Since Jan. 20, the Watertown Unified School District has hosted more than 40 referendum pop-up discussions and formal presentations throughout the community to provide factual information regarding why the referendum is needed and to answer questions.
Pictured below are two slides from our presentation - the first image illustrates the potential property tax impact of an approved referendum on homes at various price points in Watertown. The second image charts Watertown's current mill rate in relation to our neighboring communities. An approved referendum would add 70 cents to Watertown's current $5.99 mill rate.
The Watertown Unified School District is currently taking nomination forms for the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award. The Distinguished Alumni Award was formed in purpose of providing our current students and community with a vision of the outstanding legacies of Watertown High School. The eligibility and criteria for nomination for the award are as follows:
*Nominees shall be graduates of the Watertown Unified School District, that is, alumni who have received diplomas from the Watertown Unified School District
*The nominee as gone on after high school to serve their communities and world through their careers, vocations or service dedication, and/or through a variety of endeavors, including: professional, athletic/entertainment, science/technology, community/governmental service, and/or entrepreneur/industrial, and/or
*The nominee has made an outstanding contribution to society, and/or
*The nominee has displayed outstanding leadership, and/or
*The nominee is a person of historical significance, and/or
*The nominee has been a prominent local, state, national and/or world figure.
Nomination forms can be found on the Watertown Unified School District’s website at: https://www.watertown.k12.wi.us/page/distinguished-alumni-award. Nominators may also pick up a packet at the Educational Service Center (ESC) – 111 Dodge Street, or request the forms be mailed to their residence by contacting Lynn Linskens at (920)262-1460 Ext. 3202 or linskensl@mywusd.org. Nomination forms must be received by May 1st, 2025 to be considered for the 2025 award.
We are pleased to present the Endeavor Trimester 2 Honor Roll for the 2024-25 school year. Congratulations to these students on this incredible achievement!
#Tradition_Innovation_Transformation #WatertownWay
We are pleased to present the Watertown High School Trimester 2 Honor Roll for the 2024-25 school year. Congratulations to these students on this incredible achievement!
#Tradition_Innovation_Transformation #WatertownWay
We are pleased to present the Watertown High School Trimester 1 High Honor Roll for the 2024-25 school year. Congratulations to these students on this incredible achievement!
#Tradition_Innovation_Transformation #WatertownWay
Tomorrow night (Wednesday, March 19), from 6:30-7:30 p.m. join us for a LIVE VIRTUAL Road to the Referendum presentation right here on Facebook and also streaming live on the Watertown Unified School District's YouTube channel.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jarred Burke will lead a brief presentation and then respond to questions regarding the referendum. A form to submit questions will be made available on the WUSD's Facebook page and on its website (https://www.watertown.k12.wi.us/page/spring-referendum) starting at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow.
Here are the links to tune in live:
YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/lCb-UMUZKuo?feature=share
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1381462432846595/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D
Watertown High School HOSA - Future Health Professionals students won big at the recent Regional Leadership Competition! Our Goslings brought home MANY Bronze awards, five Silver awards, and four students won Gold in their competitions.
Way to go everyone!
Tradition. Innovation. Transformation. #WatertownWay!
Watertown High School 10th grader Theo Heier has advanced to the national level in competition for an all-expenses paid three-week study trip to Germany! Out of 63 potential applicants, Theo was selected to be one of two scholarship candidates from the state of Wisconsin for this national award. Good luck at the next level, Theo!
On Sunday, March 2, the German and Spanish Honor Societies inducted their new members in a ceremony held at Watertown High School. 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.
Pictured are the newest members of the German Honor Society, joined by the club officers and advisor, Frau Schneider. Also pictured are inductees of the Spanish Honor Society, joined by club officers at the celebration.
Riverside Middle School presented Seussical Jr. this past weekend and it was fantastic! Congratulations to the cast and crew and to our RMS staff for staging a wonderful performance. 🎭🎶
The Watertown Unified School District Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting this evening (Monday, March 17) at 6 p.m. at the Educational Service Center. The public is welcome to attend in person or virtually. During this meeting, candidates running for the Board of Education will each have the opportunity to provide a brief introduction. View the meeting agenda here: https://go.boarddocs.com/wi/watertown/Board.nsf/vpublic?open.
The Watertown Unified School District will host a VIRTUAL Road to the Referendum presentation with Q&A this Wednesday from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on this Facebook page and the WUSD's YouTube channel. During this live virtual presentation, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jarred Burke will provide an overview of the referendum and then answer questions submitted by viewers during the presentation. A link to a Google form will be made available to submit questions starting at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Watch for more information to follow!
On April 1, our community will vote on a recurring operational referendum question for the Watertown Unified School District to raise the state-imposed revenue limit by $7 million. This funding is needed to fill a gap in the district’s budget to protect and preserve our high-quality instruction and programming, and to maximize school safety.
The $7 million is not for new spending, building construction, or remodeling projects. The WUSD is facing budget challenges because state funding is not enough and costs are rising due to inflation.
Learn more by visiting https://www.watertown.k12.wi.us/page/spring-referendum .
Congratulations to the Watertown High School Academic Decathlon team! The students competed on Thursday and Friday at the State competition and here are the exciting results:
Individual Test Categories (11 medals):
Speech: Elliott Small--gold--had a perfect score of 1000 and he was chosen to give one of the 3 showcase speeches at the awards ceremony.
Interview: Elliott Small--gold; Scott Butzen--gold; Jolee Glascock--gold (All 3 had perfect scores of 1000 on their interviews.)
Art: Erin Peterson--bronze
Literature: Scott Butzen--bronze; Jackson Huebner--silver; Will Wrolstad--gold
Math: Will Wrolstad--silver; Jackson Huebner--bronze
Social Science: Will Wrolstad--bronze
We finished 2nd in Division 1. Way to go Goslings!
Tradition. Innovation. Transformation. #WatertownWay!
Fifth-graders at Douglas Elementary School recently enjoyed a visit from Alex Harrington, chief meteorologist at News 3 Now / Channel 3000 in Madison. Students learned about how weather is forecasted and they observed a "pepper tornado" experiment. What a great experience for our students, who also got to be on TV!
Please enjoy these photos from Alex Harrington's visit, and watch the on-air segment below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIAc_5d0avA&t=1098s
4K Students in Mrs. Roth's class at Webster Elementary School recently enjoyed a bear-themed learning day! To add to the fun, 5th graders from Mrs. Meyers' class helped the the 4K students graph gummy bears by color, use unifix cubes to measure the length of different teddy bears, and to use a pan scale to compare the weight of plastic bears and various other objects in the classroom.
Tradition. Innovation. Transformation. #WatertownWay!
As we continue on the Road to the Referendum, we invite the community join us at an upcoming referendum presentation or at an informal meet & greet. All events are open to the public!
Here's where to find us this week:
📍 Watertown Community & Senior Center (presentation, Q&A)
📅 Wednesday, March 12, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
📍 Lincoln Elementary School Gymnasium (presentation, Q&A)
📅 Thursday, March 13, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
📍 The Grove at The Marquardt Towne Center (presentation, Q&A)
📅 Friday, March 14, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
📍 Watertown Jig Jog 5K ☘ (come say hello by the Watertown Public Library!)
📅 Saturday, March 15, 9:15 a.m.-Noon
This was so fun - staff members at Douglas Elementary School last Thursday hosted a Masked Dancer show for the students to enjoy. The students laughed and cheered, and the teachers in costume were great sports (and pretty great dancers, too 😀).
Tradition. Innovation. Transformation. #WatertownWay!
What an amazing show! 🕺🎶
This past weekend, Watertown High School presented three incredible SOLD OUT performances of the musical Footloose. Congratulations to all the students, staff and parent volunteers - we didn't want it to end!
Come learn more about the upcoming WUSD referendum!
On Tuesday, March 11 join us for a Referendum Lunch & Learn at the Watertown Public Library sponsored by the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce. Lunch is optional, but please still RSVP. Program starts at Noon.
Tonight (Thurs. March 6) the WUSD will host a Road to the Referendum presentation at Douglas Elementary School at 6 p.m.
These are great opportunities to ask questions to make an informed decision on April 1!
