Dear Whitewater Unified School Families and Staff:
Today, March 24, 2020, Governor Evers issued an executive order: “All individuals present within the State of Wisconsin are ordered to stay home or at their place of residence.” The order extends school closures until April 24, three weeks beyond the original date of April 6. This extension necessitates continued home-based learning for students, additional planning and preparation for teachers and principals, and the continued support and cooperation of parents and guardians. Working together, teachers and families can help students continue to learn while protecting the health of children and our entire Whitewater community.
In the days ahead, families will receive regular updates from principals with more specific information about continued learning. Since the schools closed on Monday, March 16, the District’s leadership team met daily, teachers planned distance learning and prepared materials, families picked up supplies and learning materials at school, and principals, teachers, students and parents are working together every day so learning continues during this challenging health emergency. The efforts of everyone are truly inspiring and making a difference.
Now with the extended closing, those efforts must continue as we build on our past successes. Our children are learning, our District food service workers and community volunteers are providing needed food to hundreds of children, and most importantly, our health care professionals are advising and helping us keep the children and community as safe as possible.
The District program providing meals to children during closure will be changing effective next week. We will be distributing a week’s worth of meals each Monday instead of daily. A separate communication will be forthcoming with additional information.
As a reminder, you can visit our COVID-19 website at any time for information: https://wwusd.org/covid-19.
We know this emergency has challenged all of us. Whitewater Responds to that challenge. Let’s keep learning together. Thank you, families and staff, for all your hard work.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jim Shaw, PhD
District Administrator
Matthew Sylvester-Knudtson, CPA, CSRM
Director of Business Services
Whitewater Unified School District
419 South Elizabeth Street
Office: (262) 472-8705
