The School District of New Berlin created its Friend of Education Award to recognize groups and individuals who have had a significant impact on guiding the district's work in college and career readiness, workforce development and other key areas.
We truly value the important work that these Friends have done - and continue to do - to further our mutual interests and ensure our youth graduate ready to succeed in their chosen pathways.
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Members of the SDNB's Mental Health Advisory Committee were chosen as Friend of Education Award recipients for their dedication to the mental well-being of students, staff and families throughout the district. The committee, formed in 2018, includes school staff and officials, mental health professionals and parents with a collaborative focus on:
- developing proactive strategies to identify potential health-related barriers to academic success in a safe environment;
- and, providing learning to students, staff and parents around social emotional learning (SEL) and mental health issues.
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The Elmwood Home & School, Orchard Lane Parent Faculty Council, Poplar Creek Parent Teacher Organization and Ronald Reagan Home & School Association were chosen as Friend of Education Award recipients because of their consistent support of our elementary schools' faculty and students. Specifically, these organizations:
- Provide educational, fun and memorable activities for our students which enhance their educational experiences
- Plan and organize sponsored events to serve as fundraisers to benefit building activities
- Foster strong building communities by hosting parent meetings and offering volunteer opportunities throughout the school year
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Tim O'Brien Homes was chosen as a Friend of Education Award recipient for their support the district's Construction pathway. Specifically, they:
- Enabled the district to offer a new class, Construction III, as a capstone in the pathway
- Provide students with hands-on, authentic involvement in the construction building process, helping inform their post-secondary plans
- Enable our students to apply and expand skills learned in framing, roofing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC and finished carpentry
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Lab Midwest was chosen as a Friend of Education Award recipient because of the manufacturer's willingness to share their expertise in order to educate our students and community members:
- Partnered with the district on an Industry 4.0 Community Information Night to help community members understand what Industry 4.0 is and why it matters.
- Served asna advisor to the district in the development of two new courses: "How Machines Work" and "Applied Analytics: Advanced Data Science Honors".
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The Commons was chosen as a Friend of Education Award recipient for the strategic role they played in support of a new capstone course for the district's upper classmen. Some examples:
- Provided staff development opportunities for teachers of new course, Advanced Innovation & Design (iAID)
- Led regional entrepreneurial collaboration and supported district's mentor network, helping to source mentors from multiple content areas and industries
- Developed course challenges and offered framework and judges for student pitch review
- Provides off-site collaboration space for district
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The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee was named a Friend of Education Award recipient for their substantial contributions in support of a new capstone course for the district's upper classmen. Of note, they:
- Worked with the district to develop a new course, Advanced Innovation & Design (iAID), an interdisciplinary, project-based experiential capstone course.
- Deliver "pop-up" classes, provide off-site collaboration space, participate in student pitch review.
- Offer opportunity for "advanced standing/credit" for students matriculating to UWM through portfolio review by faculty with the Lubar School of Business
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Froedtert was named a Friend of Education Award recipient because of the meaningful ways they partner with the district in order to provide robust experiences for students interested in exploring healthcare careers. Namely:
- Provide students an opportunity to participate in a Health Care Academy summer program to help inform their academic and career plan
- Host facilities tours for students interested in healthcare careers as part of district's annual Careers in Action tours
- Provide speakers for SDNB's annual Career Day
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A.S. Pindel Corporation was chosen as a Friend of Education Award recipient because of the manufacturer's dedication to enhancing students' real-work experiences. Specifically, A.S. Pindel:
- Always finds a way to say "yes" to SDNB requests
- Is committed to a win-win outcome for both students and business
- Offers industry tours, career days, career coaching, mock interviews and youth apprenticeships
- Partners with multiple Youth Apprenticeship consortiums to meet the needs of all students
- Is willing to support Youth Apprenticeship to Registered Apprenticeship bridge programming
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Waukesha County Business Alliance was chosen as a Friend of Education Award recipient because of the organization's desire to serve the needs of the School District of New Berlin by:
- Promoting and supporting the role of K-12 school districts in economic development
- Collaborating around objectives shared by the SDNB and local businesses
- Serving as the ultimate connector by matching up SDNB needs with employer needs
- Playing a key role in the district's Schools 2 Skills events and manufacturing and healthcare career fairs
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The University of Wisconsin Waukesha was chosen as a Friend of Education Award recipient in gratitude for its work with the School District of New Berlin to enhance postsecondary opportunities for students. Specifically, UW-Waukesha:
- Prioritizes student needs above recruitment goals
- Is willing to explore dual enrollment to expedite time to degree in select pathways
- Is willing to provide objective postsecondary advising
- Championed SDNB's UW Colleges in High School Associate's Degree program
- Is willing to collaborate on how to address perceived barriers to shared objectives
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LindenGrove New Berlin was chosen as a Friend of Education Award recipient in gratitude for the health care organization's support of our district's Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program. Specifically, LindenGrove graciously:
- Donated $20,000 in equipment for on-site CNA lab
- Provides staff to support clinical rotations
- Has a standing commitment to hire qualified students
- Provides opportunities to build employment skills for our students with special needs
- Offers job shadows and/employment for students interested in other operational/ care areas
- Participates in the Discover New Berlin event annually
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Community Career Connections, Inc. was selected as an SDNB Friend of Education Award recipient because of the group's impact on the district's regional work. Specifically, Community Career Connections, Inc. and its President/CEO Karin Gratz Smith:
- Provided Academic and Career Planning (ACP) Mentorship (My Life! My Plan!)
- Broadened work to M7 Economic Development Region
- Modeled effective Business to Education partnerships
- Developed regional employer engagement strategies
- Informed the development of our Career and Service Learning program
- Champions Inspire of SE WI deployment
- Consistently exhibits all desired dispositions
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WCTC was selected for the 2014-15 SDNB “Friend of Education” Award because of its support of the following regional efforts:
- Waukesha County School-to-Work consortium
- Waukesha County Youth Apprenticeship consortium
- Dual Enrollment Academy Program
- Youth Options and Course Options Program support
- Transcripted Credit Program (articulation, professional development, administration)
- Providing classroom speakers and career day volunteers
Our partnership with WCTC has provided valuable insight into the project labor market and the skills and dispositions that many students will need to ensure their future success. The college has provided programs and services that have broadened not only our perspective but also that of students and their families. WCTC provides needed regional programs and services that many school districts simply could not afford to develop and sustain independently. We consider WCTC a critical partner in our efforts to ensure that all of our graduates are truly “college and career ready.”
THANK YOU to WCTC for your great work!
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The School District of New Berlin presented its inaugural Friend of Education Award in February 2014 to Junior Achievement of Wisconsin for its wide-ranging support at all grade levels.
In the elementary schools, Junior Achievement volunteers introduce financial literacy, work-readiness and entrepreneurship in classroom lessons aligned with district curriculum. This year for the first time, SDNB participated in JA’s BizTown program, which combines lessons with a daylong visit to a life-size, interactive town. Students learn how to become workers, producers and consumers as they run businesses, do banking, serve as mayor and more. SDNB piloted BizTown last year with Elmwood Elementary 5th graders and will expand it to be district-wide in 2014-15.
In the middle schools, 8th grade students explore careers with Junior Achievement’s “It’s My Future” program, learning about various jobs’ educational requirements, needed skills, salary ranges and more. At the high schools, Junior Achievement helped organize Career Days in which about 60 classroom presentations were given by professionals in a wide variety of careers.
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