As we round the corner into October be sure to check on the updates below to stay in the loop of important information, key dates, and ways to engage with the WHS learning community.

A special thank you to our students, families, community, and staff who made last week’s Homecoming festivities incredible! It was a fantastic week filled with #goslingpride and always a memorable one for our entire community!

WHS will be hosting in person Parent Teacher Conferences on Tuesday, October 22 from 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm in WHS classrooms. Parents can register for Parent Teacher Conferences via Skyward Family Access starting on Monday, October 14 until Monday, October 21 at 11:59 pm.

With that in mind, families are welcome to call or email WHS teachers at any time. If parents or guardians would like to have a face to face meeting with teachers, but can't attend conferences, be sure to schedule an appointment with the teacher for a different time. Teacher contact information can be found on the WHS website staff directory.

If you have any questions, please contact the WHS Administration at any time. We look forward to partnering with families to ensure all of our students find success at WHS!

Was an awesome homecoming week with so much Watertown Pride, great job by all!

A few weekly reminders for students:

• Check your school email daily.

• If you are leaving early during the school day, please make sure to check out with Ms. Vian before exiting through the front doors. Failure to do so will result in a consequence.

• Please do your best to keep our restrooms and commons area clean. Do the right thing and clean up after yourself.

• Don't forget to bring your student ID to the athletic events to gain free entry. You must pay to enter if you don't have your ID card with you.

• Students will NOT be allowed to go to their vehicles during the school day, so encourage your student to bring all of their belongings into the building with them.

Any student athlete, parents and the public are all invited to a special presentation on Sunday, October 13th by Mark Horbinski, founder of Won80. Please join us this Sunday, at 4:00 pm in the Watertown High School Commons.

Here is a little bit of an overview: Mark has served as a teacher, coach, and an official in Wisconsin for over 30 years. He has coached numerous sports including track and field, cross country, football, and basketball at the youth, middle, and high school levels. Mark is very passionate about sportsmanship and the role it plays in athletics and character development.

In 2015 he created a grassroots movement called WON80 with a mission to lead a return to sportsmanship through awareness, education, and inspiration. WON80 encourages the athlete to focus on their own behaviors and actions which will in turn allow them to positively impact their teammates, teams, schools, and communities. To read more about Mark's mission and his passion, please visit: https://www.won80.org/

Students who had their picture taken on September 5 & 6 can pick up their picture proof in the main office for families to order pictures through Network Photography.

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.

Are you looking for a special gift for your WHS student for the holidays, their birthday or even graduation? Or even for yourself to support your Watertown Goslings on the upcoming chilly nights?Our specially designed Gosling NubaySoft blankets make a GREAT gift and are super soft, durable and very large!

Don't delay as there are only 20 blankets available for purchase! Blankets can be purchased for $70 by paying the Watertown High School bookkeeper, located at the front entrance of the high school. Check, Cash, and Credit Card accepted (small service fee applies). Or pay online here: https://watertownusd.revtrak.net/whs-gosling-blankets/

Direct Admit Seniors! You have received your direct admit offers, now what?

• Students should complete the Direct Admit form via the UW Admissions Pathway Portal as soon as possible. Create an account (use your personal email) and follow the steps. The form must be submitted no later than May 1, 2025. After May 1, 2025 the direct admit offer(s) will expire and the student will need to complete a traditional admission application.
• View the next steps checklist
  
• Reminder: Completion of the Direct Admit Form is not a formal commitment to attend a UW. This form connects students with the UW university of universities they are interested in attending and will allow universities to communicate critical and important next steps to students.
• Students who need help with account creation or completion of the Direct Admit form may contact the Go Wisconsin team for assistance.
• Students, please reach out to Student Services if you have any questions or concerns.

The Watertown Unified School District is participating in a the state program called Direct Admit Wisconsin. Direct Admit Wisconsin is designed to provide a place for all Wisconsin high school students to access a world-class public education by proactively offering them admission to the Universities of Wisconsin. Families will need to opt-in to this program in Skyward at a later point in the school yaer.

Based on a review of your student’s 11th grade transcript (grade point average, math coursework, progression towards graduation), you and your student will receive an email in July, 2025 indicating which UWs are providing them direct admission, and the next steps they are to take in order to learn more about enrolling within the Universities of Wisconsin. Juniors will be presented with Direct Admit Wisconsin information at a later date during homeroom time.

There are 10 UWs participating in Direct Admit Wisconsin for Fall 2026. They are UW-Green Bay, UW-Milwaukee, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Parkside, UW-Platteville, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Stout, UW-Superior and UW-Whitewater. For further information on Direct Admit Wisconsin will be available later in the school year.

The newly released employment projections for 2023-33 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released there are 832 different occupations across a variety of industries. The projections show that CTE occupations are among both the fastest-growing jobs and the jobs with the most expected openings. Besides the heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, we have Youth Apprenticeships for each occupation listed below.

Fastest-growing jobs (Growth rate projected, 2023-33)

• Wind turbine service technicians: 60%
• Solar photovoltaic installers: 48%
• Physical therapist assistants: 25%
• Occupational therapy assistants: 22%

Most new jobs (Number of new jobs projected, 2023-33)

• Medical assistants: 118,000
• Construction workers: 115,400
• Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers: 102,000
• Electricians: 84,300
  
  

In addition to the new employment projections, the BLS is now reporting on the most relevant skills for occupations, including cross-cutting and employability skills.

Ms. Mary Gordon is joining the WHS staff as a Learning Strategist. She earned her BFA from Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, her master's degree from Alverno College and is working on her post-graduate work at Marquette University. Her teaching experience has been at the college-level design-creative problem solving, K12 reading-writing interventions, middle-high school alternative education and special education. She has other job experience in freelance design and college-level instruction.

Students in FFA and Agriculture classes hosted a day on the farm for elementary students this week. The event was a great success!

• German Exchange Partners visit WHS: October 12 - 20
  
• AP Exam Fee Deadline: Tuesday, October 15
• Parent Teacher Conferences: Tuesday, October 22 from 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
• No School: October 24 & 25
• Senior Pictures Due: Friday, November 1

WUSD Newsletter: The District Download

Order a 24-25 Yearbook

WHS Student Handbook: English

WHS Student Handbook: Spanish

Gosling Flight Feather Nomination Form

WHS Main Line: 920-262-7500

• Press 1 for Attendance Office
• Press 2 for Student Services/Requesting a Transcript
• Press 3 for Main Office (Administration/Athletics)
• Press 4 for Bookkeeping Office
• Press 5 for Nutrition Services
• Press 6 for WHS Health Room
  
  

WHS Attendance: 920-262-7537

• Please leave a message if no answer as messages are continually checked in the Attendance Office.

WHS Student Services: 920-262-7550

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Watertown Unified School District on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WatertownUnifiedSD

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