🐾WHS ROAR REPORT🐾

At Watervliet High School, we are committed to continuously improving our school and providing the best possible experience for our students and families. One of the most valuable ways we do this is by listening to you—our parents and guardians.

Our annual Parent/Guardian Survey is now open, and we invite you to share your feedback. Your input helps guide important decisions, shape school initiatives, and strengthen the overall Panther experience.

📝 Take the survey here:
https://kentisd.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bHhVYvohGGD4Q6O?D_Code=11320&ParentGuardianSurvey

📅 Deadline: May 8

The survey only takes a few minutes to complete, and your responses are incredibly important to us. We truly value your perspective and appreciate you taking the time to provide thoughtful feedback.

Thank you for your continued support of Watervliet High School and our Panther community! 🐾

Hi Panthers,

We want to hear from you! Our annual student survey is now open, and this is your chance to share your thoughts about your experience at Watervliet High School.

Your feedback helps us improve our school, make better decisions, and create a stronger environment for all students.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey using the link below:
https://kentisd.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eKU5NexJBdqIdZI?D_Code=11320&StudentSurvey

The survey will remain open through May 8th.

We appreciate you taking the time to share your voice—your input truly matters!

Coral McGuffey received the RESA Award for High School 3D Art at the BoxFactory Community Student Art Exhibition. She entered an air dry clay dragon sculpture "Guardian of the Stars and Sky"

LMC recently took photos during Registration Day at Watervliet, and the LMC marketing department plans to feature some of them in an upcoming social media post.

LMC and Watervliet have a great partnership and we love celebrating together the growth of our Panthers~

For Earth Day, Physical Science took advantage of the nice weather and did some experimenting outside. Students were tasked with sampling soil for pH, sampling puddles of water for pH and temperature, identifying various plant and animal species, and comparing temperature differences between the air and ground to compare heat capacity.

AP Seminar students are finalizing their portfolios before they take their AP exam. They wrote arguments on social divide, the effects of fandom on socialization, the commercialization of socialization, and consumerism and socialization. Recognize the theme? Students read journal articles and studies that all focused on the history, benefits, and effects of socializing, then wrote arguments based on these stimulus materials. After they wrote their arguments, they presented their findings to the AP College Board in videotaped presentations. Here are Madison Darling and Jane Ruddell giving their presentations.

This week, we took time to celebrate three of the most hardworking and dedicated administrative assistants in town. From left to right: Mrs. Jessica Tyler (Counseling Office), Mrs. Edie Daugherty (Athletics), and Mrs. Teri Richcreek (Principal’s Office).

They do an incredible job every single day—their talent, dedication, and attention to detail never go unnoticed. We are truly fortunate to have them supporting our school and helping lead our teams to success.

SAC Meeting Notes: Wednesday, April 22nd.

Staff Recognition

• The April Staff Member of the Month was selected based on student responses.
• The selected staff member will be surprised later this week.
• Thank you to all of the students who voted!
• We will do this one more time in May!

Student Feedback (Quarter 3 Survey – 3 Questions)

• Students would like to keep the current grading/attendance incentive of 3 and a B and 5 and an A.
• Students expressed frustration about others complaining regarding medical absences being exempt. We cannot track medical absences.
• Ms. Powers will send out reminders encouraging students to maintain attendance for the remainder of the quarter to remain eligible.

Semester Schedule Discussion

• Students revisited the idea of ending Semester 1 before winter break.
• Strong support overall:
  • Aligns with college expectations
  • Allows students to fully disconnect over break without schoolwork concerns
  • It was explained that the staff is still in the process of investigating this possibility for next year.

Student Concerns

• Grading Timeliness:
  • Some teachers are taking too long (e.g., multiple weeks, then many grades entered at once)
  • Students would prefer more consistent, weekly grade updates
• Cafeteria Issues:
  • Reports of spoiled milk have led some students to stop drinking it
  • Vending machines are not consistently accepting cards
• Student Behavior & Communication:
  • Students would like teachers to model and reinforce respectful communication, as some student to teacher interactions are perceived as disrespectful

Facilities & Building Concerns

• Boys locker room conditions need improvement:
  • Non-functioning sinks
  • Toilets not flushing
• Bathrooms:
  • Frequent lack of paper towels

Clarifications & Reminders

• “Float building” does not count as community service
  • CPowers will continue to communicate this
• Students would like a reminder that teachers can take classes outside on nice days

Positive Feedback

• Students shared that:
  • They love Standards-Based Grading (SBG) and do not want it to go away
  • One student shared that SBG had "saved her life."
  • Teachers are engaged and excited in classes, and overall building positivity remains strong

State Testing Incentives

• Students are interested in rewards for those who stay engaged and work the entire testing time
• Preferred ideas:
  • Coupons
  • Fun activities
• Early dismissal (e.g., 15 minutes) was not seen as meaningful

Other Updates

• Four SAC students will assist with interviews for the open math position
• One candidate is currently identified, with interviews expected to be scheduled soon

Looking Ahead

• Next SAC meeting: 2 weeks
• Focus: Begin reviewing the student handbook

Today we’re kicking off Mental Health Matters Week at the high school! A big thank you to our student planning team—Emma Kirksey, Hanna Ice, and Reaghan Prestidge—for putting together a thoughtful week focused on positivity and calm. To start things off, we’re playing calming music during each passing time today to help set a peaceful tone throughout the building. We also shared this message over the PA this morning:

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

And today’s fun fact:

Your brain actually releases a small amount of dopamine (a “feel-good” chemical) every time you complete even a small task. So starting something—no matter how small—can help boost your mood and motivation.

Be sure to check back throughout the week for more Mental Health Matters tips and activities! #PantherPride

Van Buren Tech is celebrating 50 years of Career and Technical Education with a 50-Year Celebration Open House on Wednesday, May 27, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at our campus in Lawrence.

Mrs. Riedinger's ELA classes spend time outside this week leaving positive messages for all who enter the building.

• 🌟 Senior Superlatives 🌟

  Win the Lottery and Lose the Ticket
  Eli Alsup & Sienna Bulat

  Best to Bring Home to Your Family
  Giovanni Ayala & Moeko Crago

  Most Likely to Have Their Own Reality TV Show
  Phoenix Anderson & Natalaya Desjardin

  Most Likely to Be Late to Their Wedding
  Wyatt MacMillan & Grace Ripley

  Most Nonchalant
  Joell Dorr & Destiny Lynch

  Most Likely to Brighten Your Day
  Felipe Garcia & Grace Ripley

  Class Sweethearts
  Aiden Bryan & Nora Billings

  Most Artistic
  Jacob Shunkwiler & Ava Sprague

  Most Athletic
  Caleb Jewell & Leila Liberto-Taylor

  Most Musical
  Ben Ruland & Chris Parkhurst
  Sophie Grear & Isabella Bultema

  Most Likely to Succeed
  Julian Cardoso & Moeko Crago

  Best Buds
  Felipe Garcia & Giovanni Ayala

  Gal Pals
  Kelsey Howell & Adileni Moron

  Best Dressed
  Jacob Shunkwiler & Natalaya Desjardin

  Most Spirited
  Felipe Garcia & Kendall Kiefer

  Most Senioritis
  Jaxon Allen & Aubrey Hayes

Take a look at the photo—our students have been spreading kindness and support by tagging lockers with positive reminders for one another. Small messages can make a big impact, and it’s been incredible to see our school community lift each other up.

Today’s Quote:

“Talk to yourself like someone you love.” — Brené Brown

Today’s Tip:

The way we speak to ourselves matters more than we think. Studies show that positive self-talk can lower stress and anxiety, while also improving performance in school, sports, and everyday life.

Let’s continue to choose kindness—not just toward others, but toward ourselves. #MentalHealthMatters #PantherPride

Destiny Stenson’s poem has been selected for publication in the Benton Spirit newspaper! She is one of only four individuals chosen in celebration of April’s Poetry Month.

Congratulations, Destiny—we are proud of you!

The 53rd Annual Watervliet Relays took place Friday—and it truly was a Good Friday. After a stretch of tough conditions, we were finally treated to beautiful weather with temperatures in the 70s. About 15 schools competed in this year’s event.

Hopkins once again came out on top, but the Panthers showed clear improvement from last year’s finish. We also saw several strong individual performances and a number of personal records (and yes—some impressive split times, even if they don’t officially count!). While we didn’t capture every split we hoped for, here’s a look at the highlights from the meet:

Shot Put
Landon Layer led the Panther duo with a PR throw of 33’2.5”. Eli Alsup followed with a solid 28’10”.

Discus
The order remained the same, with Landon throwing 104’5”. Eli recorded a PR with a throw of 93’3”. Their combined distance of 197’8” earned a 6th-place finish.

Pole Vault
Gabe Martinez represented the Panthers as the lone entry and delivered a PR performance, clearing 9’0”. Great work—keep building, Gabe!

Long Jump
Cole Getz placed 6th overall with a jump of 19’3”. Kevin Johnson stepped in and contributed with a strong 15’0” effort.

4x1600 Relay – 3rd Place (20:56)
Tony Perez opened with a 5:07 split, followed by Zeke Cordozo-Aviles (5:19 PR split) and Froylan Flores (5:30 PR split). Sam Casiano anchored with an impressive 4:58.

Middle Distance Relay – 4th Place (6:44.13)
This unique event features an 800-400-400-800 format.
Sam led off (2:13), followed by Zeke (62s), Gavin Leiter (67s), and Tony closing in 2:21.

Shuttle Hurdle Relay – 3rd Place (56.54)
Cole Getz, Alvin Jones, Jayden Brassard, and Gabe Martinez combined for a strong 3rd-place finish—an impressive jump from 8th place last year.

Panther Relay – 7th Place
This signature relay (200-300-100-400) saw Cole (24.9), Alvin (40.6), Jayden (11.9), and Kevin (58.9) combine for a big improvement from last year’s 10th-place finish.

4x800 Relay – 2nd Place
The same quartet from the 4x1600 delivered again:
Tony (2:22), Zeke (2:27), Froylan (2:26), and Sam closing strong in 2:17.

4x100 Relay – 53.81
Kaden Leiter, Gabe Martinez, Kevin Johnson, and Eli Alsup competed in a race where splits weren’t recorded due to exchange zone assignments.

4x400 Relay – 4:08.98
Gabe (67), Jayden (59.1), Alvin (60.9), and Kevin (62) rounded out the day with a solid performance.

Up Next
The Panthers return to action tonight at home against Bridgman and Fennville. Events begin at 4:30 PM.

Monday night brought great conditions for a track and field meet—maybe a little cool, but overall a solid evening. The Panthers hosted Bridgman and Fennville, facing one team strong in sprints and another dominant in distance.

The team continues to show improvement, highlighted by 10 personal records (PRs) on the night. While the Panthers fell to Bridgman, they secured a win over Fennville.

Highlights & Results

Field Events:

• Shot Put: Landon Layer opened the night with a PR throw of 34’4”, while Eli Alsup followed with 29’3”.
• Discus: Landon (96’3.5”) and Eli (92’9”) placed 2nd and 3rd.
• Long Jump: Cole Getz placed 2nd overall (1st vs. Fennville) with 19’6.5”. Tony Perez added a PR at 16’4.5”.
• Pole Vault: Gabe Martinez cleared 8’0” to take 1st.
• High Jump: Kyle Domingo-Sturgeon won with a jump of 5’6”.

Relays & Distance:

• 4x800 Relay: Took 1st vs. Fennville (9:43), with strong legs from Tony Perez, Froylan Flores (PR), Gavin Leiter, and Zeke Cardozo-Aviles.
• 1600 Run: Sam Casiano placed 1st (4:52), with Gavin Leiter and Froylan Flores close behind.
• 3200 Run: Sam (10:28) and Zeke (12:06) went 1-2 to help secure the win over Fennville.

Sprints & Mid-Distance:

• 100M: Cole Getz ran a PR of 11.80. Multiple PRs followed from Jayden Brassard, Tyler Woodson, Gabe Martinez, and Kaden Leiter.
• 4x200 Relay: Strong performance at 1:40.93, just shy of a season best.
• 400M: Kevin Johnson led with 59.76, followed by KDS and Zeke (PR).
• 800M: Tony Perez (2:19) and Froylan Flores (PR 2:21) led the way.
• 200M: Cole posted a season best (24.67), with PRs from Kevin Johnson and Tyler Woodson.

Other Key Events:

• 4x100 Relay: Delivered crucial points with a time of 53.21.
• 300M Hurdles: Gabe Martinez placed 2nd overall (1st vs. Fennville).
• 4x400 Relay: Closed the night with a 4:44 effort.

The Watervliet Harriers traveled to Saugatuck for two dual meets. While team scores didn’t go our way, it was a strong night for individual performances, and the great weather made for ideal competition conditions.

Highlights included Landon Layer placing 2nd in both shot put and discus, Cole Getz winning long jump against one team and running strong in the sprints, and Sam Casiano taking 1st in the 1600 and running a PR in the 3200. Kevin Johnson (400), Gabe Martinez (300 hurdles), and Zeke Cardozo-Aviles (800) all earned PRs, with several others contributing solid efforts across events.

Overall, a great night of individual growth and competition.

Next meet: Wednesday at Gobles, 4:30 PM

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are excited to share that the Smile Program will be bringing a mobile dentist to our district! This is a wonderful opportunity for your child to receive dental care right at school in a safe, familiar environment.

Great news! Your child can receive dental services during the school day—and in most cases, there is no cost to you if your child is insured through Medicaid or CHIP. Private insurance and affordable self-pay options are also available.

Easy & Convenient
Having your child seen by the in-school dentist saves you valuable time. Licensed, local dental professionals will provide care at school, including:

• Complete dental exam

• X-rays

• Cleaning

• Fluoride treatments

• Sealants (when needed)

• Basic restorative care, such as fillings (if necessary)

Keep Your Child Healthy
Regular dental care helps reduce the risk of:

• Early tooth loss caused by decay

• Gum disease

• Heart disease

• Impaired speech development

Taking care of your child’s teeth is an important part of their overall health and well-being.

Program Dates:

• North School: May 18–19

• South School: May 20

• Middle/High/Way School: May 21

To participate, please complete and return the consent form that was sent home with your child. You may also sign up online at myschooldentist.com or by scanning the QR code located on the application.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school office.

Warm Regards,

Mary Spaulding BSN RN

Watervliet Public Schools

269-463-0890

mary.spaulding@watervlietps.org

2026 After Prom @ Nitro Zone

Watervliet High School Junior and Senior students, and their guests are invited to attend the 2026 After Prom.

When: Sunday, May 3, 2026, 12:00 a.m. – 5:00 a.m. - Buses will depart at 12:00 a.m. from the Watervliet High School cafeteria/gym entrance.

Where: Nitro Zone, 58419 Pokagon St., Dowagiac, MI 49047

Cost: $10 per student (cash, CashApp, or Venmo)

Who Can Attend:

Any Watervliet Junior or Senior (even if you did not attend Prom)
Watervliet Sophomores attending Prom with a Watervliet Junior or Senior
Non‑Watervliet students attending Prom with a Watervliet Junior or Senior

What to Wear: Comfortable, casual attire (PJ's are allowed)

What’s Included: Axe Throwing, Arcades & Games, Laser Tag, Mini‑Roller Coaster, Bowling, Billiards

Food & Drinks: Billi Pizza, Pop & Cookies will be served

Important Reminders:

• EVERY ATTENDEE must return a signed permission slip & waiver to attend! Slips & Waivers are located in Mrs. Tyler's office.
• All school rules apply.
• Once students arrive, no one may leave early - NO EXCEPTIONS.
• Parents/guardians will be contacted that evening if their student does not arrive to attend the After Prom event.

Chaperone's of the Event:

Carrie Wilder: 260.750.2607 / carrie.wilder@watervlietps.org

Teresa Collins: 269.325.4446

If you would like to volunteer by chaperoning at the After Prom Event, please contact Carrie or Teresa.

Goody's Wash-n-Go is sponsoring a scholarship for Watervliet baseball and softball players. I attached the posters for it, the application is this google form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexKLT5ifTGDIH8u02eGXRdnND4TXG_DDT7vFIjAXSCrlgvCQ/viewform?usp=header

Watervliet High School is excited to celebrate our seniors as they take the next step in their journey through our upcoming Decision Day celebration!

Decision Day is a national initiative held each spring to recognize and honor graduating seniors for their post-high school plans. Whether students are heading to college, entering the workforce, joining the military, or pursuing a trade, this day is about celebrating all paths and the bright futures ahead.

At WHS, Decision Day is a meaningful tradition that allows our seniors to be recognized for their hard work and to proudly share what comes next. Each senior will have the opportunity to announce their plans for life after high school, creating a powerful and memorable moment for our entire school community.

📅 Event Details:

10:00 AM

We warmly invite all senior parents and families to attend and be part of this special celebration. In addition, siblings from the middle school are welcome to join us, making this a full community event.

This is more than just an event—it’s a celebration of growth, achievement, and the exciting future ahead for the Class of 2026. We look forward to honoring our seniors and sharing this proud moment together.

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

As we return from spring break, we want to take a moment to reset and recommit to our school expectations so that everyone can learn in a focused, respectful environment.

Over the past several weeks, we’ve provided reminders and grace as students adjusted to the dress code. Beginning after spring break, those reminders will transition to consistent enforcement. If a staff member observes a dress code concern—such as a visible midsection, belly button, or clothing worn off the shoulder—it will result in a referral and a detention.

Our goal is not to be punitive, but to ensure clarity and consistency for all students. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a positive and distraction-free learning environment.

Thank you for doing your part, Panthers—let’s finish the year strong! 🐾

We want to give you a heads-up and help everyone get prepared for an upcoming change. A new state law will require that cell phones are not allowed in classrooms at any time—for any reason. This includes before the bell rings as class is starting.

To help everyone adjust smoothly, we are asking you to begin practicing this expectation now. Please keep your phone in your locker and turned off during class time, and do not bring it into the classroom.

This is about creating the best possible learning environment for everyone, and we appreciate your effort in getting ahead of the change.

Let’s be proactive and lead the way, Panthers! 🐾

📚 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