West High School Community Computer Lab Opens Gateway to Greatness

Need access to a computer? Not sure how to use PowerPoint? New to the Internet?

Green Bay West High School is opening its doors to the community on the weekends. As part of a service learning program, the Business Co-op and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) will open the doors of West High School’s computer lab to the public starting Saturday, September 24, 2011. Staff and students will be available to assist anyone who is not familiar with computer skills or to learn more about existing computer programs and the Internet. Students fluent in Hmong and Thai will be available to translate for the public.

The computer lab will be open Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. in the West High School media center, located at 966 Shawano Avenue on the following dates: September 24, October 15, November 19, December 17, January 21, February 18, March 17, April 21 and May 19.

Computer users will be subject to the district’s filtering system, so there will not be access to many e-mail accounts or social networking sites.

2011
09/14
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Elmore, Jefferson and Kennedy elementary schools show success in educating students from low-income families

Three district elementary schools are being recognized as Wisconsin Schools of Recognition for their efforts in educating students from low-income families. Elmore, Jefferson, and Kennedy elementary schools all have above-average student achievement on the 2010-11 state reading and mathematics examinations compared to other schools in similarly sized districts, schools, grade configurations, and poverty levels. These schools also met adequate yearly progress for the past two years. This is the second year in a row that Kennedy Elementary School is being recognized as a Wisconsin School of Recognition.

“We are proud of our staff and students! Everyone has been working very hard to ensure all children succeed,” said Dr. Michelle Langenfeld, superintendent of schools and learning. “While we recognize we still have a lot of work to do and we are committed to raising student achievement, this celebration is a great way to kick off the school year.”

The 2011-12 Wisconsin School of Recognition awards go to schools that have some of the highest poverty rates in the state based on free and reduced-price school lunch data. Principals from Elmore, Jefferson and Kennedy will receive a plaque at an October 12 awards ceremony at the State Capitol and $5,000 for use by each school. Congrats students and staff!

2011
09/02
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Superintendent’s Welcome Back Message to Teachers

School starts Thursday, September 1, but teachers will have already been in school for almost a week! To save valuable work time, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Langenfeld chose to do a podcast of this year’s welcome back message, and personally visit each school while teachers are working to get ready for the school year. Staff is giving the podcast a big “thumbs up!”

Green Bay Education Association President Toni Lardinois, and School Board President Jean Marsch help kick off the new school year with their own welcome back messages. The song, We’re All in This Together, performed by Katie Herzig and written by Paul Brown, is used with permission of both artists. The song can be found on iTunes on the Ten Out of Tenn album.

2011
08/30
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Welcome to the 2011-12 school year!

I want to personally thank you for entrusting us with your children as we begin the new school year.  Staff has been working hard over the summer in preparation for the return of students.  Many have participated in professional learning through the summer months to learn new programming to better meet the needs of our students.  Others have done extensive work for the roll out of our new student information system. To improve customer service, we now have centralized registration at the Downtown District Office on Broadway for new families – providing one-stop shopping and shortening the amount of time it would take to register multiple children in different schools. 
 
West High School is ready to open officially as our International Baccalaureate High School.  Green Bay’s first Institute for the Fine Arts proudly opens at East High School. The John Dewey Academy of Learning is on schedule to welcome the charter school’s first group of students.  And our facilities look outstanding, thanks to the hard work of many staff members.  We stand proud and ready to embrace the new school year.
 
I have enjoyed my short time in Green Bay and I am looking forward to partnering with you as we work to achieve success for all of our children.  Please let me know if you have questions, comments, suggestions, or concerns.  We are here for you and the children of Green Bay!
 
Sincerely,
 
Dr. Michelle Langenfeld
2011
08/29
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Green Bay School District to Switch Early Release Days for Packers’ Home Opener

Along with the Ashwaubenon School District, the Green Bay Area Public School District will be switching its early release professional learning day from Friday, September 9 to Thursday, September 8 to accommodate the Packers’ home opener events. With this switch, Thursday, September 8 will be the early release day; Friday, September 9 will be a regular school day.

 With the anticipation of thousands participating in home opener events starting at 10:00 a.m., a free concert, and the game, the district is concerned with student safety and transportation. Law enforcement has also advised the district that major roadways around Lambeau Field will be closed.

 There will be no afternoon 4-year-old kindergarten, Head Start, or early childhood programs on Thursday, September 8. Co-curricular activities will be held at the discretion of the coaches and advisors.

 “Our primary concern is for the safety of students in the Lambeau-area neighborhoods. With the scheduled festivities, streets shut down, fans and concert-goers finding parking and tailgating, we want to ensure our students are not put in any unsafe situations,” said Michelle Langenfeld, superintendent of the Green Bay Area Public School District. “By swapping days, we are minimizing the impact on families and student learning.”

 Dismissal Times

  • Middle Schools: 12:35 p.m.
  • High Schools: 12:50 p.m.
  • Elementary Schools (Grades K-5)
      • If normal start time is 7:57 a.m. – release at 12:30 p.m.
      • If normal start time is 8:12 a.m. – release at 12:45 p.m.
      • If normal start time is 8:27 a.m. – release at 1:00 p.m.
      • If normal start time is 8:57 a.m. – release at 1:30 p.m.
  • Aldo Leopold: 1:00 p.m.
  • Red Smith: grades 6-8: 12:35 p.m., grades K-5: 12:25 p.m.
2011
08/26
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Former English Language Learners Show Academic Success

 With approximately 40 native languages spoken in the Green Bay Area Public School District, staff focus on many students’ English language development in academic areas. English Language Learners (ELL) are categorized into six levels, with level 1 as the lowest English language proficiency and level 6 as the highest. Level 6 students are students who have received ELL services in the past, but are considered English proficient and are exited out of the program.

As part of the district’s ongoing assessment to improve student achievement, staff was pleased to find that of the 465 Level 6 ELL students in grades 3-8 and 10 who took the WKCE state examination, a very significant majority were assessed proficient or advanced in reading and math. In reading, 100 percent of students in grades 3, 4, 5, and 7 scored proficient or advanced; in math, 100 percent of students in grade 3 scored proficient or advanced.

Table 1: Reading Proficiency

 

 

Grade

 

Proficient

 

Advanced

Proficient and Advanced

 

Total Students

%

N

%

N

%

N

3

0.0%

0

100.0%

8

100.0%

8

8

4

35.9%

14

64.1%

25

100.0%

39

39

5

45.9%

28

54.1%

33

100.0%

61

61

6

52.7%

49

46.2%

43

98.9%

92

93

7

45.3%

29

54.7%

35

100.0%

64

64

8

32.9%

25

64.5%

49

97.4%

74

76

10

44.4%

55

42.7%

53

87.1%

108

124

N=Number of Students


 Table 2: Math Proficiency

 

 

Grade

 

Proficient

 

Advanced

Proficient and Advanced

 

Total Students

%

N

%

N

%

N

3

25.0%

2

75.0%

6

100.0%

8

8

4

43.6%

17

53.8%

21

97.4%

38

39

5

29.5%

18

65.6%

40

95.1%

58

61

6

33.3%

31

65.6%

61

98.9%

92

93

7

57.8%

37

37.5%

24

95.3%

61

64

8

42.7%

32

52.0%

39

94.7%

71

75

10

71.0%

88

15.3%

19

86.3%

107

124

N=Number of Students

Research shows that it generally takes five to as many as ten years to become fully English proficient. Because of time needed for students to acquire academic English, there are fewer level 6 ELLs in the early grades. Students who are proficient and literate in their first language generally exit the ELL program earlier. The district’s bilingual program has been focusing on the development of literacy in Spanish, resulting in more ELL students exiting the program in 4th and 5th grade, after five to six years in the ELL program.

 “The programs and structures we have in place have produced very positive results for our ELL students,” said Julie Seefeldt, Director of English Language Learner Programs. “We anticipate seeing continued positive academic growth for these students.”

2011
08/24
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Green Bay ACT Above State and National Scores

The ACT composite score of students in the class of 2011 from the Green Bay Area Public School District has remained steady at 22.5 out of a possible 36, above both state and national scores. State scores rose .1 of a point to 22.2 and nationally scores rose .1 of a point to 21.1.

 “While we are pleased that our scores continue to be above the state and the nation, we will be looking at the data further as we are not making the gains we would like to see,” said Michelle Langenfeld, superintendent of schools and learning. “It’s our job as educators to always improve student achievement as we prepare students for college, technical college, and other options.”

The district is at or above the state and national scores, except for English, which is .1 of a point below the state, but still .9 points higher than the national score. This district is a full 1.1 points higher than the state and 2.1 points than the nation in math, and .3 points higher than the state and .4 than the nation in science.

 Class of 2011 ACT Results

  English Math Reading Science Composite
Green Bay 21.5 23.3 22.2 22.6 22.5
State 21.6 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.2
Nation 20.6 21.1 21.3 20.9 21.1

Class of 2010 ACT Results

  English Math Reading Science Composite
Green Bay 21.4 23.3 22.3 22.7 22.5
State 21.5 22.0 22.3 22.2 22.1
Nation 20.5 21.0 21.3 20.9 21.0

How did your high school do? Go to the Wisconsin DPI website to find out.

2011
08/17
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Taking Registration for 8th-11th Graders for the John Dewey Academy for Learning

The John Dewey Academy for Learning (JDAL) is the district’s first charter school, and staff is excited to start off the school year! At JDAL, students take control of a rigorous learning experience through project-based learning, while still meeting the state standards and benchmarks. The school breaks away from tradition in a newly-renovated, open-concept area at St. Peter and Paul School (1420 Harvey Street). Individual classrooms are used for large group instruction. WFRV got a sneak peak of the changes.

JDAL provides students with the opportunity to thrive in a collaborative, interdisciplinary, technology-rich learning environment. Students engage with the world outside the classroom walls through partnerships with local organizations and businesses. They are also responsible of taking ownership of their learning by creating projects that focus on topics relevant to their lives.

Learning will be:

  • Project-based
  • Individualized
  • Active
  • Involved in real-life tasks and challenges
  • Held to the same academic measures as other high schools.

So what will a day at JDAL look like?

Daily Schedule
7:45 AM – 8:30 AM:  Teachers start and have common planning time.
8:30 AM – 8:45 AM:  Students start to arrive and have time to mingle before the start of the day.
8:45 AM-9:15 AM:  Advisory period for students/staff.

  • Mondays are large group
  • Tuesdays-Fridays are small group advisory periods

 9:15-10:00 AM:  Academic block with ALEKS or individual work (seminars)
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM:  Project Based Learning (PBL)

  • Research

 11:30-12:00 PM:  Lunch in café
12:00 PM-2:00 PM:  PBL
2:00-3:00 PM:  Academic Block

  • Literacy circles
  • Writing
  • Workshops
  • SSR

 3:00-3:30 PM:  Reflection time
3:30 PM:        End of school day

If you think your child is a good fit for the John Dewey Academy for Learning or you would like to find out more, call (920) 448-2232 or email gavandenplas@gbaps.org .

2011
08/11
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2010-2011 School Year Filled with Great Achievements

A lot of great things happened in the district last year – but it took compiling the whole list to really get us thinking “Wow!” to the sheer significance of all that was achieved. Congratulations to all the students and staff who worked so hard for their well-deserved recognition!
 
District & Staff Achievements 
  • Beaumont, Chappell, Kennedy and Lincoln Elementary Schools were named Wisconsin Schools of Recognition.
  • Lombardi Middle School was named an Exemplary Middle School and then a Middle School of Excellence by the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators (AWSA).
  • East High School celebrated its 150 Year Anniversary.
  • Eisenhower Elementary School Principal Claudia Orr was one of 55 national educators to receive the prestigious Milken Family Foundation awards.
  • District social worker and homeless advocate Alison Draheim was named “Person of the Year” by the Green Bay Press Gazette.
  • Franklin Middle School teacher Ned Dorff and Eisenhower Elementary School principal Claudia Orr were named to the Chamber of Commerce’s Current Young Professional’s “Future 15.”
  • West High School was authorized as an International Baccalaureate School – Diploma Programme.
  • Howe Elementary School 1st grade teacher Janice Huhtala was named a Golden Apple award winner.
  • Martin Elementary teacher Brian Marchant was a finalist in the NAESP Foundation’s Children’s Book of the Year Award.
  • Beaumont Elementary was one of eight Wisconsin schools nominated to be a 2011 Blue Ribbon School.
  • The district was named to the AP Achievement List by the College Board.
  • Lincoln and Chappell Elementary School’s principal Kris Worden was named winner of WEMTA’s “Award of Excellence” for the use of technology in schools.
  • Lombardi Middle teacher Howard Lodl received a full scholarship to the 2011 Honeywell Educators @ Space Academy.
  • Green Bay Preble High School was named Press Gazette’s Best in the Bay 2011.
  • Patricia Agee-Aguayo, a two-way bilingual teacher at Danz Elementary, received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
Academic & Co-Curricular Achievements 
  • Preble High School’s Show Choir made the top 10 in Parade Magazine’s Best Show Choir in America. They are also one of 100 show choirs selected for the book Sweat, Tears & Jazz Hands (The History of Show Choir from Vaudeville to Glee).
  • Southwest High School’s 2010 grad Jonathon Richardson was named one of two 2010 State AP Scholars from Wisconsin.
  • The highly successful East High School Mock Trial Team finished 6th out of 30 teams from around the world competing in the international Empire Invitational. 
  • Franklin Middle School 7th grader Kang Boa Vang was one of nine national winners of the What Kids Can Do “Where I am From” writing contest.
  • Washington Middle School 8th grader Emmanuael Sanchez was one of 50 national recipients of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Young Scholar Award, providing multiple educational opportunities through Sanchez’s middle and high school years, and potentially covering his college tuition.
  • Four middle school students competed in the state-level geography bee: Spencer Guo (Red Smith), Samuel Schaberg (Lombardi), Roman Zimmerman (Washington), and Justin Bannister (Edison).
  • Southwest High School took 3rd in the State Academic Decathlon.
  • West High School student Hollis Reynolds was named a Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Initiative Scholar.
  • Aldo Leopold student Alexis Cole was featured in the What Kids Can Do book “Crisis & Hope: Youth Turn a Lens on the World.”
  • Southwest High School won six medals at the 15th annual WPS Solar Olympics, tying for 1st.
  • East High School’s Emily McKinney was named to the Press Gazette’s Academic Team.
  • East High School’s Eleanor Sieber placed 2nd in the state at the Wisconsin State Chinese Speech Contest at UW-Madison. Preble High School’s Michael Kraft finished 3rd.
  • The district had three 2011 All-State Scholars: Corey Warren (East), Katherine Huffer (Southwest), and William LaLuzerne (Preble).
  • Preble SKILLS USA teams placed 1st and 2nd at the State Conference Engineering Challenge.
 
Athletic Achievements
  • Southwest girls tennis team finished 2nd in State and were WIAA Sportsmanship Award winners for 2010 Fall Championships.
  • Preble girls golf team were WIAA Regional Champions.
  • Preble golfer Olivia Lindsley was named FRCC Player of the year and made 2nd Team All State.
  • Southwest’s Rachel Allen was named Tennis Player of the Year by the Green Bay Press Gazette, and named 1st Team All-State.
  • Preble/East boys volleyball player Shane Heyrman recieved Honorable Mention All-State honors.
  • Southwest’s Ryan Stachura was named Boy’s Soccer Player of the Year by the Green Bay Press Gazette and FRCC Player of the Year.
  • Preble’s boys soccer team were WIAA Regional Champions.
  • Preble girls cross country team qualified for the WIAA State Cross Country Meet.
  • Southwest Troyettes were state champions in two dance events.
  • Preble wrestler Marshall Pennings was named 2011-2012 FRCC Wrestler of the Year.
  • Southwest hockey player Evan Janssen, of the Green Bay United, was named FRCC Player of the Year in boys hockey and nominated Boys Hockey Player of the Month for January by the Wisconsin Sports Network.
  • The Preble Dance Team took 1st Place in Pom at the National Contest of Champions Competition in Orlando, FL.
  • Preble junior Kenzie Perttu was named FRCC Girls Basketball Player of the Year and voted Wisconsin Sports Network Basketball Player of the Month in February. She has a career high of more than 1,000 points.
  • Preble’s girls basketball team were WIAA Regional Champions.
  • The Preble boys track team won its 20th consecutive WIAA regional title, won their 2nd consecutive State Indoor Track Meet and finished 5th in WIAA State Competition.
  • Southwest’s Matt Freeman was named FRCC Boys Baseball Co-Player of the Year.
  • East’s Mike Fisher won the WIAA Division 1 state title in the high jump with a leap of 6’ 8”. He also won the high jump in the WTFA State Indoor Championships.
  • Preble’s Ben Daniels was named FRCC Boys Track Athlete of the Year andtrack coach Pat Prochnow was named FRCC Boys Track Coach of the Year
  • Preble’s Sierra Valentine was named FRCC Girls Soccer Player of the Year and was a Best of the Rest selection on the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association all-state team.
 
2011
07/20
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New Student Information System to be Up and Running by Early Fall

The school district has been very busy this summer moving the data from the old student system to a better system called Infinite Campus.  

Infinite Campus is the largest American-owned student information system managing more than 4.5 million students in 43 states. Customers include school districts, regional consortia, state departments of education, and the federal government. 

Some of the benefits of Infinite Campus include their user-friendly Parent Portal as well as flexibility. The district is anticipating Infinite Campus to be ready for staff members by mid-August.  The Student Portal should be ready by the start of the school year. Parents will be notified when the Parent Portal is available for sign up after the start of the new school year, but can access information through their child’s Student Portal until then.

Until then, parents will not have access to Parent Connect (the old system). Thank you for your patience as we work through this important transition.

2011
07/18
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