Douglas Elementary School

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!

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!

Look at these cute Douglas Elementary School Tigers learning about the Core Values outlined in the Watertown Unified School District's new 2024-27 Strategic Plan. Last summer, more than 100 local citizens engaged in the WUSD's Strategic Planning process, that took place over several open meetings at the Watertown Public Library. The Strategic Plan was adopted by the Board of Education on Oct. 28, 2024.

Join us tonight at 6 p.m. at the Watertown Public Library for our next Road to the Referendum presentation. We invite you to participate in the discussion and ask questions. If you cannot attend tonight's presentation, then please join us on Thursday, March 6 at 6 p.m. at Douglas Elementary School.

As we continue on our Road to the Referendum, we invite the public to attend our next referendum presentation on Monday, March 3 at 6 p.m. at the Watertown Public Library. We also invite the community to learn more about the WUSD's annual audit report that was presented to the Board of Education on Monday, February 24. We are always happy to answer any questions regarding the referendum or the district's finances. Please email referendum2025@mywusd.org. District audit: https://go.boarddocs.com/wi/watertown/Board.nsf/files/DE2Q9T67BB63/$file/Watertown%20Unified%20School%20District%20-%202024%20Financial%20Statements.pdf

As we continue on our Road to the Referendum, we invite the community to attend a special presentation this evening, Thursday, Feb. 27 starting at 5:30 p.m. at Watertown High School to better understand why the referendum is needed. If you cannot attend tonight's presentation, catch us on Monday, March 3 at 6 p.m. at the Watertown Public Library. A WUSD representative will also be present this afternoon from 4-5:30 p.m. to share referendum information at Glenn's Market & Catering, 722 W. Main St. Thank you to Glenn's Market for providing the WUSD with this opportunity to connect with the community!

Today is National Random Acts of Kindness Day and the start of Adult Crossing Guard Appreciation Week in Wisconsin. Last week, our school bus drivers celebrated School Bus Driver Appreciation Week. We are grateful for our school bus drivers and our crossing guards all throughout the year. Please complete a Random Act of Kindness today by thanking a school bus driver, a crossing guard, a teacher, or anyone you know who works to support children in our community.

💕 Douglas Elementary School’s therapy dog, Bailey, was shown lots of love on Valentine’s Day. Not only did he receive pets and cuddles from students, but he was also the beneficiary of an amazing gift from the Watertown-Beaver Dam Elks Lodge 666 in the form of a donation check totaling $4,414 to support his ongoing training and care. The funds were raised through a benefit concert held Jan. 4 with added contributions from Elks Lodge members. This check is in addition to a donation made last year by the Elks Lodge for Bailey’s training, equaling $5,984 in total contributions! Pictured at the check passing last Friday were (from left) Charlie Hensen, school parent who helped spearhead the therapy dog program at Douglas Elementary School; Elks members Tammy Riege Lambert and Dave DeCono, who helped organize the benefit concert; Bailey; Douglas Principal Emily Lessner; and Elks members Cristine Crum and Mike Meyer. Thank you so much!

TONIGHT AT 5:30 P.M. - ROAD TO THE REFERENDUM PRESENTATION AT RIVERSIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL The public is invited to come learn all about the Watertown Unified School District referendum question that will be on the April 1 general election ballot. Questions and feedback from audience members welcomed!

Attention WUSD Families! Due to the worsening weather conditions, all WUSD after school activities are canceled today, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. Please note: Y Care will still take place as scheduled and the WUSD Policy Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. will be fully virtual. To join the meeting, visit: https://go.boarddocs.com/wi/watertown/Board.nsf/vpublic?open.

It's School Counselor Appreciation week and we invite you to join us in thanking our very own caring and compassionate school counselors - Mindy Ganser, Bryce Steckbauer, Kelly Cunningham, Jesse Leonhardt, Lora Konz, Avery Harris, Erikka Olson, and Amy True. The Watertown Unified School District is fortunate to have you, and we thank you for all you do for our students!

Riverside Middle School STEM Academy Registration Deadline is Feb. 7! Attention parents and guardians of Watertown area fifth-graders – Riverside Middle School STEM Academy registration closes next Friday, Feb. 7 for the 2025-26 school year. If your child will be a sixth-grader at RMS this fall, please be sure to check out this unique program focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education. To register, visit: https://sites.google.com/mywusd.org/rms-course-registration?usp=sharing.

🐝 Douglas Elementary School hosted its annual schoolwide spelling bee on Tuesday. Following grade-level qualifying rounds held earlier this month, 17 students in grades 3-5 advanced to the school-level spelling bee. The school-level champion, 3rd grader Amelia Manchester, is now eligible to participate in the regional competition to be held in February through the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The students bravely competed in front of a gymnasium full of their classmates and relatives in attendance.

Several Watertown Unified School District 5th-8th graders participated in a Math Meet earlier this month at UW-Whitewater sponsored by the Southern Lakes Advanced Learners Network. Our students competed in five different math events, and then enjoyed a delicious lunch compliments of Pizza Ranch of Watertown.

We hope everyone is staying warm today! A message has been emailed to WUSD families regarding an update to the dining menus due to today's school closure. Please read below: Today’s cold weather school closure has necessitated modifications to portions of this week’s menus as a result of food preparation and production activities that had taken place in advance of the school closure announcement on Monday. The online menus have been updated to reflect these planned menu changes. Please visit our online menu platform to review the updated menus here: https://myschoolmenus.com/organizations/2346. Thank you for your flexibility and understanding.

WUSD CLASSES CANCELLED TOMORROW - NO AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES TODAY! Due to the extreme cold temperatures and wind chill, the Watertown Unified School District is cancelling school tomorrow, Tuesday, January 21, 2025. In addition, all after school activities are cancelled today, Monday, January, 20, 2025. Please stay safe and warm!

WUSD Parents & Guardians: Please watch for an email and/or text message this afternoon regarding signing on to Rooms - a new two-way secure messaging tool that will enable parents, teachers, coaches and students to stay better connected. Please note - upon registering, you will enter a virtual "waiting room" at your student's school. This is where all families will gather until Rooms opens district-wide later this spring. Rooms will go live at the start of the Third Trimester or Fourth Quarter depending on where your student(s) attend school.

The cafeteria at Douglas Elementary School is bustling for breakfast! Check out these breakfast helpers and safety patrollers hard at work helping students and keeping others safe!

🎳 Happening Tonight! 🎳 Come "Bowl the Blues Away" this evening at Watertown Bowl 18! The public is invited to attend this special bowling event from 6-7 p.m. where they will not only have fun bowling at a discounted rate of $2 per game, but they will also have the opportunity to learn more about mental health services in Watertown. For more information, contact Kenda Roman, WUSD mental health coordinator, at romank@mywusd.org.