

Waunakee High School Warrior Weekly
Monday, October 30 through Friday, November 3, 2023
Los boletines se publican a través del sitio web de SMORE. El sitio web SMORE tiene una opción de "traducir" disponible, ubicada en la parte superior del programa. Si tiene preguntas o está confundido acerca de la información compartida en este boletín, comuníquese con nuestro intérprete del distrito al (608) 206-5730
The bulletins are published through the SMORE website. The SMORE website has a "translate" option available, located on the top of the program. If you have questions or are confused about the information shared in this newsletter, please contact our district interpreter at (608) 206-5730
October 2023 Referendum Update
Field Trip Opportunity
Join Us!
High school students interested in history or poetry are encouraged to join BSU and Forensics on a field trip to UW-Madison. The group will learn about Phillis Wheatley, the first person of African descent to be published!
Use the Google form to let Ms. Michiels know that you're interested.
November Calendar Reminder
No School for Students Thanksgiving Week
This year’s district calendar is a change from previous years, and we’d like to make sure you are aware of the school district calendar for the 2023-2024 school year. Please note that there are no school days for students on Monday and Tuesday, November 20 and 21, where in previous years students have had school. District staff will be engaged in professional development (e.g., department meetings, professional learning communities, and guest speakers) over the course of these two days.
You can view the 2023-2024 family calendars on the school website, as well the 2024-2025 family school calendars. The calendars show the beginning and last days of school, early release days, and no school days.
View Family District Calendars I https://www.waunakee.k12.wi.us/about-us/calendars
2023-2024 Calendar Grid View I 2023-2024 Calendar Summary View
Library Media Technology Center (LMTC)
Printing Reminder for Students
If you are printing to the LMTC printer, please bring your Chromebook down here in order to print. It helps reduce the number of print jobs that aren't picked up and left behind.
Halloween Fun in the LMTC
Stop in with your friends during Contact Time or Study Hall for a fun green screen photo or video early next week. Let's get creative!
Stirring up Paella
We're thrilled to announce that Bruce Taher, the CEO of Taher, Inc., is coming to our district on Friday, November 3. He's on a mission to share his love of food and culture with our amazing students.
Mr. Taher will bring the rich and authentic flavors of Spain to our school. He'll be preparing Paella, a mouthwatering Spanish dish that hails from the city of Valencia on the Mediterranean coast.
Paella is Spain's most iconic and renowned dish, and we can't wait for our students to experience its deliciousness. But that's not all – during his visit, Mr. Taher will also share captivating stories from his travels to Spain, emphasizing how a shared meal can bring people together.
This promises to be a unique and enriching experience for our students, opening their hearts and taste buds to the world of culinary diversity.
Save the date – Friday, November 3 – and get ready for a Spanish feast right here at Waunakee Community High School during both lunches.
Flamingo Flocking in Season!
Attention Senior Families
Why are there plastic flamingos in our yards? Project Graduation is a fun, after graduation party organized by the parents and guardians of the graduating SENIORS. The event was established to offer seniors a safe place to celebrate for FREE. This party is planned, organized and paid for by generous contributions from parents/guardians and the Waunakee Community. Graduates participate in a night of fun events, entertainment, music, games, food, and prizes - LOTS OF PRIZES.
"Flamingo Flocking" is a fun way to help raise money for Project Graduation. Specific flamingo fundraising details will be left on the front door of your home when you find the flock in your yard. Flamingo flocking will start mid-November and last into next Spring. If your Senior does not wish to be flocked, and chooses to opt out, please contact Cindy Richardson at the Waunakee High School office by phone at 608-849-2100, extension 2046 or email at cindyrichardson@waunakee.k12.wi.us. Requests to opt out should be submitted by November 10th. Please note, if your house is accidentally flocked and you didn't want it to be, please do not destroy the flamingos as they cost the committee $35 each to replace - they will be picked up. Also, please be nice to our volunteers, as they are out there flocking in all kinds of weather to help raise money for this event. Thank you!
Special Offer by Lifetouch, Inc.
Picture Day
Lifetouch, Inc. is offering in-house picture retakes on Monday, November 13th from 3-6 PM. Access the Signup Genius link here to secure a picture time. Pictures will be taken at the Lifetouch Office located at 2821 Dairy Dr. Suite 2, Madison, WI 53718.
Countdown to the Season
Snow will be here before we know it, and we are getting geared up for the upcoming Ski and Snowboard Team season! There will be a student/parent/guardian informational meeting on Monday, November 6th for all who are interested in joining either the ski or snowboard team this year. The meeting will be held at 7pm in the small auditorium. No experience in ski or snowboard racing is needed - many of the members’ first-time racing was when they joined the high school team. It is a great group of students, and we hope you will consider joining!
For questions prior to the meeting, please contact:
Ski: Scott Hogland at: shogland@chorus.net
Snowboard: Coach Johnathan Predaina at: johnathanpredaina@waunakee.k12.wi.us
School to Career Coordinator
Do you work for a biotech company? No matter what role you might play, if you are connected to a biotech company, please consider connecting with the Dane County School consortium and BTCI regarding your organization. We are in need of biotech companies who are willing to partner with local school districts, like Waunakee, to mentor high school apprenticeship students pursuing a career in the biotech industry. For more information, please contact Michelle McGlynn @ michellemcglynn@waunakee.k12.wi.us
Did you know that Waunakee High School has a growing Youth Apprenticeship program? Students in grades 11 and 12 have the opportunity to apply and add this fantastic career experience to their educational experiences. Students can participate in a variety of career program areas - our most popular areas this year include health science (from dental to vision and nursing to pharmacy), construction (from plumbing to electrical and even HVAC), and marketing. We also have students in finance, broadcast journalism, vet tech, automotive, and more! Students or families should reach out to Mrs. McGlynn with questions. Application materials for next school year will be sent to student emails in January.
WCHS to Host One Act Sectionals
Mark Your Calendar!
WCHS One Act will host Sectionals in the Performing Arts Center on Saturday, November 4th, from 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM. Twelve schools will present their shows hoping to qualify for State. Waunakee High School will present their play The Scheme of The Driftless Shifter at 8:00 AM to kick-off the day.
Admission is FREE! Come one, come all!
Thank you for supporting WCHS One Act!
Bridging Brighter Smiles
Dental Services Offered at School
The Bridging Brighter Smiles team will provide dental services at the high school on Tuesday, November 7. Students are encouraged to enroll by registering at https://enrollment.bbsmiles.org/
BBS accepts Forward Health/Badger Care.
For questions, please call 262-896-9891 or visit https://bridgingbrightersmiles.org/
Bridging Brighter Smiles, Inc. is a school-based preventative dental care program. Founded in Wisconsin in 2012, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization bringing essential dental services to students in the comfort of their school.
Graduation Orders Due
Seniors, don't delay! Click on the following link to order your graduation package to fit your needs. Orders placed after Oct. 31st are subject to a late fee. Click HERE to order Waunakee Community High School Graduation Supplies QUESTIONS? 608-526-2100 or EMAIL: keiler.countryman@jostens.com
Project Graduation 2024
Keeping Traditions Alive!
Project Graduation is a fun, after graduation party organized by the parents and guardians of the graduating SENIORS. This event was established to offer seniors a safe place to celebrate for FREE!
We are currently in need of a treasurer, as well as committee leads/co-leads and volunteers for Corporate Donations, Food, Prizes & Entertainment. If you are willing to help with Project Graduation, email waunagradparty@gmail.com to express interest.
There will be a planning meeting on Wednesday, November 15 at 6:30 PM in room 1400 at the high school.
Thank you for your help and support in advance.
COUNSELING CONNECTION
Juniors/Seniors
College representatives will be available to meet with juniors and seniors in the Counseling Office during Contact Time on the following days:
Tuesday, October 31st: UW-Platteville
Wednesday, November 1st: Northern Michigan University
Thursday, November 2nd: UW-Whitewater
Friday, November 3rd: Iowa State University
To attend, students must sign up in FlexiSched under the Counseling Office on Monday, October 30.
Post Prom Planning Committee
Parents/Guardians, please join the Post Prom Committee for the next meeting scheduled for 6:30 PM on November 15th at the Village Center, Activity Room. Should you have any questions regarding Post Prom, please email Leanne McCollough and/or Gwen Olson at waunakeepostprom@gmail.com.
ACT Test Prep for Juniors
The ACT® test is the leading US admissions test, measuring what students learn in high school to determine academic readiness for college. The ACT tests include: Reading, Math, English, Science,
Writing. Follow this link to register or for more ACT Test Prep information.
Important Note for Seniors/Parents/Guardians
According to Board of Education policy, you must be in attendance for 90% of the time if you want to walk at graduation. That means missing no more than 45 PERIODS of instruction per semester. Each school day is made of 5 periods: 1st, Contact Time/HomeRoom, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. Parent Request excused absences do count within the 45 absences.
The good news is that there is a way to make certain absences exempt from counting against your student.
- Medical appointment? Bring in a doctor's note.
- College visit? Bring in documentation of your trip. (An email with date of visit or a picture of your student on campus. But not just a school brochure.)
- Funeral? Have a parent call.
- Family Vacation? Bring in a handwritten note from a parent. (Parent/Guardian must be traveling with the student(s)!)
Please call attendance 608.849.2110 or email your student's assistant principal with any additional questions. Thanks for your help!
Not Feeling Well?
Dear Parents and Guardians,
- Anytime your student leaves school due to illness, we ask that they first check out through the health office rather than just the attendance desk.
- Health Staff will then contact the parent; the parent should not contact the Attendance Line.
- The student requesting to go home will still be sent home with parental permission, but this policy serves a couple of additional purposes. With only that brief contact, health staff has a chance to ensure the student is safe to leave the building on their own and they are also able to keep abreast of any of the usual trends in illness among the student population. We ask, for the sake of safety, that your student never leave the building without first properly checking out.
- If your student communicates with you that they're not feeling well and would like to go home, please remind them to "just check out through the health office first."
Thanks for partnering with us in the well being of your student/s!
Whipurwauna
Reserve Your 2024 Yearbook Today!
Our 2023-2024 yearbooks are for sale at the order center.
Click the link HERE to purchase.
Enter School Code 3927.
$55 until 12/31/2023; $65 until 05/01/2024; $75 until 07/06/2024; Personalization Sales end 05/01/2024; All Online Sales End 07/06/2024. Quantitites are limited. Don't Miss Out!
Yearbook Updates
- Senior yearbook items are being collected right now; you can find more information (HERE) at the bottom of the web page.
- To check the list of what has been submitted you can check the link (HERE). Remember that the submission of the senior portrait is no cost. The submissions of "Senior Profile" items requires a 25.00 payment to include that information in the book.
- Deadline to submit all senior items is November 30th. If you need Mr. Willauer to scan a baby photo please have your senior sign up for a contact time in the Innovation Center before 11/30/23.
Extra copies of the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 yearbook are available for purchase in the main office. Each copy is $75.00 and can be paid with cash or a check made payable to WCSD. These books are sold on a first come, first served basis. We will start updating the order list regularly. Your online purchase will send you a digital receipt.
2023-2024 WHS Building Goals
At Waunakee Community High School, we are committed to helping each student reach their full potential. To guide our efforts, our school improvement team meets annually during an activity we call our School Improvement Institute, or SII. During the summer of 2023, a team of teachers, administrators, and other school staff from Waunakee Community High School gathered together at SII to review data and create our School Improvement Plan for the 2023-2024 school year. Operating under the umbrella of our Waunakee Community School District’s strategic priorities, we developed two goals for continuous improvement for the 2023-2024 school year.
By spring 2025, all of the available data within the following indicators will be as high or higher than the 2019 (pre-pandemic) results:
% of ACT benchmark proficiency,
% of 9th grade students with 90% or greater attendance
% of 12th grade students with a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher
% of students involved in co-curriculars
% of students that earn a “C” or better in an Advanced Placement course.
% of students earning a “C” or better in Dual Enrollment courses.
% of students earning a “C” or better in Advanced Algebra.
% of students that have completed more than 25 service hours.
Students enrolled in Work Based Learning and earning Industry Recognized Credentials.
We will continue to develop and foster a positive and inclusive school climate so that the percentage of students who report a positive social and emotional well being is maintained or improved by June of 2024 as measured by the WCHS Student Climate Survey comparing yearly concurrent months.
We believe these two goals will help create an environment where all students can thrive academically and develop as independent learners. To achieve this, we value the support and involvement of parents. Please reach out to your child's teachers to learn more about how you can support learning at home. Please visit the district website for additional information and resources related to our school improvement efforts this year.
With our dedicated staff and engaged families working together, we know we can make great progress to support each student's growth and success this school year!
2023-2024 Assessment Dates
ACT (Juniors): Tuesday, March 12, 2024 | 7:45 am-1:30 pm
No School (Frosh, Sophomores, Seniors)
Accommodated window: March 12-22, 2024
Forward Exam (Sophomores): Wed., April 3 & Thurs., April 4 | US History & AP US History Class
PreACT (Freshmen): Wednesday, April 17, 2024 | 8:00 am-11:25 am
3 Hr Late Start (Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors)
LINK (155 minutes test time + 15 minute break)
PreACT (Sophomores): Thursday, April 18, 2023 | 8:00 am-11:25 am
3 Hr Late Start (Freshmen, Juniors, Seniors)
LINK (155 minutes test time + 15 minute break)
**NOTE: Students with multi-day testing accommodations will need to be at school for both testing days.
Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM): WI test window March 18-April 26, 2024
AP Exams: May 6 - 17, 2024 | AM: 7:45 am-12:00 pm | PM: 11:45 am-4:00 pm
See detailed course listing below
Late Testing - May 22-24, 2024
Community Events
Click on the following link to see what’s happening in and around the Waunakee district: https://www.waunakee.k12.wi.us/community/community-events
Lunch Menus
Check out the menus from Taher Food Services by clicking on the specific link below:
To contact the High School, please call: (608) 849-2100. To reach the Attendance, press 1; Health Office, press 2; Counseling, press 3; Main Office, press 0