Panther Print for Parents 🐾

We want to see your child taking the most challenging courses at the high school next year for which he/she is capable! Please check out the offerings below and contact Mrs. Dawson at jdawson@watervlietps.org if you would like to see any of these classes in your child's schedule or if you just have questions!

Dual Enrollment (taking college classes while in high school as the cost of WPS) Your student must have a 3.0+ cumulative GPA to participate.

AP Seminar (Honors English 10) This will replace the traditional level of English 10. This is not an elective. This can earn your child college credit. Parents of recommended FRESHMEN for this class were emailed by the Principal.

AP Environmental Science recommended for 9-12 graders. This is an elective. This can earn your child college credit. It does not take the place of any required science class.

AP Government recommended for 10-12 graders and will take the place of the required Junior level Civics class. If your child has already taken Civics, this is an elective. This can earn your child college credit.

AP Biology 11-12 graders. This can earn your child college credit. It does not take the place of any required science class. Intended for student interested in a science heavy, medical field after high school.

AP Computer Science 10-12 graders. This is an elective. This can earn your child college credit. This is a Computer Coding class.

Electives: Creative Writing 10-12, Speech/Debate 9-12, Marine and Freshwater Science 9-12, US History in Depth 11-12, and Astronomy 10-12

LMC Dual Enrolled Pre Calc/Trig and Calc 1 intended for students who have already taken WHS Pre Calc. This will earn your child college credit. Intended for students who are interested in a math heavy career field.

Anatomy/Physiology also called Biology 2 11-12 graders intended for students headed for a medical field; intended to be taken in place of or after Chemistry.

Van Buren Tech Center (both am and pm sessions available, with transportation provided.) Students are eligible in the 11-12 grades.

I live with my uncle, who is a big guy with a big heart, and with my aunt.

My favorite class is PE because I get to move around a lot.

My favorite teacher has been Mr. Grear because he is very funny.

In my free time I like to play video games and listen to music.

I do not currently participate in any sports or clubs.

After high school I plan to pursue a career in construction.

I am proud to be a WHS Panther because of the people here!

I look up to my sister and brother, we have a really big age gap so they are both married and have kids already. They give me strong advice and are big supporters as well as my mom and dad. I don't have a favorite class but I like Algebra and English classes the most. They have great teachers and the work comes naturally to me. My favorite teachers are Mrs. O’Toole and Mr. Andrews. They are really good teachers and they make it fun to go to class. They make it easy to learn and will be there if you need help. During my free time I like to hangout with my best friends, Kaitlyn and Aubrey. I also like to participate in the sports basketball, softball and volleyball. I've done these sports for as long as I can remember and I never get tired of them. I'm not sure what I want to do after high school yet, but I know I want to go into the medical field like my mom. I am proud to be a WHS Panther because this is a great school. All of the teachers are amazing and give you the education you need. The athletic program is also really good and I am happy to be apart of it all.

FRESHMEN

Miriam Feneley

Madison Rynberg

Lilliana Perez

Deandre Rose

Gabriel Shotts

Aiden Wolford

SOPHOMORES

Adileni Moron

Natalya Desjardin

Taylor Green

Addison Smith

Kassandra Riggs

Gabe Richards

Ana Aguilera Gallegos

Grace Ripley

Kami Rathfon

Jeff Pope-Timm

JUNIORS

Victoria Mandujano

Ayana Marshall

Kayden Harrington

Erik Jimenez

Zack Gruszczyk

Ruby Parra

Chaz Hart

Kaylee Willams

Jewell Burgess

Nic Terry

SENIORS

Karley Knight

Grace Macmillan

Johanna Granados

Chase Tremblay

Angeliyah Hatcher

Raquel Perez

Marleigh Schultz

Mellissa Cardozo `Aviles

Alexis Hoadley

My family consists of my Mom, Dad, and Brother. I'd say my favorite class is Agriculture and Natural Resources at the Van Buren Tech Center in Lawrence. This is one of my favorite classes because we are always doing something different or learning something new. One of my favorite teacher's is Mr. Weber because he always comes in with a positive attitude. In my free time I enjoy fishing, working on my truck, working, and hanging out with friends. Straight after high school I plan on going into the workforce. I am proud to be a WHS Panther because of the teachers/staff always willing to help.

My family consists of my mom, dad, and two younger siblings, my brother and sister.

My favorite class would have to be Economics because I feel like I am learning things that will help me in the future and I like the structure that the class gives me.

My favorite teacher is Mrs. Lefor because she tries her best to be a good teacher to her students and she has helped me in lots of ways, such as college decisions and just being someone to talk to.

In my free time, I like to read, spend time with my friends, and listen to music. I am on Student Council and I also participate in Track & Field.

I am proud to be a Panther because we represent never giving up and always trying our best throughout any obstacles.

After high school, I plan to go to college and get degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice to eventually become a criminal psychologist.

APRIL 16th DUAL ENROLLMENT NIGHT 6 PM in the high school media center. All parents of 8-11th graders are invited to attend.

APRIL 17th MONTHLY PAC 6 PM in the high school media center. This is a monthly update of everything happening at the high school. All parents of 9-12 graders are invited!

We have a unique opportunity as soon as we return to school to view the solar eclipse. On Monday, April 8th at precisely 3:12 pm, we will experience a nearly total solar eclipse. We are in the 90-92% coverage path in our area and this presents an opportunity for students to experience something that for some of us, is once in a lifetime.

The High School will be observing the solar eclipse at this time. We have purchased safety eyewear for HS students and staff to observe this phenomenon.

With all this said, due to the time (3:12 - 3:16) bus departure will be delayed by about 10 minutes. This will impact all bus riders only at the high school and / or elementary levels. We have approval from transportation and administration to facilitate this. The High School will exit the building around 3:00pm and take up position out by the baseball and practice fields to help students be near the buses for loading around 3:20 - which is very close to normal departure time.

Of course if it is inclement weather and/or very cloudy, we will proceed with a normal departure and although unfortunate to not see the eclipse, we know this can happen.

If you do not wish your student(s) to be around 10 minutes later than a usual day, you have the option to pick them up by car. If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

My family consists of my mom, dad, and my older sister. My favorite classes right now are History and English. In my free time, I like to hang out with my friends. This year I participated on the Varsity Cross Country Team. Right now I am on the Varsity Soccer team. After high school I plan to go to college and am currently interested in something in the legal field. I am proud to be a WHS Panther because of all of the opportunities that are available.

My family consists of my mom, my 3 sisters, and my 2 brothers. I only live with one of my siblings, who is the youngest one out of them all. My favorite class right now is my art 2 class because art is something that I enjoy. I have a lot of teachers that I like but Ms.Hunt is my favorite because she gives me really good feedback on all of my work. In my free time I like to go to the beach, hang out with friends, and go shopping. After high school I know I want to go to college but I don't know for what yet. I am proud to be a WHS Panther because this is a great school to be at.

My family consists of my mother and father, and my 5 siblings. I have 2 younger brothers and 3 older brothers. My favorite class is my cosmetology class at the Van Buren Tech Center because I have a strong passion towards doing hair, makeup, etc. I don’t have a favorite teacher, they are all amazing at teaching! This is my first year at Watervliet so I haven’t taken the opportunity to join any sports but I do hope so to next year! In my free time I love to go out, watch the sunset, and spend time with my loved ones. After high school I plan to continue & finish my cosmetology journey and become a licensed cosmetologist.

I'm from a family of five. Ryder is my younger brother and he's in 5th grade. Keira is a sophomore this year at the high school. My mom works as the junior high principal at Coloma. My dad is the PE/Health teacher at Watervliet and coaches varsity baseball and football. We're a pretty busy family.

My favorite class was anatomy with Mrs. O'toole. Anatomy is something I will take with me as I move through college because I plan on majoring in biology. That class was also filled with my friends.

My favorite teacher throughout high school has been Mrs. O'toole. My sophomore year I took her biology class and enjoyed it. The following year I took AP Biology with her first hour and then came back to her room for anatomy class after lunch. She's a fun teacher to be around and we always got our work finished. Students enjoy having her and Cooper around.

My free time is very limited. Typically, sports take up all of my time. Baseball, basketball, and football are all priorities for me. In preparation for these sports, I will lift and condition to continue getting better. On top of this, I have to get all of my schoolwork and scholarships filled out. With what time is left, I enjoy hanging out with friends and family.

I'm a three-sport athlete at Watervliet. As listed above, baseball, basketball, and football are made priorities. During the summer, I also play summer baseball. At the high school, I'm a member of NHS, student council, student advisory council, and freshman mentors.

After high school, I plan on attending the University of Michigan where I plan on majoring in biology. From there, I would like to attend dental school. It's a lot of school, but it will pay off in the end.

I'm proud to be a Panther because of the legacy our class is leaving behind. Looking at our athletics, many of the teams are filled with seniors. We've worked so hard to be the best at what we do. Looking back at all the banners we've left hanging and the accomplishments our group has had makes me proud. Watervliet is an important place to me.

The art department has been bustling with activity right up to the final moments before spring break. Tomorrow marks the eagerly awaited opening reception for the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Area Show, swiftly followed by the Box Factory Community Art Show soon after the break. Today, students were treated to an exclusive preview of the exhibitions during a pop-up art show in the media center. A total of 80 pieces were on display from the middle and high school levels.

KIA High School Area Show
MARCH 30, 2024 - APRIL 28, 2024
In-person award ceremony: Friday, March 29, 2024. Free Entry on March 30.

Box Factory Community Student Art Exhibitions
APRIL 18 – MAY 5 Middle / High Exhibition
Opening Reception for Students & Families:
APRIL 25, 6:00PM-8:00PM (Awards at 6:30PM)

THURSDAY, APRIL 11th ALL JUNIORS WILL TAKE THE WORKKEYS TEST FROM 8:10 AM-11:30 AM. ALL JUNIORS MUST be in the building for this test. There will be transportation to the Van Buren Tech Center and the Math and Science Center in the afternoon. Students will have a normal rest of the school day.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18th ALL FRESHMEN and SOPHOMORES will take the PSAT test from 8:10 AM -11:30 AM. All students will eat lunch before heading to normal rest of the dat classes.

ALL JUNIORS will take the SAT from 8:10-1:00 PM. JUNIORS are dismissed for the remainder of the day after testing is complete. Juniors who are not able to leave the building will remain in the media center for the remainder of the day.

FRIDAY, APRIL 19th ALL JUNIORS will take the MSTEP tests in Science and Social Studies from 8:10 AM-11:30 AM. ALL JUNIORS MUST be in the building for this test. There will be transportation to the Van Buren Tech Center and the Math and Science Center in the afternoon. Students will have a normal rest of the school day.

Students need to come to school well rested and ready to test on these days with a charged device as all testing will take place on the device. Snacks will be provided throughout testing. It is a requirement for graduation from WHS that all juniors complete this testing. If you have questions or concerns about testing or the testing schedule, please reach out to the counseling office at 269.463.0735.

Applications are now open for the Berrien County Student Advisory! Please pass along and promote this exciting leadership opportunity to your high school students for the 24-25 school year. This opportunity is applicable for your current 8th-11th grade students.

Highlights of the Advisory Include:

• Advising adults and educators in our county to help create better outcomes for all in Berrien County. Your voice matters!
• You will be paid gift cards for your time.
  
• Working with students from other districts
• Fields trips and leadership training

The application is due Friday, April 12th

Please feel free to reach out with any questions. I am also happy to come to your schools to speak with your students about this opportunity :)

Thanks again!

Abbie Benfield

she/her/hers (what's this?)

Berrien RESA

Whole Child Partner

(269) 471-7725 ext. 3282

https://fireup.cmich.edu/register/?id=bf5566aa-0190-4c7c-a15e-3bf250c22ed8&pid=pl2oVOQk7dP23620LmuE0YVjhMjnvdUg2kbgem-qUMFDZnVpA7d62AhzvmtYj_OIzpNvRVQJlVVtfFzMXotboPZTXn6g1j0DmkKbIkk4bMA

Each year, hundreds of students with documented disabilities receive academic or housing accommodations to help them become a successful, independent student at Central Michigan University. How can you help the students you work with by ensuring they receive the accommodations they need in college?

Join us for our upcoming counselor and parent webinar with experts from CMU’s Student Disability Services office as they share the variety of ways students are supported and the steps students take to be considered for accommodations.

Helping Students with Disabilities Navigate College
Tuesday, April 9
6:30–7:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual (WebEx)

REGISTER

• Understand the key differences between qualifying for accommodations in high school versus college.
• Learn about the various academic accommodations offered to students with disabilities.
• Understand the timeline your students should follow to ensure timely access to resources.

We look forward to sharing these tips and more with you soon!

Student Disability Services
Central Michigan University
sds@cmich.edu
989-774-3018

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Tuesday, April 9

4:15 PM Varsity Softball at Michigan Lutheran

4:30 PM JV Softball & JV Baseball Home vs. Paw Paw

4:30 PM Varsity Baseball at Paw Paw

Wednesday, April 10

4:00 PM Varsity Golf at Coloma, Lake MI Hills

4:30 PM Varsity Track Home vs. Fennville

6:00 PM Varsity Soccer at Parchment

Thursday, April 11

4:30 PM JV Baseball Home vs. Coloma

4:30 PM Varsity Baseball & Varsity Softball at Coloma

4:30 PM MS Track SAC Meet at Saugatuck

Friday, April 12

5:00 PM Varsity Soccer Home at Covert

Saturday, April 13

10:00 AM Varsity Softball at Dowagiac Invitational

10:00 AM Freshman and Sophomore Track athletes at Hartford Invitational

Exploring is a youth program for High School boys and girls looking for hands-on opportunities to explore careers of interest. Although it is sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America, Exploring is not a traditional boy scout program with uniforms, merit badges etc. Boy Scouts of America just provides logistics for registration of the exploring groups, and professional support when needed.

Exploring itself is not an internship program but instead serves as a chance for young adults to learn about different career paths and have fun learning about them, in this case, the wide variety of careers available at Cook Nuclear Power Plant. Exploring Posts (as they are called) usually meet once every other month, and is student-driven, meaning that if there is something specific they want to learn about a nuclear power plant, then the professionals can help them do it in a safe, hands-on environment. It also gives students a chance to meet and learn from professionals in the field and help network with them should decide to turn their interest into a career. More info on Exploring program as a whole can be found at https://www.exploring.org/

On May 30th, Cook Nuclear Power Plant is holding an open house for all area high schoolers to come visit their training center and learn more about their exploring post! The attached flyer has a QR code to get students registered for the open house, so they know how many students to expect. Cook NP's Exploring Program is for all high schoolers who are interested in learning about careers at the nuclear power plant. I would like to emphasize that this program is not limited to those with an interest in nuclear engineering. There are many careers at the plant that students can explore, from Fire Protection and Security, to maintenance disciplines like, HVAC, welding, and mechanics and many more. Several of these careers have an immediate need, and don't require a college degree, meaning that students interested in a career after high school can use this post to explore opportunities and get some hands-on experience learning about the career and connecting with professionals at the plant.

Thank you,

Randy Keppeler

Projects Director

DC Cook Nuclear Plant

269-466-3472

Just a reminder that once your child has 5 absences this semester, any absence after that cannot be EXCUSED without a medical note. Please encourage and expect your child to be in school everyday unless seriously ill. ATTENDANCE MATTERS!

223 Panthers completed our annual student survey this year. In each parent newsletter for the remainder of this school year, you will see a few results included, until all of the results have been shared. The Student Advisory Council to the Principal (SAC) have reviewed all of the results and feel positive overall regarding what the survey shows. The results have also been reviewed with the WHS staff and will also be reviewed at the next PAC meeting this week!

We want you accessing your child's Canvas account! Please take the following steps so that you can be checking on his/her grades on a regular basis.

1. Steps for parents to create a parent Canvas account.

   1. Obtain Student Pairing Code

   2. Sign up for an account through your phone app or on the computer using an email address.
      

2. Parents should go to www.watervlietps.org and click on the link "Canvas for Parents" in the middle of the homepage. Here is the direct link: https://www.

   watervlietps.org/o/wps/page/

   canvas-resources. Here you will find the screenshot instructions, a 7 slide presentation and brief videos on navigating the parent portal, checking grades, viewing assignments and accessing teacher feedback.

3. Students need to create the pairing code for their parents and it is only valid for 7 days.

4. If you are having difficulty obtaining the student pairing code, teachers have access to this information within their course by going to People and clicking on the 3 dots in the upper right corner and choosing Export Pairing Codes. Again, these pairing codes are only good for 7 days. Quick way for teachers get this code to a parent when communicating with them.

5. Instructions are online AND shared every Friday in the high school parent newsletter.

Please reach out to us in the high school office if you have questions or concerns about accessing your child's Canvas account. We need and want your support at the high school!

Apr 8 School Resumes

April 11 Work Keys testing for Juniors

Apr 12 March Student of the Month Breakfast 8:15 AM

Apr 17 Early Release Day

Apr 17 SAC 7:30 AM

Apr 18 SAT for JUNIORS, PSAT for 9th and 10th Graders

Apr 19 MSTEP for Juniors (Science and Social Studies)

Apr 22 Dual Enrollment Informational Night 6 pm

Apr 24 PAC 6 pm

May 1 Early Release Day

May 1 SAC 7:30 AM

May 3 Progress Reports

May 3 April Student of the Month Breakfast 8:15 AM

May 9 Blood Drive

May 10 Decision Day 10 am (Seniors)

May 11 PROM 7-11 PM; place TBD

May 15 Early Release Day

May 15 Senior Awards Night 6 pm

May 15 SAC 7:30 AM

May 16 Spring Band Concert

May 22 PAC 6 pm

May 21-23 Senior Exams Days

May 23 Spring Choir Concert

May 24 Seniors’ Last Day

May 24 Car Parade

May 27 Memorial Day; No School

May 29 Baccalaureate 6 pm (Seniors)

May 29 SAC 7:30 AM

May 30 Senior Picnic/School visits and grad practice

May 31 May Student of the Month Breakfast 8:15 AM

May 31 Graduation 6:30 pm

June 3 Underclassmen Awards; time TBD

June 4-6 Half Days for Exams

June 6 Last Day of School