🐾WHS ROAR REPORT🐾

Dear Parents and Guardians,

At Watervliet High School, the safety and well-being of our students/staff is always our highest priority. This week, during 3rd hour classes, every teacher spoke with students about the importance of safety in our school.

Staff used a consistent script so that all students received the same message. The discussion focused on:

• The expectation that students report anything they see or hear that does not feel safe.

• Examples of specific situations that must be reported immediately (such as threats of violence, talk of weapons, or unsafe social media posts).

• The seriousness with which the school responds to threats, even those made as “jokes.”

• The disciplinary consequences for making threats, including possible suspension, expulsion, and referral to law enforcement.

We encourage you to talk with your child at home about the importance of reporting concerns and refraining from making off-the-cuff comments about violence. These conversations help reinforce our shared commitment to keeping school safe.

We want you to know that our message to students was simple: If you see something, say something. Safety is a shared responsibility, and by working together we can keep our school a secure place where Panther Pride shines.

If you have questions about what was discussed, or if you would like resources on how to continue these conversations at home, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Ms. Powers directly.

Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping Watervliet High School safe for all.

On our early release day, art students exercised their creativity by playing Exquisite Corpse—a collaborative drawing game invented by Surrealist artists in the 1920s, where each person adds to a folded paper drawing without seeing the previous sections.

On Thursday, October 9th, all juniors will be taking the mandatory PSAT at Watervliet High School. On this same day, 10th graders have the option to take the same PSAT for practice.

📍 Location: Watervliet High School

🕗 Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 Noon

If you would like your 10th grader to participate, please email Ms. Powers at cpowers@watervlietps.org

or have your student email her directly so that she can order a test for them.

This is a great opportunity for sophomores to get early experience with the PSAT/SAT testing process!

Do you have a creative vision for Panther Pride? Here’s your chance to leave your mark on Watervliet High School! Your Student Advisory Council (SAC) is hosting a mural design contest for the maroon board outside of the main office.

Who Can Enter:

• Any WHS student (individually or in pairs).

How to Enter:

• Submit a drawn proposal of your mural design to Mrs. Hunt by October 6th at 3:00 PM.

Selection & Prize:

• The student body will vote to select the final mural design.

• The winning student (or 2-person team) will receive $100 and all materials needed to bring the mural to life!

• The winning design will be painted by Art 2 classes.

Choose One of These Themes for Your Proposal:

1. Panther Pride – Celebrate our school spirit, Panther traditions, and “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” energy.

2. Unity & Diversity – Showcase the strength of our differences and the power of working together.

3. Future & Growth – Inspire with ideas of learning, dreaming big, and building bright futures.

Let your creativity shine, Panthers—this is your chance to make your art a permanent part of WHS!

About Me

Hello, everyone! My name is Mr. Adongo, and I am excited to be teaching

Mathematics this year. I enjoy helping students see the connections between math and

the real world, and I love watching their confidence grow as they tackle challenging

problems. In my free time, I enjoy exercising, reading, or playing music.

Education

I hold a master’s degree in Statistics from Western Michigan University. Over the course

of my teaching experience, I have had the privilege of working with students from

diverse backgrounds and skill levels, and I look forward to bringing that experience to

Watervliet High School.

Teaching Philosophy

I view mathematics education as more than just solving equations, it’s about critical

thinking, problem-solving, and learning how to approach challenges with persistence.

My philosophy centers around fostering a collaborative learning environment,

encouraging curiosity, and showing students how math applies to everyday life.

Classroom Motto

“Not Yet vs. I Can’t”

E-mail: gayheart.adongo@watervlietps.org

Date: September 17th

Topics Discussed

1. School Safety

• We reviewed the importance of safety for both students and staff.

• Reminder: If you see something or hear something concerning, report it immediately to an adult.

2. Lunch Schedule

• Administration is working to move one class from Lunch C to Lunch A because Lunch C remains too large.

3. Homecoming

• Students would like to keep Homecoming in September each year so the dance can be held on Saturday without conflicting with band or athletic events.

4. Bathroom Updates

• Locks on the girls’ café bathrooms will be addressed.

5. Major Initiative: Outdoor Courtyard

• SAC will take on beautifying the courtyard next to the woodworking lab either this fall or spring.

• Ms. Powers will meet with a subgroup of the SAC to move forward with this.

6. Student Leadership

• SAC will continue to provide student leadership in the building with family tours, interviewing, possible school board meetings, possible bond planning.

• Members of the SAC team are also asked to attend PBIS team meetings at the end of each month.

7. Student Projects & Needs

• Mural Project – on the maroon wall outside the main office (with reward for winning design). An announcements will be sent out soon.

8. Needs to Address:

• Sports Safety – discussion of helmets and injuries with Mr. Guillean

• PBIS Tickets – reminder to use and celebrate these consistently.

• Locks-- on the stalls in the girls bathroom

The members of the SAC this year are:

Students in AP Seminar held a dead-word funeral.They buried words such as "stuff," "things," "got," "nowadays,"good," "bad," and many others that are not considered scholarly writing. After brainstorming a list of words that should be "buried," they then thought of scholarly words for replacement. They replaced "got" with "got," or "acquired," for example. Once they posted their tombstone, they vowed to no longer use them in their writing assignments.

For this lab activity students were given 10 samples that they performed tests to identify each sample (as if they were science detectives). Some tests they did were: reactivity with vinegar, a flame test (changes in flame color can indicate different elements present), a conductivity test with a simple circuit (can the sample conduct electricity), and determining mass and volume of the samples to determine density.

The “Pathfinder Resources” link is Michigan’s official post-graduation planning site hosted by MiTalent / Michigan Department of Education. Here are the relevant links:

• Michigan’s Post-Graduation Opportunities Informational Packet (MDE) Michigan.gov

• Michigan Career Pathfinder

• https://pathfinder.mitalent.org/resources
  

• https://www.michigan.gov/mde/resources/career-development-resources/post-graduation-opportunities
  

• 
  

Corewell Health Lakeland Hospitals offer a volunteer program designed to give students

hands-on experience in the hospital environment. From helping staff with daily tasks to

supporting patients and families, students will gain valuable life skills, grow personally, and

explore careers in healthcare.

We welcome students aged 16 and older to volunteer in areas like the emergency

department, gift shops, surgery, and more. Whether they have a few hours a week or more

to give, there’s a place for them here.

Volunteers also become eligible to apply for scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $3,000,

awarded by the Spectrum Health Lakeland Auxiliary. To qualify, students must complete at

least 75 volunteer hours between January 1 and December 31, so starting early in the year

is encouraged.

To learn more or apply, please have students click on the Volunteer link Volunteer or

scan the QR code:

If you have questions or would like us to speak with your students, feel free to contact:

Julie Legault

Volunteer Services Coordinator – St. Joseph

269-985-4548

julie.legault@corewellhealth.org

Mariah Ferraro

Volunteer Services Coordinator – Niles

269-687-1433

mariah.ferraro@corewellhealth.org

If you work with staff members who may find this information beneficial to their students as well, please feel free to share.

Thank you for supporting the student volunteer program at Corewell Health Lakeland!

Scholarship Opportunity for Seniors

https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/apply/

Watervliet Equestrian Team:

Hanna Lomoro

Hailey James Adams

Coach: Megan Trapp

Friday September 19th

7:00 PM Varsity Football vs Parchment @ Watervliet HS (Homecoming)

Saturday September 20th

9:30 AM MS & Varsity Cross Country @ Bangor HS

Monday, September 22nd

5:00/6:30 PM MS/Varsity Soccer vs South Haven @ Watervliet HS

Tuesday, September 23rd

5:30/6:30 PM JV/Varsity Volleyball vs Bridgman @ Bridgman HS

7:00 PM MS/HS Choir Concert @ Watervliet HS Auditorium

Wednesday, September 24th

5:00 PM HS Cross Country at Parchment HS

Thursday, September 25th

5:30/6:30 PM JV/Varsity Volleyball vs Saugatuck @ Watervliet HS

6:00 PM JV Football vs Hackett Catholic Prep @ Watervliet HS

Friday, September 26th

7:00 PM Varsity Football vs Hackett Catholic Prep @ Mayors Riverfront Park

We’re excited to announce that after-school homework help is now available for our students. Students can stay for one hour after school 3:15-4:15 PM to get extra support or simply have a quiet place to focus on assignments.

• Tuesdays: Work with Mrs. Simmons

• Wednesdays: Work with Mr. Domino

• Thursdays: Work with Mrs. Brant

No sign-up is required—students can just stop by the teacher’s classroom after school to participate. This is a great way to catch up on work, get extra help, or stay on top of assignments.

👉 Please note: Students will need to arrange their own transportation home after the session.

We hope many of our Panthers will take advantage of this opportunity for extra support! 🐾

Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH) is a relationship-centered approach to teaching and leading. Its purpose is to help educators build strong, trusting connections with students, creating safe and supportive classrooms where learning can thrive. CKH equips staff with tools to:

• Establish positive classroom culture through social contracts and shared expectations.

• Improve communication, empathy, and conflict resolution skills.

• Reinforce respect, responsibility, and accountability among students.

• Foster environments where students feel valued, heard, and motivated to succeed.

At its core, CKH is about building relationships first, so that academic and personal growth can follow.

What is a “Launch” in Capturing Kids’ Hearts?
At Watervliet High School, we use Capturing Kids’ Hearts strategies to build a positive culture where every student feels valued. One key practice is called a Launch—a short, meaningful way to end each class.

A Launch might be:
A motivational quote or story
A quick challenge (like encouraging someone)
A positive affirmation or celebration

The goal is to send students out on a positive note, reminding them that how we finish is just as important as how we start. Over time, students also take the lead in sharing Launches.

It’s a simple but powerful way to keep building respect, connection, and Panther Pride.

The LAUNCH in Dr. Mosher's class on Tuesday was: I CAN LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES!

9th Grade Campus Visit – Southwestern Michigan College

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Watervliet High School is pleased to offer each grade level one facilitated college campus visit each year. This year, the Freshman Class (9th grade) will be visiting:

Destination: Southwestern Michigan College (SMC) – Dowagiac, Michigan
Date: Monday, October 28
Departure: The bus will leave WHS at 8:15 a.m.
Return: Students will return by 11:30 a.m. — in time for lunch and part of 4th hour.

The visit will be supervised by WHS teachers and a school counselor. Because this is the scheduled freshman class campus visit, if your child is in school that day, he/she is expected to attend.

• 🚌 Students will travel by school bus.

• 🍎 Snacks will be provided.

• 👟 Students should wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather, as there will be lots of walking and students will be outside for part of the morning.

• ⚠️ Students who are inattentive, disrespectful, or disruptive during this trip will not be allowed to attend future trips.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Ms. Powers at the high school office.

Thank you for supporting this opportunity for our Panthers to begin exploring college and career pathways!

Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop – Panther Pride! 🐾

AGENDA FOR THE VISIT

9:00am Arrival
9:15am Presentation at the Library

9:45 am Kahoot (Prizes Top 3)

10:00am Break into 3-4 groups for tour
11:00-11:15 am Return to the library/Departure

Here you'll find a list of all public and private, 2-year and 4-year colleges in Michigan. You can find institution-specific information, such as admissions and financial aid, using the links below.

https://sites.google.com/micollegeaccess.org/cavacollegeguide/home

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