Watertown Unified School District -

On Sunday, March 1, the Watertown High School German and Spanish Honor Societies inducted their new members in a ceremony held in the WHS Library Media Center. In order to qualify for membership, students must meet community service requirements and maintain enrollment and high grades in their respective German and Spanish language classes. These organizations participate in various service, cultural, and fund raising activities throughout the year at the high school and in the community.

The German Honor Society students are pictured in the smaller group photo. The Spanish Honor society students are seen in the larger group photo.

Congratulations to these students!

Tradition. Innovation. Transformation.
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The Watertown High School Gosling Marching Band will depart tomorrow for an unforgettable 8-day performance tour of Ireland, where students will perform at the Limerick International Band Championship, take part in the world-renowned St. Patrick's Festival Parade in Dublin on St. Patrick's Day, and more!

We wish them safe travels and hope they have a wonderful time! 🍀

Tradition. Innovation. Transformation.
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The Gosling Career Fair took place Tuesday morning at Watertown High School. This special event, organized in partnership with the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce, connected our high schoolers and 8th grade students to more than 80 local businesses to learn more about career pathways and job opportunities in our area.

Thank you to the Chamber, and to all the local businesses that participated. It was a GREAT day to be a Gosling!

Tradition. Innovation. Transformation.
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The 2026 Youth Apprenticeship breakfast was held on Wednesday morning, March 4, where 99 Watertown High School seniors were recognized for their participation in the program.

The Youth Apprenticeship program was established in Watertown in 1991. In 2009, the program grew with 39 students enrolled. This year, 134 students – both juniors and seniors – are participating in the program.

The Youth Apprenticeship program is administered by Sarah Tarpey, Family Consumer Sciences teacher and School to Career Coordinator, and Heather Jozwowski, Jefferson County Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator. This year, the program is partnered with 132 area business mentors to provide apprenticeship opportunities to WHS students.

As part of the program, students may pursue apprenticeships in any of the 14 career clusters: Agriculture, Construction, Arts-Entertainment-Design, Digital Technology, Education, Financial Services, Healthcare & Human Services, Hospitality-Events-Tourism, Management Entrepreneurship, Marketing-Sales, Public Service & Safety, and Supply Chain & Transportation.

Pictured are the graduating seniors with program mentors, parents and guardians, and WUSD staff members.

Tradition. Innovation. Transformation.
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Don't delay - register your child for kindergarten today! 🏫

Registration is now open for Watertown Unified School District's 4 & 5 year-old kindergarten programs. There are full and half-day options available for 4K, and 5-year-old kindergarten is full-day for students.

To enroll, please visit https://www.watertown.k12.wi.us/page/enrollment-and-registration.

Tradition. Innovation. Transformation.
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Thank you to the Watertown community for your incredible support of the Watertown High School musical, Pippin, this past weekend!

The students and staff of our Music Department outdid themselves again with three incredible shows - the music, the dancing, the costumes - everything was fantastic! Thank you, and congratulations to everyone involved with this wonderful production!

Enjoy these photos from the show. 🎭💙🎶

The Watertown Unified School District will hold meetings this week at the dates and times listed below:

▪ Special Board Meeting in Closed Session - Monday, March 9, 5:30 p.m.
▪ Educational Services Committee - Tuesday, March 10, 7:30 a.m.
▪ Sub Committee of the Planning Committee - Tuesday, March 10, 10 a.m. (at Connections Café, 1308 W. Main St.)
▪ Planning Committee - Wednesday, March 11, 5:30 p.m.
▪ Special Board Meeting in Closed Session - Wednesday, March 11, 6:30 p.m.

All meetings will take place at the Educational Service Center, 111 Dodge St., unless otherwise noted.

🗳 Referendum presentations and meet & greets will also take place this week at the following dates and times:

▪ Presentation at LEAP Elementary School - Tuesday, March 10 5-6 p.m.
▪ Presentation at Watertown High School - Thursday, March 12, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
▪ Meet & Greet at Irish Jig Jog at Watertown Public Library - Saturday, March 14, 9:30-11 a.m.

The Watertown High School Academic Decathlon team is headed to Nationals after winning first place at the state competition in Green Bay in February!

The team has established a GoFundMe to raise $10,000 to offset travel expenses to the National competition in California at the end of April. To learn more and/or to support the team's fundraising effort, please click the link below or scan the QR code on the flyer.

https://gofund.me/d91e47c25

The Watertown Daily Times and Realty Executives Platinum recently teamed up to sponsor a new city-wide Teacher of the Month contest. Congratulations to our very own Miranda Weinheimer of Lincoln STEM Elementary School for being named February's Teacher of the Month! 🌟

NHS Students Hosting Community Book Drive 📚

The Watertown High School National Honor Society is running a community book drive now through early April. The NHS students are asking all community members to donate gently used or unused children's books to the book drive. Book donation bins are located at the Schultz Family YMCA, Watertown Senior Center, Watertown Family Practice, St. Bernard's Church, and in the media center at WHS. Students will then hand out the donated books to youngsters at the Watertown Children's Day Community Fair at WHS on Saturday, April 11. Any books that remain will be donated to charity. Thank you!

Tradition. Innovation. Transformation.
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Today (Friday, March 6) is National Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day. Thank you to our Watertown Unified School District building maintenance staff - Wayne Zastrow, Charlie Krebs, Scott Hiller, Marcos Galindo, Jeff Hiller, and Dustin Moke for all they do to keep our facilities safe and well-maintained!

We also extend our thanks to our Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds Kevin Sukow for always keeping his department running smoothly, and to recently retired maintenance team members Paul Minning and Dennis Schwenkner. 🔨🔧🔩

Tradition. Innovation. Transformation.
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It's School Social Worker Appreciation Week 🏫

This week we are proud to celebrate our dedicated School Social Workers Lauren Eisenberg, Lisa Tuozzo, Shelbie Proudfoot-Komro, and Chris Weddig for all they do to support students in the Watertown Unified School District. 💙

Schurz Elementary School recently welcomed Andy Boxell of the National Weather Service to talk to 1st grade students about his job and changing weather. Students have been reading stories this week about weather as part of their literacy curriculum. The students enjoyed Mr. Boxell's presentation and asked him lots of questions.

Tradition. Innovation. Transformation.
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Come learn more about the April 7 Operational Referendum by attending a meet & greet this Saturday or by tuning in to a live virtual referendum presentation Monday evening. Here are the details:

▪ Saturday, Feb. 28 - Watertown Public Library Maker's Space, 10-11:30 a.m. (meet & greet)
▪ Saturday, Feb. 28 - Watertown Piggly Wiggly, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (meet & greet)
▪ Monday, March 2 - Facebook & YouTube live referendum presentation

🏫 Why is the referendum needed?

The Watertown Unified School District is facing an operational budget deficit. This means the amount of money coming into the school district from state aid and property taxes is not enough to fund daily operating expenses such as salaries, utilities, transportation, and building maintenance.

The WUSD has already cut more than $1.2 million from its operating budget coming into this school year, but a growing annual budget gap of more than $4.5 million remains due to the expiration of the last operating referendum (2018-2023), rising costs due to inflation, inadequate state and federal funding, and more.

On Tuesday, April 7, the community will vote on an referendum question for the WUSD that would provide $4.5 million per year for five years to support operational, instructional, and maintenance expenses. If approved, the school tax impact on a home valued at $200,000 would be roughly $192 per year.

Please visit our website for more information at https://www.watertown.k12.wi.us/page/spring-referendum.

Webster Elementary School held its Cool, Awesome and Terrific Students (CATS) lunch on Friday, February 20th. Each month, students are selected by teachers in grades 5K-5 for making great gains in an academic area or by working super hard. Students selected this month enjoyed eating lunch with Webster Art Teacher Miss Babino.

Picture 1 - Grades K, 1, & 2
Top Row (left to right): T.J. Rentschler, Adrian Brown, Arthur Gallas
Next Row (left to right): Lailani Delkamp, Cruz Fine, Colton Jantz
Bottom Row (left to right): Olivia Enockson, Eliana Kowalik, Antonio Olguin

Picture 2 - Grades 3, 4, & 5
Top Row (left to right): Mya Selvie, Hazel Mechelke, Cal McFarland
Next Row (left to right): Mason Karl, Hudson Knuth, Praise Malia Nanyama
Bottom Row (left to right): Shea Magyar, Rowan Schimmel, Ilirida Limani

February is CTE (Career and Technical Education) Month. We would like to recognize the Watertown High School CTE teachers for all their hard work and dedication to their students and programs. 🌟

The following pictures are just a glimpse into the world of CTE and some of the many projects, activities, and enrichment opportunities our students are always working on. 🚜🧁🌺

Tradition. Innovation. Transformation.
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The Watertown Unified School District Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting tonight, Monday, Feb. 23 in the Commons at Watertown High School. A Detachment Hearing will take place at 5 p.m. followed by the Board of Education meeting starting at 6 p.m.

On Wednesday, Feb. 25, the Sub-Committee of the Curriculum, Educational Services & Policy committees will meet at 1 p.m. at the Educational Service Center.

To view the meeting agendas and to access virtual log in information, please visit https://go.boarddocs.com/wi/watertown/Board.nsf/vpublic?open.

Come learn more about the April 7 Operational Referendum by attending an event listed below:
▪️ Referendum Presentation - Schurz Elementary School, Wed., Feb. 25, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
▪️ Referendum Meet & Greet - Watertown Pubic Library, Sat., Feb. 28, 10-11:30 a.m.
▪️ Referendum Meet & Greet - Watertown Piggly Wiggly, Sat. Feb. 28, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Last week, Erin Steuerwald and Kelley Piasecki of the Watertown High School Athletics Department accompanied WHS athletes Nohra Good, Briella Moe, Breanna Meracle, Breanna Wolfgram, and Maddie Novotny to the first FASTForward Conference held at Waukesha North High School. The FASTForward Conference is designed to connect and empower female high school athletes from across the region.

Throughout the day, the athletes engaged in meaningful conversations, listened to inspiring speakers, and explored topics that impact them both on and off the field of play. The conference created a space for learning, reflection, and growth. From hearing personal stories of perseverance to discussing leadership, confidence, and teamwork, our athletes were reminded of the strength found in community and the power of supporting one another.

The day was filled with positive energy, thoughtful dialogue, and moments that encouraged them to see themselves as leaders in their schools and beyond. Most importantly, they experienced the value of listening - to speakers, to one another, and to their own voices. It was a day centered on connection, encouragement, and building a strong network of female athletes who will continue to uplift each other long after the conference ended. 💙

Tradition. Innovation. Transformation.
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