Dear parents, students, friends and neighbors,

Welcome back to another exciting school year in the Watertown Unified School District (WUSD). We have much to celebrate as we start the school year, including the opening of our new Endeavor Charter School and continued efforts to focus on our strategic priorities: Enhancing Teaching and Learning, Developing People and Partnerships and Meeting the Needs of a Diverse Population.

Over the past three years, we have worked to implement the goals outlined in our strategic plan, and we have experienced great success in many areas:

• In our most recent graduation data, more than 95 percent of our seniors graduated from Watertown High School. This is excellent compared with statewide data, which shows graduation rates of approximately 88 percent for the 2012-2013 school year.
• Looking at our seniors, 75 percent graduated having taken a course for post-secondary credit through either an advanced placement or dual credit opportunity. This helped ensure they were prepared for success in a career or college following graduation. 

While we are excited about these achievements, we are continuing to work toward even greater levels of student academic success. We believe it's important to help our students maximize their unique talents and abilities, and prepare them for future challenges.

The WUSD continues to be a place where students can access great opportunities, from a dual language program in kindergarten to a pre-engineering program beginning in middle school, and a nationally ranked Academic Decathlon Team, we have much to offer and celebrate in Watertown!

The 2014-2015 school year promises to be a great year with many opportunities available for our students and families.  I look forward to seeing all of you throughout the year at our many events and activities.

Have a great start to the year!

Cassandra Schug

Superintendent, Watertown Unified School District

Talent development: Welcome Ms. Kennon

We are proud to welcome Kathy Kennon, our new Talent Development (Gifted and Talented) Resource Development teacher. Ms. Kennon was hired this year to join the District to help us implement our new Talent Development Plan. Our plan creates three levels of service for students who are identified as gifted and talented in any one or more of five areas:  

• General intellectual ability
• Specific academic ability
• Creative thinking
• Artistic (Visual/Performing Arts)
• Leadership

If you have questions about the plan or how to access resources, please contact Kent Jacobson, WUSD gifted and talented coordinator, at (920) 262-1465.

2014 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient

We are proud to announce our 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, Diane L. Reinhard, PhD. One of an exceptional pool of nominees, Dr. Reinhard was selected for her outstanding leadership and contributions to society.

As a student, Dr. Reinhard already was recognized as a leader. She was elected president of the student council and voted "Most Likely to Succeed" by her classmates. After receiving the Watertown Teacher's Association Scholarship, Dr. Reinhard went on to become a teacher, inspired by her third grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School, Miss Orvis.

Dr. Reinhard committed her entire career to advancing public education and has taught students of all ages. She was the first woman to serve in university administrative positions, including 13 years as president of Clarion University of Pennsylvania-the first woman in this role. She also was the first woman to serve as president within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

Of special note is Dr. Reinhard's emeritus status, conferred by the Clarion University Council of Trustees and the Pennsylvania State System of High Education Board of Governors. Additionally, Clarion University's new student residential complex has been named the Diane L. Reinhard Villages.

Upon her retirement, Dr. Reinhard returned to Watertown where she has continued to serve the community in many capacities, HAWC/YMCA board member, Wisconsin Humanities Foundation Council member and chair, and the City of Watertown Licensing Committee.

During homecoming week, Sept. 21-27, Dr. Reinhard will be recognized during a Friday, September 26 luncheon and pep assembly, will serve as parade marshal and will be introduced at the football game. A plaque will be hung and displayed in the Watertown High School entranceway in her honor.

Homecoming week schedule: Sept. 21-27

We will kick off homecoming week early this year with our annual powder puff football games and bonfire on Sunday, Sept. 21. The week will be filled with sporting events and celebrations. On Friday, September 26, we will host our 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, Diane Reinhard, PhD, at a special luncheon, followed by a pep assembly and the homecoming parade. 

Our Watertown High School Goslings will take on the Hartford Orioles Friday night, and a Pixar-themed dance will follow on Saturday, September 27. Be sure to join us for all of the exciting events and activities, and to cheer our Goslings on to victory!

After-school program extended

We know families are busy, so this year we expanded our partnership with the YMCA to offer after-school care until 6 p.m. at two sites, Webster and Douglas elementary schools. As before, all students from our elementary schools are welcome to attend, and shuttle bus transportation is available to students at Schurz and Lincoln elementary schools. 

Our partnership with the YMCA allows us to offer our families a Wisconsin-licensed child care program at a reasonable cost. Trained, professional and caring staff provide homework help, a healthy snack and a fun place for your child to end the school day.

Learn more or register for Great Escape, the WUSD after-school program. 

Dedicated staff members: Congratulations on 30 years of service

Cheryl Beck Bookkeeper	Pamela Brown Kindergarten teacher	Gloria McDonald Nutrition Services
Crystal Nelson Second-grade teacher	Doreen Rompre Sixth-grade teacher

Opening the door to success: Endeavor Charter School

After more than 16 months of planning, WUSD's Endeavor Charter School is set to open its doors on Tuesday, Sept. 2. The mission of the new charter school is to provide more options for students to engage in robust, challenging learning experiences, while pursuing their passions and interests, and taking ownership of their learning. The cornerstone of the school's curriculum is project-based learning, where students in grades 9-12 dive into topics that interest them. 

"This has been an effort between some very dedicated and talented teachers, families, and community members," said Bob Logan, WUSD supervisor of Instructional Technology and the school's coordinator. "They recognize the value of in-depth studies and connecting the disciplines in a way that makes learning look like the real world."

Students work with their teachers to develop a plan for meeting academic standards that focus on key learning targets, but no two plans are the same. Students also will be involved in seminars that explore the connections between science, history, English and other areas, rather than study those subjects in isolation.

"Many people perceive projects as involving poster boards and displays," Logan said. "We're promoting a connection to real projects and problems, things that attempt to address questions that don't have obvious solutions, and that produce results that can benefit the community."

Much of the planning year has involved making connections to outside resources, and preparing to deliver and support a different education model. Teachers are involved in Project Lead the Way training in biomedical sciences, and we recently developed a unique partnership with the Southeast Wisconsin Applied Chemistry Center of Excellence, part of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's science programs.Project Lead the Way is the nation's leading provider of science, technology, engineering, and math programs. The curriculum and high-quality teacher professional development model, combined with an engaged network of educators and corporate and community partners, help students develop the skills necessary to succeed in a global economy.

"We're extremely excited to be a partner with Endeavor Charter School and collaborate on projects that support the chemical sciences and their application in the real world through innovative schools," said Douglas Stafford, PhD, director, Southeast Wisconsin Applied Chemistry Center of Excellence. "We very much encourage students to matriculate at UWM, and there are scholarship programs in the Honors College, College of Letters and Science, and Engineering where they would be very competitive."  

Students with a science focus will have access to cutting-edge instrumentation and hands-on workshops on campus that build competencies in science. UWM has named Endeavor Charter School as a partner in a Dreyfus Foundation grant for advancing chemistry and related sciences.

Enrollment is approaching 40 students, our target for the first year.Josh Kerr is the school's lead teacher and will be on site at all times. Other teachers are Scot Meyer, Judy Mueller and Emmie Carpenter, who will move between Endeavor Charter School and Watertown High School. Some students will move between Endeavor and the high school to pursue a particular course, such as music or foreign language. Endeavor also has online options available. 

Visit the Endeavor Charter Schools website for more information.

High school SkillsUSA Chapter named national champion

For the second time in three years, students from Watertown High School's SkillsUSA Chapter returned from the national conference with a gold medal. WHS has been the best in the nation two out of the last three years in Automated Manufacturing Technology. 

Congratulations to Jesse Domer, advisor, and high school seniors, David Butts and Evan Yoakum, and high school junior, Nick Quandt,for their amazing accomplishment

Skills USA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry members working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. It provides quality education experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development. SkillsUSA programs include local, state and national competitions in which students demonstrate occupational and leadership skills. At the annual national-level SkillsUSA Championships, over 6,000 students compete in 99 occupational and leadership skill areas.

New program assists with transition from school to adult life

We are pleased to begin offering the Real Life Experiences about Community and Home (REACH) program for students with special needs, ages 18-21. This new program will focus on transitions for students by incorporating community instruction to assist with the change from school to adult life. 

Students will receive instruction and training in the shared responsibilities necessary for independence in post high school and work settings. The REACH program will provide community experience, work experience and education seminars at Watertown High School. 

For more information on this new opportunity, please contact Erin Meyer, director, Secondary Teaching and Learning, at (920) 261-1460.