December 2024

From all of us in the D.C. Everest Senior High community, we wish you a healthy and happy holiday season and best wishes for a Happy New Year!

Hey Seniors! Looking for a great way to commemorate your graduation? FBLA is selling personalized ornaments for only $10. The ornaments are made of polished acrylic engraved with the Everest tree and your name along with "Class of 2025". These ornaments could be hung in your car, used as a keychain, or hung on a Christmas tree for years to come. Ornaments will come with a ribbon for tying. Deadline for ordering to get before break is Friday, December 13, 2024 and will be given to students before break.

Link to order: https://gofan.co/event/2235926

Senior ads for the yearbook are available to purchase for $60 per 1/6 page. Letters with ordering details and forms were sent by mail and e-mail in October to all senior parents. Deadline for submission is December 20, 2024. E-mail srh-yearbook@dce.k12.wi.us with any questions.

The D.C. Everest DECA Chapter is collecting order forms for a Class of 2025 T-shirt with the goal of forming connections within the graduating class and providing something to remember after graduation. Senior T-shirt order forms are due by Friday, December 20, 2024. Shirts cost $15. We are accepting cash, checks (payable to D.C. Everest), card payments in the Everest Café, and online payments through dceverestoutfitters.com.

There will be a very important senior meeting on Tuesday, January 7th, during ELT (2:10-2:35 p.m) in the SH Theater. Jostens will be here to hand out packets and talk about ordering graduation caps, gowns, tassels, announcements, etc. Jostens will then return on Tuesday, January 14th from 10:30-3 p.m. to take orders.

The graduation caps and gowns are the same from year to year. A current graduating year tassel (2025) would need to be purchased if you have an older sibling or friend to borrow from.

Senior Ball will be held February 22, 2025, from 7-10 p.m. at the Rothschild Pavillion. Tickets will go on sale the week before the ball. Students must be a senior at D.C. Everest High School to purchase tickets.

Yearbooks ordered by January 17, 2025 at 3 p.m. are $60. Yearbooks can be purchased on Infinite Campus under “Optional Fees” or in person at the Senior High school main office using a credit card, check, or cash. Parents are asked to please let your student know if you paid for one and to pick it up in May. The price will increase to $75 after 3 p.m. on January 17, 2025 and cannot be purchased until yearbook distribution in May on a first come, first serve basis with limited supply. Infinite Campus can be checked at anytime under Fees to see if one has been purchased.

The D.C. Everest School Board voted in November to transition to a weighted grading system beginning with the 2025-2026 school year for all students in grades 9-12. More and more students each year have expressed concerns about enrolling in our more rigorous courses — Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment — because they fear that taking academically challenging courses will hurt their cumulative grade point average. By transitioning to a weighted grading system, we can more accurately reflect our students’ academic achievements and encourage students to challenge themselves with advanced coursework without fearing it will negatively impact their cumulative GPA.

This decision also was spurred by the passage of Act 95 (known as the Wisconsin Guarantee) in February 2024, which now requires school districts to determine the top 10% and 5% of their classes — using only a student’s GPA — at the end of their junior year. Students in the top 5% are guaranteed admission to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and those in the 10% are guaranteed admission to all of the other Universities of Wisconsin. As a result of this change our student services department received numerous requests from juniors and sophomores who wanted to change their schedule and remove the more rigorous courses in order to maintain a higher GPA. Unfortunately, the new law coupled with our non-weighted grading system led many students to choose less rigorous classes in an effort to “protect” their GPA rather than challenging themselves in advanced courses they were prepared for.

D.C. Everest has historically utilized the Laude system as a separate communication tool to display the level of rigor a student was taking while in high school. Unfortunately, the Act 95 law clearly states the only indicator a school may report is a student’s cumulative GPA — not the level of academic rigor that went into the GPA.

To address this concern, D.C. Everest Senior High faculty began exploring ways to more accurately reflect the academic effort and achievement of students enrolled in challenging coursework. Over the past several months, the District has engaged students, parents, and the DCE School Board in discussions about the best approach, resulting in significant support for adopting a weighted grading system.

Beginning in the Fall of 2025-26, the new weighted grading system will be on a 5.0 scale, and will assign students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Enrollment (DE) with an additional 1.0 GPA added to their grade, as long as that grade is a CD or better. Students enrolled in an honors course or a course where the student earns an industry recognized certification will receive a .5 GPA boost. These courses provide students with rigorous learning experiences as well as skills that prepare them for college and career pathways.

The District will retain its current Laude system to recognize high-achieving students at graduation. This system will continue to celebrate student success without limiting the recognition to a set percentage of the class, ensuring that more students have the opportunity to earn this prestigious honor.

In the coming months, the District will continue to engage with students, parents, and the broader community to ensure a smooth transition to the new grading system. Parents and students will receive additional information and resources to help them make informed decisions when selecting courses for the 2025-2026 school year.

National Honor Society (NHS) is an organization that promotes recognition for students who reflect outstanding accomplishments in the areas of

• Scholarship
• Character
• Leadership
• Service

D.C. Everest Senior High School sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a 3.5 or higher cumulative grade point average after semester 1 are eligible to be considered for membership for the upcoming school year. In addition to the scholarship requirement, students must show evidence of leadership, service and good character.

Students who have met the scholarship requirement as of the end of semester 1 of 2023-2024 school year, receive a letter in the mail and an email inviting them to apply for membership consideration in the Spring of 2024. An anonymous faculty selection committee reviewed all applications and then made a final decision with letters sent communicating a student’s status of application to NHS.

The induction ceremony was held on October 28, 2024 with 90 new inductees. Congratulations to our National Honor Society 2024!

The state mandated 2nd Friday count is on January 10, 2025 during an altered a.m. 7 minute Advisory after period 2. It is very important that students be in attendance if at all possible. The altered schedule is below.

The senior high semester 1 final exam schedules are below. Please note that students are allowed to leave after their last exam. The IMC and commons will be available for those who ride the bus home at 2:40 p.m. as buses run at their normal times. Also, Friday is a late start with period 1 exam beginning at 8 a.m. Lunch will be offered both days. Links: Final Exams 1/16/25 Thursday and Final Exams 1/17/25 Friday

The Wisconsin Valley Conference uses GoFan for online ticketing. Tickets for sporting events need to be pre-purchased online using this link prior to each event: https://gofan.co/app/school/WI25026.

We are also offering the following WVC Season Passes through GoFan:

• Adult WVC Pass - $90 – Good for one ADULT ticket for each regular season HOME & AWAY game within the WVC schools during the 2024-2025 school year. **This pass is not eligible for away non-conference events or WIAA post-season events.

• Family of 4 WVC Pass - $250 – Good for one ticket for each member (up to four) to each regular season HOME & AWAY game within the WVC schools during the 2024-2025 school year. **This pass is not eligible for away non-conference events or WIAA post-season events.

• High School Student WVC Pass - $25 – Good for one HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ticket for each regular season AWAY game within the WVC schools during the 2024-2025 school year. **This pass is not eligible for away non-conference events or WIAA post-season events. ID may be required at the gate.

To purchase any of the above passes or other season passes, please visit: https://gofan.co/event/1017989?schoolId=WI25026

Student photo ID cards serve as the activity pass for all HOME athletic, drama, and musical events (excluding the Variety Show, dances, WIAA playoff games, and tournaments). It also serves as a library card to check out books and other reference materials and to enter the building during school hours. If lost, the replacement cost is $9 paid in the main office. Students are expected to carry their ID card at all times. Students who lost their ID may purchase a new one in the main office for $9.

Fees vary by activity and are based on the overall costs of the school programs. Options for fee waivers or payment schedules are available and can be arranged by contacting the athletic director.

All quarter and semester report cards will be exclusively available on the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. This digital approach allows for convenient and efficient access to your child's academic progress.

If you need access to the Parent Portal or would like to request paper copies of report cards please email Melissa Barwick, Student Services Secretary, at mbarwick@dce.k12.wi.us. In your email, please provide child's name and your request.

Should you have any specific questions or concerns regarding your child's grades, we encourage you to reach out directly to the respective teacher. They will be more than happy to assist you and provide guidance on your child's academic performance.

Looking for a copy of your transcript? Please request official transcripts through Parchment. Students must request a transcript for each college they are applying to at a cost of $4.40/transcript. Counselors do NOT send transcripts on behalf of students. Unofficial transcripts are available in Infinite Campus under documents.

How do I set up an account?

• Visit Parchment https://www.parchment.com/u/registration/26088/account
• Use non-school email address
• D.C. Everest does not use school codes
• Follow steps in Parchment

If students have taken college credit while in high school through a technical or UW college and need to send those transcripts, students will need to request those transcripts directly from that school using the college website.

• Direct Admit Wisconsin https://www.wisconsin.edu/direct-admissions/
• UW application https://apply.wisconsin.edu/homepage (best when applying to any UW College)
• COMMON APP https://www.commonapp.org/ (best when applying to colleges outside the state or private)
• SEND EDU https://sendedu.org/ (used mostly with private colleges)
• INSTITUTION SPECIFIC APPLICATION (found on institution web page)
• WI Technical Colleges https://www.wistechcolleges.org/apply

We strongly recommend that you apply with an email that is not affiliated with your high school and that you check often. This will ensure that you have continued access to your email account after graduation from high school.

Seniors are encouraged to meet with their school counselor to discuss future plans.

Parents are welcome to attend with their student!

Here are some Tips:

FAFSA: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with your parent/guardian. FAFSA went live on December 1, 2024.

• Step #1: Student and Parent/Guardian need to create an FSA ID. Go to studentaid.gov.

• Step #2: Complete FAFSA at studentaid.gov. The FAFSA can give aid in the forms of loans, grants, and/or work study.

Need help completing the FAFSA? Go to College Goal Wisconsin on January 21 at NorthCentral Technical College, attend a virtual date, or contact the Financial Aid Office at the college your student plans to attend.

Seniors attending a technical college or university are welcome to attend a FAFSA 101 workshop during advisory on Wednesday, December 18 in the auditorium.

Scholarships: Apply for as many scholarships as possible. CLICK HERE for a cumulative list of local/regional scholarships or go to:

• Student Services Canvas Page

• College and Career Ready

• Scholarships

Scholarships can generally be divided into 3 sources:

1. Directly from the college: Visit the school site of each post-secondary school you are applying to. Scholarships may be available based on financial need, academic achievement, or other merit related criteria. Be aware of deadlines and know that some of these scholarships require completion of the FAFSA.

2. National/Statewide sites or organizations: This includes any national/state business or organization that sends their scholarship to DCE Senior High. These scholarships are “rolling” throughout the year which means they are sent to us at various times of the year between September and June.

3. DCE Senior High School Local Scholarship Program: These scholarships are from local families, businesses and organizations and are available to any senior students attending college. Applicants must physically attend D.C. Everest Senior High School full time (including mid-year graduates of DCE SH). Informational announcements and emails will be sent to all senior full-time students in the second semester about these scholarships

Employment: Start a college savings account by working a part-time job during the school year, in the summer, and once college starts.

YA week was celebrated the week of November 17-23 and we would like to celebrate all of our YA’s and our business partners. We have more than 50 YA’s at D.C. Senior High at more than 30 employers. Hats off to these students for learning valuable learning inside and outside of the classroom.

There are tons of scholarship opportunities available right now! Students can access scholarships by clicking here or by clicking on scholarships under quick links on the College and Career Readiness Canvas page. Please know that only students with a DCE email address can access the scholarship folders. Please be sure to look at the weekly canvas announcement to see scholarships that are due soon.

New this year is a Career and College Center located in room 213. Visit this room for job postings, volunteer information, upcoming college/military visits, scholarship information, and job readiness help.

Marathon County has an array of supportive resources for families. United Way 211 informational and referral source is a great place to begin for many needs. Groceries, parenting support, counseling, housing- 211 can help find solutions. https://www.unitedwaymc.org/get-help/.

DCE High School operates a food and basic needs pantry. The pantry is available to all students and families at any time. The pantry provides non-perishable food for families to assist with supplemental nourishment at home and basic hygiene supplies for daily use. The pantry is available for emergency needs or weekly distribution. The school also has clothing, shoes, and winter apparel as needed.

Please reach out to School Social Worker, Cristin Czerwonka at 715-359-6561 ext. 4200 or your students' counselor for further information or assistance.

PLEASE see future newsletters for possible changes or the senior high webpage.

DECEMBER - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

13 - "Class of 2025" Ornament order deadline

20 - Senior Yearbook Ads due

20 - Senior T-shirt orders due

20 - Last Day prior to Winter Break

23-1 - NO SCHOOL, Winter Break

JANUARY- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

2 - First day back from Winter Break

7 - Jostens meet with ALL SENIORS on Graduation caps, gowns, announcements, etc. during ELT, SH Theater

10 - 2nd Friday Count, VERY important students are in attendance, see above

14 - Jostens returns to take orders on Graduation caps, gowns, announcements, etc., 10:30-3 p.m. only

16-17 - Semester 1 final exams, shortened/altered time schedules above

17 - Quarter 2/Semester 1 Ends

17 - Purchase Yearbooks for $60 through 3 p.m., goes up to $75 in May at distribution, first come first serve basis

20 - NO SCHOOL

21 - Quarter 3 Begins

FEBRUARY- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

20 - Independent Learning Day for Students

21 - NO SCHOOL

22 - Senior Ball, Rothschild Pavilion, 7-10 p.m.

MARCH- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

3 - Spring Sports Parent/Coach Meeting

3 - Senior speaker audition signup begins in the main office

6 & 10 - Parent-Teacher Conferences, 3-6 p.m. (one parent per student will be emailed to sign up)

11 - Junior ACT Plus Writing Test, NO School for 10th & 12th

14 - Senior Speaker audition signup deadline in main office

20 - Quarter 3 Ends, Last Day prior to Spring Break

21-28 - NO SCHOOL, Spring Break

31 - First day back from Spring Break & 4th Quarter Begins

APRIL- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

TBD - Sophomore Forward Testing

TBD - Sophomore Pre-ACT Testing, NO School for 11th & 12th

2 & 3 - Senior Speaker auditions by signup

10-13 - Musical “All Shook Up” (grades 8-12)

18 - NO SCHOOL

26 - Junior Prom, Central WI Convention Expo, 7:30-11 p.m.

30 - Mandatory Senior Meeting on Graduation during Advisory

MAY- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

12 - All senior fines and fees must be paid to walk graduation

14 - Academic Awards Night, SH Theater (Subject to Change)

18 - Athletic Awards Night, SH Theater (Subject to Change)

23 - Last Day for Seniors

26 - NO SCHOOL, Memorial Day

28 - Graduation Ceremony, Stiehm Stadium

JUNE- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

4-5 - Semester 2 Final Exams for Sophomores & Juniors

5 - Last Day of School, Quarter 4/Semester 2 Ends

6 - Snow Day makeup or NO SCHOOL

TBD - Summer School Begins

Phone (715) 359-6561

• Press 1 for the Attendance Office
• Press 2 for the Health Office
• Press 3 for Guidance and Student Services
• Press 4 for Athletics
• Press 5 for Food Service

Office Staff

Mike Raether - Principal - Ext. 4022

Dallas Rennie - Assistant Principal - Ext. 4237

Luke Stachovak - Assistant Principal - Ext. 4240

Michael Krohn – Dean of Students – Ext. 4201

Mike Mathies - Athletic Director - Ext. 4400

Tami Mlodik - School Psychologist - Ext. 4328

Dawn Seehafer - Principal's Secretary - Ext. 4021

Nikki Bolen - Athletic Secretary - Ext. 4236

Melissa Barwick - Student Services Secretary - Ext. 4251

Carla Kietlinski - Attendance Secretary - Ext. 4247

Karry Salber - Front Office Secretary - Ext. 4233

Shebra Elliot - Front Office & Department Chair Secretary - Ext. 4231

Jacki Gburek - Health Assistant - Ext. 4245

Heidi Bartlett - Administrative & Community Partnership Secretary - Ext. 4327

Discrimination

The D.C. Everest Area School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, sex, (including pregnancy, gender status, change of sex or gender identity), or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability or any basis protected by state or federal laws. The following staff are designated to receive inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Gina Lehman, Director of Student Services, gilehman@dce.k12.wi.us, or Sarah Trimner, Director of Talent and Culture, strimner@dce.k12.wi.us, both are located at 6100 Alderson Street, Weston, WI 54476 and (715) 359-4221.