Tag Archives: Region 15

Franklin school specialist is ‘Making IT Happen’ with technology

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Franklin Now: District Technology Integration Specialist Chad Kafka was recognized by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) at its national convention as an outstanding leader and educator for “Making IT Happen.”

Kafka was one of two Wisconsin educators who received the “Making IT Happen” award, which “honors outstanding educators and leaders who demonstrate extraordinary commitment, leadership, courage and persistence in improving digital learning opportunities for students,” according to the ISTE’s website.

“The thing I’m happy about is that the award not only recognizes my work, but also Franklin as a leader to bring technology into schools,” Kafka said.

LuAnn Zielinski, Franklin’s district technology supervisor, said that Kafka works in a variety of ways to integrate technology into Franklin schools.

“He’s involved in a lot of things that are ongoing, being that support person for users, helping them learn new stuff and new tools,” Zielinski said. Within the Franklin school system, Kafka helps teachers and students learn how to use new technologies in ways that enhance the school learning experience.

Sussex collaboration develops youth sports complex

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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: The Hamilton School District unveiled its newest sports complex in May, courtesy of a collaboration between Halquist Stone Co. and the Pewaukee Sussex United Soccer Club that has been in the works since 2013.

Halquist Stone donated $200,000 cash as well as $100,000 worth of supplies to the project, and the Pewaukee Sussex United Soccer Club donated $50,000 in soccer equipment. The club will also make an annual donation to help offset the maintenance costs.

Sussex-based Halquist Stone has been in the same location since it was founded by John Halquist in 1929. The company has no plans to move. Instead, it wants to be able to support the community that helped the firm grow, said president and co-owner Bill Halquist.

Bill and his brother, Tom, who is the vice president, co-own the business and are the fourth generation of the family to own the company.

The 14-acre sports complex is complete with nine soccer fields and two softball fields and held a grand opening in May, when it was named the Halquist Youth Complex. The facility is located just south of Hamilton High School.

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Oconomowoc students inspired through Imagine a Day art project

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Lake Country Now: Right before the end of school let out for the summer, Silver Lake Intermediate School’s gifted and talented art students put the finishing touches on an art project they had worked on daily since February.

The multifaceted work is a five-piece mural to be displayed on the exterior west wall of the school and serve as the backdrop for an amphitheater.

The project was made possible through a grant from the Imagine a Day, Courtney Bella Foundation. Eight years ago, Courtney Bella, a fourth grader at Summit Elementary School was killed, along with her mother, Jennifer Bukosky, and her unborn sister, in a tragic automobile accident caused by an intoxicated driver. A few weeks before her death, Courtney wrote a poem entitled “Imagine a Day.”

Within months after the accident, Courtney’s dad, Brad Bella, established the Imagine a Day Foundation to serve as an endowment for creative and performing arts for students in the Oconomowoc Area School District.

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Student-run businesses address manufacturing skills gap

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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Targeting the skills gap in manufacturing, some Wisconsin high schools have launched for-profit businesses that give students experience in areas such as product design and metal fabrication.

One of those student-run businesses is Husty Heavy Manufacturing, at Hustisford High School, which is gearing up to do work for area companies.

The projects could be something simple like cutting, grinding and sanding metal parts for a manufacturer. However, the work also could include creating custom products using 3-D printers.

Either way, students will gain valuable experience on the shop floor. They also will work with engineers and other business professionals.

It’s about “relevance to manufacturing,” said David Jasperson, a Hustisford High School technology education teacher and the adviser to Husty Heavy Manufacturing.

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Ozaukee youth apprenticeship program thrives

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Ozaukee Press: The Ozaukee Youth Apprenticeship program has been going strong in Ozaukee County high schools for two decades, which organizers say is an indication of how intent local students are at leaving school job-ready.

A recognition ceremony and reception was held Wednesday, May 18, at the Cedarburg Cultural Center for the 30 area students enrolled in the program this year and their mentors.

The apprenticeship program is coordinated through a consortium of five local school districts with support from Ozaukee Economic Development and Wisconsin Workforce Development.

John Higgins of Port Washington High School is the consortium coordinator.

“Youth Apprenticeship integrates school-based and work-based learning to instruct students in employability and occupational skills defined by Wisconsin industries,” Higgins said.

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Wauwatosa school libraries gear up for fall introduction of ‘makerspaces’

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Wauwatosa Now: About 15 sixth-grade students in Longfellow Middle School library gathered around blob-shaped tables and sat on bright blue and green chairs during their lunch period Tuesday, May 24.

The library, which was renovated before the beginning of the current school year to include extra space, new furniture and deep blue shelves stocking hundreds of books, is about to get another new addition come this fall, said librarian Tracy Eccles.

Thanks to a $17,200 grant from the Education Foundation of Wauwatosa, every school library in the Wauwatosa School District will be equipped with a “makerspace” for the 2016-17 school year. The innovative spaces give students access to materials and supplies that foster creativity, Eccles said. Through the spaces, students can inquire, create, collaborate, tinker, mentor, experiment, invent and solve problems.

Makerspaces are popping up around the country, said Eccles, and devoting areas of libraries to the cause is part of a greater push across the education system for group work and project-based learning.

“It gives them opportunities outside of the traditional classroom,” Eccles said of makerspaces. “It’s free and available to every child.”

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Oconomowoc High School Wind Symphony selected to perform at prestigious national concert

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Lake Country Now: The Oconomowoc High School Wind Symphony is one of just 18 high school groups from across the United States that have been selected to perform at the 2016 Music for All National Concert Festival next week in Indianapolis.

Headed by OHS Band Director Michael Krofta. the symphony will perform at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 11, at Clowes Concert Hall on the Butler University Campus. Josh Barker, student teacher from Carroll University, will join the group. The festival runs from Thursday, March 10, through Saturday, March 12.

The festival is the biggest gathering of high school bands. It is considered to be a great honor to be selected. With the launch of the festival in 1992, it has attempted to offer powerful experiences for young musicians.

“This is really huge for us, as we will be representing our school district, high school, music program, community and the state of Wisconsin,” Krofta said.

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Elmbrook student with Down Syndrome aims for independence

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Brookfield Now: A Brookfield woman is not letting Down Syndrome dictate her life.

Kathryn Burish, 19, has made it her goal to achieve independence. In the last year, she has made plenty of strides toward that goal, including employment at the Bluemound Road Noodles & Co. restaurant.

“I like doing the salad prep and cutting up chicken,” Kathryn said. “And I really like hollering out the orders.”

Kathryn works on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays as well as some Wednesdays. She has had other jobs in the past, but her time at Noodles is her first paying job.

Kathryn’s mother, Julie, credits the Elmbrook School District with providing helpful programs for her daughter and other students with special needs.

“Part of their mission is to make all students successful in life,” Julie said. “Kathryn wants to have a job. She wants to have a good life. She doesn’t want any handouts, she wants to be successful.”

Elmbrook has a program called Project STRIVE which accepts young adults with disabilities between the ages of 19 tand 21.

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More MPS students taking college-level AP, IB courses

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The number of Milwaukee Public Schools high school students enrolled in college-level Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme courses continues to grow, with the number at more than 4,000 for the current 2015-16 school year, according to a report presented to the Milwaukee Board of School Directors this month.

That figure has grown from about 3,200 just two years ago, in the 2013-14 school year.

AP and IB courses help challenge students to achieve and provide the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school.

MPS is home to 20 high schools with Advanced Placement courses, nine schools with middle and high school grades offering pre-Advanced Placement “SpringBoard” coursework and seven schools with International Baccalaureate programs, ranging from elementary school through high school.

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Oconomowoc student project aims to help needy

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Lake Country Now: In the midst of the holiday season, it is fitting to remember that many struggle to meet the most basic needs of their families.

With that in mind, Oconomowoc High School teachers Steve Olson and Mark Jappinen, along with the school’s building trades and engineering students, launched its Build a Home to Feed a Home project.

The goal is to fill the structure with nonperishable food items to donate to the Oconomowoc Food Pantry.

“This is something I saw in a builders magazine and thought our school community could embrace,” Olson explained.

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