Strategic Planning Work Continues 🗒✏️✔️
Parents, staff, students, and community members are continuing the process of developing a new, comprehensive strategic plan for the WUSD. The Strategic Planning Workgroup held its second meeting on Thursday, June 20 with more than 50 participants in attendance!
At the start of the workgroup meeting, Dr. Melissa Thompson and Nick Kent from Plunkett Raysich Architects provided an update on the state of the district's facilities. The attendees then discussed the purpose of a mission and vision for the school district, along with strengths and areas for growth within the WUSD. Members also discussed opportunities and threats to the district in the present and future.
The next workgroup meeting will take place July 10 from 6-8 p.m. at the Watertown Public Library. Community members are welcome and encouraged to join! To register, visit bit.ly/wusdspsignup.
Summer School Scenes 🌞
Week 2 of Watertown Unified School District’s Summer School program is off to a great start. Students entering grades 1-4 are having fun learning to cook mini pizzas, playing frisbee golf, creating 4th of July tissue paper wreaths, learning about sea turtles, diving deeper into core academics and so much more. This year, there are 1,050 students enrolled in Summer School entering grades K-12.
Congratulations to Isabell Lin, who recently had her artwork published in the Southern Lakes Anthology! Lin’s artwork was submitted by her third-grade teacher, Mrs. Tina Oiler, at Lincoln STEM Elementary School. Southern Lakes Anthology is an annual writing and art competition for grades 3-8 that is organized by the Southern Lakes Advanced Learners Network of over 40 different participating school districts. Student work may be submitted in the following categories: prose, poetry, illustrated writing, expository writing, art, and cartoons. Great job, Isabell!
Members of the Watertown Unified School District’s extended leadership team held an in-service yesterday to continue laying the groundwork for the 2024-2025 school year. Director of Special Education and Student Services Sarah Oudenhoven arranged for the Kona Ice truck to stop by the Educational Service Center (ESC) as a special treat for meeting attendees and building staff. Sarah won the opportunity to bring the Kona Ice truck to the ESC through a recent charitable fundraiser. Thank you, Sarah!
The Watertown Unified School District was represented at the 2024 Educators in Industry event held June 10 at the Bobcat Company in Johnson Creek. During the event, area educators and the team from Bobcat discussed how the company could further help local schools prepare students for careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math). Educators toured the manufacturing facility and test drove Bobcat equipment. Attending from the WUSD were Technology & Engineering Instructor Jesse Domer, Superintendent Dr. Jarred Burke, and RMS Guidance Counselors Lora Konz and Jesse Leonhardt.
Did you hear the exciting news? The Watertown High School Marching Band has the incredible opportunity to perform in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2026 in Dublin, Ireland! To help offset the cost of the trip for students, the WHS Music Department will hold its first-ever mattress fundraising event on Saturday, August 10, from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in the WHS Commons.
During the sale, high-quality mattresses manufactured right here in Wisconsin will be sold at deep discounts with a portion of sales going toward trip expenses. If you are planning to replace your mattress in the near future, please consider buying a new one at this event. Please mark your calendar for August 10 and help us spread the word! Follow the mattress sales fundraising event at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1094485391619563?active_tab=about&scrlybrkr=49c5d569
Eleven Watertown High School students were selected to participate in the Badger Conference Art Show held last month at Oregon High School. Six students were awarded honors by the judges in their individual categories. The students pictured include (back row): Kristian Cutler (1st Place Animation), Rodrigo Pineda Olmos (1st Place Adaptive Art), Issac VanBuren, Onyx Elkins, Joanna Schwartz, Alora Thomas (Honorable Mention 3-D Mixed Media), Vivian Antonacci, (front row): Emily Leinstock (3rd Place Oil Painting), Rae Heier (3rd Place Water Based Painting, and Helena Cahoon (Honorable Mention Glass & Jewelry).
Congratulations to our RMS Panthers who made Fourth Quarter Honor Roll!
PLEASE NOTE: The WHS Band & Orchestra concert live Facebook stream is now expected to begin today at approximately 1:30 p.m. central time instead of 2 p.m. Also note: this is barring any technical difficulties. Thank you!
The weather was picture-perfect for Douglas Elementary School's recent Field Day. Students had a blast playing water games, attempting balance and skill challenges, jumping in a bounce house, playing on a giant inflatable slide and more.
Enjoy these photos from this very fun event!
Congratulations to our Endeavor Charter School students who made Honor Roll during Trimester 3! To qualify for Honor Roll, students must earn a GPA of 3.2-4.0. #WatertownWay
Congratulations to our WHS students who made Honor Roll during Trimester 3! To qualify for Honor Roll, students must earn a GPA of 3.2-3.499. #WatertownWay
Congratulations to our WHS students who made High Honor Roll during Trimester 3! To qualify for High Honor Roll, students must earn a GPA of 3.5 or higher. #WatertownWay
Congratulations to the Watertown High School Class of 2024! On Saturday, June 8, more than 290 seniors crossed the stage to receive their diplomas in front of a packed field house of family and friends. The graduation ceremony was a wonderful celebration of our students, as well as the teachers, staff, parents and caregivers that have supported them along the way.
Students at Webster Elementary School enjoyed a number of fun activities as the school-year drew to a close. They had fun with bubbles, a special dress day, and even got to meet two friendly rats in person! 🐭😲 Have a great summer, Wildcats!
Ameera Alouqui is a special little girl with a BIG talent. A recent 5th grade graduate of Schurz Elementary School, Ameera’s art club instructor, Mrs. Tahera Horstman, is shining a spotlight on Ameera’s extraordinary drawing ability. Ameera’s artwork has been recognized in the National Celebrating Art Contest and her peers chose another of her drawings as the image for this year’s Schurz Art Club T-shirt. Ameera said she enjoys drawing animals and figures of humans best, and finds happiness in the time she spends with her sketchbook.
The drawings featured below were drawn free-hand by Ameera. The self-portrait was inspired by the purchase of a fancy umbrella at a yard sale, and sketching angels and anatomy is also of great interest to her.
Mrs. Horstman said Ameera has an “amazing gift of seeing shapes, proportions and space layout – she works hard and finishes every piece she starts.” She added, “I envision her as a very successful free-lance artist who will build a name for herself making special commission portraits and figure art, or perhaps as a creative illustrator/media specialist for large corporations.”
While contest opportunities are limited at Ameera’s age, Mrs. Horstman recently entered Ameera’s work in three youth judging opportunities and is eagerly awaiting the results. “Ameera has grown tremendously while in our art club,” she said. “I have witnessed her emerging talent since first grade, and her fear of taking risks because she always strives for perfection. After winning her art club logo design, and being published in the National Celebrating Art contest, Ameera gained her confidence in so many ways with her art and life!”
Keep growing your amazing talent, Ameera!
From WHS Athletics: There have been multiple requests for a fan bus for tonight’s Softball Semi-final State game. We will provide a free fan bus to include WHS Students and their families (and WHS staff) as an alternate to the traffic and limited parking at Goodman Diamond. Here is the info:
Bus departure TODAY from WHS: 5:00 pm sharp (game time is 7:00 pm)
Cost: FREE. Voluntary donations will be accepted to help offset the cost
Sign up is REQUIRED NO LATER THAN 2:00 pm on Friday, June 7th so that we can plan accordingly for the number of buses. Please note there is limited availability and seats on the bus will be reserved on first come, first served basis.
Game ticket can be purchased online here: https://gofan.co/event/1488559?schoolId=WIAA2
We are not able to accommodate any requests to ride the bus after the 2:00 pm deadline. Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSce2IP-X8ERq_JWdsBQev9FVH6THjyROpYFvv-13c6HCJFSMg/viewform?usp=sf_link
We hope you will consider joining the fan bus to the game this evening to cheer our WHS Softball team on to victory!
WUSD to Hold Early Childhood Screening The Watertown Unified School District will hold a developmental screening on Friday, June 21, 2024 at the Educational Service Center, 111 Dodge St, Watertown. Developmental screenings are open to children whose parents or caregivers are concerned regarding their speech or development. Screenings are available for children aged 2-years, 9-months through age five. Please contact Jennifer Harris to schedule an appointment at (920) 262-1460 ext. 3208. Appointments run approximately 45 minutes.
🎓 Watertown High School Class of 2024 Graduation will take place this Saturday, June 8 starting at 10 a.m. in the WHS Fieldhouse. Last week, several graduating seniors visited their elementary schools for the annual Senior Walk. The graduation ceremony will be livestreamed via Watertown TV at https://www.youtube.com/live/8Kt__Ln6fRw?si=-w3FJp_zkHLk8omf. Congratulations Seniors, and Happy Graduation!
Our Watertown High School Lady Goslings Softball Team is on its way to STATE! The team will compete tomorrow in the WIAA Division 1 Softball STATE Quarterfinal - SUN PRAIRIE EAST vs WATERTOWN at 10 a.m. at Goodman Diamond, Madison, WI.
A special send-off was held this afternoon at WHS. Congratulations Lady Goslings on your fantastic success, and let's bring home the WIN! #wearethegoslings #WuTownProud
