Parent Update 25-26

Congratulations to Watertown High School which has been named to the College Board 2025 AP (Advanced Placement) Honor Roll as a SILVER member!

Schools can earn the Honor Roll recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and increasing their school’s commitment to college-readiness. The AP School Honor Roll offers four levels of distinction: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. This is the first year WHS has earned the silver distinction after previously being recognized at the bronze level.

Chad Hayes - Dean of Students

Student Cell Phone Expectation

We are officially halfway through Trimester 2! To ensure every student can focus on their learning without distraction, please remind your student to place their cell phone in the classroom caddy at the start of each period.

Phones should remain in the caddy unless the teacher grants permission for a specific academic task. Thank you for your continued support in helping us maintain a productive learning environment.

After-School Detention Time

We want to share a proactive reminder regarding after-school detention and extracurricular participation. To ensure students stay focused on their responsibilities and remain eligible for all activities, it is essential that any assigned detention time is completed promptly.

Please note that students with outstanding detention time will be ineligible to participate in extracurricular activities. This includes all practices, rehearsals, games, and performances. We encourage families to check in with their students now to resolve any owed time so they can continue to enjoy the full range of school activities for the remainder of the trimester.

If a student accumulates 4 hours of after-school detention time, the following administrative steps will be taken:

Parent/Guardian Contact: Administration will immediately contact the parent or guardian to discuss the situation.
Morning OSS Assignment: The student will be assigned a morning ½ day of Out-of-School Suspension (OSS).
Student Meeting: When a student returns in the afternoon following an OSS, administration will schedule a student meeting involving school personnel, including members of the student services team. These meetings will be restorative in nature to help the student move forward in a positive manner.

We appreciate your partnership in reinforcing the importance of accountability and responsibility as the trimester concludes.

Students are reminded that 26-27 course selection is due by Friday, January 23, 2026.

While WHS staff members have already begun conversations with students regarding post-secondary plans, please ask your child what interests they have and encourage them to seek out classes to help them achieve their goals. Not sure what classes connect with their plans? The WHS Coursebook is the place to go for course offerings and descriptions. As always, WHS counselors are happy to help clarify any questions or concerns you may have. We look forward to this collaboration every year!

The WHS local scholarship information is available for students and families to visit and is updated frequently as new opportunities become available

All applications are due by Monday, March 2, 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. Please plan accordingly to ensure all requirements are completed on time. If you have any questions, please contact Katie Pirkel, WHS Scholarship Chairperson.

WHS Local Scholarship Information

Junior Families

WHS continues to prepare junior students for the statewide ACT test on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Junior students where given the information on how to access ACT prep materials through IXL and ACT.org. IXL is a resource that WHS junior students can use as much as possible before the ACT test on March 18.

Families are encouraged to communicate with their student about their ACT goals, progress on IXL test prep, and the importance of putting maximum effort into the ACT exam day on March 18, 2026. Thanks in advance for your support as we help our students take advantage of as many career opportunities as possible by demonstrating academic excellence on the ACT!

ACT Sunday Prep Opportunities

WHS will host ACT prep courses for Science, English, and Math on Sunday afternoons in February. Students can sign up for an individual course for a fee of $12 per course or you can bundle all three for $30. To secure a spot, please register with Mrs. Klinger in the Bookkeeping Office. A minimum of 12 students is needed to avoid cancellation. Refunds will only be issued if the school cancels the sessions. The dates and times for each course are as follows:

2/1/26 - ELA and Reading - 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
2/22/26 - Math - 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
3/15/26 - Science - 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Song of the Day 1.9.26

WHS held it's Song of the Day Contest last Friday! First hour classrooms who meet their goal for the week were eligible to call in. Mr. Dobbin's 1st hour class was the correct caller with the correct song title and artist, which was "What Makes You Beautiful" by One Direction. The class was treated to cookies! Congratulations!