eCampus Academy Update

As we begin another year at eCampus Academy, I want to welcome our returning students and families and extend a special welcome to those joining us for the first time.

One of the things I value most about eCampus is that we have never viewed online learning as simply putting students in front of a computer and asking them to complete courses. We want students to have flexibility and independence, but we also want them to be challenged, connected, supported, and increasingly responsible for directing their own learning. We also want to make it harder for students to disappear into the flexibility of online learning or settle for simply scraping by with minimal effort.

This year, we intend to continue raising that bar.

Expanding the EDGE of Online Learning

Over the coming year, you will begin to see more of what we are calling EDGE Opportunities: Experiences, Discovery, Growth, and Engagement.

EDGE is not a new program or a separate requirement. It is a direction we are intentionally moving as a school, and it reflects the original vision for eCampus, a vision we have continued to refine since we first opened our doors. We want to create more opportunities for students to move beyond simply completing coursework and engage in experiences such as discussions, seminars, projects, workshops, authentic problem-solving, community connections, service, collaboration, and demonstrations of learning. Some of these opportunities will be optional, but every student will be expected to stretch beyond their comfort zone as they seek to grow and improve.

Some of these opportunities already exist at eCampus. Others will develop throughout this year and beyond. Our goal is to make them increasingly intentional and accessible while preserving one of the greatest strengths of virtual education: the ability to personalize learning around the needs, interests, goals, and circumstances of individual students.

Connection and Accountability

Greater flexibility also requires greater responsibility.

One important expectation this year will be consistent attendance and participation in weekly advisory meetings. These meetings are an important connection between students and their eCampus team. They provide an opportunity to discuss progress, identify problems early, set goals, celebrate successes, and connect students with resources and opportunities that can help them succeed.

For that reason, advisory attendance will be a significant focus this year. We expect students to attend and participate in their scheduled weekly advisory and to communicate consistently with their advisors. Advisory meetings are not optional.

More broadly, our staff will continue working hard to identify students who need assistance and provide opportunities for them to succeed. At the same time, students will be expected to take responsibility for how they respond to those efforts.

Our responsibility is to open doors, provide support, remove barriers when we can, and help students recognize what they are capable of achieving. The student's responsibility is to engage, communicate, make choices, and ultimately walk through those doors.

That partnership matters.

Make eCampus Yours

I also want students and families to know that you do not have to wait for us to design the perfect opportunity for you.

If there is something you want to learn, explore, build, investigate, experience, or accomplish, connect with me:
https://calendar.app.google/hg7SFUiG1u3boFto9

Maybe you have an interest that does not fit neatly into a traditional course. Maybe there is a project you have always wanted to pursue, a career you want to investigate, a skill you want to develop, or a different way you would like to demonstrate what you know. Those conversations are exactly the kinds of conversations I want us to have.

We cannot promise that every idea will be possible, but we can promise that we will listen and explore what might be possible.

My challenge to every eCampus student this year is simple: Do not settle for merely getting through school. Use the flexibility and opportunities available to you to make your education something that moves you toward the future you want to create.

We are excited to work with you, challenge you, support you, and see where you take us this year.

Welcome back!

Bob Logan
Supervisor of Digital Learning
eCampus Academy

All families should have received an email from our eCampus Academy Liason, Keisha Logan about scheduling for the 2026-27 school year.

Please see the following Curriculum Page

If you haven't already contacted eCampus in regards to your course selection for the year, please reach out to Keisha Logan at keisha.logan@mywusd.org.

Picture Day is Wednesday, September 16th from 9am-12pm in the Educational Service Center (111 Dodge St, Watertown WI) Pictures will be taken in the board room. Please use the link below to schedule a time. Please select one slot per student.

Sign up Link

*A note for High School students, an ID will be required if you plan to attend any events or classes at the high school as well as any testing.

There is no charge to have your picture taken or receive a school ID. The only charge would be if you decide to order a package for your student. Please see the attached document with more information about preparing for picture day as well as a link to order online or print an order form if interested in a picture package.

Online Skyward Registration is open. Thank you to those families who have already registered! Families are required to go through the Online Skyward Registration process annually which can be completed from your home. It is important to update your information and register to notify the school that you will be continuing. Online Registration can be found via Skyward Family Access on the left hand side. Online registration requires the full web-based version of Skyward Family Access. It is not possible to register online through the Skyward mobile app.

If you have any login troubles, please contact vandersteega@mywusd.org for help or call 920.262.1460, ext 3206

Student Fees

Families will be given the opportunity online to pay fees with a credit card, near the end of the registration process. Paying online will result in a 3% convenience fee. You may also mail your payment to eCampus Academy, 111 Dodge St, Watertown WI 53094.

Student Fee Waiver

The Watertown Unified School District has active guidelines regarding the waiver of school fees. Under this policy (po6152.01), the Board will waive assessed fees for students whose parent(s) are unable to afford them, ensuring these costs do not act as barriers to their educational program.

Families that qualify through Direct Certification, will be notified of eligibility via email or mail and must complete the "Consent to Share Information Form" before any fees may be waived.

Families that do not qualify through Direct Certification but believe that they qualify for Free or Reduced Meals must first complete the required income-based application on the WUSD website at https://watertownunified.healtheliving.net/what-we-do/meal-applications/, or request a paper application from any school office, in order to receive consideration for the waiving of fees. If the application is approved as eligible, families will be notified via email or mail and must complete the "Consent to Share Information Form" before any fees may be waived.

Students who qualify for an approved fee waiver will have their fees removed from Skyward once all steps have been completed.

Every month, prior to the first school day of the month, we will send out a Monthly Events Newsletter. This email will have the morning meeting links, a calendar of upcoming events, and any other information you need for the month all in one place! Please read all the way to the bottom and let us know if you have any questions!

Morning Meetings will begin Tuesday, September 22nd

4K and Kindergarten Morning Meetings with Mrs. Hail Tuesdays at 8:30-9:00am Link Here
1st-3rd grade Morning Meetings with Mrs. Hail Tuesdays at 9:00-9:30am Link Here
4th-6th grade Morning Meetings with Mr. Burd Tuesdays at 9:00-9:30am Link Here
7th-8th grade Morning Meetings with Mr. Burd Tuesdays at 12:00-12:30pm Link Here

September Events
1- Timberdoodle Welcome Session at 10am (Link Here)
1- Timberdoodle Welcome Session at 1pm (Link Here)
2- Informational Tic-Tac-Toe Board Sessions at 9am-2pm (information sent on 8/19)
3- Informational Tic-Tac-Toe Board Sessions at 9am-2pm (information sent on 8/19)
7- NO SCHOOL
8- First Assignments Due for SchoolsPLP Virtual Learners
14- HMH into Reading Group starts (specific students already notified)
16- Picture Day at the eCampus Office from 8am-12pm (can stop in anytime)
22- Morning Meetings Begin with Mrs. Hail and Mr. Burd
24- Picnic at the Park- Thursday September 24th at 5pm

Looking Ahead:
October 5th - Timberdoodle September Submissions Due

Join us in person for an evening of fun and connecting with other eCampus Academy (elementary, middle and high school) students and families. The event will be held at Riverside Park in Watertown at the Shelter from 5-8pm. Hot dogs and beverages will be provided. If you are able to bring a dish/item to pass, that would be greatly appreciated. Please RSVP to Mary Barr (barrm@mywusd.org) by Monday, September 21st so we can get an accurate number.

Aimsweb assessments are administered virtually three times a year (fall, winter, spring). The testing is broken up into multiple sessions over the course of 2 weeks. Reading tests are given for 4K- 5th grade students, Mrs. Hail will administer 4k-3rd grade assessments, Mr. Burd will administer 4th-5th grade assessments. The components for reading may include; letter name fluency, phoneme segmentation, vocabulary, or oral reading fluency. Math tests are given to K-5th grade students. The components for math may include; number naming fluency, concepts and applications, word problems. Please note adult support is required for 4K-1st grade students during testing sessions. A survey will be sent out asking for you to indicate your time and date preferences. If no response is submitted teachers will choose your testing session times and dates.

This year, students in grades 6–9 English will meet synchronously with their teacher and classmates three days each week. It is an important step toward the kind of learning we want to create through our evolving EDGE philosophy: Experiences, Discovery, Growth, and Engagement.

Online learning provides tremendous flexibility, but flexibility should not mean learning in isolation. Students become stronger readers, writers, speakers, and thinkers when they discuss ideas, hear different perspectives, ask questions, receive feedback, and explain their thinking.

These sessions will create more opportunities for discussion, collaborative activities, writing workshops, direct instruction, feedback, and small-group work while preserving the independence and flexibility of online learning.

That is EDGE in practice: using technology to provide flexibility and access while creating richer opportunities for connection, engagement, and growth.

There is also an important expectation that accompanies this change. These synchronous English sessions are part of the course, not an optional add-on. Students enrolled in English 6–9 should plan to attend, participate, and engage in their scheduled sessions three days each week. When legitimate conflicts arise, we will reasonably work with students and families, but this should be considered a priority. Talk with your advisors about how this might be balanced with your advisory times.

Our goal isn't simply to put more meetings on students' calendars. It is to make those meetings worth attending. We want an eCampus education that asks more of students while also offering more to them, and we are excited to see what our students and teachers create together this year.

The high school (grades 9-12) "Back to School" virtual night will be September 2nd from 6:00 to 6:45.

Link: https://meet.google.com/drw-xuty-iyq

We will be introducing our teachers, answering questions, and talking about what to expect for the 2026-27 school year.

Don’t forget to sign up for your AP courses before September 19th! Registering on time ensures you’re set for the year and gives you access to all the resources you’ll need to succeed. If you haven’t completed your registration yet, make sure to do so as soon as possible so you don’t miss the deadline.

Students interested in participating in high school athletics can use the provided link to find important information about getting started. The link will guide you through the requirements and steps for participation, including Red Card information, which is necessary to be eligible for sports. Be sure to check it out so you’re prepared for the season!

Start College Now provides an opportunity for high school students to earn college credit and high school credit at the same time. High school juniors and seniors are eligible to take classes during the Fall and Spring semesters. Tuition and books are paid by the school district. Contact eCampus for more information as deadlines do apply for each semester and can vary by Technical College.

Credits earned can by applied towards a degree at the Technical College and many other Wisconsin colleges.

The ECCP statute allows Wisconsin public and private high school students to take one or more courses at an institution of higher education for high school and/or college credit. Under this section, “institution of higher education” means an institution within the University of Wisconsin System, a tribally controlled college, or a private, nonprofit institution of higher education located in the state. While technical colleges are not eligible institutions under the new program, pupils that have completed 10th grade will continue to have the option to take courses at technical colleges through a separate statute, 38.12(14).

Students MUST submit their ECCP applications (no exceptions) to their school by:

• October 1 for spring courses
• February 1 for summer courses
• March 1 for fall courses

2026-2027

The 2026-2027 yearbooks can be purchased online through the Herff-Jones website: http://bit.ly/2WFzrGD. The WHS order number is 3818 (if needed).

This year, the yearbook fee will be $55. This is the only way to purchase a yearbook for this school year. Please plan accordingly as no extra yearbooks will be ordered.

The deadline to purchase a 2026-2027 yearbook is Friday, April 30, 2027. FYI...The 2026-2027 yearbook will not arrive to WHS until August, 2027.

• Senior yearbook photos will need to be uploaded directly to the Herff-Jones website: https://yearbookshare.com/eShare and the school code is 825. The senior photo should be a headshot with no hands in the photo. The deadline to upload your senior picture is Friday, November 20, 2026. Hard copy photos and emailed senior photos will not be accepted.

• Parents are reminded to double check the spelling of their senior’s name in Skyward as that name will be used for the yearbook and graduation purposes (diploma, etc.). If you want a middle name on your student’s diploma, please make sure it is updated in Skyward before the school year begins.

You can request a transcript through Parchment: Click Here for Parchment

If you are seeking an unofficial copy, please contact the eCampus Academy Registrar at vandersteega@mywusd.org

Attention high school-aged eCampus students and families! Did you know that eCampus Academy offers a Career and Accelerated Degree Pathways Program? Students in Grades 10-12 can pursue a Technical Diploma or Associate Degree while enrolled in high school in one of 10 high-demand career areas. These online courses, in cooperation with Wisconsin technical colleges, will also count as high school credit in eCampus. Students in Grades 9-12 who plan to attend a four-year institution may complete up to 30 transferable college credits, putting them on a path to potentially graduate with a Bachelor's degree in three years from a University of Wisconsin System School.

The eCampus Academy Pathways Program saves students time and money while accessing high quality, future-ready learning experiences and professional programs. We're really excited about this opportunity for students.

Please see the updated immunization requirements for school, grades K-12 below. These requirements are effective for the 2026-27 school year.

If you have any questions about immunization requirements, please contact Lynn Gilbert, District School Nurse at gilbertl@mywusd.org or 920.262.1460 ext 3219