July 2026

Welcome to another exciting school year at DCE Senior High! It is an honor to begin my second year as your high school principal. Reflecting on my first year in this role, I am incredibly grateful for the warm welcome and the many accomplishments of our students and staff. Together, we celebrated growth, embraced new opportunities, and continued to build a school culture that makes DCE a special place to learn and grow.

As we begin the 2026-2027 school year, I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. Our students continue to challenge themselves academically, athletically, artistically, and through service to others. We remain committed to expanding opportunities that prepare every student for success beyond graduation while ensuring each student feels supported throughout their journey.

At DCE, our work is guided by three core values: Do What's Right, Care for Everyone, and Embrace Excellence. These values shape the way we treat one another, the standards we set for ourselves, and the decisions we make each day. They serve as the foundation of our school community and help prepare our students not only for life after high school, but also to become compassionate, responsible, and engaged citizens.

Senior High represents the final chapter of our students' educational journey at DCE. Whether a student is beginning tenth grade or preparing for graduation as a senior, every year presents new opportunities to learn, lead, and leave a lasting impact. Our goal is to ensure each student finishes this journey equipped with the knowledge, skills, confidence, and character needed for whatever path they choose next.

This newsletter is an important resource to start the school year. I encourage all students and families to take the time to read through it carefully. Inside, you will find valuable information about school expectations, activities, important dates, and resources designed to help kick off the year successfully.

Thank you for your continued partnership, encouragement, and support. The success of our students is made possible through the collaboration between our school, our families, and our community. I look forward to another outstanding year as we continue working together to provide the very best educational experience for every DCE student.

Here's to a fantastic 2026-2027 school year!

Sincerely,

Dallas Rennie
Principal, DCE Senior High

Annual Update: The signature page regarding use of technology, student handbook, field trips, medical treatment, earned privileges, etc. is completed online in the Infinite Campus (IC) parent portal. The Annual Update can be found under the “more” button after signing in. Parents, please make sure you have an email listed in IC. If you are unsure if you have an IC parent portal account or you forgot your login and password, please email the Student Services Secretary Melissa Barwick.

*NOTE: Students will not be able to participate in field trips or open campus privileges if this is not completed.

Student Demographics: Parent/guardians are reminded to review your student’s demographic information in IC. Parents can change some information (address, phone number, etc.) themselves. If you are unable to make the changes you need, please email the Student Services Secretary Melissa Barwick.

Open house is a great opportunity for students and parents to meet their teachers, counselors, and administration; put things in their locker; pick up their ID card; pay fees (can also be done in the Infinite Campus parent portal); tour the building and have their school/ID/yearbook picture taken. Bring your iPad or phone to access your student schedule as they will not be printed. Please complete the “Open House Checklist” during your session.

Open House Checklist ✅

💢**Get all 4 starred items stamped at Open House for free popcorn and slushi

School Pictures

The senior high school pictures will be taken during the Open House Sessions on Wednesday, August 19th from 1:00- 6:00 pm. Students should report to the commons sometime during the Open House window. Picture information can be obtained by clicking one of the pictures below or from the photographer that day. There will be a make-up picture day on Tuesday, September 1st (DATE CHANGED) from 7-10 a.m. only. All juniors and sophomores must get their picture taken for the yearbook. Newly enrolled DC Everest students will also need a picture in order to get their student ID’s.

Picture Order Form Link

Online Order Link - D.C.E. Senior High Code 0584NJA.

Student schedules will be available to view in the Infinite Campus Portal August 17th.

Sophomores

The sophomores’ first day will begin on Tuesday, August 25th at 7:28 a.m. in their ELT classroom and ending at 2:40 p.m. This day is focused on welcoming all sophomore students to the high school. They will spend the morning with their ELT participating in activities and touring the building. The rest of the afternoon they will meet each of their teachers and receive general information about the classes they scheduled for semester 1. Busses will run at the normal time of 2:40 p.m.

Juniors and Seniors

The juniors’ and seniors’ first day of school will begin on Wednesday, August 26th, at 7:28 a.m.

Juniors and seniors, we need volunteers to help us with the sophomore’s first day of school on August 25th. We would like to have 2 students for each advisory to assist with the day’s activities. We would also like to create an opportunity for you to share advice and answer questions regarding how to make the most out of your experience as a high school student. You would be needed the first half of the day. Pizza lunch will be provided for volunteers. Please email Luke Stachovak to let him know if you are interested. Specific details will be available as it gets closer.

Time Schedules for the 2026-2027 school year incorporates an ELT every day of the week and an advisory on Monday mornings. ELT will be used to make up classwork or tests, see a teacher, get help, attend club meetings, etc. During advisory, students will meet with their advisory teacher to discuss academic progress and participate in academic, career, and life readiness activities. Daily time schedules can also be found on the senior high website: Daily Time Schedules.

Senior, junior, and second semester sophomore students who meet the criteria for participation are eligible to participate in the Earned Privileges program during the school day. Student participation in Earned Privileges will be determined by the previous quarter’s attendance, behavior, and academic standing. Earned Privileges allow students to participate in open campus during the student’s assigned study hall and lunch. Students may choose to stay on campus during these times as well, as long as they stay in their assigned study hall room or IMC. Students returning early from open campus privileges must report to their assigned area.

Criteria for Participation

• Parental Permission: Students wishing to participate must have received parental permission through the completion of the Infinite Campus Annual Update by August 20th. The Annual Update can be found under the ‘more’ button once logged into Infinite Campus.

• Academic: Students must earn a term GPA of 2.8 or better during the previous quarter.

• Attendance: Students must have greater than 90% attendance during the previous quarter and have 5 or less tardies during that quarter.

• Behavior: Students must have zero behavior infractions during the previous quarter as well as have zero community- based infractions during the school day while on privileges.

• Process for Participation – Students who have Earned Privileges must scan out and in through the main office with their school issued ID. Students who fail to scan out and in will lose their privileges for the remainder of the quarter.

Administration reserves the right to remove Earned Privileges at any time for violation of school rules including attendance to ELT when requested. Students and parents will be notified at the beginning of each quarter if the student has earned privileges for the following quarter.

Junior and senior Earned Privileges for the Fall of 2026 is based on quarter 4 information of the previous school year (Spring 2026). Sophomores can earn privileges for second semester using quarter 2 information of the current school year.

Junior and senior students who earned first quarter privileges will receive an email notifying them in the afternoon of August 17th.

D.C. Everest Senior High teachers, administrators, and school counselors use a system called Grade Guardian that tracks student performance in Canvas and helps identify if students are at risk of failing. It uses a color-coded Risk Index score to show how at risk they are.

Grade Guardian looks at several factors, including but not limited to grades, the number of missing assignments, when assignments are submitted, and how often students access their courses. Some examples of why students are at certain risk levels could include:

Please remember if a student is in the red in Grade Guardian, is assigned by a teacher, or earned an ELT containment for unexcused absences they are required to stay in ELT to complete work. If they do not attend as required they will be marked absent. Sophomores must stay for ELT until September 30th.

Students will receive an email message on Monday mornings around 10:00 am letting them know what risk index color they fall in. Every Thursday morning students and every other Thursday parents (if you are a registered observer) will receive a progress report that shows students’ courses, the current grade, lists any missing assignments, the last time the student submitted an assignment in a specific course, and the last time they accessed Canvas. Grade Guardian updates every morning before school starts. Please note that if a student turns in an assignment late that it is highly unlikely that a teacher will have the time to grade and update Canvas immediately. It could be a day or more as they need to prioritize assignments that are turned in on time. You can check in Canvas to see if an assignment is submitted.

If you are currently not an observer on your students Canvas account, please visit the DCE Senior High Canvas Help website where you can find directions on how to become one. Please note that due to system limitations, Grade Guardian is only available to school staff and cannot be viewed by students or families.

• With your help we encourage all students to:

• Stay organized and keep track of all assignments.

• Seek help from teacher(s) if students are not understanding the content or assignment.

• Use class time wisely and engage in their learning.

• Attend all of their classes. Absences will cause students to fall behind.

• Use ELT time to catch up on missing work.

Student attendance at school is one of the most significant indicators of student success. We look to partner with our families to ensure the prioritization of student attendance and success. If a student is going to be absent from school, the parent/guardian must call (715) 359-6561 Ext: 4247 or email the Senior High Attendance Office before 7:28 a.m. Otherwise written communication with a parent/guardian signature should be submitted to the Attendance Office upon the student’s return to school. Per state statute, a student may be excused for up to 10 school days. A requested absence of 1 period or more counts as a day with an absence. If absences are not communicated, or a student has a recorded absence on 10 or more days, the absence will be considered unexcused and the student may be considered for truancy processes. These processes include loss of privileges, ELT restrictions, after school detentions, Saturday detentions, truancy citations, and potential truancy court.

Per the athletic handbook a student must be in school the full day in order to participate in games, meets, practices or to participate in co-curricular activity meetings or events. A student may be excused for a doctor, dentist, therapy appointments, or absences approved by the athletic director or principal. A doctor’s note needs to be provided for all medical appointments.

The D.C. Everest School District continues to create academic and social-emotional support systems linked directly to the assessed needs of our students. This system, known as the Everest System of Supports (E.S.S.), provides all students with timely and targeted instruction and intervention based upon the data-driven results of universal screening tools.

The primary purpose of universal screening is to help all students be successful. By identifying students who are in need of more specialized academic or behavioral interventions, we can provide assistance and preventative measures as early as possible. Likewise, by identifying students with higher reasoning skills and talent potential, we can provide them with opportunities to participate in Honors, Advanced Placement, or Dual Enrollment programs as appropriate for the individual student. In addition to universal screening tools, specific grade levels participate in annual assessments required by the state of Wisconsin.

Universal Screening Tools:

• The Insights survey from 7 Mindsets measures student perceptions and attitudes in categories representing the seven mindsets (Everything is Possible, Passion First, We Are Connected, 100% Accountable, Attitude of Gratitude, Live to Give, and The Time is Now). The results show areas for growth and development in mindsets at the individual student, school, and district levels. Each mindset is assigned three questions that determine the strength and level of student self-awareness. The results will help guide instruction for mindset lessons and language. This survey is administered two to three times per year.

Wisconsin State Assessment System:

• The Wisconsin Forward Exam will be administered to all students in grade 10 in spring. The Wisconsin Forward Exam is designed to gauge how well students are doing in relation to the Wisconsin Academic Standards in social studies. These standards outline what students should know and be able to do in order to be college and career ready.

• ACT Suite: Through collaboration between the ACT organization and Wisconsin's Department of Public Instruction, the ACT Suite includes assessments that measure what students have learned through the Wisconsin Academic Standards.

• PreACT Secure will be administered to all students in grade 10 in spring and measures what students have learned in the areas of English, Reading, Mathematics, and Science.
• ACT with writing will be administered to all students in grade 11 in spring and measures what students have learned in English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science. It also includes an essay test that measures student writing skills.

Thank you for supporting the D.C. Everest School District’s efforts to build a system of student supports linked directly to data. This initiative will ensure each of our students has the opportunity to receive the assistance they need to achieve academic and social-emotional success. Please do not hesitate to contact your building principal if you would like to discuss any of the assessment processes or the options of opting your child out of a specific assessment/survey.

The mandatory Fall Sports Parent Meeting will be held on Monday, August 3rd, 2026, at 6 p.m. in the senior high auditorium. August 3rd meeting breakdown:

• 5:00-5:30 p.m. parents can complete fee payment

• 5:30-6:00 p.m. parents/athletes meet with Athletic Director in the senior high auditorium

• 6:00- p.m. starts parents/athletes meet with individual sport coaches

This year for Athletic Registration the D.C. Everest School District is using Infinite Campus. A platform that allows schools to manage online registrations for sports programs and activities, including collecting necessary information and paperwork.

Step 1:

• Guardians need to sign into their Infinite Campus Parent Portal at Campus Parent

• If you are unsure if you have an IC parent portal account or you forgot your login and password, please email the Student Services Secretary Melissa Barwick.

• Parent Portal works best on a desktop rather than a mobile device.

Step 2:

• Select Activity Registration from the left hand menu bar. Then click New Registration blue button at bottom of screen.

• Click SHOP for the Senior High. Then Click Products under Sports Registration

• Click VIEW for the sport you want to register for.

• Click Sports Registration to be taken to the consent forms.

• Please read through the consent forms and mark agreement. Click SUBMIT once signed.

• Option to upload a physical form if needed.

• Click ADD TO CART

• Complete New Registration for any additional sports for your student.

• Click MY CART on the right hand side of the screen and then click SUBMIT blue button at the bottom of the screen.

STEP 3:

• You can check your registrations under UPCOMING tab at the top of the Activity Registration screen.

• Parents/Guardians can make payment for athletic fees by clicking on the FEES from the left hand menu bar.

If you need assistance with your online registration, please reach out to our High School Athletics Assistant by emailing Jenny Clark or Athletic Director Mike Mathies. This must be done prior to any student being able to participate in practice and competitions.

Co-Curricular Fees

Fees vary by activity and are based on the overall costs of the school programs. Options for fee waivers or payment schedules are available and can be arranged by emialing the Athletic Director Mike Mathies or call at (715) 359-6561, ext. 4400.

Athletic/Activity Passes

Student photo ID cards serve as the activity pass for all HOME athletic, drama, and musical events (excluding the Variety Show, dances, WIAA playoff games, and tournaments.). It also serves as a library card to check out books and other reference materials and to enter or leave the building during school hours. If lost, the replacement cost is $10 paid in the main office. Students are expected to carry their ID card at all times. Students who did not have a D.C. Everest school picture taken last year, need to report to the commons during Open House to have a picture taken so that an ID can be made for them.

Athletic Season Passes & Online Ticket Purchasing

The Wisconsin Valley Conference uses GoFan for online ticketing. Tickets for sporting events need to be pre-purchased online prior to each event by going through the Go Fan website or this can be found at the DCE Senior High Athletic webpage.

We are also offering the following WVC Season Passes through GoFan

To purchase any of the above passes or other season passes, please visit the Go Fan website.

D.C. Everest will be performing two musicals during the 2026-2027 school year.

1. "Frozen" being performed in November 2026. Students from grades 8-12 are invited to audition the end of August.
2. "How to Train Your Dragon The Musical Jr." being performed in April 2027. Students in grades 6-12 are invited to audition in January 2027.

For more information on audition details, tickets, and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks check out the poster below and scan the QR code.

Ordering

Yearbooks ordered through January 15, 2027 by 3 p.m. are $60. Yearbooks can be purchased on Infinite Campus or in person at the senior high school main office using a credit card, check, or cash. Parents are asked to please let your student know if you paid for one and to pick it up in May. The price will increase to $75 after 3 p.m. on January 15, 2027 and cannot be purchased until yearbook distribution in May on a first come, first served basis with limited supply.

Senior Photos

The deadline for submitting senior yearbook photos is November 13, 2026. Requirements were mailed last spring to parents and e-mailed to local photographers.

The list of basic requirements is below:

1. A colored head & shoulders photo. NO hands by face, hats, props, etc.

2. All photos need to be 300 dpi. (File saved: Student's last name, first name.)

3. A simple background is preferred.

4. No extreme angles – i.e. looking up at the photographer.

5. Photos need to be submitted by November 13, 2026. Photos should be emailed directly to the SRH Yearbook.

Seniors not planning to have senior photos taken by an outside photographer before the November deadline should have a photo taken at Open House by the school photographer, even if you are not planning to buy school pictures. If seniors are unsure whether they will have a senior photo taken later this fall, they should get a school photo taken at Open House. They may choose to submit a different photo for the yearbook by November 13th if desired. Any questions, email the SRH Yearbook.

Sophomore & Junior Photos

Sophomores and juniors must have their photo taken during Open House so you are pictured in the 2026-27 yearbook. Even if you do not buy school pictures, we need you to still have them taken.

D.C. Everest administrators and staff have been proactively working with law enforcement, first responders and our Superintendent’s Office in Wisconsin to update our Comprehensive School Safety Plans and put into place effective drills that will help prepare us for incidents, emergencies or disasters that may occur at school or within the community. Below is important safety information we encourage you to review prior to the start of the school year.

Talk to Your Student About Safety It is crucial for parents/guardians to be aware of the safety protocols at their child’s school. Engaging in conversations with your child(ren) about safety drills taking place at school is vital to helping them prepare for emergencies that may take place at school or elsewhere. By helping your student understand the District safety protocols (found below), you can help reduce fear and build a student’s trust in the systems we have in place. Open dialogues between parents, teachers, support staff and students strengthen our processes and emergency response plans. Below are the District safety protocols to review with your student.

Be Alert “If you see something, say something!” This proactive approach is encouraged among students, parents and staff to ensure safety concerns are reported immediately to school administrators or appropriate first responders, especially if there is a potential for imminent danger.

Drills and Preparedness All schools will continue to conduct regular fire, lockdown and safety drills as required by state law — including unannounced drills to evaluate readiness. Our first drills will occur within the first two weeks of school.

Run, Hide, Fight (Take Action)

We use the Run, Hide, Fight (Take Action) protocol, a nationally recommended strategy endorsed by the Department of Homeland Security:

• Run – Get away from danger if safe to do so.

• Hide – Stay out of sight and remain quiet.

• Fight (Take Action) – As a last resort, attempt to stop the threat if your life is in immediate danger.

Emergency Procedures

• Fire – Evacuate and wait for clearance to return.

• Lockdown – Secure your location based on the threat.

• Shelter in Place – Remain indoors during outside hazards.

• Reunification – If students must be relocated, families will receive instructions via School Messenger, our website and social media.

For your safety and the safety of students, staff and first responders, please:

• DO NOT REPORT TO THE SCHOOL — procedures are in place to safely and efficiently reunite students with parents/guardians.

• Ensure you have persons authorized to pick up your student(s) LISTED ON YOUR STUDENT’S EMERGENCY CARD in Infinite Campus (you can find more information linked HERE). No student will be released to any other adult, if not listed on the current emergency card.

• Have your photo ID with you at the reunification site; it will be required at the time of pickup​.

Communication During an Emergency

During an emergency at a D.C. Everest school, communication is distributed through the School Messenger all-call system, the district websites and our social media channels. To ensure you receive timely alerts, please update your emergency contact information. Please visit the DCE Safety and Security webpage to update your contact information in Infinite Campus.

Parents are advised to:

• Remain at home/work and monitor our communication channels (website, social media, email, texts) for updated information.

• Avoid sending repeated texts or phone calls to students’ personal cell phones; doing so may alert intruders to your child’s location and may tie up the cellular systems, potentially delaying a safe and effective response.

• Refrain from proceeding to the site of the emergency — doing so may block roads and prevent first responders from responding in a timely manner; only proceed to the site if advised to do so by the District or law enforcement

• Avoid posting unverified information to your social media channels — this can lead to mass confusion and misinformation.

For any concerns or questions, please contact your building principal.

PSAT/NMSQT

The PSAT/NMSQT test will be given on Wednesday, October 21st from 7:30 to 10:30 am to interested sophomores and juniors. This is an optional exam that tests students’ verbal, mathematical and writing abilities. If taken as a junior, the PSAT is the route of entry to the National Merit Scholarship.

Wisconsin State Junior ACT Test

All junior students will take the State required ACT test online on Tuesday, March 9, 2027 at the senior high school. The make up ACT will be on Tuesday, March 16, 2027.

Sophomore Pre-ACT and Forward Test

All sophomores will take the Pre-ACT and Forward test online on April 14, 2027 at the senior high school. This test covers English, reading, math, and science.

HEALTH ROOM - Students in need of any medical care should report to the health room with permission of a staff member. The health assistant, with input from the student, will determine if a parent/guardian will be contacted or should pick the student up from school, depending on the illness of the student. Students who feel they need to go home due to an illness must allow the health assistant to make initial contact with the parent/guardian. A student should not make initial contact by personal phone to be picked up from school for medical reasons. This practice ensures quality medical care and accurate attendance of all our students. If the initial contact is not made through the health office and the student is picked up, it will be documented as excused per parent/guardian and will count towards their 10 days of allowed absences.

MEDICATION AT SCHOOL - The purpose of the medication procedure is to keep your student safe and provide him/her with the medication ordered. District staff will not give any medication - prescription and/or Over The Counter (OTC) - to any student unless the following criteria is met:

1. School Medication Consent Forms are available in the main office, health room, or online. A new medication consent form must be completed each school year or when the dose of the medication is changed and/or discontinued.

• Over The Counter (OTC) Medications

  • Parent/Guardian signature is required for OTC medications.
  • A physician’s signature is required if the dose needed of the OTC medication is more than the recommendations listed on the label, or if the medication is not FDA approved.

• Prescription Medications

  • Parent/Guardian and physician signatures are required for all prescription medications.

2. Medication Bottles and Labeling

• Prescription Medications must be in the original labeled pharmacy bottle. The label must clearly state:

  • Student’s full name

  • Name of medication

  • Time to give medication and dose needed

  • Physician’s name

  • Date medication was dispensed

• OTC Medications must be in the original container or single dose unit package. Write your student’s name on the container.

• Staff cannot give any medication sent in a plastic bag or envelope.

3. Handling and Storage of Medication at School: Medications are stored in the original labeled pharmacy container and in a locked cabinet.

• During the school year, parent/guardian is called to pick up all unused, discontinued, or outdated medications.

• At the end of the school year, parent/guardian must pick up all medication.

• Any unclaimed medication will be disposed of at the end of the school year.

4. Special Considerations

• Emergency Medications: Students are allowed to self-carry emergency medications with physician’s authorization. Emergency medications must be labeled as outlined above. Parent/guardian must complete the appropriate form even if your student self-carries the medication. All students who receive an emergency medication will be taken by ambulance to the nearest emergency room. Parent/Guardian will be notified.

• Stock Medication: Students in grades 8-12 are able to take stock medication that the school provides. The medications that can be supplied are Ibuprofen and Tylenol. The OTC rules for dosing apply here as well. The Stock medication consent form is available in the main office, health room, or online. A new stock medication consent form must be completed each school year.

5. General Safety Considerations

• Bring your student’s medication to the health office.

• Send only limited quantities of medication to school.

• No medication will be given to your student without your written consent.

IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS - The Wisconsin state immunization requirements for 2026-2027 school year are listed below. Students need the listed vaccinations by the first day of school.

Immunization Waivers

• Parents/Guardians do have the option to decline any and/or all immunizations based on personal, religious, and/or health reasons. If you choose not to immunize your child, check the appropriate waiver (Step 4) and sign the form. Immunization waiver forms are available on the D.C. Everest Website linked here.

• Please contact your student’s doctor or local health department to determine if your student needs additional immunizations. Schedule appointments to receive the immunizations needed or sign a waiver indicating what vaccine(s) you do not want your student to receive. Report the dates of the immunizations to the school health assistant.

Please contact the Senior High School Health Office at 715.359.6561 extension 4245 if you have further questions or concerns.

We want to make sure we can best support your child this year. More information is on the poster below.

We all need to work together to keep our schools safe. For more information, see the poster below.

Please visit the senior high website calendar for updates at Senior High Website Calendar. This calendar will be updated periodically with adds, deletes and changes as they occur. The calendar above can be printed by clicking on it.

The Senior High website is an excellent resource for information about staff contact details, academic programs, schedules, calendars, parking, college & career readiness, school closing, and many other important school information. We encourage you to visit the website to stay informed at D.C. Everest Senior High website.

The D.C. Everest Area School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, sex, (including pregnancy, gender status, change of sex or gender identity), or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability or any basis protected by state or federal laws. The following staff are designated to receive inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Gina Lehman, Director of Student Services, or Sarah Trimner, Director of Talent and Culture, both are located at 6100 Alderson Street, Weston, WI 54476 and (715) 359-4221. The full notice of nondiscrimination is located at the D.C. Everest School District website.