by rsullivan | Jun 6, 2018 | Stand Up for Public Education Blog
DPI: The Greendale High School Marching Band recently received the 2017 Sudler Shield International Marching Band Award. They are one of only two high schools to receive the international award for the small school division. Tom Reifenberg is the director of bands, with Liz Parsons as co-director.
Reifenberg, Parsons, and their students received the award May, 14 during a ceremony with W. Dale Warren, professor of music in the University of Arkansas Department of Music, and Sudler Shield Chairperson. They were recognized for their exemplary teaching, and helping students master complex musical and technical skills.
The purpose of the award is to recognize outstanding marching bands that perform at a world-class level. The award focuses on international standards of excellence for musical performance, choreography, and show design for various types of marching bands. The small high school category was recently created to honor the excellent teaching in schools or programs with fewer than 1,099 students.
Read the complete article.
by rsullivan | Mar 12, 2018 | Stand Up for Public Education Blog
Waukesha Patch: Nine School District of New Berlin students have been selected for recognition by the Wisconsin Affiliate of the National Center for Women & Information Technology organization. Each of these students were endorsed by a member of the district’s technology team.
The following students were selected as a winner of the Wisconsin NCWIT Aspirations in Computing award:
- Naisha Bepar, New Berlin Eisenhower (endorsed by Aaron Chamberlain)
- Emily Cebasek, New Berlin West (endorsed by Aaron Chamberlain)
- Megan Choy, New Berlin Eisenhower (endorsed by Aaron Chamberlain)
- Kayla Kugel, New Berlin West (endorsed by Saghar Homayounpour)
- Anja Schwobe, New Berlin Eisenhower (endorsed by Devin McKinnon)
The following Eisenhower students were endorsed by Aaron Chamberlain and selected as a 2018 honorable mention in the award program: Faith Derengowski, Kate Martino, Melissa Tharaniyil and Emma Torres.
The NCWIT Aspirations in Computing award program recognizes young high school women for their computing-related achievements and interests as part of an effort to encourage more young women to choose careers in technology. Award winners were selected from high schools across Wisconsin for their outstanding aptitude and interest in information technology and computing, solid leadership ability, good academic history, and plans for post-secondary education.
Read the complete article on the NCWIT recognition.
by rsullivan | Feb 5, 2018 | Stand Up for Public Education Blog
Greendale Patch: Greendale’s College Park Elementary School is one of eight public elementary schools in Wisconsin that was nominated for the 2018 National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. District officials say they’re honored, while also an affirmation that goes beyond the numbers.
“I think what College Park and all of our school do very well is celebrate unique nature of every child,”Dr. Gary Kiltz, Greendale School District Superintendent told Patch.com. “College Park celebrates the unique gifts that each student brings, and it carries through … that’s not a challenge for us, it’s an opportunity and a gift. We can learn a lot for each other and it brings a richness to our community.”
Blue Ribbon Schools recognizes schools with some of the highest student academic achievement in the state or those that demonstrate dramatic gains in closing achievement gaps. According to the recent state report card data, College Park is among the top 10 elementary schools in the State of Wisconsin and ranks third of all elementary schools in Milwaukee County.
Read more about College Park Elementary’s nomination for the Blue Ribbon Schools Program.
by rsullivan | Nov 9, 2017 | Stand Up for Public Education Blog
Journal Sentinel: “If you can dream it, you can build it,” is the motto engraved on a sign for the Accelerator Lab at Franklin High School.
The space is filled with multiple 3D printers, a laser engraver, and a variety of students’ creations, from a Pokémon “Diglett” to a glass-etched football trophy, proof that students are taking the motto for the space seriously.
The lab is open for any student at FHS to come and create, and it will eventually be open to the community, as well.
Right now, a group of lab “interns” are becoming experts on all of the technology, funded by the Franklin Public School District and the Franklin Educational Foundation. Once they’ve mastered the devices, the students will be the teachers in the space, showing their peers and even community members how to build what they dream.
“My favorite part is that we’re really allowed to do anything because if we can imagine something and design it in any of the programs, we can actually make it,” said junior Eddie Rabideaux, one of the interns.
Read the complete article on Franklin’s accelerator lab.
by rsullivan | Nov 9, 2017 | Stand Up for Public Education Blog
Journal Sentinel: The School District of New Berlin was recognized for its progress in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education with a “STEMMY” award from the STEM Forward organization.
New Berlin, which received the “Excellence in STEM Award” in the Education category, has for or the past five years, as a part of the district’s strategic plan, been increasing STEM opportunities for all students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
“Our goal was to make sure that all students would graduate with not only strong academic abilities but also technical abilities to make sure that they were prepared for future job opportunities,” said Laura Schmidt, strategic advisor to the superintendent. “When we look at what the future job market needs, we know that STEM needs to be a part of that education that they are receiving.”
Read the complete article on New Berlin’s STEM work.
