Appleton West student board representative reports new drills, activities and academic gains

Aubrey Dieterdt, the student representative from Appleton West High School, gave the board a student‑led update on school activities, safety drills and academics.

Dieterdt said West introduced a cardiac‑arrest drill during homeroom on Feb. 3 that included a mannequin to simulate a response and that the school has three automated external defibrillators located in the auditorium hallway, the second‑floor copy room and the hallway by the Emanuel Gym. “Personally, I think this drill was very important to implement with students around as some students and even staff may not know what to do in the situation,” Dieterdt said.

She reported a number of athletics highlights, including regional girls’ basketball and conference games for boys, swim and dive postseason advances, conference recognitions for hockey players, and strong performance from powerlifting and adaptive sports teams. Dieterdt said the school is working with the Green Bay Packers and internal staff to launch a girls flag‑football team for spring and named other student events: a spring fling dance March 15, a talent show and an ACT boot camp for juniors ahead of the March 11 test.

On academics, Dieterdt said the school recognized a National Merit Scholarship finalist, Mark Wisniewski, and reported a 5% increase in As, Bs and Cs and a 4% drop in Fs compared with last year’s first semester. She also listed clubs and activities including DECA, mock trial and poetry club and said the National Honor Society is organizing a spring blood drive.

Dieterdt concluded by inviting board members to ask questions; board president Kaye Eggert thanked her for the report.