Panther Print for Parents 🐾

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:

Angelina Pailleres (France)

Sophia De Veras Quaresma (Brazil)

Eider Fernandez Aranburu (Spain)

Puvadet Kerdsin (Also called Sheriff)(Thailand)

In Anatomy, we had a fun and engaging time practicing anatomical direction terms. The students created their own scavenger hunts, which allowed them to apply what they learned in a hands-on way. They even came up with creative prizes for their classmates who successfully followed their clues!

In AP Biology, we focused on statistical analysis of data, using Oreo fillings as our hands-on example. While the math may not have been the favorite aspect for everyone, the students certainly enjoyed indulging in the remnants of the Oreos once we completed our analysis.

In Biology, we focused on writing with supporting evidence and graphing skills. The students worked on crafting scientific explanations based on their data, which enhanced their understanding of the material.

This week, our Art II students honed their observational drawing skills by capturing the beauty of fresh-cut sunflowers. A special thank you to Greg Grear for growing, picking, and delivering these stunning flowers for our students to use as inspiration!

Wayland Union Debate hosted the annual Legislative Debate Day for students, coaches, and teachers from across the community on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. Debate Day cultivates a culture of academic scholarship grounded in speaking and listening by utilizing the legislative debate format. Together, students create pathways for critical thinking, civic life, collaboration, and caring while having a lot of fun along the way. The day included a meet and greet with coaches and debaters and two breakout sessions designed to enhance their knowledge of debate before ending the day with their first West Michigan Legislative Debate League Meet.

Over 80 students, coaches, and teachers attended the afternoon event from the following schools: Caledonia HS, Ionia HS, Watervliet HS, Grand Rapids City and Wayland Union HS. While Watervliet's team made a great effort to participate, only one of them was able to give a speech, and that was Amber Robbins, who placed 4th.

Debate Day is the product of collaboration with the West Michigan Legislative Debate League and the community of coaches.

Family - I live in Lawrence with my girlfriend Ashley and our 4 cats, 1 dog, and 55 horses.

College - I went to KVCC and then onto Western Michigan University and earned a degree in University Studies. I then went on to Ohio University and received my masters in Athletic Administration.

Jobs - I spend a majority of my adult life working in food service. I was a manager at Steak 'n Shake for 5 years, managed a breakfast restaurant for a year, and ran concessions for WMU Athletics for a year. I then served as the athletic director at Fennville for two years before serving in the same role at Lawrence for three years. At WHS I am the Athletic Director and I coach the varsity girls basketball team.

Free Time - In my free time I like to run, play disc golf, hike, and play video games.

Proud - I'm proud to be a Panther because the school district strives to empower students and staff to achieve beyond their own expectations, which directly aligns with my values.

I have worked full-time at WPS since 2007, starting as guidance secretary and moving to the Athletics Secretary position in 2010. My responsibilities also include providing support for the Curriculum Director, publishing the School Bell Newsletter, and updating the district website.

I graduated from New Buffalo High School (1978) and Grand Valley State Colleges (now GVSU) (1982). My family includes my husband of 42 years, Glenn, and two adult sons who are both WHS graduates -- Nate (2005) and Dan (2008). Both boys still live in the area and we get together for Sunday dinner whenever possible, something I am very grateful to be able to do.

Outside of work, I enjoy going to estate sales and finding treasures to resell online, to gift, or for myself and for our home. WPS Accountant Laura Baumeister is my “partner in crime” in this endeavor and we have fun going to sales and thrift stores together looking for great finds. I also love to read, attend concerts, watch movies, and travel.

While I love my job here at WPS and enjoy coming to work each day, I look forward to retirement at the end of December. I will greatly miss my WPS family -- you have been a big part of my life for the past 17+ years and I will always consider you friends. But retirement will allow me to spend more time doing some other fun things-- and finally clean out my closets and sort through the tubs of photographs I have been storing for years. Also, Glenn and I recently bought a motor home so voyages to lots of National and State Parks are in our future!

Friday, September 13

7:00 PM Varsity Football Home vs. Delton Kellogg (Hall of Fame Event at Half Time)

Saturday, September 14

11:00 AM Boys Varsity Soccer at St. Bernard Catholic Church vs. our Lady of the Lake

Monday, September 16

6:00 PM Varsity Soccer Home vs. Covert

Tuesday, September 17

5:30/6:30 PM JV & Varsity Volleyball Home vs. Fennville

Wednesday, September 18

5:00/7:00 PM Varsity and MS Soccer Home vs. Saugatuck

Thursday, September 19

6:00 PM JV Football at Parchment

Friday, September 20

7:00 PM Varsity Football Home vs. Parchment

Saturday, September 21

9:30 AM Varsity Cross Country at Bangor Invitational

10:00 AM Varsity Soccer at Lawton

Want to learn more about our standards based changes for this year? Come to the High School Media Center on September 17 at 6pm for a presentation.

All MATH and SOCIAL STUDIES teachers are implementing standards based grading in their classrooms. Please take a look at the conversion chart below to better understand how the grading translates for your child.

Parents will receive a Monday night phone call if a student is failing any class as of Monday morning. This will occur every week of the school year. If you receive this call, please talk with your child. Ask to see your child's grades in Canvas or log into Canvas yourself.

1. What work is your child missing?

2. What is your child struggling with?

3. Does your child need to complete missing work from being absent?

4. Does your child need to meet with Mrs. Dawson to get extra assistance?

Email or call Mrs. Dawson, the School Counselor, if you do not know how to help your child with failing grades. jdawson@watervlietps.org.

The Maximum Mold Group of Companies believe in giving students an in depth look at the manufacturing trade early on. Tradesmen at the Maximum Mold Group of Companies enter the workforce as apprentices. They pay 100% of student tuition at Lake Michigan College and give students on the job training that they pay them for.

Their Open House is for any student that is interested in Engineering, Tooling, Machine Technology, Welding, etc.

They will provide light refreshments and provide eye protection (if students do not already wear glasses). Closed toe shoes are mandatory.

The event will take place at our location of

Max 3

360 Urbandale Ave.

Benton Harbor, MI 49022

269-925-2044

This opportunity is open to current Juniors and Seniors.

Students will be transported by school bus. They will leave the school at 9:15 AM and return by lunch time. A school employee will provide supervision for students who attend.

Lake Michigan College is hosting their annual college fair on Monday, September 16th on their Benton Harbor campus from 6 to 7:30 pm. All Watervliet High School students and their families are invited to meet with representatives from over 60 colleges, military branches, and employment organizations. To learn more and register for this event, click here.

Chris Coburn

MCAN College & Career Adviser

Watervliet High School

BA, Kalamazoo College, '19

Each week of the school year, the faculty at the high school will review with your child the expectations in one area of the building. The purpose of teaching and reviewing these expectations with your child is to 1. Make sure they understand the expectations in the building and 2. Assist them in having success at the high school. Please review the cafeteria expectations at breakfast with your child. The expectations below will be reviewed during this coming week.

Students and their families looking to secure more financial aid for college are encouraged to register for an informational webinar about the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which is the newest State of Michigan scholarship program expected to impact the majority of students.

Participants will be able to gather the following information:

• Information about the NEW Community College Guarantee
• Michigan Achievement Scholarship eligibility requirements
• Michigan Achievement Scholarship award amounts
• Important action items for students and families
• Additional resources and program information

All sessions are free of charge and open to the public. Register for one session only, as space is limited.

Closed captioning will be provided. If you need special accommodations to attend this meeting, contact mistudentaid@michigan.gov two business days prior to the scheduled webinar. Requests received after that date cannot be guaranteed, but every effort will be made to provide the accommodation requested.

The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential is not affiliated with National Merit Scholarship Corporation or its registered trademarks National Achievement®, Achievement Scholarship®, or Achievement Scholar®.

Take a look at the high school calendar dates for the first half of this school year. Additional dates have been added since the last time this calendar was sent home. Feel free to contact the high school office with any questions or concerns. This calendar will continue to be updated and included weekly in our parent newsletter.

SEPTEMBER

16 Parent Presentation: So My Child Has an IEP? 6 PM

17 Standards Based Grading Night for Parents 6-8 PM 17 Constitution Day

17 Blood Drive

18 SAC 7:30 AM

18 Early Release 1:10 PM dismissal

19 Picture Day

25 PAC 6 PM

30 PBIS Mtg. 3:15 PM

OCTOBER (COLLEGE APPLICATION MONTH)

1 FAFSA Opens for Senior Families

2 Count Day

2 Debate League Competition

2 SAC 7:30 AM

4 SOTM Breakfast 8:15 AM

7-11 Homecoming Week

11 Homecoming Assembly, Game, Dance

14 No School for Students (Professional Development for Teachers)

15 PSAT/NMSQT Testing all Juniors/voluntary Sophomores

16 SAC 7:30 AM

16 College Admissions Night for Parents 6 PM

17 ½ Day for students; 11:40 AM dismissal; Parent/Teacher Conferences 12:30-3 PM and 4-6 PM

17 Financial Aid Night for Senior Parents 6 PM

18 ½ Day Students and Staff 11:40 AM dismissal

18 College Fair

21-25 Red Ribbon Week

21 Fall Band Concert 7 PM 23 Early Release 1:10 PM dismissal

24 Fall Choir Concert 7 PM

28 PBIS Mtg. 3:15 PM

30 Picture Retakes

30 SAC 7:30 AM

30 PAC 6 PM

NOVEMBER

6 Early Release 1:10 PM dismissal

6 Debate League Competition

6 Military Parent Informational Night 6 PM

8 SOTM Breakfast 8:15 AM

13 SAC Mtg. 7:30 AM

19 Blood Drive

20 PAC Mtg. 6 PM

20 Early Release 1:10 PM dismissal

25 PBIS Mtg. 3:15 PM

27-29 Thanksgiving Break

DECEMBER

4 SAC 7:30 AM

4 Debate League Competition

5 Early Middle College Parent Presentation 6 PM

11 Early Release 1:10 PM dismissal

11 Winter Band Concert 7 PM

11 Career Fair

16 PBIS Mtg. 3:15 PM

18 SAC 7:30 AM

18 PAC Mtg. 6 PM

19 Winter Choir Concert 7 PM

23-31 Winter Break

JANUARY

1-5 Winter Break

6 Students and Staff Return

8 SAC 7:30 AM

10 SOTM Breakfast 8:15 AM

15-17 Exams; 1/2 days 11:40 AM dismissal

17 End of Semester 1

20 No School for Students (MLK DAY)

22 SAC 7:30 AM

27 PBIS Mtg. 3:15 PM

29 PAC 6 PM

29 Early Release 1:10 PM dismissal

Parent/guardian input and feedback is always important at the high school. We are always in search of parents to serve on the Student Advisory Council to the Principal for the 24-25 school year. All meetings are held in person. Any high school parent is welcome to attend anytime. Mark your calendar now to attend these meetings and provide your input. All meetings are held at 6 PM in the high school media center.

September 30

October 30

November 20

December 18

January 29

February 26

March 26

April 30

May 21

Each month, the high school hosts and provides educational sessions for parents on a variety of topics aimed at preparing students for life after high school.These presentations will again take place during the 24-25 school year. Mark your calendar for these important sessions. All sessions are held at 6 PM in the high school media center

September 16 So My Child Has an IEP? (intended for parents of students with IEPs)

Oct 16 College Admissions Night (understanding the college admissions process)

Oct 17 Financial Aide Planning Night for parents of Seniors

Nov 6 Military Informational Night (recruiters from all branches of the military present to talk with interested families)

December 5 Early Middle College Presentation (intended for the parents of 9th and 10th graders)

Feb 25 Van Buren Tech Informational Night (intended for the parents of 9th-11th graders)

March (date to be determined) Accommodations in College Night (intended for the parents of students with IEPs and 504 plans planning on post secondary training)

April 23 Dual Enrollment Night (intended for parents of 9th-11th graders interested in earning college credit free while in high school)