Efforts by the School District of New Berlin (SDNB) to encourage students to complete a college-level experience while still in high school are paying off. Approximately 90 percent of graduates take advantage of a college-level experience prior to graduation. The district reports a promising trend in the relevance of student choices related to their personalized academic and career plans.

According to a new study entitled ‘Milwaukee’s Tech Talent Impact’ released last month, tech dependent industries account for $27.6 billion, or roughly one quarter, of total regional economic output. The greatest growth is projected in occupations involving business analytics and intelligence and software development. Overall, there are approximately 31,000 estimated openings in the tech talent cluster within the next 5 years. These numbers do not account for the impact of new jobs created by the investment Foxconn is making in the region.

June marks the completion of the fourth year of the School District of New Berlin’s on-site certified nursing assistant program.

The program was created to support students interested in pursuing healthcare-related careers after graduation. The district now supports approximately 50 students annually to complete the course, which includes skills training in the lab located at New Berlin Eisenhower and clinical rotations at LindenGrove New Berlin. Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) secures staffing for the course. Students from New Berlin West are provided time in their schedule and transportation as needed to take the class at Eisenhower.

“The opportunity to bring together students and elders through the CNA program has benefits far beyond classroom learning,” said Linda Joel, President and CEO of LindenGrove Communities. “The goal of LindenGrove is to enrich the lives of our residents, and having the CNA students involved in their care brings joy and purpose to everyone involved. LindenGrove is proud to help develop the healthcare professionals of the future through this strong partnership.”

A total of 417 graduates crossed the stages at New Berlin Eisenhower and New Berlin West to receive their diplomas June 9, and with that began the next phase of their lives. The accomplishments of the Class of 2018, recognized in the weeks prior during Senior Honors Nights, are a reflection not only of the students’ personal successes in and out of the classroom, but of the collective work of the SDNB community’s dedication to ensuring dynamic learning experiences that prepare our students for post-secondary success.

“As part of our ‘Vision of the SDNB Graduate’, we rely on the support from our families, post-secondary partners, businesses, community organizations and public officials to ensure our students have the opportunities necessary throughout their years with us to develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions needed to adapt and thrive in tomorrow’s global economy,” SDNB Superintendent Joe Garza said. “The role the community plays when it comes to supporting our vision of college-, career- and life-ready graduates cannot be underestimated.”

More than $5.5 million in scholarships were awarded to the district’s Class of 2018, the most-ever in district history. More than 40 percent of district’s seniors were recognized at the recent honors nights for achievements aligned with the district’s overarching objectives.

Student teams from the School District of New Berlin’s Advanced Innovation and Design program presented their culminating “pitch” to an audience of parents, friends, industry representatives, higher education leaders, community members and elected officials June 6.

Students were tasked with coming up with a unique solution to a regional issue. Most of the challenges asked them to “think digitally” as the “world of work” is moving in that direction.

Ed Javier, co-Founder of Milwaukee Startup Week, who is charged with creating a regional ecosystem that supports aspiring entrepreneurs and helps them bring their products to market, was among the guest speakers.

“It is great that your district is providing you with this opportunity,” Javier said. “However, I am a little nervous because this means the region needs to be ready to provide even more resources with this type of talent coming up the pipeline!”

Keith Harenda has been an entrepreneur for most of his professional life.

The Class of 1984 New Berlin Eisenhower alum owns and operates KPH Construction, a Milwaukee-based general contracting firm offering construction, environmental remediation, construction management and design/build services throughout the Midwest.

“Owning your own company has a lot of ups and downs,” Harenda says. “When things are going good, you feel great. Life is good. When things are hard, whether it’s [due to] the economy or struggles in business, you wonder whatever possessed you to start your own business. What is rewarding is controlling your own destiny.”

According to Harenda, his time at Eisenhower High School gave him a strong educational foundation and inspired him to start his own business. One of his teachers had even invented a game to give students an immersive business experience.

“New Berlin was and still is one of the best school systems in the state,” Harenda says. “That basic education helped prepare me for college and my business.”

The New Berlin Eisenhower community is saddened by the passing of a longtime teacher, coach, and mentor, Don Pichotta. Coach Pichotta died suddenly Tuesday, May 29th.

New Berlin, Wis. – The School District of New Berlin’s two high schools are among five Wisconsin high schools and 500 high schools nationwide to earn gold badges in the 2018 Best High Schools list released this week by U.S. News & World Report.

New Berlin Eisenhower and West continue to rank among the top high schools in the state and nationally, according to the publication. Eisenhower moved from sixth in Wisconsin last year to second this year, whileWest enjoyed a seven-spot climb in the rankings from 11th in 2017 to fourth this year.

The School District of New Berlin’s annual ‘Careers in Action’ Industry Tours provide students an opportunity to gain an understanding of careers available within specific industries while exposing them to a variety of working environments within those industries.

New Berlin, Wis. - The cast, crew, pit and directors of Eisenhower’s Into the Woods and West’s Guys and Dolls
 have combined to earn 31 Tommy Award nominations from the Overture Center for the Arts.