🐾WHS ROAR REPORT🐾

The WHS Chapter of the National Honor Society inducted new members on Sunday, May 10th. It was an exciting evening as we welcomed the next group of students to take on this commitment. We inducted 28 new members, one of our largest classes in recent years. We look forward to making a positive impact within our school and community as a team. We appreciate the support of all parents and staff who attended the induction ceremony to celebrate these outstanding students.

After a busy year of hard work and tackling that 3-hour AP Bio test, our students have had a chance to enjoy some of the lighter, more fun sides of science. This week, we did a cool biodiversity project where students listened to birds, and they also got to dissect a dogshark—a popular request all year long! We're excited to wrap up the year with more engaging, fun science activities.

The National Honor Society blood drive successfully collected 18 units of blood on Wednesday, May 13th. Our newest NHS members did an excellent job supporting the Versiti team during the donation process. They provided welcoming smiles and assisted with distributing refreshments and swag. The donated blood has the potential to save up to 54 lives. We sincerely appreciate the students and community members who stepped up to donate. We look forward to your continued support at next year’s blood drives!

Dear 8th Grade Parents and Guardians,

Today, our high school counselor visited 8th grade social studies classes to talk with students about the transition to high school and strategies for managing the anxiety and stress that can sometimes come with this exciting next step.

The discussion focused on helping students understand that it is normal to feel nervous about high school while also providing practical tools for success. Topics included:

• Managing anxious thoughts and stress
• Building confidence and independence
• Organization and time management skills
• Healthy coping strategies and self-care
• Asking for help and advocating for themselves

Students learned simple strategies such as breathing exercises, grounding techniques, planning ahead, and maintaining healthy routines to help them feel more prepared and confident as they enter 9th grade.

At Watervliet High School, we are committed to supporting students academically, socially, and emotionally throughout this transition. We encourage families to continue these conversations at home and remind students that feeling nervous about change is completely normal. We are excited to welcome the Class of 2030 to the high school next year and look forward to helping them grow and succeed as Panthers! 🐾

The Panthers traveled to Bangor for the Regional Track Meet, where athletes had to place in the top two or meet a qualifying standard to advance to the state finals. Battling difficult weather conditions throughout the day, the team scored 32 points and finished 10th overall—an improvement from the previous two seasons.

Leading the way was Cole Getz, who qualified for the state meet with a 2nd-place finish in the long jump. Sam Casiano also had an outstanding day, placing 3rd in the 3200 with a personal-record time of 10:33.55. Kyle Domingo-Sturgeon earned a 5th-place finish in the high jump, while Alvin Jones took 4th in the 110-meter hurdles after qualifying for the finals earlier in the day.

The Panthers also saw several personal-best performances. Tyler Woodson and Kaden Leiter both recorded PRs in the 100-meter dash, while Gavin Leiter set a new PR in the 3200. The 4x800 relay team of Tony Perez, Froylan Flores, Zeke Cardoso-Aviles, and Sam Casiano also turned in a strong performance with a 4th-place finish.

Congratulations to all of the Panthers on a strong showing at Regionals and best of luck to Cole as he heads to the state meet!

We’d love to hear your thoughts about what knowledge, skills, and behaviors help adults succeed in life. As parents and community members, your experiences and opinions are very important to us.

We will use your feedback to help guide how we plan and improve our curriculum, so it better prepares students for the future.

Thank you for taking the time to share your ideas and help support our students’ success.

Portrait of a Graduate Survey (https://forms.gle/d8Ziz1MLCea2dho98)

• Monday, May 18

  • Junior Mock Interviews in English Classes

  • SMC Visit for Seniors

  • PBIS Meeting – 3:15 PM

  Tuesday, May 19

  • Senior Exams – Periods 6 & 7; once these exams are done, seniors do not come back to these classes.

  • SAC Meeting – 7:30 AM

  Wednesday, May 20

  • Senior Exams – Periods 5 & 4 once these exams are done, seniors do not come back to these classes.

  • AP Bio Make Up

  Thursday, May 21

  Senior Exams – Periods 3 and 2 once these exams are done, seniors do not come back to these classes.

  AP Lang Make Up

  Choir Concert 7 pm

  Friday, May 22

  • Senior Exam – Period 1

  • Senior Checkout Sheets Due by 9:30 AM

  • Seniors Depart by Bus at 10:00 AM for Building Visits

  • Senior Car Parade – 4:00 PM from old mill site

  • Senior Sunset Following the Parade

  Monday, May 25

  • No School – Memorial Day

  Tuesday, May 26

  • Meetings with All 8th Grade Students

  • Parent Presentation for 8th Grade Parents 6 pm

  Wednesday, May 27

  • Baccalaureate – 6:00 PM (student led and planned)

  Thursday, May 28

  • Senior picnic in the afternoon

  • Graduation Practice 3:15 PM

  Friday, May 29

  • Graduation – 6:30 PM

  Tuesday, June 2

  • Early Release Schedule

  • SOTM Breakfast 8:15 AM

  • 7th Hour Exam – 1:10 PM–3:10 PM

  • Underclassmen Awards Night – 6:00 PM

  Wednesday, June 3

  • Half Day

  • Exams periods 1 and 2

  Thursday, June 4

  • Half Day

  • Exams: Periods 3 & 4

  Friday, June 5

  • Half Day

  • Exams: Periods 5 & 6

  All underclassmen must turn in their device to their 6th hour teacher. Students enrolled in summer school may keep their device and charger. All other students should remove any stickers and return both their device and charger before leaving for the summer.

The Panthers competed at Gobles on Friday night in some of the best weather of the season and had a strong showing heading into Regionals this Wednesday in Bangor.

Highlights included:

• The 4x800 team of Tony Perez, Froylan Flores, Zeke Cardoso-Aviles, and Sam Casiano ran a season-best 9:05.

• The 4x200 relay team placed 4th with a season-best time of 1:36.34.

• Sam Casiano placed 6th in the 1600M (4:50) and 4th in the 3200M (10:41).

• Froylan Flores ran a PR in the 800M with a time of 2:14.

• Tyler Woodson and Kaden Leiter both earned PRs in the 200M.

• Gavin Leiter also picked up a PR in the 400M.

• Cole Getz finished 7th in long jump with a leap of 19’5”.

Great effort by the Panthers as they continue building momentum at the right time of the season. Good luck at Regionals this week! 🐾

WHS PANTHERS attended the ALSAME Youth Conference last Friday. At the ALSAME Youth Conference at Advocates for Latino Student Advancement in Michigan Education hosted at Western Michigan University, high school students typically spend the day participating in:

• College readiness workshops
• Career exploration sessions
• Student and professional panels
• Financial aid and admissions presentations
• A large college fair with representatives from universities and organizations across Michigan
• Leadership and cultural identity activities
• Networking with Latino professionals, college students, and community leaders

Students also get exposure to campus life by spending the day on WMU’s campus, interacting with current college students and learning about support programs, student organizations, and career pathways. The overall goal is to help Latino/a students feel more prepared and confident about college and future careers.

Would you like to earn certifications in OnShape CAD or Java Programming? Watervliet High School Robotics, Pantron-X #9758 is hosting CAD/Programming Camp on Tuesday, June 16th through Friday, June 19th from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at South Elementary School. The training will focus on foundational skills for utilizing OnShape CAD and Java Programming. If you are interested in taking part in this learning opportunity, reserve your spot before May 27, 2026. The attached flyer has additional information. Please reach out to Tiffany Wendt at twendt@watervlietps.org if you have any questions!

You can register and view the complete training description using the following link: https://forms.gle/jihF9tNvwoFFn6YZ6

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.

Now is a good time to make a final request to families to turn in straggling permission forms via social media platforms, robo calls, newsletter, etc.

Website for Parents to Enroll:

https://www.myschooldentist.com/EECA7C_schsrm

< High School

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

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