We hope you are enjoying your summer! We are excited to provide you with some general information about the student registration process and the upcoming 2023-24 school year.

Online Skyward Registration will be available from July 24 – September 8. Everyone is required to go through the Online Skyward Registration process which can be completed from your home. 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.

You will be given the opportunity online to pay fees with a credit card, near the end of the registration process. Paying by check or credit card will result in a convenience fee of 3% (online). If you are making a payment to a Food Service account, the convenience fee will be waived. You may also pay with cash or check at WHS on the registration day. You may also mail your payment to Watertown High School, Attn: Bookkeeping, 825 Endeavour Dr., Watertown, WI 53098.

Students requesting bus transportation for the 23-24 school year, must complete the Go Riteway Bus Form by Sunday, July 30, 2023 to guarantee routing the first week of school.

WHS will host the 2023 Freshmen Experience for all incoming freshman students on Tuesday, August 15th from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. The Freshmen Experience will begin at 8 a.m. in the WHS Commons. The event will provide incoming freshmen with an opportunity to prepare for the transition to high school through sessions designed to introduce students to life as a WHS student.

During the event, incoming freshmen will have an opportunity to get to know their classmates, explore the building, learn important skills to prepare them for the school year, meet WHS faculty, ask questions of current WHS students, run through a mock schedule, and learn more about co-curricular offerings. The event provides the perfect opportunity to jump start your student’s experience at WHS. Lunch will be included for all students. If you have not signed up for the event, please do so through Skyward Family Access.

Please mark your calendars for our Back to School Night on Wednesday, August 30th from 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. The purpose of this informal event is to provide our families the opportunity to meet faculty and learn more about the curricular and co-curricular offerings available at WHS. All faculty will be in attendance.

This year’s Academic Award winners will be recognized on Wednesday, August 30th at 7 p.m. in the WHS Auditorium. Invites will be emailed home to students and families who will be honored.

The first day of school is Friday, September 1st with a full-day for all students from 8:00-3:30. Students will attend their assigned Homeroom class during the ELT period (9:17 a.m. - 9:52 a.m.) for the first week of classes. There is no set school supply list at the high school level. Please have your student bring a notebook/folder and a writing utensil for each class.

Network Photography will be at WHS to take student pictures on Thursday, September 7th (Student Last Name A – L) and Friday, September 8th (Student Last Name M – Z) in the WHS Auditorium. It is important that your student has their picture taken to secure a student ID card. Picture make-up day will take place on Friday, October 13th from 10:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the WHS Media Center.

The 2023-2024 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 $50. This is the only way to purchase a yearbook for this school year. Please plan accordingly as no extra yearbooks will be ordered.

The 2022-2023 yearbooks have arrived at WHS. If you ordered a copy, please stop by the WHS Front Office during the hours of 7 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. to pick up your book.

Homecoming 2023 will take place the week of September 24. More details will be shared as the week approaches!

Friday, September 29:

• WHS Pep Rally
• Homecoming Parade Downtown (4 p.m.)
• WHS Football Game vs. Mount Horeb (7 p.m.)
  
  

Saturday, September 30:

• Homecoming Dance (8 p.m. - 11 p.m.)
  
  

Families will be able to purchase 2023 Homecoming t-shirts using this link: https://watertownusd.revtrak.net/ To place your t-shirt order, go the Browse Menu on the upper left and click WHS t-shirts. Shirt sizes small through XL will be $15 and 2XL will be $17 and 3XL will be $18. The Homecoming theme will be "I've Got the Music in Me!" (Seniors – Country; Juniors – Rock; Sophomores – Pop; Freshman – Hip-Hop) The deadline to order a t-shirt is Friday, September 1st.

Senior yearbook photos will need to be uploaded directly to the Herff-Jones website: www.hjeshare.com 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 3, 2023. 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 their diploma. If you want a middle name on your student’s diploma, please make sure it is updated in Skyward before the school year begins.

All parking information will be collected online via the Skyward Registration Process. Parents will need to enter the following information into the online form: student driver’s license number, car make, model, year, color, current insurance vendor and policy number. Parents will need to add the parking fee of $100 to the checkout process when completing the registration. The parking fee must be paid in full. Parking hang tags for those students who have completed the registration process and fee payment will be handed out during the first week of school.

As we move into the 2023-24 school year, please keep the following items in mind:

• The WHS school day will begin at 8 a.m. and dismiss at 3:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. On Wednesdays, school will begin at 8:00 a.m. and dismiss at 2:15 p.m.
• We will continue with the 35-minute Extended Learning Time (ELT) enrichment period at the conclusion of 1st hour every day. During ELT, students will have an opportunity to make up assessments, receive additional instructional support from their teachers, and receive important information. ELT will include a schedule that will allow movement so students are able to access teachers and classes for which they need additional support. Please note that to start the school year, students will report to their assigned homeroom until further notice in order to receive essential information to begin the school year.
• To minimize the disruption to class periods, WHS will be moving to a two lunch schedule for the 23-24 school year. "A Lunch" will take place before the start of 3rd hour and "B Lunch" will take place at the conclusion of 3rd hour.

WUSD will continue with the early release on Wednesdays at 2:15 p.m. Buses will depart immediately after school on Wednesday’s at 2:30 p.m.

While we fully expect that the majority of the students will leave WHS following the 2:15 p.m. dismissal each Wednesday, we understand that may not be possible, nor practical, for all students. Consequently, we have a plan of supervision for students who need to remain at WHS as follows:

• Supervised areas will include the commons, as well as the Media Center and Computer Lab for those interested in having a quiet place to study.
• We will monitor the number of students who remain after school, as well as their interests, and make modifications to our after school ‘offerings’ as needed.
• Please note that supervised areas will conclude at 3:15 p.m.

Individual student schedules will be made available to students and families on Wednesday, August 16th.

• Students wishing to make adjustments to their schedule must complete the Schedule Change Form using the link provided beginning on August 21, 2023. Requests for changes MUST be submitted using this form. No email requests will be considered.
• Requests for Schedule Changes will be processed starting the week of August 21. No requests for schedule changes will be reviewed or acted upon until the week of August 21.
• Please understand that it is still possible for student schedules to be adjusted after August 21. The courses a student has been placed in will continue to be honored, however there may be the need to move students to a different section of the same course at a different time of the day to balance enrollments.
• Please note that the priority of schedule changes will be given to those students who have conflicts in their schedules, require changes for course work completed over the summer, have failed to meet prerequisite requirements based on the results of classes taken in the spring trimester, or are looking to take a more rigorous course.
• As stated previously, please note that not all schedule change requests can be honored. There are numerous reasons for this, including classes closed after reaching seating capacity, conflicts with classes offered at specific times, changes that may interfere with the ability to meet graduation requirements, etc.
• Students may make schedule changes during the DROP/ADD Period, which includes the first three days of the trimester (September 1st, 5th, and 6th). Changes made at this time are once again limited to availability. Note this applies to each of the three trimesters during the school year.
• We will not make schedule changes for the first trimester after September 6th. Please see page 91 of the 2023-24 WHS Course Description Book for more information on the Drop/Add Policy.

On Wednesday, October 11th, sophomore and junior students have the opportunity to take the PSAT/NMSQT, or “practice SAT,” at WHS. The PSAT is an optional, online 2.5 hour test that is taken in preparation for the college admission process. The PSAT has a Reading, Writing, and Math section. Results are used to create the National Merit Scholarship score. Students who take the PSAT during their junior year are considered for the National Merit Scholarship competition. The most common reason students take the PSAT include:

*To receive feedback on strengths and weaknesses and focus preparation efforts
*To see how you compare to others applying to college
*To enter the competition for the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (grade 11)
*To help you prepare for the SAT

If your student is interested in this opportunity, please see Kathy Klinger at the WHS Bookkeeping Office to pay the $20 fee (cash or check). Limited spots are available, so be sure to sign up soon. The deadline to sign up is September 1st at 3:30 pm.

Student locker information will be available on Skyward Family Access starting on August 16th.

On Skyward Family Access, parents will find the 2023 Free and Reduced Price School Meal form. Forms can be turned in to any of the district schools. A new form must be completed each school year.

Parents interested in purchasing student insurance should visit the Student Assurance Services website.

Student work permits 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.

In an effort to be both fiscally responsible and environmentally friendly, WHS does not routinely mail hard copies of report cards home. This would include the conclusion of the grading periods and progress report grades. All grades can be viewed in Skyward. If you do not have internet access at home, please contact the Student Services Office so hard copies can be sent to you.

• Freshman Experience: Tuesday, August 15 - 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
• Back to School Night: Wednesday, August 30 - 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
• Academic Awards: Wednesday, August 30 - 7 p.m.
• First Day of School: Friday, September 1
• Picture Day: September 7 & 8 - 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
• Homecoming Week: September 24 - 30
• College & Career Night: Monday, October 2