Greetings WHS families,
It has been a great start to October with Fall sports coming to a close and the school year in full swing. Please review the information below for important updates.
Sincerely,
Josh Kerr, Principal Watertown High School
WHS Doors
Beginning on Monday, October 11th, the WHS Main Doors will open at 7:30 a.m. until further notice to accommodate inclement weather as the seasons change. Please note all students should now enter the building through the Main Entrance as the East Wing doors near the WHS Student Parking Lot will not be opened for student entry.
Please see the document linked above for employment opportunities in the Watertown Unified School District!
WHS Parent Teacher Conferences
WHS Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, October 21st from 4-7pm. Please note the format will include a virtual and in-person option but all parents or guardians must register for a time slot in advance. An email will be sent when conference registration opens. As always, WHS families are welcome to communicate with WHS teachers at any time to discuss progress in their student’s courses.
Student Picture Retake Day
Picture Retake day is scheduled for Friday, October 15, 2021 in the WHS Media Center!
STUDENTS THAT NEED TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED: If students have not been photographed this school year, please be prepared to have a photograph taken on retake day. All students must be photographed so they receive an ID Card. ID Cards will be needed daily to get lunch.
STUDENTS THAT WOULD LIKE RETAKE PHOTOS: If you want a retake of your student’s original portrait, please return the original package in its entirety to the photographer on retake day. A replacement package will be printed and delivered to the school with your student’s new image. If you did not purchase photos from the original picture day and want a re-take, please have the student’s picture taken.
STUDENTS WHO WANT TO ORDER SCHOOL PICTURES FOR THE FIRST TIME: If you would like to order school pictures for the first time, please have your student stop in the Main Office to pick up a picture proof from September.
Senior Pictures Due Date
Senior yearbook pictures 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 5, 2021. Hard copy photos and emailed senior photos will not be accepted.
YRBS Survey
Watertown High School will be taking part in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) sponsored by the Department of Public Instruction this fall. The YRBS is designed to determine the prevalence of health behaviors now and over time, examine the co-occurrence of health behaviors, create usable data sets, and monitor progress through the use of objectives and indicators. These surveys are typically conducted every two years although the schedule has been interrupted the last two years. All student responses to the survey are confidential and no information is provided in a personally identifiable way. If you would prefer your child not participate in the YRBS, please return this form to Jessica Scherer, Associate Principal.
Student Symptom Checker Reminder
Per the 2021-22 WUSD Safety Plan Symptom Checker please be sure that if your student is exhibiting COVID like symptoms to keep them home. The WUSD Key Safety Protocols and the WUSD Safety Plan are included in this document. The WUSD Covid-19 Dashboard can be accessed using this link.
A Note from Watertown Public Library:
Has it been a while since you last visited us? Maybe you’ve never visited us before. Either way, now is a great time to start coming in! Soon, the library's renovation project will be complete, and we’ll debut a brand-new area for teens, including a series of study nooks and a separate “gaming room.” (Let’s not forget to mention the new spaces for adults and kids, too!).
Even before our renovation concludes, we’re set up in our new addition and open for business. You can browse through our ever-growing collection and see what's available from our "Library of Things," which includes everything from cake pans to museum passes and ring lights — even ukuleles! All you’ll need to start borrowing is a library card, which is totally *FREE!*
This month, we have a number of (free) programs and events just for teens, including:
Teen Subscription Boxes (all month-long while supplies last) - TSBs are themed boxes filled with books and trinkets. This month, choose between “I Scream” or “Ice Cream” Boxes. No sign up! Just come in and ask to take one home. (Keep everything except the books and the box, itself).
Fall Reading Challenge (Oct. 1st - Nov. 30th) - Readers of all ages can stop by the library for a challenge sheet and work toward a goal of reading books that fit into specific categories. Those who complete the challenge will be entered to win one of three prize baskets curated for their age group!
Teen Library Council Mixer (Oct. 14th @ 6PM) - We’re starting a TLC! Not only will members help our staff plan fun events; they'll also help us build the YA collection and have a say in how the library can better serve them (and their peers). (Not to mention, they’ll also have something really cool to put on college and job applications). To hear more, join us for drinks and snacks on the patio!
Pumpkin Palooza (Oct. 27th @ 6PM) - Teens are invited to carve pumpkins to display on the library stairs. The library will provide the pumpkins -- all you'll need to bring is your creativity! Registration for this event is not required, but strongly recommended.
For more details, go to our site: watertownpubliclibrary.org. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!
Extended Student Absences
A quick reminder to families that students who are absent for extended periods of time should access each course’s online platform by going to the WHS website and selecting Trimester 1 Class Platforms. Contact information for each teacher is also listed on the document and students should reach out to their teacher if there are any issues accessing course resources and/or daily plans. Please note it is expected that students who are absent due to a quarantine continue to participate in their courses as posted on each course’s online platform. Please use the links above or contact teachers directly with any questions to help support your student during this challenging time. WHS staff is working hard to support all students!
Hotspots may be requested by a parent/guardian for their child's school use if scheduled to work from homes without internet service using this link. If a hotspot is needed, WUSD staff will contact you with date, time, and location when the device becomes available. A parent/guardian must pick up the hotspot. Please note that hotspot bandwidth usage is monitored.
Students who are quarantined and are in need of a Chromebook should contact Kathy Klinger at klingerk@watertown.k12.wi.us. If a student is quarantined WHS staff will ask the student if they need a Chromebook or have a personal device to access their coursework. Students and families are always welcome to communicate with their assigned WHS counselor or WHS associate principal for additional support or clarification.
Upcoming Dates:
October 28 & 29: No School
November 22 - 26: No School - Thanksgiving Break
December 3: End of Trimester 1 (WHS 11:30 a.m. Dismissal)