• Royal Connections Conferences - September 3rd & September 4th
• First Day of School 24-25 School Year - Thursday, September 5th

At the May board meeting, the WM School Board approved an adjustment to the start and end times for 2024-2025. This adjustment was made to eliminate second wave bussing at the elementary, middle, and high schools. The NEW start and end times for THIS school year are:

• ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: START- 8:00 AM END- 2:40 PM
• MIDDLE SCHOOL: START- 8:15 AM END- 2:55 PM
• HIGH SCHOOL: START- 8:15 AM END- 2:51 PM

At the July School Board Meeting a calendar change was made that impacts the Elementary School Only. Wednesday, October 16th will now be a staff development day for the Elementary School staff. This means there will be no school for Elementary School students on October 16th. Middle and High School Students will be in session that day. If child care is needed please call Kids Co to see if they have availability.

We are excited to invite you to be a part of our School of Excellence Committee! This committee will play a crucial role in our pursuit of a School of Excellence endorsement from the Minnesota Elementary School Principals Association. Through a self-study process, we will plan for the continuous improvement of our school community, striving to meet the high standards required for this prestigious recognition.

We will use data gathered from forthcoming stakeholder surveys to guide our work, helping us to identify our strengths and focus on areas for growth. We welcome all guardians to express interest in joining this important effort by completing the form linked below. Please note that depending on the level of interest, volunteers may be selected at random, as we need only a small committee to work alongside our school staff.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to help us achieve this significant goal for our school!

Our picture day is Friday, September 27th.

We understand that this is Homecoming and we will have a Royal Fan dress up day at the ES that day. Picture retakes are Friday, November 1st. Students can be photographed on retake day if they want to be decked out in Royal Gear for Homecoming. We do ask that all students get their picture taken even if you do not plan to purchase pictures so that they will be included in the year book. More information about ordering pictures will be shared closer to picture day. Please contact the office with any questions or concerns.

The Minnesota Free School Meals Program is now permanent!

• What does this mean? Students can receive their first standard breakfast and lunch for FREE!
• What do I need to remember? If students go back for a second full meal, additional entrees, side items, or a la carte, these DO cost extra based on the item. If your child has permission to get extras, please be sure that there is money in their lunch account. This includes milk to accompany any home lunches.

HERE is the link for the updated cost of full second breakfast, lunch, and the approximate costs of a la carte items.

Have You Applied for Educational Benefits?

Even though the Minnesota Free Meals Program is permanent, we strongly encourage families to apply to see if you are eligible for educational benefits through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Educational benefit applications (Free and Reduced applications) impact the educational funding that our schools receive and can affect other additional fees.

HERE is the link to our website to learn about how you can apply!

Did you know there is a free resource for healthy groceries in our great community? Gather and Grow Food Shelf offers quality food, personal care, and household items to people experiencing tough financial times. Please visit www.gatherandgrowmn.org to learn more about the food shelf located in the back of our city hall building in Watertown. Open Mondays 4p-7p, and Tuesdays & Fridays 9a-12p for shopping.