Kimberly High School October 2025

Hello Kimberly High School families,

The 2025–26 school year is off to a fantastic start! These first few weeks have been filled with energy, connection, and momentum as we work together to lay the foundation for a successful year. We’ve been intentional about building strong relationships with students while also setting high expectations for growth and achievement. As we shared in our class meetings, every day is a new chance to learn and improve—and it has been inspiring to watch our students take risks, challenge themselves, and support one another along the way.

That same energy is carried into Homecoming 2025, where our halls are filled with school spirit and Papermaker pride. While the week is packed with fun and tradition, it also provides a natural opportunity to talk with your student(s) about safety and the importance of making positive choices. At KHS, creating a safe and supportive environment remains our top priority. One important part of that is our commitment to keeping our school free of drugs and alcohol. We are proud to share that more than 720 students and families have already signed the PromiseMaker pledge—your support and partnership make a real difference in strengthening our community.

Looking ahead, please save the date for Wednesday, October 15th, for our annual Parent-Teacher Conference Night. This evening is designed not only for conferences with teachers but also to showcase everything KHS has to offer. Families will have the chance to explore academic departments, learn about clubs and activities, and gain valuable insight into post-secondary opportunities available to our students. Most importantly, it’s an opportunity to strengthen the partnership between parents, school, and community, and we look forward to seeing you there.

As we move into October, I want to thank you for the continued support you give to our students and Kimberly High School. The success of KHS is built on the strong partnership between families, staff, and our community, and that partnership is what makes this such a special place for students to learn and grow. I look forward to connecting with many of you in the weeks ahead.

With great Papermaker Pride,

Mrs. DePeau

Principal

October:

1 - Homecoming Parade

2 - Class Color Day

• Freshmen - Green
• Sophomores - Yellow
• Juniors - Orange
• Seniors Blue

4 - Homecoming Dance

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

15 - Parent Teacher Conferences 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

30 & 31 - No School

November:

14 - Early release - students dismissed at 11:30

27 & 28 - No School

The Darboy Kiwanis Club and the Times Village announce the KHS Student of the Month!

Madison Krueger - September

Landon Broeren - October

Fall parent teacher conferences will be held on Wednesday, October 15th from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Conferences will be held in the gymnasium. You are able to sign up for conferences starting Tuesday, September 30th @ 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 Fall Parent Teacher Conferences 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.

Dear KHS Families,

This is a reminder to join us for Parents' Night on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, from 5:00–8:00 PM at Kimberly High School.

Highlights:

• Parent/Teacher Conferences

• Info Booths: ACT prep, AP, dual credit, clubs, and more

• Post-High School Planning: Meet with colleges, tech schools & military reps
  
  

Special Sessions:

• Class of 2027 (Juniors): Parent Meeting
  📍 Auditorium | A–Le: 5:30 PM | Li–Z: 6:30 PM
  
  

• Class of 2026 (Seniors): FAFSA Help
  📍 LMC | Drop in anytime 5:00–8:00 PM
  ✅ Create your FSA ID ahead of time
  
  

We look forward to seeing you!

– KHS Staff

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.

A Reminder for Senior Parents and Students

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.

August 29, 2025

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) Law. Required testing at the high school level includes the following:

• Pre ACT Secure - grades nine and ten

• Wisconsin Forward - grade ten

• ACT Plus Writing - grade eleven

Pre ACT 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 17th (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 our Career Planning schedule on April 7th, 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 10th at KHS. Juniors will be the only class to report on March 10th. Grades 9,10, and 12 will not report on that day.

The following page has each of these state testing dates listed for your convenience as well as additional testing that is conducted. Additional testing for grades 9 and 10 involves MAP testing, and this occurs within students’ English and math classes. For grade 11, students will soon be taking a practice test for the ACT. This will occur during the morning of September 26th within our half day schedule, and no other grade levels will be impacted. Please note these dates and do your best to avoid them for scheduled absences for your student.

Additional information about these assessments will be shared as the dates get closer. 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 10, 2026 is ACT day!

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

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

All KHS 11th grade students took the PreACT test on September 26th.

Once the scores come in, our work begins!

Join our Google Classroom

View our program calendar

The dates for the online store this school year are as follows:

• Homecoming: September 1-10, pick up beginning September 29
• Holiday: November 10-24, pick up beginning December 15
• Spring: March 1-15, pick up beginning April 15

Kimberly Online store

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

Application Event - SENIORS: KHS is hosting an application event that allows senior students to meet with admissions counselors from various colleges to help them through the application process. If your student plans to attend one of the colleges listed below, this is a great opportunity for them to apply right here at KHS, with no application fee. Some of the colleges let you know an admission decision on the day you apply. See the dates and schools who are participating in application week below:

October 1st- UW Milwaukee

October 6th-UW Green Bay and UW Oshkosh

October 7th-UW Stevens Point

October 8th-UW Parkside and St. Norbert College

October 9th-NWTC

If you have any questions please reach out to Student Services.

FRESHMAN STUDENTS-Class of 2029 Meetings

All freshmen will meet with their counselor during Flextime between October 20th and October 29th 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.

Sophomore Post High School Rotations -

Beginning in October, your sophomore will have the opportunity to explore all four post-high school paths. During flex time on October 14, October 21, November 11, and November 19, students will attend presentations on apprenticeships, college, military, and technical colleges.

These presentations are designed to help students understand the unique differences of each option. We hope these presentations will help them identify which path aligns best with their personal goals for the future.

UW System Fall Workshops - UW HELP is excited to announce future fall dates for the 2025 UW System Fall Workshops. These are free and informative for students. Please check out the website for future dates.

FAFSA ~ Free Application for Federal Student Aid is holding an event at Fox Valley Tech Tuesday, October 14. Attendees receive free, personalized help completing your FAFSA. Financial aid experts will be available to answer your questions about paying for college and guide you through the process. Please check out the website for event information and registration.

TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS

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

1. Under Goals and Plans (top right), click on College Planning

2. Click Create New Application

*This is not an application, but a way to keep track of your applications (s).

1. Search your college/university

2. Select your college/university and click next at the bottom right

3. Select Admission Type and Application Deadline and then click create in the bottom right.

*These are additional details to help you keep on track - the date and type of admission doesn’t matter (click on any of them).

1. Click Request on transcript tab

Contact Student Services if you have any questions. Any transcripts requested are sent electronically. If a university has an application tracker, it may take 1 - 2 weeks to show up on the tracker.

Assessments

2025-26 ACT EXAM DATES

See this ACT exam link for the National Test Dates for the ACT. Students must register for the ACT at www.actstudent.org. Fee waivers for the ACT are available for students who qualify. Please email your counselor to request a fee waiver. Also, all juniors will take the state required ACT Tuesday, March 10, 2026.

Class Updates

SOPHOMORE STUDENTS - CLASS OF 2028 ~ FOCUS Program

On Thursday October 16, 2025 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.

Triumph Program

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.

OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ON BEHALF OF THE HERB KOHL EDCUATIONAL FOUNDATION
Monday, Aug. 18, 2025

Nominations open for 2026 Herb Kohl Teacher Fellowship and Principal Leadership Awards

MILWAUKEE — Nominations are now being accepted for the 2026 Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Teacher Fellowship and Principal Leadership awards, honoring exceptional Wisconsin PK–12 educators and school leaders. Nominations can be submitted online at KohlEducation.org.

Each award recipient receives $6,000, and their school will also receives a matching $6,000 grant.

• Principal nomination deadline: 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025
• Teacher nomination deadline: 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025

Since its founding in 1990, the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation has awarded more than $40 million to Wisconsin educators, principals, students, and schools. Each year, the Foundation honors 100 Teacher Fellowships and up to 16 Principal Leadership Awards statewide.

To be considered, nominees must:

• Currently teach or serve as a principal in a Wisconsin PK–12 school
• Plan to continue in their current role for at least one more year
• Be nominated by a parent, student, fellow educator, school administrator, or community member

The Teacher Fellowship recognizes educators who inspire a love of learning, motivate others, and demonstrate exemplary service in and beyond the classroom. The Principal Leadership Award honors school leaders who demonstrate outstanding administrative skill and foster a positive, collaborative school culture.

Following nomination, candidates must complete an application. Recipients are selected by a statewide panel of representatives from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, cooperative educational service agencies, education associations, and community leaders.

The Fellowship and Leadership programs are co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation, Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, and the state’s 12 Cooperative Educational Service Agencies.

To submit a nomination, visit KohlEducation.org.

Contact: contact@herbkohlphilanthropies.org

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!

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 2025–2026 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.

September Food Service Newsletter

Free and Reduced School Meals - Application

Free and Reduced School Meals - Information

Free and Reduced School Meals - Sharing Information with Other Programs