High School Warrior Weekly

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.

Waunakee High School, in accordance with state statute 118.33 (1)(6), permits a junior or senior student who has demonstrated a high level of maturity and personal responsibility the ability to leave the school premises for ONE study hall. In order to be eligible, students must have parent permission, no F's first semester, a GPA of at least 2.7, must not have been suspended during the previous semester, and not have any attendance concerns. Release privileges can be revoked by administration if the student has an unexcused absence, is suspended, falls below a 2.7 GPA, transports a student not released from the building, is involved in an unlawful activity during release time, or by parent request. Students on release from study hall should not be in the building. Please note that schedule changes regarding study halls will not be granted at this time.

If you would like to enroll your student in the Responsibility Release Program, please fill out this form: Release Form

DECA had 47 competitors that competed at the first level of competition at DeForest High School on Saturday, January 11. Each student took a cluster exam specific to their career area in addition to presenting their ideas for two different role plays. Each competitor went into their role play with knowing only the performance indicators (key marketing & finance concepts) and little knowledge of the specific event. Students were assessed with how well they were able to problem solve on the spot in addition to their creative ideas and knowledge of entrepreneurship, finance, management, and marketing.

Waunakee DECA brought home four champions (first through third place), 12 honorable mentions, and 37 medals! Congratulations to all that gave up their Saturday to compete. Waunakee DECA & your advisors are proud of you!

Included here are the specific events & awards.

Reminder to students that no schedule change requests for 2nd semester will be accepted, unless you meet one of the following reasons:

• Your schedule is incomplete (missing a course during a certain hour) or overbooked (more than one course is scheduled in the same hour.)

• You have two study halls on the same day.

• You failed the 1st semester of a year-long course.

• You are enrolled in the apprenticeship or early college credit program(s) (ECCP) and need work release or release to attend outside classes.

• You have an IEP or 504 plan in which your case manager recommends a change.

If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them with your counselor.

Join us in the PAC on Monday, January 27th at 7 pm for our 10th annual Choir Showcase! You won't want to miss this evening celebrating covers of songs by your favorite performers including Stone Temple Pilots, The Cranberries, Harry Styles, Lana Del Ray and so many more. Produced, arranged and performed by groups of choir students, there is something for everyone in this concert.

Tickets are $5 and available via GOFAN on the District Performing Arts Page. They are also available at the door with credit card, debit card, apple pay or google pay.

• When: January 29 at 9:40 AM during Contact Time
• Where: HS Athletic Office in the Main Office area
• How to attend: Students can sign up to attend by scheduling with Mr. Conrad's Contact Time in Flexi Sched
• Further information will be available in the HS Athletic Office, once received from our sales rep.
• A down payment when ordering is required, full payment required when the jacket is received.

Questions? Contact Jen Lockman, jenlockman@waunakee.k12.wi.us

The high schools of Waunakee and DeForest are respectful, but spirited rivals in many athletic endeavors. On January 30, the Waunakee HS boys basketball teams will travel to DeForest to take on the Norskies and hope to use their platform to raise money for cancer research. As part of the Coaches vs. Cancer pledge week, a national collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches, funds generated will go directly to the American Cancer Society.

Join the teams as we come together to fight cancer.

Sponsorships are available. Contact Korey Feiner at 608-345-5461 or korey.feiner@nettechnology.com

Registration for the boys lacrosse team is now open! Click here to register or check out our website to learn more.

Interested in playing but need more details? There will be a Parent/Player meeting on Thursday, February 6th at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) for all players.

If you are interested in more information but unable to attend the meeting, please email the HS Boys Lacrosse Booster Club at waunakeeboyslax@gmail.com.

If you are interested in joining the boys golf team this spring, please email Coach Betsy Zadra at betsy_zadra@waunakee.k12.wi.us with your parent’s and your contact information. Include your name, grade, email and the name of your parents and their email address. The required Parent/Player meeting will be held on Monday, February 24 at 7:15pm in the Small Auditorium at the High School.

The boys golf season begins on Monday March 31.

Graduation is quickly approaching—less than five months until June 1st! Project Graduation is an important event that cannot happen without your support. We are relying on your help to make this night memorable for our seniors.

Project Graduation will start up the monthly meetings on the 3rd Tuesday of each month beginning February 18. If you are signed up for food, games, registration, or planning on helping with one of the committees, please join our meetings at 6pm in the staff lounge, room 1400.

Please calendar the following dates for Project Graduation Meetings:

February 18, March 18, April 22, April 29 (tentative), May 6, and May 27 @ 6pm

Flamingo Flockers are still hard at work, spreading flamingos when the weather and time allow. If you'd prefer not to be flocked and having the flamingos in your yard, please contact Cindy Richardson at the school directly, rather than removing or damaging the flamingos or leaving negative messages. This is a community effort, and our parents are dedicating their time to make this a special and fun evening for the seniors.

We have successfully completed flocking for about half of the senior class. If we flock your yard and notice no activity, we may reach out via email to confirm if you'd like to contribute a donation to support the Project for your senior(s).

Keep an eye out for communications from the Project Graduation 2025 committee through email (waunagradparty@gmail.com) (and check your junk or spam folders) and also on the "Class of 2025" Facebook page.

Additionally, Angie Volkmann has organized concession shifts at the Ice Pond to raise funds for Project Graduation. If you’re available to work the 5:00-8:30 PM shift on Monday, February 10, please reach out via email or Facebook.

Thank you for your continued support as we work together to celebrate our seniors in a meaningful way!

Project Graduation 2025

Course Registration time is upon us for the 2025-2026 school year. All students have been receiving course registration information during advisory for the past several weeks. In addition, students will be participating in class meetings during contact time to receive support to complete their course registration.

The window to submit course requests in Xello is January 29th - February 7, 2025. Students should be using the month of January to plan their course requests, consult with staff and guardians, and ensure their courses meet their post-secondary goals.

• The Counseling Staff will be available for students on Feb. 4 & 5, 2025 in the PAC during Contact Time for Course Registration support. Students may sign up in FlexiSched under Counseling for one of these dates if they have questions or need assistance.

In an effort to make information available to students and families, all registration information can be found on our counseling department website, including the 2025-2026 Course Guide, the Course Registration Timeline, and Course Information by Grade.

• Counseling Department Course Registration Page

Waunakee Community High School utilizes Xello for submitting course requests. To access Xello, students click on Xello under their WHS Bookmarks when logged in on their school issued chromebook.

*PLEASE NOTE: There will NOT be an opportunity for students to change their course requests once the window of registration is completed so staffing can be appropriately planned for the 2025-2026 school year.

If you have any questions, you may contact the Counseling Office at 608-849-2115.

By 2030, it's predicted that parents sharing about their kids online will account for two-thirds of identity fraud cases. Let's work together to protect our children's digital identities.

In today's digital age, it's crucial that we have open conversations with our children about their online presence. A recent study showed that by age 5, the average child has 1,500 photos of them online. As parents and guardians, we play a vital role in shaping our children's digital footprint.

Check out this short video where parents and children discuss feelings about posting on social media.

You may also want to consider the following resources in talking with your child about their digital footprint.

Help Kids Post, Comment and Upload Responsibly

Digital Footprint & Identity

Responsible Decision Making in Digital Life

Remember, our kids should have a say in what's shared about them online. By fostering open dialogue, we can help them navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.

Key Points to Discuss with Your Children:

1. Consent Matters: Always ask for your child's permission before posting photos or information about them online.
2. Privacy Concerns: Discuss the potential long-term impacts of sharing personal information online.
3. Digital Footprint: Explain how information shared now can affect their future.
4. Alternative Communication: Encourage direct communication (calls, video chats) with family members instead of relying solely on social media posts.

The Waunakee Tribune has extended their deadline to submit a senior photo! Photos received by January 31st will be included in the graduation section. Because the section is printed in color, a color photo is recommended, but not required. The Tribune will need the name of the graduating senior. Publication will be the Friday before graduation.

Email the photo to tribnews@hngnews.com, send by U.S. Mail or drop it off at Tribune Office. Contact Roberta Baumann, Waunakee Tribune Managing Editor with questions.

We invite you to become part of a super fun and fast growing sport! No experience necessary. Booster club registration is open now and registration through the school will be opening soon. Don’t miss out! Check out our new website and click on the registration tab.

Waunakee Girls Lacrosse

The Waunakee High School Girls Booster club is sponsoring indoor turf sessions for any interested high school girls at KEVA for pick-up games. These sessions are free and optional, no experience necessary.

• When: Every Thursday now – Mar. 13 from 5:00-6:00 pm. (Please note that there will be no session on January 23 due to finals).

• Where: Keva Sports Center, 8312 Forsythia St., Middleton
• What to bring: Stick, goggles, mouthguard, sneakers (cleats are not necessary), reversible practice jersey, if possible.
• Sign up (for an anticipated headcount): Pre-Season Turf Session Sign Up

Families with an incoming 9th grader are invited to attend a presentation at Thursday, January 23rd at 5:30 PM. Families will learn about freshman year and the different opportunities that are available in high school. This event will be held in the High School Performing Arts Center (PAC). Please contact Sarah Stimart with questions at 608-849-2115, ext 2322.

The Waunakee Community School District Board of Education (BOE) met on Monday, January 13, 2025. You can view the meeting on our District YouTube Board of Education channel. You can access the documents in BoardBook here.

The following key actions were taken to support the ongoing development and operational needs of the Waunakee Community School District:

• Reviewed candidacy paperwork for the spring 2025 election that was turned in by January 7, 2025. The candidates for the spring 2025 election are Jack Heinemann, Heather Murray, Carly Eaton, and Katie Dotzler (Village of Waunakee) and Christopher Sonne (Town of Springfield/Dane). You can visit our district website and find all the information regarding the upcoming Spring Board Election.

• Discussed WASB Resolutions for 2025. These will be discussed at the Delegate Assembly at the State Education Convention in Milwaukee next week. School Board member Dawn Heinrichs will represent the Waunakee Community School District School Board.

• Following recommendations from the Budget Committee, approved a 0.5-1.0 full-time employee (FTE) District Safety and Security Coordinator. This position will be funded through internal budget reallocations.

• Approved a contract with Data Wrangler, which is a subscription software service that works with our utility meters to gather data and results in utility savings for the district. The district appreciates the financial support from Waunakee Utilities/WPPI/Wisconsin Focus on Energy to engage in these energy savings opportunities.

• Following the recommendations of the Facility Committee, several capital maintenance projects across the school district were approved.

• Members of the EUA team provided an update to the Facility Committee last week regarding the work that has taken place since the Spring of 2024 on the high school campus master plan, including an athletic master plan. EUA was present to update the entire School Board with the ideas for the campus. School Board members shared feedback on the work to date and will receive the next report in 3-4 months.

• The district Insurance Committee shared information with the School Board of the work the committee has completed related to the health insurance renewal on July 1, 2025. The process includes a request for proposal/information on a wide variety of options, including self-funding options.

• Sheila Weihert, Arboretum Elementary School Principal and Director of Summer School, gave a report regarding Summer School 2025 with the addition of 3 courses for this summer (Escape Room Challenge and Science of Superheroes at the Intermediate School and Personal Finance/formerly Dollars and Sense at the High School).

• Approved the open enrollment space availability for the 2025-2026 school year. Wisconsin State law requires approval in January, and the School Board approved the space availability based on Board policy class size parameters.

• Approved the WIAA Co-op yearly renewal for gymnastics with Deforest Area School District.

We thank you for your support. The next regular Board of Education meeting will be on Monday, February 10, 2025. Please visit our calendars on the district website to view all upcoming meetings.

Anne Blackburn, Communications & Engagement Specialist

Registration is open for Community Education’s ACT Test Prep class! Students in this class will learn about tools and strategies for taking the ACT. The class will examine the sections of the test and discuss the strategies and timing needed for each section. Registration information along with additional class details can be found on the Community Education page of the district website under ACT Test Prep Class. Seating is limited to the first 50 registrants.

Open the attachment for information on how to register.

We’re excited to introduce a fresh, personalized way to honor your graduating senior! After thoughtful feedback from students and parents, we’re moving away from traditional "Senior Profiles" and offering customizable Senior Ads in this year’s yearbook—a more meaningful way to celebrate your senior’s incredible journey.

With a personalized full-color Senior Ad, you can share a heartfelt tribute featuring your custom message and cherished photos. Let the entire school see how proud you are of your senior!

The yearbook order center makes it easy to create your ad, offering inspiration, message ideas, and creative themes. You’ll be able to preview your design before finalizing your purchase, and customer support is available to help every step of the way.

We offer a variety of sizes and price options to fit every budget—don’t miss this opportunity to make their senior year truly unforgettable!

Order deadline: June 9, 2025

Prices

• Full Page: $400

• 1/2 Page: $200

• 1/4 Page: $100

• 1/8 Page: $50

• 1/16 Page: $30*

Celebrate your senior in a way they’ll cherish forever. Let’s make their yearbook one to remember!
#SeniorAd #ClassOf2025 #YearbookMemories

*Please note: This is not the same as the submission of a senior photo. Senior photos are placed in the yearbook for free and the deadline for yearbook submission was November 30, 2024.

Order your yearbook today:

• Now – March 31, 2025: $70 – All options available!
• April 1 – July 1, 2025: $80 – Limited availability for add-ons.

Link to see if you have purchased a book

Order Now:

• Online: Visit www.yearbookordercenter.com and enter school code 3927. (Preferred Method)
• Cash or Check: Email Mr. Willauer at jeffwillauer@waunakee.k12.wi.us for assistance.

Don’t wait—order your yearbook today to ensure you capture this year’s unforgettable moments! Keep the memories alive—reserve your yearbook today!

Committed to Accessibility: The Waunakee Community School District is dedicated to ensuring all students have access to the yearbook. Financial assistance is available. For more information, contact Teri Reible at 608-849-2000 or reach out to a high school social worker. Language assistance is also available at 608-849-2000, option 2.

Contact: Mr. Jeff Willauer, Waunakee Community High School at jeffwillauer@waunakee.k12.wi.us

ACT: Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | 7:45 am-1:30 pm

• Juniors

• No School (Frosh, Sophomores, Seniors)

Forward Exam: Wed., April 2 & Thurs., April 3 | US History & AP US History Class

• Sophomores

PreACT Secure: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 | 8:00 am-11:25 am

• Freshman

• 3 Hr Late Start (Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors)

• LINK (155 minutes test time + 15 minute break)

PreACT Secure: Thursday, April 17, 2025 | 8:00 am-11:25 am

• Sophomores

• 3 Hr Late Start (Freshmen, Juniors, Seniors)

• LINK (155 minutes test time + 15 minute break)

Please note:

--Students with multi-day testing accommodations will need to be at school for both testing days

--There is no school on April 18 & 21

Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM): WI test window March 17-April 25, 2025

AP Exams: May 5 - 16, 2025 | AM: 7:45 am-12:00 pm | PM: 11:45 am-4:00 pm

• Click here for detailed course listing

Please view the letter regarding the Snow Days 24-25 Procedures. For more information, visit our website School Closings/Weather Updates.

"Snowflakes are one of nature's most fraigle things, but just look what they can do when they stick together." - Vesta Kelly

Taher's goal is to provide high quality, safe and healthy meal options to every student. Students need good nutrition to feed their minds and bodies to enable them to learn during the day.

To view their daily menus, please click on the following link: https://www.waunakee.k12.wi.us/departments/food-services

Email: waunakeehighschool_schooloffice@waunakee.k12.wi.us
Website: https://whs.waunakee.k12.wi.us
Location: 301 Community Drive, Waunakee
Phone: (608) 849-2100