Parent Update 25-26

We are down to the Elite 8 for our school wide “Attendance Madness”! Congrats to the first hour classes who are still alive. This week there is a trip to the final four on line with the following classes competing against each other. Keep showing up!

Mrs. Willman (#1) vs. Mr. Dobbins (#2)

Mr. Moldenhauer (#5) vs. Mr. Cashin (#2)

Mr. Van Haaften (#5) vs. Mrs. Wegner (#2)

Mr. Spatchek (#1) vs. Ms. Acosta (#6)

Parents, please remind your students about the following:

Students should be checking in and out from Ms. Vian in the Attendance Office at the front of the building when entering and leaving the building. It is a school rules violation to enter/exit the building from any other doors.
Students should be leaving their cell phones in the caddy when leaving classrooms during instruction. Failure to do so will result in a cell phone violation.
We are asking students to do their best to pick up after themselves in the commons area and in the hallways to keep our school clean.

We appreciate all your attention to these matters to continue to help make WHS run smoothly.

GO GOSLINGS!

Graduation Ceremony

The Class of 2026 Graduation Ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 10 a.m. in the WHS Fieldhouse. Arrangements are being made to live-stream the ceremony for additional family members. No graduation tickets will be needed this year.

Graduation Slideshow Pictures

The Graduation Committee is looking for childhood (baby/elementary school) pictures for the senior slideshow. Pictures can be submitted to whsgradpics@gmail.com. The deadline to submit pictures is Friday, May 1.

Senior Fees

All student fees are to be paid by Friday, May 22nd to the Bookkeeping Office or via Skyward/RevTrak. Payments may be made by cash or credit card only. Remember, fees must be paid by cash or credit card in order to participate in the Graduation Ceremony. Students will be notified at Graduation Rehearsal if they have any remaining outstanding fees. Parents can check their student fees at any time via Skyward Family Access.

Graduation Caps & Gowns

Seniors who missed the pick up of Jostens senior items, should stop in the Main Office to pick up their items. Students who didn't order their cap and gown yet, are encouraged to do so ASAP, by calling the Jostens Office at 262-899-8334 or ordering on their website: jostens.com.

(Especially Seniors!)

As we continue through the trimester, please continue checking your student’s grades in Skyward and communicate with your student’s WHS teachers if there are any academic concerns. This is especially important for our seniors who are close to the finish line! With only seven weeks remaining in the trimester as well as the school year it is more important than ever to ensure that your student makes the most of the academic opportunities available in their classes. It is a busy, exciting time of year and WHS staff want to partner with WHS families to ensure every student has a fantastic, successful end to the school year!

Are you still on the fence about hosting a German or traveling to Germany? Information is power: come to the final informational meeting on Sunday, April 12 at 6 pm in room 274 and find out for sure if hosting or traveling is for you! See Frau Schneider with any questions.

Thursday, April 16

As we enter the season of increased severe weather activity, we want to emphasize the importance of preparedness and safety. To ensure that everyone is ready in the event of an emergency, we will be conducting a Tornado Drill on April 16 at 1:40 pm in coordination with the statewide Tornado Drill happening at 1:45 pm.

During the drill, it is crucial that all students follow the designated safety steps and move to the assigned shelter areas quickly and efficiently.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Assistant Principal Justin Diderrich for assistance.

Monday, April 27 (4:30 - 7 p.m.)

WHS will be hosting in person Parent Teacher Conferences on Monday, April 27 from 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm in WHS classrooms. An email will be sent to families when conference sign up opens.

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!

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Deadline to Order Friday, May 1, 2026

The 2025-2026 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.

Current Junior Students/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

Saturday, May 2

Prom is Saturday, May 2 in the WHS Commons from 8:00-11:30, with the Post Prom to follow at the Elks Lodge from 11:30-2:00 am in downtown Watertown. Get ready for an amazing night!

Prom tickets are on sale at the WHS Bookkeeping Office. Tickets purchased before April 25 will be $30, but after that, the price goes up to $35. Don’t wait! That ticket to prom also gets you into the post prom. When you make the purchase, your name will go on a list, and at prom you will receive a wristband to get into the dance and post prom.

Everything at prom is then free, including valet parking, coat check, and refreshments. Everything at Post Prom is free as well, including a huge buffet of food, casino games, and a pool, ping-pong, and bags tournament–all with prize money. In purchasing a ticket your name goes in for a drawing for loads of door prizes, including a Trek bike, Apple watch, dorm fridge, cash–and much, much more–but you MUST be present at Post Prom to win!

Prom Guest Passes are now available at the Bookkeeping Office. Junior and seniors are able to bring one guest to Prom. Guests must be in the 9th grade and no older than 19 years old. Students who graduated early, must be a guest of a current WHS student and complete a guest pass. The completed guest pass and a $10 non-refundable fee are due to the Bookkeeping Office by Friday, April 24, by 3:30 p.m. No exceptions will be made so plan accordingly!

Prom Message from WHS Associate Principals

Since prom is right around the corner, we want to make sure that students who are eligible to go to Prom can do so. Students must have served any outstanding detentions by Thursday, April 30th. Additionally, students who are considered habitually truant (10 or more dates of unexcused absences/truancies) will not be allowed to purchase a ticket to prom. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Pennington (ext. 6805) or Mr. Diderrich (ext. 6804).

Post Prom Information

Post Prom takes place at the Elks Lodge, 117 N 1st St, Watertown, WI 53094 from 11:30 PM - 2:00 AM.

We want to create a fun and memorable event for our students! Post Prom will be a safe and FREE (with the purchase of a Prom ticket) event that is open to all WHS students!

The community of Watertown, along with our WHS parents/guardians and local businesses, have always done a fantastic job of providing all of the food, door prizes, decorations, etc. for this event. This year we are going to make it easy for all involved!

If you are willing and able, we ask that each family give a donation of $5 - $10. It is that simple!

Donations can be made in one of three ways:

CASH - Your student can give their cash donation to Mrs. Pam Suski (WHS English Teacher) at the high school. (Her classroom is S224.)
Check or Money Order - Make these payable to WHS Post Prom and give to Mrs. Pam Suski at WHS or mail to “Prom Advisor - Pam Suski, 825 Endeavour Dr, Watertown, WI 53098”.
VENMO - It’s so EASY! You can Venmo Jennifer Harris: @Jennifer-Harris-289

Please remind your student(s) that NO CARRY INS will be allowed. There will be plenty of food and drinks available for FREE! Everything is free at Post Prom with that Prom ticket. (No students will be admitted into the Elks Lodge after 12:15 AM.)

Thank you in advance for your willingness to help support Prom/Post Prom 2025! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jennifer Harris at 608-214-5453.

Pam Suski - Prom Advisor

Jennifer Harris - Post Prom Organizer

At Watertown Unified School District, we are committed to upholding a tradition of academic excellence while embracing innovation and transformation in the ways our students learn. As we approach standardized state assessment season, it is more important than ever to ensure that students are practicing healthy Chromebook habits to maximize their success.

We ask for your partnership in reinforcing the following essential habits at home:

Charge Nightly – Ensure your child’s Chromebook is fully charged each night so they are ready for learning each day.
Bring It Every Day – Students should bring their Chromebook to school daily and take it home each night for proper care and charging.
Create a Focused Learning Environment – Encourage Chromebook use in a quiet, distraction-free space.
Monitor Usage – Regularly check your child’s online activity to promote responsible digital citizenship.
Encourage Breaks – Remind your child to take screen breaks to reduce eye strain and maintain focus.
Handle with Care – Chromebooks are valuable learning tools. Remind students to transport and store them safely.

With assessments approaching, these habits are key in helping students stay prepared, engaged, and successful. Thank you for your continued support in fostering responsible technology use. Together, we are preparing our students for a future of limitless possibilities.

Work permits for students 15 and younger must be obtained online through the Department of Workforce Development's Equal Rights Division website. Below is a link on how parents/guardians can create an account and complete the work permit.

April Rotary

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!

Garett Harris is the son of Cristopher and Jennifer Harris. He has been a dedicated four year member of Student Council, currently serving as Senior Class President, HOSA (Future Health Professionals), and the Varsity Boys Soccer team. Garett is also a member of National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and the Athletic Leadership Club. Currently, employed as a custodian at the Watertown Moravian Church, he plans on attending UW-La Crosse to major in Physical Therapy and minor in Spanish.

Willem Heier is the son of Josh and Stacie Heier. Willem has spent four years as a member of the Boys Swim Team and Track and Field Team. He is also a current member of the National Honor Society and the Athletic Leadership Club. Willem also participated in Cross Country, the Music Department, and has volunteered at Cornerstone of Grace. Willem is employed by Doctors of Physical Therapy and is planning to attend UW-Madison to pursue a degree in healthcare.

Elisabeth Huhn is the daughter of Todd and Barbi Huhn. Elisabeth has been a dedicated four-year member of the Girls Swimming Team and the WHS Music Department, contributing to Marching Band, Pep Band, Jazz Band and Wind Symphony. She also has been a member of National Honor Society, National German Honor Society, and Track & Field. Elisabeth can also be found volunteering her time at Camp Phillip, Blue Butterfly, Vacation Bible School, and as a church musician. She is currently a WUSD tutor to other students and plans on attending Wisconsin Lutheran College to study in their Pre-Optometry program.

Art Award

Watertown High School Advanced Placement Art Student Nathan Anderson was recognized with an award at last month's State Youth Art Month Exhibit. More than 500 qualifying art pieces from regions all around the state were part of the display at East Towne Mall and judges selected a small number of winners based on artistic merit. Nathan's painting "Deer Boy" was chosen for one of the prestigious Royal Brush Co. awards. Pictured here are Art Teacher Dave Pawl who entered the work and Nathan Anderson with the award winning piece.

Song of the Day

WHS held it's Song of the Day Contest today! First hour classrooms who meet their goal for the week were eligible to call in. Mr. Gross' 1st hour class was the 24th caller with the correct song title and artist, which was "Cupid Shuffle" by Cupid. The class was treated to muffins! Congratulations!