Dear parents, students, friends and neighbors,

Happy New Year! I love welcoming a new year because it's so valuable to have an opportunity for reflection and renewal.

We have many accomplishments to celebrate as 2016 begins. Among them are:

• Our WHS juniors performed well above the state average in English Language Arts and math on the ACT.
• Our WHS Academic Decathalon Team is ranked fourth in the state and first in Division 1. 
• Our students have improved their skills in math and reading over the course of first semester.

I hope you are as proud as I am of our students and staff. I look forward to continued great accomplishments this year!

-Cassandra Schug

Teachers continually look for ways to engage students in reading for learning and enjoyment, like our family literacy nights at each elementary school. Usually held once annually to increase reading motivation and enhance the home-school connection, we encourage you to join us:

• Webster Elementary School: Reading Restaurant, Thursday, Feb. 18 
   Students will participate in three different literacy "entrees" where they will read books with Webster staff and enjoy a snack. During these sessions, families will receive tips to help their reader at home.

• Schurz Elementary School: Science fair and literacy event, Tuesday, March 8

• Lincoln Elementary School: Author celebration and literacy event, Wednesday, May 3. Families may play games, read, make a craft and see their student's writing. 

"In the future, we'd like to broaden the Academy model, expanding it into other areas of focus, like math and English," Vitale said. 

For more information, contact Riverside Middle School.

Three second-grade teachers at Douglas Elementary, Lisa Clark, Lori Clark and Casey Krueger, have been working together as a group with our professional learning communities initiative, collaborating to be completely student and data focused, with huge results. Their goal is to raise student reading levels from 50 to 95 percent by the end of the school year. 

Lisa Clark has taught in the Watertown School District for 17 years and attended Watertown schools herself. She describes teaching second grade at Douglas Elementary as her "dream job." "I absolutely enjoy working with seven and eight year olds because they are the perfect mix of energy and inquisitiveness," Clark said. "What I love most about my work in the WUSD  is collaborating with my teammates to help every student reach his or her full potential. I have learned so much from my colleagues and feel so very fortunate to work in a school with such dedicated, compassionate staff."

Lori Clark has been teaching second grade at Douglas Elementary for 16 years. "I was inspired to teach by so many wonderful teachers along the way, but really idolized the teaching style of Robin Radocay, when I did my student teaching with her, also in second grade at Schurz Elementary," Clark said. "I'm also following in my grandmother's footsteps, as she taught second grade for 32 years." She enjoys the camaraderie and friendships she has developed in the WUSD. "I have developed an extremely close relationship with my second-grade team, and we are like the perfect jigsaw puzzle," Clark said. "Each of us have different strengths and can depend on each other to collaborate and work as a team to make sure every student in our grade level has their individual needs met."

Casey Krueger is a Watertown native and graduated from Watertown High School. She coached the Watertown Blue Revue for nearly 10 years. Krueger earned her undergraduate degree from Carroll University and currently is working on her masters degree in Educational Technology. "I love working with a passionate group of professionals," Krueger said. "Lisa Clark and Lori Clark are supportive and knowledgeable, and we make a great team."

Lisa Clark

Lori Clark

Casey Krueger

Vince Haseleu

Vince Haseleu has worked in the WUSD since 1993. For the last 12 years, he has served as head daytime custodian at Schurz Elementary School.

"Over the years, I have seen many times the dedication that goes on behind the scenes, when it comes to providing a great learning environment for kids. Now that some of the students I've known are older, it's very interesting to see how they've followed their dreams, which were made possible by all of our staff," Haseleu said.

Haseleu has lived in Watertown his entire life, and has a 32-year-old stepson and a 16-year-old son, as well as a 6-year-old yellow lab.

"I have been doing this type of work since I was 12 years old. Cleaning at Shopkos, Piggly Wigglys and offices," Haseleu said. "In my free time, I enjoy many outdoor activities, including hunting, fishing and gardening. I also enjoy traveling out west to the mountains."