by: Tad Phippen Wente, College Readiness Coordinator
Something for Everyone: Advantages of Two-Year Colleges
IDEAS Academy juniors learned about attending UW-Sheboygan Tuesday, Dec. 15, when Admissions Recruiter Milissa Kloida came to speak. She focused on the “big decisions” young people need to make about living, finances, and career.
The recruiter for all the 2-year UW Schools, Kloida described advantages of starting college at a 2-year campus. She pointed out how students could either stay close to home or move elsewhere, and displayed a state map of school locations. She showed how these schools compare with private and 4-year universities in cost, class sizes, and opportunities.
“About $5,000 a year at UW-Sheboygan pays for tuition and all books and fees,” Kloida said during her powerpoint presentation. A tuition table listed what students could expect to pay at various public and private schools. Other advantages include small class sizes, easy transfer of credits to other UW and partner schools, and coming away from a 2-year college with an Associate Degree.
Students asked many questions throughout the presentation and were awarded with cool red sunglasses. One of the answers informed them that there are no guidelines for GPA or ACT scores to enroll at UW-Sheboygan.
“If you have a low GPA or a low ACT score, you may have to take some low-level classes before you can start college-level classes,” Kloida said, “so it might take a little longer before you can actually start your degree.” She explained that a goal of the University is to provide opportunities for everyone in the community to seek a college education.
Kloida stressed the financial advantage of attending a 2-year college and finishing “gen eds”, or general education credits, before declaring a major and moving on to a 4-year college and higher tuition.
“If you want to end up with a degree from a UW school, we want you to start at a UW school,” Kloida said.
Photo Credit: Bao Vang, Étude Studios Photography Intern
After the presentation Kloida mentioned that UW-Sheboygan offers numerous scholarships, but some years no one applies for them.
Students came away with new information to use as they plan their futures.
“I knew a lot about UW-Sheboygan already because it’s a school I plan to attend,” junior Rayne O’Muineachan said. “ It was nice to hear about it again to confirm what I knew and to know I can transfer my credits to UWM if I choose to pursue dance.”
“I never really considered a 2-year [college], but now I think it’s pretty cool to have 2 years to decide what I really want to do after high school,” junior Paxton Allison said.
Senior Karyn Attipoe, who is currently working on her college applications, said she was glad she attended the presentation. “I learned what tuition is, what their financial aid is, and that there’s guaranteed acceptance to other UW Schools,” she said.
Enrollment applications for UW-Sheboygan open September 15, 2016.
by: Tad Phippen Wente
Little Free Library opens its door at IDEAS
A few steps from the IDEAS Academy Garden on Virginia Avenue, right next to bench and bike rack, stands our very own Little Free Library. One might never guess that, as of November, it’s also on the world map!
by: Sarah Williams, Étude Studios Writing Intern with Tad Phippen Wente
Juniors explore future options with Americorps
Three volunteers from AmeriCorps visited IDEAS Academy juniors on November 11 to share their experiences. The students learned about what AmeriCorps is, the different options offered by AmeriCorps, and they heard stories from those who had gone through the program.
by: Tad Phippen Wente, College Readiness Coordinator
Barbering and Cosmetology Programs Interest Students
An energetic admissions leader, Amy Vieth, of Paul Mitchell the School in Green Bay, shared information and even candy with IDEAS Academy students when she visited November 11.
by: Sarah Williams, Étude Studios Writing Intern
Whitewater Creative Writing Festival 2015: Students Present Work, Offer Feedback
IDEAS Academy students traveled to the UW-Whitewater High School Creative Writing Festival on November 18. Twenty-five students and two teachers attended the event, with 17 students submitting work to be critiqued by college professors, professional writers and peers, and the others coming along as support for friends and to hear other presenters. In addition to entering creative writing, two students created mixed media pieces to be shown at the festival.
by: Janelle Bane
With Amazon Smile, Your Purchases Help Build Community
Here at The Étude Group of Schools, IDEAS Academy, The Mosaic School, and Elementary School for Arts and Academics, we value not only the community within our walls, but what impact we make as individuals and as a group in our larger community. Through project-based learning, we can situate our academic learning into real-life, relevant issues in our community like monarch migration[/elementaryschool/esaa-blog/first-grade-exhibitions-of-learning-why-are-butterflies-important/], native species awareness[/middleschool/mosaic-blog/mosaic-at-maywood-native-animals-and-energy-transfers/], and high school health[/highschool/ideas-blog/ideas-human-anatomy-and-physiology-class-hold-health-fair-at-school/]. If this is something you value, we'd like you to consider supporting us in our mission[/about-us/educational-program/].
by: Sarah Williams, Étude Studio Writing Intern
IDEAS Health Fair Explores Topics to Improve Health of School Community
On October 28, the IDEAS Academy Human Anatomy and Physiology class put on their Health Fair. Students spent the six weeks of the class choosing a health topic to create a project that could help to educate the school. Among topics chosen were family health history, vaccinations, teen pregnancy, and bicycle safety.
by: Tad Phippen Wente and Sarah Williams
The Wisconsin Education Fair: Two Perspectives
IDEAS College Readiness Coordinator and Student Writing Intern offer their experiences at the WEF, Wisconsin Education Fair, in September.
by: Molly King
IDEAS Camp Étude Returns
We are very excited to announce that Camp Étude is back this year! We are offering a robust after school program. The expanded program will provide opportunities for students to participate in programming that:
by: Janelle Bane
An Afield to Remember
Earlier this month, a group of IDEAS students elected to attend a Convocation at Lakeland College featuring Jackie Spinner, former foreign correspondent for the Washington Post. Spinner read from and discussed her book, Tell Them I Didn’t Cry: a Young Journalist’s Story of Joy, Loss and Survival in Iraq, while taking questions from the audience on subjects of Iraqi and American culture, veterans affairs, the consumption of news in America and the responsibilities of journalists. This student trip was this school year’s first of what teacher Tad Phippen Wente calls an “afield” and was attended by about twenty students.
by: Kimberly Johnson
An IDEAS Approach to Projects, Community
IDEAS Academy is located in the heart of Sheboygan, just a walk away from the Sheboygan River, Fountain Park, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Lake Michigan, Mead Library, and 8th Street. This affords many opportunities for the community to become our school and for our school to impact the community. In the first two weeks of school, IDEAS Academy students engaged in a very intentional dialogue about community through two rapid, collaborative experiences using the creative process.
by: Nina Matti
IDEAS and Mosaic Dean of School Culture Attends International Institute on Restorative Practices
Conflict, unfortunately, is inevitable in a school setting. Through implementing restorative practices, The Étude Group plans to turn these potentially negative situations into opportunities for students to grow and learn.
by: Janelle Bane
New Teachers Get Oriented to the Culture of Community and Learning at Étude
For the most part, this year’s new teachers didn’t know a thing about the Étude schools before they applied to work here. They saw a post for a teaching position at ESAA, Mosaic or IDEAS Academy and decided to check out our website to learn more. “It’s a bit of a drive, but I’m applying,” recalls Becky Knight excitedly. “I was immediately grabbed by the whole vision.” Rod Stoehr also saw the posting, went to the website and thought it sounded like a great fit. There was something about Étude’s unique learning philosophy, positive environment and collaborative culture that told each of them they belonged here.
by: Nina Matti
Eagle Rock School's Philosophies Resound with Étude Group Teachers
Every school has its own outlook and approach to connect with its students. Eagle Rock School[http://eaglerockschool.org/], located in Estes Park, Colorado, is a year-round, residential school for students who, according to its website, “are not thriving in their current situations, for whom few positive options exist and who are interested in taking control of their lives and learning.”
by: Ted Hamm
The Étude Group At The Levitt Amp Music Series
The Étude Group will be participating in the August 20th Levitt Amp Sheboygan Music Series presented by the John Michael Kohler Arts Center. This is a free, outdoor music series that features local food trucks and national music acts. The evening will feature music performances by IDEAS Academy students, Asiah Davis - Williams, Bayden Dassler, Kelsey Fick, Paris Wolf and Hannah Olmedo from 5:00 - 5:25 p.m. and Drew Fredrichsen’s band The Jetty Boys at 5:30 p.m. Additionally, Étude Group staff and students will lead interactive workshops in poetry, engineering, drama, and more starting at 5:00 p.m. until the headliner begins at 7:00 p.m. Please bring a blanket or chairs and join us on the lawn near our Étude tent.
by: Nina Matti
Two IDEAS Teachers Attend Harvard's Project Zero
Project Zero "reaffirmed our schools’ foundation for me, not that I doubted it at all before,” I.D.E.A.S. engineering, science and math teacher Tim Pasche said. “It...
by: Nina Matti
National Writing Project Puts Teachers in Students' Shoes
Two Étude Group teachers had the opportunity to expand their teaching abilities this summer at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Invitational Summer Institute for theNational Writing Project[http://www.nwp.org/] from June 22 to July 3.
by: Nina Matti
Students design and construct boat for Art Armada
The John Michael Kohler Arts Center hosted a competition for artists and engineers alike to race boats they designed and built. And, like they always do, Étude students got involved. Mosaic and IDEAS engineering teacher Tim Pasche initially organized the students’ involvement in the Fourth of July Art Armada event, but he said, “By the end of the project, they were entirely self directed.”
by: Nina Matti
Students explore Alzheimer's patients' relationships through dance
For their IDEAS Project Block, five students explored the changes that Alzheimer's patients deal with as their diseases progress, especially focusing on their relationships with others....
by: Addie Degenhardt
IDEAS Exhibitions of Learning - Spring 2015
The IDEAS Academy Exhibitions of Learning Showcase Projects will be featured on Thursday, May 28, 2015 at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
by: Tad Phippen Wente
Original tiny Library takes shape for IDEAS garden
Our schools and garden would not be complete without the colorful intrigue of a Little Free Library. So senior Erik Tetschlag designed and is building one! Watch for this gem to sprout soon!
by: Press Release
Étude Group Director selected to participate in WAB Creative Industries Committee
Madison, WI (April 29,2015) – Ted Hamm, Director, Principal and Founder of the The Étude Group has been selected to be a member of the Creative Industries Committee. The Creative Industries Committee is a board of experts comprised by The Wisconsin Arts Board to guide the Arts Board’s work to serve and promote the creative industries in Wisconsin.
by: Peter Woods
IDEAS Explorations into Abstract Thought hosts casino night on April 28th
Screen Shot 2015 04 27 at 7.45.07 AM I.D.E.A.S. ACADEMY CASINO NIGHT Paradigm Annex Tuesday, April 28th 5:30-7:00 Free and Open to the Public
by: Tad Phippen Wente
Madison trip offers juniors a close look at college options
IDEAS Academy Class of 2016 woke early for a day in Madison on April 15. First stop was the University of Wisconsin for a general overview and campus walking tour.
by: Erica Brown
Final Shadow Day
Students interested in learning more about I.D.E.A.S. Academy are invited to attend our Shadow Day on Tuesday, April 14th from 7:55 a.m. to 3:06 p.m.
by: Tad Phippen Wente
UW-Sheboygan rep informs juniors about the school and UW System
UW-Sheboygan High School Relations and Recruitment Coordinator Elisa Carr spoke to IDEAS Academy juniors Wednesday, March 18, to share information about the University and the UW System.
by: Tad Phippen Wente
Internships allow for career exploration senior year
Étude Studios is a team of IDEAS Academy student interns that tackles the business of capturing learning and events at The Étude Schools. Each intern brings a specific skill to the team. Through real experience, each learns what it might be like to work in that specific field.
by: Tad Phippen Wente
School of Writers: “19 Writers” speak out about what they do
In her foreword to Caroline Sharp’s The Writer’s Workbook: Daily Exercises for the Writing Life, Elizabeth Gilbert recounts the following conversation with a friend:
by: Erica Brown
Information Night
Students and families interested in learning more about I.D.E.A.S. Academy are invited to attend our Information Night on Tuesday, March 24th from 6:00-7:15 p.m.
by: Michael Q. Hanlon
"The Curious Collection of Albert Montwhistle," Ep. 2
The Curious Collection of Albert Montwhistle continues with Episode 2 (be sure to check out Episode 1[/highschool/ideas-blog/radio-drama-continues-the-first-episode/] from last week).
by: Tad Phippen Wente
Older students spring ahead with college preparations
February and March are coming alive with college plans for juniors and seniors.
by: Drew Fredrichsen
IDEAS Rock Band Class to perform
The public is invited to see one of the final stages of the journey the IDEAS Rock Band class has been on this trimester. Over the course of the trimester students have focused on learning key elements of what it takes to be in a rock band: communication, collaboration, and Habits of Mind.
by: Tad Phippen Wente, Chief Curatorial Officer
Gallery News : February 20, 2015
Across from Stuart Howland’s Visual Arts classroom, a collection of charcoal drawings captures our attention: human figures—their faces provocative, shadowed, lit by an unknown source; shapes—a simple vase, a barely discernible collection, an object. We stop to wonder. The images, drawn by IDEAS Academy students in the Visioning Seminar, are not instantly accessible. They make us think.
by: Michael Q Hanlon and Kimberly Johnson
"The Curious Collection of Albert Montwhistle," Ep. 1
The IDEAS Acting Seminar is back with another radio drama podcast. This time it is an original script written by our very own drama teacher, Mike Hanlon[/about-us/staff/michael-q-hanlon/], "The Curious Collection of Albert Montwhistle." This is episode 1, but students will serialize the work through multiple episodes in February.
by: Kimberly Johnson
IDEAS Project Feature | Psychology's Influence on Culture
Hannah Staats is a sophomore at IDEAS Academy. For her IDEAS Project this fall semester, she followed her curiosity about self-enhancement bias through a course of research in order to uncover and interpret the following question:
by: Erica Brown & Kimberly Johnson
Camp Étude cooks collaborate with Chef Rob Hurrie of Black Pig
The kitchen at IDEAS Academy might be small, but the conversation, laughter, aromas, and possibilities are large. The Cooking Club meets weekly as part of our after school program, Camp Étude, and they prepare a dish from scratch: lasagna, guacamole, and soups for example.
by: Tad Phippen Wente, College Readiness Coordinator
Visit to LTC Discovery Day extends beyond the fieldtrip
Nineteen IDEAS Academy juniors attended LTC Discovery Day this morning to focus on specific career areas and learn what Lakeshore Area Technical College offers. Three seniors and one sophomore also participated.
by: Kimberly Johnson
IDEAS Project Feature | Relationships with Alzheimer's
Starting with this project, our website will feature a gallery of student work. If you are interested in learning more about the thinking and writing that lead to the project below, please visit the Relationships with Alzheimer's Gallery Page[/highschool/community/ideas-gallery/relationships-alzheimers-2015/].
by: Michael Q. Hanlon
IDEAS Acting Seminar performs original script
This week the Acting Seminar is performing a script titled "Capture the Flag Practice" written by student Arden Howland as part of Camp Étude, an after school Drama Production Club.
by: Michael Q. Hanlon
IDEAS Acting Seminar Explores Radio Drama
Every year in the Acting Seminar, students spend a week exploring a variety of theatrical styles before selecting one to study for the trimester. This year, one section of students opted to study radio drama. For our first recording, we selected two scripts from The Five Mysteries Program, an anthology radio show that ran from 1947 to 1950 in the United States.
by: Kyle Whelton, Class of 2011
Alumni Feature : Kyle Whelton, Class of 2011
TEG-Student-KyleWhelton In June of 2011, after four incredible years at etude, I graduated in the first generation of students to attend what would become IDEAS for the entire tenure of my high school career. When I walked the bowl in June, I had a plan for the next five to ten years of my life. I was going to attend Marquette University for my undergraduate education, go on to law school, and then practice somewhere in Wisconsin. Fast-forward 3 years to March of 2014. I was a junior at Marquette University on track to graduate with a 4.0, running for Student Government President, and studying for the LSAT in preparation for the grueling process of applying to law school. But instead of worrying about taking the LSAT, one of the most notoriously hard graduate school entrance exams, I had a paralyzing anxiety of the idea of attending law school.
by: Davina Boykin, Class of 2015
Youth Apprenticeship Feature : Davina Boykin '15
TEG Student DavinaBoykin2015 My name is Davina Boykin, and I am a senior at IDEAS Academy. I am a QA Youth Apprentice at Rockline Industries. I first learned about the Youth Apprenticeship program from my friend, Victoria Hoppe, who was, at the time, a STEM Youth Apprentice at Kohler Company. She was working on advanced CAD (computer-aided design) drawings that were then being used by the Kohler Engineers. The more she spoke about her job, the more interested I became. So, intrigued as I was, I attended one of the information nights at LTC, and the information I received there only increased my motivation to apply. By participating in the program, you get real-world job experience, high school and college credit, and you even get paid for it. Not to mention, you also make valuable connections in the working world. All of this, and more, convinced me that I wanted to be a Youth Apprentice. And so, I applied.
by: Tad Phippen Wente, Chief Curatorial Officer
Gallery News : January 22, 2015
Beginning today, the IDEAS/Mosaic Balcony Gallery is home to some life-sized musical instruments: people! Mosaic Voice Seminar students recently completed their study of how the parts of the human body must function together to make quality sound. Through singing, students practice and learn how their voices sound. Through understanding where crucial points in the body are and how they work, students learn to sound better. With a kind of “kinesthetic memory” they balance their instruments, just as one might balance fingerings and bow strokes on a cello or embouchure and air to play a clarinet.
by: Kimberly Johnson
New! Subscribe to get IDEAS Blog posts by Email
IDEAS Academy is committed to enriching our community by engaging families, professionals, academics, and other interested community members in our learning. One of the primary ways that we share our story of learning at IDEAS is through this blog. If you would like to receive our blog posts by email, please click here. Enter your email address, subscribe, and then please check your email to "activate" your subscription.
by: Erica Brown
IDEAS Shadow Day
Students interested in learning more about IDEAS Academy are invited to attend our Shadow Day on Thursday, January 29th from 7:55 a.m. to 3:06 p.m.
by: Tad Phippen Wente
FAFSA is focus of Senior Institute Tuesday
Senior Institute January 20, during Advisory, will focus on FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Seniors will set up their individual accounts and make a list of information they will need from parents.
by: Tad Phippen Wente, Chief Curatorial Officer
Gallery News : January 9, 2015
How could tattoo design demonstrate understanding of elements in the Periodic Table?
by: Tad Phippen Wente, College Readiness Coordinator
Alumni Day
Alumni Day (Staff calls this the best day of the year.)
by: Tad Phippen Wente, College Readiness Coordinator
Happy Alumni Day!
Happy Alumni Day!
by: Kimberly Johnson
Exhibitions of Learning - Winter 2015 Preview
Community members, families, and friends are invited to attend IDEAS Academy's Winter 2014 Exhibitions of Learning.
by: Kelsey Fick (IDEAS Class of '15)
College Readiness: A Student's Perspective
When talking to a group of students, the word “College” can send any of them into an immediate frenzy of tears and hair pulling. Or at least that was true for me. My least favorite question, which was unavoidable at any family function and even in class, was “What are your plans for after high school?” It seemed as though this question would be the only thing I would hear for my entire senior year. My advisor would be starting class, and all I could hear were the haunting whispers of “college” “graduation” “make big decisions”, I mean, all she really said was ‘Hello,” but that’s not what I heard.
by: Kimberly Johnson
SRI Testing starts January 8
We will begin SRI testing on Thursday, January 8th.
