

Waunakee High School Warrior Weekly
Week of Monday, September 11 through Friday, September 15
The Waunakee Community School District Board of Education (BOE) has initiated a search for its next Superintendent. It is important that the successful candidate be someone who has the combination of credentials, experiences, leadership skills, and personal traits that students, staff, families, and our community expect and value.
As part of the process, we are seeking input from you to help build a leadership profile outlining the professional and personal characteristics required to be successful in this role. This profile will be published as part of the job posting and used by the Board of Education to evaluate candidates.
There are two ways that you can participate to help us build this leadership profile - stakeholder focus groups and a feedback survey.
Survey
Please share your thoughts by completing the survey by September 22, 2023. All responses are anonymous. Click HERE to participate in our stakeholder feedback survey. We appreciate your participation in completing this survey and assisting us with this very important task.
Stakeholder In-Person and Virtual Engagement Meetings
BWP, Superintendent Search Consultant, will be in our school district on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. We invite our students, staff, families, and community members to participate in our stakeholder in-person or virtual engagement meetings. Your participation is appreciated.
There is a full listing of engagement meetings listed on our website. We encourage you to attend the session that is scheduled for your group (example: student, families, staff, etc.). If this time does not work for you, there are additional times that will be available for you. Please attend an engagement meeting that best fits your schedule.
Together, we are confident that we can find an exceptional leader to continue to guide our school district towards excellence. We appreciate your participation!
Student Pictures by Lifetouch Photography
Picture orders from August 7th have arrived! Students are reminded to stop in the Main Office to pick up the packet/proofs. The delivery of picture orders/proofs from August 23rd is expected to arrive by Friday, September 15th. An email will be sent to students when pictures will be distributed. Parents/Guardians can order student pictures online at my.lifetouch.com. If you would like to order from either of the first two picture days use the individual student code found on your student's proof sheet.
Prior to picture day, there is a code to use to order online. For our upcoming retake picture day on October 2nd, please use code EVTB3NV68 for up to 48 hours after picture day to order retake pictures for that date. Once those 48 hours have passed, order using the code on the proof sheets you receive.
Picture Questions? Please email cindyrichardson@waunakee.k12.wi.us
New Visitor Management System in School Buildings
Waunakee Community School District will be implementing a new Visitor Management System, Visitor Aware, in our K-12 school buildings to help streamline the check-in process for visitors and ensure the safety of students, staff, and families. This system replaces the one that we currently use, Raptor Visitor Management. For our current and returning families, this system will be very similar in nature to what you’ve experienced. For our new families, our school building offices will help you the first time you visit our school buildings.
The new Visitor Management System required you to scan a state ID (driver’s license, passport, etc.) the first time visiting a building. The system scans the sexual offenders database for all 50 states, the FBI watch list, and legally filed custodial documents for any visitors to our schools.
Once an individual is in the system, you will be able to check-in and check-out taking your picture at the kiosk in the school front office. The facial recognition will be utilized to identify you as a registered individual in the management system.
We appreciate your support in helping to keep our schools safe!
KOKOPELLI KAFE
Kokopelli Kafe is more than a coffee shop that sells beverages and treats for students and staff. Kokopelli Kafe is run by students with special needs. It teaches the students transitional work skills and provides interaction between students. Visit Kokopelli and warm your belly!
Kokopelli Kafe Menu
Kafe closed during Contact Time
Responsibility Release Program
Junior and Senior PARENTS/GUARDIANS
Waunakee High School, in accordance with state statute 118.33 (1)(6), permits a junior or senior student who has demonstrated a high level of maturity and personal responsibility the ability to leave the school premises for ONE study hall. In order to be eligible, students must have parent permission, no F's first semester, a GPA of at least 2.7, must not have been suspended during the previous semester, and not have any attendance concerns. Release privileges can be revoked by administration if the student has an unexcused absence, is suspended, falls below a 2.7 GPA, transports a student not released from the building, is involved in an unlawful activity during release time, or by parent request. Students on release from study hall should not be in the building. Please note that schedule changes regarding study halls will not be granted at this time.
If you would like to enroll your student in the Responsibility Release Program, please fill out this Release Form
TAHER FOOD SERVICE
Lunch Menus and Prices: Lunch menus can be found on our school district website, under Departments/Food Services. Menus are updated on the website by the 15th of the previous month. The Food Service prices are also listed on the website.
Infinite Campus Fund Balance Instructions and Reminders: All food service accounts are pre-funded. Please note that we will be sending low and no balance reminders.
Need help accessing Infinite Campus or setting up an account? Please send an email to District Registrar, Julie Gengler, at wcsd_registrar@waunakee.k12.wi.us.
Dollars can be added to lunch accounts online in the Infinite Campus application.
Families can login to their Parent Portal within Infinite Campus. You can view balances and previous purchases under the Food Services tab. You can also add funds to your account. Click here for instructions on how to add funds to your account.
Staff can login to their Infinite Campus account. You can view Food Services under the Employee Self-Service tab. You can add funds to your account, view purchases, etc. under this tab. Click here for instructions on how to add funds to your account.
Funds may be added to food service accounts in-person at TLC building (101 School Drive, Waunakee), with cash or check payable to Waunakee Community School District.
All food service accounts will need to have funds available at the time of purchase. No charges will be permitted if your account does not have a positive balance. This topic is important to have a conversation with your child about. Food Service staff will NOT allow purchases if there is a negative balance in the food service account.
Cash will be accepted as a form of payment for purchase.
There are restrictions available for parents/guardians to place on your student(s) Food Service account. Infinite Campus offers a daily maximum and an a la carte block. Please reach out to the Food Service Office for more information. These restrictions are not available on the Parent Portal App.
Low balance email notices will be sent to families/staff when the balance is below $15. Low balance call notices will be sent when the balance is below $5 and negative balance. These will be sent on Sunday-Thursday only.
Free/Reduced Application and Information: The Waunakee Community School District does not participate in the federal USDA meal program for the 2023-2024 school year. The District does offer a local meal program that utilizes the income information from the USDA meal program. All families who wish to receive free or reduced meals/milk must fill out an application form and submit for approval. All information provided on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by the school or other program officials. Applications may be submitted at any time during the school year. Please visit our Free and Reduced website for more information.
New for 2023-2024! If families qualify for the Reduced portion of the Free/Reduced application, families will no longer have to pay that fee. The school district will be covering this reduced portion cost. In addition to this added benefit, we have included an all-inclusive meal plan for students qualifying for Free/Reduced Meals. The plan will include a variety of meal options, including Meal Deals and Premium Meals (Chef, Creation, and Grill). Students wishing to purchase A La Carte items must have funds in their account to purchase these items.
Taher, Inc. Staff and Contact Information
Thomas Marks, Food Service Director (608) 849-2185
Jessica Strasia, Administrative Assistant (608) 849-2100 Ext. 2952
Lisa Gonzalez, District Catering Manager (608) 572-3018
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Food Service Office (608) 849-2185 and we will be happy to assist you. We are looking forward to a great school year!
We look forward to serving you this school year.
Food Service Team and Management
HOCO FRESHMEN DINNER
All Freshmen are Cordially Invited!
HOCO Barn Dinner on Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 5:00 pm-8:00 pm at The Barn, 6538 Schumacher Rd, Waunakee
WHAT TO EXPECT:
→ 45 minutes of picture time for parents (after which parents are cordially invited to go home)!
→ Insta-Worthy backdrops for photos!
→ Photobooth with souvenir photo strips!
→ Taco Bar from The Lone Girl!
→ Desserts, Desserts, Desserts!
→ DJ to queue up your favorites!
→ Fun by the campfire!
A bus will be available to take you from the dinner to the Homecoming Dance. Please note, a ticket to the Homecoming Dinner does not include entry to the Homecoming Dance. A separate ticket through GoFan (TBD) will be required for entry into the Homecoming Dance. The bus will make several trips to the high school, starting at 7:45 PM. All students to be picked up at the school (whether or not you are going to the dance).
DINNER TICKETS will be available for purchase during LUNCHES on September 28-29 and October 5-6. Cost: $20 per student either Cash or Venmo (@Erin-Larson-83, please include student(s) first and last name)
PARENTS - This wonderful event for our kids is only possible with your help! Please use this link to volunteer and/or donate! Signup Genius.
If your freshman is interested in coming to the dinner but doing so would be a financial hardship, we are collecting donations to be able to include everyone. In confidence, please contact one of the social workers at the high school.
History of the Waunakee Freshman Homecoming Dinner - The idea of having a Freshman Class dinner came about several years ago as a way to reduce the overwhelming task of finding the perfect spot for pictures, going out to dinner, finding rides and all the extra planning that goes into Homecoming. It’s great to have a dinner and gathering place where EVERYONE IS INCLUDED; EVERYONE HAS THE SAME AMAZING EXPERIENCE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY NO ONE FEELS LEFT OUT! This has been such a success the past few years, we wanted to continue the tradition with the Class of 2027.
All information will also be posted on the CLASS OF 2027 Facebook Page.
We are looking forward to seeing all of you at The Barn! The Freshman Homecoming Dinner Committee
WARRIOR CORNER School Store
Order your Warrior gear today!
The deadline to order from Warrior Corner School Store is Monday, September 11. Click here to access our online store: https://waunakeespiritapparel23.itemorder.com/shop/home/ All items can be shipped directly to your home (shipping rates apply) or picked up at Trending Now Promotions (1120 Uniek Drive, Waunakee) at no extra cost to you.
Thank you for your support of our Warrior Corner Store and the Marketing Education program by shopping locally.
ATTENTION SENIORS
A message from the Tribune Editor
Waunakee School district families are asked to submit photos of their senior/s. Email picture to tribnews@hngnews.com, send by Mail or drop it off at the Tribune Office. Deadline: January 12, 2024. The graduation section will be featured in color, so color pictures are preferred. Include the name of the graduating senior.
Questions? Contact Roberta Baumann, Waunakee Tribune Managing Editor.
Address: 301 Community Drive, Waunakee, Wisconsin, USA
Phone: (608) 849-2100, Ext. 2046