Congratulations Class of 2020 on your achievements during your years at WHS!
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Dear Parents, Students, Community Members and Friends of Education,
As we end this school year, I know all of you have so many questions. What will school look like next year? What can we expect for summer school? What will the plans be for bussing? Will we be able to hold our in-person Graduation Ceremony? Just to name a few. We hope this newsletter will provide you some information and answers to some of your questions around those key pieces. Please also know that we will be in communication over the next weeks and months with updates and guidance on what to expect and how to prepare. We are going to do everything we can to provide great learning opportunities for our students over the summer. Additionally, no matter how or when we open our doors to our students in the fall, we will be planning all summer to provide the most valuable learning experiences to your children. We are completely dedicated to ensuring that the students in all of our schools will have every opportunity to be successful next school year, and safety, as always will be our number one priority.
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Celebrations
This past month and this week in particular was supposed to hold many exciting celebrations for our students and staff. These last months of school have been far from what we anticipated back in February, but I want to thank our students, our families and our incredible teachers and administrators for all the work they have done to make our last months of school memorable and meaningful. From parades to videos to Zoom class meetings, we have all come together in this time when we had to be apart. Thank you for all of your patience and all of your support as we have worked to navigate these uncertain times. We miss our students and our families terribly, and we cannot wait to be together again soon. But we so appreciate all of your efforts to make this time as valuable and special as it could be because that is what our students deserve!
Please join me in congratulating the exceptional Class of 2020! They have been an outstanding class, and we are proud to celebrate their successes. We are hopeful to host graduation for our students on Friday, August 14 at an in-person ceremony at the Watertown High School Football Stadium. We are looking forward to celebrating with our students and our families and honoring the many great accomplishments of the Class of 2020.
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This year we held our
annual scholarship program
virtually on May 20. This event is a wonderful evening where we recognize many of our extraordinarily accomplished and hard-working students. This year our generous and supportive community awarded our WHS seniors more than $500,000 in scholarships. Without the support of our community, many of these young people would not be able to pursue their education – we appreciate and give thanks to all our community for all you do to support our students. In addition to previously announced honors for WUSD's music education and designation as a best high school in the U.S., our Academic Decathlon team finished second in Division 1 in the state of Wisconsin.
Summer School
Registration for our virtual summer school program will open on June 11 – look for information early next week on the fantastic opportunities we plan to offer our students and families. We will be offering a mix of academic support and acceleration opportunities, as well as some great virtual options. Additionally, we will be opening 200 seats for potential face-to-face summer school instruction. These seats will be held for 200 elementary students identified by our elementary staff as needing additional academic support in the areas of reading and math. Invitations will be sent to families in the coming days to reserve your son or daughter’s spot.
Plans for Next School Year
Please know that we are currently working on planning around three scenarios for next year. The WUSD Board in cooperation with our administration will be bringing you additional information as we continue to plan forward for a variety of scenarios to best serve our students and families.
- Full face-to-face: We would love to have all students back in their classrooms with their teachers. If health and safety conditions and space allow for this, we will be ready for this option.
- Blend of virtual and in-person learning: This scenario can take different forms. As much as possible, we want students to learn from their teachers in classrooms. Again, health and safety conditions will determine how much in class and how much virtual learning will be required.
- Full-time virtual learning: This scenario would be implemented if due to state and local health guidelines, we are unable to safely offer any face-to-face programming to our students. If it is determined that face-to-face instruction would put our students and staff at too great a danger, we will need to be prepared to offer full-time comprehensive virtual learning for our students.
I want you to know that your feedback will continue to be important as we move through the planning process. We appreciate that our families have provided great feedback to us this year on their experiences with virtual learning, and we have used that feedback to plan for the remainder of this school year and we will use it to plan forward as well. Today we would like to ask you for some additional feedback on your preferences for education for next year. Your responses will be critical in helping us to plan most effectively for next year.
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Commitment to Equity in Our Schools
Over the past week, we have all watched the events that have unfolded across the country and our state regarding the tragic death of George Floyd. This tragedy serves as a reminder of the important work that the Watertown Unified School District is doing and needs to continue to do around equity and becoming a more culturally responsive system to enable us to best serve all of our students and families.
While we don’t know exactly what the future will hold for us as we look to the start of next school year, we do know that one of our primary goals will be to continue to provide social and emotional support to our students, families and community as we all adapt to our changing circumstances.
The Watertown Unified School District is fully committed to building a more inclusive learning community that celebrates diversity and continues to be dedicated to equity. Our thoughts go out to the family of George Floyd and all those individuals impacted by his death. We will continue our work to honor diversity and equity as we work to serve our students, our families and our community through these challenges.
Closing Thoughts
I want to thank you all again for your support and cooperation as we have navigated the end of this school year. We care so deeply about our students, our staff and providing the highest level of education to our families. In these challenging times, you have our promise to continue all efforts to put your children and their safety and education first.
May you all enjoy a wonderful summer, and I look so forward to the time when we can all be together again.
Cassandra Schug
Superintendent of Schools
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Welcome Principal Getz to Lincoln STEM, Lebanon Elementary
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Please help us welcome Mark Getz as the new principal for Lincoln STEM and Lebanon Elementary Schools beginning in the 2020-21 school year! Mark received his Bachelor of Science in Education from Edgewood College and his Master of Arts in Education from Marian University. He also holds an Educational Leadership Certification from Viterbo University.
Mark comes to us with 11 years of service in education - most recently serving as principal of Ashland School District's Lake Superior Elementary School. He is experienced in working with demographically diverse school districts and understands the different roles a leader must accept while being able to work with a diverse group of students and staff members. We look forward to his leadership and know that he will be a great fit to the WUSD team!
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SkillsUSA Wins Highest National Honor: Model of Excellence
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Help us give a big
#
WatertownWay
CONGRATULATIONS to the Watertown High School
SkillsUSA
Chapter which has been named as one of the Models of Excellence for 2020! The highest honor that any SkillsUSA Chapter can receive is a Model of Excellence status. Each year, only 24 chapters across the nation are named as Models of Excellence. Watertown is one of eight being recognized for Workplace Skills.
Watertown High School is being recognized for their
Etiquette Dinner
, a new event in the 2019-20 school year, which was dedicated to teaching important workplace skills in a professional setting. In February, Watertown SkillsUSA hosted a formal meal at Hi-Way Harry's in Johnson Creek. Members spent time practicing their conversational skills with industry, while practicing their dinner etiquette during the meal. Congratulations
Watertown STEM
!
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Best Wishes to 2020 WUSD Retirees!
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Congratulations to our 2020
#WatertownWay
Staff Retirees! Thank you for your service and commitment to our students over the years - you will be greatly missed! Good luck and best wishes on your retirement!
Watch our retirement video
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Jolene-Goeden Massuch
Susan Moldenhauer
Debra Pritchard
Linda Ruesink
Diane Schultz
Paula Stooksbury
Amy Robertson
David Ulm
Dana Habermann
Donna Neeman
Chrysa Wescott
Todd Putz
Bruce Foley
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Congratulations Class of 2020 Graduates!
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Thanks
to
WHS staff for posting this billboard on Highway 19 for our seniors!
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WHS Graduation Set for Friday, August 14 in Football Stadium
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Graduation has been set for Friday, August 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the stadium
, with a rain date of August 15 at 10:00 a.m. Please note that our ability to hold a traditional ceremony in a face-to-face setting will depend on where we are at in the phasing process along with guidance from health officials. For planning purposes, this will be a ticketed event with each graduate being allocated four (4) tickets. This is being done to ensure social distancing protocols, should they still be in effect at that time.
We will re-evaluate our ability to have a face-to-face graduation no later than August 3. We are also exploring other options should conditions prevent us from gathering together in the stadium for a traditional ceremony. This alternate format would follow the August 14 at 7:00 p.m. schedule. More details will be shared as the planning process unfolds. We appreciate your patience and support as we navigate through this process.
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WHS To Hold Curbside Pickup of Belongings, Graduation Materials
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Monday, June 8 and Tuesday June 9
7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Please be sure to read through this information carefully so you are familiar with the process. Please note that this entire process will be handled using
only curbside drop off and pick up
.
No one will be allowed to enter the building
.
Please do not exit your vehicle
. Your cooperation in advance is appreciated.
- Chromebooks and other electronic devices issued by the school can be returned to the North entrance of the school (Music wing) - Door A9. A member of the Tech Team will greet you at your vehicle to collect your device(s).
- Proceed to the Circle Drive and the WHS Main Entrance for any of the following:
- Return of textbooks and/or other school related materials.
- Pick-up of personal items that were left in lockers. Contents of lockers have been emptied, bagged and labeled.
- Pick-up of projects that staff have identified as needing to be returned. If staff have not identified specific projects at this time, then the items will not be retrievable on June 8 or 9.
- Pick-up of Graduation materials, including the following:
- Caps, gowns and other Jostens items not yet picked up
- All cords that are associated with Honors, Honor Societies, etc.
- Diplomas and diploma covers
- Valedictorian plaques
- Senior letter (if not picked up yet)
- Park near one of the number cones and someone will greet you at your vehicle to obtain student information. This will facilitate the following:
- A list of all books and materials provided by teachers that have been issued and are to be turned in
- Items not turned in will be added to student fee statements
- Graduation items to be handed out
- Personal items retrieved from lockers
- Projects available for pick up
We appreciate your cooperation and patience as we continue to navigate the many challenges and details associated with closing out the school year and ensuring your safety and welfare along with that of our staff.
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Virtual Summer School Registration Opens June 11
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Registration for our virtual summer school program will open on June 11 – look for information early next week on the fantastic opportunities we plan to offer our students and families. We will be offering a mix of academic support and acceleration opportunities, as well as some great virtual options. Additionally, we will be opening 200 seats for potential face-to-face summer school instruction. These seats will be held for 200 elementary students identified by our elementary staff as needing additional academic support in the areas of reading and math. Invitations will be sent to families in the coming days to reserve your son or daughter’s spot.
Virtual Unified Strength Program - 7-12 Grade
- Begins Monday, June 8
- Register with Skyward by accessing “Arena Scheduling” and selecting one of the two Unified Strength courses. Then proceed to “Online Forms” and complete the electronic liability waiver for the course. Once enrolled, a teacher will provide more program details via email.
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WUSD Will Continue to Provide Free Meals to Children in Summer
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Enhancing Teaching and Learning for Every Child - Every Day
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Students, Staff Finish Strong with Distance Learning
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Distance learning continued the last month of the school year, with students meeting online with their teachers, doing homework and joining in fun, interactive activities like Douglas Elementary's Field Day Home Edition"!
Thank you students -
and thank you parents who have continued to help with at-home learning during this challenging time. Have a wonderful summer - and keep reading!
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Summer Reading Program Starts June 15 - Earn Prizes and Free Book!
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Read at least 5 days a week! It can be anything - books, newspapers, magazines, graphic novels, even reading to a younger sibling. Create and engage at least 2 times a week.
Log your hours and win! Watch the videos above for youth and teens for more information.
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Taste of Summer - Gosling Band Members Join Lone Star Ensemble
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Ready for summer and the 4th of July? Listen to
Gosling Band members Naomi Vana and Evelyn Marchant with others selected and featured in the Lone Star Global Wind Ensemble!
Check out their performance of Sousa's
Stars and Stripes Forever
under the direction of Eugene Migliaro Corporon!
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Enroll in WUSD's NEW Free Virtual Public Charter School
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The WUSD is excited to launch yet another learning opportunity for K-12 students through our
eCampus Academy Charter School
beginning in the Fall of 2020! This innovative virtual charter school supports local and statewide enrollments and is an
excellent option for students seeking a full time online or blended educational experience
. All students can work at a pace that makes sense for them, to meet diverse and personal learning needs.
🎓
Want to save on college tuition while your student is in high school?
🎓
Want your student to be ready for the 21st century workforce and beyond?
🎓
Check out our
10 pathways
including the newly added IT Cybersecurity Specialist.
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Developing People and Partnerships
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Donate Blood on Tuesday, June 30, from 10-3 in WHS Gymnasium
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GET YOUR PREFERRED APPOINTMENT TODAY:
Call 877-232-4376
OR
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Stay Informed With Community Updates
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