Let’s Grow Together It is fitting to end this historical account with one more reference to growth and a building project! In its 50th year, KML is experiencing another record enrollment. Some might ask the reason for such dramatic growth, especially as many high schools are facing declining enrollments. Maybe the best answer is found in the quote of a recent KML senior who said, “KML is a bright light in a dark world.” More and more families have realized the benefits of a KML experience, ultimately providing the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with more teens. 101 This led to another major capital campaign, KML’s seventh building project. Let’s Grow Together was chosen as the theme for the two-year campaign because it reflects the unswerving attitude throughout the 50 years of KML’s mission. With God’s blessings, the school is growing. Meeting the challenges this presents is most effectively done together. The earliest Founding Families worked together, the first students and teachers worked together, and today we all work together. Location of Addition
102 A DREAM REALIZED (A Final Product?) Throughout 50 years, no one would claim that KML has now, or ever had, reached its peak and completed its mission to educate, encourage and equip God’s people for life and for eternity. This short history recounted the personal stories, the enrollment growth, the faithful founding families, the dedicated called workers and more. We could go on and tell stories of conference and state championships, academic achievements, faculty awards, national recognitions, and more. Yet, KML has never believed those were the most important aspects of a Lutheran high school. As the original founders of KML stated, this will always be a school that focuses on God’s Word and gives Christ all the glory.
103 Empowered by God’s Word, Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School educates, encourages, and equips God’s people for life and for eternity. The Mission Continues ...
104 1973: 3 churches Our Savior, Grafton; St. John, Newburg; Good Shepherd, West Bend 1976: 11 churches Added: Bethlehem, Crown of Life, David’s Star, Good Shepherd, Our Savior, Redeemer, St. John, Trinity-Hartford, Trinity-West Bend, Trinity-West Mequon, St. Peter 1977: 13 churches Added: Peace and Zion 1978: 15 churches Added: Calvary, Trinity-South Mequon 1982: 16 churches Added: St. Lucas 1984: 17 churches Added: Bethany 1986: 18 churches Added: St. John-East Mequon 1994: 19 church Added: Salem 1995: 21 churches Added: Morning Star and Pilgrim 1996: 23 churches Added: St. John-Lannon and St. Paul-Slinger 1997: 24 churches Added: St. Paul- Cedar Lake 1998: 25 churches Added: St. Matthew 2004: 27 churches Added: Faith and Shepherd of the Hills KML Federation of Churches KML Founding Fathers Dale Arndt James Bilitz Elroy Bublitz Leroy Grossman Melvin Heckendorf Delmer Kannenberg Leslie Kehl Martin Knuth David Kuske Paul Lober Arnold Nommensen Myron Philipps Walter B. Rathke Richard Roembke Carl Schramm Loran Schultz Walter G. Sommer Richard Tharman Robert Uttech Waldermar Voigt Merlin Wilde Herbert Winterstein Edward C. Wolf
105 Jeffery Awve Ellen Carpenter (West) Pamela Filber (Hartfiel) Jenny Gawrisch (Rindal) David Geidel Fredric Geidel Susan Gilmore (Ellis) Sharon Kannenberg (Moldenhauer) Cheryl Lemke (Schultz) Thomas Nitz Christine Piepenbrink (Azzarello) Rebecca Schille (Weidensee) Charles Semenske Brett Thompson Paul Wilkens Dawn Bublitz (Bley) Randall Gierach Mark Gilmore Thomas Herther Linda Krantz (Chay) Kathryn Kudek (Eiting) Deborah Kuske (Boeldt) Loreen Martin (Broderick) Joel Nitz Brenda Rathke (Rusch) Keith Rusch Diane Schramm (Behm) Lisa Semenske (Domoon) Paul Thiesfeldt Bruk Thompson Christiane Tietyen Lori Twardokus (Braun) James Fenske Rev. Roger Schultz Richard (Dan) Sievert Wayne Baxmann Keith Bowe Stephen Granberg Jamie Luehring 1974-1985 1985-1989 1989 1990-2000 2000-2004 2004-2014 2014-2021 David Bartelt Jamie Luehring 2001-2021 2021- Present First KML Graduates – Class of 1977 Men Who Have Served as KML Principals Men Who Have Served as KML Superintendent/President First Graduates to Attend All Four Years at KML
106 1973 – Eighteen men held an initial meeting at Our Savior on February 4 to discuss the concept of a new high school; in March, 150 interested Christians met at David’s Star and officially authorized a committee to research the feasibility of a new school; in October, the committee recommended to start a new high school in the fall of 1974. 1974 – KML officially opened as a high school on September 3 with 35 students in the freshman and sophomore classes. 1975 – 48 acres of land are purchased along Division Road in the Town of Jackson for $36,500 and a federation of churches is formed. 1976 – Groundbreaking for a 21,760 square foot building 1977 – KML moves into its own building; first senior class of 15 students graduates. 1978 – First graduating class of seniors who spent all four years at KML; total enrollment exceeds 200 students 1979 – The Project B Building Fund Drive was completed; approximately $450,000 was committed. 1980 – Official groundbreaking was held on May 22 for the new gymnasium/classroom addition which cost $800,000 and nearly doubled the size of the facility. 1981 – KML hosts the first truly “home” basketball games. 1985 - James Fenske steps away from the principalship and serves as a full-time teacher; Pastor Roger Schultz is installed as KML’s second principal. 1989 – The IMC is renovated into a library and media center. 1989-90 – Three different men serve as KML principals – Pastor Schultz until June, Dan Sievert as interim until January, and Wayne Baxmann started his ten-year service in January. 1993 – Groundbreaking for 11,000 square foot addition included seven classrooms at a cost “not to exceed $500,000”; Charger Band invited to Washington, D.C. to perform in front of the Capitol 1994 – The first phase of Project GROW was completed and kept under budget; work begins on outdoor environmental classroom; student enrollment surpasses 300. 1996 – 35 acres of adjacent land were purchased for $70,000. KML Historical Summary
107 1999 – KML’s first Annual Auction raised money for the Computers on Wheels (COWS); enrollment reached 390; KML celebrates its 25th anniversary; Federation grows to 26 churches from five counties 2000 - Wayne Baxmann retired and KML’s Curriculum Coordinator, Keith Bowe, was called to serve as the school’s fourth principal. 2001 – WE CARE (Wetland Education – Changing Attitudes – Recharging Environment) is established as a revolutionary wetland wastewater treatment system; groundbreaking for Phase One of the Time to Grow expansion project at a cost of $5.3 million; football was officially added to the athletic program. 2002 – Enrollment exceeds 400 students; KML Foundation is created. 2003 – Phase One of the Time to Grow expansion is dedicated with seven new classrooms, new kitchen and cafeteria, new gym and locker rooms, second floor education wing, outdoor development of athletic fields and more. 2004 – Stephen Granberg accepts the call to serve as KML’s fifth principal. 2005 – James Fenske retired and was honored for his 31 years of service at KML; the old IMC/library was remodeled into the new Department of Student Services; a Brad Coriell sculpture of Jesus and children was donated and hung in the main entrance. 2006 – The Kim Lemke family donated a ten-ton boulder to mark the main entrance of the school. 2013 – On September 29, a special service was held to commemorate the 40th year of KML and to dedicate the new Performing Arts Center. 2015 – Outdoor lights were added to the football field. 2018 – The aggressive Blessed Beyond Belief campaign was begun to fund a new Science and Innovation Wing; the goal was to raise $4.7 million in six months. 2019 – The Science and Innovation Wing’s second floor included four lab/classrooms and was completed for the start of the school year; the first floor was unfinished until funds were raised for its completion. 2020 – KML transitioned to all virtual classes as a result of Wisconsin’s governor closing schools for face-to-face learning due to COVID-19; virtual learning was implemented from March until the end of the school year. 2023 - General Board approves KML’s seventh building expansion with a unanimous vote.
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110 3399 division road, Jackson, wi 53037 kmlhs.org