Student Services

What is SEL?

SEL refers to another important program component.  SEL stands for Social-Emotional Learning.  All students receive instruction from Student Services Staff, especially during the elementary school years in a variety of content-topic areas that are designed to promote character development, healthy behaviors, and social skills.  Content topic themes include the following:

• Academic Success

• Communication/Social Skills

• Citizenship

• Self-Understanding and Management

• Transitions

• Careers

• Diversity

• Hope

• Safety and Wellness

These items are aligned with those identified by the American School Counseling Model, or ASCA, as well as the Wisconsin Model Academic Standards for School Counseling  

What are Individual Learning Plans?

Student ILP’s play a major role within our Comprehensive Program. Beginning in the 7th grade, students enroll in a semester-long Career Pathway’s course to  learn about and explore possible career interests. At the end of this course, students work with staff to develop an ILP, which includes a personalized road map designed to help students to answer for themselves 3 key questions:

1. Who am I?

2. Where am I going?

3. How am I going to get there?

Student ILP’s are aligned with possible career pathway choices, and help students to guide their learning and achievement. ILP’s are reviewed and revised as needed throughout the student’s Intermediate and High School experiences, and they are the most important vehicle to assist all students in career and college readiness. 

How can I make arrangements for my child to receive counseling support at school?

Every school in the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District has at least one Student Services staff member that can provide school counseling services to students. These staff members include professional school psychologists, school counselors, and school social workers. Providing counseling and responsive services for school-related concerns is another very important part of our Comprehensive Program. Parents and/or students should contact their school office for appointments with Student Services staff.

School Climate Transformation Project

About the Project
To help keep students safe and improve their learning environments, the U.S. Department of Education has developed a program called “Now is the Time.” As part of this program, the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District has been awarded a School Climate Transformation Grant. Over the next five years the grant project will produce many positive outcomes in the WAWM School District. These outcomes include improved academic achievement, reduced student behavior referrals, and improved school learning environments.

WAWM Mindful Living and Learning Initiative
The WAWM School District and the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (CIHM) will be studying the impact of Mindful Living and Learning teacher training and mindfulness-based classroom instruction on improving achievement and behavioral outcomes of students in grades six through eight. WAWM will expand its counseling curriculum and CIHM project staff who are highly trained in teaching well-being and developing mindful schools will enhance students social and emotional skills through lessons.

The Center for Investigating Healthy Minds was founded by renowned neuroscientist Richard J. Davidson. Dr. Davidson along with associated faculty and staff have pioneered research on non-cognitive factors and have demonstrated their impact on well-being and major life outcomes. Scientists and collaborators at CIHM have developed a mindfulness-based "Kindness Curriculum" with demonstrated success in the classroom. 

ANNUAL NOTICE
Rights of Students in Housing Transition or Experiencing Homelessness

The West Allis-West Milwaukee School District shall provide an educational environment that treats all students with dignity and respect. Every student identified by the District as in housing transition or homeless shall have equal access to the same free and appropriate educational opportunities as students who have permanent housing. This commitment to the educational rights of children, youth who are in housing transition or are homeless applies to all services, programs, and activities provided or made available by the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District. 

A student is considered “in transition” or “homeless” if as a result of economic hardship and lack of adequate alternative housing if he or she is presently living:
* in a emergency or transitional shelter or agency
* sharing housing with relatives or others
* in a motel, hotel, campground, or similar situation
* at a train or bus station, park, or in a car
* in an abandoned building, substandard housing, or another place not designed to house people
 * temporarily housed while awaiting DCFS foster care placement

All students who are in transition or homeless have rights to:
* Immediate school enrollment. A school must immediately enroll students even if they lack health,immunization or school records, proof of guardianship, or proof of residency.  
* Request enrollment in:
- the school he/she attended when permanently housed (school of origin) and prior to being in transition or homeless
- the school in which he/she was last enrolled (school of origin)
- any school that permanently housed students in the same attendance area are eligible to attend
* Remain enrolled in his/her selected school for as long as he/she remains in transition or homeless, or, if the student becomes permanently housed (e.g. maintains same adequate nighttime residence for one school semester), until the end of the academic year.
* Priority in certain preschool programs.
* Participate in school sponsored activities including tutorial-instructional support programs, sports, clubs,and when needed receive fee waivers and supplies for activities.
* Obtain information/ referrals for community resources and medical and mental health services.
* Free School Meals
* Transportation services: A student who meets the above criteria for “in transition” or “homeless” and is attending his/her school of origin has a right to transportation to go to and from the school of origin until he/she becomes permanently housed. Staff shall inform parents/guardians or youth that of transportation services may be available. If the family or student establishes permanent housing outside of West Allis-West Milwaukee, he/she may continue to attend the school of origin for the remainder of the academic year. In most cases, once permanent housing is established, transportation services are discontinued.

If you or someone you know has a child between the ages of 3–21 who has not graduated from high school and is in any of the above housing situations please contact Nic Bur, Students in Transition Coordinator at (414) 604-3414.

• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Procedures
• Parent/Student Rights
• Impartial Due Process Hearing Procedures