It has been a great week at WHS! Special shout out to the FFA for their work hosting elementary students from around the WUSD for the “Day on the Farm” to showcase many of the agriculture related opportunities available within the school district and larger community! Congratulations to our WHS tennis team and coaches for reaching the WIAA State Tennis Tournament!

As we march through the 1st trimester, families and students are encouraged to continue to monitor grades and attendance and reach out to one of the WHS Associate Principals, Jennifer Bault (baultj@watertown.k12.wi.us) or Jennifer Pennington (penningtonj@watertown.k12.wi.us), if we can be of any assistance in supporting your student's attendance or academic success at school.

Parents are reminded that WHS is a closed campus for lunch. Parents are discouraged from calling their students out during lunch time on a regular basis.

Unity Day is an annual event occurring during National Bullying Prevention Month in October that promotes joining together to create healthier communities through kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.

WUSD students and staff are encouraged to wear something orange (shirt, hood, bracelet, etc) on Wednesday, October 18. All students will be receiving an orange ribbon in case they won't have anything orange to wear!

Thanks to families for their ongoing support of the updated phone policy at WHS. A reminder of the expectations are listed below. We are seeing great improvement in this area at WHS and more intentional focus on learning within class periods as personal electronic devices become less of a distraction. We appreciate our community’s support of these changes as we prepare students to find success at WHS and beyond!

With our move to a one-to-one Chromebook distribution system this year, all students at WHS will have a Chromebook issued to them and they can use this device for all educational purposes (including listening to music with headphones/earbuds) negating any need for them to use a cell phone during class time unless otherwise instructed by their classroom teacher. Students will still be able to use their phones in the hallways during passing time and at lunch, so parents and guardians will still be able to contact them with any information during non-instructional times.

As listed in the WHS Student Handbook aligned with WUSD School Board Policy 3515, students who have a phone out during class will be subject to the following disciplinary actions:

· 1st offense – The classroom teacher will collects the student cell phone for the hour, discusses with student, return the cell phone to the student, and communicate to parent or guardian;

· 2nd offense – The classroom teacher collects the cell phone from the student and brings the cell phone to the office where it will be kept until the end of the school day. A disciplinary referral will be written and the teacher will communicate to a parent or guardian;

· 3rd offense – The classroom teacher will collect the cell phone from the student and bring the cell phone to the office where it will be kept in the office until a parent or guardian can pick it up. Any subsequent offenses will result in escalating consequences as determined by WHS administration.

We anticipate that it may be difficult for some students to adjust to increasingly limited access to their cell phones. We intend to work with students to help them focus on their coursework throughout the day without immediate access to phones and we thank you in advance for your support of our efforts to provide a more distraction-free environment for students.

Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

WHS will be hosting Fall Parent Teacher Conferences on Tuesday, October 24 from 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. in WHS classrooms. Parents can start to register for Parent Teacher Conferences on Monday, October 16 via Skyward Family Access. A separate email will be sent to families with directions on how to register.

All Veterans are invited to join us on Friday, November 10, 2023 from 8:30 - 10 a.m. at WHS for a light breakfast and Veterans Day Ceremony. Please see the invitation below.

Please consider supporting WHS and joining our great team by becoming a substitute teacher or support staff member! WHS, like many schools across the country, has a limited pool of substitute teachers and substitute support staff so please pass the information below on to any interested individuals.

To be a substitute teacher, applicants are required to have a 2 year associate’s degree or a 4 year bachelor’s degree. To be a substitute support staff, applicants are required to have a high school diploma. Interested individuals should reach out to Sarah Miller (millers@watertown.k12.wi.us or (920) 262-1460) in the WUSD Human Resources Department for additional information!

We hope you consider joining our fantastic team at WHS!

Families who didn't purchase pictures and would like to, should have their student stop by the Main Office and pick up a picture proof. Information on how to place an order is included on the picture proof.

Senior yearbook photos will need to be uploaded directly to the Herff-Jones website: www.hjeshare.com and the school code is 825. The senior photo should be a headshot with no hands in the photo. The deadline to upload your senior picture is Friday, November 3, 2023. Hard copy photos and emailed senior photos will not be accepted.

Parents, whose students are taking an AP class, where notified by email about upcoming AP Exam registration and payment deadlines. Below is a snap shot of the deadlines:

AP Exam Registration Deadline: October 16 (Completed in AP Class)

AP Exam Fee Payment Deadline: October 16 (Due to Bookkeeper)

Add/Drop Exam without financial penalty: November 15

AP Exam Testing Window: May 6 - May 17

If you have any questions, please reach out to Kathy Klinger in the Bookkeeping Office or Jen Pennington, Associate Principal.

As the weather is getting colder, don't forget to purchase a NubaySoft ™ D-Luxe Blankets! They are super soft, HUGE and big enough for two people! By using your blankets at home, at the park, or at the game, our goal is to help student families feel included and connected to our great culture. Pricing is $70 each. To order, go to: https://sites.google.com/spectatorblankets.com/watertown-goslings/home

Congratulations to the Gosling Marching Band for their 2nd place finish in class AAA at the Milton Redhawk Invitational last Saturday. The band was awarded a school record score for their performance. The Goslings will wrap up their competitive season at the State Marching Championships on October 14 at UW-Whitewater.

Congratulations to Lauren Kwapil (left) and Kaitlyn Narkis (right)! They competed at State Tennis on Thursday and advanced to the second round on Friday!

• Parent Teacher Conferences: Tuesday, October 24 (4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.)
• No School: Thursday, October 26 & Friday, October 27
• ACT National Test Day: Saturday, October 28
• Senior Yearbook Pictures Due: Friday, November 3
• Senior Jostens Graduation Meeting: Monday, November 6 (during ELT)
• Senior Jostens Graduation Orders Deadline: Thursday, November 9 (lunch hours)
• No School: Monday, November 20 - Friday, November 24
• End of Trimester & 11:30 a.m. Early Release: Friday, December 1

WHS CLOTHING GUIDELINES (WUSD School Board Policy 5320)

WHS Calendar 23-24

WHS Athletic Calendar