Kimberly High School October 2026

Hello Kimberly High School families,

It has been a great start to the 2026-27 school year! We have spent these initial weeks focused on fostering authentic relationships with students while maintaining a clear commitment to high academic rigor and individual growth . In our class meetings, we talked about treating every single day as an opportunity to grow and become a better version of yourself, and it’s been rewarding watching our students embrace new challenges, step out of their comfort zones, and take pride in their progress.

As we begin October, we roll right into one of our absolute favorite traditions, Homecoming 2026! From themed dress-up days and powderpuff to the parade, pep rally, athletic events, halftime performances, and the dance, there’s nothing quite like seeing our school and entire community come together. Along with all the celebration, Homecoming offers a prime moment to connect with your teenager about staying safe and making good decisions. We continue to put an emphasis on ensuring KHS is a safe place for all students, and a huge piece of that is everyone doing their part to keep our school free of drugs and alcohol. Thank you to the nearly 900 students and families who have already signed the PromiseMaker pledge; your support and commitment make a difference!

Looking ahead, please mark your calendars for our Parent-Teacher Conference Night on October 14th. In addition to meeting directly with teachers, you'll have the chance to explore KHS's academic offerings and student clubs/activities. The sign up process and details are included in this newsletter.

Thank you for a fantastic start to the school year, and I look forward to seeing many of you soon!

With great Papermaker Pride,

Mrs. DePeau

Principal

October:

7 - Homecoming Parade at 5:15

10 - Homecoming Dance 8:00-11:00pm

12 - Picture Retake Day Please see this Network Photography flyer for details

14 - Parent Teacher Conferences/Parents Night 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

29 & 30 - No School

November:

13 - Early release - students dismissed at 11:30

25, 26 & 27 - No School

Fall parent/teacher conferences will be held on Wednesday, October 14th from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Conferences will be held in the gymnasium. You are able to sign up for conferences starting Thursday, October 1 @ 8:00am. Below is the process on how to sign up for a conference time:

• Go to www.myconferencetime.com/kimberlyhs
• Click on the KHS Folder
• Click on the name of your student's teacher
• Select the desired time for your conference by clicking on "Sign Up"
• Submit the requested information

Complete this process for every teacher you would like to meet with.

The time allotted for each conference is 5 minutes. If you feel like you will need longer than 5 minutes, please communicate with the teacher to set up a longer conference.

Counselors will also be available for meetings 6:30-8:00. Please email your counselor to set up a time:

A-E: Tracie Halfmann thalfmann@kimberly.k12.wi.us

F-Le: Sara Siegesmund ssiegesmund@kimberly.k12.wi.us

Li-Schi: Katie Phillip kphillip@kimberly.k12.wi.us

Schm-Z: Alli Baerenwald abaerenwald@kimberly.k12.wi.us

The annual FOCUS teen driver safety event is back. Parents are invited to participate and learn how they can support their young drivers. The program, hosted by the Trauma Center at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah, is being held in partnership with the Regional Safe Routes to School, with funding from the ThedaCare Foundation-Neenah and community support. Please see the postcard to register. Registration ends October 13th.

Capture Your Homecoming Memories!

We'd love to include your photos from Homecoming Week in our school's yearbook. It’s easy to submit them! Just scan the QR code below and upload your best pictures from the game, the dance, or any of the week's events.

The final deadline to submit your senior photos for the yearbook is Tuesday, October 31st. Just use the QR code below to submit

• Criteria for submission

• Photos must be color

• Photos must be vertical

• Head/Shoulder photo preferred

• Neutral background preferred

• School Appropriate

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! See the instructions to purchase this on Infinite Campus through the school store here.

If you would like to help plan the event please email kjansen@kimberly.k12.wi.us . Meetings will start in January.

Dear Kimberly High School Parent or Guardian,

This spring all public school students will once again participate in state assessments as outlined in the Wisconsin Student Assessment System (WSAS). The WSAS is a statewide program that has outlined required assessments in core academic areas. State assessments are required by both state (Wis. Stat. § 118.30) and federal ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) laws. Required testing at the high school level includes the following:

• Pre ACT Secure - grades nine and ten

• Wisconsin Forward - grade ten

• ACT Plus Writing & PreACT/ACT practice test - grade eleven

PreACT Secure is an online test that covers the subjects of English, reading, mathematics, and science and is aligned to the ACT that is taken during a student’s 11th grade year, and it will include a predicted score for the ACT exam. Grades 9 and 10 will complete PreACT Secure testing on March 16th (grades 11 and 12 will not report on this day). Sophomores will also take the Wisconsin Forward Exam, a social studies test, that will be administered by computer as well. This assessment will be completed within an extended Flex Period schedule on April 6th, and none of the other grades will be impacted.

Juniors in the state of Wisconsin are required to take the ACT assessment. This year, that test will be held on March 9th at KHS. Juniors will be the only class to report on March 9th. Grades 9,10, and 12 will not report on that day. All juniors will also be involved in taking a PreACT/ACT practice test that will occur during the morning of September 25th within our half day schedule; no other grade levels will be impacted.

The following page outlines each of these state testing dates as well as MAP testing in English and math classes for grades 9 and 10.

Additional information about these assessments will be shared as the dates get closer. Please keep these dates in mind when scheduling planned absences for your student. If you have questions about any of our assessments for the year, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Kaaren Weyers

Kimberly High School

Assistant Principal

kweyers@kimberly.k12.wi.us

920.423.4152

Please see these documents for important dates and information

KHS Important Testing Dates at a Glance

NWEA MAP Measures of Academic Progress Information Sheet

March 9th, 2027 is ACT day!

The ACT is a challenging three hour exam that covers English, Math, Reading and Science. The scores matter for college admissions (technical, two-year and university programs), military scholarships, even the workforce.

The KHS ACT prep program is a FREE opportunity for all 11th grade students at KHS to better understand the test, analyze their performance, set appropriate goals and train for the ACT in March.

All 11th grade students took the Pre ACT test in September - once the scores come in, the work begins!

Join our Google Classroom with code: it27hhvj

View our CALENDAR OF SUPPORT

Nominate an Exceptional Teacher or Principal

Do you know an exceptional teacher or principal? Nominate them for the Herb Kohl Teacher Fellowship Award or the Herb Kohl Principal Leadership Award!

Nomination deadline is Oct. 2 and application deadline is Jan. 5, 2027.

Teacher Awards

Each year, 100 educators are selected as Herb Kohl Fellowship recipients, recognized for their excellence and innovation. Selected educators receive a one-time $6,000 award and their school receives a matching grant intended to enhance learning opportunities.

Public school recipients of the award are automatically entered into the running to become a Wisconsin Teacher of the Year. Five Teachers of the Year are chosen annually by a state selection committee, with one teacher moving on to become Wisconsin’s nominee to the National Teacher of the Year program.

View the nomination process and additional details on the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Teacher Fellowship website.

Principal Awards

Each year, up to 17 public and private school principals are selected for this award, recognized for their strong leadership and dedication to education. Selected principals receive a $6,000 grant to enhance educational excellence and leadership development.

The Association of Wisconsin School Administrators chooses the Elementary and Secondary Principals of the Year from among the public school recipients.

View the nomination process and additional details on the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Principal Leadership website.

The Fox Cities Chambers' Excellence in Education Awards program recognizes the outstanding contributions of full-time, Pre-K through 16 educators in the Fox Cities region.

To nominate a KASD teacher, please use this link!

When dropping students off at the start of the day in the front 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.

Resources:

Post Secondary Events, Representative Visits, Open Houses, Career Fairs, Etc:

Events/Recruiter Visits

Post Secondary Planning Items and Resources:

Post Secondary Planning Checklist

Class News:

Senior:

• FAFSA - The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), will open up to Seniors beginning on October 1st, 2025. More information regarding FAFSA can be found by visiting their website.

• Apply for the FAFSA at Parent Teacher Conferences on October 14th

Location: KHS Library Media Center (LMC) Time: 5:00 - 8:00 PM

Create your FSA ID ahead of time for both parent and student. This ID is required to access and complete the FAFSA form.

• Transcripts- required for college applications and other institutions must be ordered through Xello. Log into Xello through Classlink using your Kimberly Google Sign-in. Instructions can be found here.

Junior:

• Junior Parent Meeting during Oct. 14th Parent Night- High School Counselors will cover essential information to help guide your student through their post-high school plans.

Sophomore:

• Sophomore Post High School Rotations -

Sophomores will explore four post-graduation pathways during flex time on October 13, 20, and November 10, 16. Students will attend presentations on apprenticeships, four-year colleges, military service, and technical colleges. These sessions are designed to clarify the differences between each option, helping students identify the path that best aligns with their future goals.

• On Thursday October 15, 2026 our tenth grade students will be attending the ThedaCare FOCUS Program (formerly PARTY at the PAC) at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. We will be leaving at 8:20 am, and returning around 11:15 am. If you would NOT like your child to attend, please complete and return the form attached. FOCUS – Focus on Driving, Others are Affected, Clear Distractions, Understand that Substances Impair Judgment, Safely Reach Your Destination. The 27th annual FOCUS program is hosted by the Trauma Center at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah and funded by the ThedaCare Family of Foundations and local community support. The Trauma Center works to empower students to make safe choices by shedding light on the dangers of risky behaviors and their often life-changing outcomes. The program shows students the process of a trauma situation, from the initial crash, medical interventions, rehabilitation and enduring effects often set in motion by preventable choices. The collaborative effort brings together medical professionals such as trauma surgeons, area firefighters, law enforcement, emergency medical technicians and also crash and injury survivors, who volunteer to share their stories and put a face to the statistics. Motor vehicle crashes are the second leading cause of death for U.S. teens. About seven teens aged 13–19 die every day from motor vehicle crash injuries. Per mile driven, teen drivers aged 16–19 are nearly three times as likely as drivers aged 20 or older to be in a fatal crash. The good news is that teen motor vehicle crashes are preventable. We know proven strategies can improve the safety of young drivers on the road. We also know parents play a vital role in their teen’s safety. The FOCUS Parent Program, held in conjunction with the live program, will offer an opportunity for parents to hear from local law enforcement and community professionals. Please visit Parent Program Registration if you would like to attend the program. You do not need to attend the same program time as your teen.

PLEASE RETURN THIS PAGE ONLY IF YOUR STUDENT WILL NOT BE ATTENDING FOCUS

I prefer that my student, _______________________________________________________, be EXEMPTED from attending the FOCUS Program on Thursday October 16th. I am returning this signed form to the Student Services Office by Wednesday October 1st, 2026.

____________________________________________ _____________________ Signature of [Parent/Guardian] [Date]

____________________________________________

Print Name of [Parent/Guardian]

Freshmen:

• All freshmen will meet with their counselor during Flextime between October 19th and October 28th in a small group. The main focus of this meeting is relationship building as well as the health and wellness of the 9th grade student. As part of the meeting, students will be given a patient health/stress questionnaire that will help your student's counselor understand what needs they may have and then provide resources to help them be successful academically, personally and socially. If you have any concerns regarding this process, please contact your student's counselor. For more information or to opt out at (920) 687-3024 by October 10th.

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!

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.

Join Creative Writing Club to collaborate with other writers, share your work, give/receive constructive feedback, play writing games, enter writing contests, and meet published authors. We meet during Flex every other Thursday and after school every Thursday in room 2066. Contact advisor Ms. Nokes for more information: lnokes@kimberly.k12.wi.us

Looking to join Key Club? This is a community service organization that helps our school and community! Find out about our upcoming events and how to join here!

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.

Immunization for future 12th Graders:

If your child is starting 12th grade for the 2026–2027 school year, they will need 1 booster dose of the Meningococcal ACWY vaccine. If your child received this immunization, please provide documentation to the school office. If our records show your child is missing any required immunizations, you will receive a notification from the school in the fall.

*Please note that students who did not receive their 1st dose of MenACWY-containing vaccine by age 16 should only receive 1 dose.

Below are the links for our Free and Reduced Lunch program. If you are approved for Free and Reduce 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