Wauwatosa West Updates

We will be hosting parent teacher conferences on two dates over the next two weeks. On the morning of October 27th we will be hosting virtual conferences. Parents who prefer that format will be able to schedule conferences with the teachers they select using this form.

On the evening of November 2 we will host an in-person, live format. Those conferences will not be scheduled.

We are working to make the conferences more productive for families. A strong partnership with parents is foundational to student learning. To help you prepare to get the most out of the limited time please consider some of the questions below as you meet with teachers. At West we are working to elevate your voice and be sure that your needs are met and your questions answered when you leave the conferences.

We look forward to welcoming families to West in the coming weeks.

Are you ready to let it go? Join us for The Wisconsin High School Premiere of Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical. We are proud to partner with the Educational Theatre Association, Music Theatre International and Disney Theatrical Group to produce this pilot production. We are grateful to have received this honor, thanks to our talented students and dedicated staff. Click here to get your tickets! We’re ready to take Wauwatosa by (snow)storm! See you in Arendelle! #tosawesttheatre #varsitytheatre #tosawest #tosaproud #UsofFrozen #loveisanopendoor

Enjoy this feature on CBS58 to hear more about our upcoming production.

Principal Golla will be providing a quarterly update during his report at the beginning of the PTA meeting on Tuesday, October 24th at 6:30PM in the Steiner Center adjacent to the library. The report will highlight school data, recent improvement actions and a look ahead to our next steps to realize our vision for West, Where Every Student Thrives.

PTA membership is not required but always encouraged. All are welcome.

The PTA is excited to announce a new spirit wear fundraiser now open for orders!! ALL NEW items

available for order, including Under Armour, Nike, Adidas merchandise, plus flannel pajama pants,

winter hats, and a stadium blanket. Name customization also available on most items, for additional $5

fee.

This is an online store only, for a limited time only. Over 80 items to choose from!! Orders accepted only

through October 30th at midnight, so SHOP NOW! Items will be delivered in time for holiday gift giving.

Pick up orders at Tosa West, date TBD, watch announcements for pick up details. This fundraiser will help support the Wauwatosa West PTA with things like scholarships, teacher appreciation week, graduation reception, and much more. Happy shopping, Trojans!

Each week our College and Career Center hosts college visits from across the country and supports students as they work on materials to take their next step. This week we hosted UW Milwaukee. The admissions team reviewed applications and directly admitted over 20 students for the 2024 term. It was exciting to see our scholars walk out of the office with their acceptance letters in hand. Congratulations to those students and all of our students receiving acceptance letters from across the country in the weeks and months ahead.

The World Travelers Club would like to go to Italy and Greece in Summer 2025, and you’re invited!

We’re excited to tell you more about the trip we’re planning with EF Tours, our educational travel partner. Please be sure to register for this info session on Oct 25th (from 6-7pm in the cafeteria) to be considered for this opportunity: https://bit.ly/3t7lNNz

When students travel, they expand their knowledge of the world around them, discover more about themselves, and grow more confident. These skills are critical for creating the global citizens of tomorrow, and we would love to have your student join us on this adventure.

In this info session, we’ll talk about:

· How this opportunity will benefit your student

· What we’ll see and do on our trip

· Everything that’s included in this experience

· How your child can earn academic credit

· How we’re keeping this safe and affordable

· How to enroll on this trip (before it fills up!) during EF’s risk-free enrollment period

There are limited spots on this trip, so we would love to have you attend this meeting to learn more about this exciting opportunity!

We are fortunate to have exceptional student leaders at West that would be great candidates for the Senate Scholar Program.

The Senate Scholar Program is an intensive week-long educational program offered by the Wisconsin State Senate. Admission to the program is highly competitive and is limited to 33 academically exceptional high school juniors and seniors from around Wisconsin. Each Senate Scholar receives a hands-on, up-close view of the Legislature’s role in our democracy.

Senate Scholars gain experience in such diverse areas as policy development, constituent relations, and processing legislation by working with Senators, legislative staff and University of Wisconsin faculty. Interested students should click here to learn more and submit an application. Applications are due by November 17, 2023.

The Division of Pupil + Family Supports is pleased to provide Monthly Parent Professional Learning opportunities through the Wauwatosa School District Parent University. Please join the October session titled Building Inclusive Communities: Empowering Parents for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility. This workshop will provide families of students with a transformative experience designed to provide the knowledge, skills, and tools to champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within their communities and beyond. Please join us on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 from 6-7 p.m. at the Fisher Administration Building (12121 W. North Avenue, Conference Room B), where you can engage in a hands-on workshop that will enhance your ability to support your child’s educational journey. Please RSVP by completing this form.

Students at West are fortunate to have a wide range of opportunities to take a college level course in high school. Many see this all the way through to the exam at the end of the term. As seen in the table below we see more students accepting that challenge every year. By choosing to take an AP exam at the conclusion of a course, students could potentially earn college credit depending on the score they receive and their university of choice. If a student elects not to take an AP exam, this will have no bearing on their final grade for their AP class. AP (Advanced Placement) exams are completely voluntary and are not required. That said, students are encouraged to embrace the challenge of the exam to better prepare them for college if they choose to pursue that route.

Wauwatosa is one of only a few districts that require an AP experience. All sophomores are required to take AP Human Geography. While we don't expect all students to proceed to college after graduation it is our goal to make that option available by engaging and supporting all students in rigorous coursework. New this year, the Wauwatosa School District will pay for the exam for any student in AP Human Geography that chooses to register for the exam. I am proud to work in a school that committed to removing barriers to success.

The deadline for registering for the AP exams is approaching. Brand new this year, the Wauwatosa School District has decided to use Total Registration for all AP exam registration and payments. By using this site, schools will no longer require a paper registration form to be collected.

Exam registration will be completed online and will begin today, September 27, 2023. Friday November 3, 2023 is the deadline to make either the $40 per exam deposit payment or full payment. All final AP payments will be due by the Friday, March 1, 2024 deadline. More detailed information has been sent directly to students that are presently enrolled in AP courses.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Bret Harttert at hartterbr@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us after October 9, 2023

You can see all district updates here.