WLHS
ADVANTAGE SPRING 2018 | GRADE SCHOOL PARENT PUBLICATION
Wisco Kids performing at the WLHS Dinner Auction
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Meet Science Teacher Lindsay Knight
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Tuition Assistance Resources
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A Path to Teaching and Preaching
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College Bound
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Apprenticeship Opportunities
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Viking Explorer Camps
GUIDED BY FAITH. DRIVEN BY EXCELLENCE.
Meet Science Teacher Lindsay Knight
She may be new to WLHS but, in just nine short months, Lindsay Knight has already made quite an impression on her students. “At first, I didn’t think I’d like Chemistry but now it’s one of my favorite subjects,” says sophomore Kaitlyn Laabs from Trinity Lutheran School, Waukesha. “Mrs. Knight explains things so well. She gets us involved and makes class fun.” Lindsay Knight, Science Instructor
Knight teaches Physical Science and Chemistry and has a mix of freshmen, sophomores and juniors.
Knight also likes to give her sophomores and juniors some creative latitude. For a recent assignment, students could decide how they wanted to share their information—as a brochure, in a video, through Google Slides or by writing a paper. “For our element project, we did a five-minute presentation to a small group instead of the whole class so it was a lot less intimidating,” says freshman Joe Mastopietro from Good Shepherd Lutheran School, West Allis. “She’s one of my favorite teachers because you can tell she loves teaching and cares so much about her students.”
“My approach is based on active learning. I like to get the kids up and out of their desks and engaged with the subject matter,” says Knight. “Studies show that active learning increases retention, critical thinking and student enthusiasm for the subject.” To do that, Knight utilizes partner, small group and station work. “I start by teaching a brief lesson. After that, I break them into teams and assign a problem they must discuss and figure out a solution to,” says Knight. “They’ll then return to their individual stations to test out their hypothesis.”
Science Scholarship 2
A $1,000 WLHS Science Department Scholarship is available to juniors and seniors who are interested in pursuing a career in science, engineering or medicine and have a combined 3.5 GPA in math and science courses.
WISCONSIN LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL || Spring 2018
Aquaponics in Action Last summer, in conjunction with Wisconsin Lutheran College, WLHS students traveled to the small village of Mwembezhi in Zambia to build an aquaponics system that produces fresh fish and vegetables.
Tuition Assistance Resources
“We realize tuition can be an obstacle but that’s why I’m here. Call or email me so I can work with you to figure out ways to make WLHS possible for your child.”
Brad Wetzel, director of admissions, 414-453-4567 ext. 1322 or email brad.wetzel@wlhs.org. Scholarships 4 WLHS now has more than 75 annual scholarships. The majority are based on financial need. 4 Scholarships range from $500 to nearly $5,000 and most are available all four years. 4 Scholarship recipients are also eligible for tuition assistance.
Tuition Assistance 4 The amount provided ranges from $500 to $6,000 per student, based on financial need and timing of the student’s application.
Milwaukee and Wisconsin Parental Choice Programs (MPCP and WPCP) 4 4
WLHS participates in two Parental Choice Programs. Students who qualify can have their tuition costs fully or partially covered by a state voucher. For MPCP, students must live in Milwaukee. Students who do not live in the City of Milwaukee or the Racine Unified School District can qualify for WPCP on the basis of their residency and family income.
Tuition Reduction with Scrip 4 Scrip allows current and future WLHS families, and their relatives, to purchase prepaid Scrip cards and accumulate tuition credit. 4 Grocery store and gas station Scrip cards are popular. 4 To register, call 414-453-4567, email scrip@wlhs.org or visit wlhs.org/scrip.
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77% of the student body receive some form of tuition assistance
529 Plans for K-12 Education “Recent changes have expanded 529 savings plans so they now cover K-12 education expenses. Parents, grandparents and other family members can establish a 529 plan at any time. Using a 529 plan to save for a child’s education offers a number of benefits. 4 Earnings in a 529 plan grow federal tax-free and will not be taxed when the money is taken out to pay for education. 4 As of January 1, 2018, tax-free withdrawals may also include up to $10,000 in tuition expenses for private, public or religious elementary and secondary schools (per year, per beneficiary). 4 The state of Wisconsin provides a tax deduction of up to $3,200 per beneficiary for qualified 529 plan contributions. “I talk to many grandparents and oftentimes they’re interested in helping pay for their grandchildren’s Christian education,” says Scott Heins (’89), a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM with Investors Advisory Group. “Wisconsin grandparents can now contribute to a 529 plan for their grandchildren and get a state tax deduction for each beneficiary with proper planning.”
GUIDED BY FAITH. DRIVEN BY EXCELLENCE.
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A Path to Teaching and Preaching
At WLHS, students are surrounded by Christian role models who encourage and inspire them to pursue servant leadership. Pre-Seminary Program Based on his Spanish talents, Donovan Williams plans to be a bilingual pastor and minister to a number of cultures. “My faith grew from daily chapel and religion classes. I took AP courses and fell in love with Spanish. I had teachers with high expectations and took on leadership roles in band.”
“All of my experiences at WLHS seemed to build up to my decision to be a pastor.”—Donovan Williams “Senior year two things happened. I gave chapel as part of National Honor Society and realized I wanted to continue to share God’s word; and then Elizabeth Bergemann (’14) St. John Lutheran School, Lannon
Pastor Fisher shared with me his experience of being a pastor. At that point, everything came together to guide me to MLC.”
Early Childhood Education Thanks to the Advanced Placement (AP) classes she took at WLHS, Elizabeth Bergemann graduated from Martin Luther College (MLC) in just 3½ years and is currently teaching at Lambs of Christ Learning Center in Pewaukee. “So many teachers at WLHS encouraged me to consider MLC—Mr. Schumacher, Mr. Zellmer and Mr. Bowe were especially influential. The real world setting at Wisco is unique and something I really loved. When I got to college, the transition was easy because I had the social and academic skills to do well. I know I’ll need those skills in my teaching career.”
Donovan Williams (’15) Loving Shepherd Lutheran School, Milwaukee 4
WISCONSIN LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL || Spring 2018
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WLHS students are currently attending Martin
Luther College, preparing to pursue a career in the teaching or preaching ministry. Elementary and Secondary Education, Physical Education major During his senior year, Jared Witkowiak used the power of prayer to ask God for guidance on his career decision. He also turned to his basketball
Ari Sanchez (’16) Christ-St. Peter Lutheran School, Milwaukee
and football coaches for advice and insight.
Elementary Education, Spanish minor
“I felt like I could talk to Coach Walz and Whiteside
Jazzmin (’14), at MLC but her path wasn’t always set.
about being a teacher. They both encouraged me and advised me to stay in touch with MLC, talk with current MLC students and tour the campus. Once I visited, I loved it. I’m now focused on how I can help kids grow in their faith.”
Two years ago, Ari Sanchez joined her older sister,
“I didn’t really know what I wanted to do but one day in Christian Life Planning we did an attribute exercise. After class, Mr. Bowe pulled me aside and asked if I ever thought about teaching. It was almost like a flip of the switch when I realized I could have an impact on young lives by being a teacher. I knew that’s the person I wanted to be.”
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Students at WLHS are uniquely
prepared to serve in God’s Kingdom as lay leaders or as pastors and
teachers. To our students, diversity is a normal aspect of life. Thus, living and sharing your faith among those ‘different than me’ is something
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organically engrained in our students Jared Witkowiak (’16) St. Jacobi Lutheran School, Greenfield
from their first to their last day.
—Campus Pastor Phil Huebner (‘99) GUIDED BY FAITH. DRIVEN BY EXCELLENCE.
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College Bound
Sierra Jones from St. John Lutheran School, Wauwatosa, is headed to the college of her choice. The ambitious senior, who plans to become a pediatric neurosurgeon, has been accepted into Marquette University’s College of Health Sciences. She also has the distinction of being one of just 30 students selected for the Health Sciences’ Core Honors program. In addition, through renewable merit scholarships and grant awards, Jones has already covered 90% of her tuition at the highly regarded university.
“I chose to attend WLHS because I knew it had high academic standards,” says Jones. “I also knew Wisco offered a lot of leadership and growth opportunities that would look good on my college application.” Jones has worked hard throughout high school to position herself for college. In addition to taking several AP classes and being president of Plautz Fund, she’s volunteered at Luther Manor for the past two years. The enterprising young woman has also twice shadowed a pediatric neurosurgeon at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. “I know that God is by my side and the plans and paths I made during high school will impact the rest of my life,” says Jones. “I’m confident Wisco has prepared me for college and I’m ready to take that next step.”
ACT Accolades
Sierra Jones was a student speaker at the 2018 WLHS Dinner Auction
More AP Classes Added
For the 2018-19 school year, WLHS will offer two new Advanced Placement (AP) classes—AP Physics and AP Statistics.
AP Physics is a college-level course for students planning to pursue a math or science major.
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By taking all the AP math courses available to them, a WLHS student could enter college with 11-13 math credits, depending on the institution they attend. WISCONSIN LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL || Spring 2018
4 The top quarter of the current WLHS senior class averaged a 28 on their ACT when they took the test last year as juniors. That score places them in the 91st percentile nationally. 4 The top half of the class scored an average of 25.3 (83rd percentile). 4 The top three-quarters of the class averaged 23.1 (70th percentile). Achieving a 23 on the ACT means a student scored in the top third of all test takers nationwide.
Tour Our Campus
To schedule a parent and student visit to WLHS, contact Brad Wetzel, 414-453-4567 ext. 1322 or brad.wetzel@wlhs.org.
Apprenticeship Opportunities
Senior Rafael Cano-Telles is already using what he’s learned at WLHS to further his career.
Rafael Cano-Telles
“As part of Metals class my junior year, we toured Argon Industries. Afterwards, Mr. Hahm helped me get an apprenticeship there,” says Cano-Telles who attended Salem Lutheran School, Milwaukee. “I’ve been at the company ever since and have discovered I love the satisfaction of making things.”
Trade Class Offerings 4 Advanced Metals 4 Advanced Woods 4 Architectural Drafting 1-2 4 Construction Skills 4 Digital Electronics 4 Engineering Design & Development
Cano-Telles started at Argon in July 2017. Since then, he’s been doing MIG and TIG welding and has been a robotic welder operator/loader. He put in 40 hours a week during the summer and then shifted to weekends during the school year.
4 Exploratory Wood/Metal Shop
Cano-Telles’ welding talent can be found throughout WLHS. This fall, he created a t-shirt launcher that was used at a number of football games and he recently repaired the school’s hymnal racks.
4 Small Engines
“My teachers have encouraged me all four years,” says Cano-Telles. “Because WLHS has so many choices, I was able to take a number of different classes and figure out my passion.”
4 Youth Apprenticeship
4 Introduction to Engineering Design 4 Metal Shop 2, Metal Shop 3 4 Principles of Engineering
4 Technical Drafting 4 Wood 2, Wood 3
Hands-on Learning
This spring, the Construction Skills class is building two sheds from the ground up at two job sites. “The students get real-life experience in the field— from framing roof trusses to installing windows, doors and shingles. It’s invaluable learning that introduces them to potential careers in the trades,” says teacher Joel Radue.
Mini Woodworkers
A group of students from Mount Lebanon Lutheran School, Milwaukee, recently joined a Wood 2 class at WLHS. The 6th-8th graders used the school’s CNC machine to make name plaques and then routed and sanded their pieces to finish them off.
Stay connected to WLHS!
l, GUIDED BY FAITH. DRIVEN BY EXCELLENCE.
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GUIDED BY FAITH. DRIVEN BY EXCELLENCE.
330 North Glenview Avenue Milwaukee WI 53213-3379
What are you doing this summer?
Sign up for camps that include: sports, robotics, theater and more! Information and registration available at www.wlhs.org/explorers.