Summer School

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 .

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

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!

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!

Lincoln STEM Elementary School hosted a career day on Friday where professionals from the Watertown community spoke with students about their respective careers and engaged them in demonstrations and activities. Among the visitors were a dairy farmer, police officer, mechanic, therapist, computer specialist, and even local government was represented by Mayor Emily McFarland. In addition, Jerry Hepp Excavating thrilled students by using their massive vacuum extractor truck to suction small batches of Legos! 🏫 It was a fun learning day for our students!

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.

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!

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.

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.

🎳 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.

📣 Attention parents and guardians of current Watertown area 5th graders! Riverside Middle School will host two Parent Information Meetings for incoming 6th graders - one on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 6 p.m. and another on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 8:15 a.m., both in the Large Group Instruction (LGI) room at the middle school. There is no need to pre-register, please attend when it is most convenient for you.

WUSD Nutrition Services moves to new hot lunch menu platform and app through My School Menus. Download the My School Menus app or access the new menu link for all WUSD schools on the district's homepage (https://myschoolmenus.com/organizations/2346) or on each individual WUSD school building website. Features of this new platform include: • Complete list of all food choices available to students • Nutrient data for menu items • Ability to Build-A-Meal and create customized meals • Ingredient information for certain menu items • Allergen identification by filtering menu items • Dietary preference identification showing symbols identifying foods • Translation to 180 languages using Google Translate Please contact the Nutrition Services office at (920) 262-7536 with any questions.

Our students and staff had so much fun during the month of December spreading holiday cheer for all to see and hear - Happy Holidays from the Watertown Unified School District! 🎄🎅⭐

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.

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.