Due to the wintry weather and potentially unsafe driving conditions that we are experiencing, all Watertown Unified School District after school activities are canceled today, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024.
Please stay safe and warm.
Jarred Burke
Superintendent of Schools
Last week, the Watertown Unified School District hosted three Community Input Sessions to receive feedback on its preliminary Long Range Facilities Plan. The district has been working with Plunkett Raysich Architects (PRA) since early March to develop this plan that will shape the look and structure of district buildings into the future. This long range plan is being developed based on future enrollment projections, highest and best use of classroom and programming space, evolving teaching best practices, and economic feasibility.
The feedback received last week from district staff members, parents/guardians and community members will play an important role in this planning process. Thank you to all who attended. A second round of Community Input Sessions will take place April 22-24, 2025. To learn more about the district's Long Range Facilities Plan, please visit https://www.watertown.k12.wi.us/page/long-range-facilities-planning-study.
The Watertown High School Music Department presented its annual Holiday Concert on both Sunday afternoon and Monday evening in the WHS Auditorium. All the students - band, choir, orchestra and more - gave a wonderful performance. Thank you to our amazing Music Department staff and to our fabulous students for creating such a beautiful holiday experience for all to enjoy. 🎶🎄🎶
We are pleased to present the Endeavor Charter School Trimester 1 Honor Roll for the 2024-25 school year. Congratulations to these students on this incredible achievement!
#Tradition_Innovation_Transformation #WatertownWay
Next Wednesday, Dec. 11, Watertown High School will proudly host the SkillsUSA District 4 Conference from 4-8 p.m. More than 350 student competitors from roughly 40 different schools will be in attendance, with 70 industry judges from local businesses and on hand to support the event.
Students will have the opportunity to compete in 28 unique contests ranging from welding to photography to electronics and much more. The public is invited to view the competitions as they take place. Watertown High School Technology Education Teacher Jesse Domer and his team are organizing the event. He said it will be "an amazing night for students to test their skills and celebrate the trades!" #Tradition_Innovation_Transformation
The second of our three Community Input Sessions regarding the WUSD's Long Range Facilities Planning study will take place tonight at 6 p.m. at Riverside Middle School. We strongly encourage citizens to attend tonight's meeting or the third meeting tomorrow (Thursday) at Schurz Elementary School, also at 6 p.m. This planning study, coupled with community input, will shape the district's school building configurations into the future. If attending this evening, please enter RMS through the front doors by the flag pole.
Pictured are WUSD staff members attending the Facilities Study presentation yesterday. Speaking are Superintendent Jarred Burke, Buildings & Grounds Supervisor Kevin Sukow and representatives from PRA, the architecture firm conducting the study. Also pictured are some fabulous National Honor Society students who volunteered to watch little ones so their parents could attend the meeting. Childcare will again be provided tonight and tomorrow evening.
Hey Watertown – we need your help to make sure local students are warm and fed this winter! ❄️ On Saturday, Dec. 14 & Sunday, Dec. 15, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., help us Stuff the Bus full of warm clothing, non-perishable food, and holiday gifts for area youth in grades 4K-12 at the Bentzin Family Town Square. Thanks to the incredible generosity of Dousman Transport Co., a school bus will be parked at the Square both days and we are determined to FILL IT! Please see the list of suggested items to donate in the flyer below. This will be a fun, festive, two-day experience you won’t want to miss – be a part of giving something special this holiday season. 🎁
Stuff the Bus is organized in partnership by the Watertown Unified School District, the City of Watertown, WI - Government, and the Watertown Park and Rec Dept.
The Watertown Unified School District (WUSD) would like to announce that the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has released the State Report Cards for the 2023-2024 school year. These report cards provide valuable insights into the academic performance and growth of our district and schools, serving as a reflection of our commitment to educational excellence.
At WUSD, tradition, innovation, and transformation are at the heart of our mission. We are dedicated to serving our students by providing educational opportunities that promote academic excellence and a lifelong love of learning. This focus drives our efforts to honor our community’s traditions, embrace innovative practices, and transform educational experiences to meet the needs of every learner.
We encourage families to review the State Report Cards and celebrate the successes outlined within them, while also joining us in identifying opportunities for growth as we work together to ensure high levels of learning for all students.
Our district and individual school State Report Cards are now available to the public. Please take time to access this information via a link to the Wisconsin Department of Public on the WUSD website at https://www.watertown.k12.wi.us/o/wusd/page/district-accountability-reports .
Teams of Watertown Unified School District staff members have already begun digging into this data to understand areas for improvement and identify components to celebrate. This continuous improvement work coupled with the efforts currently underway in classrooms across our district will lead to improved learning experiences for each of our students.
Our district remains proud of the work that all staff members continue to do for and with students as we collaboratively prepare every learner for community, career and college readiness.
Watertown High School was the setting last night for a phenomenal showcase of student art from all across the Watertown Unified School District. In addition, the Student Art Showcase featured the presentation of more than a dozen life-sized goose decoys that were hand-painted and decorated by local artists. They were truly a sight to behold - so much talent and creativity flows through Watertown.
The WUSD Nutrition Services Department was recently visited by past members of its leadership team. Sheila Price, supervisor of Nutrition Services, said it was a delight to have the former colleagues visit and to see the many changes the department has undergone – especially in terms of staffing. Pictured are (from left) Nancy Kopplin, current WHS production manager; Michelle Yelk, current administrative assistant for Nutrition Services; Joan Jaeckel, former supervisor of Nutrition Services; Joan Loomis, former production manager; Sheila Price, current Supervisor; and Jackie Walsch-McCabe, former supervisor. #WatertownWay
Was the brief power outage that affected much of Watertown today a trick or a treat for our high schoolers? 👻 Dozens of students, and even members of our Nutritional Services staff, are celebrating Halloween today by wearing some pretty amazing costumes to school! 🎃
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.
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.
🎃 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!
🎶 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.
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
What a fun Homecoming dance, and what a great night to be a Gosling!
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.
The WUSD Board of Education meets tonight at 6 p.m. Please note, the location for this meeting has been changed to the Library Media Center at Watertown High School. To view the agenda for tonight's meeting, please click here: https://go.boarddocs.com/wi/watertown/Board.nsf/vpublic?open
The WUSD Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024 starting at 6 p.m. Please note, this meeting will be held in the Watertown High School Media Center, 825 Endeavour Dr. The Media Center is the library at the top of the main stairs at WHS. For more information, call (920) 262-1460 or email linskensl@mywusd.org.
