Tag Archives: Region 14

Casimir Pulaski High School obtains International Baccalaureate status

image of Pulaski High School

Fox6News.com: Pulaski High School in Milwaukee graduated to an elite level of education on Thursday, July 19. The school obtained International Baccalaureate status — meaning students can now take classes and earn college credit.

“This is a momentous day for the Milwaukee Public Schools,” said Keith Posley, MPS interim superintendent.

It’s an achievement three years in the making for Pulaski High School.

“And our young people can gain college credits and go off to the universities and may not have to take as many classes when it comes to the freshman year,” said Posley.

Of those students who looks to benefit from being able to take college courses in high school is Jeremiah Baez.

“I want to go to college and study business,” said Baez.

Baez said being able to earn college credit doesn’t just mean getting ahead in school, but also saving a lot money.

“Kids are going to want to go to class. They’re going to want to learn. It’s going to be more difficult on us, but I think we’re all up for the job,” said Baez.

The process of getting accredited has been tedious to say the least, but officials said this level of elite academics will keep Milwaukee Public Schools at the forefront of a quality education.

Read the complete article.

Scholarships for MPS Class of 2018 Exceeds $86 Million

photo from MPS

Milwaukee Public Schools: Milwaukee Public Schools announced another record-breaking amount of scholarship dollars earned by students. The Class of 2018 received an eye-popping total of $86,247,467*  in scholarship offers, shattering last year’s record of $64 million. This is the sixth straight year, dating back to 2012 ($18 million total), that scholarship offers have increased. This year’s class saw nearly 900 students receiving scholarships; that number has increased by more than 200 since 2015. Scholarship dollars for African-American students doubled this year.

“Congratulations to the Class of 2018 for breaking the record for scholarships earned. Hard work and determination allowed our scholarship winners to accomplish this impressive feat. We know our students could not have achieved this result without the support of their parents, families, school counselors, teachers and administrators,” said Dr. Keith Posley, Interim Superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools.

“We always have more work to do to close the achievement gap here in Milwaukee, but something so tangible, and this shows real progress,” Posley said. “This type of work is vital to the success of Milwaukee’s future workforce. Growing scholarships and better preparing all students for success in college, career and life is critical to the future of our city.”

Read the complete article on MPS’s scholarships.

Milwaukee Reagan High School hosts ‘Opportunity Fair’ connects students to jobs

Reagan HS job Fair photo

MilwaukeeNNS.org: For Reagan high school students who are seeking to participate in an internship before graduating, stepping into the workforce just got easier.

Ronald W. Reagan High School, located on the South Side, recently hosted its first Opportunity Fair, an event that exposed students to at least 20 employers, internships and volunteer opportunities. The fair is one way the school helps students build career-related skills.

“Reagan supports students’ career readiness by reinforcing their academic skills, technical skills and employment skills,” said Molly Schuld, science teacher and coordinator of the fair.

Students on Reagan’s International Baccalaureate Career-related program track take a personal and professional skills course, and are encouraged to complete a 120-hour, paid internship related to their career interests. Gabriella Gonzalez, a Reagan junior, recently landed an internship with Aurora Health Care as a dietary aide.

“I’m quite a nerd,” she said, “I’ve always wanted to go into the military to help people. I want to go into medicine.” Gonzalez participated in a program with the Medical College of Wisconsin, where she dissected a heart and an eyeball, and is coordinating a blood drive later this semester. She explained that students must have the drive to pursue their career interests, but Reagan makes it easy for students to connect with opportunities.

Read the complete article on the Reagan High School Job Fair.

Milwaukee Public Schools officials celebrate new culinary lab at Washington High School

MPS culinary arts

Fox6Now.com: Some Milwaukee Public Schools students are serving up some tasty dishes in a brand new culinary arts lab.

MPS celebrated the completion of the new lab at Washington High School Thursday, November 16th.

The lab is equipped with commercial-grade equipment so students can learn on the same type of equipment that chefs use.

The principal said getting the new equipment into the building presented some challenges.

“This beautiful, fully-functioning commercial kitchen was brought up four flights of stairs that many of you just walked up, so you can imagine how hard it was for 25 men who struggled to bring up many of the pieces you see in the kitchen,” Angelena Terry, Washington High School principal said.

Read the complete article.

Murals Spark Creativity at MPS

MPS

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: It was the photo of the three kids on a tractor that struck Milwaukee artist Ken Brown.

The combination of youthful joy and mechanical practicality summed up the spirit and aims of Harold S. Vincent High School on Milwaukee’s northwest side.

So, Brown used that photo, and others like it, as inspiration for six panels that were unveiled Friday.

“The students are in these murals,” Brown said of his painted artwork that focuses on six disciplines at the school, from culinary art to animal science.

Brown’s artistic vision is that the murals “empower the students to embrace their career paths.”

The murals helped kick off Arts @ Large programs at Milwaukee Public Schools. Since 2001, the group has helped integrate arts into the classrooms at MPS.

U.S. Bank and the Brewers Community Foundation also participated in the mural effort as MPS launched what it called “The Year of the Arts.”

“We’re going to maximize what we already do and and show off the good things that we do,” said Deb Jolitz, manager of fine arts for MPS.

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MPS students complete high school in Summer Academy

MPS graduation

Milwaukee Public Schools: Milwaukee Public Schools has honored 167 students who completed graduation requirements during summer school and earned the right to wear a cap and gown. This year, MPS put a concentrated effort into summer high school, seeing it as a critical opportunity to ensure students have every chance to graduate and move on to college and career. A summer graduation ceremony recognizing their accomplishments was held July 28 at South Division High School.

This summer, MPS doubled the number of schools offering the summer high school program and included Madison, Obama, Pulaski, Riverside, South Division and Transition High Schools. Intensive outreach to students attracted those who could directly benefit from accelerated or recovery options. Offerings were increased and led to large enrollment and student success.

Students wore their school colors and accepted their diplomas from their own school principals at the large ceremony that was attended by family and friends.

MPS is proud to present these students with diplomas and send them on their personal journeys ready for college and career.

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Milwaukee Public School District To Expand Free Driver’s Education Program

MPS drivers ed

Wisconsin Public Radio: The Milwaukee Public School District is expanding its free driver’s education program to 1,400 students this upcoming school year. All students age 15 ½ to 17 ½ are eligible to participate in the program.

Annie Kubes, coordinator of citywide programs with the district, said today’s students need a valid driver’s license in order to find jobs.

“Seventy-five percent of the job openings in Milwaukee County in 2012 were in the suburbs,” she said. “Most were beyond the bus line so they weren’t necessarily accessible so having a driver’s license is really key in terms of accessing employment.”

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Milwaukee French Immersion principal honored by France

mps_bianchiOnMilwaukee.com: On Tuesday night, Milwaukee French Immersion School Principal Gina Bianchi was honored for her work at this MPS school – which exceeds expectations according to its most recent DPI report card – by the French government.

At a ceremony at the school – located in the former Steuben Junior High at 2360 N. 52nd St. – Bianchi was presented with the Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Academiques (Knight in the Order of the Academic Palms) Tuesday by the French Consulate Denis Quenelle – on behalf of French national education minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem – during the school’s winter concert.

Bianchi has been principal at the school – where she got her start as a teacher – for three years. MFIS was established in 1978 and has been located in a few buildings since. It is the state’s only French immersion school.

According to MPS, The Palmes Academiques is a national order of France for distinguished academic figures in the world of culture and education. The order was established in 1808 by Emperor Napoleon. Bianchi was nominated by Anne Leplae, executive director of Alliance Francaise de Milwaukee, who also is a recipient of the award.

“(Ms. Bianchi’s) passion for French language and culture as well as for teaching is evident as soon as you meet her,” wrote Leplae in her nomination letter.

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MPS Students’ Mobile App Voted National ‘Fan Favorite’

Milwaukee Public Schools: Two Milwaukee Public Schools students studying mobile app development were recognized for their first place finish as a “Fan Favorite” in a national app competition.

North Division High School students Tatiana Loyd and Qiaira Mathews were awarded the MPS Board of Directors Excellence in Education Award for their achievement at the MPS Board meeting Thursday evening. The two North Division students'”Emoji Encouragement” app is one of just two teams voted first place nationwide in the “Fan Favorites” category in the Lenovo Scholars Network competition.

The app is designed to support students battling cancer, sickle cell anemia, depression and other diseases or those with low self-esteem with words of encouragement. The two students stayed after school, worked from home and even came in over spring break to work on the app and accompanying video presentation, according to North Division lead computer science teacher Melissa Menge.

The students earned a tablet and a trip to the National NAF Conference in Orlando from Lenovo and NAF. NAF (formerly the National Academy Foundation) transforms the high school experience by infusing STEM and work-based learning experiences into curriculum to ensure students graduate and are college, career, and future ready. The winning team plans to enter another app in the contest this year and will further develop their mobile app programming skills in the Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles class at North Division. This is the first time this class the College Board as offered this class.

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MPS’ Cooper School recognized for quality by Schools That Can Milwaukee

Fox6Now.com: A Milwaukee Public School is in the national spotlight. Hundreds of students and staff at James Fenimore Cooper School are being recognized for outstanding achievement with an award that comes with new opportunities.

“Cooper has really set us up for success, to be honest, and we’re excited,” said Kayla Jimenez , eighth-grade student.

The K-8 students, teachers and staff are celebrating national recognition as a high-quality school.

“Our boys and girls feel connected. They feel loved. They feel appreciated by all staff members,” said Principal Jennifer Doucette.

On Thursday, September 22nd Cooper was named a member of “Schools That Can Milwaukee” and its national affiliate, “Schools That Can.”

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