Civic Music Association of Milwaukee will honor Burlington High School music teacher Penny Yanke with a Choral Educator Civic Music Award on March 30 as part of the month-long celebration of Music in our Schools Month.
Yanke took the treble a cappella choir to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in January and is leading a trip to Disney World during spring break. The choir is planning a European tour in Spring 2021.
After starting her career in Milwaukee Public Schools, Yanke returned to Burlington High School, her alma mater, in 1987. She is currently the department chair and serves as an advisor for A Cappella, B*JAZZled show choir, Here Comes Treble, and as music director for the spring musical. She advises the National Honor Society. She received her bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s degree in counseling from UW-Whitewater.
Meilke Receives Award
Heather Mielke, a mathematics teacher at Burlington High School, received the Governor’s Financial Literacy Award for 2018. The award recognizes individuals and organizations for excellence in increasing financial literacy among Wisconsin citizens. Mielke attended an awards ceremony hosted by Governor Tony Evers and the Council of Financial Literacy on March 21 at the State Capitol.
In addition to teaching in the math department, Meilke organizes BHS’s Reality Fair that takes place once a year for the junior class. The event helps students understand how to manage their money. Through a simulation using an online app, students earn an annual income and have to budget for necessities such as taxes and utilities and make decisions about purchases such as cars and entertainment.
“By helping students understand the importance of choosing the right career, budgeting based on their income, taxes, finances, and the implications of life choices they will make, we are striving to help them see the impact that financial responsibility can have on providing them a well-balanced, happy, and healthy life,” Mielke said.
Superintendent Search
The Burlington Area School District school board has invited three finalists to interview on April 4, 2019 for the Superintendent position.
On April 4, the public will have the opportunity to meet the three candidates in a public forum starting at 6 pm at the Burlington High School auditorium (400 McCanna Parkway, Burlington). Each 45-minute session will provide time for the candidate to introduce himself as well as time for the public to ask questions.
The three candidates include:
6:00 pm Dr. Mark Elworthy, District Administrator, Whitewater Unified School District
6:50 pm Dr. Stephen Plank, High School Principal, Middleton Cross-Plains Area School District
7:40 pm Mr. Martin McGinley, District Administrator, Wheatland J1 School District
The district received 23 applications. The school board conducted an initial round of interviews with six candidates before narrowing the list of candidates to these three finalists.
The school board hopes to have a decision by mid-April. The new superintendent is anticipated to start on July 1 to replace Peter Smet who will retire on June 30. Smet announced his retirement on January 15. He has worked for Burlington Area School District for 30 years and as Superintendent since 2012. The school board hired Wisconsin Association of School Boards consultant Roger Foegen to facilitate the process.
Graham Named Principal
The school board approved the appointment of Joel Graham as principal for Lyons Center and Winkler Elementary Schools starting in the 2019-2020 school year.
Graham’s 19 years of teaching and administration experience in the district has prepared him for this new role. He has served as Assistant Principal at Burlington High School since 2015. Before that, he taught science in the district at both Karcher Middle School and BHS.
Graham received a bachelor’s degree in Biology from UW-Eau Claire and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University. He and his wife, Sara, live in Burlington with their three children who attend Burlington Area School District schools. Graham has also served as a coach for several youth programs in the community.
Graham said, “I am excited and honored for the opportunity to serve Lyons Center and Winkler schools. Both schools have strong academic traditions and tremendous school cultures. We will continue to build on these strong traditions by working collaboratively with staff, students and families. “
Assigning one principal for the two K-4 elementary schools began in fall of 2018 with Sue Mosher filling both administrative roles. Mosher, who has served the district for 30 years as a teacher, principal at Dover, Lyons Center, and Winkler will retire on June 30.
Graham will begin in this new role on July 1, 2019. Regarding the shift from secondary to primary grades, Graham said, “At every level we need to continually develop and support students academically, socially, and emotionally. Each level provides students with unique structures and supports to gradually develop their independence. Our goal at every level is to prepare students for future success.”
All ages are welcome to create a short film for submission to the Chocolate City International Short Film Festival. Submissions are due May 24 with the Festival taking place on June 2 from 3-5 pm at the Plaza Theater. Click here for more information.
Stairway to Heroin Presentation
Burlington High School will host Your Choice to Live Inc.’s presentation “Stairway to Heroin” on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. The two-hour program starts at 6:30 p.m. with a Resource Fair taking place before the program from 6-6:30 p.m.
The purpose of Stairway to Heroin is to prepare parents to talk to children about the risks of drugs and alcohol use. Presentations will share many different perspectives on the problem including family testimonies, a detective from the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, a doctor and more. The event is open to anyone age 12 or older.
The free event takes place in the auditorium of Burlington High School, located at 400 McCanna Parkway, Burlington. For more information or to register for this FREE event, please visit: https://stairwaytoheroinbhs.eventbrite.com or contact Christina Converset or a Your Choice team member.
SPRING BREAK
There is no school from March 23-31, 2019 for Spring Break. School resumes on Monday, April 1, 2019.
