2017 Advantage Fall

WLHS

ADVANTAGE FALL 2017 | GRADE SCHOOL PARENT PUBLICATION

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Meet Our New Teachers and Staff

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Wisconsin Parental Choice Program

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Scholarship and Tuition Assistance Packages

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New Co-Curricular– WWW

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ACT Perfection

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Fitting In and Finding Friends

GUIDED BY FAITH. DRIVEN BY EXCELLENCE.

Meet Our New Teachers and Staff

We’re welcoming a number of new faces to our campus.

Cheryl Belott (‘98) joins the World Languages Department as a Spanish teacher. Belott describes her classroom as extremely active with lots of dialog, an emphasis on immersion and an incorporation of technology. “I like to engage students through various stimuli.

Cheryl Belott We might be asking each other questions, standing up and singing a song or making a video. Since students learn in all different ways, I implement a variety of strategies to connect and inspire them.” Belott is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Carroll University.

Tamara Leyrer joins WLHS as the International Student Program coordinator and instructor. Her background includes nine years living in Taipei, Taiwan, and teaching Mandarin Chinese at St. Croix Lutheran High School.

Marc Shambeau joins the WLHS Math Department. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Leadership from Wisconsin Lutheran College.

Marc Shambeau

Emily Jiles

Brian Doebler joins WLHS as a theology teacher. He previously served as pastor in Redding, California, and has years of experience with Spanish language outreach.

Tamara Leyrer Casey Pufahl joins WLHS as a Fine Arts teacher and choir director.

“My goal is to lead students on an advanced music journey and pull the very best out of them.

I like to network and bring new experiences into the classroom to enhance learning. For example, Casey Pufahl we might Skype with a nationally known composer or have a Broadway conductor or musician visit our class.”

Tim McEachern (‘99) joins the Science Department as a biology teacher and department coordinator. McEachern embraces an accelerated pace and utilizes technology to bring his lessons to life, expand on the concepts he’s teaching and give Tim McEachern students more touchpoints with the subject matter. McEachern is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Martin Luther College.

Emily Jiles (‘03) joins WLHS as a guidance counselor. She is a graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran College and earned her master’s degree in School Counseling from Marquette University. Jiles will offer students personal and college counseling and match them with resources to encourage and support their success after high school and in college.

Pastor Doebler Lindsay Knight joins the Science Department, teaching physical science and chemistry.

Lindsay Knight

To schedule a tour of WLHS and visit a specific class, please contact Brad Wetzel, 414-453-4567 ext. 1322 or

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WISCONSIN LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL || Fall 2017

brad.wetzel@wlhs.org.

Wisconsin Parental Choice Program

Some suburban parents may not realize the school choice program is an option for them.

Todd and Dorene (Siverly) Rausch (’92) knew they wanted a Christian high school education for their daughter, Leah, but tuition was an issue since they were dealing with medical bills.

“We needed to find a way to get Leah to Wisco,” says Dorene. “We worked through our finances and talked to the tuition assistance people about what we could afford. Brad (Wetzel) and Mark (Ricke) were so helpful. They followed up with us and emailed information on scholarships we qualified for.”

The Rausches had also heard about the Wisconsin Choice Program so Todd went online and completed the paperwork.

While they were waiting for notification on whether their name had been drawn for WPCP, the family received a package of scholarships and tuition assistance from WLHS. “We’d already made our first payment when we heard we got into Choice,” says Dorene. “It was such a blessing to get that call because Todd had been laid off just a few weeks before. It really showed us that God had a plan.”

Leah, who attended Trinity Lutheran Grade School, Waukesha, is now a busy sophomore who was on the dance team, Agents of Change, Pilot and

Page Turners her freshman year. Through those activities, she met friends right away and felt comfortable from the start.

“Wisco has been wonderful for Leah. I tell so many parents that, if you want your child at Wisco, they’ll really work to make it happen for you. You can trust in the Lord,” says Dorene.

WPCP Details WLHS accepts a WPCP voucher as full tuition.

Families living outside of the City of Milwaukee and Racine Unified School Districts can qualify for WPCP on the basis of their residency and family income.

Parents should apply prior to freshman year. Once a family is accepted, they’re enrolled all four years. (Yearly paperwork and enrollment at the same high school are required.)

Families may apply online annually February 1 - April 20 at https://apps4.dpi. wi.gov/ChoiceParent/. Following the Open Enrollment period, the Department of Public Instruction conducts a random drawing of eligible applications.

For more information on WPCP, contact Brad Wetzel, 414-4534567 ext. 1322 or brad.wetzel@wlhs.org.

GUIDED BY FAITH. DRIVEN BY EXCELLENCE.

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Scholarship and Tuition Assistance Packages For Amy Schultz, WLHS was part of her family. Her mother was a ’63 alum and her niece and nephew graduated from Wisco.

Schultz wanted her son, Brandon, to attend WLHS but, on a single parent income, she couldn’t afford full tuition. However, she was confident there was a way to get him there.

“When I was young, my father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and was on disability during my high school years,” says Schultz. “I remember my parents struggling to afford private school tuition at Shoreland Lutheran. They couldn’t have made it without tuition assistance. When something is important to you, you can’t be afraid to simply ask for help.”

As a freshman, Brandon was awarded the Siebert Lutheran Foundation scholarship. However, the family needed additional assistance the following year because Amy was facing medical bills. She talked to Brad Wetzel in the Admissions Office and the family received tuition assistance in addition to the Siebert scholarship.

“Sometimes people feel there’s a stigma attached to tuition assistance but everyone has their own circumstances,” says Schultz. “The finances can be a struggle. But the four years do go by in a heartbeat.

And perhaps someday I may be in a position to give back or perhaps my son will.”

Brandon, who attended St. Paul Lutheran Grade School, Franklin, is heading into his junior year and loves WLHS. He plays on the baseball team and earned a 3.4 GPA as a sophomore.

“Brandon is a quieter kid but he found his group of friends and is doing well,” says Schultz. “I think the diversity at Wisco is a good thing because kids don’t feel pressure to be a cookie cutter just like everyone else. You can be your own person and that’s OK.”

Tuition assistance and scholarship applications will be available at wlhs.org in early 2018. Please contact Brad Wetzel with any questions, 414-453-4567 ext. 1322, brad.wetzel@wlhs.org.

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WISCONSIN LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL || Fall 2017

New Scholarships, New Blessings WLHS now has nearly 70 annual scholarships. Many are designated for students who have the desire but not the financial resources to attend WLHS. n Roger Wolfgram Memorial Scholarship Awards $2,000 to a student based on financial need. n Ron and Carol Unke Scholarship Awards $1,000 to a student who demonstrates Christian leadership, good character and has financial need. n Larry and Gayle Totsky Scholarship Awards $1,000 to a freshman who has been involved in Lighthouse Youth Center and has financial need.

New Co-curricular – WWW

WWW is not what you might think. It’s not related to computers or the web. It actually stands for Wisco Witnesses in the World and is debuting at WLHS this year.

85% of WLHS students participate in a co-curricular.

Led by Campus Pastor Phil Huebner (’99), WWW is an organization that’s open to all students and encapsulates the activities of Agents of Change and Share the Mission.

“We’d like to involve younger students in mission trips that are closer to home so they can experience the excitement of sharing God’s word and serving others early on in their time at Wisco,” he says.

“Our goal is to activate students in their faith lives and service lives and increase their presence in our local churches and schools. We also want to introduce them to opportunities to serve and witness in the United States and throughout the world,” says Pastor Huebner.

Plans are already in place for the 2017-18 school year and include trips to Atlanta, Austin, Chicago and Detroit, as well as Canada, China, Grenada, Mexico and Thailand.

As part of WWW, Huebner is working to expand the number of mission trips offered each year from a dozen to nearly 20 and also reduce the cost so more students can participate.

WWW students will also be active on the WLHS campus. They’ll mentor international students, serve in a new student ambassador program and look for ways to encourage their fellow students.

WWW is guided by Acts 1:8 – “And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Studies have shown that students who are involved in co-curriculars have higher GPAs and better attendance. They also learn important life skills, such as time management and organization, since they must balance homework with outside activities.

GUIDED BY FAITH. DRIVEN BY EXCELLENCE.

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ACT Perfection

WLHS students make academic news.

Nathan Wranovsky and Elisha Doerr both scored 36s on the ACT.

Last school year, Elisha Doerr and Nathan Wranovsky accomplished a feat that puts them in rare company—both earned perfect scores on the ACT. Approximately two million students take the test annually but less than one-tenth of one percent achieve a 36.

“I took the ACT once before and science was my lowest section,” says Wranovsky. “I had physics with Mr. Greschner and that helped. He’s always pushing you to know more and reach the next level. Plus, he’s a really good example of practicing your faith daily.”

Both boys have taken a number of Advanced Placement (AP) classes at WLHS, including Calculus AB, Calculus BC, US history, psychology and English.

Doerr is also taking AP chemistry.

“Two of my favorite teachers are Mr. Mattek and Mr. Gottschalk because they connect with you and challenge you. I don’t really like math that much but Mr. G is so energetic that he gets you excited about the subject,” says Doerr.

While Doerr and Wranovsky are gifted academically, they’re also well rounded young men who are involved in numerous co-curricular activities.

“Elisha jumped right into the opportunities at Wisco,” says his mom Carrie Doerr. “We moved to Milwaukee his freshman year so the music groups were a great way for him to make friends at a new school.”

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WISCONSIN LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL || Fall 2017

Doerr sings in Inspiration, participates in the Video & Photo Club and is a member of Agents of Change.

He is also co-captain of the WLHS Robotics team, which took second place in programming at the FIRST State Championship this season.

Wranovsky is a talented vocalist, musician and actor.

He is Drum Major of the WLHS Marching Band, plays saxophone in the WLHS Band and Jazz Ensemble, sings in the A Capella Choir, is president of the Drama Club and is a member of Agents of Change.

“I’m really glad we decided to send Nathan and his older brothers to Wisco,” says his mom Amy Wranovsky. “He’s getting it all. Great academics from teachers who are supportive, a great group of friends and a Christian education.”

Both Doerr and Wranovsky have their sights set on attending Martin Luther College to become pastors.

Doerr is also considering applying to Yale, Harvard and MIT.

Advanced Academics at WLHS

• AP Classes

• Project Lead the Way ®

• Dual Credit College Courses

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Credit for 7th and 8th Grade Courses. Qualified retroactive credits allow students to meet their WLHS graduation requirements while freeing up their schedules for additional classes.

Fitting In and Finding Friends

Every day at WLHS, teachers, coaches and staff work to foster a culture of Christian caring, kindness and support.

The transition to high school can be bumpy but John Kiesow from St. Paul Lutheran School, Franklin, and Kallie Berger from Salem Lutheran School, Milwaukee, say the warm, welcoming environment they experienced made the difference.

Acceptance and Autism

John Kiesow, who graduated in May, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder as a junior but didn’t share that with his classmates until the last week of school his senior year.

John Kiesow (‘17)

“Wisco was perfect for me. The four years were my best. Everyone was friendly. I got involved and the teachers were understanding,” he says.

As a freshman, Kiesow joined organizations and groups right away. He wrote for the student newspaper, was part of the Drama Club, played hand bells in Jubilation, was in Chess Club and competed in forensics.

However, Kiesow truly made his mark on WLHS this May when he became “Principal for a Day” and addressed an assembly of 800 students, teachers, coaches and staff. For the first time, he shared his autism diagnosis and talked about how he’d been accepted at WLHS.

Excerpts from John Kiesow’s “Principal for a Day” Speech Howdy wowdy, today I want to talk to you about acceptance. Wisco is very good at accepting people no matter who they are, whether they have a different skin color or are from a different country.

Those two are the most common things when it comes to acceptance but I have one other one for you that does not get discussed too much.

Disabilities. There are people with Down Syndrome, polio, dyslexia and many other different kinds of disabilities. Now you might be wondering why I’m talking to you about disabilities. Well, I have a secret. I have autism. High functioning autism to be exact and you can thank the wonderful guidance counselors here who helped point that out . . .

We have great teachers and staff that know what they are doing and want to help out people and, if someone like me who has autism and learning disabilities, can get through this school and graduate, then I know you can too because God gives us the strength. If I can graduate, so can you!

Knowing No One

Thinking about high school was scary for Kallie Berger. She was the only girl in her class to attend WLHS and she was nervous.

His speech was heartfelt and powerful and it moved teenagers and adults to tears. There was clapping, cheering and a standing ovation, followed by hugs and handshakes.

“I wasn’t nervous to give my talk. I was excited to promote acceptance and create more understanding and awareness about autism,” says Kiesow. “I got notes from teachers afterwards and had to add extra pages to my yearbook because so many kids wanted to sign it.”

“John had no issues at Wisco.

There was no bullying or anything like that. Instead, he found friendly, happy faces,” says mom Sharon Kiesow. “Since it’s a big school, there’s something for everyone. You can find your niche and your friends.”

Stay connected to WLHS!

Kallie Berger (‘19)

“I didn’t know anyone and I didn’t know what I was going to do,” she says.

That summer, she began to meet people and make friends when she tried out for cheerleading and made the squad.

Once the school year started, kids would come up to her in the hall to say hi. She made connections during class and small talk gradually grew into conversations and friendships.

“Even though I was worried at the beginning, I realized everyone was really friendly. There’s Christian love and chapel brings you together every day,” says Berger. “I also realized right away that the teachers really cared. I knew I could go to them if I was having any troubles or needed to talk.”

GUIDED BY FAITH. DRIVEN BY EXCELLENCE.

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GUIDED BY FAITH. DRIVEN BY EXCELLENCE.

330 North Glenview Avenue Milwaukee WI 53213-3379

WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU HERE! WLHS Admissions Opens - Sunday, October 1 WLHS Open House for 6th-8th grade parents and students - Sunday, October 15, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Tuition Assistance & Scholarship Applications available at wlhs.org in early 2018 Student & Parent Tours conducted throughout the year