Middle/High School - September

Dear Middle and High School Families

What an incredible first month we’ve had! I want to start by expressing my deepest gratitude for the overwhelmingly warm welcome I have received from so many people. The energy and kindness from our students each day at school as I get to know more and more of them, the engagement of our parents through support at events and for their students at school, and the robust support from the wider community members that I have met have made transitioning into my new role truly special. It’s clear that I've joined an exceptional school family, and I look forward to a successful year together.

The momentum of the new year is already producing fantastic results. Our amazing band put on a spectacular show in the Wo-Za-Wah Day parade! Their hard work and spirit are evident wherever they are. It is always a treat to hear them bring so much energy to our athletic events! Thank you to the students and Dr. Steward, our band director, for representing our school so well. I am also proud of many of our high school students who seized an excellent career exploration opportunity this month by heading to the MATC-Portage campus for the Skilled Trades Showcase. Providing hands-on exposure to different career pathways is vital, and this event allowed students to connect with future professional possibilities. Thank you to Mr. Schunke, Ms. Bourman, Mrs. Romberg, and Mr. Duesterhoeft for making this happen!

October is shaping up to be a busy and exciting month. Your involvement and support are what make these events so successful. Here are just a few of the events to keep an eye out for coming up:

• October 2nd: Pink Out Volleyball Game

Mark your calendars for our annual Pink Out volleyball game! While our team faces Berlin, they are raising awareness and funds for the Marquette County Budda Box Against Cancer Organization. Come out, wear pink, and help us support this fantastic local cause.

• Week of October 6th: Homecoming!

Get ready for a week of school spirit, dress-up days, and fun as we celebrate homecoming! The week will culminate with our varsity Football Game versus Cambria-Freisland. We look forward to seeing the stands packed with supporters showing off their school pride!

• October 15th: FAFSA Night

For our college-bound high school students and their families, we will be hosting a dedicated FAFSA Night to provide guidance and assistance with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is a critical step in the college process, and we encourage all interested families to attend.

• October 31st: Community Halloween Trick-or-Treat Event

Generously hosted by our amazing Student Council here at our High School, this is a wonderful opportunity to welcome our youngest community members into the school for a safe and fun evening with plenty of candy to go around.

Beyond these events, we have plenty other student opportunities occurring. We will be sure to share out these experiences throughout this month and during our next update!

We want to extend a huge thank you to all of our families for making our new student drop-off procedures so successful! Image below for reference. The morning routine has been running incredibly smoothly, and we truly appreciate your cooperation in keeping the line moving safely and efficiently, especially as you pull forward to make room for additional cars behind you.

We also recognize that the afternoon dismissal can be a bit trickier as many student are crossing the lanes to get to cars, sports, and other activities. Your patience and understanding during that end-of-day period, especially as our buses begin to depart, are invaluable and help us ensure every student gets home safely. Thank you for being such a wonderful, supportive community!

As many of you have seen already, our district has adopted the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) from the "I Love U Guys" Foundation to standardize and simplify our emergency procedures, moving away from situation-specific responses to an action-based approach. We have been working with our local police departments, fire departments, EMTs, and more to ensure that all voices are involved in the adoption process as we practice and plan, helping to align responses across the community.

The core of the SRP lies in five simple actions:

• Hold
• Secure
• Lockdown
• Evacuate
• Shelter

Each is presented with clear language that allows for a rapid and consistent response across all students, staff, and first responders. This showcases its incredible versatility for managing any all-hazards event from weather emergencies to safety threats.

We've been actively teaching and practicing the different types of responses, including a recent Evacuate drill for situations like a fire and a Lockdown drill for an internal threat, ensuring everyone knows their role quickly and effectively. Future drills will reinforce the other three responses as well as practice situational awareness for our students and staff. The goal is to be as best prepared as possible for any type of situation we may face. To help communicate the pieces of the SRP, I have attached a "Parent Handout" that clearly outlines the five actions and what they mean for students and staff, which I encourage all parents to download and review.

Quick reminder if you did not see it on the school calendar that parent-teacher conferences will be occurring on Monday, October 13th from 1 PM - 7 PM. We welcome you into our building to meet the teachers interacting with your students on a daily basis and discuss how everything is going at school!

Also, please keep in mind that this date is a No School Day for students. Please make sure you plan your schedule accordingly!

N7046 County Rd. M

Westfield, WI 53964

608-296-2141