Panther Print for Parents 🐾

The Watervliet Wrestlers gave it their all in Coloma Wednesday night, winning 7 of 14 matches (6 by pin) in the Team District Final, but it wasn't quite enough to bring home the trophy.

The evening began with Coloma and Hartford wrestling for the right to face off against the Panthers. Hartford would eventually defeat Coloma with tie breaker criteria, and the final was set Hartford gathered two pins to start the dual, before Taylor Woollett came from behind to defeat her opponent 8-6. Luke Isbrecht, who wrestled two weight classes up from his normal, then pinned his Husky to bring the team score to 9-12. Unfortunately the Panthers could not fill the next two weight classes, and Hartford won the following match by tech fall bringing the team score to 9-35. Watervliet would fight to take the lead 39-35, with Julian Velez, Riley Hess, Brayden Symnonds, Wyatt MacMillan, and Aiden Wolford all winning by pin. Unfortunately the final weight class on the night was another without a Panther wrestler, and the Huskies would win 39-42.

Congratulations go out to Riley Hess, who won his 100th varsity match!

The wrestlers will now move into the Individual portion of the postseason, where they will need to earn their right to wrestle another week. The guys start things off by going to Constantine on Saturday for individual districts.

I grew up on the North Side of Chicago and its Northwest Suburbs. I earned a BA in History from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Masters in Education from DePaul University in Chicago. This is my 21st year teaching history and coaching basketball. My family and I relocated to SW Michigan 4 years ago and we absolutely love it here. When I'm not teaching or coaching, my favorite thing to do is spend time with my wife Terrie and 9-year old son Ray. I am a huge sports fan and I love attending sports events that Ray participates in, which include soccer, basketball, and boxing. This is my first year at Watervliet and I appreciate so much how welcoming the community has been and how strong of an academic and athletic culture we have here. You might be surprised to know that Terrie and I got married at Soldier Field, which was incredible for two families full of lifelong Chicago Bears fans!

Jacob is in the middle of his senior season on the Panther basketball team, playing a big role underneath

the basket, banging around with every opponent’s biggest and strongest. He’s had a busy year so far,

leading the Panther football team as their quarterback while at the same time leading the Panther

Marching Band to its first state championship as the band’s drum major. That last activity might be the

toughest as he gets judged and scored at every one of their marching contests while he is directing the

band through their performance.

His favorite moments in his sports career are all the times his teams have beaten their rival Comets. He

also enjoyed the interaction and impact the big football kids have with the younger football teams,

especially during homecoming week when they get to see all the young Panthers.

Outside of athletics and band he volunteers for National Honor Society activities, coordinates student

council events, enjoys weight training and spending time with his family and friends.

After graduation he intends to attend a university and study Kinesiology and exercise science while

playing basketball. He hopes to eventually own multiple businesses that service athletes and their

physical recovery.

Congratulations, and good luck Jacob!

The Watervliet Lady Panthers started fast Tuesday night as they hosted the Rams of GA. After jumping out to a 15 - 6 first quarter lead, the Lady Panthers lost a little momentum in the middle two stanzas. They then turned up the defensive pressure and turned that pressure into points in the 4th quarter outscoring the Rams 14 - 2 to run away with a 46 - 31 home victory.

Grace Chisek led the way with 18 points and reaching the 1000 point club joining Rachel Sheffer, Lisa Ashton, Samantha Dietz, Nicole Winter, Kim Gear, and Kim Carney and the 7th Lady Panther to reach 1000 career points.

Nice WIN Lady Panthers, and congrats to Grace.

Congratulations to the following students who were ranked at the top of their class on the recent Skill Testing Categories:

PE/Health Class

MALE SCORES:

Kyle Domingo (Dots / Triple Jump / 40)

Bryce Teitsma (Jump Rope / Shuttle Run)

Ashton Coleman (Sit-Ups / Mile))

Jess Eldred (Vertical Jump / Pull-Ups)

Adrian Hernandez (Push-Ups)

Deandre Rose (Bench Press)

Landon Schlipp (12 Minute Run)

FEMALE SCORES:

Kyra Sullivan (Dots)

Kira Howe (Jump Rope / 12 Minute Run)

Miriam Feneley (Push-Ups)

Daijahnae Hatcher (Vertical Jump / Sit-Ups / 40)

Emma Owens (Triple Jump / Shuttle Run)

Alanna Pecharich & Hailey Cummings (Bench Press)

Kelsie Gaston (Mile)

Weight Training Class

MALE SCORES:

Wyatt Epple (Dots / Vertical Jump / Shuttle Run / Pull-Ups)

Emmitt Williams (Jump Rope)

Jaxon Allen (Long Jump / 12 Minute Run)

Cole Getz (Push-Ups / 40)

Alex Hicks (Sit-Ups / Bench Press)

Zeke Cardozo (Mile)

FEMALE SCORES:

Grace Chisek (Jump Rope / Vertical Jump / Sit-Ups)

Marleigh Schultz (Dots)

Akira Hill (Triple Jump / Shuttle Run / 40)

Kassandra Riggs (Push-Ups)

Abby Whorton (Bench Press)

Sue Weckwerth (Mile)

Sophie Wigent (12 Minute Run)

12th GRADE PRINCIPAL'S LIST

Melissa Cardozo Aviles

Grace Chisek

Landin Fuller

Ella Harris

Aleigha Jackson

Lauren Lovell

Morgan Lowell

Elsa Perez Cruz

Olivia Price

Anslie Saylor

Jacob Schaefer

Chase Tremblay

Nova Wise

12th GRADE HONOR ROLL

Aiden Bethea

Reise Bulat

Tia Caldwell

Robert Carlson

Megan Cox

Samuel Crago

Paige Culberson

Jerry Davis

Wyatt Epple

Bianca Freeman

Ado Geegan

Devin Geisler

Ellie Golden

Johanna Granados

Tara Halamka

Natalie Hart

Alex Hicks

Hailey Hutchens

Harley Ice

McKenna Kirksey

Lydia Koshar

Lauren Laws

Abigail Lomoro

Michael Melcher

Jacob Milham

Matthew Morgan

Savanah Nearpass

Amara Olexa

Benjamin Parritt

Julia Pepple

Raquel Perez

Julie Rudell

Marleigh Schultz

Aleah Sexton

Anya Sexton

Kameron Smith

Lyvia Summers

Trevor Tavolacci

Abigail Whorton

Taylor Woollett

Hailey Yerington

Yuria Zalcedo Salcedo

Connor Zwar

We are ONE week away from the application deadline for the Early Middle College. This is a fantastic opportunity for your sophomore to earn both a high school diploma and an Associate's Degree from Lake Michigan College at no cost. Email or call Mrs. Dawson with questions or concerns!

https://www.berrienresa.org/programs/berrien-early-middle-college

Nova Wise

Wyatt Epple

Tia Caldwell

Lauren Laws

Chase Tremblay

Grace Chisek

Melissa Cardozo-Aviles

Morgan Lowell

Lyvia Summers

Jacob Schaefer

Natalie Hart

Ella Harris

Connor Zwar

Tia Caldwell

Lauren Laws

Chase Tremblay

Wyatt Epple

Grace Chisek

Morgan Lowell

Lyvia Summers

Ella Harris

Melissa Cardozo Aviles

Natalie Hart

Friday, February 9

6:00/7:30 PM Varsity Basketball Home vs. Allegan

Saturday, February 10

9:00 AM Varsity Wrestling Individual District Tournament at TBA

Monday, February 12

4:15/5:30/7:00 PM 9th Boys, JV Girls, JV Boys Basketball at Berrien Springs

Tuesday, February 13

Basketball and Winter Cheerleaders Senior Night

6:00/7:30 PM Girls & Boys Varsity Basketball Home vs. Berrien Springs

Wednesday, February 14

TBA Wrestling Team Regional at TBA

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

9:00 Am Girls Regional Wrestling Tournament TBA

11th GRADE PRINCIPAL'S LIST

Nicole Bender

Alyssa Brown

Makena Edelberg

Lucas Isbrecht

Tyler Kuehl

Daniel Mandujano

Kimberly Romero Chairez

Hector Salguero

Lilly Summers

Natalie Van Lente

Susannah Weckwerth

Gabrielle Wisdom

11th GRADE HONOR ROLL

Tyler Asakevich

Alyssa Briley

Sydnee Enders

Owen Epple

Emma Ferguson

Kendall Goodrich

Zackary Gruszczyk

Kayden Harrington

Chaz Hart

Maecy Howard

Aubrey James

Erick Jimenez

Anastasia Kobow

Chelsea Lange

Ayana Marshall

Angel Nearpass

Riley Preston

Jacob Querfurth

Logan Schaefer

Jocelyn Solis

Kyra Sullivan

Zoe Thornsbury

Courtney Van Lente

Tanner VanNeil

Kendra Washington

Emmett Williams

Clorisa Worley

Jorge Zuniga

The Professional Health Careers Academy (PHCA) Application for the 24/25 School Year is now live and posted to the RESA webpage. This is view only access, so students will need to make a copy of the document.

It is located under the CTE page, bottom third under recent news.

PHCA Application

This opportunity is through Berrien County CTE. We send students over to Coloma to participate if/when they are accepted. We currently do not have anyone in this program through Coloma. You could get a similar experience at VBTC in the Patient Care Program. The PHCA program offers dual enrollment credit, and clinical experience. It is a great program! A student needs to be able to provide their own transportation to participate though because they are placed at different clinical sites and have to drive to LMC regularly.

Check out the link and application if you have interest. See Mrs. Dawson with questions.

Dear Parent/Guardian, 1/29/24

Ensuring the success of every Watervliet High School student is our number one priority at Watervliet High School. In order for your child to receive the greatest opportunity for success, satisfactory attendance is critical. To maintain satisfactory attendance, your child needs to attend at least 95% of the school days each year.

When students miss school for any reason, they miss important instruction that can lead to gaps in their development and learning. We understand that there are times when a student needs to miss school. Per the board policy, the following reasons for an absence from school are EXCUSED:

1. Illness

2. Recovery from an accident

3. Required court appearance with documentation

4. Professional appointments with a written excuse

5. Death in the immediate family

6. Observation of a religious holiday.

We understand that students often get sick and are not well enough to come to school. We appreciate that families are mindful of other students as well when your child may have something that could be contagious. While illness is an excusable absence, WPS School Board Policy states that when the number of days missed becomes more than FIVE (5), the school can require a doctor’s note to excuse further absences.

If your child reaches more than FIVE absences this semester, a medical note is required for any additional absences to be EXCUSED. For example: If a parent calls the office to excuse an absence for illness and it is the 6th or more absence, a medical note is required for the absence to be excused.

Ensuring your child's success is a team effort. If we can support your child or your family in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me.

10th GRADE PRINCIPAL'S LIST

Ana Aguilera Gallegos

Isabella Bultema

Moeko Crago

Kelsey Howell

Marissa Lowell

Christopher Parkhurst

Benjamin Ruland

Addison Smith

Austin Tomes

Leila Wells

10th GRADE HONOR ROLL

Phoenix Anderson

Kaitlyn Angelo

Giovanni Ayala

Emy Baldwin

Alina Bell

Nora Billings

Skyler Blaylock

Julian Cardoso

Ezequiel Cardozo Aviles

Karla Cervantes

Evihn DeJonge

Natalaya Desjardin

Joel Doerr

Madison Eberhard

Ariana Ellsworth

Dennis Frazier

Felipe Garcia

Ella Geisler

Sophia Grear

Nathan Harasewicz

Aubrey Hayes

Akira Hill

Ella Isbrecht

Caleb Jewell

Kendal Kiefer

Abigail Klopp

Landon Layer

Samuel Milham

Adileni Moron

Jacob Pleyer

Gabriel Richards

Brooklyn Richardson

Kassandra Riggs

Jessica Rudell

Issabella Sanchez

William Sherrard

Jacob Shunkwiler

Brenden Strong

Brayden Symonds

Keira Tremblay

Dimetric White

Brianna Zwar

The Watervliet wrestlers were in Constantine Saturday, for the SAC Championship Wrestling Tournament. Three Panthers fought their way to within 1 win of the podium, and two earned medals and All Conference honors. As a team, Watervliet finished 7th out of 14 teams.

Taylor Woollett, Wyatt MacMillan, and Brayden Symonds all came within one win of a medal in their respective weight classes. Taylor went 2-2 with a pin and a decision, Wyatt went 2-2 with 2 pins, and Brayden winning by pin as well. Aiden Wolford also went 2-2 with 2 pins, and Julian Velez had a win by pin as well.

Luke Isbrecht went 2-1 in the 126 pound bracket, winning one by pin and one by decision. Luke finished in 2nd place, earning the title of All Conference wrestler.

Riley Hess went 3-0 in the 175 pound bracket, with one victory by pin. Riley finished at the top of the podium, earning the All Conference title as Conference Champion at 175.

9th GRADE PRINCIPAL'S LIST

Hailey Adams

Angelica Daisy

Miriam Feneley

Sienna Harris

Katelynn Kostrzewa

Kalyn Manley (Math and Science Center)

Maycie Medlin

Claire Moore

Joelle Petnick

Allison Poole

Trinity Reese

Shelby Schlipp

Vivienne Sexton

Mackenzie Webster

9th GRADE HONOR ROLL (3.0+)

Aaron Alvarado

Mackenzie Birmele

Ashton Coleman

Braydon Collins

Norma Gutierrez

Abbie Hayes

Ava Hobson

Hanna Ice

Elizabeth Leblang

Lucy Logsdon

Hanna Lomoro

Leanna Lovell

Olivia Mitchell

Emma Owens

Alanna Pecharich

Liliana Perez

Naduleigh Robart

Landon Schlipp

Nolan Sells

Sofie Shafer

Elizabeth Torres

Megan Tucker

Isaiah Wendt

Aiden Wolford

The High School Student Council is running a braided bread fundraiser now through March 8. We need each member to sell at least 5 items for this fundraiser to be a success! To order, see any Student Council member or visit our online store here!

IF YOUR CHILD NEEDS TRANSPORTATION HOME, HE/SHE MUST EMAIL MS. POWERS IN ADVANCE OF THE DAY THAT YOUR CHILD IS STAYING.

We are providing a catered dinner to any student and any members of their family who wish to attend these sessions in the high school media center for the remainder of this school year.

Please fill out the form below if you plan to attend so that we know how many people to plan for.

FEBRUARY 12th FOSTERING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

Dinner will take place 30 minutes before the session starts.

Feb 12 ADULTING SESSION

Feb 15 Pre Festival Band Concert

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