Parent Update

Watertown High School

Parent Update 12.6.24

It was a great start to the 2nd trimester as we welcomed back students to WHS! The weeks before the winter break can be filled with fun, excitement, and events across our community. Please review the updates below as there are important upcoming dates, events, and opportunities in the weeks ahead.

Thanks for your ongoing support and have a fantastic weekend!

Dean of Students Update

It has been great to see all of the students back in the building with Trimester two now started. I hope all of you had a restful break and are ready to take on the new challenges that await you. Please remember to have your student check their school email daily! Lots of important information comes students way each day from this method of communication. Be kind, take care of each other and GO GOSLINGS!

New Visitor Screening Software

The Watertown Unified School District is transitioning to a new software for screening visitors to our buildings while school is in session. We will be implementing the use of Visitor Aware and no longer using the Raptor platform. This new software is a tool that helps us verify that everyone coming through our doors is permitted to be in our buildings, and helps our staff quickly identify potential threats while streamlining the check-in process for our permitted visitors.

The process will not change for visitors- every visitor to the school will be required to check in at the entry with a valid photo ID. The ID will be used to screen visitors to ensure they are not identified on the National Sex Offender Registry, FBI Most Wanted lists, or the Interpol Most Wanted list, according to District policy 1240. A picture of each visitor will be taken and they will be issued a paper badge that must be worn while visiting our school. When leaving, the visitor will be asked to check out at the entry desk as well to ensure that we can account for all individuals in our buildings in case of emergency.

For more information, please see the following documents about how Visitor Aware is used and the process for checking in. Thank you for your cooperation with efforts to keep our schools safe!

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Visitor Aware English.pdf

Visitor Aware Spanish.pdf

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WUSD Bullying/Harassment Resources

As WHS transitions to the 2nd trimester WHS staff will continue to remind students of behavioral expectations to ensure a safe, positive learning environment for all students.

At WHS and in the WUSD, we are committed to ensuring a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for every student. As part of this commitment, we want to remind our community about the definition of bullying and the district’s strict no-tolerance policy regarding such behavior.

What is Bullying?

Bullying is defined as repeated, intentional behavior that causes harm or distress to another individual. It can take many forms, including:

Physical: Hitting, pushing, or other physical aggression.
Verbal: Name-calling, teasing, or inappropriate comments.
Social/Relational: Exclusion, spreading rumors, or damaging relationships.
Cyberbullying: Using technology to harass, intimidate, or embarrass others.

Bullying in any form is unacceptable and will not be tolerated at WUSD schools per WUSD BOE Policy #5362. We take all reports seriously and work diligently to address and resolve incidents in a manner that prioritizes student safety and well-being.

Anonymous Reporting Tool
If your child or someone you know has experienced bullying, please encourage them to speak with a trusted adult or report the issue anonymously using our online bullying reporting tool. This tool is available 24/7 and ensures confidentiality.

👉 Click here to access WUSD’s Anonymous Bullying Reporting Tool

WHS families are also encouraged to reach out directly to the following WHS staff to report instances of bullying/harassment. Additional Resources are also listed here.

Josh Kerr, Principal; kerrj@mywusd.org
Colleen Good, WHS Associate Principal (Last Name M-Z); goodc@mywusd.org
Jen Pennington, WHS Associate Principal (Last Name A-L); penningtonj@mywusd.org
Chad Hayes, WHS Dean of Students; hayesc@mywusd.org
WHS Student Services Department

Together, we can maintain a positive and inclusive learning environment for all students. Thank you for your continued partnership in fostering a safe and supportive community.

Care Solace Coordination Services

Now Offered in the WUSD

The Watertown Unified School District is pleased to announce a partnership with Care Solace – a confidential mental health and substance use coordination service designed to match individuals with a network of more than 560,000 providers and services. Care Solace will help parents/guardians find the right help for their child at the right time, 24/7/365, at no cost. They connect individuals with providers accepting all medical insurances, including Medicaid, Medicare and sliding scale options for those without insurance.

The WUSD joins a growing list of Wisconsin school districts partnering with Care Solace to

connect staff, students and their families with access to care. Care Solace is open to all WUSD

students and their immediate family members, as well as all WUSD staff and their immediate

family members, at no cost. Through this partnership with Care Solace, the WUSD is helping to

alleviate the barriers of time and access. The WUSD staff, parents/guardians and immediate

family members can use this service to find the support they are looking for in a confidential and

timely manner.

Parents/Guardians an access Care Solace in four ways:

Call 888-515-0595 at any time. Multilingual support is available 24/7/365. A dedicated Care Companion will help you every step of the way to research options, secure appointments, and follow up to make sure it is a good fit.
Search anonymously to get matched with an extensive list of care providers at caresolace.com/mywusd.
Scan the QR code
Contact a Student Services staff member in any of the WUSD Schools to submit a referral on your behalf.

Care Solace assists individuals in accessing the following treatment types: psychological

assessments, individual and family therapy, psychiatry, intensive outpatient programs,

hospitalization and stabilization, residential inpatient programs, eating disorders, medical detox,

applied behavioral analysis assessment and treatment, substance use, and more.

No matter what you’re experiencing, there is hope and help. We are confident that our new

partnership with Care Solace will help us continue to build a healthier, more vibrant school

community.

For any questions please contact Director of Special Education and Student Services, Sarah

Oudenhoven at oudenhovens@mywusd.org.

If you have a life-threatening emergency, please call 9-1-1 or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at

9-8-8. Care Solace is not an emergency response service or mental health services provider.

Emergency School Closing Information

Class of 2025 Updates

FAFSA Information

The Department of Education announced all students and families can now access the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Please remember to complete your FSA ID. FSA ID is needed for the student and both parents (if applicable). Make sure all the names and addresses are written exactly the same. It will take you 3-4 days to get a FSA ID. In completing the FSA ID it has a two-step verification, in most cases a computer and a phone work best.

Complete the FAFSA early! Here is why:

Many federal and state financial aid programs have limited funding and may run out if you apply late.
Colleges and universities often have their own deadlines for financial aid applications.
If you apply late, you might receive a smaller financial aid package than if you had applied early.

Direct Admit Reminders

Direct Admit students are required to complete this form if you are considering any of the universities. Create Account and fill in your school email and your personal email.

Filling out the form does not mean you are committed to attending any of the universities.
Technically, you have until May 1, 2025 to accept or reject any of the universities.
A university can only provide a financial aid award letter if you have filled out the form and completed the FAFSA.