News

The Wisco trades fair will take place in the atrium and upper lobby. Individuals from local companies will be here to meet with students and help them learn and explore potential career pathways. Grades 6-12 are invited to attend and meet with WLHS staff in Student Services and our Trade and Technology Department.

This event is a great way for students to build up their ACP by supporting career pathways and career-based learning experiences. Please click here to see all of the WLHS ACP offerings.

Among WLHS' defining characteristics is that we are a Great Commission School. This attribute comes into clear focus when God leads students to the baptismal font. On December 18, six students received the changing water and word sacrament in our daily chapel service and another student received baptism in a private ceremony. We rejoice with these students. Praise God for his gift of this sacrament and for leading them to it.

German 3 & 4 classes took a trip to Chicago's Christkindlmarket, a German outdoor Christmas market. Despite it being one of the coldest days of the week, the group had a lot of fun. Students took the train, tasted traditional German foods, admired the festive decorations, shopped, and enjoyed the ambience.

Christmas spirit extended throughout the school day at WLHS during the month of December. Our annual Spirit of the Season week gave students the chance to don all manner of Christmas pajamas, matching family photo day and Christmas in July outfits, and more. Students and staff participated in the Santa and Grinch game, sipped hot chocolate, and gathered to watch a Christmas movie. Our fine arts department put on several Christmas concerts to enhance the season.

From all of us at Wisconsin Lutheran High School—teachers, staff, and administrators—we wish you a Christmas full of joy, warmth, and time with the people you love most. As you celebrate your favorite traditions, may your hearts be lifted in praise to God for His greatest gift: Jesus, our Savior from sin. Merry Christmas!

Sal Dragotta ('26) and Nalyjah Holmes ('26) took creativity and craftsmanship to the next level in Woods 3 class. Sal constructed a fully functional guitar from scratch and Nalyjah built a Connect Four lawn game. To complete the guitar, Sal meticulously crafted the instrument by combining various types of wood with spare guitar parts. These ambitious projects, guided by teacher Joel Radue, spanned most of the semester, showcasing dedication and artistry in every detail.

The Medical College of Wisconsin hosts several programs that support learners in their academic and professional journeys in medicine and biomedical science, providing opportunities to engage with their institution. Working with students as early as middle school through medical or graduate school, these programs are offered during both the academic year and summer. Click here to learn more and apply for programs in health science and medical career pathways.

Academic and Career Planning is a student-driven, adult supported process WLHS uses to help prepare productive Christian citizens in a diverse world. Please click here to read helpful information regarding how parents can help support career exploration and planning with Xello. 

Limited tickets are now available for the annual “In the Image” fashion show on January 19, 2025 in the WLHS Atrium from 2:00-4:00 p.m. The event, which celebrates women of all ages, presents fashions from a variety of vendors modeled by WLHS students. The show’s culminating activity is awarding the Sharon A. Schoeneck (’79) In the Image Scholarship to a junior female student who has achieved academic success and demonstrated community and volunteer service. Tickets cost $10 for front row seats and $5 for general admission. Visit wlhs.org/image.

The girls basketball team paused from the routine of shooting hoops to bring a little joy into the community. The team visited 3K preschoolers from our conference school at Christ Lutheran Church in Pewaukee to make Christmas ornaments with them. While it started out as a service project, both the teens and the 3-year-olds felt a cheerful connection. "We do projects like this for team building, but the little kids looked up to us and were so excited to see us," said senior varsity basketball player Kenly Frey. "It was lots of fun making ornaments with the kids. They were so sad to see us go, but it was heartwarming. We knew we had made a memorable difference in this small moment," said sophomore varsity basketball player Ronna Kelly.

Our Christmas break officially begins after the school day ends on Friday, December 20, at 12:25 p.m. and lasts through Friday, January 3, 2025. Offices will close at 1:00 p.m. on exam days. Classes resume on Monday, January 6. Enjoy your Christmas vacation!

The art department hosted their first ever Christmas Market at WLHS this year. A variety of homemade items from vendors were on sale to inspire Christmas present ideas. Added to the fun, attendees participated in cookie and ornament maker stations. Students also sold and had their artwork on display. Stay tuned next year for another festive market!

First semester ends on Friday, December 20. Students should check their grades in onCampus (login here) and make sure that all assignments are completed and turned in to their teachers before leaving for Christmas break. Families will be able to see final semester 1 grades in onCampus by the following week. Official updated transcripts will be released the first week of the second semester.

Save the date for the WLHS spring musical production of Singin' in the Rain on February 28-March 2. More than 60 individuals auditioned for roles in this iconic musical. Narrowing the list of talented students was difficult, but we are excited for the downpour of delight from the following cast:

Congratulations to Student Success Center Instructor Kenton Fabian ('17) and his wife, Heaven (Bausley) ('18), on the birth of their baby girl, Amara Elise. We are grateful that mom and baby are both doing well. We ask for God's abundant blessings on their family and look forward to having future Viking Amara in the Class of 2043!

The following is an update on the calls that were received at Wisconsin Lutheran High School:

• Pastor Heath Butler returned his call to serve at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sussex.

WLHS has partnered with CESA 6 for Youth Apprenticeship (YA) to help support Academic and Career Plans (ACPs) for our students. Students who sign up for this program will be assigned a career coach to help onboard, counsel, and support them throughout the program. If you are interested in attending a virtual information session about YA with CESA 6, click here to register.

In addition, for juniors, a recruitment and informational session about YA will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2025, during flex period, with YA Coordinator Ms. Amy Richter. If you have any questions, E-mail Ms. Richter at arichter@cesa6.org or make plans to sign up in your flex account as the date approaches.

Seniors interested in a program that will help them secure a job after high school or help support their future career path can click here to learn more about Wisconsin Registered Apprenticeships. Below are the various career paths available outside of school hours or when you graduate through the Department of Workforce Development. 

- Agriculture
- Construction
- Finance
- Health Care
- Industrial & Manufacturing
- Information Technology (IT)
- Service
- Transportation
- Utilities

Brown Pre-College Programs provide academically motivated high school students the chance to immerse themselves in rigorous academics and the independence  and responsibility of the college experience. 

Brown Pre-College offers students the opportunity to explore a variety of academic interests and fuel their passion for learning at an Ivy League institution that values and respects student voices and is known for embracing independent thinkers. Please click here to learn more and apply!

There are less than three weeks remaining in the first semester. Please look at the number of absences you have accumulated to each class. Students may be dropped if they have more than 10 absences to any particular class, no matter the grade. A reminder that if a student is placed on attendance probation twice in a year, they will be dropped from enrollment.

Everyone is invited to the WLHS Christmas Market on Saturday, December 7, from 12:00-4:00 p.m. in the atrium at WLHS. Handcrafted items such as ornaments, jewelry, canned goods, and more will be for sale. Maker stations for creating your own crafts will also be available.

WLHS sophomore students are required to take both a semester of Speech and Composition classes. This prepares them for the speaking and writing skills needed to finish high school, as well as life skills needed outside of school.

In speech class, students are required to collaborate with their team to problem solve how to stack cups using only rubber bands. This requires careful speaking and listening for teams to be successful. It also helps students learn to trust each other before presenting speeches throughout the semester.

Trade jobs are becoming an attractive choice for students due to technological advancements, shifting economic priorities, and the student debt crisis. Once seen as manual labor with limited growth, many trade professions now offer high-paying, specialized roles and long-term stability. As the cost of four-year colleges rises, students are seeking alternatives that provide quicker, more affordable paths to financial independence. Additionally, trade careers often align with students' strengths and interests in hands-on work, allowing them to develop practical skills and pursue careers that match their personal goals. Please click here to read Xello's "Evolution of Opportunity: Dynamic Careers in the Trades" article to help your family learn about the change happening in our future workforce. 

Xello is the WLHS College, Career, and Life Readiness software students use to prepare for post high school. Students learn about God-given gifts and abilities and the world in which is around them. Through this process, WLHS students are prepared better to serve those around them using their passions and skills. Please click here to view Xello's new series "Future Ready Careers" to learn about how careers in technology are changing the world. Xello also offers a webinar for students and parents to learn more about preparing for careers using technology. Please click here to sign up. 

Giving Tuesday has become a global movement to share generosity. On Tuesday, Wisconsin Lutheran High School saw generous blessings from the Wisco family — many donors gave on just that day. Through their generous support we reached our $10,000 match. We are happy to share that together we raised $21,620 on Giving Tuesday, which is slightly short of our $25,000 goal. If you haven't given already here, there is still time to help us meet our goal, to make Christian education affordable for all our students. Thanks to everyone for their prayers and gifts this holiday season!

Wisconsin Lutheran High School is looking to hire an events and building reservation coordinator. This position oversees all events run by the Mission Advancement Office such the auction, golf outing, fashion show, and more. Duties also include creating building reservations and managing outside group events. For a full job description, click here. Interested candidates should submit a resume to hr@wlhs.org.

On December 3, WLHS students gathered for the second of four assemblies that address topics relevant to the challenges teens face. This quarter's topic was stress and school life. Pastor Huebner led an opening devotion. Student speakers shared their insights and experiences.

Guest speaker, Dr. Rhoda Wolle, Vice President of Organizational Development for the global mission organization Kingdom Workers, addressed our students and shared techniques for recalibrating your brain chemistry to handle stress. Students were encouraged to take notes and participate in discussion and strategy exercises during the presentation.

Your Wisco School Store is fully stocked for the Christmas season. We have dozens of options for Christmas gifts, including hoodies, crewnecks, short and long-sleeve shirts, sweatpants, and headwear. All items are in stock and can be ready for pickup in two days or less.

Wisconsin Lutheran High School is gearing up for Christmas! If you are at Wisco for any of the winter or sacred concerts, or sporting events, stop by our Christmas vignette in the upper lobby, take a picture, and tag Wisco on Facebook or Instagram. We would love to see pictures of our many guests and Wisco supporters!

Our students' safety and spiritual welfare are our chief concerns, and we are grateful to be your partners in directing our youth. Have you ever wondered or talked with your children about their social media presence possibly being at odds with Christian values? Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok are the most frequently used apps among WLHS students. Read on for more information that will help you talk with your student and be more aware of their social media activity.

The week of December 9-13, Wisconsin Lutheran students and staff will celebrate Spirit of the Season Week. To bring Christmas cheer to the Wisco family, our Student Council will decorate the halls and plan a number of events, activities, and dress-up days. Read on for more details of the Christmas magic we're bringing to our school building next week:

InspireWI is a digital platform WLHS offers to students for career or work-based learning experiences. Click here to learn more about how students can utilize InspireWI and access the state’s broad network of resources to be career ready. Please note at this time WLHS students only have access the virtual library. Please click here to learn how to register.

For the 2025-26 school year, WLHS is excited to add five new classes in various departments that enhance student Academic and Career Plans (ACP). These new courses support both college and career preparation.

WCTC will be hosting high school students to help prepare them to take the ACT college entrance exam. Students will improve study skills through increased reading and memory skills, listening, note taking techniques, vocabulary growth and other test taking skills. Students will learn strategies and review aspects of the ACT including math, reading, writing, science reasoning, and grammar. Please click here to learn more and apply. 

A reminder that every student has access to ACT, SAT, and Financial Literacy Support through Method Learning in their Xello accounts at all times free of cost!

WLHS partners with many colleges or universities throughout the area or region. Providing student's many dual credit opportunities allows a tailored fit for every Academic and Career Plan. The variety of institutions and programs available to our students is strategic providing access to the right courses and experiences that align with our Career Pathways. This month we are highlighting Milwaukee Area Technical College offerings through WLHS. Please click here to learn more about the Start College Now program with MATC. 

Click here to read the first issue of Pilot, Wisco's school newspaper, for the 2024-25 school year. Get to know more about our new staff, fall fashion trends, 2024 Homecoming, top fall movies to watch, and so much more.

The countdown is on for Giving Tuesday on December 3. We can't wait to have you join us for this national day of giving back. Be sure to follow WLHS on social media #givingstuesday2024. Watch for E-mails and videos, and share Wisco Giving Tuesday with your family and friends.

With nearly 200 attendees, the International Fair was a highlight of our International Education Week celebration! More than 20 different countries and ethnic groups were represented with displays, music, and delicious food. Congratulations to Malawi for being voted favorite food of the night (chicken with nsima porridge, banana cake, and tea). China (dumplings) and Japan (Japanese curry) were tied for second place. And congratulations again to Malawi for being voted favorite display (China and Brazil were next in voting).

The 2024 WLHS Christmas card is an original submission by a student for official WLHS use during the Christmas season. Fine arts student Teagan Oertel ('27) from Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Waukesha created the 2024 design. Of her work she says:

The National Honor Society Christmas committee decorated a tree in Cathedral Square for the season. It is part of the Downtown Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival. The theme of the tree is "Be Still and Know." The committee decorated 300 bulbs with Bible passages and Gospel phrases which they placed on the tree.

Students in Fashion Tech 1 class are making pajama pants (we love pajama pants days at Wisco!), while Fashion Tech 2 students are making a straight skirt with a zipper (girls) and zippered vests (boys). Both fashion technology classes are stitching away to finish these final projects after Thanksgiving break.

The administrators, teachers, and staff at Wisconsin Lutheran High School extend their sincere wishes for a blessed and happy Thanksgiving celebration. "Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods" (Psalm 95:2-3).

In October, ProStart Students were challenged to identify their favorite soup, write up a standard recipe that could be used in a professional kitchen, and then set up a mise en place. Mise en place is a French culinary term which refers to the the organization and preparation that takes place before cooking, such as measuring, cutting, and arranging ingredients. The competition included ProStart students throughout Wisconsin. Congratulations to Serenity Conway ('26) who took first place with her mediterranean chickpea soup creation.

Wisconsin Lutheran High School was excited to host a theatre gathering with area WELS high school students from Winnebago Lutheran Academy and Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School. The group celebrated the bond in theatre arts, enjoyed dinner, and participated in games together. "We look forward to offering these theatre gatherings in the future and building connections between our schools. Sharing our talents with other WELS high school students is a unique blessing. These events help encourage growth in the arts," says Mr. Justin Liepert, a theatre director at WLHS.

In November, members of the National Honor Society collected pledges for a walk-a-thon around the school track to raise money for the school-wide mission project. The 2024-25 project will support the WELS mission church in London and Lutherans for Life. The students raised more than $3,700 in pledges and took many trips around the track. We praise God for our student servant leadership and their willingness to serve their Savior in this way.

The University of Wisconsin has shared with schools throughout the state helpful information for families regarding FAFSA now that the application has opened. Please view the information below for assistance!

The 2025–26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is now available to submit at fafsa.gov. We encourage every eligible student to file the FAFSA® every year they are a student and as early as possible. Even if students believe that they will not qualify for federal financial aid, it's still important to submit one, as many scholarships and grants still require a FAFSA® for consideration. 

Wisco Theatre's one-act play, 100 Things I Never Said to You, performs at the state-level Wisconsin Interscholastic Theatre Festival on Friday, November 22. This is the first time Wisco has participated in this competition and we are excited to support our students on this accomplishment. You can catch an encore of this great performance on Tuesday, November 26, at 7:00 p.m. in the WLHS auditorium. The show runs approximately 35 minutes. Admission is free.

Thirty-three singers from Wisco Kids and One Accord (two co-curricular vocal ensembles at WLHS) participated in the WELS West Regional Choral Fest on November 15-17, at St. Croix Lutheran High School in Minnesota. Nearly 350 high school students from 13 WELS high schools across the country assembled to join their hearts and voices in song! Highlights of the weekend included Friday night's Pops Concert (click here for a recording link), a Sunday morning sing out at Bloomington Lutheran Church, and Sunday's Sacred Concert (click here for a recording link).

In December, Wisconsin Lutheran High School offers three concerts as a way to prepare for and celebrate the Christmas season. Everyone is invited to these free upcoming concerts:

• Thursday, December 5, at 7:00 p.m. – Winter Chamber Ensembles Concert
• Sunday, December 8, at 3:00 p.m. – WLHS Winter Band Concert
• Sunday, December 15, at 7:00 p.m. – Sacred Choral Christmas Concert

All performances will be livestreamed at wlhs.org/livestream.

Thanks to the generosity of WLHS families and friends, we are pleased to offer a variety of scholarships to our current American tuition paying students as well as incoming freshmen. Some scholarships require an application. Awards are granted on the applicant's ability to meet specific criteria. Click here for a list of all available scholarships.

Tuition assistance applications via Blackbaud's Financial Aid Management are available beginning Sunday, December 1. Financial Aid Management parent instructions can be found by clicking here. The initial deadline to apply is December 31, 2024. Families will be notified of their tuition assistance grant and/or scholarship award on their enrollment contract beginning March 1, 2025.

The 2025-26 school year calendar was approved by the WLHS Board of Directors. Access the calendar by clicking here.

Each year, the 7th grade classrooms of our conference Lutheran elementary schools are invited to come and tour WLHS to give these students an inside look at the day-to-day happenings at their high school. More than 600 seventh graders from twenty-three schools visit and participate in our daily worship service, tour the building, and observe various classrooms. We look forward to seeing these future Vikings in the halls of our school as high school students.

Congratulations to the Overwatch team who finished an undefeated season at Northcentral Technical College in Wausau on November 16 to win Wisco's fourth state championship in esports! 43 schools began the season and the top 16 were invited to play in person. After defeating Arrowhead in the first round of the playoffs, the Vikings dispatched teams from Racine and Minneapolis to capture the title. Way to go Wisco!

There will be no school Wednesday through Friday, November 27-29. Offices will be closed those days as well. Classes resume on Monday, December 2, at 7:45 a.m. Enjoy Thanksgiving break!

On November 15, students ate their way through the halls of Wisco feasting on tasty treats made by our staff. More than 20 menu items were offered including cheesy potatoes, Moldy's meatballs, breakfast burritos, churros, root beer floats, snow cones, egg rolls, and so much more. More than $3,000 was raised to support this year's mission projects for the WELS mission church in London and Lutherans for Life.

Small engines class, taught by Mr. Brent Bloomquist, learn the concepts of engines in the classroom and then disassemble and reassemble working engines. One of the benefits of breaking apart an engine is to see how pistons and valves function. For almost 15 years, the engines have been taken apart and put back together, and some of the parts no longer work or need replacement. Student Aaron Kwiatkowski ('26) and his dad, Tim, worked with Briggs and Stratton Corporation to provide 24 new engines for the class, ranging from 5 HP-24HP. We are grateful to the Kwiatkowski family for facilitating this arrangement and to Briggs and Stratton for generously providing these updates.

The Viking-2-Viking program invites WLHS alumni to talk about their careers, insights, and stories with current Wisco students. The November 2024 topic focused on careers in business. Thank you to the event speakers for sharing their insights and wisdom with our students:

• Mark Greschner ('04) - VP, Category Planning Manager - Men's & Kid's at Kohl's Corporate
• Katie Lunow ('18) - Commercial Lines Underwriter at Acuity Insurance

WLHS wrapped up the fall season with a notable number of Woodland All-Conference selections as well as WIAA honors. Congratulations to our student athletes on their accomplishments. It was a successful fall season with all sports contending in the playoffs. A special congratulations to Coaches Blair Schaper and Eric Lueck ('87) for being named Woodland Coach of the Year for Girls Cross Country and Boys Cross Country respectively.

For over 100 years, Carnegie Mellon has offered students unique and hands-on educational programs from the fine arts to technology and everything in between. Through Carnegie Mellon's Pre-College Programs, rising juniors and seniors in high school have the opportunity to experience a world-class education on a beautiful, vibrant college campus. These programs prepare students for their upcoming college experience, help them narrow their career focus, and build critical knowledge and skills. Please click the link above to learn more and apply. 

Veterans Day has a special place in the hearts of the Wisconsin Lutheran High School family. On November 11, student council members served breakfast for service men and women followed by a chapel service and program dedicated to honoring veterans. Staff Sergeant Ricardo Martinez ('91), who has served in three branches of the military and currently serves with the Air National Guard stationed at the 128th Air Refueling Wing in Milwaukee, was the keynote speaker. In his message, Staff Sergeant Martinez shared life lessons from a military Christian, which can be watched here. Pastor Jon Kruschel, pastor at Star of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, gave a spiritual message. Click here for the student-produced video tribute to our staff and student veteran families.

International Education Week is November 18-22 and celebrates the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. WLHS is recognizing this week in several ways! Our chapel lectors and singers will be from various countries with readings and songs in their native language as well as English throughout the week. On Tuesday, November 19, Wisco will host an International Fair from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the atrium and upper lobby for anyone to attend. Various countries and cultural groups will be represented with display boards, music, pictures, and ethnic food.

After chapel on November 8, Campus Pastor Phil Huebner announced the 2025 international mission trip destinations. WLHS students will have the opportunity to travel to Antigua, Columbia, Dominican Republic, United Kingdom, Philippines, Thailand, and Canada. Students will share the gospel through VBS programs, swim camps, English language classes, music camps, and more.

Wisconsin Lutheran High School is looking to hire a full-time director of alumni relations to work in the mission advancement office. This position is responsible for nurturing alumni engagement through volunteering, events, and financial support. Experience in fundraising is a plus. Click here for a full position description. Interested candidates should submit a resume to hr@wlhs.org.

In September, Juniors had their first ACP lesson of the year on potential colleges of interest. Please click here to view notes from the lesson.

The next Junior meetings will take place on November 21, 22, or 25 during study hall. This lesson will focus on career demand. Please click here for an overview of what students can expect at these lessons.

Wisco Kids Show Choir and One Accord will be performing at the 2024 WELS Regional Choral Fest held at St. Croix Lutheran Academy in West Saint Paul, Minn. WLHS joins with thirteen other WELS schools to make up the rest of the regional festival. Choirs will perform a Pops Concert on Friday, November 15, at 7:00 p.m. and a Sacred Concert on Sunday, November 17, at 2:00 p.m. Watch both events through livestream here.

The cast and crew of Peter Pan & Wendy, directed by Ms. Abby Bloomquist ('18), ended a successful run of performances this past weekend that delighted more than 2,000 theatergoers. Special lighting, staffing, and outstanding acting brought the shows together. Thanks to parents, students, our conference grade schools, and everyone who came out to support the show!

Shop the biggest eGift card bonus event of the year through the WLHS Raise Right program. When you buy an eGift card or reloaded gift card, WLHS receives a percentage of your purchase. In addition you can designate a percentage toward a student's tuition, a cash refund, or an additional donation to WLHS. Make your purchase go further and earn on all of your holiday shopping with 175+ bonuses on eGift cards and reloaded gift cards. Click here for ordering information or E-mail raiseright@wlhs.org.

Senior Sydney Vitangcol signed a National Letter of Intent on November 13 to play softball at Division 1 UW-Madison next fall. In addition, she has received scholarships for tuition. Sydney is planning a degree in education for either early childhood teacher or high school math, and coaching. Congrats, Sydney! We're excited to see where God takes you.

Wisco football is one game away from going to state as the Vikings defeated New Berlin West High School to advance to the WIAA Level 4 playoffs. Click here to vote for the Vikings as the WSN team of the week. Voting is open until Thursday, November 14, at 2:00 p.m. Cheer on our team as they take on Catholic Memorial High School at Muskego High School on Friday, November 15 at 6:00 p.m. Tickets must be purchased prior to the game using the link here. Cash will not be accepted at the gate. The game will also be live-streamed here.

Four times this year, Taher, our food service provider at WLHS, will send a traveling chef to our school to provide a special lunch meal for students, interact with the culinary classes, and participate in catering events. This week, Chef Amanda Barnes is at Wisco serving up lemon chicken wings with black sesame rolls and cucumber salad for our students. This fun recipe, inspired from a  trip to Morocco, combines a tangy flavor of lemon with aromatic Moroccan spices.

The following is an update on the calls that were received and extended at WLHS:

• Mrs. Meghan Mache accepted our call as a part-time teacher and coach beginning July 1, 2025.
• Mr. Joey Loescher accepted our call as a full-time instrumental and choral teacher/director in our Fine Arts Department beginning July 1, 2025.

College Goal Wisconsin provides free information and assistance to families completing the FAFSA. College Goal Wisconsin is offering both in-person and virtual FAFSA Completion Events starting in January 2025.
 
To register for a FAFSA Completion Event or to request additional information, please refer to collegegoalwi.org.

For students who are interested in attending a UW university and are unsure of what they want to major in, Go Wisconsin has a great new resource to assist in exploration called MyMajors!

Students are encouraged to complete a free 15-minute MyMajors assessment. They will receive a customized list of majors at UW universities that align with their aptitudes, interests, and personality. Students can also learn more about these majors as well as explore possible career pathways.

Join WRTP | BIG STEP in celebrating National Apprenticeship Week, and jumpstart your career into the skilled trades! Listen to a panel discussion of apprentices sharing their experiences throughout all stages of their apprenticeship journey. Meet and network with area employers, explore the union trades, and hear from those who have traveled the fulfilling pathway to apprenticeship! Whether you're just learning about apprenticeship, or looking to launch a new career, this event is for you! Please click here to learn more and attend. 

The WLHS Contact is a printed publication sent to friends and alumni of our school three times a year. Content includes feature stories, alumni news, event information, and current events. Click here to read the 2024 Fall Contact.

Business and Personal Law students spent a class period to meet via Zoom with Wisco alum Faith Goede ('18). Faith is in her last year of law school at the University of St. Thomas and currently works as a student attorney at the Anoka County Public Defender's Office. Class discussion focused on the path to completing law school, the work of a public defender, and current legal issues within our communities. Faith shared how her experiences at Wisco, including roles in theatre productions, played a big part in preparing her for her future career.

All seniors and their parents received an E-mail on November 6 regarding important graduation information and upcoming dates. Diploma information is due Monday, November 11 and cap and gown orders are due Tuesday, November 12. To read the full communication, click here.

For the first time ever WLHS students participated in the MathSci Bowl, which was held at Concordia University in Chicago. The all-day competition was a fast-paced question and answer tournament focusing on mathematics and science. There was tough competition, with schools coming from as far away as St. Louis. The students displayed great teamwork to capture third place! Our thanks to the teachers that recommended these students who in turn reflected Christ's love through the use of their God-given talents.

WLHS cast and crew are delighted to present the beloved classic Peter Pan & Wendy by Lauren Gunderson, for the 2024 fall drama production. This enchanting retelling of Peter Pan is something you and your family won't want to miss. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday, November 8 and 9 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, November 10 at 1:00 p.m. Purchase tickets here ahead of time for a discounted rate found ONLY online.

Wisconsin Lutheran High School is blessed with many talented musicians and vocalists. Throughout the school year, WLHS choirs and small ensembles participate in our area churches' worship services. Click here for a full schedule for the 2024-25 school year.

Congratulations to Ana Buske ('27) and Reina Ebeling ('28) who ended their cross country seasons strong at the 2024 State meet. In a Division 1 field of 190 runners, Ana finished ninth, becoming just the third girl in school history to medal at the state championship. Her performance was the second-best state time in Wisco history and ranks her as the #3 female sophomore in the state.

When weather or other unexpected events call for school closings, WLHS will make every effort to communicate information by 6:00 a.m. in the following ways: through text message, Wisco app push notifications, E-mail, robocall, our website, and television reports on Channels 4, 6, or 12. WLHS will determine closing status independent of MPS.

On November 4, a representative from Jostens gave a short presentation to the sophomores about class rings and jewelry. Any student can order class jewelry. Information and ring sizers are available at the receptionist window. Click here for more information about Jostens products. For sophomores, the special promotional gift order deadline is Monday, November 18. Use code GWPMETAL to save up to $75. If you have any questions or need assistance with your order, contact our Jostens rep, Ms. Taylor Crandall, at taylor.crandall@jostens.com.

Everyone is invited to the WLHS International Fair on Tuesday, November 19, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the atrium and upper lobby at Wisconsin Lutheran High School. Various countries and cultural groups will be represented with display boards, music, and pictures. Ethnic food will be available. Admittance is $5 and includes 10 food tickets. For $3 you can purchase an additional 10 tickets. Children 3 and under are free. All money raised will go to support WLHS mission trips.

BrightArrow, our Mass Communication Alert System, allows us to share urgent school-related information with our families via E-mail, text, and phone. Tuesday, November 5, a test message was sent out to parents using the BrightArrow texting option. In order to receive text message alerts, you must "opt in," if you have not done so already. The text message is from 79041 or 87569. Reply “YES” to this text message if you wish to receive alerts via text.

On October 2, the Global Leadership Team (GLT) hosted a Halloween event for new international students and their American mentors.

Students who are currently enrolled in an AP course can register now to take the AP exam in May. The cost is $99 per exam and is due to Mr. Biesterfeld in the Students Services Office by Friday, November 15. If you are eligible for the free and reduced lunch program, you will qualify for a discounted test price of $62 for each exam. Note that your payment for the exam must be submitted for your registration to be complete.

Seniors attended an informational meeting with Jostens regarding the ordering of their graduation caps, gowns, and other items on October 29. They received a flyer with ordering information. The deadline to place an order is Tuesday, November 12. All seniors must complete an order for their cap and gown which includes a tassel. Click here for a direct link to the free cap and gown unit. No other items are required for graduation. However, click here for additional graduation items such as announcements, hoodies, decorative tassels, and more.

Sunday, November 3, marks the end of Daylight Savings. Remember to set your clocks back one hour Saturday night. Enjoy the extra time!

Waukesha County Technical College offers Dual Enrollment Academies for the pathways below to support student ACP's and WLHS Career Pathways. Please click here to learn more. 


WCTC will be running open houses in the coming months. Please click here to register and attend!

Students have been participating in some fall group activities. Art Club hosted a pumpkin decorating contest with prizes going to the best painted pumpkins. International students in Honey Creek Dorm enjoyed some outdoor fall fun at the Harvest Festival, a local fair with fall-themed activities like pumpkin bowling and scarecrow making, and lots of autumn treats to try. New international students and their American mentors decorated pumpkins and masks and enjoyed apple and pumpkin pies as their October activity. We love fall!

For the first time in WLHS history, the theatre program participated in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Speech and Dramatic Arts Association (WISDAA) Theatre Festival for one-act plays. After their October 26 performance, the WLHS one-act, 100 Things I Never Said to You by Adam Szymkowicz, has advanced from district to sectionals. Our thanks to WLHS alum Abby Bloomquist ('18) who has done incredible work directing the one-act play and fall play. Congratulations to the following cast and crew members:

Waukesha County Technical College is offering an open house on November 14 from 3-7 PM. Please click here to learn more about the event open to the public. Students and parents can also click here to learn about capstone experiences available during the years at WLHS that we partner with WCTC to enhance Academic and Career Planning.

Congratulations to Mr. Jason Zweifel, our biology and Spanish teacher, and his wife, Liz (Jeske) ('10), on the joyful arrival of their son, Atticus James. Atticus is welcomed by big sister, Isla. We are grateful that both mom and baby are doing well, and we ask for God's abundant blessings on this new family of four.

WLHS is among many partner schools in the All-In Milwaukee program. AIM supports high school seniors through college by helping them complete a degree, graduate with less than $16,000 of student loan debt, and matriculate into the Wisconsin workforce. Over the last 5 years AIM has produced impressive numbers to support Milwaukee, the state, and WLHS alumni. 

- 87% graduation rates in college
- 86% of students graduate debt free
- 87% of students "on track" with 2.5 GPA and 6 years or less to graduate degree
- 87% of students who have secured a job or are pursuing a graduate degree are staying in Wisconsin

We are grateful for this successful program that support our students! If you are interested in learning more about this program please click here.

WLHS partners with many colleges or universities throughout the area or region. Providing student's many dual credit opportunities allows a tailored fit for every Academic and Career Plan. The variety of institutions and programs available to our students is strategic providing access to the right courses and experiences that align with our Career Pathways. This month we are highlighting advanced placement courses at WLHS. These courses are often lead to the end of a pathway or are capstone courses students take on campus to enhance their ACP. Please click here for an overview of AP courses offered on campus.

Please make an effort to attend an AP or Dual Credit informational meeting during the flex period in November if you make plans to request AP and Dual Credit courses. 

On Friday, November 1, from 5:00-7:00 p.m., WLHS Choir Associates will host the annual Brats 'N Bops in the WLHS cafeteria. The performance will feature two co-curricular vocal ensembles: One Accord, a new vocal ensemble at WLHS, at 5:30 p.m. and Wisco Kids at 6:30 p.m. In addition, participate in some fun audience opportunities including a friends and family dance. The "Oktoberfest-"themed dinner performance includes brats/hot dogs with fixings, applesauce, potato salad or chips, soft pretzels, root beer, and tasty desserts on the menu. Tickets are available at the door at $10 for adults and $7 for children 12 & under; all proceeds directly benefit the WLHS choir department.

Sign up to donate at the Wisco Blood Drive here on Wednesday, October 30 or here on Thursday, October 31, held in the atrium at WLHS from 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Sign-ups are open until the day of the drive. Consider donating to save up to three lives with just one donation this fall!

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Culture Month (September 15-October 15), the student body participated in the second annual Hispanic Heritage morning assembly program. Prof. Micah Hernandez ('01) opened the program with a devotion encouraging everyone to celebrate our differences while remembering the most important thing, that we are all one in Christ.

The Viking Marching Band delighted our conference grade school students with a performance at Zeitler Stadium on October 18. More than 300 of our LES grade schoolers attended the field show. An added bonus, the smiles and high fives from future Vikings!

Voting is open for group two of the Midwest Sport & Turf Systems Home Field Pride campaign, which allows fans to vote for the best football field design and construction provided and installed by MWSTS. The winning school receives $1,000 for their school's athletic program. You can vote in the poll here, up to once per day per device. Voting closes Thursday, October 24, at 2:00 p.m. (CST).

WLHS is excited to announce that Jeremiah Alejandro ('26), Ryan Parker ('25), and John Torres-Stewart ('25) are winners of the 2024 National Recognition Program by College Board. College Board connects students to college success and this award is another way to showcase achievements to colleges.

The Career Ready Practices, built on a meta-analysis of over 30 different listings of general professional skills developed by industry and educational institutions, represent the skills needed to succeed in the modern workplace. Advance Career and Technical Education has developed a detailed framework of skills students should learn from younger grades into their career. Please click here to learn more.

Students in Hope Squad provided a tasty breakfast treat to support mental health. On October 23, pancakes were available for purchase with proceeds going towards the teen counseling fund with Christian Family Solutions so more teens can receive counseling services. Thanks to students and staff who supported this event.

Members of the Viking Christian Leaders Academy (VCLA), along with other area-WELS high schools, had a chance to participate in the 2024 Leadership Day at Wisconsin Lutheran College. The keynote speaker was former SEAL team member Chad Williams who gave an inspirational talk on the topic, "Forged by Adversity."

The calling season for teachers runs from October 15 to April 15. WLHS has extended the following calls:

• Mr. Ryan Oertel ('93) accepted the called position of executive director of Mission Advancement and WLHS Foundation. He currently serves as vice president of operations at Wisconsin Lutheran College. Mr. Matt Bilitz, our current executive director, announced that he will be leaving at the end of the calendar year.

As we enter the WIAA playoff season, please be reminded that athletic passes do not apply to playoff games. Tickets will need to be purchased through GoFan, our ticketing app, or follow the link here. 

Join us as we cheer our student athletes on in the following contests:

The official WLHS Viking winter pop-up store is now open and includes new clothing, youth sizes, and non-apparel items with color and logo options! Click here to shop online. The winter pop-up store will be open through Wednesday, November 6, so that families can receive items in time for Christmas gifts. Shipping is offered throughout the United States. However, if you are able to pick up your purchase at Wisconsin Lutheran High School, shipping is FREE. Type in the WLHS address (330 N Glenview Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53213) as your shipping location.
 
Items rotate as these pop-up stores are offered. Take a look, and see what's new.

Congratulations to the boys and girls cross country teams who participated in the 2024 Woodland Conference Championships at Greenfield Park on October 17. The boys team won the Woodland West championship with sophomore Nico Carter leading the team with this First Team All-Conference finish.

There is big news for Career Technical Education (CTE) programs, professionals and the learners they serve! Advance CTE has just released a modernized National Career Clusters® Framework that is intended to be an industry-driven, learner centered, and inclusive roadmap for learners to explore and prepare for good jobs across the entire world of work. The Framework has served as the foundation of CTE programs across the nation for more than two decades, but to meet the rapidly changing world of work and the skills and knowledge learners need to navigate and enter that world required a more modern and dynamic Framework. Below are the new categories that will provide a vision for our future workplace and the counsel we provide students. Please click here for more details including an interactive graphic about each individual career cluster. 

Caring for Communities
- Education
- Health Care and Human Services
- Public Service and Safety 

Building and Moving
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Construction
- Supply Chain and Transportation

Cross Cutting Clusters
- Digital Technology
- Management & Entrepreneurship
- Marketing & Sales

Creating Experiences
- Arts, Entertainment & Design
- Hospitality, Events & Tourism

Cultivating Resources
- Agriculture 
- Energy & Natural Resources

Investing in the Future
- Financial Services

WLHS partners with many colleges or universities throughout the area or region. Providing student's many dual credit opportunities allows a tailored fit for every Academic and Career Plan. The variety of institutions and programs available to our students is strategic providing access to the right courses and experiences that align with our Career Pathways. This coming month we are highlighting Waukesha County Technical College offerings through WLHS. Dual Enrollment Academies (DEA) through WCTC provide students college credit and career-based learning experiences in high demand labor markets. DEA’s are capstone programs students take in their final year(s) at WLHS to complete a pathway program. Please click here to learn more about DEA’s through Waukesha County Technical College. Below are offerings WCTC has for students to obtain college credit through a DEA. 

Students interested in a variety of programs through Marquette University should click here to learn more and apply. These programs are offered in a pre-college format allowing students to help build their ACP in the summer or online during the school year.

In September, Sophomores had their first ACP lesson of the year on work values. Please click here to view notes from the lesson and complete the work values assessment in Xello if you have not already done so. 

The next Sophomore meetings will take place on October 28 or 29 during study hall. This lesson will focus on career and lifestyle costs in addition to completing the Matchmaker Assessment. Please click here for an overview of what students can expect at these lessons.

Did you know that WLHS students have the opportunity to get hands on real world experience through dedicated college and career programs via Career-Based Learning Experiences? CBLEs are key components of a student's Academic and Career Plan to supplement the program of study in a career pathway. WLHS offers a variety of CBLEs which you can view on our main page or reach out to a school counselor for more information.

The 2024 "City of Stars"-themed Homecoming was a spirited week at Wisconsin Lutheran. Students and faculty participated in dress-up days with seniors winning for highest percentage of participation. Senior Tommy Doerr took home the title of Mr. Wisco. Senior girls triumphed over junior girls in powderpuff football. Senior Lucia Santana was crowned homecoming queen at the pep rally. Varsity soccer shined on Friday night at the homecoming game defeating South Milwaukee 6-0. Thank you to all of our faculty, parent, and student volunteers who helped to put on these events.

WLHS will offer informational meetings for students requesting to take an AP or Dual Credit course on campus in the 2025-26 school year. AP and Dual Credit informational meetings will be offered during flex period in November based on the results of this form. These meetings are required for all students requesting an AP or Dual Credit course offered at WLHS in 2025-26. Click here to sign up for the meetings. The form will close on October 27. 

A schedule will be built for you to attend these meetings during November flex periods.

Everyone is invited to the WLHS Fall Fine Arts Showcase on Sunday, October 20, at 3:00 p.m, featuring the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble, Freshman and A Cappella Choirs, String Ensemble, and Wisco Kids Show Choir. The concert will also include a special band and choir collaboration piece called "Sogno di Volare" (The Dream of Flight) by the two-time Grammy-winning composer, Christopher Tin. Join us as our student musicians use their talents to celebrate God's special gift of music! Click here for a livestream link to the concert as well.

There will be no school on Thursday, October 24, and Friday, October 25. WLHS is hosting the Wisconsin Lutheran State Teachers Conference those days. School office hours will be 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Parent-Teacher Consultations are Thursday, October 31, by appointment ONLY through onCampus, between 4:00-9:00 p.m. Scheduling opens up at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 23 until Tuesday, October 29, at 5:00 p.m. You can access your onCampus account here. Go to Resources > Pick A Time to sign up for a time to meet with your student's teachers. Appointments are necessary to avoid scheduling conflicts.

WLHS ProStart 1 and 2 student chefs entered into a virtual culinary competition against other high school ProStart programs throughout Wisconsin. Chefs were challenged to create an original beef burger that would include a vessel, a beef burger, and a homemade topping. Wisco had two student chefs place in the top ten! Serenity Conway ('26) created a Kimchi Portobello Burger topped with gouda cheese, a kimchi bacon jam, and mini cucumbers stuffed between two lightly roasted portobello mushrooms. The team of Brielle Lampkin ('25) and Lexi Tipton ('25) made a Maple Bacon Burger with American cheese and a donut bun topped with a maple bacon glaze. Congratulations to these up and coming culinary stars!

Physical education students at WLHS participate in a variety of net games, which include activities such as large ball volleyball, badminton, eclipse ball (a combination of volleyball, badminton, and tennis), and pickleball. These games focus on the skills of hand-eye coordination, teamwork, and strategy, offering students opportunities for both individual and team-based physical activity.

Students at WLHS joined many schools and businesses throughout Milwaukee and Waukesha County to attend the Experience the Trades Expo hosted by the Waukesha County Business Alliance. This career-based learning experience provides students with an opportunity to enhance their Academic and Career Plan. Participants had the chance to meet industry professionals, discover various career opportunities, and gain insights into the skills needed for success in these fields. WLHS attends the Experience the Trades Expo each year providing students an opportunity to support learning in multiple career pathways. If you would like to see a recap of the event please click here.

Wisconsin Lutheran High School is looking to hire an Attendance Office Assistant. This position is staffed when school is in session. This person is responsible for ensuring that student attendance is properly recorded in the system, speaking with parents regarding student absences, interacting with students and teachers and enforcing attendance policies. If you are interested in this position, please submit a resume to hr@wlhs.org.

In September we had the kickoff of our “funtivities." Funtivities are off-campus trips to different fun or educational activities around the Milwaukee area.

1. Struggle to balance commitments with friends or family.
2. Feel stressed in current friendships or outside relationships.
3. Are seeking ways to manage conflicts that exist within their friend group or family members.

If you would like to join this group, click here to sign up or contact Mrs. Katie Chavez, school counselor, at katie.chavez@wlhs.org.

Students who are currently enrolled in an AP course or plan to take an AP exam in May can register now. The cost is $99 per exam and is due to Mr. Biesterfeld, in the Students Services Office, by Friday, November 15. If you are eligible for the free and reduced lunch program, you will qualify for a discounted test price of $62 for each exam. Please note that your payment for the exam must be submitted for your registration to be complete.

Tickets to the 2024 fall theatre production, Peter Pan and Wendy, are on sale now! Performances will be held on Friday, November 8, at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, November 9, at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, November 10, at 1:00 p.m. Purchase tickets here ahead of time for a discounted rate found ONLY online. Peter Pan & Wendy is a theatrical retelling of the classic children's story that centers on Wendy Darling's adventures in Neverland. Joined with all your favorite Peter Pan characters, this thoroughly modern adventure delivers all the unforgettable thrills, spills, and fairy dust of the beloved children's classic.

Hear from UW representatives about admission, campus updates, upcoming special campus events and more. Representatives will be available to answer any questions regarding admission to these universities. Students and families are encouraged to attend. Registration is required.

UW-Milwaukee offers a number of scholarships for students who choose to stay in the town to attend college here in Milwaukee. Please click here to learn more!

The 2025–26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) form will be available on or before December 1, 2024. Additional information and updates can be found at the Federal Student Aid Financial Aid website: financialaidtoolkit.ed.gov/tk.

For further resources and information regarding scholarships or FASFA please read our news section or scholarship section of the resource board or Xello.

SoFi is pleased to announce the 2024 fall edition of our Preparing for College Webinar Series for high school parents of college-bound students. This three part series will help prepare families with the information, insights and tools necessary to navigate college financing, and get ready to complete the FAFSA. Register for one or all of the upcoming events: The Parent College Prep Guide Tuesday, October 15 7:00 p.m. Breaking Down the Basics of College Financing Tuesday, November 12 7:00 p.m. Figuring Out Your FAFSA® Tuesday, December 03 7:00 p.m.

Xello is a key component of the WLHS Academic and Career Plan (ACP) which helps students become college, career, and life ready. Over the time here on campus students can utilize Xello at any time to build self knowledge, explore options, create a plan, and reassess. Through Xello, students will be empowered to create healthy habits for growth and explore potential vocations to be productive Christian citizens in a diverse world. For additional information regarding the robust features of Xello please view the information below available to your family.

At the pep rally this Friday, October 11, one of these three senior girls will be crowned as the 2024 Homecoming Queen. Pictured (left to right): Lucia Santana, Natalia Berger, and Bella Casey. They will be escorted by Fred Ramsey Jr., Malachi Powell-Guercy, and Emmanuel Stark. 

A rite of passage for every Honors Trigonometry student is learning the unit circle, radians, and numerous other trigonometric concepts. Along with understanding these important trigonometric concepts and skills is then the ability to graph the various trig functions. For many students, achieving this essential graphing skill requires hard work and perseverance.

Honors Trigonometry Instructor Mr. Brad Wetzel ('98) offers his students a bit more motivation. At the end of the graphing unit, he rewards his students with a special "Certified Graphing Expert" certification. These "certified" students receive a sticker for placement on calculators or notebooks as a reminder of their awesome accomplishment.

Join us for the 2024 Homecoming pep rally in Wisco's main gymnasium on Friday, October 11, at 2:18 p.m. The school day will follow the pep rally schedule found here. Classes end at 2:14 p.m. to allow for an all-school pep rally which concludes at 3:00 p.m. Parents are welcome to join us, but be ready for some noise!

Click on activities or dance for more information regarding 2024 Homecoming events.

The midterm of the semester is on Tuesday, October 15. Students should check their onCampus account (login here) and be sure that all assignments are turned in and entered. Midterm progress reports will be available in onCampus under the progress tab of your student's profile. Parent teacher conferences are Thursday, October 31, by appointment only. Sign-up information will be in next week's E-news.

There will be no school on Monday, October 14. Teachers will meet for professional development beginning at 9:00 a.m. School office hours are 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Members of the Fashion Club practiced their merchandising skills by creating displays of clothing for the WLHS Theatre Rummage Sale. They sorted through items slated for the sale and designed looks to encourage buyers to love thrifting and that it can be fashionable to invest in gently used clothing.

Wisconsin Lutheran High School achieved a gold medal in the college credit category of the 2024 Advanced Placement Honor Roll Progress Report. This award reflects the outstanding number of students who scored three or higher on their AP exams. We are incredibly grateful to our dedicated AP teachers and hardworking students, whose commitment and effort played a crucial role in this success. Rigorous AP courses combined with impressive scores prepare our students for future academic endeavors and also allow them to earn valuable college credit.

Xello is a key component of the WLHS Academic and Career Plan (ACP) which helps students become college, career, and life ready. Over the time here on campus students can utilize Xello at any time to build self knowledge, explore options, create a plan, and reassess. Through Xello, students will be empowered to create healthy habits for growth and explore potential vocations to be productive Christian citizens in a diverse world. Below are ways students can engage on their own and lessons delivered throughout the year.

Xello is a key component of the WLHS Academic and Career Plan (ACP) which helps students become college, career, and life ready. Over the time here on campus students can utilize Xello at any time to build self knowledge, explore options, create a plan, and reassess. Through Xello, students will be empowered to create healthy habits for growth and explore potential vocations to be productive Christian citizens in a diverse world. Below are ways students can engage on their own and lessons delivered throughout the year.

Wisconsin Lutheran High School offers a post high school planning night each fall. This year the post high school planning night was on September 18, 2024. The state of Wisconsin also offers post high school planning fairs in the Milwaukee area throughout the year. For families interested in attending these fairs please click here to learn more. These events help students as they develop their Academic and Career Plan.

WLHS was excited to host the grandparents of our senior students on October 1. Grandparents had a chance to tour our building, hear a presentation about our ministry at WLHS, and have lunch with their senior. Registered grandparents of our freshmen, sophomores, and juniors received a card. We look forward to inviting our grandparents here again next year.

Xello is a key component of the WLHS Academic and Career Plan (ACP) which helps students become college, career, and life ready. Over the time here on campus students can utilize Xello at any time to build self knowledge, explore options, create a plan, and reassess. Through Xello, students will be empowered to create healthy habits for growth and explore potential vocations to be productive Christian citizens in a diverse world. Below are ways students can engage on their own and lessons delivered throughout the year.

To commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM), our HHM planning committee has worked with teachers and students to provide glimpses into Hispanic culture. In Spanish classes students are learning about iconic Hispanic figures and gaining an understanding of the way God uses people from all nations and cultures to do his work on earth. The month-long celebration has included decorating our halls, a dinner with Hispanic trivia, paletero (vendor cart) with paleta (flavored popsicles), churro and concha sales, grito contest, and film studies. We will conclude with a schoolwide presentation on October 18.

Join in the fun and get creative with the following dress-up days during Homecoming week:

Monday, October 7
Pajama Day

Tuesday, October 8
Tacky Tourist Day

WLHS continues to provide morning assemblies during the school year about topics that are pertinent to the challenges and opportunities our teens encounter. October 1 was our first of four assemblies, titled Three Things to do with Worry. Seniors Lauren Wigley, Luke Koeller, and Sofia Schroeder shared their struggles with worry and some of their favorite Bible passages that give them comfort. Our main presenter was WLC Campus Pastor Nate Wordell. Pastor Wordell offered three strategies — think, say and do — when obsessing now about what comes later. We take comfort that God is always in control. Click here to watch a recording of the assembly.

Students in Honors Algebra 1 with instructor Mrs. Morgan Lautz took a different approach to learning about data collection. For some hands on learning, students conducted their own surveys among the class to review scatterplots, quantitative and qualitative data, and survey ethics. An added bonus was getting to know more about their peers.

WLHS has redesigned its transcript to communicate students' academic records more efficiently. The new single-page transcript now includes a weighted GPA approved last spring by the Board of Directors to determine class rank for eligibility under The Wisconsin Guarantee. This program automatically accepts students in the top 5% of their class for UW–Madison and all other UW–System schools for students in the top 10% of their class. The weighted GPA is also used to determine academic honors including the class valedictorian, salutatorian, and top 10. The unweighted GPA continues to determine honor roll and eligibility.

We want the meal program at our school to be the best it can be. WLHS food service company, Taher, is asking students and parents to take a brief survey by clicking here. Thank you in advance for taking the time to answer the questions to help Taher better serve our school.

School Counselors recently met with every Junior Theology class to deliver the first of six lessons on how to deal with setbacks and challenges in life. Module 1 focused on The Foundation of Mental Wellness providing scriptural application, basic elements, the particular viewpoint of the individual, and protective factors instilled through learning.

The Resilience Project which is part of the WLHS School Wellness Plan is offered in partnership with Christian Family Solutions who has developed the six part series to assist WELS High Schools. If you would like to learn more, click here or reach out to your child's school counselor.

The first Viking-2-Viking event for the 2024-25 school year was focused on healthcare careers. Viking-2-Viking brings together young alumni professionals with juniors and seniors to talk about life after graduation, career paths, and how to be productive, Christ-centered professionals. WLHS was excited to welcome back the following alumni:

• Bria Wigley ('20) - Registered Nurse at Froedtert Hospital

School Counselors have met with all seniors in a group and individual setting to give counsel and direction regarding the needed steps toward graduation in preparation for college, career and life. Please look for a follow-up email in your student account or linked below regarding helpful follow-up information. If you have any questions please reach out to your counselor.

The Student Success Center (SSC) serves all students as a staffed venue where students can make-up tests, receive academic support and other help. Typically, students attend the SSC during their free periods or they may be assigned there based on academic performance. The SSC is open until 4:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Students must arrive at the SSC located in the library by 3:10 p.m. The SSC will also be open before school on Wednesdays beginning at 7:45 a.m., except the first Wednesday of every month.

Xello is a key component of the WLHS Academic and Career Plan (ACP) which helps students become college, career, and life ready. Over the time here on campus students can utilize Xello at any time to build self knowledge, explore options, create a plan, and reassess. Through Xello, students will be empowered to create healthy habits for growth and explore potential vocations to be productive Christian citizens in a diverse world. Below are ways students can engage on their own and lessons delivered throughout the year.

The University of Notre Dame’s Pre-College Online Program is a great opportunity for students to explore their interests. The format is highly flexible and courses span the fields of business, law, and STEM, and feature dynamic video lessons that allow students to tune in anytime their schedule allows. Click here to learn more and apply.

Calling pickleball players of all ages — new or experienced! Grab a partner and sign up to play at the Wisconsin Lutheran Pickleball Tournament on Saturday, October 19, starting at 9:30 a.m. Play fun pickleball matches, wear your best matching outfits, and compete for the right to be pickleball champion! Cost is $10 per team. Click here to register. For questions, contact jason.goede@wlhs.org.

Honors Biology teacher Mr. McEachern ('99) gave his class the opportunity to test out forensic science. Students used different biochemical indicators to examine foods for the presence of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats to match simulated stomach contents to discover what someone ate at a restaurant. Did the suspect eat pasta at Olive Garden, wings at Buffalo Wild Wings, or pizza at Rocky Rococo's? Stay tuned to find out!

On September 21, 1903, our school's history started when 18 girls entered a gas-lit classroom at Milwaukee Evangelical Lutheran Akademie with a staff consisting of volunteers. Fast forward to 2024 and 121 years later, and we are educating more than 900 co-ed students with a full time faculty of 80+ dedicated teachers. While we celebrate growth and changes at what is now WLHS, we are most grateful for what has stayed the same: a total school program founded on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

To read a more detailed account of our WLHS history, click here.

WLHS homecoming is celebrated the week of October 7-12. Mark your calendars for the following fun activities:

Monday, October 7
Mr. Wisco
7:00 p.m.
WLHS Auditorium
Tickets are $2 for regular seating or $5 for VIP seats.

Click here to vote for WLHS football player Anthony Brown ('26) for the WSN rSchool Jolly Good Football Player of the Week. Voting is open until 2:00 p.m. (CST) on Thursday, September 26. There is no registration or E-mail sign-up to vote. Anthony was nominated based on the great game he had against Whitnall High School.

Congratulations to our Student Success Center Director and Head Girls Basketball Coach Randy Strutz and his wife Christel (Frey) ('11) on the birth last week of their second daughter Ava Louise. Ava joins big sister, Natalie, and represent two-fifths of the future Frey/Strutz basketball team. We are grateful that mom and baby are doing well and ask for God's richest blessings to this new party of four.

Do you have yard work or fall cleaning that needs to get done such as raking, hedge trimming, or window washing? Consider hiring hard-working members of WLHS Student Council for a free-will donation. All money raised will go to the 2024-25 WLHS mission projects for the WELS mission church in London and Lutherans for Life to aid in their mission work. Work days will be held on the following Saturday and Sundays starting October 5 & 6 through October 26 & 27, excluding October 12 & 13. Workers are limited to four hours per project. To request a team, E-mail workdays@wlhs.org and include your name, address, phone number, the work you need accomplished, and the day(s) this work could be completed.

Our Hands for His Service (OHFHS), a year-round fundraising initiative at Wisco, has selected both domestic and international organizations for the 2024-25 school year as the recipients of the money collected. Students will raise money to support church expansion for the WELS mission church in London and also for the WELS-based organization Lutherans for Life.

WLHS is pleased to announce that Conner Poston ('25) has been named a Commended Student in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although Conner will not continue in the 2025 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 students of 1.5 million who entered the 2025 competition by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

New in the 2024-25 school year, students have the opportunity to join The Inklings, a creative writing club. Started by students, the club gives budding writers time together to share their work, offer each other feedback, and potentially publish a collection of the works. The group meets during flex in room 114 and is run by co-presidents Sydney Biebert ('25) and Hope Larabee ('25). Any interested students should contact English Department Coordinator Mrs. Goede, The Inklings advisor, at amy.goede@wlhs.org for more information.

College Planning Presentation

FAFSA Presentation

FAFSA Presentation Video

The theater department is holding a rummage sale on Friday, October 4 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 5, from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. in the atrium at Wisconsin Lutheran High School. Fill a grocery bag for $10 and $5 for subsequent bags. Items include costume pieces, street clothes, shoes, and more!

AP Psychology teacher Mrs. Sarah Bauer taught a lesson on research methods and the importance of replication in experiments. To drive that idea home, students broke into groups and designed a LEGO creation, which they then had to write down instructions to see if another group could replicate their design. The students learned that details matter and how to create precise instructions.

Students interested in attending local fairs in Milwaukee or Kenosha in the month of October with a focus in learning about Christian colleges around the nation should click here to learn more and apply.

Sophomores will participate in essential work value sessions next Monday and Tuesday (9/23-24) during study hall. Led by Director of Student Services, Mr. Davis and school counselors, the sessions will cover navigating high school life and include an assessment to create a personalized Academic and Career Plan. Students will also receive access to Xello, an online tool for ACP. WLHS aims to equip freshmen with the knowledge and resources they need for a successful start. The process is designed to help students confidently manage their high school journey and plan for their futures. All sophomores will be required to complete a Xello Work Values assessment following the lesson in anticipation for the next meeting in November. 

Martin Luther College, the WELS college of ministry will be on campus September 23-24 to meet with students. Look for information coming soon in the daily announcements on how to meet with admissions representatives. If you are interested in learning about all the programs and degrees offered at MLC, click here to learn more.

All students and parents are invited to the WLHS Post High School Planning Night on Wednesday, September 18, from 5:30-8:00 p.m. Event details are below. 

• 5:30 pm: HBCU (Historically Black College or University) Presentation in the atrium
• 6:00-8:00 pm: College Fair in the auxiliary gym
  • Meet representatives from a variety of colleges and universities, including trade and tech schools, two- and four-year institutions, military academies, and fire and police training programs.
• 6:15 pm: College Planning Meeting for juniors and parents in the auditorium
• 7:00 pm: Financial Aid and FAFSA Presentation for seniors and parents in the auditorium (also available via recording after event)

Senior students and staff had the opportunity to grab a beverage from the Better Together Café coffee truck during lunch periods on Friday, September 6, hosted by the WLHS Alumni and Mission Advancement Team. They were able to choose from select coffees, chai teas, and refreshers. Thank you to the Plautz Fund for sponsoring this fun event and Better Together Café for providing the delicious drinks. Seniors had a great time taking a break from the normal school day to fuel their studying.

Students who qualify for free/reduced lunch may apply here to have their classroom and behind-the-wheel driver training for a Class D (Regular) driver license paid for through the Driver Education Grant Program. Students with grants can enroll in any driver education program offered by an authorized driver education provider. The tuition will be paid directly to the Driver Training school. 

Information on all the steps needed to obtain a driver license is available at wisconsindmv.gov/teendriver.

The Future Lawyers Program by Harvard Student Agencies offers a unique learning experience for high school students interested in law. Over 2 weekends, participants will explore essential legal topics, including case analysis, position paper writing, and LSAT preparation, while gaining practical insights into various legal careers. Students interested in this program should click here to learn more and apply. You may also reach out to futureleaders@law.harvard.edu if you have any questions. 

In 2012, Mrs. Katie Chavez completed her Master of Education in school counseling through Concordia University Wisconsin and holds a life-time Wisconsin School Counseling License. Over the past two years, Mrs. Chavez has been taking courses to obtain her Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) certification to further support her work at Wisconsin Lutheran High School (WLHS). She is enrolled in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Bethany Lutheran College for an additional qualification to help those with mental health issues. In the 2024-25 school year, Mrs. Chavez will be completing her LPC certification, with an internship a couple hours a week, at Christian Family Solutions (CFS) in Germantown, Wis.

About 12 months ago, Oliva Hermanson ('24), at that time a student at WLHS, was wishing for a way that teens from across the country could meet around God's Word. While some young people have a variety of options for Bible study, Oliva realized that a lot of teens are isolated in their studies.  After discussions with Campus Pastor Phil Huebner ('99) and with the guidance of WELS ministries, the first National Online Teen Bible Study took place on September 9 with about 125 teens in live study!

Picture retake day is Thursday, September 26, from 7:00 a.m.-noon in the library. If you did not have your picture taken on the original picture day, you must have yours taken on September 26. This is not your school ID photo, but rather your picture that is used for our school yearbook. If you ordered pictures and desire a retake, communicate with our photographer at infocusphotography7@gmail.com. There will be a $10 processing fee to cover printing costs. Return your printed photograph package with cash or check to the photographer on September 26.

To preview your student's photo and place an order, click here. The password is your student's school ID number which can be found in their onCampus account.

Congratulations to seniors Thomas Doerr, Amos Ebeling, and John Torres-Stewart who were recently named semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. As juniors, Thomas, Amos, and John took the PSAT/NMSQT and achieved a qualifying test score. Less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors receive semifinalist status.

Mr. Christopher Bartsch is serving in the role as PK-8 Curriculum Coordinator for the WLHS Conference. This position is funded by our conference schools as well as Wisco. Prior to WLHS, Mr. Bartsch served in various roles at Atonement Lutheran School from 2016-2024 including a social studies teacher, English teacher, dean of academics, assistant principal, and most recently, as principal. He also served at Siloah Lutheran School from 2011-2016 as an instructor and interim principal. Mr. Bartsch is a graduate of Martin Luther College and earned his master's degree from Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC). Currently he is enrolled in a Curriculum and Instruction licensure program at WLC. Mr. Bartsch is married to Megan, and they have two children, Malachi (3) and Gideon (1). The Bartsch family worships at Atonement Lutheran Church.

An E-mail invite was sent to parents on Wednesday, September 11, to set up Xello family accounts. If you have any questions regarding Xello Family, click here or reach out to Xello support at help@xello.world.

WLHS partners with many colleges and universities to provide students dual credit opportunities for individualized Academic and Career Plans (ACP). Martin Luther College is one of our feature partners in dual credit offerings. If you would like to learn more about Martin Luther College, the WELS College of ministry, click here. If you are interested in dual credit opportunities with MLC, click here. Martin Luther College will be on campus at our Post High School Planning Night, September 18 and MLC Admission Days on September 23-24.

Boys in grades 10-12 who are interested in ministry are encouraged to register and attend an event at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in November or February. Please click here for information and registration.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) is curriculum designed to improve completion of school and to prepare students for potential careers in a diverse world. The needed skills and experiences that a CTE area-focused curriculum has cover gaps that the traditional educational model can’t provide. CTE includes a program of study that involves a multi-year sequence of courses that integrates core academic knowledge with technical and occupational knowledge to provide a pathway to post-secondary careers. In addition to preparing students for college and careers, CTE focuses on life readiness including the soft skills needed to be successful after high school. Wisco partners with students to be to be college, career, and life ready.

Students from the WLHS Residential Program enjoyed a weekend of bonding activities during the annual Labor Day weekend camp trip.

This is a great way for freshmen to meet one another as they socialize, play yard games, eat snacks, and cheer on Wisco's football team together.

Date: Thursday, September 12
Where: WLHS Zeitler Stadium
Start Time: 3:15 p.m.
End Time: 5:30 p.m. with the game beginning promptly at 5:30 p.m.
Does this cost anything? Nope! This event is completely free of charge for all freshmen.
Do I need to bring anything? Just yourself and some WLHS freshmen friends.
Please note: This event is for WLHS students only. Do not invite friends from other schools. Thank you!

Exciting changes to senior religion elective classes are happening for the 2024-25 school year! First, elective courses will now be semester-long instead of just a quarter. This new format allows our students to dive deeper into the subjects they are passionate about and foster stronger relationships between students and teachers. Additionally, new classes are being offered and previous classes have been reworked to meet these changes. The current selection of classes includes:

Starting August 1, students can begin applying to the Universities of Wisconsin for the Fall 2025 term! The Universities of Wisconsin Admissions Portal will open for students to submit traditional applications for admission. Students participating in the new Direct Admit Wisconsin will also be able to submit Direct Admit forms using this portal. Reach out to apply@wisconsin.edu if you have any questions.

Mr. Landwehr has joined WLHS as Honey Creek Hall dorm supervisor and Latin teacher. He attended Martin Luther College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Pre-Seminary Studies in 2022 after which he attended Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary to become a pastor. Mr. Landwehr enjoys hunting, fishing, playing basketball, and reading. He and his wife Molly worship at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Milwaukee.

Mr. and Mrs. Skorenkyi are Honey Creek Hall dorm supervisors. Mrs. Abby Skorenkyi is a Bethany Lutheran College graduate and majored in studio art and art education. She is teaching art at Shoreland Lutheran High School and is passionate about painting. Mr. Kostia Skorenkyi is originally from Ukraine. He comes to us from St. Croix Lutheran Academy where he taught religion and coached soccer and wrestling. Mr. Skorenkyi attends Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and is looking forward to his time serving as a pastor. He enjoys weightlifting, snowboarding, skiing, hiking, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Mr. and Mrs. Skorenkyi are members at St. John's Redwood Falls, Minn. Mr. Skorenkyi will be assigned to a church for his Early Field Training.

As part of our peer collaboration time on Wednesdays, faculty meet as a whole group on the first Wednesday of each month for spiritual growth. In our staff bible studies this year, we’ll learn more about the law and the gospel through our study of the book Law and Gospel: Bad News - Good News by Leroy Dobberstein. We’ll study these two main teachings of the Bible and interact with what we’ve learned and apply it to our lives as teachers and leaders. For the application portion, a significant part of our work will come from the book Law and Order in the Classroom, written by our very own President Fisher and Martin Luther College’s Professor Benjamin Clemons.

College Possible is currently accepting applications for the 2024-25 junior class. College Possible is a pre-college program that assists juniors and seniors with ACT preparation, essay writing, completing college and scholarship applications, and understanding financial aid. Students will meet one-two times a week during their free period or after school. Students must meet GPA, academic and financial requirements to be eligible for the program.

Critical Thinkers is a counseling group that focuses on identifying feelings of anxiety and depression and finding strategies to positively cope. School Counselors visit classrooms for a series of workshops designed to grow problem solving skills, resiliency, and mindfulness.

Method Learning provides students with support for the ACT, Digital SAT, and Financial Literacy. Every students has a free Methodize account through their Xello account. For information on how to access Methodize and other dashboard resources on Xello please click here.

At times a student must leave school before 3:00 p.m. When this is necessary, please follow our protocols:

• A  parent or guardian must communicate in advance with one of the following: a signed note, phone call (414-626-4567 is the direct Attendance Office phone line), or email attendance@wlhs.org. Please make every effort to call at least one hour ahead of your student’s departure time.
• Make sure that the contact/emergency information on your child's onCampus record is up to date. Students will not be excused or released from school by anyone other than the parent or guardian listed on their onCampus account.
• Students must stop at the attendance office before leaving school and check-in with attendance when returning back to school from appointments.

WLHS is grateful to partner with Christian Family Solutions (CFS) in their school-based counseling program for another school year. Through this program, Mrs. Diana Migacz and Mrs. Melissa Partl, licensed professional therapists, will be at our school five days a week to meet with students and provide therapy services. If you feel your child could benefit from counseling services, please contact your child’s school counselor for a referral to the program. CFS offers three free therapy sessions to every student.

Please note that there is no school on Monday, September 2. Classes resume on Tuesday, September 3 with A-Day Schedule.

Advanced Placement United States History (APUSH) is historically one of the more difficult of AP classes. Last year, a record number of 70 Wisco students signed up for this challenging course. Students worked extremely hard to prepare for the final exam. APUSH teacher Mr. Moldenhauer agreed to a challenge that if the class could surpass the national pass rate significantly, he would shave his beard. Nationally, 72% of students enrolled in APUSH passed the final exam last year.

Senior pictures for the 2025 Compass yearbook must be submitted by Monday, October 28. Senior parents can recognize their student's milestones and successes with a yearbook ad. The yearbook recognition ads are priced by page size. The due date for yearbook ads is February 13, 2025. Click here for more information regarding senior pictures, farewells, and biographies.

In 2018, we identified ten biblical characteristics that guide and encourage the WLHS family in our walk as disciples of Jesus Christ. We call it “The Wisco Way,” but really, it is our Savior’s way. In addition to weaving these traits into chapel messages and homeroom discussions, we ask students and staff to nominate individuals in any grade who noticeably live these attributes. Each month, one boy and one girl whose actions model that month’s Wisco Way characteristic are acknowledged with a Viking Christian Leaders Award and our thanks for helping us sustain a culture that places a high priority on biblical values. Click here for previous Viking Christian Leaders.

Senior Noah Huebner has been nominated for athlete of the week by helping lead the Vikings to a 35-38 win over New Berlin Eisenhower. Noah turned six touches into 270 yards and three touchdowns. You can vote for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Leafguard Athlete of the Week until 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 31. You don't have to be a subscriber to vote. Votes are limited to one per hour, per device. Click here to vote.

Ms. Alicia Mengel graduated from WLHS in 2019 and is a recent Martin Luther College graduate. She majored in elementary education and instrumental music education. Ms. Mengel was assigned to WLHS to serve as a grade school band director. Aside from making music, she enjoys playing games, outdoor activities, and doing puzzles. Ms. Mengel is a member at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Waukesha.

Congratulations to the students selected to hold positions on the RAC dormitory organization this year.

Hope Squad is a peer-to-peer self-harm and suicide prevention program. Students are nominated by their peers as trustworthy leaders of the student body. Members are trained on the direct and indirect signs of self-harm and suicide ideation and how to appropriately intervene and refer students to a trusted adult.

1. The Xello Scholarship Finder, accessible through our college, career, and life readiness software.
2. The Scholarship Catalog, available on the Student Services resource board, provides information on various opportunities to support tuition costs beyond WLHS.

Almost the whole dorm came out to soak up the Wisconsin sunshine and join in a friendly water fight organized by students! Armed with water guns and water balloons, everyone had a blast cooling off, getting some exercise, and making new friends. Dyer Field, just a short walk from Honey Creek Hall, is not only great for events like this but also for basketball, soccer, frisbee, or just enjoying the fresh air. It’s great to live right next to a beautiful park!

Grandparents’ Day at WLHS will be held on Tuesday, October 1, 2024. Due to our large enrollment which restricts our space, we limit the luncheon from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. to the grandparents of ONLY senior students. We look forward to sending the grandparents of our freshmen, sophomores, and juniors a special card. For the luncheon or card registration, please click here. Registrations are due by Wednesday, September 18.

Stay connected and receive alerts with Wisco's App. Information that you search for on the school web site, social media, or other communications channels can also be found through the app. Customize your settings to receive notifications on events, athletics, or co-curriculars that you want to know more about. The app also allows the school to send notifications such as school closings or other alerts through push notification. Search under "Wisconsin Lutheran High School" for the free WLHS app on Apple App Store or Google Play.

Wisconsin Lutheran High School is once again using GoFan for mobile ticketing for athletic events. Fans may purchase tickets online through the school's GoFan page here or the GoFan App. In addition to individual game tickets, season passes will be available to purchase for $85. This year, all students will need to purchase a WLHS student pass through GoFan for $10 in order to get into all WLHS home sporting events, with some exceptions. Students will enter their Student ID number as their access code to get a pass. Students must bring their student ID to all games.

For the 2024-25 school year, we welcome 40 new international students to the WLHS family, coming from the following countries: Brazil, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan, Spain, Germany, South Korea, and Malawi.

Parents, students, and staff, please log into your onCampus account here to see if you have forms to be filled out. If you have a yellow bar at the top of your onCampus account, click on it and complete the necessary form. The link is visible in all parent accounts, but only one parent needs to complete and submit the form. If you have any questions, contact oncampus@wlhs.org.

Student Services will have two interns completing field work throughout the 2024-25 school year. One of our interns will be working under our school counselors, Mrs. Emily Rodrigue and the other will be working under our CFS therapists, Carly Schroeder. We are thankful to partner with UW-Superior, Bethany Lutheran College, and Christian Family Solutions to help future School Counselors and therapists complete capstone experiences for their degrees. 

Please reach out to Director of Student Services, Mr. Davis if you have any questions.

The WLHS Vimeo channel is a great way to watch daily chapel services. These 18-20 minute services allow you to worship with our students and commit to a worship routine in your life. If you subscribe to the WLHS Vimeo channel, a notification will be sent to your E-mail when videos are uploaded. Click here to subscribe or start watching previous chapel services from this year.

Families can make tuition payments online through your onCampus account or via phone. Auto payments can also be set up to draw on the 1st or 15th of the month. Electronic check and credit card payments are both accepted. There is no fee for paying with an electronic check. Credit card payments are subject to a 3-4% transaction fee depending on your card. Your linked Tuition Management account can be found on the Resources page of onCampus (login here), or call 888-868-8828.

WLHS Weekly E-news brings parents and students up-to-date information from our campus, notice of upcoming events, and a celebration of student/teacher accomplishments. It is delivered to your inbox via E-mail every Wednesday that school is in session. Visit wlhs.org/news for all news stories available on our website.

Our new International Admissions Director, Mr. Nate King, is looking forward to forming relationships with families world-wide. He is a member at Morrison Zion Lutheran Church in Greenleaf, Wis., and will be transferring his membership to a local church in the near future. Mr. King was the international program director at Manitowoc Lutheran High School from 2016-2024, and prior to that served as an evangelist for Friends of China (now Friends Network) from 2009-2016. Mr. King has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Metropolitan State University of Denver and completed his ministry certification through Martin Luther College. Mr. King enjoys rock climbing, camping, traveling, running, and biking during his free time.

As our new art instructor, Ms. Candace Greupink will be teaching drawing, introduction to 2D art and design, graphic arts, and video production. She is in charge of the yearbook and is excited for this role. Ms. Greupink brings extensive knowledge as she served in the Pewaukee School District as an art teacher from 2012-2024. She is a graduate of UW-Milwaukee with a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts. Ms. Greupink loves everything that has to do with the outdoors including volleyball, gardening, hiking, and camping, among many other activities. She worships at Living Word Lutheran Church, Waukesha.

The WLHS School Wellness Plan aims to foster a Christian environment that supports the spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional well-being of students, staff, and the broader school community. The goal is to provide a holistic approach to support students in their high school years. Below is an overview of the key components of our school wellness plan. 

1. Physical Health and Nutrition  
2. Mental and Emotional Health 
3. School Safety and Healthy Culture 
4. Communication and Professional Development 
5. School Policies and Environment with Evaluation and Improvement

WLHS partners with many colleges or universities throughout the area or region. Providing student's many dual credit opportunities allows a tailored fit for every Academic and Career Plan. The variety of institutions and programs available to our students is strategic providing access to the right courses and experiences that align with our Career Pathways. This month we are highlighting Wisconsin Lutheran College offerings through WLHS. If you would like to learn more about Wisconsin Lutheran College please click here. WLC will be on campus at our Post High School Planning Night, September 18.

In the first full week of August, WLHS faculty met for inservice as departments and as a whole. Topics presented included: technology updates, new grading and schedule changes, school safety, course syllabi, grading, and more. Professor Alan Uher from Martin Luther College led a Bible study about intentionalizing God's word in every subject. Additional Bible studies were presented by Campus Pastor Phil Huebner ('99) and Principal Landon Zacharyasz. We are grateful to teach at a school that incorporates God's Word in every class and are excited to share it with our students daily. WLHS is ready for the new year to begin!

Wisco is grateful to partner with All-In Milwaukee (AIM). The partnership supports young Milwaukee high school seniors with three aims in mind: Complete college. Build careers. Transform Milwaukee. In particular, AIM supports high potential students of color who come from limited family incomes, and are first-generation college students. With AIM’s financial aid, and college and career advising, 80% of their students are projected to graduate from college debt-free in four or five years, secure internships, and receive support after college when they take up work places in Milwaukee.

Join the families of the Wisconsin Lutheran High School Conference for a free, fun night at the NEW Zeitler Stadium at Wisconsin Lutheran High School on Friday, September 13, starting at 5:00 p.m.! As part of our PK-12 partnership, WLHS is sponsoring a tailgate party before the varsity football game against Grafton High School, at 7:00 p.m. Prior to the game, boys and girls of all ages will get to participate in activities on the field as well as face painting. Click here to RSVP by Wednesday, September 11.

To create a common time when teachers and departments can meet and grow professionally, WLHS observes a teacher collaboration schedule on Wednesdays during the 2024-25 school year. Beginning Wednesday, August 21, and every Wednesday through May 12, teachers will meet from 7:30-8:30 a.m. First period will begin at 8:45 a.m. New this year, only the front door will be open at 7:00 a.m. to accommodate any students whose transportation or family schedule requires an earlier arrival. Please note: DO NOT cross the Glenview Avenue parking lot entrance. When parking on Glenview Avenue or walking from the water tower parking lot, students should walk down the sidewalk past Zeitler Stadium and cross the parking lot at the end of the sidewalk. The visitor's entrance and door 18 will open at 8:00 a.m. to accommodate a safer walk path. Students must report to the cafeteria or library before first hour for a monitored study time.

This summer, not one but two little, future Vikings joined our Wisco family! In June, Assistant Principal C.L. Whiteside ('06) and his wife Nicole ('07) welcomed a daughter, Addison. In August, a son, James, was born to Art Instructor Hannah Reichardt ('16) and her husband Caleb ('16). Mrs. Reichardt will be on maternity leave for the beginning of our school year. We are thankful for the return of our retired art teacher Mrs. Leanne Ross who is covering classes during this time.

We thank our God that both moms and babies are doing well.

Everyone is invited to attend Wisconsin Lutheran High School's Service of Thanksgiving for Anniversary and Installation on Sunday, August 18, at 4:00 p.m. in the auditorium at Wisconsin Lutheran High School.

The following faculty will be installed:

The Student Success Center (SSC) is designed to serve and support all students at WLHS. It serves as the testing center for students with excused absences that need to take make-up assessments. In addition, the center is also available to help specific students who may have individual learning needs. The Student Success Center is staffed by two special education teachers, Mr. Randall Strutz and Mrs. Liz Koester, and two additional support staff, Mr. Kenton Fabian and Mrs. Stephanie Lamas. If you are interested in learning more about the SSC please stop by or contact Mr. Strutz. 

In an effort to speed up meal service and offer privacy and convenience, students may opt to use a finger scan to identify themselves. This system offers complete privacy. The system does not store an image or photo of the student’s fingerprint.

The entire Wisconsin Lutheran High School family welcomes all of our parents to the 2024-25 school year. God has given you a precious trust in your child(ren) and that trust comes with a serious responsibility—to help them grow in the grace and knowledge of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Below are some general guidelines for follow through with questions or concerns. Note that your student's assistant principal and school counselor are located on your student's profile in onCampus.

A school profile communicates an overview of program offerings, GPA and test results, and college entrance trends. This is helpful for students who are applying to post secondary institutions or employment to review in the admission or hiring process. Please click here to view the 2024-25 WLHS School Profile.

Seniors: Please look for direction in the coming month in our news section and from school counselor meetings regarding using the school profile, Common App, and Xello for the college admissions process.

On August 7, the U.S. Department of Education announced that the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA® form) will be launched through a new process. Starting on October 1, the Department will release the 2025-26 FAFSA form for testing with a limited set of students and institutions. The Department will make the application available to all students on or before December 1. More information will be released in the coming weeks. Please click here for the full press release. 

Wisconsin Lutheran High School Jr. Vikings Band Program will host instrument exploration and registration nights for new students in grades 5-8 on Tuesday, September 3, and Thursday, September 5, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Sign up for a time slot by clicking here or walk-ins are also welcome. Students can meet band directors and try out all the instruments to find one that they want to play at WLHS and start their lifelong journey of making music and praising God on an instrument. This is a great way for students to make new friends and meet future WLHS classmates! For questions, contact Jr. Vikings Band Program Director Danny Hafenstein at daniel.hafenstein@wlhs.org.

Seniors: More information will be shared regarding college applications, Common App, and Xello in the coming month in the E-News and meetings with School Counselors. Please click here to review a helpful note for students and parents on 7/15.

The 2023-24 Boys Basketball Team commemorated their state championship win with team rings, which arrived last week. The boys ended their season with a perfect 30-0 record, only the second team in state history to do so. The rings feature the Viking logo, players' jersey numbers, and their 30-0 record. The word "Gratitude" appears on the side as a reminder that all thanks and glory be to God.

Students can pick up Chromebooks and chargers in the library during parent information nights on Monday and Tuesday, August 12 and 13. At pickup, students will also take their yearbook and school ID photos, and scan their finger for our quick lunch line check-out. New students that have not picked up their Chromebooks on parent information nights will receive them on Tuesday, August 13 at our New Student Orientation; Chromebooks will not be handed out on Wednesday, August 14. Distribution will continue again on Thursday and Friday, August 15 and 16, before school and during students' free periods.

In honor of their 40-year class reunion, the Class of 1983 commissioned Mr. Michael Wiechmann (former art teacher at Wisco) to create a piece of artwork for the high school, currently on display in the main lobby. The result of this commission was a three-painting series which was inspired by the 1983 class hymn of "Let us Ever Walk with Jesus" and connects Christ to the long history of WLHS. 

Before the start of the school year, cross country teams gather together for their annual camping trip at Peninsula State Park in beautiful Door County. 28 runners spent five days in the great outdoors with some outstanding weather. Besides the activities of running, swimming, sand volleyball, and camp fires, the runners also competed in a series of camp challenges to encourage team building. The 2024-25 school year is the 30th year that Coach Lueck ('87) has hosted this special event for the cross country teams in preparation for the upcoming season.

WLHS welcomes Mrs. Rachel Rebholz ('04) as our first ever school nurse. This new role will support a wellness program that promotes the overall health of the entire student body including on-call residential student care.

Main outcomes of this position include:

• serving our students and families by supporting students with chronic health conditions,
• developing health policies, procedures, and medical emergency plans that meet state law and standards, and
• being a personal resource for families, students, and staff about health information both in school and at home.

Hello my name is Aaron. I've been a student at WLHS for the past two and a half months. What do I like the most? I think that has to be, knowing how much people care for me and knowing that I always can ask questions.

Hi! My name is Abhav; most people know me as Abby. I came to WLHS as a junior, and I’ve been at this school for two years. Something that I like the most about WLHS is that there is a variety of things you can do between clubs and academics, with very diverse groups, which makes it much better!

Summer 2024 mission trips have returned home! On 14 mission trips, a total of 116 students shared the love of Jesus. Students on the Los Angeles mission trip served King of Kings in Garden Grove, California. Students worked at a local food pantry, assisted in citizenship and English classes, and helped with canvassing. Another group of students helped Our Savior Lutheran Church in San Antonio with a basketball camp. The team promoted the camp through canvassing and took part in daily devotions with the campers. Exploring the sites and food at each location is always a fun way for our teams to enjoy their downtime.

Thank you for entrusting your sons and daughters to the ministry of Wisconsin Lutheran High School. Our mission—to prepare young adults for success and Christ-centered service in a diverse world—is for us a high calling and privilege.
 
A 2024-25 School Information E-mail was sent out Friday, July 26, relaying instructions for locating important back to school information in your onCampus account. To read the full communication, click here. To access the Current School Year Information resource board, log into your onCampus account here. Below the blue bar at the top of the page, click on Resources. Click on the icon that says Current School Year Information.

The first day of school for all students is Wednesday, August 14. It will be a full day of school from 7:45 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Doors open at 7:00 a.m. Breakfast and lunch are available for purchase. On this first day, we will run a schedule which includes all 8 class periods. Click here for the schedule.

To create a common time when teachers and departments can meet and grow professionally, WLHS observes a teacher collaboration schedule on Wednesdays. Beginning Wednesday, August 21, and every Wednesday through May 14, teachers will meet from 7:30-8:30 a.m. New this year, school will begin at 8:45 a.m. on late start Wednesdays. While students do not need to come to school until the first class hour at 8:45 a.m., only the front door will be open at 7:00 a.m. to accommodate any students whose transportation or family schedule requires an earlier arrival. Students who arrive early will report to the cafeteria or library before first hour for a monitored study time. Click here for the schedule. The visitor entrance will not open until 8:00 a.m.

Student schedules will be visible in onCampus on Monday, August 5, by 6:00 p.m. Students who have not turned in last year's Chromebook or charger or have unpaid fees will be unable to see their schedule, as their onCampus account will be on hold. To pay an outstanding balance, you may drop off payment at WLHS during our summer office hours or pay over the phone by calling 414-453-4567 ext. 2021.

The WLHS English department is piloting a program this year with juniors to prepare them for meeting ACT reading test benchmarks. During the flex period this fall and early spring, Dr. Stacy Bitter will be facilitating prep sessions for students whose pre-ACT scores indicate a need for support. In addition, she will be facilitating test prep sessions in the second semester prior to the March 18th ACT test date and open to any students who would welcome extra prep time for the ACT reading test. Please reach out to Dr. Stacy Bitter if you have any questions. 

Mini-Courses ACT Preparation Class prepares 11th-12th graders for the official ACT test. Students gain direct instruction in the math, reading, English, and science reasoning as well as the writing section of the ACT test. Class instruction also covers test taking strategies so students become familiar with the types of questions they will encounter and learn a variety of strategies to answer those questions. Students participate in an unofficial pre-and post-test experience that familiarizes them with the ACT testing process.

Xello is a key component of the WLHS Academic and Career Plan (ACP) which helps students become college, career, and life ready. Over the time here on campus students can utilize Xello at any time to build self knowledge, explore options, create a plan, and reassess. Through Xello, students will be empowered to create healthy habits for growth and explore potential vocations to be productive Christian citizens in a diverse world. For additional information regarding the robust features of Xello please view the information below available to your family. 

Xello Features
Xello Overview
Xello Video Overview
Xello Scope and Sequence 
Xello Student Account Access Information
Xello Family Account Access Information

WLHS provides every student an Academic and Career Plan (ACP) that supports students for readiness in college, career, and life. Each month School Counselors meet with students individually and in small groups during the flex period or classroom instruction. The 2024-25 ACP grade level planning calendar is available for families. Please click here to access the calendar.

Academic and Career Planning (ACP) helps students take ownership in preparing for their future. More information about what ACP is can be found here. The goal is for each student to gain knowledge, explore options, and make a final plan by graduation. WLHS uses faculty and staff, personal counseling, career-based learning experiences, and Xello to support post-secondary readiness and success. Click here for the Academic and Career Planning overview at WLHS.

International mission trips are wrapping up these last few weeks of summer. Near and far, students let their lights shine and shared the love of Christ. The mission trip to Antigua assisted St. John's Church and School with Vacation Bible School (VBS). The mission trip to Grenada taught creative writing and swimming lessons at Grace Lutheran Church. Students headed to Toronto and helped Hope Lutheran Church with a music camp. Finally, the mission trip to the Philippines worked with Law and Gospel Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Center to do mission outreach.

Viking Marching Band is pleased to welcome new and returning members for the 2024 season. Membership is open to all wind and percussion instrumentalists entering grades 8-12. A special invitation is extended to piano players and dancers to participate in our front ensemble and color guard respectively. Visit wlhs.org/marching to register.

Congratulations to recent grad Eddie Rynders ('24) who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fourth round (number 112 overall) of this year's Major League Baseball (MLB) draft. We look forward to watching Eddie's bright career take off!

The official WLHS Viking summer pop-up store is now open and includes new clothing and non-apparel items with color and logo options! Click here to shop online. The summer pop-up store will be open through Thursday, August 8, so that families can receive items before the end of the fall athletic season. Shipping is offered throughout the United States. However, if you are able to pick up your purchase at Wisconsin Lutheran High School, shipping is FREE. Type in the WLHS address (330 N Glenview Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53213) as your shipping location.
 
Items rotate as these pop-up stores are offered. Take a look, and see what's new.

WLHS families were recently introduced to two changes coming to our school this year: a new daily schedule and a different grading scale. A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document has been prepared for students and parents to help answer some questions they may have. Click here to access the document.

As the start of the school year approaches, we ask that parents review our school policies with their students. In particular, please draw attention to the following rules:

• Cell phones are not allowed to be used during the school day without the permission of a staff member.
• Smart watches cannot be worn during the school day.
• Athletic pants or sweatpants are not allowed. Pants made of athletic or sweatpant material can NOT be worn.
• Rips in jeans must be below the knee.

Parents, guardians, and alumni, please log in to your onCampus account here to make sure your contact information is up-to-date. Click on the drop-down arrow by your name, then select 'profile.' It is very important that we have your current address, phone number, and E-mail address on file. It is especially important to have your E-mail addresses up-to-date as this is our preferred method of communication.

College Possible Wisconsin is offering free FASFA support. Please click here to learn more about the upcoming sessions. Families may register here for the desired free FAFSA support services. 

SoFi wants to help students and families plan for the costs of college to put themselves in the best position possible when they graduate. Join Brian Walsh, SoFi’s Head of Advice and Planning, on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. to learn how parents and students can effectively manage school finances, from understanding expected costs and financial aid packages, to building a budget and funding the gap with different types of loan options. Please click here to register for this event. A reminder that all information SoFi provides to families can be found here.

American School Counselor Association hosted the national school counseling conference in Kansas City, Missouri from July 13-16. Director of Student Services Mr. Grey Davis attended to learn more about preparing students to be college, career, and life-ready. Wisconsin schools attended the conference with hundreds of school leaders around the nation.

The summer Contact is out! Highlights include the Class of 2024 graduation, boys basketball state championship, baptismal blessings, musical and Prism concert recaps, and more. Click here to read all about it.

The following are the official 2024-25 athletic start dates for the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA):

• Football - August 6
• Boys and Girls Cross Country - August 19
• Volleyball - August 19
• Boys Soccer - August 19

Our Board of Directors approved the implementation of a new grade scale in the 2024-25 school year to better align with common grading standards and ensure a level playing field for competitive scholarships. The new scale will:

• Change the lowest passing score to 60%,
• GPAs will be calculated at the end of each semester and can be viewed on the student's transcript in the progress section of onCampus,

1. Most students prepare for seven different classes out of eight periods that meet every day. Both parents and students noted high stress in meeting academic expectations daily.

The new schedule will retain an eight period platform; however, only six periods will meet each day as two periods drop daily in rotation. Most students will prepare for five class periods each day with each class meeting only four times in a regular week.

WLHS mission teams continue to travel around the world and continental U.S. helping share the love of Jesus with our mission churches. A team traveled to Navarre, Florida to help Risen Savior Lutheran share the word about their Jesus Cares program for anyone with special needs or cognitive impairments, as well as a soccer Vacation Bible School (VBS).

WLHS does not publish a school supply list. Each student is issued a Chromebook which eliminates a significant need for paper products. Individual teachers will share their requests with students in the first days of school. We do recommend, however, that students come the first day with a backpack, writing utensils, and a notebook to take down any initial information. WLHS runs a school store where students may buy supplies and rent calculators at reasonable prices.

In only its second year of existence, the WLHS Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) placed 32 students in the top five of their respective categories at state competition. Top three finishers were then allowed to travel to Orlando, Florida from June 29-July 2 to compete at Nationals. Junior Mason Ware attended and competed in Introduction to Marketing Concepts. Congratulations to Mason, the first FBLA national competitor from WLHS.

Students now have access to Xello, the WLHS College, Career, and Life Readiness software. Access your student account by clicking on the Xello icon in onCampus in the Resource Board or by clicking here. 

Parents have received an email inviting your family to the Xello Family account. Please click here if you need help with access. 

WLHS is grateful to partner with Christian Family Solutions (CFS) in their school-based counseling program. Licensed professional therapists are on campus five days a week to meet with students and provide mental health services. Students are also able to meet with therapists over the summer months either in person or telehealth. If you feel your child could benefit from counseling services, contact your child’s school counselor for a referral to the program.

Representatives of the WLHS International Program recently attended a professional development conference held in Wheaton, Illinois, designed to help schools enhance the quality of the international program at their school.

Several of our domestic mission trips are also underway. WLHS students traveled to Christ Lutheran Church in Juneau, Alaska, and ran a Vacation Bible School (VBS) where they led games, songs, and shared Bible stories. Another group went to Living Savior Lutheran Church in Littleton, Colorado where they ran a soccer and disc golf camp in support of a sports themed VBS outreach. Students traveled to Cross Life Lutheran Church in Pflugerville, Texas to help this mission-minded congregation run their VBS program.

On June 17, 216 golfers came to Ironwood Golf Course to show their support for Christ-centered education at WLHS. Despite the toasty temperature, golfers had fun with the mini-games, raffles, prizes, and catered meals. It was great to see so many alumni, parents, friends, and sponsors at the outing.

A unique opportunity that students have at Wisco is to participate in gospel outreach efforts on mission trips at a variety of domestic and international sites. On these trips, students often provide support for Vacation Bible School, sports camps, and other outreach efforts for mission groups. The first two international trips traveled to Thailand to assist Promise Lutheran Church and the Thai Village, and to Brazil to support an after school program.

More than 300 athletes from 30 sports were honored at the Milwaukee High School Sports Awards show on June 14 at Riverside Theater. This organization recognizes the area’s top-performing athletes, coaches and teams. Five WLHS student-athletes were nominated for Athlete of the Year awards in 6 sports. Kon II Knueppel ('24) won not only the Boys Basketball Player of the Year Award, but also the overall Boys Athlete of the Year Award. Head basketball coach Ryan Walz ('92) was named the Boys Team Coach of the Year. We praise God for the gifts and abilities of our coaches and athletes and the way they glorify God with their faithful application.

Our Viking Steel group performed an exciting send-off concert on June 20 in the WLHS parking lot. The talented steelpan musicians have embarked on a tour through Wisconsin, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, and Iowa. The group will participate in worship services at churches along the way as well as play with Branches Band at the WELS International Youth Rally at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado on June 25 and 26.

On Thursday and Friday, July 4 and 5, the offices of Wisconsin Lutheran High School will be closed in honor of Independence Day. We will resume our summer hours on Monday, July 8.

Wisconsin Lutheran High School provides an Academic and Career Plan to every student. The ACP system is put in place with the goal to prepare every student to be ready for college, career, and life to find success. Wisco students will be guided to know, explore, plan, and go into the world ready for where God wants them to serve.

SoFi has a dedicated page called Preparing for College to further support you financially for your college-bound students for their next chapter of life. Below are the topics and resources SoFI has provided for families. 

1) FAFSA® Changes: What You Need to Know for the 2024-2025 Academic Year
2) What Merit Scholarships Are and How to Find Them
3) Evaluating College Acceptances, and Appealing
4) Financing your Student’s Education

2024-2025 Guide to Financing College with helpful tips and additional resources

Paying for College Hotline where families can set up an appointment with a financial aid specialist at no cost

Wisco spring sports had successful seasons and notable accomplishments.

Boys Baseball - The varsity boys baseball team clinched their second straight Woodland West Conference Championship, but fell short in the WIAA Sectional Semifinal. Coach Steve Kargus ('99) was named Woodland West Conference Coach of the Year, and Eddie Rynders ('24) was named Woodland West Conference Player of the Year and All District 1 Player of the Year.

Everyone is invited to the Canticum Novum concerts on June 21-22. WLHS teachers Danny Hafenstein and Casey Pufahl, and alumni Karen (Sandlass) Vasatko ('90), Levi Nagel ('99), Jessi (Floeter) Kolberg ('01), Abigail (Buske) Peterson ('06), Anne Hafenstein ('11), Evan Witz ('11), and Joseph Eick ('16) perform with the group. This summer, the chorus will undertake its first full-length concert work, Johannes Brahms' magnificent Ein deutsches Requiem.

Click here to see a list of the fourth quarter honor roll students who earned a 3.4 or higher GPA during the last quarter of the 2023-24 school year. Congratulate them on their diligence and hard work.

The girls track & field team competed in the WIAA State meet in LaCrosse, Wis., in a Division 1 field of 128 teams. The girls finished in fourth place, the highest place for any WLHS girls team competing at the Division 1 level. The girls were led by five podium finishes, including Eva Kuehn ('24) (second in the 3200 and third in the 1600), Annabelle Coudron ('25) (third in the 100 and fourth in the 200), and Sam Walker ('26) (fifth in the 100 hurdles).

Please return all school property including chromebooks, chargers, textbooks, calculator rentals, library books, music, uniforms, and all other Wisco property. School items can be dropped off at the receptionist's window Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. or Friday 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Taher, Inc., the exclusive food service management company for Wisconsin Lutheran High School, is looking for a friendly, courteous, and professional Food Service Aide. This individual would prep and serve food to the students, staff, and friends of WLHS. This position requires the individual to learn the basics of the National School Meal program. It is a flexible position that can be as few as 10-35 hours a week, or potentially a set schedule for prepping, serving, cashiering during lunch, and helping out for catering events as needed.

Viking Summer Explorer Camps are in full swing. WLHS offers a wide-range of adult-supervised activities to our grade schoolers from sports to fine arts to tech. Our Viking Explorers recently enjoyed the following camps: football, girls basketball, wrestling, theater, volleyball, art, and steelband. Viking Summer Explorer camps continue into July.

The following is an update on the recent calls that WLHS extended:

• Mr. Nathan King accepted our call for International Admissions Director
• Ms. Candace Greupink accepted our call for visual arts instructor and yearbook advisor
• Ms. Alicia Mengel ('19), a Wisco alum, comes to us via the WELS Assignment Committee and will join our fine arts department as our conference elementary school band instructor

WLHS Fine Arts Department held an art contest this spring for children up through 8th grade. For the first time ever, art contest submissions were also included in the Spring Art Show that was held May 17-19. Congratulations to our grade school artists and the selected winners in each grade level:

Per the WIAA (Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association), all Wisconsin Lutheran High School athletes must complete the following athletic registration process prior to participating in athletics:

• The student must have a current Physical Clearance Form on file signed by a doctor no less than every other school year. The physical examination must be dated April 1, 2023 or later in order to participate in a sport for the 2024-25 school year. Download the physical form here to take with you to the doctor.
• A parent or guardian must complete the online registration found here. Please note that the online registration is an annual requirement and opens up on June 1.

At the end of the 2023-24 school year, WLHS said farewell to some outstanding staff members: Mrs. Emmalie Bitter, Science Instructor (2023-2024), Mr. Matthew Harbach, Visual Arts Instructor (2022-2024), Mrs. Tammy Leyrer, International Admissions Director (2017-2024), and Mr. Casey Pufahl, Grade School Band Coordinator (2017-2024). What an impact these faithful servants have made on our Wisco students and conference grade school students. We wish them God's blessings on their next endeavors!

Our E-news now moves to a summer schedule. During June and July, watch for a bi-monthly appearance. In August we will resume our every Wednesday schedule.

It's the final Pilot for the school year. Read about our senior Pilot staff members, departing WLHS staff, Prism concerts recap, AP testing, track and field successes and more. Click here to read all about it.

Please note these important dates:

• August 12-13: Parent Information Meetings
• August 13: New Student Orientation Day
• August 14: Opening Day of School for ALL Students

An E-mail containing important information will be sent to each WLHS family the last week of July. If you do not receive an E-mail by the first week of August, please call WLHS at 414-453-4567, to make sure that your E-mail address is up to date.

We will praise our Lord for the Class of 2024 and their achievements at our graduation worship service on Saturday, May 25, at 10:00 a.m. in the Wisconsin Lutheran College REX Center (8725 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Wauwatosa). Doors open at 9:00 a.m. Seniors should arrive no later than 9:30 a.m. Due to limited seating, tickets are required for admission. Each senior received 12 tickets in their cap and gown packet to distribute to his or her guests.

Students in art classes had a chance to showcase their talents at the Spring art show. Pieces included paintings, graphic design, ceramics and more. Congratulations to our student artists!

Congratulations to the boys and girls track & field teams who won 2024 Woodland Conference and Regional Championships on the Sitz Track at WLHS. The teams won in convincing fashion and had many individual champions and sectional qualifiers. Of note is our boys capture of the Conference Triple Crown by winning the Indoor, Relay, and Outdoor Championships for the second year in a row.

Wisco seniors received 2024 graduation yard signs this year to mark their accomplishments and share the news. Be a part of the social fun and visit WLHS Vikings on Facebook or Instagram to add a photo or tag your senior!

Once again the Lord has blessed the Our Hands for His Service (OHFHS) mission effort this year. Months of student-driven fundraising events and work days, in addition to offerings from many of our conference grade schools raised $45,621 which well surpassed the goal of $40,000. Three quarters of the money will go toward the Friends Network to support mission work in the Philippines and the other quarter will be sent to our WELS Military Chaplaincy Services.

From May 17-19, the choirs and bands of Wisco delighted sold-out crowds with pop and Broadway hits. Among them were steelpan performances, several vocal solos and duets, concert and jazz bands, and a mass choir number with "Blast from the Past" music.

Reunion Zero is a tradition at Wisco. On the last full school day, our outgoing seniors are invited to a senior lunch sponsored by the WLHS alumni department. At the event, seniors have the chance to socialize with classmates, faculty, and staff. Fun giveaways and a photo booth help connect seniors with their alma mater before they head out to future college, military, or career paths. We wish the graduating Class of 2024 God's richest blessings on their future!

WLHS summer hours begin Friday, May 24. Most offices will be open through Monday, August 12 with the following hours:

Spanish 3, 4, and AP levels took a field trip to visit the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago. A Spanish-speaking docent led their tour. Afterward, students enjoyed a beautiful day walking the Pilsen neighborhood and taking in many murals depicting Hispanic culture and history in the U.S. The trip concluded with lunch at Taqueria Los Comales.

High school softball playoffs have begun! SBLive Sports has nominated softball players throughout the country for the best performer in her position. Congratulations to Sydney Vitangcol ('25) who was nominated for best left-handed pitcher. Anyone can vote through Friday, May 24 at 10:59 p.m. (CST) at the link here. Voting can be found at the very bottom of the web page. Good luck Sydney!

The Fair Opportunity Project, a Wisconsin-based and Nationally recognized organization is offering free, one-on-one FAFSA help to students so they can easily navigate the application process and unlock financial resources. Please click here to learn more.

Taste of Wisco filled our halls with the smell of breakfast tacos, cheesy potatoes, collard greens, tom kha gai soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, meatballs, pancakes, cookies, and many more treats. Staff sold food items during an extended passing period and raised $4,540 for this year's OHFHS mission projects for the Friends Network in the Philippines and WELS Military Services. Thank you to our staff for making this event a success.

Wisco's performing arts program once again participated in the Overture Center for the Arts Jerry Awards. We received 18 nominations in the categories of outstanding musical, ensemble, direction, musical direction, leading performance, supporting performance, choreography, scenic design, costume, sound, lighting, and overall design of our production Disney's The Little Mermaid. Congratulations to the following groups, performers, and directors for receiving the Jerry Award in their category:

In 2024, WLHS inducted the first ever group of students into the International Thespian Society. All 13 students have earned the honor of induction through their commitment to theatre over the last twelve months. A big congrats to the first ever members of ITS Troupe 11892.

Ms. Gina Radue's and Mr. Chad Biesterfeld’s math classes took a field trip to American Family Field on Wednesday, May 15. Students had the opportunity to watch the Brewers game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, compile data from the game, and then plot the data they had collected. Students compute how pitch speeds affect the number of hits, runs, etc. What a fun way to apply what the students have learned in class.

On May 13, eligible seniors received their National Honor Society (NHS) cord at a ceremony. The academic top ten were presented, and special acknowledgment was given to this year's valedictorian, Kirstin Neuwirth, and salutatorian, Anna Sofija Veljkovic. The Principal's Leadership Award was presented to Oliva Hermanson. Throughout the year, the NHS group as a whole raised money for Wisco's Our Hands for His Service Project, the Friends Network in the Philippines and WELS Military Services, and recognition was given for their mission-minded acts of service.

Students should return textbooks and novels to their classroom teachers by Tuesday, May 21 or at the direction of their teacher. You will receive a notice if your student's books were not returned or were damaged. If you have questions, contact Brent Bloomquist at brent.bloomquist@wlhs.org.

A reminder that our first and last Wednesdays of the school year are a regular start time at 7:45 a.m. On Wednesday, May 22, we will run our exam schedule found here. School ends at 12:25 p.m.

On Thursday and Friday, May 16 and 17, every WLHS student receives their 2023-24 Compass, our yearbook. This year's theme is WL What Were You Watching? From the first days of school until finals and graduation, life at WLHS is like the menu of movies or TV shows on your favorite streaming service. We like to call it, "WLflix."

Wisconsin Lutheran High School is where every student finds success to the glory of God. Student Services offers services and programs to support and counsel students. We aim to help students learn about their God-given abilities to help them find success in life after high school.

SAT registration is open for the 2024-25 testing year. Many colleges consider SAT scores as part of their holistic admission and placement decisions, and your score is a valid way to show what you've learned. Most juniors take their first SAT in the spring, and many take it again in the fall of their senior year to improve their score. It can help you keep your college options open, demonstrate your unique strengths, and even qualify for scholarships.

More than 300 juniors, seniors, and their guests enjoyed our 2024 prom at a new venue, Milwaukee County Zoo, and with a new caterer, Saz's. Congratulations to seniors Avery Williams and Janae Lampkin for being crowned prom king and prom queen. Other members of the prom court included seniors Jobban Chand, Connor Raabe, Trey Raabe, Daniel Reinke, Caleb Wilson, Maeva López, Ana Sofija Veljkovic, Madelyn Reneau, Aubrey Bauer, and Noelle Berg.

Seventeen WLHS students attended and participated in a "Bridge and Build: Sports with a Bigger Purpose" youth summit at Lambeau Field on May 6. Sports unite Wisconsinites — and this event brought together students from public, charter, and private schools along with political leaders from all over Wisconsin. The day involved stories of learning, leading, earning, sharing — and courage as students' stories were shared. Mr. Mark Murphy, the Packers CEO, also spoke. Students from Beloit, Milwaukee, Neenah, and Kenosha reported on mental health education and community service from the “Bringing Lambeau Home” theme of their 2022 event. Three WLHS students served as journalists doing video interviews to understand the views of those attending and explore the power of youth voice. The WLHS varsity Step Team performed a salute to the students from Beloit Memorial HS who had shared stories of their personal challenges and courage to step up against violence.

On Thursday, May 16, we will follow the half day schedule found here. Dismissal is at 12:21 p.m. to accommodate Prism rehearsal. Breakfast will be available in the morning, but lunch will not be served. Seniors will be able to pick up their yearbooks and yard signs after school until 1:00 p.m.

The Hunger Task Force supplies food to families in the Milwaukee area who are not able to provide food for themselves. The Milwaukee Police Department and U.S. Army asked Wisco to partner with them in donating non-perishable food items to the Hunger Task Force. Wisco students and staff generously filled the donation box provided and then some. We thank God for allowing us the opportunity to share our blessings with others.

Seniors that have remaining funds in their meal accounts at the close of the school year will be refunded the balance via check to their parent or guardian at the end of June if there are no outstanding fees owed. If you wish to transfer your funds to a sibling with an existing account (not an incoming freshman), you may do so by E-mailing Sarah Derouin at chef@wlhs.org. All other students will roll their balances into the 2024-25 school year.

For the final morning assembly of the 2023-24 school year, Mrs. Abbie Strong presented on the topic: "You Are Not Alone: Finding Comfort in Christ." In 2022, Mrs. Strong lost her husband in a fatal car crash in downtown Milwaukee. Suddenly Abbie and her family — daughter, Wisco student Hannah ('25), and son, Elijah — faced a life without a father and a husband. Her encouragement to the assembly was that we all suffer loss in this broken world, but know that comfort and peace come from Jesus, when we are faced with grief.

Everyone is invited to the Spring Art Show opening on Friday, May 17, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the atrium at Wisconsin Lutheran High School. Celebrate the successful artwork created by our graduating seniors as well as other talented artists from the 2023-24 school year. Admission is free. Artwork will be on display the weekend of Prism (May 17-19). Come and support the arts at Wisco!

The first full week in May has been designated as Teacher Appreciation Week, and National Teacher Appreciation Day was May 7. At WLHS we are grateful for the teachers and staff who are the front line of our operation. Each day they instruct, counsel, correct, and encourage our young people with the influence of God’s Word and their Christian faith readily evident. An old adage says “an organization is only as good as its people.” God has led to WLHS faithful staff who love our students and desire to make our school a Christ-centered one. In addition to thanking God for them, we appreciate each one.

Junior Tommy Doerr achieved a 36 on his ACT — the highest possible score a student can receive on this test. Tommy was recently interviewed by CBS 58 reporter Tajma Hall, and his story aired on the Sunday Morning Spotlight. Click here to watch the segment. Blessings to Tommy and his future at Martin Luther College!

WLHS Band Director Mr. Quinten Petersen and Grade School Band Director Mr. Danny Hafenstein were featured guest artists at the Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC) Spring Band Concert. They played a percussion duet on a fun piece titled "Run to the Light." Quinten and Danny are both WLC alumni. What a great way to use their God-given gifts in the community!

May 5-11 is National Youth Apprenticeship Week. Many youth apprenticeship programs are offered by the state through the WLHS curriculum and local companies. Youth apprenticeship provides students career related curriculum in combination with hands-on experience. During the school day, students work in potential career fields in local companies to earn a certificate of achievement that can be helpful for college admission and a resume. WLHS students often follow our Career Pathways Catalog and complete a youth apprenticeship as their capstone course into a potential career area of interest.

Wisconsin Lutheran High School prepares young adults for productive, Christ-centered lives in a diverse world. Student Services offers services and programs to support and counsel students. We aim to help students learn about their God-given abilities and guide them to find success in life after high school.

The Association for Career and Technical Education held the National Work-Based Learning Conference in Milwaukee, WI from May 1-3. The conference highlighted ideas, programs, and experiences in education that are built around connecting learning being done on and off campus to potential career paths. WLHS Academic Dean, Mr. Jim Brandt and Director of Student Services, Mr. Grey Davis attended the conference to learn more about ways Wisco students can be prepared for college, career, and life. If you are interested in current WLHS Career and Technical Areas please click here to learn more. 

On Sunday, April 28, the WLHS Hall of Fame inducted eleven outstanding WLHS supporters and Christian leaders at their eighth award ceremony. 2024 inductees include:

All students will be required to turn in their chromebook and charger set after exams on May 22 and 23. Students must turn in the set assigned to him or her at the beginning of the year. If a chromebook and charger are not returned by noon on Friday, May 31, a non-refundable late fee will be assessed ($25 for a missing charger and $50 for a missing Chromebook). Turning in another student’s device does not count; turning in a device without a tag does not count. If the set is not returned at all, the full cost of the set will be billed to the student's account. Seniors are required to turn in their sets before graduation.

Wisconsin Lutheran High School is holding an informational session regarding our host family program on Monday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m. The growing international program at WLHS is in need of caring, supportive, mission-minded families to take in our international students over some of the school breaks throughout the year. This includes hosting opportunities for Thanksgiving break (half-week), Christmas break (two weeks), and spring break (one week). Families are also needed for yearlong international student hosting. Stipends are provided for all these hosting opportunities. If you are interested in learning more about the program, or to sign up as a host family for the 2024-25 school year, contact Director of the International Program Mr. Eric Duwe at eric.duwe@wlhs.org or read more at wlhs.org/homestay.

For years WLHS has offered a SCRIP program to supporters by which they can purchase gift cards to dozens of stores and vendors. When purchased through this program,

• WLHS receives a percentage of the price,
• The purchaser can designate a percentage toward a student’s tuition, or
• Claim a cash refund, or
• Make a further donation to WLHS.

With just one donation, a blood donor can save up to three lives! Our WLHS students and supporters always have been heartfelt donors — reason enough to give. However, did you know? If seven more WLHS supporters donate blood by the end of May 2024, WLHS will receive a $700 grant for 2023-24 mission project efforts. WLHS is not holding another blood drive on campus before this deadline; donors will need to find another location through Versiti locations here. Additionally, after you donate contact Mrs. Lindsay Knight at lindsay.knight@wlhs.org so your donation can be recorded as part of WLHS donation contributions.

The 2024 WSMA State Solo & Ensemble Festival took place at UW-Milwaukee, and WLHS brought home 101 medals. Twenty-eight events earned first ratings and four events earned second ratings. Congratulations to all Wisco students who participated at the state level. Click here for a full recap of events.

The Viking Claybreakers are 2-1 in their conference season. This past weekend, the team shot a 100-clay tournament in rainy, cold, and windy conditions. They took 4th place out of 10 conference teams, missing third place by just 4 clays, and second by 13 (out of 500). Top shots this week go to Owen Dusseau ('25) (who broke 92 clays and took 4th place overall), Justus Bauer ('24) with 88, Aaron Sun ('25) for 87, Andrew Piontek ('24) for 86, and Alejandro Gutierrez ('25) with 85. On Junior Varsity, Star Smith ('27) came in 8th place in her category with a respectable 67 clays.

Junior Sydney Vitangcol has been nominated for rSchool Today Athlete of the Week for the team's 4-0 win over New Berlin. Sydney pitched a complete game, did not allow a single base runner, and struck out 19 of the 21 batters she faced. You can vote for Sydney (once per day) until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 2. Click here to vote.

The following is an update on the recent calls that our staff received and that WLHS extended: 

• Mr. Aaron Bauer declined our call to teach theology and coach freshman boys basketball.
• Mr. Michael Plocher declined our call to teach engineering and coordinate Project Lead the Way.
• Mr. Kris Walta declined our call to teach theology and coach freshman boys basketball
• Pastor Heath Butler declined a call to First German Lutheran Church, Manitowoc, Wis. 

Several students interested in military service after high school met with Pastor Horn in January. Pastor Horn serves as the WELS chaplain to the military. Those who are interested in military services can register here to connect with WELS Military Ministry. Weekly devotionals for military personnel can be found here. 

Click here to learn more about the work WELS does for current military members.

The Jerry Awards recognize excellence in high school musical theatre throughout the state of Wisconsin. Final awards will be announced in May. Congratulations to the cast, crew, orchestra, and production staff of this year's musical, The Little Mermaid, for all their hard work! WLHS is pleased to announce the following nominations:

Wisconsin Lutheran High School presents its annual Prism concerts on Friday and Saturday, May 17 and 18, at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 19, at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. These popular concerts are a celebration of the fine arts at Wisco. Tickets are now sold out.

April 18 was a special day at WLHS. Twenty-six students were baptized during a memorable chapel service. What an amazing reminder of who we are as God's children! Every flaw, every failure, every sin is washed away in Christ and we are claimed as God's redeemed children in baptism. Days like this are also a wonderful reminder of how blessed we are to teach God's Word to our students each day as we follow our mission to make disciples of all nations through nurture and outreach.

This week, WLHS is excited to welcome more than 550 fourth graders from 25 of our conference grade school campuses. Visiting students tour the building and participate in a variety of activities including "Science Mayhem" with Scientists Knight and Nelson ('99), playing alien invasion physical education games with Mr. Whiteside ('06), folding origami while chatting in Chinese with Wisco students and Ms. Horneber, and pounding percussion with Director of Bands Mr. Petersen.

Congratulations to junior Lucia Santana who was voted by her peers as the Milwaukee Journal Student of the Week! The spring of 2024 is the inaugural start of this program by Milwaukee Journal and Lucia is the first student to receive the honor. After school principals or school administration nominate a student, staff at the Milwaukee Journal make three selections. The public is then asked to vote for a student over the course of a week. Click here to read more about Lucia.

Sometimes the best way to understand something is by physically seeing it in action. That's why students in Mrs. Morgan Lautz's math class reached for their M&Ms! Students used these chocolate color coated candies to test theoretical and experimental probability. After the learning activity was completed, guess where the M & Ms ended up?

WLHS will not hold classes on Friday, April 26. Teachers have a professional development day. School offices will be open 7:15 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Student Services offers some important reminders to the families of seniors to ensure a smooth transition to college or career:

Our last Viking-2-Viking of the year took place April 19. Interested juniors and seniors heard from Wisco alums about their experiences in the world of business. Thank you to the event speakers for sharing their insights and wisdom with our students:

Mini-Courses ACT Preparation Class prepares 11th-12th graders for the official ACT test. Students gain direct instruction in the math, reading, English, and science reasoning as well as the writing section of the ACT test. Class instruction also covers test taking strategies so students become familiar with the types of questions they will encounter and learn a variety of strategies to answer those questions. Students participate in an unofficial pre- and post-test experience that familiarizes them with the ACT testing process. Click here to learn more and apply.

God blessed the 28th annual Dinner Auction “Be Still” with a yield of more than $800,000 that exceeded our goal and reached a new high. Auction proceeds are applied to student aid. A huge thank you to all our sponsors, donors, volunteers, bidders, and attendees who made an impact on the night . . . and beyond. Auction attendees watched a video that shared the story of student Maeva Lopez Vicente's ('24) conversion to Lutheranism. She also performed a vocal and piano solo for the guests. Click here to watch the video.

During April, National Poetry Month, our WLHS library is offering many ways for students to explore the use of language to inspire, beautify, and celebrate. Students can make poetry from magnets, book spines, and blackout sheets. The library is offering a poem reading challenge. Students can check out and read a book of poetry or a book-in-verse and be entered to win a gift card. Click here to see some of the books in verse on hand in the Wisco library.

WLHS is grateful to partner with Christian Family Solutions (CFS) in their school-based counseling program. Licensed professional therapists are on campus five days a week to meet with students and provide mental health services. Students are also able to meet with therapists over the summer months either in person or telehealth. If you feel your child could benefit from counseling services, contact your child’s school counselor for a referral to the program.

Each spring the heavy sports schedule takes students and coaches away from the final period of the day. Unfortunately, our 8th period classes are at a distinct disadvantage. In an attempt to address this imbalance, we will administer an alternate schedule beginning Tuesday, April 23. From 2:30-3:00 p.m., we will run a resource or flex period that allows spring athletes and coaches to leave school without missing class. Those who are in school will use the “flex period” for club meetings, tutoring, student organization meetings, library time, music practicing, counseling sessions, and making up tests and quizzes. This flex period will also serve as a pilot for daily schedule changes we intend to install next school year. Click here for the schedule.

2023-24 was the inaugural year for the WLHS rock climbing club under the direction of Ms. Rachel Rosenberg, Mr. Tim Meister, and Mrs. Bekah & Mr. Mical Schaffer. The club had a total of 26 climbers. In its first year, Wisco took eleven rock climbers to State to compete in both top rope and bouldering at the Downtown Adventure Rock. Four climbers made it to the final five in their divisions including Oliver Saugstad ('27), Caden Schaffer ('27), Mina Schaffer ('27), and Talia Meister ('26).

To enhance the security and stability of Blackbaud solutions (onCampus), our student information system, Blackbaud is updating authentication for Blackbaud ID. On Wednesday, May 8, users will need to re-authenticate their Blackbaud logins in the following ways:

WLHS is grateful to announce that this year junior Thomas Doerr is our seventh perfect score in the past seven years. And, apparently, some secret sauce must be involved. “I actually think it’s quite funny,” he said. “I’m the third of four brothers, so far, to get a perfect score. We joke that my one brother only got a 35.” Tommy intends to enroll at Martin Luther College to study for the pastoral ministry.

Introduced in 1959, the American College Test now known as the ACT is written by millions of high school juniors every year. The highest achievable ACT score is 36; fewer than 1% of the annual ACT writers earn that score—rare company.

National Honor Society's annual A La Carte event is on Friday, April 19. Students are invited to purchase treats from more than a dozen different food stations around school. All proceeds go to this this year's school-wide mission projects, the Friends Network in the Philippines and WELS Military Services. Click here for a menu preview.

Congrats to junior Lucia Santana who was nominated for Milwaukee Student of the Week. A new program this year through Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, principals and staff members nominate their students. From there, Journal Sentinel staff narrow the list to a smaller list of finalists and ask the public to decide the winner.

WELS Campus Ministry, a ministry of WELS Home Missions, provides resources, support, and encouragement to WELS congregations that serve college students around the United States and Canada. These congregations are vital in connecting college students with fellow Christians, strengthening their faith with the gospel message, and encouraging them to share that faith with other college students. Seniors, click here to register for WELS Campus Ministry.

School Counselor Mrs. Chavez, Director of Student Services Mr. Davis, and representatives of the WLHS Hope Squad attended the Mental Wellness Student Leadership Summit in Madison, Wis. Students were able to collaborate with school leaders and students from 45 schools across the state on the topics of mental health awareness and prevention. Our students were able to express the Christian hope that we have in the face of worldly challenges.

Over spring break, 32 students and eight chaperones traveled south for over 2,000 miles through 10 states on WLHS’s annual American Civil Rights Trip. Dr. Ken Fisher, WLHS President, develops the itinerary and leads the tour.

Saturday, May 4, is our 2024 Prom for juniors and seniors under the theme A Walk to Remember. Grand March is at Wisconsin Lutheran High School in the main gymnasium beginning at 4:30 p.m. Attendees should meet in the atrium no later than 4:15 p.m. The dinner and dance will be held at Peck Welcome Center, Milwaukee County Zoo (1001 W. Bluemound Road). Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and all attendees must arrive no later than 7:00 p.m. Dinner is at 6:15 p.m. and dance is 7:30-10:30 p.m.

Congratulations to Coach Ryan Walz ('92), who was named State Coach of the Year and to Kon Knueppel ('24), who was named State Player of the Year by the Wisconsin Associated Press! Click here to read the AP article.

College visits are an important experience all Wisco students are encouraged to complete by fall of their senior year. This spring we have several colleges coming to campus to meet with current juniors to talk about potential majors or careers. Visiting with our local and national college partners as they visit our campus provides students access to information and offerings available before physically visiting a campus. Please view our Career Pathways Catalog which helps students map out checkpoints like college visits to complete their Academic and Career Plan at WLHS. Information about what colleges will be on campus this spring will be sent to juniors in the coming weeks. 

In only its second year of competition, the WLHS Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) sent 13 qualified students to State competition in Green Bay, Wis. on April 8-9. Students had opportunities to grow through workshops, networking sessions, and college exploration. They also competed in a variety of events, from coding and computer programming, to marketing, accounting, investments, and more. Top performers qualify for the National Conference in Orlando.

Congratulations to the following students who are now national qualifiers:

Juniors and seniors do not have school on Tuesday, April 16. Freshmen and sophomores are taking the required PreACT.

The property manager at our neighboring Honey Creek Apartments has notified us that they have contracted with a towing company. Parking spaces marked with a white letter H belong to the Honey Creek Apartments. WLHS cars parked in those spots are subject to being towed at the car owner's expense. Please remind your students not to park there and be mindful of avoiding those parking spots when you attend events at WLHS.

On Tuesday, April 16, freshman and sophomore students will take the DPI required PreACT at Wisconsin Lutheran High School. PreACT is a summative assessment that measures what students have learned in the areas of English, reading, math, and science. It is a required day of school for ALL freshmen and sophomores. Breakfast is available until 7:45 a.m., but lunch will not be served. Dismissal is at 11:15 a.m.

Junior Sydney Vitangcol is in the hunt for athlete of the week for her two-hit shutout game against Lakeside Lutheran. You can vote for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Leafguard Athlete of the Week until 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 13. You don't have to be a subscriber to vote. Votes are limited to one per hour, per device. Click here to vote.

Welcome, parents of our incoming freshman Class of 2028 to the WLHS Weekly E-news! The Weekly E-News is delivered to your E-mail address every Wednesday during the school year. Update E-mail address changes in your onCampus account, as this is the communication tool most regularly used to convey information and upcoming events at Wisconsin Lutheran. WLHS encourages feedback to help us make our communication with you more effective. Please contact Central Office at 414-453-4567 with any comments or questions.

Update: This position has since been filled.

Wisconsin Lutheran High School is looking for an Admissions Specialist for the International Student Program. This is a full-time year-round position. Bilingual candidates are preferred, especially those fluent in Mandarin. International travel of 3-7 weeks per year is required. This position works with international educational consultants and families to evaluate and enroll international students. The ability to develop relationships with educational consultants, parents and students is necessary. If you are interested, please submit your resume to hr@wlhs.org.

Congratulations to seniors Ny'Ree Bailey, Janae Lampkin, and Sierra Sager who were selected to participate in the All-In Milwaukee (AIM) scholars program. AIM is a college completion program that provides financial aid, advising, and program and career support to complete college, build meaningful careers, and transform the Milwaukee community. Many of the students who finish this program after college graduate debt free, complete an internship, and secure a job within the Milwaukee community.

Changes to our spring sports schedules! Wisconsin weather is often the cause of delays or changes in location or times of our games and meets. For the most up-to-date schedules for baseball, girls soccer, softball, boys and girls track and field, and golf, check the Woodland Sports Conference schedule on our website here. Or, download the Wisco app for push notifications about canceled or postponed events.

After chapel on March 25, the Vikings boys basketball team presented their Division II state tournament trophy to the student body. En route to a 30-0 season, our Vikings displayed unparalleled skill and determination. More important, they carried themselves with humility, witnessed their faith, and gave God the glory for their success. Click here for a highlight reel reliving the unforgettable moments that captured the team's journey to their state championship title. Click here for semifinal and State championship game photos. 

WLHS is offering state championship apparel for our proud supporters. The deadline to order is Sunday, March 31. Click the link here to place your order and secure your piece of history. Go Vikings!

All current students have completed the course request portion of the scheduling process. Course requests are final after Monday, April 15, 2024. Students will need to complete the courses they have requested for the entire 2024-25 school year. If students have a conflict with their course request(s) or do not pass a required course, their alternate course request will be selected.

On March 22, after a snowy start to the day, Viking Steel was still able to hold its spring concert. WLHS is one of only a few high schools in Wisconsin that offers steel pan, and one of the few co-curriculars at WLHS with 60+ members. Enjoy some more facts about Viking Steel:

On Tuesday, April 16, all freshman and sophomore students will take the PreACT at Wisconsin Lutheran. This is a required day of school for freshmen and sophomores. Juniors and seniors do not have school that day. Breakfast will be available until 7:45 a.m., but lunch will not be served. Please note: dismissal is at 11:15 a.m. Read more for the test schedule.

Our Easter break runs from March 29–April 5. No classes will meet on those days. Our offices will be closed March 29 (Good Friday) and April 1 (Easter Monday). Our offices and building will be open for limited hours the rest of the week after Easter. The Weekly E-news will be on hiatus as well. The next edition is Wednesday, April 10. Stay tuned to E-mail, website, text and app updates, and robocalls for any unscheduled changes.

The following is an update on the recent calls that our staff received and that WLHS extended:

• Mr. Scott Georgson declined our call to teach engineering and coordinate Project Lead the Way.
• Mr. Mark Moldenhauer declined his call to Manitowoc Lutheran High School.
• Mr. Matt Bilitz declined his call to Fox Valley Lutheran High School.
• Mr. Randy Strutz declined his call to Shoreland Lutheran High School.

WLHS hosted ten students and one adult chaperone from Ecuador for a two-week spring camp. Some of the many activities they experienced have included a tour of the city of Milwaukee, an Admirals hockey game, Easter party with our dorm students, Wisconsin dairy farm experience, Milwaukee Art and Public Museums, Sky Zone trampoline park, Great Wolf Lodge waterpark, and much more.

Wisco wrapped up the winter sports season with a notable number of Woodland All-Conference selections as well as WIAA honors. Congratulations to our student athletes on their accomplishments.

NextGrad is a college, career, and life readiness partner many schools in the nation utilize to communicate to students about potential colleges, majors, and career paths. Our NextGrad digital sign and posters will soon be on our campus to assist our goal of having every student college, career, and life ready.

After a nail-biter victory over Nicolet High School in the State semifinal game (final score 56-54), our boys basketball team defeated Pewaukee High School on Saturday to capture the 2024 Boys Basketball Division 2 State Championship title by a score of 83-62. The Vikings ended the season with a 30-0 record, only the second team in state history to do so. Thank you to everyone who came out to support, cheer, and watch the game all over the country. To God be the glory! Visit the WLHS Flickr account here to see all photos.

Do you have yard work or spring cleaning that needs to get done such as hedge trimming, or window washing? Consider hiring hard-working members of student council for a few hours for a free-will donation. All money raised will go to the 2023-24 WLHS mission project to support gospel outreach in the Philippines and the WELS US military chaplaincy. Work days will be held on any Saturday or Sunday starting April 7 through April 27 & 28. To request a team, please E-mail workdays@wlhs.org and include your name, address, phone number, the work you need accomplished, and the day(s) this work could be completed.

The 2024 WLHS Dinner Auction, the premier fundraising event at Wisconsin Lutheran High School, will be held on Saturday, April 13. You can play a  personal role in supporting the success and spiritual growth of our students. Registration to attend the event is open through Friday, March 22. Click here for more information. The WLHS Mission Advancement office is looking for item donations and sponsorships.

Spanish teachers Mrs. Cheryl Belott ('98) and Mrs. Kaitlin Hernández spent three days in Minneapolis last weekend at the Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. They attended workshops and presentations with passionate language teachers from all over the midwest and beyond, and they returned excited to share new ideas with our language students at Wisco.

The Construction Skills Woods class is once again building and offering for sale two sheds. The sheds are 10X12 with six foot wide doors in the front. If you're interested in one of these sheds, or a different size shed, please contact Mr. Joel Radue at joel.radue@wlhs.org. Please note the following points if you are considering a shed on your property:

Fifteen schools and 82 high school students put their culinary and management skills to the test in the ProStart Invitational at Madison College on March 14. Wisco sent four students to compete as a team in the culinary competition. They prepared a three course meal and were judged by foodservice industry professionals and college educators on teamwork, presentation, cooking procedures, knife skills, and sanitation. Click here to see the delicious menus prepared by talented students.

Classes will not meet during Easter break which begins on Good Friday, March 29, and runs through Friday, April 5. Our offices will be closed March 29 and April 1, and open for limited hours April 2-5. School will resume on Monday, April 8.

Viking Steel is looking to use a 40 inch flatbed trailer to accommodate the growing steelpan group. A trailer is needed for summer parades to carry the group along the route — steel pans don't seem to march well! While not needed the entire summer, the flexibility to use the flatbed trailer throughout summer would allow the group to sign up for upcoming parades before May. For more information, please contact Director of Bands Mr. Quinten Petersen at quinten.petersen@wlhs.org.

Senior Kon Knueppel, his teammates, and coaches are enjoying the success of an undefeated basketball season ending in a State Championship. If that weren't enough, Kon has more opportunities to add accolades. Fans are encouraged to vote for Kon as the Wissports Athlete of the Week. Click here to vote, once per day on multiple devices, through Thursday, March 21, at 2:00 p.m. In addition, Kon has also received MaxPreps High School Player of the Year and the 2024 title of Wisconsin Mr. Basketball.

For nearly 40 years, March has been designated as Music In Our Schools Month®. Music has a positive impact in the lives of our students and lasts a lifetime. This month alone WLHS has many opportunities to showcase the musical talents of our students including: the spring musical The Little Mermaid, the spring band concert (pictured), the sacred choral concert, and Viking Steel spring concert. Our thanks to the hardworking teachers in our fine arts music department!

Everyone is invited to the Spring Sacred Choral Concert on Sunday, March 24, at 3:00 p.m. under the theme "Of Song, Soul, and Spirit” in the WLHS auditorium. Freshman and A Cappella Choirs, Inspiration, Jubilation, and the newly formed WLHS string ensemble will perform. General admission seating is first-come-first-served; free will offering is available. Click here for livestream link.

Everyone is invited to the Spring Viking Steel Band Concert on Friday, March 22, at 7:00 p.m. The concert will be held in the auditorium and features all three steel bands with special guest Northern Illinois University Steelband. The concert is free and general admission. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Click here for livestream link.

Zavier Zens ('26) is in the hunt for athlete of the week. You can vote for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Leafguard Athlete of the Week until 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 23. You don't have to be a subscriber to vote. Votes are limited to one per hour, per device. Click here to vote.

The Waukesha County Business Alliance partners with WLHS, colleges, and local businesses to offer career-based learning experiences in the Schools2Skills program. This week students toured Glenroy Inc., a flexible packaging producer, to see firsthand advanced and innovative technology in a manufacturing pathway. Students were able to see all parts of production at the factory along with asking questions about potential careers within Glenroy. The afternoon session involved a trip to UW-Milwaukee for a tour of the campus and highlighting key majors the university offers to students. Students were exposed to career clusters connected to the morning manufacturing session. We thank Waukesha County Business Alliance for continued support to help our students learn about careers in our area!

Under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) rule, all primary and secondary schools are required to develop and implement a plan for managing all building materials which contain asbestos. Included in the AHERA Act is the requirement to annually notify all workers and building occupants (or their guardians) of asbestos-related activities. Beginning in 1988, all buildings owned, leased, or under the control of WLHS were inspected by EPA accredited inspectors, with building material samples analyzed by an independent laboratory.

Check out reviews of the Lunar New Year celebration and Black History Month program at WLHS. Read editorials on Valentine's Day, college football and more in the March edition of the student newspaper—the Pilot. Click here to read the latest edition.

WELS Regional Band Fest gathers the top musicians from WELS Lutheran High Schools in our region, for a weekend of mutually-edifying performance with their peers. To be selected is a distinct honor. Wisco is sending 17 students this year's regional band fest held at Great Plains Lutheran High School, in Watertown, South Dakota on March 15-17. The theme this year is From Sea to Shining Sea. Our very own band director and fine arts coordinator, Mr. Quinten Petersen, has been selected as the percussion clinician, along with head clinician Dr. Terry Beckler professor of percussion, bands and music education at Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D.

Can the #2 Forest Elephant outlast the #15 Honey Bee? Who will survive and advance in the #8 vs #9 matchup between the Himalayan Monal and the Nicobar Pigeon? Mr. Tim McEachern's ('99) Biology classes are joining students from around the world in the 2024 March Mammal Madness Tournament (MMM). Since 2013, MMM asks the question “Who Would Win?” when two animals encounter each other in an absurdly complex and wonderfully nerdy way . . . a simulated tournament within a structured game universe! Fill out your own bracket here to play along.

Congratulations to our varsity boys basketball team and their coaches who are headed to the WIAA State semifinals in Madison on Friday, March 15. Their most recent 80-59 win over Racine Park last Saturday at Burlington earned our Vikings a sectional championship and the State semifinal berth.

Our semifinal opponent on Friday is Nicolet High School from Glendale. Game time is 1:35 p.m. at the Kohl Center (601 W. Dayton Street) in Madison. Our thanks to the Milwaukee Fire Department who will provide a fire engine escort of our team bus to the freeway when they leave at 11:00 a.m. We are also pleased to announce that senior Ella Westphal will sing the national anthem before the game against Nicolet.

Kings of the Court, a mission-project fundraising event, will be held on Thursday, March 21, at 6:00 p.m., when student and faculty volleyball teams battle it out on the court in our main gym. The winning team takes on Wisco's girls varsity volleyball in the culminating game of the night. Admission into the games is $3 and will be taken at the door. All proceeds support the 2023-24 mission project to WELS Military Services to fund chaplains, and to the Friends Network (formerly Friends of China).

There will be no school and offices will be closed on Friday, March 15, to allow our students and staff to cheer on the varsity boys basketball team at State finals. Students who have signed up for the fan bus are reminded that the buses will leave promptly at 11:15 a.m. The fan bus will return to school after the game.

Wisco seniors learned important lessons about finances at the Reality Store on March 12. After receiving an assigned life situation (marital status, children, debt, etc.), along with a "paycheck" based on the job they were assigned and hope to have as an adult, students stopped at various stations to create a budget. Along the way, students "run into" real life expenses such as car repairs, medical bills, vet expenses or child care. Thank you to all our volunteers who helped to make this event valuable for our students!

The SCRIP year ends on Sunday, March 31. There are two dates left to order, March 20 and 27. ScripNow and Reload orders can be placed until March 31 (click here for more info) and will be credited for the current rebate year. SCRIP rebates will be finalized the first week of April and applied to either your tuition account, a rebate check, or rolling it over for future use. If you have a change of rebate request or if you do not remember what you chose, E-mail scrip@wlhs.org in the next week. We will follow your original designation if not contacted. Beginning April 1, all proceeds for purchases will be credited towards the 2024-25 school year.

In March, the Viking-2-Viking presentation focused on the field of healthcare. Interested juniors and seniors met to learn more from three of our alumni: Dr. Christopher Roberts ('00) Assistant Professor in Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Mr. Cody J. Fitzwilliams B.S., CNMT ('03) Global Services MICT Technical Instructor, GE Healthcare, and Ms. Hannah Braun ('05) Physician Assistant, Wauwatosa Pediatrics. We thank our alumni for taking time from their busy schedules to share their knowledge and experiences with our students.

Students in Mr. Sam Wallace's World Geography classes had a chance to learn from Milwaukee Alderwoman Larresa Taylor about food deserts. Food deserts are areas where people have limited access to a variety of healthful foods. This may be due to having a limited income or living far away from sources of healthful and affordable food. Grace Raymond ('24) said of the presentation, "It really put things into perspective how food deserts are a local problem. Alderwoman Taylor represents Milwaukee District 9, and has been instrumental in building new grocery stores as well as redeveloping the old Northridge Mall area to bring in better businesses."

Craftsman with Character is a career-based learning experience WLHS has been studying in the 2023-24 school year. CwC recently started in Edgerton, WI at Edgerton Gear Inc. through sponsorship with the US Navy and has now expanded to the Milwaukee area. The creation of CwC was a response to the need for every high school student to develop skills necessary to become career and life ready. The program consists of field visits to local companies in business and trade pathways along with a curriculum that focuses on character development. Participating in this program also links students who are going directly to the workforce after high school to potential employers in the Milwaukee area. Click here to learn more about CwC.

Sunday, March 10, marks the beginning of daylight saving time. Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour Saturday night. While this means we will lose an hour of sleep Saturday night, we look forward to the extra hours of sunlight and hopefully spring-like weather to come!

Students in Mrs. Bauer's Modern World History classes were tasked with discovering a topic that interested them during World War I and creating a poster to describe their topic. Some topics chosen included Rags the Dog, The Unknown British Soldier, Henry Johnson, Aileen Cole Stewart as well as some better known characters like U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Soviet Union Leader Vladimir Lenin or Russian mystic Grigori Rasputin. With our library as a resource, these historians uncovered the value of untold stories.

There will be no school for all freshmen and sophomores on Tuesday, March 12, due to juniors taking the ACT and the seniors participating in the Reality Store. Freshmen and sophomores will be taking the PreACT on April 16.

On March 4, Wisco welcomed back alum Emily Kratz ('97) to address our student body about overcoming obstacles with faith. Ms. Kratz shared the importance of the role faith plays in facing personal challenges, not just physical ones. Ms. Kratz lives in Minneapolis and works for Microsoft. She is a triathlete and extreme racer who has regularly competed in tests of endurance in locations such as the Sahara Desert and the Arctic Circle.

On Tuesday, March 12, all seniors will participate in the annual Reality Store, under Business Department Coordinator Mr. Jason Goede's direction. The goal of this event is to teach our seniors how to spend, share, and save their God-given finances. Volunteers come in to help teach financial literacy to the students as they walk through a month of bill paying and dealing with the unexpected expenses (e.g. car repairs, medical bills) that adults experience. This is a mandatory school day for seniors. Students will be dismissed by 1:00 p.m. A limited grab and go breakfast will be served until 9:00 a.m., and pizza will be available for lunch at no cost to our students.

Sophomore Izabella Riebe is adding accolades to her young career. As a freshman, Riebe captured both sectional and State runner up in her weight class. This year, she again took home sectional honors as well as third place in her class at State. After voting by conference coaches, Riebe was named the 2024 Woodland Conference Female Wrestler of the Year, her second year in a row. Congratulations! Stay tuned for two more exciting seasons with this student athlete.

Everyone is invited to an afternoon of music on Sunday, March 10, at 3:00 p.m. in the WLHS auditorium as the band department performs their spring concert under the theme “This Wide Earth.” Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, and Woodwind Ensemble will all perform. Seating is general admission. A livestream link to the concert can be found on the wlhs.org livestream page here.

WLHS closed the curtain March 3 on the musical production of The Little Mermaid. Between the two grade school performances and public shows, almost 4,000 visitors were welcomed. The production showcased the work of more than 100 of our students and sold out shows on Saturday and Sunday. We thank our musical director, Mr. Justin Liepert, the cast and crew of The Little Mermaid, as well as all of the staff members involved to make this an outstanding show.

Beginning on Monday, March 11, enrollment contracts will be available in your onCampus account (login here). A non-refundable enrollment deposit per student is required by Sunday, March 31, to reserve your student's seat for the upcoming school year and to ensure course scheduling priority. This deposit is part of your student's total tuition for the school year, not an additional fee. The enrollment deposit does not apply to MPCP or WPCP students; however, ALL families need to complete the enrollment contract. The MPCP enrollment contracts are due by Friday, March 8. The enrollment deposit is due at the time you submit your enrollment contract by electronic check or credit card. Regular monthly payments are due on the 1st or 15th of the month depending on the date chosen in the contract. Monthly payments can be made in person at WLHS (cash or check), via electronic check or credit card in your Tuition Management account through OnCampus, or over the phone with Smart Tuition (888-868-8828).

The boys basketball team won back-to-back games this past weekend in a strong start on their way to State finals. On Friday, the boys defeated their first opponent, Waukesha South High School, by a score of 79-38. The next night the team dominated visiting Whitnall High School 82-49 en route to winning their fourth consecutive regional crown. To read a full recap of the game, click here.

Wisco advances to sectional finals on Thursday, March 7, against Pius XI. The game will be played at Wilmot Union High School at 7:00 p.m. Click here, to purchase tickets in advance online.

Junior students are reminded that they are required to take the ACT on Tuesday, March 12, as a part of their school-day schedule. Juniors should arrive promptly by 7:30 a.m. A limited grab and go breakfast will be available that morning. Students may bring a calculator for the math portion of the ACT; however, if they don't bring one of their own, there will not be one provided for them. Students will not be admitted to the testing rooms after the test has started. Parents, there is no cost. Students should stop by the Student Services Office for information to set up an ACT account as well as receive a test preparation booklet. This is an official ACT test. Scores from this test are necessary for most college applications. Dismissal will be at 12:30 p.m.  Pizza will be served for lunch at no cost to our students.

"My journey at Wisco has been amazing since the beginning. The school has an exceptional program for international students. The teachers and supervisors are also truly prepared to make our transitions and lives easier. The international students in the dorms and host families are genuinely nice and kind, and I got close to them sooner than I would have ever expected."

Thirty-two students in Wisco's Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) competed at the Regional Leadership Conference held at the Mary D. Bradford High School in Kenosha, Wis. on February 3. More than 4,200 FBLA members from across Wisconsin demonstrated their business skills competitively in 60 plus events. Some of these events included job interview, entrepreneurship, accounting, social media campaign, public speaking, digital video presentation, electronic career portfolio, computer problem solving, and many more. Fourteen of our students qualified for FBLA state competition in April and 21 of our 32 students placed in the top 5. Highlights included:

2024 WIAA Individual Wrestling State Championships were held at the Kohl Center in Madison this past weekend. Congratulations to Izabella Riebe ('26) (235) who won by a pin over Kiley Georgel (Luxemburg-Casco Girls) in 3:28 in the final round taking home third place in Division II at State.

Congratulations to senior Hilary Ramirez who received the prestigious Caroline Scholars Scholarship from Mount Mary University. This four-year scholarship aimed at students with a passion for social justice, covers full tuition, food, and housing totalling approximately $40,000 a year. Said Hilary of this opportunity, "You don't see a lot of these types of scholarships available. You don't have to be super athletic or super smart you just have to be passionate."

Cree Myles is a professional reader, social media influencer, and inaugural editor and curator of a black literature podcast through Penguin Random House. Ms. Myles spoke to students in Mrs. Shakirah Cousin's African American studies class. She broke down ways to reach reading goals, emphasized the importance of reading, and gave pointers on how the class can successfully complete an upcoming assignment on podcasts for their book reviews.

Wisconsin Lutheran High School is in need of volunteers to assist with Viking Volunteers, game day operations, and coaching. Opportunities include booster club leaders who open, close, and manage the concession stand as well as sell WLHS apparel during home athletic events. Please fill out the volunteer form at https://bit.ly/wlhsvolunteers or contact Athletic Director Micah Walz at micah.walz@wlhs.org.

On February 23 & 24, the WLHS music department participated in the 2024 Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) District Solo & Ensemble Festival. With over 130 students participating in 86 different events, Wisco brought home 243 gold medals and 27 silver medals. Soloists from every graduation year earned trips to the state festival. Several students will still be attending other festivals and we expect our gold medal count to surpass 250. Congratulations to all who participated! Click here for a list of performers.

We are pleased to share that WLHS is joining many schools around the world by providing a Xello account to every student and parent starting in the 2024-25 school year. Xello is an Academic and Career Planning (ACP) system which will offer families a wider experience and bring all stakeholders together in the ACP process. All information in a student’s Naviance account will be transferred to Xello this summer. Access and information to a student’s Naviance account will be available until August 1, 2024.

An important post secondary readiness tool is now available to the WLHS family which helps all stakeholders in the conference guide our students toward post secondary success. Please click here to view the WLHS College, Career & Life Readiness Blueprint. Our hope is that this scorecard will be a reflective piece for students, parents, and staff as we work together to prepare every student for productive Christ-centered lives in a diverse world. This blueprint can be found on our website along with other helpful resources.

WLHS is pleased to provide each senior with a free graduation yard sign. Signs may be customized with the student's first name or simply grad. Additional signs are available for purchase at the cost of $10 per sign. Information was e-mailed on February 15 to all seniors and their parents. The deadline to order your sign is Thursday, March 14. Seniors may pick up their signs, along with their yearbook, on Thursday, May 16.

WLHS opened its doors on February 18 to dozens of grade school children for our annual Kids Carnival. Children participated in games, face painting, crafts, and more with the help of WLHS Student Council members. The event raised nearly $900, and proceeds go toward this year's Our Hands For His Service mission projects, the Friends Network in the Philippines and WELS Military Services.

Cool Beans, a barbershop quartet with the Sweet Adelines International organization, stopped by to deliver a singing Valentine to the Freshman Choir. These ladies are also members of the Crosstown Harmony Chorus, a local regional chapter of Sweet Adelines. Member Rochelle Hackmann ('86) (pictured right) is a WLHS graduate and a member at St. Jacobi Lutheran Church in Greenfield. We thank the ladies for their performance and for inspiring the Freshman Choir with their four-part barbershop harmonies!

Fifteen WLHS wrestlers qualified to compete at the 2024 WIAA Individual Sectional Championship at Wauwatosa West High School last Saturday. Congratulations to our girls who won the girls sectional as a team. Five of those wrestlers captured sectional championships and will move on to compete at the 2024 WIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships. Congratulations to Izabella Riebe ('26) (235), Dakota Allen ('25) (132), Maraihya Brown ('25) (165), Amos Ebeling ('25) (106), and Leah Lawrence ('25) (138). Matches begin Thursday, February 22, at 3:00 p.m. at the Kohl Center (601 W Dayton Street) in Madison.

Winter break is next Thursday, February 29, and Friday, March 1. There will be no school those days. The school office hours will be 8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. on Thursday and 8:00 a.m. –1:00 p.m. on Friday. Classes resume on Monday, March 4.

We want the meal program at our school to be the best it can be. WLHS food service company, Taher, is asking students and parents to take a brief survey by clicking here. Thank you in advance for taking the time to answer the questions to help Taher better serve our school.

On Ash Wednesday, February 14, Campus Pastor Phil Huebner ('99) led a special chapel service that brought a focus to the beginning of the Lenten season. The theme of our campus worship this Lent is The Places of the Passion. Each Wednesday we will contemplate a different location where Jesus stopped along his path to redeem us: Gethsemane, The High Priest’s Palace, Pilate’s Court, The Way of Sorrows, and Golgotha.

Are you interested in donating blood? Register to donate on Monday, February 26 (sign up here) or Tuesday, February 27 (sign up here). The blood drive is held in the atrium at WLHS. Sign-ups are open until the day of the drive. Students who are 16-years-old and wish to donate blood will need to have the parental consent form here filled out. Please consider donating to save up to three lives!

Congratulations to Jayla Rankin ('24) who scored her 1000th point in her high school career at the game on February 9. Jayla joins fellow senior Jazzmine Smith (picture three) as only the third Lady Viking to achieve this milestone in Wisco girls basketball history.

Open enrollment for the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program is going on now. All current WLHS families participating in MPCP must re-apply online each year at the link here. MPCP families can email documents to choice@wlhs.org. Open enrollment closes Tuesday, February 20. For more information about MPCP, click here.

Congratulations to our seniors Kirstin Neuwirth and Frank An Quan-Pham who have advanced to National Merit Finalist standing. Kirstin and Frank are now in the top ten percent of the more than 1.5 million students who initially entered the National Merit Scholarship Competition their junior year.

There is no school for students on Presidents Day, Monday, February 19. Teachers have professional development that day. The school office hours will be 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

The following is an update on the calls that were received and extended at WLHS:

• Mr. Paul Habermann declined our call to teach engineering courses and direct Project Lead the Way.
• Mr. Landon Zacharyasz accepted our call to serve as principal.
• Mr. James Brandt declined his call to serve as Executive Director for Fox Valley Lutheran School.

We are entering into the WIAA Tournament Season for winter sports. Please note that student ID's and passes, as well as family and staff passes, do not admit us to playoff athletic contests, home or away. Ticket prices for WIAA playoff games vary with the sport and level of game.

Nine Wisco boys headed to the WIAA Wrestling Regional on February 10 at Menomonee Falls High School. All nine boys qualified for the WIAA Individual Sectional Championship on February 17 at Wauwatosa West High School. Four wrestlers claimed regional championships:

Update: This position has since been filled.

Wisconsin Lutheran High School is seeking a registered school nurse (RN) to coordinate health services to students and employees at WLHS and ensure that all health services comply with Federal and State laws and standards. This is a 30 hour per week position that serves only when school is in session. The RN will provide assistance and care of sick and injured students, maintain health and medical documentation for the school, perform medical procedures as necessary, and is part of the educational team for health education and promotion. Candidates must be a member in good standing in a WELS congregation. For a full job description or to submit a resume, contact hr@wlhs.org.

New Year parties aren't limited to a countdown on the evening of December 31! WLHS recently hosted a global New Year party to celebrate New Year traditions from around the world. As part of the festivities, WLHS international alumni submitted video greetings to our Wisco family. Click here to enjoy the video compilation!

On January 26, at South Milwaukee High School, Kon II Knueppel ('24) became Wisco's all-time leading scorer in boys' basketball. With the victory that night, Coach Ryan Walz ('92) reached his 300th win as the boys varsity basketball coach. On February 6, at West Allis Central High School, Kon also became the school's all-time leading rebounder. The 2023-24 Viking team has won 19 straight games and has surpassed the 2008-09 state title team for the second-longest winning streak to start a season in school history. Only the 21-0 team of 1965-66 has enjoyed a better start. We congratulate Kon, Coach Walz, and the varsity basketball team on a successful season and cheer them on as they make a run for another state title.

The girls varsity basketball team is taking a turn at grabbing some impressive stats for the 2023-24 season. Led by seniors Chloe Koschnitzke, Jayla Rankin, Madelyn Reneau, and Jazzmine Smith, the girls have a chance to finish with one of the school's highest girls basketball conference standings, since the girls won the conference in 2014. On Tuesday, Jazzmine scored her 1,000th career point. Jazzmine is only the second Viking in Wisco girls history to achieve this milestone. This year, Jayla became our school's all-time leader in three-point shots made, surpassing the old record of 108 career 3 point makes. The team eagerly awaits the WIAA State playoff brackets which come out Sunday, February 11.

On February 6, WLHS celebrated black history month with a school-wide assembly under the theme "And Still I Rise." Assistant Principal C.L. Whiteside ('06) opened with a message about what brings us together and unites us as brothers and sisters in Christ. Students poured hours into rehearsals and film editing to showcase excellence in the African-American community. From the Harlem Renaissance to Jazz and Hip-Hop, the arts were on display. Students performed a jazz number, solo and small group recitations, step and hip-hop routines, as well as Gospel songs with Praise Dancers. Video clips showcased the history of rap music and college marching bands. What a wonderful reminder that the body of Christ has individual talents that can work in harmony to the glory of God.

On February 3, WLHS alum and track & field coach Mr. Eric Lueck ('87) was inducted into the Wisconsin Track Coaches Hall of Fame at a luncheon ceremony in Middleton, Wis. After accepting the award, Coach Lueck shared a heartfelt message about what a privilege it is to work as a coach and teacher. "I'm thankful for the ministry at Wisco, the support of my family and colleagues, and we get to do this all while keeping Jesus' love as the purpose behind all that we do."

Scott Cousins II ('24) signed his letter of intent with the Biola University Division 2 Track & Field program. Scott has had a successful track & field career here at WLHS, and plans to continue throwing at Biola University, in La Mirada, Cal. Scott intends to pursue a major in Cinema and Media Arts with the goal to become a director.

On February 2, English Department Coordinator, Amy Goede ('94), attended a free online symposium offered by the University of Southern California entitled "The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models in the Writing Class." From sessions on the flaws and possibilities caused by the coding used to create AI generators to harnessing the power of Chat GPT in a writing class, this symposium provided a wealth of information and ideas on how to train our students to use this fast-growing technology in an ethical and productive way.

National School Counseling Week highlights the impact school counselors have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. At WLHS, we are blessed to have dedicated Christian counselors in the Student Services department who are focused on getting students ready for life after high school. Counselors offer guidance in the areas of academics, college and career readiness, and mental health.

As part of a unit on fibers and fabrics, students in Fashion Tech Two experimented with the properties of cotton — absorbency and color-fastness — by tie dying t-shirts in class. Most of the students did traditional tie dye patterns, but Rhiannon Gantner ('24) tried the ice cube method of putting dry dye on ice cubes placed on top of her shirt. Once the ice melts, the colors blend into the shirt. Who says you can't have fun while learning!

The Wisconsin Project is an independent program run by the Wisconsin Optometric Association (WOA), a non-profit association of optometrists. The program offers comprehensive eye care services to children age 18 and under who are from low income, working families and have no insurance which covers vision and eye health care. For more information and to submit an application, visit their website here or contact student counselor Katie Chavez at katie.chavez@wlhs.org.

Students at Honey Creek Hall organized a weekend event focused on do-it-yourself (DIY) flower arrangements, brightening their living space with some spring colors. The students assembled vibrant bouquets and also crafted personalized cards to gift to their friends. The organizers, seniors Gene Kantakanishtha and Minori Higashi, hoped to give their classmates a break from routine, enjoy some social interaction, and brighten up the winter atmosphere.

Students in the WLHS Residential Program enjoyed their annual trip to attend a professional basketball game. On January 13, the hometown Milwaukee Bucks defeated the popular Golden State Warriors in a close match. After the game, the WLHS group enjoyed the special opportunity of walking onto the court and each getting a chance to take a shot at the free throw line.

January had its moments of cold and snow, but students were able to enjoy some fun indoor activities to help fight the cabin fever. One group went to watch the Wave, Milwaukee’s professional indoor soccer team, who defeated the Dallas Sidekicks in an exciting match. Another group sang their favorite songs at their own private karaoke suite. Upcoming trips include ice skating, a trampoline park, and a professional hockey match.

On Friday, March 1, the WLHS Choral Associates will host "Spaghetti and Songs," an evening of dinner and entertainment featuring Wisco Kids Show Choir and Inspiration Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Dinner is served from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. The meal is "all-you-can-eat" and includes spaghetti with red sauce or chicken alfredo, garlic bread, salad, beverages, and desserts. Tickets can be purchased at the door: $10 for adults and $7 for students through high school. Children three-and-under eat free.

Arabian Nights Winter Festival 2024 was a royal success! The week's activities included dress-up days, lunchtime activities, a movie night, and a competitive dodgeball tournament. At the festival pep rally, cheer, dance, and step teams performed, classes competed for the loudest battle cry, and basketball and wrestling teams were introduced. Senior Scott Cousins was crowned Festival King.

WLHS held a blessing of the flag ceremony during chapel on January 29. Joanne Lee ('25), our international student from Singapore, carried her home country's flag, which WLHS Conference President Rev. Dr. Ken Fisher blessed. Joanne, who transferred to Wisco at the beginning of this semester, is the first student from Singapore to attend our school.

WLHS held a blessing of the flag ceremony during chapel on January 29. Joanne Lee ('25), our international student from Singapore, carried her home country's flag, which WLHS Conference President Rev. Dr. Ken Fisher blessed. Joanne, who transferred to Wisco at the beginning of this semester, is the first student from Singapore to attend our school.

Come for a special night organized by students to promote mental health awareness at WLHS on Friday, February 2, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. This event is open to everyone, so bring your family and siblings along! Wear green to show your support. Event highlights include: alumnus speaker, mental health expert, student performances, student art exhibit, and an interactive makerspace. Light refreshments will also be provided. Click here to purchase tickets online for $4 or, students may pay $3 cash through Student Services. All proceeds will go toward funding counseling services for WLHS students with Christian Family Solutions.

Congratulations to English teacher Mrs. Stacy Bitter who received her doctorate from Alverno College with a degree in K-12 Leadership. Dr. Bitter defended her dissertation called "Young Adolescents' Perceptions of Reading Interventions" in December 2023. Motivated to better serve her students, Dr. Bitter completed her study in two and half years, no summers off, alongside her full time job at WLHS.

Disney's The Little Mermaid is coming to our WLHS stage on Friday and Saturday, March 1 and 2, at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 3 at 1:00 p.m. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, February 9, at 10:00 a.m. and can be purchased online here.

Eddie Rynders ('24), a Kent State baseball recruit, was selected for the prestigious Super 60 Pro Showcase! This invitation-only event held in Chicago, Illinois, on February 4, features only the top draft prospects in the Prep Baseball's expansive coverage area and allows players to demonstrate their skills to scouts.

Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) is excited to announce a series of engaging events designed to showcase their diverse offerings and provide valuable insights into their programs. Whether you're considering furthering your education or seeking hands-on experiences, WCTC has something for you.

WLHS is excited to have another alumni, Miss Claire Leverence ('19), join our staff. She is serving in our English department teaching composition classes. Ms. Leverence is a recent graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran College and earned a degree in Secondary Education Broadfield Language Arts (English and Communication). Miss Leverence is a member at Grace Lutheran Church, Milwaukee. In her free time, Miss Leverence likes to run, read, crochet, thrift, write, and enjoy outdoor activities.

Step right up and try your luck at over 45 fun games! Wisconsin Lutheran High School will be hosting the Kid's Carnival on Sunday, February 18, from 1:00-3:30 p.m. Children age 3 through third grade are invited to play games, meet live animals, and participate in other fun activities. Carnival tokens and wristbands can be purchased at the door, or online by clicking here.

As a convenience to our families, Blackbaud Tuition Management provides year end statements that list payments made to a family's Tuition Management account for the 2023 calendar year and includes the required tax ID number for Wisconsin Lutheran. Access your statement by logging in to your account through onCampus here, click on Resources, then Smart Tuition. From there you can click on "Family Year End Statement" which will trigger a PDF download to your computer. If you have any questions, contact Mrs. Becky Glass at becky.glass@wlhs.org or 414-453-4567 ext. 2291.

Wisconsin Lutheran High School is pleased to announce the academic top ten for the Class of 2024:

1. Kirstin Neuwirth (Star of Bethlehem Lutheran Church & School, New Berlin)
2. Ana Sofija Velijkovic (Kragujevic, Serbia)
3. Stephen Miller (Christ the Lord Lutheran Church & School, Brookfield)
4. Madelyn Winter (Christ Lutheran Church, Big Bend & Mt. Calvary Lutheran School, Waukesha)
5. Jackson Rossman (St. Paul's Lutheran Church & School, Muskego)
6. May Moe Thu Han (Yangon, Myanmar)
7. Mason Marrari (Star of Bethlehem Lutheran Church & School, New Berlin)
8. Nathaniel Crowder (Grace Lutheran Church, Milwaukee & St. John's Lutheran School, Wauwatosa)
9. Judah Borgwardt (Living Word Lutheran Church, Waukesha & Christ the Lord Lutheran School, Brookfield)
10. Tyler Heiman (Living Hope Lutheran Church, West Allis & Lamb of God Lutheran School, West Allis)

WLHS held its annual "In the Image" Fashion Show on January 21. The event presents fashions from a variety of vendors as modeled by WLHS students. This year, the Sharon A. Schoeneck (’79) "In the Image" Scholarship was awarded to three junior female students Sydney Biebert ('25), Emerson Glodowski ('25), and Kenly Frey ('25), who have achieved academic success and demonstrated community and volunteer service.

The New Berlin Junior Woman's Club (NBJWC) is excited to announce their 5th annual Pop-up Boutique held at the New Berlin Community Center (14750 W. Cleveland Ave., New Berlin) on January 27 & 28. This is an opportunity to sell your prom, homecoming, winter formal dresses as well as cocktail and evening gowns. All items must be clean, untorn, and in saleable condition. Click here for the flier.

Join us for 2024 Winter Festival pep rally in the main gymnasium at school on Friday, January 26, at 2:15 p.m. We will follow our pep rally schedule as noted here in the student handbook and planner. Classes end at 2:15 p.m. to allow for an all-school pep rally which concludes at 3:00 p.m. Parents are welcome to join us, but be ready for some noise!

In recent years, WLHS has developed a partnership with our WELS mission on the Caribbean island of Antigua. God has blessed St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church and School there with significant growth: 350 students attend their school and worship services on Sunday are at capacity. Each fall, WLHS holds a school-wide drive to collect resources for St. John's. Typically, five students and Pastor Huebner deliver the donation which this year was five computers, two projectors and 220 new Bibles.

One of the blessings of a WLHS education is the opportunity to support WELS missions at home and abroad. On January 19, after chapel, Campus Pastor Huebner announced the United States mission trips for this summer. All students are welcome to apply, however; upperclassmen receive preference for selection. Applications, including the parent and student form and release of liability, are due Friday, January 26, at 3:00 p.m. 

The Viking-2-Viking program invites WLHS alumni to talk about their job and education path with Wisco juniors and seniors. Last week the Viking-2-Viking topic focused on careers in real estate. Thank you to the following alumni who shared their experiences and insights with our students:

Reality Store, our annual financial literacy event, takes place on Tuesday, March 12, from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. To give our seniors an opportunity to learn about wise stewardship of their time and resources, we are in need of volunteers on this date. Those with experience in the areas of insurance and cars are helpful, but we have many areas where life experience is valuable when working with our young people. If you can spare a few hours of time, please contact Mr. Jason Goede at jason.goede@wlhs.org.

More than 75 students, from 6th-12th grades, attended the WLHS Trade Fair on January 18 where they could speak with representatives from 14 local businesses. Businesses included in the event were: Guhring, Inc., Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC), Coach USA, Straight Line Automotive Upholstery, Carpentry Union, and Ultra Tool. Events like these help our students discover future job paths or encourage them to sign up for classes that they can take in high school or college. Stay tuned for future events through WLHS Student Services.

Arabian Nights based on the Disney movie Aladdin is the theme for 2024 Festival. Student council has planned exciting dress-up days, lunch-time activities, a movie night, dodgeball tournament, pep rally when a Festival king is crowned, and a dance.

• WLHS Course Catalog
• WLHS Career Pathways Catalog

The Civil Rights movement in this country led by Martin Luther King, Jr. and others brought attention to the biblical value of respect and honor for all people whom God created in his image. Though imperfect in this life, civic freedom is based upon the freedom from sin, death and the devil that Christ has won for all people. Annually WLHS formally gives thanks to God for civil rights and spiritual freedom in Christ with a special service. This year inclement weather prompted us to move this service to Wednesday, January 17. Click here for the livestreamed service.

UPDATE: This position has now been filled.

Wisconsin Lutheran High School is looking for staff to supervise students in a study hall environment in both large group and small group settings during school days as a Commons Supervisor. This position will also maintain study hall policies on attendance, cell phones, food, and drink, behavior, passes and study environment. Experience working in an educational field is preferred, and candidates should be members in good standing of the WELS or ELS. Submit a resume to Becky Glass at hr@wlhs.org.

All Algebra 1 students must go through testing called Measure of Academic Progress (MAP). MAP assessments are a computer adaptive achievement test which means that the computer adjusts the difficulty of the questions so that each student takes a unique test. The difficulty of each question is based on how well a student has answered previous questions. In the end, students receive a MAP RIT score which is norm-referenced to other students and represents a point on a continuous scale of learning.

New to our co-curricular clubs for the 2023-24 school year is Ski & Snowboard Club. This club offers our students a great way to get outside, meet new friends, learn a new sport or hone your skills, and enjoy the beautiful Wisconsin winters. Wisco's Ski & Snowboard Club has partnered with Little Switzerland in Slinger, Wis., to offer special pricing for lift tickets and rentals. In December, the club had its first event. More than 30 students attended!

For the month of January and February, members of the varsity football team have partnered once again with our WLHS Conference Elementary Schools for the Reading Buddy Program. Pictured here are visits to the following Lutheran Elementary Schools: Star of Bethlehem, St. John's - Mukwonago, and Living Hope. The football team will continue to visit grade schools in the next few weeks, so stay tuned to see if they visit your school next!

Due to inclement weather and school closed on Friday, Wisconsin Lutheran High School will has rescheduled its annual worship service to thank God for the civil rights movement to Wednesday, January 17. The theme of the service is I Am Free in Christ based on the text from Galatians 5:1-6, 13-21. Rev. Dr. Ken Fisher will be the presiding minister and Pastor Snowden Sims of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio, will give the address. Mrs. Becky Metzger and Mr. Jeff Krumbein will assist with worship. The service will be livestreamed here at 8:30 a.m. We will follow the morning assembly schedule that day which can be found here.

Click here to see a list of the second quarter honor roll recipients. Congratulate these students on their diligence and hard work.

The WLHS Dinner Auction will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2024. To join in the fun and receive information before the event, participants can participate and invite others to the private WLHS Auction Facebook group page here. For information about sponsorships and donating items, visit the auction web site here.

At WLHS, students have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of co-curricular activities and clubs geared to many different interests. This year, WLHS offers Rock Climbing Club for the first time. Through partnership with Adventure Rock, students explore and learn a new sport and even compete. In December, Wisco students competed with more than 300 students from around Wisconsin. Congratulations to Annalise Kuehn ('26) for placing first in Division 2 and Willamina Schaffer ('27) for placing second in Division 4.

There is no school on Monday, January 15, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Our faculty will meet for professional development. School building hours will be 8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

On Saturday, January 13 at 6:30 p.m., enjoy a captivating concert featuring the percussion ensembles of Wisconsin Lutheran High School, Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School (KML), and the Kettle Moraine Lutheran elementary schools as well as WLHS Viking Steel. The concert will be held in the KML Performing Arts Center (3399 Division Road, Jackson). Click here for a livestream recording of the concert.

The following is an update on the calls that were received and extended at WLHS:

• Mr. David Gartner and Dr. James Carlovsky declined the calls to serve as principal.
• Mr. Joel Plocher and Mr. Dave Tess declined the calls to teach engineering courses and direct Project Lead the Way.
• Ms. Elizabeth Schwartz declined the call to serve as dorm supervisor.

We welcome four new international students to Wisconsin Lutheran High School this semester!

This month we are proud to introduce Minori, a senior (Grade 12) student from Nara, Japan!

WLHS is grateful to partner with Christian Family Solutions (CFS) in their school-based counseling program. Mrs. Diana Migacz has been on campus for the past two years and will continue serving Wednesdays-Fridays. This semester, we welcome Mrs. Melissa Partl who is here on Mondays and Tuesdays. Both CFS staff are licensed professional counselors who meet with students in the Student Services office. If you feel your child could benefit from counseling services, please contact your child’s school counselor for a referral to the program.

WLHS will host a Trades Fair on Thursday, January 18 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the atrium and upper lobby. Individuals from local companies will be here to meet with students and help them learn and explore potential career pathways. Grades 6-12 are invited to attend and meet with WLHS staff in Student Services and our Trade and Technology Department.

Martin Luther College will be hosting juniors and seniors from WLHS for a Focus on Ministry event February 4-5. If you are interested in attending please contact Pastor Huebner.