Showcase highlights student talent, achievements

Bonduel High School will highlight students’ talents and achievements Monday at the school’s inaugural Showcase, which organizers plan to make a biannual event.

The showcase will replace the traditional parent-teacher conferences and was conceived by a newly formed leadership committee consisting of first-year Principal Jane Wonderling and 10 teachers.

“They really wanted to display what our kids have done and bring the parents in as a night to celebrate, not just to go over grades and to see how they have done, but to also celebrate their successes,” Wonderling said. “It should be pretty fun.”

However, teachers will be available for one-on-one conferences with parents from 4-5 p.m. in 10-minute increments and by appointment outside of the Showcase times.

“We want parents to have access to all of our teachers and get all of their questions answered that they may have in regards to their child, or what the school can offer, both academically and co-curricular,” Wonderling said. “Our goal is to have all 330 students represented somehow in the evening.

“When the parents come in, they will see the final projects or they will see the band performing and the art projects display.”

Band director Tim Treptow is planning an interactive performance featuring his 142 choir and band students.

“We are going to do a circle performance so the audience will be at the center of it,” Treptow said. “The kids will talk about their performance as they do it.”

Wonderling said the event will allow parents to see their children’s completed work and observe demonstrations by teachers, including a gel electrophoresis lab. The lab will be presented by the science department, where teachers and students will conduct a DNA experiment.

Physical education teachers will set up a ropes course and rock climbing wall in the middle school gymnasium.

“If the parents are brave enough, they can enjoy that, too,” Wonderling said.

There will also be an information session from 5:30-7 p.m. in the high school commons for juniors, seniors and parents wishing to learn more about applying for financial aid for college. Guidance counselor Bev Pleshek will lead the discussion.

The school plans to hold a second Showcase at the end of the academic year.

Wonderling brought the leadership committee idea from her previous school, in Dodgeville, and launched it at the start of the year.

“It was a voice for the teachers to come in and say, ‘Here is how we want to work hand-in-hand with administration,’” Wonderling said. “So we are working as one; our co-curricular, our academics and our administration are all working together to serve the students.”

Treptow, who is one of leadership committee members, said every staff member will be present at the school.

“All of our staff will be doing stuff with the kids,” Treptow said.