🐾WHS ROAR REPORT🐾

Each year, Watervliet High School recognizes Greg Chisek Senior Scholars, an honor named after longtime WHS principal Greg Chisek, who was a strong advocate for academic excellence and student success. Seniors earn this distinction based on a combination of their cumulative GPA and SAT scores, recognizing those whose academic performance truly stands out.

This year, only seven seniors met the qualifications, making it an especially meaningful accomplishment.

These students’ dedication, perseverance, and commitment to learning reflect strong Panther Pride and the Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop mindset we value at WHS. We are proud of their achievements and excited to celebrate all they will accomplish as graduation approaches.

Being selected to speak at graduation is truly an honor that reflects consistent hard work, leadership, and the positive example these students have set throughout their time at Watervliet High School. Over the past week, we’ve spent time thoughtfully narrowing down these important roles, considering both academic dedication and contributions to our school community.

We are proud to recognize the students who will be serving as graduation speakers this year. Please see the list of student speakers below, and join us in congratulating them on this well-earned privilege.

Art I students learned how to build tall and fast using coils of clay. This challenge leads into their final clay creature project that they will begin next week.

This morning we had the pleasure of hosting our Student of the Month Breakfast with students and their families. It was a great opportunity to recognize these students for their hard work, dedication, and the positive example they set for others in our building.

Thank you to each of these students for demonstrating true Panther Pride — showing up, working hard, and leading by example every day. You embody our Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop mindset, and we are proud to celebrate the impact you’re making in our school community.

Pictured from left to right: Angelica Daisy, Kaden Conklin, Anabelle Barnard, Jenna Ritter, Sophie Grear, Gabe Martinez, and Sarah Leoni. Not pictured: Ethan Westfall.

A big thank you to Wyatt MacMillan and Sienna Harris for their thoughtful work in creating a new resource for our students. This idea came forward through our SAC student group, which works closely with the principal. Students shared that they wanted an easier way to let the counselor know they would like to meet, and Ms. Powers also wanted to provide students with another way to report any concerns they may have in the building. This box is the result of that collaboration and student voice in action.

Wyatt built the wooden box in Woodshop, and Sienna added the finishing touch by painting the lettering in Art class. It will be mounted outside the counseling office and will give students a simple, accessible way to communicate when they need support — whether they want to connect with the counselor or share something important with administration.

This project is a great example of student leadership in action and truly reflects Panther Pride and our “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” mindset — students stepping up, supporting one another, and helping make our school an even better place. We appreciate their creativity, initiative, and willingness to make a positive difference for others.

The Watervliet wrestlers had postseason action Wednesday evening, facing off against the hosting Chieftains in the first round of Team Districts. The Panthers started off hot, winning 2 of the first 3 matches as Maddie Myers won 9-8 and JT Isbrecht won 18-1. The Panthers eventually fell behind, and were unable to defeat Dowagiac. The team continues their postseason this weekend, with the Individual District Tournaments also in Dowagiac.

The Debate Class held its first Congressional Policy Debate over bills such as Cash Bail and Sobriety Tests in Michigan. Winners of their first debate include: 5th Place: Marissa Crotts; 4th Place: Eithan Nickel; 3rd Place Alicea Tuinstra; 2nd Place: Abby Shriver; 1st Place: Landon Layer. Landon Layer also received 1st Place as the Presiding Officer.

• HS Participation - 30.41% Males, 19.68% Females, 24.40% overall
• Last winter we were at 24.43% overall
• MS Participation - 26.35% Males, 34.64% Females, 30.31% overall
• Last winter - 32.57% overall
• WMS and WHS Participation Totals - 89 Males and 90 Females
• Last Winter - 88 Males and 96 Females

Students in Mrs. Riedinger and Mrs. Simmons' classes used their "Good Things" opportunity to build community, write complex and compound sentences, and celebrate Valentine's Day. Freshmen and sophomores wrote Valentine's cards to each other while practicing how to write correctly punctuated dependent and independent clauses for complex sentences. They also wrote compound sentences using semicolons. This was a great way to apply what they're learning while giving positive feedback to each other.

High School teachers are intentionally making key information visible to students as they walk in each day. This includes the class agenda, bellwork to get students started right away, the learning target for the day, and the classroom social contract that outlines shared expectations. Having these elements clearly posted helps students feel prepared, focused, and confident about what they are learning and what is expected of them.

Mr. Linderman provided a great example of this practice recently. The agenda, bellwork, learning target, and class social contract were all clearly visible and referenced during instruction. This level of clarity helps students transition smoothly into learning, stay engaged throughout the lesson, and feel supported in a consistent classroom environment.

When students know what to expect and understand the purpose behind their learning, it strengthens engagement, accountability, and overall success in the classroom.

As we begin the second semester, many classrooms are taking time to revisit and refresh their social contracts — the shared agreements that help create positive, respectful learning environments for students. One great example comes from Mr. Luke Dennison’s class, where students are not only reaffirming their commitment to their classroom expectations but also bringing them to life in a creative way. After previously carving their social contract words, students are now enhancing them with epoxy as their skills grow, creating a lasting visual reminder of their shared values. While every classroom approaches this differently, the goal is the same: helping students stay connected, accountable, and invested in a supportive school community.

Students are leading the way in Spanish classes. Students recently presented projects on Winter Olympics athletes from Latin American countries, sharing portions of their presentations in Spanish while classmates asked thoughtful follow-up questions. Experiences like this help students strengthen language skills, confidence, and public speaking while learning about global cultures.

Opportunities for student leadership are an important part of building confidence and ownership in learning. When students present, collaborate, and support one another, it helps create a positive classroom environment where they feel connected and motivated to grow.

Thank you to Mrs. Lefor for the intentional planning, strong classroom culture, and meaningful opportunities she provides for students. The impact is clear, and it’s wonderful to see students thriving.

📅 Upcoming Dates to Remember

Feb 17 — 7:00 PM
Pre-Festival Choir Concert

Feb 18 — 7:30 AM
SAC Meeting

Feb 19 — 10:00 AM
Girls State Meeting (All junior girls will attend)

Feb 23 — 3:15 PM
PBIS Meeting — Media Center
All students and parents are welcome

Feb 25 — 1:10 PM Dismissal
Early Release Day

March 3 — 6:00 PM
Dual Enrollment Information Meeting — Media Center
All parents invited to learn more about dual enrollment

March 6 — 8:15 AM
Student of the Month Breakfast — High School Café

March 9
Spring Sports Begin (YAY!)

March 11 — 1:10 PM Dismissal
Early Release Day

JMG students recently welcomed a guest speaker who shared information about the United States Air Force Academy. The presentation highlighted the Academy’s competitive admissions process, academic programs, leadership training, and opportunities for students interested in serving as commissioned officers. Students learned how the Academy combines rigorous academics, physical training, and character development to prepare future leaders for service in the Air Force and Space Force.

Watervliet Quiz Bowl returned to Paw Paw for our second tournament of the year last week. The team was challenged to compete 1v1 against each of the other teams in the league...five matches in one night. After a tough loss to Delton Kellogg, the team went up against last week's tournament champion and our host, Paw Paw. Watervliet and Paw Paw were tied at the half, and after back to back to back toss-up questions answered correctly, the Watervliet team pulled out a 30 point win. We also defeated Gobles in the last match of the evening, as well. Even though we ended the night with a record of 2-3, Coach Dimino was extremely proud of each team member's effort and support as each competitor answered at least one toss-up question correctly and worked hard on those challenging bonus questions. Our next match is another tournament style event next Thursday at Paw Paw. Congrats to our team and good luck next week.

The Southwest Michigan Society of Women Engineers is honored to extend the 6th Annual Christine Strain Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is open to female-identifying students within your 2026 graduating high school class who will be enrolling in an undergraduate ABET or ACCJC accredited Engineering, Computer Science, or Technology program during the 2026-2027 school year.

Attached to this email you will find a PDF containing the scholarship details and a flyer that can be posted to highlight the scholarship to students. Please share this scholarship with any students who meet the above criteria. If your school has an upcoming college or scholarship day, please let us know so that we can make an effort to highlight the Christine Strain Memorial Scholarship.

To submit the application, applicants should complete the Application Form and have a teacher of their selection complete the Recommendation Form.

The deadline to have applications and the corresponding recommendation submitted is Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

On the 18th, these students will be inducted into the NTHS at the Van Buren Tech Center! This includes second year students-Isabella Bultema, as well. The National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) recognizes students who excel in career and technical education programs while demonstrating strong academic performance, leadership, character, and commitment to their future career paths. Membership highlights students who are developing real-world skills through hands-on learning experiences and preparing for success in today’s workforce.

This year’s event was planned and organized by our JMG (Jobs for Michigan Graduates) students, who did an outstanding job coordinating speakers and creating student schedules for the day. We are incredibly proud of their leadership, initiative, and hard work!

Students had the opportunity to hear from a wide variety of excellent speakers representing multiple career pathways, providing valuable insight into future options, education, and workforce opportunities. We are especially thankful for the many family members, community partners, and professionals who took time out of their day to present to our students and share their experiences. Your support truly helps bring learning to life.

If you would like to get on the docket to speak to our students next year about your chosen profession, please email Ms. Irmen at lauren.irmen@watervlietps.org.

📚 After-School Homework Help – Tuesday–Thursday

We encourage all students to take advantage of our after-school homework help program, which is available every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday until 4:15 PM.

This support time provides students with a quiet, structured environment to complete homework, study, and receive extra help when needed — all with no interruptions. The location is announced daily during morning announcements, so students know exactly where to report.

We strongly recommend helping your child build this into their routine early in the semester. Developing the habit of staying after school for focused work time can make a big difference in organization, stress levels, and academic success.

If your child needs a calm place to work, extra academic support, or simply time to stay caught up, after-school homework help is a great option!

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.

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