Kimberly High School September 2025

Welcome back Papermakers!

I hope you've all had a wonderful summer. As we look forward to having students back in the building next week, I want to share some exciting news. Kimberly High School has been once again named to the U.S. News & World Report's list of "America's Best High Schools." This is a testament to the incredible dedication of our students and staff.

Our well-deserved recognition is a direct result of our focus on student growth. As basketball coach Pat Riley once said, "Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better." I shared this quote with our staff to kick off the school year because it perfectly captures our focus. Our goal is to help every student improve by at least two points in each subject area every year on the PreACT Secure and ACT. We value every student's story and are committed to helping them get better, together, each and every day.

In addition to academic growth, the safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority. We will continue our diligent efforts to ensure that every student feels secure, welcomed, and represented at KHS. A key part of this is creating a learning environment that is free of drugs and alcohol. I'm proud to announce that over 550 students have already signed up for PromiseMakers, a group of students and families committed to remaining free of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and all vape products. We look forward to seeing that number continue to grow.

Thinking back on our journey and looking ahead to the future, I am filled with excitement. As I begin my eighth year as principal of KHS and my 20th in education, the energy and excitement of a new school year never gets old. To our new families, welcome! You are joining a school community that prides itself on a commitment to excellence. I'm grateful to be a Papermaker and part of a community that cares so much.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have. Thank you for all you do, and I am excited for the year ahead.

With great Papermaker Pride,

Mrs. DePeau

Principal

September:

First Day Schedule - September 2

School will start with our normal bell schedule (see schedule to the right), with first block beginning at 7:40 a.m. After first block, all students will report to their Flex adviser to complete training for our Flex program. The student’s Flex adviser name and room number can be found on their schedule.

Just like any other class, Flex Time is instructional time, and attendance is required.

2 - First day of school

2 - Network Photography at KHS until approximately 11:00 am to take pictures of students unable to make Picture Days

26 - Early release

October:

4 - Homecoming Dance

13 - Picture Retake Day

15 - Parent Teacher Conferences 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

30 & 31 - No School

Each year the Kimberly Area School District must inform all families and staff of certain

information. The updated Public Notices document can be found on our website at

https://www.kimberly.k12.wi.us/departments/pupil-services/notices

If you need a printed copy, you can request one from any school office or the District

Administration Office.

Please see this notice of the Public Nature of School Events.

Families of Bus Riders – If your child(ren) will ride the bus at any time during the 2025-26 school year, please review the Transportation Handbook to ensure you’re familiar with our safety rules and expectations. After reviewing, complete and sign a copy of the agreement on the last page for each student and return it to their school’s secretary no later than 9/20/2025. Thank you for helping us keep transportation safe and respectful for everyone.

Infinite Campus announced it is switching payment processors for all online payment functions in the Campus Portal. This will have no impact on how payments are processed, however you will need to update the following:

Add Payment Method(s):

• Your information will NOT automatically be transferred over to ensure the security and confidentiality of your data.

• Add credit/debit card information or bank accounts.

• To validate bank account information there will be two options:

1. Automatic Validation - You’ll be prompted to log into your bank to validate your account.
2. Manual Validation – 24-48 hour manual confirmation process before the account will be activated.

• If you need assistance adding payment methods, please follow these instructions.
  
  

Update Recurring Payments:

• To ensure the security and confidentiality of your data, your recurring payments will NOT be transferred.
• Add any recurring payments you previously had set up and use the new payment methods you created.
• If you need assistance with recurring payments, please view these instructions.

There are no other changes in the way you will experience online payments.

There also are no longer any fees associated with credit card payments through Infinite Campus.

August 29, 2025

Dear Kimberly High School Parent or Guardian,

This spring all public school students will once again participate in state assessments as outlined in the Wisconsin Student Assessment System (WSAS). The WSAS is a statewide program that has outlined required assessments in core academic areas. State assessments are required by both State (Wis. Stat. § 118.30) and Federal ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) Law. Required testing at the high school level includes the following:

• Pre ACT Secure - grades nine and ten

• Wisconsin Forward - grade ten

• ACT Plus Writing - grade eleven

Pre ACT Secure is an online test that covers the subjects of English, reading, mathematics, and science and is aligned to the ACT that is taken during a student’s 11th grade year, and it will include a predicted score for the ACT exam. Grades 9 and 10 will complete PreACT Secure testing on March 17th (grades 11 and 12 will not report on this day). Sophomores will also take the Wisconsin Forward Exam, a social studies test, that will be administered by computer as well. This assessment will be completed within our Career Planning schedule on April 7th, and none of the other grades will be impacted.

Juniors in the state of Wisconsin are required to take the ACT assessment. This year, that test will be held on March 10th at KHS. Juniors will be the only class to report on March 10th. Grades 9,10, and 12 will not report on that day.

The following page has each of these state testing dates listed for your convenience as well as additional testing that is conducted. Additional testing for grades 9 and 10 involves MAP testing, and this occurs within students’ English and math classes. For grade 11, students will soon be taking a practice test for the ACT. This will occur during the morning of September 26th within our half day schedule, and no other grade levels will be impacted. Please note these dates and do your best to avoid them for scheduled absences for your student.

Additional information about these assessments will be shared as the dates get closer. If you have questions about any of our assessments for the year, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Kaaren Weyers

Kimberly High School

Assistant Principal

kweyers@kimberly.k12.wi.us

920.423.4152

Please see these documents for important dates and information

KHS Important Testing Dates at a Glance

NWEA MAP Measures of Academic Progress Information Sheet

The dates for the online store this school year are as follows:

• Homecoming: September 1-10, pick up beginning September 29
• Holiday: November 10-24, pick up beginning December 15
• Spring: March 1-15, pick up beginning April 15

Kimberly Online store

When dropping students off at the start of the day in the font of the school or picking them up in the front of the school at the end of the day please remember the following:

• Please don’t utilize the left lane to pick up or drop off students. This will help with backups within the parking lot and create a safer environment.

• Please be patient as a large number of new drivers with limited driving experience are entering and leaving the parking lot.

• A reminder from the Outagamie County Sheriff's office - Do not pick up/drop off your children on the residential streets of Combined Locks before of after school.

The deadline for submitting your senior picture for the yearbook is October 31, 2025. You can use this QR code to submit your senior picture. Please see this Senior Class Graduation & Yearbook Information document for more detailed information regarding senior photos and graduation celebration.

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Kelly Jansen at kjansen@kimberly.k12.wi.us or Carrie Raminger at craminger@kimberly.k12.wi.us

Updates from Student Services

UPCOMING EVENTS:

To start the year, all students will be either creating or adding to their My KHS Story resume. In addition to the My KHS Story, students will:

• Seniors will have a large group meeting with their counselor.

• Juniors will participate in a Junior Conference with their counselor.

• Sophomores will learn about all of the 4 post-secondary paths (college, technical college, military and apprenticeships/employment.) These rotations will take place on October 14 & 21, November 11 & 19.

• Freshmen will meet with their counselors in small groups to discuss their transition to high school. They will also learn about extracurricular opportunities they can get involved in while at Kimberly High School.

SENIORS ~ CLASS OF 2026

The following information will be helpful for seniors who are applying to a public UW System university:

The UW Help Team created a UW Viewbook to help prepare you to apply using the UW System online admission, which opens August 1, 2025. A copy of the book will be available sometime in September. Please click here to download your copy today and to find other helpful links.

Application event coming soon - SENIORS: KHS is hosting an application event that allows senior students to meet with admissions counselors from various colleges to help them through the application process. If your student plans to attend one of the colleges listed below, this is a great opportunity for them to apply right here at KHS. Some of them will find out if they are admitted on the same day they apply.

Stay tuned for the colleges that will be a part of this event and the dates this event will take place!

WISCONSIN EDUCATION FAIR

Mark your calendars! You will want to attend the Wisconsin Education Fair at UW-Oshkosh on Tuesday, September 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m or at St Norbert College on Wednesday, September 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. These are excellent opportunities for students to meet with representatives from many colleges/universities, technical colleges, vocational/trade schools and the military. Students must pre-register at HERE. You can register for any in-person events and log in during the virtual events to chat as well. You will not be able to register at the site of the fair. After completing the online registration, please print and bring the barcoded pass to the fair. College representatives will scan the barcode to receive student data that is always correct and legible.

FAFSA - The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), will open up to Seniors beginning on October 1st, 2025.

• More information regarding FAFSA can be found by visiting their website.

TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS

Transcripts required for college applications and other institutions must be ordered through Xello. Log into Xello through Classlink using your Kimberly Google Sign-in

• Under Quick Links (top right), click on College Planning

• Click Create Your First Application/New Application under College Applications

• This is not a college application

• Search your college/university

• Select your college/university and click next at the bottom right.

• Click on Application Method: Choose Institution from list

• Select Admission Type: Choose any option

• Select Application Deadline ~ Choose a date you want the transcript to be sent and then click create in the bottom right. There is a 48 hour processing time for all transcript requests.

• Click Request on transcript tab (Your transcript will now be processed).

Contact Student Services if you have any questions. Any transcripts requested are sent electronically. If a university has an application tracker, it may take 1 - 2 weeks to show up on the tracker.

COLLEGE PLANNING STRATEGIES PRESENTATION FOR GRADES 10-12

Need help with planning to pay for college? Then you will want to attend the Thrivent's College Planning Strategies Presentation for Parents & Students being offered virtually on Wednesday, September 24 at 6:00 p.m. This free workshop is open to all grade levels, but will be most useful for grades 10-12. It will help to address parents’/students’ questions regarding the steps to take when planning for the future. Topics will include: Financial Aid, School Selections, the Admissions Process, and etc. Advance registration is requested so we can send you the link to join.

Date: Wednesday, September 24, Time: 6:00 p.m. CST - a link will be sent prior to the event.

Please click here to register. You only need to complete one registration per household.

Please call Student Services at (920) 687-3024 with any questions.

SAVE THE DATE

FVTC OPEN HOUSE 2025

Tuesday, October 7, 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM, all FVTC locations. Click HERE for more information. Application fees are waived at this event for current Seniors only.

FVTC EXPRESS ADMISSION DAYS 2025

Click HERE for information on various Express Admission Days held at multiple FVTC locations.

NWTC OPEN HOUSE 2025

Thursday, September 25th from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM, all NWTC locations. Click HERE for more information. Application fees are waived at this event for current Seniors only.

2025-26 ACT EXAM DATES

Please see these National Test Dates for the ACT. Students must register for the ACT at www.actstudent.org. Fee waivers for the ACT are available for students who qualify. Please email your counselor to request a fee waiver. Also, all juniors will take the state required ACT Tuesday, March 10, 2026.

Community Opportunities

Camp HOPE- Fall Registration Now Open

Camp HOPE is a non-profit organization that provides free weekend bereavement camps for grieving children and teens and their families. For the past 34 years, Camp HOPE has offered spring, fall and winter weekend camps.

The 2025 fall camp runs Saturday, October 4 at 9:00am through Sunday, October 5 at 3:00pm. Registration for kids 5-18 is now open. Because of generous donations and contributions, there is no cost to attend Camp and transportation may be made available at no cost if pre-arranged through contacting us. Camp welcomes all genders, races, sexual orientations, religions, and is nondiscriminatory. For more information, go to their website: https://www.camphopeforkids.org/

Interested families can register the website: www.camphopeforkids.org/camp-hope-registration

For any questions, please contact marialoy@camphopeforkids.org

SOPHOMORE STUDENTS - SAVE THE DATE

On Thursday October 16, 2025 our tenth grade students will be attending the ThedaCare FOCUS Program (formerly PARTY at the PAC) at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. We will be leaving around 8:30 am, and returning around 11:00am. More information will be sent to families in September.

OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ON BEHALF OF THE HERB KOHL EDCUATIONAL FOUNDATION
Monday, Aug. 18, 2025

Nominations open for 2026 Herb Kohl Teacher Fellowship and Principal Leadership Awards

MILWAUKEE — Nominations are now being accepted for the 2026 Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Teacher Fellowship and Principal Leadership awards, honoring exceptional Wisconsin PK–12 educators and school leaders. Nominations can be submitted online at KohlEducation.org.

Each award recipient receives $6,000, and their school will also receives a matching $6,000 grant.

• Principal nomination deadline: 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025
• Teacher nomination deadline: 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025

Since its founding in 1990, the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation has awarded more than $40 million to Wisconsin educators, principals, students, and schools. Each year, the Foundation honors 100 Teacher Fellowships and up to 16 Principal Leadership Awards statewide.

To be considered, nominees must:

• Currently teach or serve as a principal in a Wisconsin PK–12 school
• Plan to continue in their current role for at least one more year
• Be nominated by a parent, student, fellow educator, school administrator, or community member

The Teacher Fellowship recognizes educators who inspire a love of learning, motivate others, and demonstrate exemplary service in and beyond the classroom. The Principal Leadership Award honors school leaders who demonstrate outstanding administrative skill and foster a positive, collaborative school culture.

Following nomination, candidates must complete an application. Recipients are selected by a statewide panel of representatives from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, cooperative educational service agencies, education associations, and community leaders.

The Fellowship and Leadership programs are co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation, Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, and the state’s 12 Cooperative Educational Service Agencies.

To submit a nomination, visit KohlEducation.org.

Contact: contact@herbkohlphilanthropies.org

Kimberly Area School District is seeking support from our community. Make a difference and consider becoming a substitute teacher or a substitute paraprofessional

Flexible and Rewarding

• Earn extra income while your child is at school.
• Turn your volunteer hours into a paid position.
• No prior teaching experience is needed.
• Maintain a flexible work schedule.
• Help students succeed.

Apply here today!

Emergency Medications:

Emergency medications kept at school are only available during school hours. They will not be accessible before or after school. Parents and students must ensure emergency medication is available for school activities outside regular hours, such as clubs or sports. If there is an emergency and the student does not have their medication, 911 will be called.

Immunization for future 12th Graders:

If your child is starting 12th grade for the 2025–2026 school year, they will need 1 booster dose of the Meningococcal ACWY vaccine. If your child received this immunization, please provide documentation to the school office. If our records show your child is missing any required immunizations, you will receive a notification from the school in the fall.

*Please note that students who did not receive their 1st dose of MenACWY-containing vaccine by age 16 should only receive 1 dose.

Below are the links for our Free and Reduced Lunch program. If you are approved for Free and Reduce lunch, and would also like to have fees waived, it is necessary to also fill out the Sharing of Information form.

Free and Reduced School Meals - Application

Free and Reduced School Meals - Information

Free and Reduced School Meals - Sharing Information with Other Programs