Panther Print for Parents 🐾
NEWSLETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 16th
FUN DAY THIS THURSDAY!
Watervliet High School students spread Valentine's Day love
WATERVLIET — While Valentine’s Day is supposed to be filled with love and joy, it can sometimes be difficult – especially for high school students.
Luckily, Jacob and Logan Schaefer take it upon themselves to give every girl at Watervliet High School a carnation for Valentine’s Day each year.
“My mom works at a flower shop and in my freshman year they had some extra carnations, so I decided to take them off their hands and give them to the girls at our school and I just continued this over the years,” Watervliet High School senior Jacob Schaefer said. “And now in my senior year, I decided to do bouquets for the senior class since it’s our last year doing it.”
Even though it is Jacob’s last time handing out flowers to the girls at Watervliet High School, his younger brother Logan, currently a junior, will continue the tradition for one more year until he also graduates.
Lyndsey Schaefer, florist at Coloma Home Town Florist and Jacob and Logan’s mom, said the two boys have always purchased the flowers with their own money. She said Jacob and Logan spent hours on Tuesday night preparing bouquets of roses and carnations for the senior class as well as carnations for the rest of the student body.
“I’ve had mothers that have reached out to me and told me that their daughters sent them a picture or a snapchat of the flowers and said ‘I’m special’,” Schaefer said. “That was really nice to hear. I’ve had another mother reach out who was very emotional and said it made her daughter’s whole year.”
Jacob said during his freshman year, he didn’t have a valentine and realized neither did a majority of the more than 200 girls at his school. He said he realized he had an opportunity to do a random act of kindness to take the pressure off for some people.
“Valentine’s Day is a day where people will either get some gifts and feel great or they don’t get anything at all and I wanted to change,” Jacob said. “So I had an opportunity to make even just one person feel better about themselves on that day and that was my end goal.”
FAFSA UPDATE--OVER 60% COMPLETED!!
Team coil building 2024
Team coil building 2024. Art I students had a successful week learning coil building with clay. The students master the skill as they competed in groups to create the tallest, blended, coil tower. Fifth hour had the tallest tower measuring in at 14 inches. Next they'll apply these skills to craft individual clay creatures.
STAFF SPOTLIGHT--MRS. BRANT!
I grew up in Bainbridge and attended Watervliet Public Schools. I received my bachelors degree in English education from Grand Valley State University and my Masters in Educational Technology from Western Governors University. After teaching English for 28 years, I have shifted this year to overseeing our online education classroom, leading the peer-to-peer program, and advising yearbook once again after a ten year hiatus. I am loving the personal growth I get to see in my students as they help other students in the peer-to-peer program. Teaching others is when we truly learn, and this group of young adults has done a great job learning how to help our younger students. I've also been blessed with an incredible yearbook staff this year. They inspire me everyday with their positive attitudes and enthusiasm for creating and documenting every experience at WHS this year. Our students here at WHS are truly what makes me so proud to have been a panther my entire life. When I'm not at WHS, I love to travel, golf, spend time on the water, and make memories with family and friends. My husband and I have two sons, Nicholas and Tyler, who are WHS and Western Michigan University graduates. I love the time I get to share with them and their friends as they all create their best lives. Being part of our close-knit community has given me the greatest opportunity to continue being a part of so many former students' lives. Watching them all flourish brings me the greatest happiness.
SENIOR NIGHT!
Fourteen senior basketball players, one senior cheerleader, and their parents or guardians were recognized at the varsity basketball games last Friday evening. This is a great group of young people and each one has contributed toward their teams’ successes. Many of the players have been playing Panther basketball since middle school.
We also wish to recognize the contributions of all the parents, guardians, and families who encourage and support their student athletes. We know many of you have eaten countless meals featuring concession stand hot dogs over the years, showing up for hundreds of games to be there for your children. We salute you and thank you for all that you do.
PANTHERS VISIT STRYKER!
Students participated in a trip to Stryker in Kalamazoo today to learn more about the medical manufacturing business. Two other manufacturing field trips are schedule for this month to SMC and the Cook Power Plant in Bridgman. Thank you to Mrs. Hunt for supervising!
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!
The Watervliet Middle School Interact Club is showing the LOVE to the animals at the Al-Van Humane Society in South Haven for their February Service Project. If you have a middle school student, please consider making a donation and sending it in with your child. All other family and community members are also invited to make a donation of food, litter, toys, or treats. Those can be brought anytime to the high school office. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION!
BASIC WOODSHOP
Basic Woodshop has been working hard at learning angles and putting them to use by building stools. The advanced class are starting their projects for the state MITES competition in May.
WHAT'S UP IN CHEMISTRY?
The first set is balancing equations using skittles to represent elements and then they got to eat them after everything was balanced.
The second set with fire is burning elements to see the different spectrum and reactions to heat.
Celebrate CTE Month!
Career and Technical Education Month® is a public awareness campaign, hosted by ACTE and sponsored by National Association of Home Builders, that takes place each February to celebrate CTE, the accomplishments of CTE programs and the importance of CTE for all students of all ages.
PERFECT ATTENDANCE SEMESTER 1 2023-2024
FRESHMEN
HAILEY ADAMS
ANGEL CRUZ MARGARITO
ANGELICA DAISY
MACKENZIE WEBSTER
SOPHOMORES
SKYLAR BLAYLOCK
MARISSA LOWELL
HECTOR SALGUERO AVILA
AUSTIN TOMES
JUNIORS
ALYSSA BROWN
KAYDEN HARRINGTON
LUCAS ISBRECHT
AUSTIN SMITH
CARSON UNDERWOOD
TANNER VANNIEL
SUSANNAH WECKWERTH
SENIORS
TIA CALDWELL
KAITLYNN COCKRUN
MICHAEL FEE
KAMERON SMITH
TAYLOR WOOLLETT
FOR PARENTS
WHAT'S GOING ON IN SCIENCE?
AP Environmental Science Students conducted a soil salinization lab. This lab activity has students work as a team to determine the effect salt has on plant germination. They then use their lab data to create a report on how the increasing salt concentrations affect the germination of the seeds and at what salt concentration no seeds will germinate.
Salinity is one of the most brutal environmental factors limiting the productivity of crop plants because most of the crop plants are sensitive to salinity caused by high concentrations of salts in the soil, and the area of land affected by it is increasing day by day. For all important crops, average yields are only a fraction – somewhere between 20% and 50% of record yields; these losses are mostly due to drought and high soil salinity, environmental conditions which will worsen in many regions because of global climate change.
Solo & Ensemble Festival Southwestern Michigan College
Congratulations to the following students who attended Solo & Ensemble Festival last Saturday at Southwestern Michigan College:
Gabby Wisdom & Lauren Lovell - Clarinet duet - Division 1 rating
Ben Ruland, Jonah Thon, & Shelby Schlipp - Trombone Trio - Division 1 rating
Olivia Mitchell, Sofie Shafer, & Vivienne Sexton - Woodwind Trio - Division 1 rating
Marissa Lovell, Isabella Bultema, Sophie Grear - Woodwind Trio - Division 1 rating
Hector Salguero & Hayden Arnosky - Flute duet - Division 1 rating
Moeko Crago & Jacob Schaefer - Saxophone duet - Division 1 rating
Isabella Bultema & Moeko Crago - Clarinet duet - Division 1 rating
Leanna Lovell & Olivia Mitchell - Flute duet - Division 2 rating
Sofie Shafer, Oliia Mitchell, Claire Moore, & Lucy Logsdon - Woodwind Quartet - Division 1 rating
WHAT'S GOING ON IN ANATOMY?
In Anatomy, we have been diving into the fascinating world of the brain and nervous system. Our students have been learning about the different parts of the brain and how they function. They have completed various assignments to deepen their understanding and recently took a brain quiz to assess their knowledge. We are now shifting our focus to the nervous system and senses, exploring how our body processes information from the world around us.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING PANTHERS!
These students will be inducted into the National Technical Honor Society at the Van Buren Tech Center next week!
Zackary Gruszczyk Graphic Design
Tara Halamka Law Enforcement
Kayden Harrington. Early Childhood Careers and Education (1st year)
Chaz Hart Marketing (1st year)
Gabrielle Wisdom Allied Health (1st year)
Nova Wise Software Engineering
Yuria Zalcedo Salcedo Allied Health (1st year)
In addition, the following students are receiving 2nd Year pins:
McKenna Kirksey Ag & Natural Resources (1st Yr)
Savanah Nearpass Early Childhood Careers and Education (2nd Yr)
WHAT'S GOING ON IN BIOLOGY?
In Biology, we have been exploring the structure of DNA and how it directs the synthesis of proteins. Our students have been engaged in hands-on activities, including creating unique bugs by combining different DNA strands. They also had an exciting project for Valentine's Day - crafting a card with a secret message written in DNA and mRNA! This has been a fun and interactive way for them to understand the importance of DNA in our lives.
PLEASE ACCESS CANVAS FOR YOUR CHILD!
We want you accessing your child's Canvas account! Please take the following steps so that you can be checking on his/her grades on a regular basis.
Steps for parents to create a parent Canvas account.
Obtain Student Pairing Code
Sign up for an account through your phone app or on the computer using an email address.
Parents should go to www.watervlietps.org and click on the link "Canvas for Parents" in the middle of the homepage. Here is the direct link: https://www.
canvas-resources. Here you will find the screenshot instructions, a 7 slide presentation and brief videos on navigating the parent portal, checking grades, viewing assignments and accessing teacher feedback.
Students need to create the pairing code for their parents and it is only valid for 7 days.
If you are having difficulty obtaining the student pairing code, teachers have access to this information within their course by going to People and clicking on the 3 dots in the upper right corner and choosing Export Pairing Codes. Again, these pairing codes are only good for 7 days. Quick way for teachers get this code to a parent when communicating with them.
Instructions are online AND shared every Friday in the high school parent newsletter.
Please reach out to us in the high school office if you have questions or concerns about accessing your child's Canvas account. We need and want your support at the high school!
THANK YOU TERESA and KELLI!
THANK YOU to Freshmen parents and class advisers--Teresa Collins and Kelli Lomoro--who put together the benefit and fundraiser for the Ryan family a couple of weeks ago. Becky Ryan is the mom of a current freshman, Cayden Ryan.
She was recently diagnosed with a form of leukemia.
Kelli and Theresa were honored at the Board of Education meeting last night for their efforts in supporting Becky and her family. Over $11,000 was raised for the family.
FRESHMEN FUNDRAISER
Broadway performance of To Kill a Mockingbird
February 12, 2024
Dear Parents & Guardians,
The Freshman Class expressed their interest in attending the Broadway performance of
To Kill a Mockingbird starring the celebrated actor and director Richard Thomas. He was known for his role as John Boy Walton in The Waltons, but has also starred in The Americans,
Ozark, Stephen King’s It, and many other familiar shows. The performance is April 27th,
2:00 p.m. at DeVos Performance Hall.
The cost for the discounted tickets is $20.00. In order to assure we have an accurate count, I will need the tickets purchased by February 27th. Please make sure your child’s permission slip is returned by this date. Based on a poll of interested freshmen, I have reserved 30 tickets. Please let me know if you would like to attend as well.
We will leave by bus at 12:15 from the high school front entrance. Students may take some snacks on the bus, but they cannot take food into the auditorium. The play is sixty minutes long, so we should be returning to the high school by 4:30 p.m.
Please let me know if you have questions.
Thank you,
Carolyn Simmons
H.S. English
WINTERFEST PLANNING EXPECTATIONS
The Winterfest theme this year is Winter Wonderland: Panthers freeze the Comets!
Hall decorating can take place either Saturday, February 17 or Sunday, February 18
from 10-3. Hall assignments are:
Class of 2023: Social Studies Hallway
Class of 2024: Math Hallway
Class of 2025: Media Center Lobby
Class of 2026: Freshman Hallway
Hall decorations must be removed by 5PM on Sunday, February 24.
Dress Up Days are as follows:
Monday:Groutfit (Wear all grey)
Tuesday: Ski Bum (Dress for the slopes)
Wednesday: Sweater Weather (Wear a comfy sweater)
Thursday: Lumberjack (Wear a flannel)
Friday: Maroon and White
NO PAJAMAS ARE ALLOWED ANY DAY OF WINTERFEST WEEK.
The Winterfest Dance will take place in the middle school gym from 9-11pm on
February 23. The dress code is semi-formal; no jeans or jean shorts are allowed.
Dresses must be school appropriate and shoes or socks must be worn at all times. The cost of
the dance is $5 to get in. Anyone who wants to bring a guest to the dance must complete a
guest pass form and return it to the high school office no later than Wednesday, February 21. All
guests must be 20 or younger to enter the dance. Anyone who crowd surfs or participates in a mosh pit will be ejected from the dance.
Any questions or concerns can be directed to Jessica Tyler or Teri Richcreek.
Watervliet Athletics Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2024
Five athletes have been selected from all those nominated to join the Watervliet Athletics Hall of Fame as the Class of 2024. New members will be inducted at the home varsity football game on September 13, 2024. They are:
Nicholas Watson, Class of 1993 – Cross Country and Track
- Nicholas’ accomplishments include 2-time cross country MVP and cross country State Qualifier in both 1991 and 1992. He was the Track team MVP in 1993 and took 9th place at the State Track Finals in the 3200 meter. He was the 1993 Red Arrow Conference 3200 meter Champion and placed 2nd in the 1600 meter. He was awarded the Berrien County Rotary Scholarship and the Bednarowski Student-Athlete Scholarship. Nick was selected as the WHS 1993 Outstanding Male Senior Athlete.
Jackie Spaulding, Class of 2003 — Volleyball Softball, Track
- Jackie earned eleven varsity letters at WHS and was a Finalist for the Herald Palladium Berrien County Athlete of the Year Award. She earned multiple all-conference awards in volleyball, basketball, track, and softball. She was named to the all-district softball team three times, track all-region in discus and shot in both 2002 and 2003, And track all-state in discus twice.
Alex Spaulding, Class of 2011 – Basketball, Volleyball, Track, Softball
- Alex was named as a 2011 Michigan Scholar-Athlete and was a finalist for the Herald Palladium Berrien County Female Athlete of the Year Award. She earned 16 varsity letters at WHS and numerous all-conference titles. She was named as all-region in track and was a state qualifier in 2010. Post high school, Alex continued her athletic career on the University of Michigan Women’s Rowing Team, becoming a team captain, Big 10 Champion, All-Big 10, All-American, and several other honors.
Brett Thumm, Class of 2012 – Football, Baseball, Track, Wrestling
- Brett was named as the 2012 Herald Palladium Male Athlete of the Year. Brett set school records in the 400, 800, and 1600-meter relays teams and was on the all-state team for the 400 and 1600 relays. In wrestling, he earned the MVP (110%) award three times and was a state qualifier in 2011. In football, he was a Co-MVP and a member of the 2011 Division 7 District and Regional Championship team. Brett earned numerous all-conference titles in football, wrestling, and track.
Brock Thumm, Class of 2014 – Wrestling, Cross Country, Track
- Brett is a two-time state champion wrestler and won a track state championship in the 200 meter his senior year. Brock was the 2014 Herald Palladium Male Athlete of the Year. He is a regional medalist and state qualifier in cross Country. He set several school records in track and earned all-state honors all four years. He was selected as the track team MVP twice and as a sophomore, he was the WSJM Athlete of the Year. He earned numerous additional conference, district, and regional honors.
Congratulations to the Watervliet Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024!
We are now accepting nominations for the Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025 at ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS. Please consider nominating a worthy athlete, coach, team, or community leader. Anyone previously nominated remains under consideration. To see current Hall of Fame members visit ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME MEMBERS.
Intercare meets with WPS Families!
Recently InterCare school-based counselors spoke to students in Watervliet about the importance of using healthy coping skills to deal with stress and how to find counseling. Over 70 students from 3rd through 12th grade heard from Keesha McKee of the EauClaire E3 Program and Roberto Overton of the Benton Harbor Student Health Center. Thank you to Linda Stofko for putting this opportunity together for our students and their families.
CONGRATULATIONS to our Winterfest Candidates!
Prince and Princess:
Freshmen: Kelsie Gaston and Aiden Wolford
Sophomores: Sophie Wigent and Dylan Collins
Juniors: Courtney Van Lente and Emmett Williams
King and Queen Candidates:
Natalie Hart, Aleigha Jackson, McKenna Kirksey, Julia Pepple, and Marleigh Schultz
Aidan Bethea, Reise Bulat, Caden Burdick, Ian Coleman, Wyatt Epple
Final voting will take place the week of Winterfest!
WRESTLING UPDATE!
Luke and Riley both take 2nd at Individual Districts and will be moving on to Individual Regionals next week, where they will compete for the right to represent Watervliet in the State Finals at Ford Field!
UPCOMING ATHLETIC EVENTS
Friday, February 16
4:00/5:30/7:00 PM Boys 9th , JV, Varsity at Bridgman
6:00/7:30 PM Girls JV & Varsity Home vs. Bridgman
Saturday, February 17
TBA Wrestling Boys Individual Regionals at Constantine
Sunday, February 18
TBA Wrestling Girls Individual Regionals at Gull Lake
Tuesday, February 20
4:15/5:30/7:15 PM Boys 9th , JV, Varsity Basketball Home vs. Kalamazoo Christian
5:30/7:00 PM Girls JV & Varsity Basketball at Hackett
Wednesday, February 21
5:30/7:00 PM Girls JV & Varsity at Martin
Thursday, February 22
5:30/7:00 PM Girls & Boys JV Basketball at Coloma
Friday, February 23
6:00/7:30 PM Girls & Boys Varsity Basketball Home vs. Coloma
6:00 PM 9th Boys Basketball at Grace Christian
TBA Varsity Wrestling Tournament
Saturday, February 24
9:00 AM MS Wrestling Invitational at Coloma High School
SENIORS, IT'S ALMOST THAT TIME!!
NEXT BLOOD DRIVE DATE IS SCHEDULED!
ARE YOU CHECKING CANVAS REGULARLY? HERE'S HOW!
IMPORTANT DATES FOR SENIORS AND FAMILIES!
AFTER SCHOOL HOMEWORK HELP EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY!
IF YOUR CHILD NEEDS TRANSPORTATION HOME, HE/SHE MUST EMAIL MS. POWERS IN ADVANCE OF THE DAY THAT YOUR CHILD IS STAYING.
WINTERFEST IS COMING! FEBRUARY 19-23
23-24 SCHOOL DATES--UPDATED PERIODICALLY
Feb 19 MCTI/Project Search Informational Night 6 pm
Feb 19 Winterfest Week
Feb 21 SAC 7:30 AM
Feb 22 Pre Festival Choir Concert 6:30 pm
Feb 23 Progress Reports
Feb 28 Early Release Day
Feb 28 PAC 6 pm
Mar 1 February Student of the Month Breakfast 8:15 AM
Mar 6 SAC 7:30 AM
Mar 12 LMC Accommodations Informational Night 6 pm
Mar 13 Early Release Day
Mar 20 SAC 7:30 AM
Mar 21 Van Buren Tech Informational Night 6 pm
Mar 27 PAC 6 pm
Mar 27 Early Release Day
Mar 28 End of MP 3
Mar 29 Good Friday No School
Mar 29-Apr 5 Spring Break
April 11 Work Keys testing for Juniors
Apr 12 March Student of the Month Breakfast 8:15 AM
Apr 17 Early Release Day
Apr 17 SAC 7:30 AM
Apr 18 SAT for JUNIORS, PSAT for 9th and 10th Graders
Apr 19 MSTEP for Juniors (Science and Social Studies)
Apr 22 Dual Enrollment Informational Night 6 pm
Apr 24 PAC 6 pm
May 1 Early Release Day
May 1 Decision Day 10 am (Seniors)
May 1 SAC 7:30 AM
May 3 Progress Reports
May 3 April Student of the Month Breakfast 8:15 AM
May 9 Blood Drive
May 11 PROM 7-11 PM; place TBD
May 15 Early Release Day
May 15 Senior Awards Night 6 pm
May 15 SAC 7:30 AM
May 16 Spring Band Concert
May 22 PAC 6 pm
May 21-23 Senior Exams Days
May 23 Spring Choir Concert
May 24 Seniors’ Last Day
May 24 Car Parade
May 27 Memorial Day; No School
May 29 Baccalaureate 6 pm (Seniors)
May 29 SAC 7:30 AM
May 30 Senior Picnic/School visits and grad practice
May 31 May Student of the Month Breakfast 8:15 AM
May 31 Graduation 6:30 pm
June 3 Underclassmen Awards; time TBD
June 4-6 Half Days for Exams
June 6 Last Day of School