Congratulations to Watertown High School seniors Jacob Johnson and Addison Schuch for being named Herb Kohl Educational Foundation award recipients!
The Herb Kohl Educational Foundation recently announced 304 Wisconsin students, teachers, and administrators are the recipients of the organization’s 2024 Student Excellence and Initiative, Teacher Fellowship and Principal Leadership awards. Student Excellence and Initiative Scholarships of $10,000 will be awarded to 187 graduating high school students who have demonstrated academic excellence and initiative and have displayed a broad range of activity and leadership in their community.
The Kohl Foundation award program was established by Herb Kohl, former U.S. senator, philanthropist, and businessman who died December 27, 2023. Since 1990, the foundation has awarded nearly $38 million to Wisconsin educators, principals, students, and schools.
WHS Art Student Rae Heier was selected as the Grand Prize Best in Show award winner at this year’s State Youth Art Month exhibit for her painting “All Trails Lead to You.” The show was held at East Towne Mall last month and included hundreds of artworks that were selected to advance from regional exhibits around the state. Heier’s painting was chosen for the top honor by a panel of judges from the Wisconsin Art Education Association. Heier was recognized during the awards ceremony along with art teacher Dave Pawl, who submitted her work. Both received prizes from Blick Art Materials, sponsor of the award. Congratulations to Rae and Mr. Pawl!
The Watertown Unified School District Board of Education has hired Plunkett Raysich Architects (PRA) of Milwaukee to conduct a facilities master planning study to determine the current and future needs of public school buildings in Watertown. Representatives from PRA were in Watertown on Friday to walk both Schurz Elementary School and Watertown High School with district staff. Key areas that will be studied include the condition of roofing, mechanicals, windows, building safety – both interior and perimeter, internal building layout, and best practices for evolving classroom space needs.
The Visual Arts Classic Team from Watertown High School competed in State at UW Madison last month and took 3rd Place out of 62 teams. The team brought home 14 Gold medals in individual art making categories and also took 3rd Place in Team Art History Quiz Bowl. Team members include Evan Rodriguez, Brylnee Simon, Dayanara Sanchez, Annie Van der Linden, Ava Lueck, Payton West, Ryley Wolfe, Danielle Krahn, Rae Heier, Kaylee Roberts, Lyle VanGundy, Olivia Sorenson, Isaac Van Buren, and Onyx Elkins. Congratulations! #WatertownWay
Webster PTO Mtg
The WHS Academic Decathlon team recently competed in the Wisconsin Academic Decathlon State Championships in Green Bay. Our Gosling decathletes won the WIAD Division I State Championships for a remarkable sixth time in program history, bringing home 13 team and individual medals!
The championship team consists of William Wrolstad, Sophie Sullivan, Rae Heier, Abby Bartz, Amelia Boer, Braden Holleman, Emily Page, Gavin Stivarius, Bradley Vick, John Klinger, Alex Helmke, and Erin Peterson.
Way to go, Goslings!
Today is Paraprofessional Appreciation Day! Thank you to the many amazing paraprofessionals working within the Watertown Unified School District for all they do for our students and teachers!
Webster Elementary School 4th graders recently enjoyed a visit from former Webster Wildcat and current college student, Luis Avila Vette. Luis shared his experience and knowledge of farming with the class. He talked with the students about the history of agriculture, farm challenges, animals, crops, and equipment. He also shared many facts and answered questions from the curious students.
Third graders at Webster School participated in a March Madness tournament this month! Students completed daily multiplication fact timed tests and a champion was named from each homeroom. On Friday, the three classroom champions competed in a final round and Daeshawn Holmes was named the 2024 Champion, winning his own NCAA basketball signed by the entire third grade class. Runners up were Gavin Stukenberg and Sophia Helser. Also awarded were the most improved players during the tournament: Harper Dayton, Jack Heller, and Chase Williams. All of our #watertownway third graders showed growth in multiplication facts this month, and we are proud! Way to go, Wildcats! 100% Every Day!
The 4th and 5th graders from the district had fun at Skate Express for the afternoon on Friday after doing an amazing job in their choir concert on Thursday evening!
The WUSD Student Services team recently toured the newly-opened Matz Center located on Milford Street in Watertown. The Matz Center is a youth crisis stabilization facility for children aged 10-17 in need of residential short-term mental health programming in a supportive and structured environment. During the tour, the student services team held a collaborative discussion regarding youth mental health and resources for parents and guardians. In addition, they discussed the different responsibilities of student service educators, mental health professionals, and parents/guardians in meeting the needs of children.
On Tuesday, March 12th, WUSD hosted the first ever Multilingual Family Night. District EL staff partnered with the Watertown Chamber of Commerce to put on an event at the Watertown Public Library that connected multilingual families to community businesses and resources. Over 100 people attended the event along with 20 businesses and the Watertown Police and Fire Department. Members of the National Spanish Honor Society also participated and created art projects with the children in correlation with the story "The Dot." Both Watertown families and businesses felt that it was a wonderful opportunity to connect and strengthen relationships within the community.
Candidates running for a seat on the Watertown Unified School District Board of Education will have an opportunity to introduce themselves to the community at the Board’s next regular meeting on Monday, March 18, at 6 p.m. at the Educational Services Center, 111 Dodge St.
Presently, there are five candidates seeking three open seats on the board. The candidates include Julie Janowak, Tina Johnson (I), Dan Voeltner, Charity Chandler, and Samuel Ouweneel. Each candidate will be given three minutes toward the start of the Board meeting for introductions. The election will take place on Tuesday, April 2.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jarred Burke said he appreciates the willingness of Watertown area residents to run for a seat on the school board. He said the District is presently facing, and will continue to face, complex issues related to funding, staffing and enrollment.
“The Administration and Board are working hard to set the direction and vision of the district,” said Burke. “We are excited for the community to be able to learn more about the candidates’ skills and the new ideas they could bring to the table as board members.”
For those who cannot attend the board meeting in person, it may be viewed via Zoom by clicking the following link: https://mywusd-org.zoom.us/j/93338943075?pwd=OXViSDcyTGFxZGRhRHRHa0RpMGt2UT09
Webster PTO Meeting
