Parent Update 25-26

We are excited to announce our third trimester attendance reward! Students who have achieved 95% or better attendance with no unexcused absences or tardies for the third trimester through May 15 will receive a pizza lunch in the Peace Garden provided by the school from Pizza Ranch. Weather permitting, the day of the pizza lunch in the Peace Garden will be Friday, May 22.

Some attendance reminders:

Once a student has used the 10 days of excused absences, when you call in your student will be unexcused but not truant. If a doctor's note is provided, the absence changes to excused. A friendly reminder for you and your student that for any absence coded as unexcused, teachers do not, by state statute, have to allow retakes or supply work for those days. This is up to the individual teacher so students should check in with their teachers to find out.

Another reminder to check your email daily and to finish the third trimester strong. Building strong daily habits is the key to success. Show up and do the work, it will be worth it. Many opportunities and great moments are missed in life by not showing up. Your attendance is important and the school is a better place when you all are present.

AP exams will continue until May 15. If your student misses an exam due to illness, we can schedule a make up exam for no charge. The student should email Ms. Pennington penningtonj@mywusd.org. If a student "no shows" for an exam, the College Board charges a $40 cancellation fee that we will add to your student's fees.

Please remember that cell phones, water bottles, and food are strictly prohibited in the testing room; all phones should be secured in your locker or car prior to the start of the session.

Regarding your results, you are eligible to send your AP scores to two colleges for free, provided you designate these choices directly through your College Board account. Please double-check your selections soon, as any scores sent to additional institutions will incur a $15 fee. If you have any questions about these policies or the score-sending process, please see Ms. Pennington.

AP Testing Schedule

Graduation Ceremony

The Class of 2026 Graduation Ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 10 a.m. in the WHS Fieldhouse. Arrangements are being made to live-stream the ceremony for additional family members. No graduation tickets will be needed this year.

Senior Fees

All student fees are to be paid by Friday, May 22nd to the Bookkeeping Office or via Skyward/RevTrak. Payments may be made by cash or credit card only. Remember, fees must be paid by cash or credit card in order to participate in the Graduation Ceremony. Students will be notified at Graduation Rehearsal if they have any remaining outstanding fees. Parents can check their student fees at any time via Skyward Family Access.

Graduation Caps & Gowns

Seniors who missed the pick up of Jostens senior items, should stop in the Main Office to pick up their items. Students who didn't order their cap and gown yet, are encouraged to do so ASAP, by calling the Jostens Office at 262-899-8334 or ordering on their website: jostens.com.

The Watertown-Heringen exchange program, now in its 20th year, seeks to create opportunities for friendships between German and American students and families. German students will be visiting Watertown October 3-11 this year, and WHS students have the opportunity to travel to Germany June 7-21, 2027. No knowledge of German is necessary to participate in either portion of the exchange! If you would like to host Lina or one of her classmates, please contact Kim Schneider (schneiderk@mywusd.org) for more information.

Lina is 16 and enjoys doing sports, reading, cooking and baking. An open and friendly person, she loves dogs and also loves traveling. She is looking forward to experiencing the culture of the United States and especially American school life. Will you be the one to introduce Lina to the United States?

Juniors, are you considering retaking the ACT to improve your scores? Regardless of a college’s ACT submission requirements, a strong ACT score supports an application for admission. Be sure to check the admissions requirements of the colleges you hope to attend. ACT scores are an important consideration for scholarships and course placement. Unsure if you should retake the ACT? Make an appointment with your school counselor.

ACT registration is online at act.org. Students who qualify for free/reduced lunch, or may be experiencing financial hardship, should see their school counselor for a fee waiver.

Upcoming ACT Test dates:

June 13, 2026 (Registration Deadline: May 8, Late Registration Deadline: May 29)

July 11, 2026 (Registration Deadline: June 5, Late Registration Deadline: June 24)

If your child will be in 12th grade during the 2026/2027 school year, we need to have dates of two ACWY containing meningitis vaccines, unless the first dose was given after your child was 16 years old. Parents/guardians may sign a personal conviction or religious waiver for these meningitis vaccines, just as they may for other vaccinations, or have a medical waiver signed by a healthcare practioner.

If you have any questions about the immunization requirements, please contact either your child’s medical provider or Lynn Gilbert, WUSD School Nurse, at 920-262-1460 x 3219.

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School Year Immunization Requirements.pdf

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May Rotary Students

Watertown High School is proud to announce our Rotary Club outstanding seniors! These students have demonstrated excellence in academics, athletics, extracurricular activities, and community service. Each Monday, WHS seniors will join the Rotary Club at their weekly meetings, providing an opportunity to celebrate their achievements and connect with community leaders. This program highlights the dedication and hard work of our students and fosters valuable connections between WHS and the Watertown community. Congratulations to all our recognized seniors!

Alexia Lambert is the daughter of John and Erin Lambert. Alexia has been a dedicated four-year member in the WHS FFA organization serving as vice president this year. Her commitment to leadership and agriculture extends beyond the classroom, as she also serves as the president of her local 4-H program. She has also been a four-year member of the softball program and has also participated in National Honor Society the past two years. Alexia plans to attend UW-Platteville to study biology.

Riley Runke is the daughter of Kris Runke and Will Runke. Riley has been a dedicated four-year member of the WHS Music Department, contributing her talents to the marching band, jazz band, and pit orchestra. She also serves as the vice president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Alongside her musical pursuits, Riley is a four-year athlete in both cross country and track & field. Her diverse involvement extends to Forensics, DECA/FBLA, and the National Honor Society. Beyond school, Riley is an active member of EAA Chapter 320 and is currently working toward her pilot’s license. This fall, she will attend Ripon College to major in Business Management and continue her athletic career in cross country and track.

Ezra Smith is the son of Dave and Ricky Smith. Ezra is a dedicated four-year member of the varsity swim team. His commitment to excellence extends beyond the pool as a member of the National Honor Society, where he currently serves as a peer tutor. Ezra has also competed in cross country, lacrosse, and track & field. Currently, Ezra is working as a lifeguard and a swim coach. This fall, Ezra will attend Wheaton College to pursue a double major in education and business while continuing his athletic career on their swim team.

Ripon College Band Festival

WHS musicians attended Ripon College's 4th annual Band Festival on Monday and spent the day in rehearsals and sectionals preparing music for a concert that afternoon. Highlights from the day included sharing the stage with musicians from local schools, learning new performance techniques from Ripon faculty and students, and eating in the college dining hall.

German Honor Awards

WHS German students were recently recognized by the Milwaukee DSSV (Deutscher Sprach- und Schulverein) for outstanding performance on the American Association of Teachers of German National German Exam. Katherine Huhn earned a silver medal from the AATG and a cash prize from the DSSV for scoring in the top 20% nationwide. Stellah Freitag and Lauren Zoellick earned recognition and cash prizes for the essays they submitted to the DSSV essay contest, a competition run by the DSSV in conjunction with, but separate from, the National German Exam. Several other students, including Freitag and Zoellick, earned Achievement Awards for performance in the top 40% on the NGE nationwide.

(Pictured: Front row L-R: Lauren Zoellick, Katherine Huhn, Elizabeth Tarr. Back row L-R: Stellah Freitag, Braeden Nemitz, Briar Wegner and Lauren Schroeder)

Exemplary Performance Recognition Award

The choir quartet made up of Cooper Wood, Brevon Kamrath, Jack Sullivan, and Jack Kaczmarek and Soprano Soloist Sophia Tolfa received the judges Exemplary Performance Recognition Award at the WSMA State Solo & Ensemble Festival. State Festival adjudicators select the most exceptional performances at each of the festival campuses.