Parent Update

Watertown High School

Parent Update 11.22.24

Greetings!

As we approach the Thanksgiving Break, just a reminder that WUSD students will be off of school the week of November 25. WHS Offices will also be closed the week of November 25. When WHS resumes classes, we will be in the first week of Trimester 2!

We hope everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving Break and we look forward to seeing our students back at WHS on Monday, December 2nd!

End of 1st Trimester: Friday, November 22

Believe it or not today, November 22, marks the end of the 1st trimester at WHS! I want to thank our students, staff, and families for their hard work supporting a great start to the 24-25 school year. Here are a few reminders as WHS quickly transitions from the end of the 1st trimester to the beginning of the 2nd trimester:

Trimester 1 grades are due on Wednesday, December 4, so you should be able to view those "final" grades on Thursday afternoon. Of course, you can always view grades via Skyward for the most up to date information.
Trimester 2 starts when we return from Thanksgiving Break on Monday, December 2nd. Students should view and/or print their schedules via Skyward before Monday. Lunch periods with be shared with students on Monday, December 2nd.
Parents and students are reminded that students may drop a course during the first three days of the trimester with parent and Student Services approval. The deadline to make a schedule change is Wednesday, December 4th. To request a schedule change, please complete the schedule change request form.

WHS Associate Principal Update

As we shared with students at our last Gosling Pep Rally, Mrs. Jennifer Bault has accepted a district level position in another school district and her last day as WHS associate principal will be Friday, November 22. We thank Mrs. Bault for her years of service to our students, staff, and families!

Please join me in welcoming Mrs. Colleen Good as the new WHS Interim Associate Principal! Mrs. Good has served in a variety of roles as an educator over the course of her career, including as a Dean of Students, Special Education Director, WHS Special Education teacher, and WHS Team Leader. Mrs. Good is excited to join the WHS administrative team beginning on December 2!

Mrs. Jennifer Bault

Mrs. Colleen Good

WUSD Bullying/Harassment Resources

As WHS transitions to the 2nd trimester WHS staff will continue to remind students of behavioral expectations to ensure a safe, positive learning environment for all students.

At WHS and in the WUSD, we are committed to ensuring a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for every student. As part of this commitment, we want to remind our community about the definition of bullying and the district’s strict no-tolerance policy regarding such behavior.

What is Bullying?

Bullying is defined as repeated, intentional behavior that causes harm or distress to another individual. It can take many forms, including:

Physical: Hitting, pushing, or other physical aggression.
Verbal: Name-calling, teasing, or inappropriate comments.
Social/Relational: Exclusion, spreading rumors, or damaging relationships.
Cyberbullying: Using technology to harass, intimidate, or embarrass others.

Bullying in any form is unacceptable and will not be tolerated at WUSD schools per WUSD BOE Policy #5362. We take all reports seriously and work diligently to address and resolve incidents in a manner that prioritizes student safety and well-being.

Anonymous Reporting Tool
If your child or someone you know has experienced bullying, please encourage them to speak with a trusted adult or report the issue anonymously using our online bullying reporting tool. This tool is available 24/7 and ensures confidentiality.

👉 Click here to access WUSD’s Anonymous Bullying Reporting Tool

WHS families are also encouraged to reach out directly to the following WHS staff to report instances of bullying/harassment. Additional Resources are also listed here.

Josh Kerr, Principal; kerrj@mywusd.org
Colleen Good, WHS Associate Principal (Last Name M-Z); goodc@mywusd.org
Jen Pennington, WHS Associate Principal (Last Name A-L); penningtonj@mywusd.org
Chad Hayes, WHS Dean of Students; hayesc@mywusd.org
WHS Student Services Department

Together, we can maintain a positive and inclusive learning environment for all students. Thank you for your continued partnership in fostering a safe and supportive community.

Care Solace Coordination Services

Now Offered in the WUSD

The Watertown Unified School District is pleased to announce a partnership with Care Solace – a confidential mental health and substance use coordination service designed to match individuals with a network of more than 560,000 providers and services. Care Solace will help parents/guardians find the right help for their child at the right time, 24/7/365, at no cost. They connect individuals with providers accepting all medical insurances, including Medicaid, Medicare and sliding scale options for those without insurance.

The WUSD joins a growing list of Wisconsin school districts partnering with Care Solace to

connect staff, students and their families with access to care. Care Solace is open to all WUSD

students and their immediate family members, as well as all WUSD staff and their immediate

family members, at no cost. Through this partnership with Care Solace, the WUSD is helping to

alleviate the barriers of time and access. The WUSD staff, parents/guardians and immediate

family members can use this service to find the support they are looking for in a confidential and

timely manner.

Parents/Guardians an access Care Solace in four ways:

Call 888-515-0595 at any time. Multilingual support is available 24/7/365. A dedicated Care Companion will help you every step of the way to research options, secure appointments, and follow up to make sure it is a good fit.
Search anonymously to get matched with an extensive list of care providers at caresolace.com/mywusd.
Scan the QR code
Contact a Student Services staff member in any of the WUSD Schools to submit a referral on your behalf.

Care Solace assists individuals in accessing the following treatment types: psychological

assessments, individual and family therapy, psychiatry, intensive outpatient programs,

hospitalization and stabilization, residential inpatient programs, eating disorders, medical detox,

applied behavioral analysis assessment and treatment, substance use, and more.

No matter what you’re experiencing, there is hope and help. We are confident that our new

partnership with Care Solace will help us continue to build a healthier, more vibrant school

community.

For any questions please contact Director of Special Education and Student Services, Sarah

Oudenhoven at oudenhovens@mywusd.org.

If you have a life-threatening emergency, please call 9-1-1 or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at

9-8-8. Care Solace is not an emergency response service or mental health services provider.

Emergency School Closing Information

Class of 2025 Updates

FAFSA Information

The Department of Education announced all students and families can now access the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Please remember to complete your FSA ID. FSA ID is needed for the student and both parents (if applicable). Make sure all the names and addresses are written exactly the same. It will take you 3-4 days to get a FSA ID. In completing the FSA ID it has a two-step verification, in most cases a computer and a phone work best.

Complete the FAFSA early! Here is why:

Many federal and state financial aid programs have limited funding and may run out if you apply late.
Colleges and universities often have their own deadlines for financial aid applications.
If you apply late, you might receive a smaller financial aid package than if you had applied early.

Direct Admit Reminders

Direct Admit students are required to complete this form if you are considering any of the universities. Create Account and fill in your school email and your personal email.

Filling out the form does not mean you are committed to attending any of the universities.
Technically, you have until May 1, 2025 to accept or reject any of the universities.
A university can only provide a financial aid award letter if you have filled out the form and completed the FAFSA.

Dean of Students Update

Thanks to all the students who showed up for “The Gaggle” T-shirt handout and first “Fan Camp.” Thank you to Gosling Nation for the way you support one another. Let’s keep it rolling this second trimester.

It was an awesome first Trimester with so many cool experiences to be a part of at WHS! Enjoy your Thanksgiving break, rest up and recharge and come back ready to start Trimester two with a fresh start. So many opportunities and great moments are missed in life because of just not showing up. Please do your best to be here and be present. WHS is a better place when you are here!

ASVAB Testing (Optional)

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) administration will occur at Watertown High School, on Monday, December 9th, at 9:00am. Classroom location to be determined.

Please complete this form to participate in the ASVAB. After completing the form, you will receive a permission slip that must be returned to participate.

Completing the ASVAB provides students valuable information on vocational aptitudes and career interests and is the assessment used to determine eligibility for specific military occupations. The ASVAB is free and available to sophomores, juniors and seniors.

ASVAB Study Guide

If you have questions, please email your school counselor.

Student Services - Junior Meetings

You are cordially invited to your child’s Class of 2026 Junior Meeting. Watertown High School’s Junior Meetings will run between November 2024 and February 2025.

The junior meeting will include a review of your child’s strengths, interests, talents, abilities, and academic performance. Our meeting will discuss post-secondary goals, how to achieve them and discuss the next steps towards those goals. Your involvement in this conference is very important for the success of your child’s ongoing education and preparation for the future.

Parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to participate in person or virtually. Please notify us if you need to attend virtually, so we are prepared to open a link. If you are unable to attend, please know that we will share a summary of our discussion with students and families after each meeting.

We look forward to meeting with you and if you need anything, please do not hesitate to reach out with questions.

Junior Conference Action Plan

Junior Conference Preview

Please click on the name of your child’s assigned school counselor below to schedule a conference; include your child’s first AND last name in the appointment title. If Spanish translation services are needed, please put “SP” in your calendar reservation with your child’s first and last name.

Students Last Name A-He:

Amy True , WHS Counselor
truea@mywusd.org

Students Last Name Hi-Ph:

Erikka Olson, WHS Counselor
olsone@mywusd.org

Students Last Name Pi-Z:

Avery Harris , WHS Counselor
harrisa@mywusd.org

Senior Privileges

Senior students who qualified for trimester 1 senior privileges can keep those privileges until Friday, December 13. Trimester 2 senior privileges will start on Monday, December 16. Senior students will need a new senior privilege card for Trimester 2.