Parent Update 2025

Dear Families and Friends,

Now that our students are back, the "soul" of the school has returned. I am so energized by the sense of a fresh start. To me, January is an opportunity for every one of our students to turn the page and decide what the next chapter of their story will look like.

In 2026, my hope for every student at WHS is that they find their "spark." Whether that’s a newfound passion in their classes, a connection with a teacher, or the courage to be brave by participating in front of their peers, we are here to nurture that flame. Over the course of each school year, I am always excited to see the growth, to see who our students are becoming. What paths are they considering for their future selves?

Thank you again for your partnership and support of the amazing students and staff at WHS. I hope to see you all at next week’s Parent Teacher Conferences.

Warmly,

Jason Widiker, Principal
Watertown High School

Thursday, January 15 (4:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.)

WHS will be hosting in person Parent Teacher Conferences on Thursday, January 15 from 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm in WHS classrooms. Parents can register for Parent Teacher Conferences via Skyward Family Access until Wednesday, January 14 at 11:59 pm.

With that in mind, families are welcome to call or email WHS teachers at any time. If parents or guardians would like to have a face to face meeting with teachers, but can't attend conferences, be sure to schedule an appointment with the teacher for a different time. Teacher contact information can be found on the WHS website staff directory.

If you have any questions, please contact the WHS Administration at any time. We look forward to partnering with families to ensure all of our students find success at WHS!

Students started the course selection progress this week during homeroom. Course selection will be due by January 23, 2026.

While WHS staff members have already begun conversations with students regarding post-secondary plans, please ask your child what interests they have and encourage them to seek out classes to help them achieve their goals. Not sure what classes connect with their plans? The WHS Coursebook is the place to go for course offerings and descriptions. As always, WHS counselors are happy to help clarify any questions or concerns you may have. We look forward to this collaboration every year!

The WHS local scholarship information is available for students and families to visit and is updated frequently as new opportunities become available

All applications are due by Monday, March 2, 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. Please plan accordingly to ensure all requirements are completed on time. If you have any questions, please contact Katie Pirkel, WHS Scholarship Chairperson.

WHS Local Scholarship Information

Junior Families

WHS continues to prepare junior students for the statewide ACT test on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Junior students where given the information on how to access ACT prep materials through IXL and ACT.org. IXL is a resource that WHS junior students can use as much as possible before the ACT test on March 18.

Families are encouraged to communicate with their student about their ACT goals, progress on IXL test prep, and the importance of putting maximum effort into the ACT exam day on March 18, 2026. Thanks in advance for your support as we help our students take advantage of as many career opportunities as possible by demonstrating academic excellence on the ACT!

ACT Sunday Prep Opportunities

WHS will host ACT prep courses for Science, English, and Math on Sunday afternoons in February. Students can sign up for an individual course for a fee of $12 per course or you can bundle all three for $30. To secure a spot, please register with Mrs. Klinger in the Bookkeeping Office. A minimum of 12 students is needed to avoid cancellation. Refunds will only be issued if the school cancels the sessions. The dates and times for each course are as follows:

2/1/26 - ELA and Reading - 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
2/22/26 - Math - 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
3/15/26 - Science - 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

“Why do I need an ACT Score?”

WHS staff will continue to share important resources with students but want to also equip families with as much information as possible in preparation for the 2026 ACT exam. One helpful resource for understanding the value of the ACT can be found here. Note the article is written for educators, but it is more important than ever for our students and families to understand the value of the ACT test regardless of future career path.

An additional resource for students is “What Can the ACT do for you?”.

Did you know that WHS has a partner school in Germany? In October, we will be welcoming 15 students from the Werratalschule to experience life in Watertown for about a week. Then, in June 2027, a group of Watertown students will visit Germany. All Watertown high school age students are welcome to be a part of the exchange by either hosting a German, traveling, or both--no knowledge of German is necessary. Find out more at the informational meeting on Sunday, January 11th from 7-8 pm in WHS room S274. Questions? Contact Frau Schneider with questions.

The Watertown Police Department and WUSD have received several concerns from neighbors in the Carriage Hill Drive and Country Lane areas regarding parking near the high school campus. We would like to remind parents to please observe the 'No Parking' signs (active from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM) when waiting for students. While we understand that pickup can be a challenge, we ask for your cooperation in finding alternative parking areas to help keep our neighborhood safe and accessible for everyone.

Junior students interested in government, leadership, and meeting other juniors from around the state, are encouraged to check out Badger State Boys and Badger State Girls! It is an all-expense paid week long opportunity at UW-Eau Claire for Boys and UW-Oshkosh for girls. It also looks great on a high school resume. If interested, see Ms. Pirkel in the Main Office.

Badger Girls State

Badger Boys State

11th Grade Families

As you are aware, Watertown High School is participating in the Direct Admit Wisconsin program for the Class of 2027. UW Direct Admit is an opportunity for 11th grade students to be automatically admitted to participating University of Wisconsin system schools free of charge. Direct Admit Wisconsin offers early and proactive admission to participating Universities of Wisconsin for rising seniors at participating Wisconsin high schools.

In order to participate, 11th grade families must log into Skyward Family Access and “opt-in” by Friday, May 1, 2026. Directions are attached on how to locate the Direct Admit Wisconsin in Skyward Family Access. If you have any questions, contact Mrs. True, WHS counselor, at (920) 262-7500 x6825 or truea@mywusd.org

January Rotary Student

Watertown High School is proud to announce our Rotary Club outstanding seniors! These students have demonstrated excellence in academics, athletics, extracurricular activities, and community service. Each Monday, WHS seniors will join the Rotary Club at their weekly meetings, providing an opportunity to celebrate their achievements and connect with community leaders. This program highlights the dedication and hard work of our students and fosters valuable connections between WHS and the Watertown community. Congratulations to all our recognized seniors!

Allison Howlett is the daughter of Eric Howlett and Jackie Oestreich. Allison has been a four-year member of HOSA (Future Health Professionals) and the softball team. Allison demonstrates leadership as the Secretary for both the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society and her participation in the WHS Athletic Leadership Club. Through the Youth Apprenticeship Program, Allison currently serves as a Pharmacy Technician at Aurora Summit Hospital. Following graduation, she intends to pursue a degree in Nursing at WCTC.

Sarin Johnson is the daughter of Thomas and Angela Johnson. Sarin has been a four-year member of the WHS Orchestra program. She is also a member of Tri-M Music Honor Society, National Honor Society, and INTERACT (Student Rotary) where she is currently serving as Secretary. Sarin is presently working at Fisher Barton and Mullens and plans on attending UW-Madison to receive a degree in Data Science.

Brady Lessner is the son of Ryan and Emily Lessner. Brady has been a four year member of the WHS Music Program participating in WHS Carolers, Musicals, Choir, and Orchestra. He has also been a four year member of the baseball team. Brady has also been active during his high school career in National Honor Society, serving as the tutor coordinator this year, Spanish Honor Society, Student Council, and INTERACT (Student Rotary). Brady plans to attend Maryville University in Missouri to major in Sports Business Management and play baseball.

German Students

Upper level German students have had a culturally rich December! After making "Zimtsterne" (cinnamon star cookies) together, which we used for St. Nick's Day, German 6 & 8 pursued different paths. Third year students learned how to write recipes and successfully translated recipes into German, while fourth year students researched holiday traditions in Germany and gave interactive presentations to the whole class. Finally, the classes came together again to watch a video of "Hansel & Gretel," where they were introduced to the source of the allusions in an article about gingerbread houses. Today, they built gingerbread houses on the foundation of this background knowledge.

Holiday Trivia

The WHS administration held a holiday trivia contest before break during lunch to get the student into the holiday spirit! Trivia included questions regarding WHS/Watertown, academics, holidays, and pop culture.

Mr. Crandall and Mr. Diderrich emceed the holiday trivia event on December 19.

Winners from A Lunch included: Sophia Anderson, Cadence LaDew, Elisabeth Huhn, and Jayden Laehr

Winners from B Lunch included: Davis Cashin, Brody Winkelman, Brady Crane, and Brady Lessner; Missing from the picture was Jack Sullivan and Drew Schauer

Freshman Preview Night (Current 8th Graders): Thursday, January 15
Parent Teacher Conferences: Thursday, January 15 (4:30 - 7 p.m.)
No School - Staff Professional Development: Monday, January 19
26-27 Course Selection Due: Friday, January 23