News & Events

Whitewater Unified School District students earned top placements in the Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association (WEMTA) statewide Battle of the Books competition, demonstrating their dedication to reading, teamwork, and critical thinking.

Students from Lakeview Elementary, Washington Elementary, Whitewater Middle School, and Whitewater High School competed against hundreds of schools. Whitewater High School’s team, “The Final Braincell,” placed third among 65 high schools. Meanwhile, Whitewater Middle School’s team, “The Red Knights” finished 19th. At the elementary level, Lakeview Elementary’s “Grumpy Monkeys” secured 23rd place, while Washington Elementary’s “Reading Costco Guys” placed 41st out of 259 teams.

“We are incredibly proud of our students’ dedication and enthusiasm for this program,” said Kathy Retzke, WUSD Library Media Specialist. “This competition is about more than books—it’s about teamwork, comprehension, and critical thinking. Our students put in countless hours preparing, and their hard work has certainly paid off.”

Each year, book lists for Battle of the Books are released on June 1, and teams form in November. Students read and analyze 20 books before competing in quiz-style “battles” in late January. Weekly meetings with advisors help teams refine their strategies and deepen their understanding.

To view full statewide rankings and more information, visit the WEMTA website at https://sites.google.com/wemta.org/battle/home.

Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by the Whitewater Unified School District.

[From myjewishlearning.com] In 2025, Passover begins on the evening of Saturday, April 12 and concludes at nightfall on Sunday, April 20 for most Jews in diaspora. Jews in the land of Israel and some Reform Jews in diaspora will end Passover on the evening of Monday, April 29th.

(From Wikipedia) Passover, also called Pesach or Pesakh (/ˈpɛsɑːx, ˈpeɪ-/;^[2] Hebrew: פֶּסַח‎ Pesaḥ) is a ritual meal, the Pesach seder, that occurs the night of the paschal full moon after the 14th of Nisan, eve of the 15th, telling the story of the exodus, and remembering how the angel of death “passed over” the houses of the Israelites during the tenth plague on Egypt. It begins Feast of Unleavened Bread that continues through the 22nd of Nisan, and is one of three pilgrimage festivals in which all Jewish males living in the land of Israel are obliged. On the 16th of Nisan, jews begin the counting of the omer, the memorial offering of the firstfruits of the barley harvest. The counting continues for seven weeks until the Feast of Shavuot, also known as Pentecost.

When the Temple in Jerusalem stood, the paschal lamb was offered and eaten on Passover eve, while the wave offering of barley was offered on the second day of the festival. Nowadays, in addition to the biblical prohibition of owning leavened foods for the duration of the holiday, the Passover seder is one of the most widely observed rituals in Judaism. In the Diaspora the unleavened bread is celebrated for 8 days, based on the concept of yom tov sheni shel galuyot.

Wisconsin Makers is adding more sessions of its popular “Copper Enameling” workshop. The “Mondays@Makers” activity will take place at the community makerspace, 200 E. Clay St., from 5 to 8 p.m. on both April 21 and 28 at the makerspace, located at 200 E. Clay St. in Whitewater.

The fee for the one-session workshop is $20 plus the price of copper used, likely $1-$10 depending on the size of the piece. Students may register by calling Chris Spangler at (920) 728-2960 or emailing her at editorspangler@gmail.com.
Payment may be made at the workshop, which is geared toward ages 10 and up.

Leading “Copper Enameling for Beginners and Beyond” is Leani Schoor of Madison. Copper enameling is a traditional technique that involves fusing powdered glass to a copper surface at high heat to create a permanent, colorful coating.

Students will be able to decorate a small dish and/or jewelry to take home that night. Schoor earned her bachelor of science degree in art education and master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She taught art at Jefferson High School for 38 years. The owner of Studio 2154 in Madison, Schoor teaches wet and needle felting, beadwork,
glass fusing, cement yard art, ceramics, copper enameling, metal work and quilting.

Mondays@Makers

Suggestions for “Mondays@Makers” classes are welcomed. “If there is a skill in the arts you are interested in learning, please let us know and we will see what we can do to help you on your journey,” Schoor said.

Located at the corner of East Clay and Wisconsin streets in Whitewater, Wisconsin Makers is a makerspace that creates an
affordable, collaborative and educational environment that inspires people of all ages to becoming innovators by unlocking their skills through continual training. It has members from Jefferson, Walworth, Rock, Dane and Waukesha counties and beyond, and all have access to the workshops around the clock.

The facility houses machine, welding/fabrication, electronics, automotive, 3-D printing, laser engraving and woodworking shops. It also offers pottery, ceramics, metal art, quilting, fabric arts, matting/framing and more. The building is accessible and has off-street parking, Wi-Fi, and many other amenities.

For more information about the makerspace or workshops, contact Chris Spangler at (920) 728-2960.

 Seamless transfer opportunities for students pursuing fitness, recreation, and wellness careers

Madison College and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater have forged a new articulation agreement to enhance the success of students pursuing careers in the fitness, recreation, and wellness industry.

Madison College and UW-Whitewater leadership celebrated the agreement during an April 17 signing at the Madison College Truax Campus.

“As we navigate the evolving landscape of education, the future of health care and an increasing emphasis on physical health, it is essential that we support students aiming to make a lasting positive impact in the health and wellness sector,” said Madison College Provost Beth Giles. “This partnership embodies both institutions’ commitment to providing effective and efficient educational pathways in this vital field.”

This innovative agreement ensures a seamless transfer process between Madison College and UW-Whitewater, promoting a smooth transition for future professionals in the field.

“With the need for community health workers growing much faster than the average occupation, it’s no surprise that human performance is one of our most sought-after majors,” said UW-Whitewater Interim Provost Robin Fox. “Students who complete the program receive a well-rounded experience that prepares them to enter a variety of careers, including exercise physiology, strength and conditioning, community health, and spots and recreation.”

Students in the Associate of Applied Science in Fitness, Recreation, and Wellness Management at Madison College are guaranteed admission to UW-Whitewater’s Human Performance major and minors in Recreation and Leisure Studies, Strength and Conditioning, Sports Management, and Health Promotion, earning a minimum of 57 credits toward their degree.

To qualify, students must apply to UW-Whitewater, submit the required documents, and complete their applied associate degree in Fitness, Recreation & Wellness Management from Madison College with a GPA of 2.25 or higher.

The two institutions have a long-standing, successful history of transfer collaboration opportunities for students in early childhood education, human services, IT, paralegal studies, and liberal arts.

For more information, please visit the Madison College Transfer Partnership program page.

For more information about transferring to UW-Whitewater, visit https://www.uww.edu/admissions/transfer

Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by Madison College.

Irvin L. Young Memorial Library Board of Trustees – Monday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda
Cravath Lakefront Conference Room
312 W Whitewater St.
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88373432757?pwd=R1vir9DUpF8JEItZd4zTzXiSm78ppl.1
Meeting ID: 883 7343 2757
Passcode: d3Fh5vwX
Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US

City of Whitewater Finance Committee – Tuesday @ 5:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Discussion and possible action to amend ordinance 2.62.020 Whitewater Transparency
Enhancement Ordinance Posting requirements, Discussion and possible action to amend the city’s TIF Policy and recommend for approval by Common Council, Discussion and possible action to recommend approval of Brown Cab contract for 2026, and Discussion on the City Attorney Contract.
Whitewater Municipal Building City Manager’s Conference Room, 312 West Whitewater St.,
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83113931346
Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799 US
Webinar ID: 831 1393 1346

“Wicked: Part 1”

Tuesday, April 22, 1 pm

(Fantasy/Musical) Rated PG; 2 hours, 40 minutes (2024).

Oscar Winner: best costume design and best production design; nominated for Best Film, Best Actress and Supporting Actress. 

In the land of Oz, at Shiz University, Elphaba and Galinda encounter the Wizard of Oz, setting them up to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. (Part 2 of this film will be released in November). 

Seniors in the Park is located in Starin Park, 504 W. Starin Road. Although there is no charge to attend, regular participants are encouraged to join Seniors in the Park. The annual fee for residents of the Whitewater Unified School District is $10 and non-residents is $15. The funds support about half of the cost of our front desk staff person for 15 hours per week. The rest comes our of our fundraising monies. If you cannot afford the fee, we have a fund that will cover it for you. Fees are accepted at the Starin Park Community Building or online at https://schedulesplus.com/wwtr/kiosk/

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

The above emergency alert was received on cell phones in the Whitewater area at approximately 7:10 a.m. on Friday, April 18. Some car owners without a garage wondered where they could hurriedly drive to seek shelter for their vehicle. Three residents hung out in the self-service car wash on the west side; others likely decided that the canopy over the gas pumps at a convenience store was a good idea. It appears that much of the city didn’t get any hail, but Prairie Village on the north side did, per the report and photos below courtesy of Tom Ganser. The worst of the storm apparently veered north of the city.

Tom Ganser writes, “About five minutes of hail about 7:30 a.m. Friday, April 18.  Largest pieces about the size of a quarter.  Melted away quickly. Welcome to spring ?????”