Survey

Please take our survey :)

Click here to take survey

Favorite quotes or scripture of Messmer students

By Latanza Franklin, sophomore

(click below picture to enlarge)

Messmer's favorite sports

By Eduardo Castaneda, sophomore

(click below picture to enlarge)

An artist among us: Ms. Jennifer Klecker

Senator Kohl visits students via the Distance Learning Lab

By Kamisha Harvey, sophomore

Senator Herb Kohl took time out of his day to talk to Messmer students in the Distance Learning Lab last week Wednesday.  Once a year he wants to speak with students around the state to understand their views and thoughts. Messmer High School was one school that participated.

 Senior Shameka Moore asked the Senator about health care not being passed. Kohl’s response was, “Today health care costs so much that it’s hard for people to pay. Since hospitals cost so much now, health care is taking money out of families pockets.”

Drunk driving laws and their enforcement was another topic of concern for Messmer students. Kohl responded that he feels no sympathy for those who hurt others through their own poor choices, especially driving drunk. He feels that Wisconsin is just as tough on drunk drivers as other states.

Another student from a local middle school asked, “Why are taxes so high compared to other states?” Kohl prompt response was that it’s up to state law makers and not federal policy.

Kohl provided some advice for to youth that deal with peer pressure on a daily basis. “They deal with peer pressure because they don’t stand up for themselves. If people stand up for what they believe in and stand up for themselves they can fight off the people that cause peer pressure,” states the Senator. The best way to deal with peer pressure is to just forget about that person and avoid them. Go the other way and don’t think about that person.

It was a great experience for students, and hopefully Messmer will be part of the panel next year as well. For the last two years students have also gotten to visit Senator Kohl's office in Washington DC. Students in the National Honor Society make a spring trip and experience all our Nation's capitol has to offer.

New computer teacher, Ms. Patterson

By Kamisha Harvey, sophomore

Mrs. Della Patterson is a computer and a finance teacher here at Messmer.  She teaches these two classes because she feels students need to know how to understand the importance of computers and managing finances better. Patterson feels that at times students go on the computer and just handle their business, but there are other interesting things on the computer that students can enjoy.

The reason Patterson came to teach at Messmer is because she wanted to help students get a better education in learning how to actually use the computer. She feels that students here are well educated but that help with computers could improve.

When Patterson first came to Messmer she wasn’t nervous but she was very happy to teach. She was ready to teach the students and show them how to actually use the computer. The best thing she likes about her job is teaching the students. She loves to teach and show kids new things. 

Wisconsin to Iowa and back again

By Eduardo Castaneda, sophomore

Mr. Geoff Kaiser was born in Merrill, Wisconsin in October 1, 1984. He just to live in Horicon, Wisconsin, but then moved to Dubuque, Iowa. He has one sister and brother-in-law and two aunts and two uncles that live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 
 Kaiser went to Loras College in Dubuque with his major being Physical Education and Health with a teaching endorsement for biology and to coach. He found Messmer because it was late in the summer and he had applied everywhere for work and luckily he heard of Messmer. The reason he chose to teach P.E is because he likes teaching through sports because they are great.

Before he studied in college, Kaiser wanted to be an athletic trainer. He enjoys watching the students succeed and to watch them get better. His favorite moment from Messmer so far is getting ready to coach a basketball game and coming to school. A for his favorite sport? It is coming up: track and field because!  Kaiser is the Messmer Basketball coach and the Track and Field coach.                        

New secretary Ms. Jackson

By Justice Adams-Woods, sophomore

Ms. Lakesha Jackson is Messmer High School’s newest secretary, and we are happy to have her here! Jackson attended John Muir Middle School, and she said that a favorite memory from that school was when she first met her a girl that is now her best friend the first day of school. She says, “I had just moved to Milwaukee from East St. Louis, Illinois, and she was the first to introduce herself to me. We have been inseparable ever since.” She also remembers when she receives her first job through her guidance counselor.

Jackson also attended Washington High School, and her favorite memory from there was when she first received an award from UWM for her consistent academic achievement and best of all, graduation. For her success, her father took her and her sisters to Florida for one whole week. After that, Jackson attended Mount Mary College to become a school secretary. She goes on to stating, “My favorite memory from Mount Mary is becoming a member of the best sorority throughout the land and that sorority is none other than Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.” However, while at Mount Mary College her field of study was Business and Professional Communications.

She has already been a school secretary for 6 years. The best thing that she would say has happened to her out of all her years of being a secretary was her building relationships with all the students and parents and knowing that she has made a difference in their lives. Besides working at Messmer as a secretary she has also worked at Tricept Solutions. She decided to be a school secretary because she enjoys working with people. 

The best part, for Jackson, to working at Messmer is getting to know the students, but it’s not all good all the time. The worst part is not remembering all of the students’ names – even though there are a lot of them! Overall, her dream job is to be a pharmaceutical sales representative. She wants to become a pharmaceutical sales representative because she says she is very good at convincing people to buy things. With that, she also states, “Becoming a pharmaceutical sales representative will help me utilize my gifts and talents beyond the front desk.”
Thank you for all your hard work, and students, be nice to Ms Jackson and all of the other front office staff members!

Senior research

By Mark Thomas, senior

The senior research criteria has changed every year for the last four years.. Some students may see this as a good thing since because certain criteria changes may benefit students.

In the 2005-06 school year the requirement to graduate was a ten page research paper, but last year the seniors only needed a fifteen-minute PowerPoint presentation.

Based on changes that took place this summer, students are required to write at least ten to twelve pages about their chosen topic. Some examples include how teen suicide affects a family and how raising the minimum work age can benefit students.

The senior research for this year has excluded the PowerPoint presentation portion that was required for last year’s exhibition. Sophomore Imani Calloway said: “ A presentation sounds easier because when I do papers I like to procrastinate.” This is a common problem among many other students as well, and it proved to be a reason for lower grades on the presentation in past years.

More than half of the students (65%) were undecided as to whether the changes in Senior Research would help them.  Senior Lacierra Smith states: I think students get discouraged when they hear ‘ten pages’ because they think it is the end of the world.  I was actually looking forward to doing a presentation this year.”

             Junior Crystal Brown is a year away from this project:  “I do not think it is a good way to tell a senior’s success because some people are more gifted than others at writing.”  She later goes on to say, “If this year’s change in the senior research shows good results then I think they should keep it that way.”

The senior research project is a good example of what is to come when a student goes to college. Senior Marcell Wilson knows this. “It just helps prepare you for college, he says. Doing long papers in high school helps prepare students so that if they do decide to go to college, doing such papers will not be as hard.

Senior guidance councilor Ms. Matthews states: “ I think that benefits of the addition of the paper to the senior exhibition project are immeasurable. Writing good research papers will allow students to gain experience in writing which will help them when they get to college.”

There are some tips for seniors when trying to do the research paper.  Pick a topic that is interesting. Some students may have trouble committing to a chosen topic because they might not like it, so do not expect a teacher or parent to give you a subject you like.

Also, avoid trying to do the research paper at the last minute. Procrastination usually produces poor results when trying to do something as important as senior research. This research paper is the most important assignment a student will receive because it is one of the determining factors of student graduation. 

President Obama update

By Mark Thomas, senior
There is a lot expected of Barack Obama in his first year as President based on what he headlined in his campaign. He is expected to keep all of his promises no matter what they are, but is he on his way to success?

 Obama promised to bring about changes, and some may say he has done a good job so far or some might believe he has not done anything at all.  Whether he can fulfill all of his promises or not he still is expected to do so.

Just recently Barack Obama received the  Nobel Peace Prize on October 9, 2009 for  what he has done in the previous year. Many people are debating on whether or not he deserved the award. A lot of people feel that he has not done enough in the previous year and in his nine months as President . The President said that he would accept the award as “a call to action, a call for all nations…”

Early in his term President Obama announced that he would fix the economy and help create more jobs for people.  About one-third (35%) of the students think that he is doing a good job of stabilizing the economy and another third of the students (38%) thinks that he is doing what he said he would. 

Freshman Terrell Williams weighs in. “I do not know to much about Obama ,but I do know that he promised to do a lot. As long as he is doing things differently from former President George Bush, that is good enough for me.”

Overall Obama’s rating as President throughout the school is decent (80%) but on August 31, 2009  his national approval rating ranged from 50-61% according to the Gallup poll from CNSNews.com.

About one third of the students (38%) think that he is making the changes he said would come. Senior Corey Williams states, “Nothing is going to happen overnight.”    Even though he started just his term this year, Obama has more than three years to make changes as President.

Senior Garry Santillana admits that: “He is doing an okay job. Some of the things he said he was going to do before he got elected he is not doing yet.”  Though Obama was known for changing his mind on certain topics he is still keeping some of his promises.

Gregory Bates, a senior adds, “He is doing the opposite of what he said during his campaign. I have not seen any changes yet but I know it is too early to really tell anything.”

In the future Obama will have to continue to prove himself. He has a lot of promises to keep and a lot of people to please.  He has to show his leadership by helping people get through these tough times because a lot of people look up to him.  Only time will tell.

School secruity

By Mark Thomas, junior
       The safety of students in the schools of Milwaukee is a pressing issue. As more and more students become involved in devious acts there is a need for punishments and the enforcement of security systems.
        There is a list of important guidelines schools must follow in order to prevent and manage school violence, reduce safety risks and improve school community relations according to the National School and Safety and Security services.

           Different schools require different types of security, which is based on past or chronic offenses.  Public schools tend to have more strict security policies than most private schools in Milwaukee. For example, the Milwaukee School of Languages requires students to have the book bags checked.

         “I see fights in this schools almost every week. If it wasn’t for the security and police being around the school all day I would not feel as safe as I do now.” States Marquis Carlisle, a senior who attends Custer High School.

       “I remember this school was bad when I was a freshman because I would always hear about Custer being on the news because some students were fighting. Now that I’m a senior I’m kind of used to seeing fights and I think the school has gotten better but it still has a long way to go before I actually start to call it a safe school.”

          Student safety in Milwaukee has been an ongoing issue but it is important to remember that providing more security or making stricter security policies will not stop some students from engaging in devious acts.

Mall secruity

By Briana Stewart, junior

Security guards have become a normal sight among the throng of patrons for most malls in town. Because restrictions on certain malls have been actively enforced, there has been less crime and more enjoyable visits.

            People are curious as to know whether or not it’s the security affecting the crime and punishment element. The need for security has made it clear, but some malls don’t have security and are well off. Restrictions on certain malls have been changed in the last two years mostly because of the behavior and actions of a younger audience. There were a few episodes that were violent that required police intervention. The parental escort policy has been instituted.

            “These rules are so bogus.” Says freshman Juandrell Cage “It’s stupid of them to punish all of us for a few bad incidents like the fights that happened.

            On New Year’s Eve, there was another change in policy at Bayshore similar to Mayfair’s parental escort policy. People under eighteen will be banned from the center after 3pm on Fridays and Saturdays unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. An incident in the food court on the day after Christmas is what caused Bayshore to take on this restriction. So far, the policy is supposed to be enforced for a month, but Glendale police and community leaders will determine in a few weeks if it will become permanent.

 “The changes were difficult to adapt to in the beginning,” says Bob Harrington, head of security at Mayfair. “It was a real change off pace because the ranges of age and types of people have changed due to the restrictions placed.”

The changes are not only hard for security staff. Messmer students are not taking the news well either. “I can’t believe they’re doing this policy at Bayshore now too. They’re banning us from everywhere we go! What are we supposed to do now?” questions Javonte Davis.

According to security and shop owners at Mayfair and Bayshore, both parking lot surveillance and mall security personnel have been increased because of past incidents.

However, malls’ target audiences have been altered due to these issues and the crowds have become more manageable

People have reacted differently to these changes. Only 19% of Messmer students are truly angry about parental escort policy placed at Mayfair and have decided to just move on to other malls such as Brookfield Square and Bayshore. Another 37%, did not even care about the policy because it wasn’t even their first choice of malls to shop or hang out at.

 “The restrictions at Mayfair Mall on North Mayfair Road are irritating to me now. They make it not even worth trying to go to. The fact that they are even enforcing this policy is a major force, and I don’t even see the point in going anymore when I could just go to Bayshore Mall by myself without being stopped by some security guard!” says Andria Sewell-Cotton, junior.

She isn’t the only one reacting this way. Messmer students are frustrated that the only way to get into Mayfair for a short time these days is to be eighteen or older when attending alone or with someone 21 years or older if your not 18 yet. The only time that children can be without escort at Mayfair is on Fridays and Saturdays until 2pm. Many of the students have transferred their allegiance over to Bayshore where the Parental Escort Policy is also starting to slowly take over.