Last Thursday, while classes were not in session, Watertown Unified School District staff participated in a variety of professional development learning opportunities at locations all across the community. In addition to meeting in our public school buildings, staff training and collaboration also took place at Watertown Regional Medical Center, Madison College, and at The Collective. Staff development focused on Literacy training, Keys to Literacy Module Work, Data Review, aimswebPlus training, ASCA training, NVCI training, FERPA training for certified and paraprofessional staff, and more. In addition, CTE (Career to Technical Education) staff received a behind-the-scenes tour of WRMC’s Harvest Market and district clerical staff received training in Canva, a graphic design program. It was a great day for team building all throughout our school district! #WatertownWay
HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) held its annual HOSAween Pumpkin Carving Contest on Sunday, Oct. 20. Winners included: 3rd Place - Sophia and Hannah (classic Jack-o'-Lantern), 2nd Place - Miliani and Summer (Ghost Pumpkin), and 1st Place - Eleyna and Kacie (German Shepherd Pumpkin). A great time was had by ALL!
The Watertown Unified School District Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at the Educational Service Center, 111 Dodge St. Please note, a budget hearing will take place prior to the meeting at 5:30 p.m. The public is welcome to attend. To view the meeting agenda, please visit: https://go.boarddocs.com/wi/watertown/Board.nsf/vpublic?open.
Thank you to Jersey Mike's Subs of Johnson Creek for its generous donation of $1,437 to Watertown High School! To celebrate the opening of the new Jersey Mike’s location (485 Wright Rd, Unit 103, Johnson Creek), the restaurant teamed up with WHS to present a free sub card to all students and staff. For each card redeemed Oct. 2-6, the student or staff member received the free sub plus Jersey Mike’s made a $3 donation to WHS. Pictured with the donation check are (from left) WHS Associate Principal Jennifer Pennington, WHS Associate Principal Jennifer Bault, WHS Associate Principal/Athletic Director Jamie Koepp, WHS Principal Josh Kerr and WHS Dean of Students Chad Hayes.
How cute is this? To celebrate learning all 26 letters of the English alphabet, kindergarteners at Schurz Elementary School participated in an Alphabet Parade on this beautiful October afternoon. The students each held a letter flag and as a group walked around the block as parents, caregivers, friends and family members cheered them on. #WatertownWay
There are several Board of Education meetings coming this week and next week. View all the upcoming agendas and read past meeting minutes by visiting https://go.boarddocs.com/wi/watertown/Board.nsf/vpublic?open.
Students attending the WUSD’s eCampus Academy recently gathered for two in-person learning activities. Last week, students and their parents/caregivers took a field trip to the Horicon Marsh. Did you know that the Horicon Marsh is only 2-feet deep? eCampus Academy learners took a boat tour around the Marsh, were treated to a hands-on experience at the Explorium, and hiked the Story Book Trail.
In September, eCampus Academy students enjoyed STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) learning stations at the Educational Service Center.
To learn more about the eCampus Academy visit https://www.watertown.k12.wi.us/o/ecampus.
🎃 Join us for this special trick-or-treating event! 👻
The Watertown High School National Honor Society is hosting a Trunk-or-Treat and your children are invited! The event will take place on Wednesday, October 23 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in the WHS student parking lot. Candy and treats available while supplies last. Costumes encouraged!
Douglas Elementary School Tigers recently read the book Do Unto Otters with Mrs. Lessner, and students chose one word from the book to decorate. The book was all about being a good neighbor, and students learned about how they could be good classmates by being kind, honest, considerate, and more! The decorated word sheets now adorn the entranceway to the school building. This is a great visual reminder for our students and school community to do their best every day.
Mrs. Peters’ Webster Elementary School 4K class recently read "Pete the Cat; I Love My White Shoes," and had a blast acting out the story! Students practiced reading and retelling the Pete the Cat story in many different ways including painting with model cats and using a magnet board story telling kit. The class had fun creating a patterning snack using the items that Pete the Cat walked in with his white shoes – blueberries, strawberries, and mud (chocolate sauce). To complete the story, students engaged in a Pete the Cat sensory activity by walking through blueberries, strawberries, mud, and water with their bare feet! This is a great example of Learning the Wildcat Way…100% every day!
There are so many unique opportunities within the Watertown Unified School District for our students to always be learning something new. Pictured here are Tech Ed students at Riverside Middle School exploring and studying a variety of skills and applications, from hands-on wood lathe to digital 3D design and modeling. #WatertownWay
🎶 Congratulations to the Watertown High School Marching Band! 🏆
The band earned a 1st Place finish in Class Triple-A at the Red Hawk Invitational in Milton this past Saturday! The band set a school record high score of 70.35! Catch the band’s next performance on Friday at the WHS Varsity Football game as they prepare for their trip to the State Marching Championships on Saturday, Oct. 19 at UW-Whitewater.
We love seeing our students running, playing, and having fun with their teachers and classmates. Enjoy these photos from the recent Lincoln STEM Elementary School Panda Bot Boogie and the Webster Elementary School Wildcat Dash.
Why is Watertown High School’s mascot the Gosling? Find out the answer to this question, and learn other interesting aspects of Watertown history, during a special presentation on Monday, Oct. 21 called Watertown: Where History Takes Flight. The presentation will be led by Watertown Historical Society President Melissa Lampe.
Organized by the Watertown Arts Council and the WUSD Art Department, the presentation will begin at 6 p.m. in the Community Room of the Watertown Public Library. In conjunction with this presentation, students and adult artists will decorate life-sized geese provided by the Arts Council, which will be formally unveiled on Nov. 19 at 5 p.m. at Watertown High School. The decorated geese will then be displayed throughout the city.
The presentation is free and open to the public. For information contact Dave pawld@mywusd.org
Watertown High School seniors Aubrey Keddington, Sara Rodriguez Machado, and William Wrolstad have been selected as Watertown Rotary Club students for the month of October 2024.
Keddington, Rodriguez Machado, and Wrolstad are being recognized for their academic achievements, participation in athletics and school organizations, and their contributions to the Watertown community. The students are invited to join the Rotary Club each Monday at its weekly luncheon meetings.
About the students:
Aubrey Keddington is the daughter of Holly and Richard Keddington. She has been involved in multiple activities while at WHS including Girls Swim, WHS Carolers, River City Rhapsody, WHS Musicals, and Athletic Leadership. Aubrey is also a member of: National Honor Society (Secretary), Tri-M Music Honor Society (President), and National Art Honor Society. Aubrey is currently acting as President of the INTERACT (Student Rotary) club and the Secretary of Ecology Club. Aubrey was also selected to participate in Badger Girls State this past summer. Aubrey is currently working as a head lifeguard and swim instructor, and plans on attending a four-year university to study Cellular Biology or Pre-Med.
Sara Rodriguez Machado is the daughter of Zoraida Machado and Cesar Machado. Sara has been associated with National Honor Society, Tri M Music Honor Society, and the German Honor Society (Secretary). She has also been recognized for her score on the German National Exam and as an AP Scholar. When not at WHS, Sara is providing violin and piano lessons in addition to volunteering at a Bible study. After high school, Sara is looking to obtain her BBA in Accounting as well as becoming a certified translator.
William Wrolstad is the son of Kristin Wrolstad and Jeremy Wrolstad. William has been a part of SkillsUSA as a member, an officer, and as the head of electrical engineering on the solar car. He has also been a member of Show Choir, WHS Carolers, WHS Musicals, Academic Decathlon, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and INTERACT (Student Rotary). Recently, William was recognized as a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist. After high school, William is looking to earn a degree in a STEM related field.
What a fun Homecoming dance, and what a great night to be a Gosling!
Homecoming float decorating is underway! Senior and freshmen students are pictured working on their floats yesterday after school. We look forward to seeing the completed float designs at the Homecoming Parade starting at 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon! The Homecoming Parade route is along Main Street from Eighth Street to Third Street. 🌟
Catherine Kaczmarek, a 2024 Watertown High School graduate, will be recognized at the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis October 23-26 for being named a prestigious National Finalist in the field of Specialty Animal Production. Kaczmarek is presently a freshman at Texas A&M University, majoring in Rangeland and Wildlife Management.
Catherine’s achievements will be highlighted at the convention, which draws 70,000 FFA members, parents, and leaders in business, education and government from across the nation. Congratulations Catherine! #WatertownWay!
Junior and Senior students, make plans to attend the WHS College & Career Planning Night on Monday, Oct. 7 from 5:50-8 p.m. Bring your families to learn all about the many educational opportunities and technical career pathways available to you post-graduation.
Webster Elementary School held its Cool, Awesome, and Terrific Students (CATS) lunch on Friday, September 20. Each month, Webster Principal Brad Clark eats lunch with a group of Cool, Awesome, and Terrific Students. These students are picked by teachers in grades 5K-5 for making great gains in an academic area or working super hard.
Picture 1 Grades K-2 (top row, left to right): Makenna Newkirk, Macy Moulton, Rowan Schimmel, (middle row) Roman Castro, Alex Roever, Jonathan Parpart, (bottom row) Jaeda Larsen, Sloane Ferry, and Ayonna Newson-Heller.
Picture 2 Grades 3-5 (top row, left to right): Isaiah Hoffer, Keira Schimmel, Kayden Frazier, (middle row) Eugene Gallert, Nadia Leuzinger, Oliver Muniz, (bottom row) Teddy Rahberger, Braelyn Rein, and Damian Herrera.
