The district is hosting an open house at Eisenhower on Tuesday, May 8, for students, parents, staff and community members to learn about Industry 4.0 and the projected disruption it is expected to have on southeastern Wisconsin.
Industry 4.0 is the name used to describe the current industrial transformation with automation, data exchanges, cloud, cyber-physical systems, robots, Big Data, AI, IoT (the Internet of Things), and semi-autonomous industrial techniques all playing a role in developing 'smart industry'.
Presentations, equipment demonstrations and an overview of related course and experiential opportunities for district students will be featured. Come any time, but plan to stay for an hour to get the most from the event; don't miss the presentations occuring at the top of every hour.
Registration for this event is requested for planning purposes.
Click here
for more information about the event, including registration form and program partners.
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Athletics and Activities Night is May 7 - Save the Date!
West will be hosting an
Athletics & Activities Night
on Monday, May 7, from 6:30-8 p.m. Research has shown that the benefits of involvement in athletics, co-curricular and non-curricular activities include higher grades, better attendance, increased teamwork skills, increased leadership skills, and higher self-esteem, to name a few. Additionally, participation in these activities can play a key role in allowing students to explore their likes and dislikes, as well as continually refine their unique personal, academic, social and career goals. The importance of your student participating in one or more athletics, co-curricular, or non-curricular activities during their middle and high school years cannot be underestimated.
New Berlin West offers a wide variety of athletics, clubs and organizations to appeal to the varied interests and abilities of our students. Athletics & Activities Night will be dedicated to these extracurriculars. You and your student will find information about the many options available, and have the opportunity to have your questions answered by the coaches and advisors. Click here to check out all we have to offer. Don't miss this event - mark your calendars now!
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What Is 'Entrepreneurial Thinking' and Can It Be Taught?
#OwnYourVoyage
By and large, entrepreneurs take action to develop innovative solutions to problems in the world around them. This can result in a product, a business or just an improved way of doing things. Entrepreneurs collaborate and think critically and creatively. They take risks and see their mistakes as part of an important process of continuous improvement.
These 'dispositions for success' are important to most future endeavors. In the SDNB, we are working to develop many of these same skills through classroom assignments, small group work, project based learning, digital learning, elective offerings, and co-curricular offerings like BUILD, Robotics, DECA, etc. Our student report cards have been updated to help communicate what your student's teachers are seeing in the classroom.
There are some students who need and want to take this further. These students are often referred to as our future 'change makers'. Some of these students are currently enrolled in the district's Advanced Innovation and Design (iAID) course, which teaches entrepreneurship over the course of a semester. On June 4, as a culmination of their work, these students will participate in a formal 'Pitch Night', whereby they will share their solutions to assigned real world problems with mentors, parents and the community.
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ACP - How Parents Can Stay Engaged in the Process
Parents and guardians are a very important part of Academic and Career Planning (ACP). For an overview of the ways in which we communicate and engage parents in the ACP Process throughout the school year, please refer to the
ACP - Parent Engagement Plan
on our
ACP web page
.
The best way to stay informed is to read the parent email that goes home twice per week with all new announcements, events and opportunities (if you are not already subscribed, please contact your school office for instructions). Talk to your student about which opportunities best support their personal, academic, social and/or career goals.
If you have questions or feedback about the Academic and Career Planning process, please contact your student's counselor or Associate Principal Greg DePue.
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Attention: Professional Mentors Needed!
The SDNB has been recognized for having one of the most comprehensive Career and Service Based Learning (CSBL) programs in the state. Students receive support at school to secure, sustain and reflect on what they are learning and how that might impact their secondary and post-secondary plans. Students who want to receive credit and/or work release during the school day indicated their interest in this program during the course registration process.
As spring and summer approach, there will be many students actively looking for placements in health care, finance, education, information technology, manufacturing, research, etc. If you're a local/regional employer and would be willing to consider mentoring and/or employing a New Berlin student interested in your industry, please check out the following links and/or email
Laura.Schmidt@nbexcellence.org
for more information.
Thank you for your support!
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Follow Us on Facebook & Twitter
Stay Connected & Up to Date!
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Sign Up For Notifications
Receive text/email when game is canceled
Would you like to be automatically notified when a game is canceled? Here are the instructions to get notifications of events:
- Go to our website: www.nbexcellence.org
- Click on General Information
- Click Woodland Conference & Building Calendar
- At the top, right corner, click on Notify Me!
- Pick which events and activities you would like to receive automatic texts or emails.
- Identify how often you would like to get notifications or reminders.
- Enjoy hassle free updates!
If you have any questions, please contact our Athletic Department at (262) 789-6454.
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The School District of New Berlin does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of age, gender, race, color, 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, gender, religion, or disability. For more information, please follow this link:
http://www.nbexcellence.org/district/disclaimers.cfm
Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.
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