Kimberly High School May 2026

Hello KHS Families,

There is so much to celebrate this month! As we enter the final stretch of the school year, it’s important to pause and recognize the incredible effort our students and staff have demonstrated. From the ACT and PreACT to the MAP and Forward exams, their focus and determination have been evident. I am continually proud of the persistence and commitment our students show each and every day.

In addition to their work in the classroom, our students have also achieved outstanding success in a variety of areas:

• We would like to congratulate our DECA students—Gavin Feistel, Preston Jackson, Jason Krizan, Isabella Krizan, Jacob Ostermann, Addyson Schmitt, Denver Vandenberg, and Aubrey Verbockel—who represented Kimberly at the highest level at the ICDC Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

• Our art students have also made us incredibly proud. Kiana Lauren, Brooke McGinnis, Alexis Drawenek, Scarlett Anderson, Katherine Midtvedt, Allie Thao, Bryce Mengert, and Kylea Cournoyer recently competed in the National Congressional Art Show. Scarlett Anderson earned first place with her pastel drawing of a lioness; her piece will be displayed in Washington, D.C. in the Cannon Tunnel for one year, and she and a family member will be invited to attend a national reception in recognition of this honor. Brooke McGinnis earned third place with her painting of Shawano Lake, which will be displayed in our local congressman’s office. Congratulations to all of these talented students.

• Our music students also had an exceptional showing at State Solo and Ensemble. KHS had 64 total events, with 46 earning a first-division rating. Eight events were nominated for an Exemplary Performance Award, and five were ultimately selected. Congratulations to Lauren Dreger, Kate Golden, Samuel Golden, Claire Lanari, and Eli McDonald for earning this distinguished recognition.

• Looking ahead, more than 600 students will be taking over 950 AP exams beginning May 4. We wish all of our students the very best as they take on this challenge.

• Congratulations to two Kimberly HOSA members who qualified to compete at the HOSA International Leadership Conference in Indianapolis from June 17 - 20. Kayli Bodway earned 1st place in Occupational Therapy and Macy Cloutier earned 3rd place in Pathophysiology.

• Our Tech Ed students continue to do incredible work across a variety of hands-on projects and competitions. Building and Construction 2 students have been hard at work on the Farmer’s Field Project. Our Supermileage Vehicle (SMV) team is gearing up to begin their competition season next week—best of luck to all involved! We also want to recognize the outstanding efforts of Sawyer DePrycker, Jayden Dickman, Jack Mullard, Oliver Musich, Kayden Papanikolas, Brady Reinke, Jonah Vander Velden, Nathan Williamson, and Grayson Zahringer, who recently competed at the State SkillsUSA Competition in Madison. A special congratulations to Jack Mullard for earning 2nd place in Electrical.

Next week, we celebrate Staff Appreciation Week. I want to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for our incredible staff. The care, dedication, and professionalism they bring each day make KHS a truly special place. I encourage you to join me in recognizing their efforts and taking a moment to share your appreciation.

As we approach the end of the school year, we are also preparing for several important milestones. Please mark your calendars for the following events:

• National Honor Society Induction Ceremony
  Sunday, May 3 – 4:30 PM – KHS Auditorium (Invitations have been sent to new inductees.)

• Senior Awards Night
  Wednesday, May 27 – 6:00 PM – KHS Auditorium

• Graduation Ceremony
  Wednesday, June 3 – 6:00 PM – KHS Gymnasium

As always, thank you for your continued support. The success of our students in academics, the arts, and athletics is a direct result of the strong partnership between our students, staff, families, and community. The energy, passion, and pride within our building are truly something special.

Wishing everyone a strong finish to the school year and a restful, joyful summer ahead.

With great Papermaker pride,

Mrs. DePeau

Principal

Safety is Our Collective Responsibility
At the Kimberly Area School District, the safety of our students and staff is our top priority. Through proactive measures, staff and student training, and strong partnerships with families and the community, we work together to ensure that safety is our collective responsibility.

Bike Safety
Biking is a fun and healthy way for students to get around, but safety always comes first. Please remind your child to always wear a properly fitted helmet, follow traffic rules, and use hand signals when turning. Whether on a traditional bike or an electric bike, students should ride on the right side of the road, watch for parked cars and driveways, and wear bright or reflective clothing so they can be easily seen. Electric bike riders also need to use extra caution—the added speed requires quicker reactions and greater awareness of cars, pedestrians, and other riders. Together we can make a difference!

May:

3 - National Honor Society Induction Ceremony 4:30 pm at Kimberly High School

6 - Senior Store item pick up during Flex, 3abc lunches and from 3:00 pm to 3:30 pm

8 - Early Release

22 - Cap and Gown distribution during Flex

25 - No School - Memorial Day

27 - Senior awards night 6:00 pm

June:

2 - Last day for seniors

3 - Graduation rehearsal @ 10:00 am

3 - Graduation Ceremony @ 6:00 pm in the KHS gymnasium

4 - Last day of school for grades 9, 10 & 11

Let’s Keep This Season Worth Celebrating

As graduation and prom season approach, we all want our kids to have the time of their lives. But "hosting" a party with alcohol isn't a favor to them—it's a risk to everyone.

We are proud to support the "Parents Who Host, Lose The Most" campaign, a national movement dedicated to keeping our youth safe and healthy. We invite every family in our district to take a stand against underage drinking.

Breaking Boundaries Triathlon

Join us at the Breaking Boundaries Triathlon! This Breaking Boundaries flyer gives additional information regarding the event.

The Darboy Kiwanis Club and the Times Village announce the KHS Student of the Month!

May - Cherry Her

Senior Graduation Celebration is the time-honored drug and alcohol free Post Grad Party. Seniors should register now for the best after party filled with food, games, prizes and fun! Make sure to register today!

Senior Graduation Celebration can be purchased through Infinite Campus under "Fees" on the left, then "My Accounts" on the right, and "Optional Fees" on the left. It is called "Senior Grad Celebration" in fees. The cost of the Graduation Celebration is $20. You can also purchase this in the KHS Main Office with cash or check made out to KHS.

We also welcome additional graduation donations! These donations can be made through the school store in Infinite Campus. Log in to Infinite Campus and select "School Store" from the navigation bar on the left side of the screen. Select "Kimberly High School" and then you will see "Kimberly High School Graduation Donations". Select "Kimberly High School Graduation Donations" to make your contribution. If you would like, you can also make donations in the KHS Main Office by cash or check.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL THE MAIN OFFICE AT 920-687-3024 EXT 6

Kimberly High School Students and Families,

Tentative 2026-2027 student schedules will be emailed to students’ school email accounts on Friday, May 22nd. These tentative schedules will contain a student’s classes, but not the teacher names or room numbers. Final schedules will be released in August that contain those details. The classes in the schedule released on May 22nd will remain the same in August, but the order and semester or term for those classes could change. Please note, where a lunch is positioned in a schedule is not yet finalized.

A window to request schedule changes will run from the start of the school day on Tuesday, May 26th, until 3:00 PM on Friday, May 29th. Schedule change requests will be considered on a limited basis and for the following reasons only:

1. A senior is missing a course that is required for graduation.

2. A clerical error was made and a duplicate course was placed into a schedule.

3. A schedule does not contain enough credits and a student is requesting a course to fill that space.

4. A student is missing a required course such as a physical education course, or a grade-level English course (i.e. English 10 for a sophomore is not in the schedule, etc.).

5. A student is missing a required prerequisite for a course that was placed into their schedule

Schedule change requests will not be accepted for the following reasons:

1. A student wishes to have a class during a different time during the day.

2. A student wishes to have a specific lunch.

3. A student wishes to take their physical education class during a different quarter due to a sport.

Please note, due to the volume of requests, counselors are unable to respond to calls or emails about a requested change. Students will know the status of a requested change following the August release date.

KHS will offer Drivers Education and Physical Education as well as several Credit Recovery Courses for students in need. These classes will all run the first 3 weeks of June between the hours of 8:00 am - 12:00 pm.

Please see this KHS Summer School Flyer for the details of classes offered and registration links.

MAP Testing - May 11th - May 22nd: Freshmen and Sophomore students will be taking math and English tests for MAP within their English and math courses (when enrolled in course).

Please see these documents for important dates and information

NWEA MAP Measures of Academic Progress Information Sheet

MAP testing Information Letter

The Academic Resource Center (ARC) is home to the Academic Ambassadors. We offer free tutoring services before school, during lunch, and after school. Visit KHSLMC.org to request a tutor! While there, register for a Writing Center appointment with Mr. Holschuh; visit the Kimberly Companion (our new resource for learning tips and hints); and access our Research Center.

10th and 11th grade students who are interested in becoming an Academic Ambassador can look for applications to open in May of this year. Keep and eye on announcements!

When dropping students off at the start of the day in the font of the school or picking them up in the front of the school at the end of the day please remember the following:

• Please don’t utilize the left lane to pick up or drop off students. This will help with backups within the parking lot and create a safer environment.

• Please be patient as a large number of new drivers with limited driving experience are entering and leaving the parking lot.

• A reminder from the Outagamie County Sheriff's office - Do not pick up/drop off your children on the residential streets of Combined Locks before of after school.

Updates from Student Services

Post Secondary Planning Checklist and Resources:

Post Secondary Planning Checklist

GPS Education Program- GPS Education Partners is a program that works in collaboration with KHS to support students (juniors and seniors) through work-based learning. As part of the GPS program, students are able to balance education with real-world experience. Students spend part of the day in a classroom setting at an education center and the other part of the day working directly with a business partner. If interested in learning more please refer to https://gpsed.org/ or contact Student Services.

Assessments/Exams

The PSAT will be offered to the Class of 2028 - at KHS on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. The PSAT may be a good choice if a student is planning on going to any out-of-state colleges and/or plans on taking the SAT. Students who are in the top 25% of their class are also encouraged to take the PSAT to compete for the Merit Scholarships. Some local scholarship programs also require a PSAT on the application and certain parents' places of employment require it for scholarships. Cost is $20.00. Fee waivers are available for the PSAT if needed. To register, students should mail payment in the form of a check (made payable to KHS) to Kimberly High School Student Services, 1662 East Kennedy Avenue, Kimberly WI 54136, by Friday, May 15, or students can drop a check off in the main office.

Testing Accommodations for the PSAT ~ If your student requires testing accommodations, please contact Carrie Raminger at craminger@kimberly.k12.wi.us

Note: Test materials will be ordered in advance so registering by Friday, May 15th, 2026, will guarantee your student a testing spot.

Senior Recognition

Senior Awards Night

Senior Awards Night will be on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the KHS Auditorium. This event recognizes students who have received a local scholarship and will be presented by the gifting organization. Students who have a presenter for their award or scholarship will receive an invitation letter to attend, which will be sent two weeks prior to May 27th.

Triumph Program

The Triumph Program is a short-term (typically 9-12 weeks) mental health intervention for students in grades 9-12 from Kimberly, Kaukauna, and Little Chute High Schools. The Triumph program provides a balanced approach to address student mental health needs while supporting their academic progress. With a small academic class size, individualized therapy, daily group sessions, and focused academic support students are able to be fully supported and succeed. Students attend Triumph for a half day programming (Blocks 1 & 2 or Blocks 3 & 4) and Kimberly High School for the other half of their day. Triumph programming is offered free of charge for qualifying students in these districts. The Triumph program was established in January of 2017 and has served over 400 students. If you believe your student would benefit from the Triumph program, please reach out to your child's school counselor for more information.

Kimberly Area School District is seeking support from our community. Make a difference and consider becoming a substitute teacher or a substitute paraprofessional

Flexible and Rewarding

• Earn extra income while your child is at school.
• Turn your volunteer hours into a paid position.
• No prior teaching experience is needed.
• Maintain a flexible work schedule.
• Help students succeed.

Apply here today!

May 5th, 7th & 12th from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at Janssen Elementary - All three days.

No experience necessary.

We welcome students who are willing to work hard and try their best.

Color Guard is a non-competitive Summer & Fall sport that works as an extension of the band by performing routines with flags. We perform at each home varsity football game, the Homecoming Parade and the Appleton Christmas Parade.

Practices are typically Tuesdays and Thursdays after school from July through November.

For more information:

* visit https://kcolorguard.weebly.com or
* email coach Laura Airis at kcolorguard@gmail.com

Emergency Medications:

Emergency medications kept at school are only available during school hours. They will not be accessible before or after school. Parents and students must ensure emergency medication is available for school activities outside regular hours, such as clubs or sports. If there is an emergency and the student does not have their medication, 911 will be called.

As we head into the winter months, we want to remind all families about best practices for managing illnesses to keep our students and staff as healthy as possible. Your partnership is essential in minimizing the spread of illness at school. Please see this "When Should Your Student Stay Home" link

Chartwells April 2026 Newsletter

Below are the links for our Free and Reduced Lunch program. If you are approved for Free and Reduced lunch, and would also like to have fees waived, it is necessary to also fill out the Sharing of Information form.

Free and Reduced School Meals - Application

Free and Reduced School Meals - Information

Free and Reduced School Meals - Sharing Information with Other Programs