Welcome back!!!!!! Thanks to our incredible students, staff, and families for a fantastic start to the 2024-25 school year! It was great to see our students back and we look forward to an amazing year. Welcoming our students back with a pep rally to end the first day of school was exhilarating and #GoslingPride was on full display! At the pep rally, our community recognized students who were involved in activities and athletics. We also celebrated the WHS staff, introduced our new WHS staff, and introduced two priority goals for our community this school year. Our first goal is to promote student academics in the classroom and the second goal is to promote a positive culture through gratitude. These will be themes our families will hear more about through the year and we can’t wait to see the progress our students will make in the coming months- Thank you in advance for your support of these goals throughout the school year!

Please be sure to review the updates below for important start to school information. Note that updates will be shared via this newsletter on Friday’s throughout the school year, including photos of some of the amazing things happening in our community. We value communication and thank the entire Gosling Nation for their ongoing support as we work together to support our amazing students!

• Seniors will be taking the senior group photo on Tuesday, September 10 during ELT. Following the picture, seniors will be meeting with Jostens to receive information regarding graduation items including ordering caps and gowns, Class of 2025 apparel, etc. Jostens will return on September 17 to take the orders.
• Senior yearbook photos will need to be uploaded directly to the Herff-Jones website: www.hjeshare.com and the school code is 825. The senior photo should be a headshot with no hands in the photo. The deadline to upload your senior picture is Friday, November 1, 2024. Hard copy photos and emailed senior photos will not be accepted.

It has been a great week of learning and reinforcing positive habits for all of our students this week during the ELT period. Presentations were shared with students, including the following:

Tuesday: A welcome back to school and review of key components of the WHS Student Handbook.

Wednesday: A review of building expectations and an introduction to the Gosling Flight Feathers that will be used to recognize positive habits for students. Students and teachers can be nominated throughout the year as we promote a building-wide culture of support, safety, and respect through positive words as well as behaviors.

Thursday: Information regarding the dangers of vaping and the consequences for possessing or using vape pens at school were shared with students and discussed.

Friday: A review of Securely Flex to prepare students for ELT movement beginning on 9/11/24.

On Monday, September 9th WHS students will continue in their homerooms and participate in an Academic and Career Planning (ACP) activity designed to promote reflection as we begin the school year. ACP resources will be shared throughout the year and will culminate in a WHS Career Fair in March, 2025. Stay tuned for additional details as we prepare all of our students for careers after high school!

Please note the web-based tool used to organize ELT for the 2024-25 school year is Securely Flex (Returning WHS families will recall that Edficiency was used last school year but has since been purchased by Securely). We are anticipating students being able to begin moving during ELT on Wednesday, September 11th. Securely Flex is currently undergoing many updates so thank you in advance to students, teachers, and families for their flexibility as we work to maximize the fantastic potential of delivering support during ELT on a daily basis!

It was a great first week of school and awesome to have students back! I saw lots of positive routines happening by students getting to class on time, clearing the hallways and bathrooms and being responsible in the commons during lunch periods.

It has been amazing to witness the great relationships being built between teachers and students in all classes throughout the building. Watertown High School is truly a special place and I am extremely grateful to be able to work here with such great students and staff. - Mr. Chad Hayes

We are excited to announce the continuation of the 'Gosling Flight Feathers' program, an initiative designed to celebrate and recognize the extraordinary efforts of our students, teachers and staff. This special program, created last spring, is an opportunity for you to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and positive impact that staff members of our school community bring to our high school.

The 'Gosling Flight Feathers' are more than just a symbol—they represent the high standards and unwavering commitment that our educators and support staff embody each day. Whether it's a teacher who goes above and beyond to help a student succeed, a staff member who creates a welcoming environment, or someone who contributes to making our school a better place in countless ways, this is your chance to honor their efforts.

Here’s how you can participate:

1. Nominate a Staff Member: If you know of a teacher or staff member who deserves recognition, please take a moment to submit a nomination. Think about the positive impact they’ve had, the extra miles they’ve gone, or the small acts of kindness that have made a big difference.

2. Share Specific Examples: Provide details about why you’re nominating them. Specific examples help paint a clearer picture of their contributions and the impact they’ve made on our community.

3. Submit Your Nomination: Follow the simple submission process provided in the linked Google form here. The form will be active all school year and will be accessible from the weekly Smore newsletter. All nominations will be reviewed, and all nominated individuals will be honored with a 'Gosling Flight Feather' at our upcoming monthly school assemblies.
   
   

By participating in this program, you’re not just recognizing individual achievements; you’re helping to foster a culture of appreciation and encouragement within our school. Let’s work together to celebrate those who inspire, uplift, and make a lasting difference in the lives of our students and the broader school community.

Thank you for your support and for helping us shine a light on the amazing work happening every day at our school. - Mrs. Jennifer Bault, WHS Associate Principal

A friendly reminder to our families, parents, and students who drive, drop off students, or pick up students to be sure to practice safe driving habits before and after school. These times are extremely busy and it is of the utmost importance for families to use the sidewalk closest to WHS to drop off or pick up students. This ensures that students do not cross the horseshoe drive as traffic continues. Thank you in advance for making drop off and pick up a safe time for everyone at WHS!

Access to the WHS Student Handbook was shared with all WHS students this week. Please know that updates were made to provide additional opportunities for students attending post high school exploration visits beginning in the 2024-25 school year:

Homecoming shirts will be available to purchase for $11 until Monday, September 16. Shirts can be ordered using the link to the online store: Homecoming Class Shirts.

As WHS prepares for another fantastic year we want to keep families up to date with upcoming standardized assessments throughout the year at all levels. Linked are the summary of mandated standardized assessments the WUSD district will navigate this school year. Please stay tuned for additional information around standardized testing at WHS in the coming weeks and months.

Wisconsin has updated its immunization requirements for child care and school entry. The changes for school entry go into effect for the 2024/2025 school year.

If your child will be in 12th grade during the 2024/2025 school year, we need to have dates of two ACWY containing meningitis vaccines, unless the first dose was given after your child was 16 years old. Parents/guardians may sign a personal conviction or religious waiver for these meningitis vaccines, just as they may for other vaccinations, or have a medical waiver signed by a healthcare practioner.

If you have any questions about the new immunization requirements, please contact either your child’s medical provider or Lynn Gilbert, WUSD School Nurse, at 920-262-1460 x 3219.

Ms. Daniela Castellon is joining WHS as a new EL Bilingual Teacher. Ms. Castellon is a former WHS graduate and 2022 UW-Madison graduate. Ms. Castellon has also taught two years abroad in Taiwan. She says she was inspired by students of her same cultural background to be a full time teacher in the US. She loves teaching about diversity, equity, and inclusion and being a champion for change and a role model for the Latinx community. Please welcome Ms. Castellon to WHS!

Below are pictures form the First Day of School and the WHS Pep Rally that was held on Tuesday afternoon!

Here is a great opportunity to care for the minor medical needs of WHS students on a part-time basis - join our team as a Student Health Room Assistant. To view the full position description, please visit: https://wecan.waspa.org/Vacancy/217649

WUSD is also hiring Special Educational Paraprofessionals to help the students at WHS. Please visit https://wecan.waspa.org/Vacancy/219498 to learn more about the position.

• Online Registration via Skyward Deadline: Friday, September 13
• Seniors Jostens Order Deadline: Tuesday, September 17 (Lunch Hours)
• Homecoming Week: September 29 - October 5
• College & Career Night: Monday, October 7
• Picture Retake Day: Friday, October 11
• AP Exam Fee Deadline: Wednesday, October 16

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