**2025 Retiree Recognition**
The Watertown Unified School District extends its sincere appreciation to all staff members retiring this year. Thank you for your dedication to our schools, and for working so hard to make not only our classrooms, but our community, a better place.
Today we recognize retiring staff member Rhonda Mecikalski for her 33 years of service to the WUSD. Thank you, Rhonda, we wish you all the best in your retirement! 💙
Tradition. Innovation. Transformation.
#WatertownWay!
The annual Art Walk and Chalk the Walk took place along Main Street in downtown Watertown yesterday. The rain ended just in time for organizations to set up for this special event. The Bentzin Family Town Square, the Watertown Public Library, downtown businesses, and downtown sidewalks were packed with people viewing artwork, and enjoying games and activities. Thank you to the Watertown Arts Council and the WUSD Art Department for doing such a great job organizing this annual community event. 🎨🖌
**2025 Retiree Recognition**
The Watertown Unified School District extends its sincere appreciation to all staff members retiring this year. Thank you for your dedication to our schools, and for working so hard to make not only our classrooms, but our community, a better place.
Today we recognize retiring staff member Darianne Keuler-Nelson for her 37 years of service to the WUSD. Thank you, Darianne, we wish you all the best in your retirement! 💙
**2025 Retiree Recognition**
The Watertown Unified School District extends its sincere appreciation to all staff members retiring this year. Thank you for your dedication to our schools, and for working so hard to make not only our classrooms, but our community, a better place.
Today we recognize retiring staff member Tahera Horstman for her 21 years of service to the WUSD. Thank you, Tahera, we wish you all the best in your retirement! 💙
**2025 Retiree Recognition**
The Watertown Unified School District extends its sincere appreciation to all staff members retiring this year. Thank you for your dedication to our schools, and for working so hard to make not only our classrooms, but our community, a better place.
Today we recognize retiring staff member Cory Dittmann for her 24 years of service to the WUSD. Thank you, Cory, we wish you all the best in your retirement! 💙
Tradition. Innovation. Transformation. #WatertownWay!
Schurz Elementary School held its annual Tiger Run yesterday where students had a blast running with their classmates under a sunny, blue sky.
🔥 Hot off the press - The Watertown Unified School District is pleased to share the Spring 2025 edition of its official newsletter, The District Download.
Read all the news here: https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/2120/WUSD/5645519/The_District_Download_Spring_2025_Updated.pdf
The Watertown Unified School District Board of Education will host three committee/sub-committee meetings this week. The monthly Board of Education regular meeting will take place next Monday, May 19 at 6 p.m.. To read the meeting agendas for this week, visit https://go.boarddocs.com/wi/watertown/Board.nsf/vpublic?open.
There's only 22 days of school left 🙂. Time flies when we are learning and having fun!
Happy School Nurses Day to our dedicated and caring school nurse, Lynn Gilbert, and to her equally dedicated and caring health room assistants - Alex Stankey (Watertown High School), Lisa Dominguez (Riverside Middle School), Tracey Rein (Webster Elementary School), Betty Richardson (Schurz Elementary School) and Theresa Kempf (Douglas Elementary School). Thank to you these special staff members for all they do for our schools! 💗
Tradition. Innovation. Transformation. #WatertownWay!
This week, May 5-9, is Teacher Appreciation Week. We are grateful for all our caring and dedicated teachers not only during this special week, but the whole year through.
Thank you to our WUSD teachers for all they do to support our students and their families. 💙
Today we celebrate our very special Nutrition Services staff during National School Lunch Hero day. We appreciate the great work the Nutrition Services Department does in keeping our students well-fed and for the kindness they share throughout the WUSD.
Thursday, May 1, is National School Principals' Day! Today we are celebrating our incredible Watertown Unified School District building principals Brad Clark, Mark Getz, Emily Lessner, Casey Rusch-Weiland, Jason Widiker and Josh Kerr.
We thank them for all they do to support our staff, students and families. 💙
Earth Day was Tuesday, April 22 and students across the WUSD spent time last week helping to make our community a cleaner and "greener" place. Thank you to the Watertown Park and Rec Dept. for partnering with our schools in this effort.
A new Black Gum tree was planted this year by City Forester Ryan Thurow and fifth-grade students from Douglas Elementary School. The tree can be viewed from the Watertown Aquatic Center parking lot at Riverside Park. 🌳
We’re proud to honor our incredible WUSD Library Media Specialist team who support over 3,200 students with dedication, heart, and a passion for learning.
From fostering a love of reading to coordinating state testing, fixing Chromebooks, and meeting students' individual needs - they do it all. Their work makes a difference every single day.
Thank you to Michelle Bergman, Conchetta Braatz, Jennifer Devers, Darianne Keuler-Nelson, Jamie Klubertanz, Jackie LaDew, Patricia Long, Kristen Roberts and Kelly Surdick for being the quiet heroes of our schools. We appreciate you!
Celebrating Advanced Learning Achievements
On Monday, April 21, students from across the district were honored for their achievement in programs sponsored by the Advanced Learning Department. Students who achieved at certain levels through the Newbury Reading Program (grades 3-5, open to all students), Challenge by Choice (grades 2-5, open to all students), and the Southern Lakes Anthology (grades 3-8, open to all students) were presented with awards from Program Coordinator Mrs. Barganz, Mrs. Pochop and Mrs. Jensen.
Students were also honored for their achievement in the Advanced Learning Department's competitive programs: Math Meet (grades 5-8), Academic Bowl (grades 6-8), and WordMasters (grades 2-5). Awards from the last two academic years were given out for these programs.
A few awards of note:
⭐ Connor Young tied for third place in the nation on the fall WordMasters contest (3rd grade)
⭐ Bennett Kowalski tied for third place in the nation on the winter WordMasters contest (5th grade)
⭐ Kaylie Merriett tied for second place in the nation on the spring WordMasters contest (4th grade)
⭐ Audrey Arnett, MVP for Academic Bowl 2025 (Language Arts category)
⭐ Briar Wegner, MVP for Math Meet 2024 (7th/8th grades) and Academic Bowl 2024 (overall top scorer)
⭐ Parker Wheeler, MVP for Math Meet 2025 (5th/6th grades)
⭐ Elianna Keddington, MVP for Math Meet 2024 (5th/6th grades)
⭐ Elise Hensler, MVP for Math Meet 2025 (7th/8th grades)
⭐ WUSD Anthology Choice Award Winners: Zander Ness, Mikayla Freeson, Elliana Walter (also cover art)
⭐ WUSD Anthology read-alouds: Zander Ness, Lena Wiedenfeld
⭐ WUSD Anthology cover art: Elliana Walter, Ellie Krueger
Congratulations to all students who participated in any AL program, and especially those who showed task commitment and earned enough points for an award!
Happy Administrative Professionals Day to this amazing group of WUSD employees - thank you so much for all you do to support our staff, students and families.
We extend our sincere appreciation to Vian Abdulrahman, Terri Danner, Cory Dittmann, Jaime Fischer, Jill Geske, Danielle Hansen, Jennifer Harris, Jean Heiden, Cheryl Hollatz, Diane Klemm, Kathryn Klinger, Kelly Kwapil, Amy Liesch, Lynn Linskens, Sherrie Loeffler-Tietz, Dawn McBride, Jennifer McCrory, Sarah Miller, Kelley Piasecki, Katie Pirkel, Amanda Ristow, Jaclyne Rocole, Sara Schmitz, Katie Schroeder, Crystal Stalker, Angel Vander Steeg, Jean Vesper, Amy Wesemann, Jennifer Willis, Michelle Yelk and Laura Zautner. 💙
