News

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 resulting in a certificate of achievement that can be helpful for college admission and a resume. WLHS students often follow our Career Pathways Catalog and complete 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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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 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.

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. 

Career 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. 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. We pray for our continued planning and implementation of CTE around campus and with our Wisco partners to assist our students to be college, career, and life ready.

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!

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.

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.

InspireWI is a digital platform WLHS offers to students who may be interested in career or work based learning experiences. Throughout the year, tools and services are available to families that support career-based learning. Click here to learn more about how students can utilize InspireWI and access the state’s broad network of resources to be career ready. We encourage families to utilize InspireWI as you consider components to add to your child’s Academic and Career Plan.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

• WLHS Course Catalog
• WLHS Career Pathways Catalog

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. 

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