🐾WHS ROAR REPORT🐾

With deep sadness, we share the passing of Chayse David Ott on October 2, 2025. A beloved member of our Panther family, Chayse will be remembered for his bright smile, quick wit, strong faith, and compassionate heart. He lived with purpose, joy, and a genuine love for others — leaving a lasting impact on everyone who knew him.

A senior at WHS, Chayse was passionate about football, the outdoors, and pursuing a career in the skilled trades. His light continues to shine through the kindness, laughter, and faith he shared with our community.

🕊️ Funeral Arrangements

Friends may visit with Chayse’s family on Saturday, October 18 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, followed by a service at 12:00 PM at Midway Baptist Church in Watervliet.

Please keep Chayse’s family and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers. 💜🐾

There is a Career visit for JMG (Jobs for Michigan Grads) students to DeGroot, Inc. in Coloma next Tuesday morning. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to explore all aspects of a diverse local business and see a variety of career pathways in action.

During the visit, students will learn about:

• Farming & Greenhouse Operations (including over an acre of plastic greenhouses)

• Manufacturing & Automation

• Marketing, Graphic Design, & Logistics

• Shipping, Perennials, and Fruits

Students will depart from the high school at 8:15 AM and return by 11:30 AM, allowing students to still attend Tech in the afternoon if applicable.

All students are required to attend.🌟 Career Exploration Opportunities Wanted! 🌟

Our Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG) class is always looking to partner with local businesses for career exploration visits. These experiences help our students connect classroom learning to real-world opportunities and discover exciting career paths right here in our community!

If you or someone you know would be interested in hosting a visit or sharing insight into your workplace, please contact Ms. Powers at 📧 cpowers@watervlietps.org.

Together, we can inspire the next generation of our local workforce! 💼✨

This Week, our Debate Team competed in their first league meet at Wayland Union High School. With over 70 competitors from Grand Rapids, Ionia, Caledonia, and Wayland, our team pulled out victories within their chambers. Makenzie Birmele, Landon Schlipp, Lily Collins, Kaden Conklin, Brianna Shriver, all received 1st through 5th place rankings in their chambers, with Makenzie Birmele earning a 7th place victory overall in the competition. Our next meet is Wednesday, November 5th.

We’re excited to invite you to our first Parent Advisory Council Meeting of the year on Thursday, October 16 at 7:00 PM in the High School Media Center.

This is a wonderful opportunity for Ms. Powers, our building principal, to share updates, highlight new initiatives and programs, and listen to your feedback and questions. Your voice is an important part of helping us continue to grow and serve our students well! 💬❤️

If there’s something you’d like to see addressed or discussed, please take a moment to share it using the form below — all responses are anonymous.

A live Google Meet link will also be available for families who prefer to join from home.

We hope you’ll join us as we work together to support our Panther community! 🐾✨

💬 Please share any ideas, questions, concerns, or topics you’d like to see addressed during this meeting. Your input helps guide our conversation and ensures your voice is heard! 🌟

https://forms.gle/vTZpzEsdTah5Cx3H8

Thursday: Half day for Parent-Teacher Conferences (Conferences are: 12:30–3:00 PM & 4:00–6:00 PM). Enter through the cafeteria doors.

Friday: Half day for our Annual College Fair — all 10th–12th graders will participate!

Friday:9th Grade Career Pathway Day

• Our 9th Grade Career Pathway Day will take place on Friday, October 17, 2025, at the Mendel Center from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  🚌 Watervliet students will attend from 8:25–9:55 a.m.

  This exciting event is designed to help students explore future careers and discover local opportunities that connect education to the real world. It will feature:

  • Berrien County Career & Technical Education programming

  • Post-secondary guided pathways from Lake Michigan College, Southwestern Michigan College, Andrews University, and Western Michigan University

  • Local business and industry partners showcasing career opportunities right here in Southwest Michigan

  The goal of Career Pathway Day is to provide a hands-on, interactive experience that helps students understand the wide range of careers available and begin identifying pathways that align with their interests and skills.

  🏫 Lake Michigan College is graciously hosting the event at the Mendel Center MainStage and Grand Upton Hall on their Napier Campus in Benton Harbor.

  This event supports key components of the Michigan Career Development Model and aligns with each district’s Educational Development Plan (EDP) process to ensure students explore and develop well-rounded career pathways.

  To help students navigate their interests, Grand Upton Hall will be divided into six Career Pathway Zones:

  • 🎭 Arts & Communication

  • 💼 Business, Management, Marketing & Technology

  • ⚙️ Engineering, Manufacturing & Industrial Technology

  • 🩺 Health Sciences

  • 💬 Human Services

  • 🌿 Natural Resources & Agriscience

  This promises to be an inspiring and engaging day as students take their first steps toward shaping their future pathways! 🌟

Friday, Oct 10th

7:00 PM Varsity Football vs Allegan @ Allegan HS

Saturday, Oct 11th

9:15 AM MS MHSAA Cross Country Regionals @ Portage West Middle School

Tuesday, Oct 14th

5:00 PM TBA vs TBA - MHSAA Boys Soccer District Semifinals @ Watervliet HS

Wednesday, Oct 15th

5:30/6:30 PM JV /Varsity Volleyball vs South Haven @ Watervliet HS

Thursday, Oct 16th

5:30/6:30 PM JV/Varsity Volleyball vs Gobles @ Gobles

We wrapped up Hispanic Heritage Week on Friday with an incredible cultural showcase! Students and staff enjoyed a beautiful waltz demonstration and a few surprise dances that brought so much energy and joy to the building. 💃🕺✨

A huge thank you to our Hispanic and Latino students who practiced for two weeks to make this event so special. Your dedication and pride in sharing this part of your culture truly inspired us all. ❤️🖤🤍💛

We’re so proud of you for helping our Panther family celebrate, learn, and appreciate the rich traditions that make our community shine! 🌎🐾

#HispanicHeritageMonth #PantherPride #CantStopWontStop #WHSFamily

We invite all Watervliet High School families to join us for Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences on Thursday, October 16th. Conferences are open to all families, and we encourage you to bring your high school student with you if at all possible.

🕛 Conference Times:

• 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM

• 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

When you arrive, please enter through the café side of the building to check in, pick up your student’s schedule, and receive their updated progress report. From there, you are welcome to visit with any or all of your student’s teachers to discuss progress and next steps for a successful semester.

We look forward to partnering with you and your student to celebrate successes and set goals for continued growth! 💜🐾

Join us for a College Admissions Presentation led by an Admissions Representative from Southwestern Michigan College (SMC) on Thursday, October 16 at 6:00 PM in the High School Media Center.

This session will cover general college admissions information — not specific to SMC — and will help students and families better understand the college application process, timelines, and tips for success. 🌟

All high school students and families are welcome! Don’t miss this great opportunity to get expert guidance and have your questions answered. 🐾

THIS SAME PRESENTATION WILL BE SHARED WITH SENIORS IN ENGLISH 12 CLASSES ON OCTOBER 16TH DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.

This month, we’re helping our Panthers take the next big step toward their future! 💪🐾

College Application Month is all about encouraging every senior to explore their options, complete applications, and take that exciting first step toward life after high school — whether that’s college, career training, or beyond. 🌟

Let’s cheer them on as they chase their dreams! 🎉❤️🖤

#CollegeApplicationMonth #PantherPride #FutureReady #CantStopWontStop

At Watervliet High School, student safety is our top priority. We want every Panther to feel safe and supported while at school.

To help with this, we have created the Panther Hotline — a simple way for students to report a safety concern if they ever feel uncomfortable speaking directly to an administrator or teacher.

By clicking the link below, students can anonymously share their concern. As soon as a report is submitted, Ms. Powers receives an immediate email notification so that the situation can be addressed quickly.

🔗 https://forms.gle/YH6RG4pnJzsZBHtj9

Please encourage your student to use this resource if they ever feel unsafe or see something concerning. Together, we can ensure that WHS continues to be a safe place for all of our Panthers.

At Watervliet High School, we use PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) to help create a safe, respectful, and positive learning environment. PBIS means that we don’t just correct behavior—we also teach, model, and review expectations with students the same way we do with academics.

Each week, all WHS teachers review expectations in a specific area of the building. Next week, our focus will be the BATHROOMS. Please take a moment to review these expectations with your child at home as well.

The most common issues we encounter in the school bathrooms are intentional vandalism and failing to report any damage—whether it happens accidentally or on purpose—to the main office.Together, we can ensure our Panthers are set up for success every day!

📅 DateEvent

Oct 11🎶 Band Contest – Sparta

Oct 13🚫 No School (Students) – PD Day (Staff)
🏫 School Board Meeting 6 PM

Oct 15👥 Student Advisory Council

Oct 16⏰ ½ Day
👩‍🏫 Parent-Teacher Conferences: 12:30-3 and 4-6

🎓 College Admissions Night 6 PM
👥 Parent Advisory Council 7 PM

Oct 17⏰ ½ Day for Students & Staff
🎓 College Fair Day 8:10-11:40 AM

Oct 18🎶 Band Contest – Portage

Oct 22⏰ Early Release Day; 1:10 Dismissal

Oct 23🎶 MS/HS Choir Concert

Oct 24🏈 Home Varsity Football – Senior Night
🎓 College Application Day (English 12)

Oct 25🎶 Band Contest – Okemos

Oct 27🐾 PBIS Meeting 3:15 PM

Oct 28🎓 All Freshmen Visit SMC

Oct 29👥 Student Advisory Council 7:30 AM
📸 Picture Retake Day

Oct 31🎶 Rehearsal Load – State Band Competition
🎓 College Application Day (English 12)

We’re excited to announce that after-school homework help is now available for our students. Students can stay for one hour after school 3:15-4:15 PM to get extra support or simply have a quiet place to focus on assignments.

• Tuesdays: Work with Mrs. Simmons

• Wednesdays: Work with Mr. Dimino (MATH ESPECIALLY)

• Thursdays: Work with Mrs. Brant

No sign-up is required—students can just stop by the teacher’s classroom after school to participate. This is a great way to catch up on work, get extra help, or stay on top of assignments.

👉 Please note: Students will need to arrange their own transportation home after the session.

We hope many of our Panthers will take advantage of this opportunity for extra support! 🐾

9th Grade Campus Visit – Southwestern Michigan College

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Watervliet High School is pleased to offer each grade level one facilitated college campus visit each year. This year, the Freshman Class (9th grade) will be visiting:

Destination: Southwestern Michigan College (SMC) – Dowagiac, Michigan
Date: Monday, October 28
Departure: The bus will leave WHS at 8:15 a.m.
Return: Students will return by 11:30 a.m. — in time for lunch and part of 4th hour.

The visit will be supervised by WHS teachers and a school counselor. Because this is the scheduled freshman class campus visit, if your child is in school that day, he/she is expected to attend.

• 🚌 Students will travel by school bus.

• 🍎 Snacks will be provided.

• 👟 Students should wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather, as there will be lots of walking and students will be outside for part of the morning.

• ⚠️ Students who are inattentive, disrespectful, or disruptive during this trip will not be allowed to attend future trips.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Ms. Powers at the high school office.

Thank you for supporting this opportunity for our Panthers to begin exploring college and career pathways!

Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop – Panther Pride! 🐾

AGENDA FOR THE VISIT

9:00am Arrival
9:15am Presentation at the Library

9:45 am Kahoot (Prizes Top 3)

10:00am Break into 3-4 groups for tour
11:00-11:15 am Return to the library/Departure

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Watervliet High School is pleased to offer each grade level one facilitated college campus visit each year. This year, the Sophomore Class (10th grade) will be visiting:

Destination: The University of Olivet– Olivet, Michigan
Date: Thursday, November 6th
Departure: The bus will leave WHS at 8:15 a.m.
Return: Students will return by 2:30 PM —students will eat lunch at the university.

The visit will be supervised by WHS teachers and a school counselor. Because this is the scheduled sophomore class campus visit, if your child is in school that day, he/she is expected to attend.

• 🚌 Students will travel by school bus.

• 👟 Students should wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather, as there will be lots of walking and students will be outside for part of the morning.

• ⚠️ Students who are inattentive, disrespectful, or disruptive during this trip will not be allowed to attend future trips.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Ms. Powers at the high school office.

Thank you for supporting this opportunity for our Panthers to begin exploring college and career pathways!

Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop – Panther Pride! 🐾

AGENDA FOR THE VISIT

Arrival: 9:45am

Welcome/Presentation: 10:00am

Campus Tour: 10:30am

Lunch: 11:30am, and then you can head back once your group is finished eating

Here you'll find a list of all public and private, 2-year and 4-year colleges in Michigan. You can find institution-specific information, such as admissions and financial aid, using the links below.

https://sites.google.com/micollegeaccess.org/cavacollegeguide/home

Full Day

Period 1 8:10-9:02 (52 min)

Period 2 9:07-10:01 (54 min to include announcements)

Period 3 10:06-10:57 (51min)

Lunch A 10:57-11:27 (30 min)

Lunch A Class 11:32-12:23 (51 min)

Lunch B 11:27-11:57 (30 min)

Lunch B Class 11:02-11:22/11:52-12:23 (51 min)

Lunch C 11:53-12:23 (30 + 5 min passing time)

Lunch C Class 11:02-11:53 (51 min)

Period 5 12:28-1:19 (51 min)

Period 6 1:24-2:15 (51 min)

Period 7 2:20-3:10 (50 min)

Half Day Schedule

Period 1 8:10-8:36

Period 2 8:41-9:06

Period 3 9:11-9:36

Period 4 9:41-10:07

Period 5 10:12-10:38

Period 6 10:43-11:09

Period 7 11:14-11:40

Early Release Schedule

Period 1 8:10-8:45

Period 2 8:50-9:24

Period 3 9:29-10:03

Period 4 10:08-10:42

Period 5

A Lunch 10:47-11:17

A Class 11:17-11:51

B Class 10:47-11:21

B Lunch 11:21-11:51

Period 6 11:56-12:30

Period 7 12:35-1:10