Editor’s note: Samuel Karns has instituted a new newsletter, which he wishes to be accessible to all community members, including those who do not have children enrolled in the district. The complete Superintendent Newsletter, which may be found online, contains some additional information including Nelson Bus, health services, and more photos. In the future we may select a few highlights of the newsletter while offering a link to the online document.

Good afternoon Whippets Nation!

We are off to a great start to the school year with lots of learning happening both inside and outside of the classroom. The month of September is Attendance Awareness, and here are some tips to help ensure your child’s success: #AttendanceMatters

• Set a consistent bedtime and morning routine.
• Schedule appointments outside of school hours whenever possible.
• Reach out to teachers or staff if your student is struggling.
• Celebrate good attendance milestones together.

Let’s work together to build strong habits that support student success. We are wrapping up our Third Friday Counts, and this is important because every student who was in class counts towards our state funding in the Whitewater Unified School District.

September 15th marked the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, which continues until October 15th. Please check in with your child’s school to see how they are celebrating and recognizing the contributions that the Hispanic community has made for our nation. We want to give a congratulations to our High School for receiving a grant to launch Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), an international student-led organization that will open doors for our students to explore healthcare careers while developing leadership and teamwork skills.

We are calling all community partners! If you or someone you know is interested, please share the link below titled “Community Partnership Interest Form,” or fill it out so we can connect.

We hope everyone enjoyed the powder puff game, and the amazing lip sync competition this past week at the high school. Congratulations to the Juniors for winning the lip sync competition for this year! We hope everyone enjoyed our community tradition of the burning of the “W” to strengthen our school and community culture. As we close out September, we look forward to homecoming festivities, including the homecoming dance and our football game against East Troy. Thank you to all who donated goods for Cram the Bus. Please note that there is also no school for students on Monday, September 29th as it is a teacher in-service day. Remember that all of the red boxes throughout this newsletter are typically interactive links for you to click on if you need more information.

There is a lot of great information in this newsletter, so please read through it thoroughly, and reach out if you have any questions.

All Means All,

Samuel

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Teaching & Learning

Dear Families and Community,

This year, our middle school and high school are beginning an exciting journey as we explore AVID—Advancement Via Individual Determination. AVID is a nationally recognized program designed to equip all students with the skills, strategies, and mindset needed to thrive in school, college, and beyond.

At the heart of AVID are its primary learning strategies, known as WICOR:

• Writing to learn and communicate effectively
• Inquiry through questioning and critical thinking
• Collaboration to problem-solve and learn from peers
• Organization to manage learning and responsibilities
• Reading to analyze, understand, and apply knowledge
  

Together, these strategies support students in every content area, strengthening both academic skills and confidence. This Fall, our dedicated staff are engaging in collaborative learning to better understand and apply WICOR strategies in classrooms.

On September 12, 2025 we joined schools across the nation in celebrating AVID Day—a day to recognize and honor the vision of AVID and to build excitement for what lies ahead. Beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, both our middle school and high school will launch AVID Elective classes, which will provide students in the program with even deeper skill development and personalized support. An AVID learner is one who demonstrates determination, embraces challenge, and uses tools like WICOR strategies to succeed. AVID creates a schoolwide culture where every student is capable of success, and no one is excluded from opportunity.

We are thrilled to bring AVID to our schools, knowing it will strengthen teaching and learning for all students. Over the coming months, we will share more information and updates as our teams continue to learn and plan together. Thank you for your partnership in supporting our students’ success. The best is yet to come!

With enthusiasm,

Terilyn Robles
Director of Teaching & Learning
Whitewater Unified School District

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Pupil Services

Dear Parents, Guardians and Community Members,

We are excited to share that this year our school district again is using the 7 Mindsets Curriculum in Grades 4K-8 to support the social and emotional growth of our students. This program is designed to help children develop positive mental habits, build strong relationships, and increase their self-confidence—all essential tools for academic success and lifelong well-being.

💡 What is the 7 Mindsets Curriculum?

The 7 Mindsets is a research-based program that teaches students how to live lives filled with purpose, passion, and meaning. Rather than focusing only on behavior, this curriculum empowers students to develop a positive mindset that influences how they approach challenges, relationships, and goals.

Each mindset introduces core social-emotional learning (SEL) skills through engaging activities, discussions, videos, and reflection. The goal? Help students understand that their thoughts shape their lives—and that they have the power to choose those thoughts!

🧠 The 7 Mindsets Overview

Here’s a brief look at each of the 7 Mindsets your child will be exploring:

1. Everything is Possible
   • Teaches students to dream big, embrace creativity, and believe in their ability to grow and succeed.
   • Focus: Growth mindset, resilience, and goal setting.
     
2. Passion First
   • Encourages students to discover what they love and find ways to incorporate their passions into their lives.
   • Focus: Self-awareness, strengths, and motivation.
     
3. We Are Connected
   • Builds empathy, respect, and strong relationships by helping students recognize the importance of community and collaboration.
   • Focus: Social awareness and relationship skills.
     
4. 100% Accountable
   • Empowers students to take ownership of their actions, choices, and attitudes.
   • Focus: Responsibility, integrity, and problem-solving.
     
5. Attitude of Gratitude
   • Promotes a positive outlook by helping students focus on the good in their lives and the world around them.
   • Focus: Optimism, gratitude, and emotional regulation.
     
6. Live to Give
   • Teaches students the joy and purpose found in serving others and making a difference.
   • Focus: Kindness, compassion, and contribution.
     
7. The Time is Now
   • Helps students develop focus, mindfulness, and a proactive mindset.
   • Focus: Presence, goal-setting, and using time wisely.
     

🏠 How You Can Support at Home

You are a vital part of your child’s learning journey! Here are a few ways to reinforce the 7 Mindsets at home:

• Talk about it: Ask your child what mindset they’re learning about and what it means to them.
• Model it: Share stories about how you apply these mindsets in your own life.
• Celebrate growth: Recognize when your child demonstrates a mindset, like showing gratitude or taking responsibility.

❤️ Our Commitment

We believe in educating the whole child, and the 7 Mindsets Curriculum helps us do just that. Together, we can build a community of confident, kind, and resilient learners who are prepared to thrive in school and beyond.

If you have any questions or want information about resources please contact me at lheim@wwusd.org or 262-472-8712. I will get back to you or have a member of the pupil services team reach out to you with information. Thank you for being our partner in supporting your child’s growth!

Warmly,
Dr. Lanora Heim, Director of Pupil Services

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Human Resources

The Whitewater Unified School District is always looking for great people to join our team! If you are excited to work in a positive, collaborative, and student-focused environment, we are interested in meeting with you to discuss the many opportunities to serve in many different ways. Click the red button below to view our current opportunities. Apply online by following the links or reach out to the person of contact on the posting.

We look forward to hearing from you! 

Current vacancies may be viewed here.

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Multilingual Learners

¡Celebremos juntos el Mes de la Herencia Hispana!

Each year, September 15-October 15, our schools come together to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Students and staff honor the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans through classroom learning and schoolwide activities. From cultural displays and music to stories, guest authors, projects, and student-led presentations, these activities give our school community the opportunity to learn from and celebrate the rich diversity of our students and families. We are proud to recognize and honor the many ways Hispanic heritage enriches our district and community.

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Technology

Camera and Security Projects on existing buildings are coming to a close. Punchlist items have been created and training for internal stakeholders on the new cameras system has been completed. I have heard positive feedback regarding the new system in regards to features and functionality. We are waiting on some cameras and parts to complete some of the identified blindspots within the buildings.

We have begun working on upgrading our structured cabling within our buildings. These projects are being performed based on capital maintenance plan approval by the board last June. Washington Elementary will receive the first set of new cabling upgrades in floor 1 and floor 3 of the building. Middle school will also see upgrades in the near future.

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Buildings & Grounds

We have completed the schematic design phase for the referendum and are moving forward to the design development phase. The schematic design budget from the construction manager indicated that we are on track to continue moving forward as planned, no major adjustments needed at this time.

We are also in the middle of the RFP process for the referendum projects that the district is managing outside of the scope of the construction management firm.

Our safety team has been hard at work finalizing the plans for the district wide staff safety training scheduled for the end of the month of September.

Editor’s note: Before/after, expanded versions of the photos below may be found in the online newsletter.

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Whippet Athletics

Our high school sports are about halfway through their season, while middle school sports are just beginning competitions. We are excited to be back on the newly painted floor in the main gym at the high school. In addition to getting ready for a big week of games and competitions for Homecoming next week, we will be hosting the conference cross-country meet at UWW in mid-October!

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Career & Technical Education (CTE)

Building Futures Together

October is Manufacturing Month and Careers in Construction Month, and our students are taking full advantage of the opportunities that come with it. Throughout the month, they will be touring local manufacturing and construction companies and participating in hands-on career fairs. These experiences not only spark career awareness and exploration but also strengthen the important partnerships we share with local businesses and industry leaders.

On Friday, September 19, Whitewater High School proudly hosted the Whitewater Chamber of Commerce’s monthly FIKA event in our library. It was a wonderful chance to showcase how our district is preparing students for real-world success through career awareness, exploration, and hands-on learning. Local business leaders shared valuable feedback about what they look for when hiring youth employees, emphasizing the importance of durable skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and communication. The consensus was clear—our partnerships matter now more than ever as we work together to bridge the gap between education and the workforce.

As we continue this work, we are collecting information from community members, organizations, and business/industry partners to help us better support our students, staff, programs, and the wider community. Please take a few minutes to complete our Community & Business Partnership Interest Survey – see below.

Community & Business Partnership Interest Survey

Editor’s note: In order to take the survey that is described below, click on this link to access the Superintendent Newsletter and scroll down to this section.

WUSD Community and Business Partnership Interest Survey/Encuesta de interés establecer alianzas comunitarias y empresariales con WUSD  

Whitewater Unified School District (WUSD) is committed to preparing our students for success in career and life. Strong partnerships with local businesses, organizations, and community members play a vital role in creating meaningful opportunities and connections for students, staff, and the Whitewater community at large.

This survey is designed to learn more about your interest in getting involved with WUSD through a variety of partnership opportunities including but not limited to classroom visits, career presentations, work-based learning, internships, sponsorships, and program advisory input.

Your feedback will help us build a network of community and business partners who can support student, staff, and community growth.

Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your interest and ideas!

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Nota del editor: Para realizar la encuesta que se describe a continuación, haga clic en este enlace para acceder al Boletín del Superintendente y desplácese hacia abajo hasta esta sección.

El Distrito Escolar Unificado de Whitewater (WUSD) está comprometido a preparar a nuestros estudiantes para tener éxito en su carrera y en la vida. Las alianzas sólidas con negocios locales, organizaciones y miembros de la comunidad desempeñan un papel fundamental en la creación de oportunidades y conexiones significativas para los estudiantes, el personal y la comunidad de Whitewater en general.

Esta encuesta tiene como propósito conocer más sobre su interés en colaborar con WUSD a través de una variedad de oportunidades de asociación, que incluyen, entre otras: visitas a las aulas, presentaciones de carreras, aprendizaje basado en el trabajo, pasantías, patrocinios y asesoría en programas.

Sus respuestas nos ayudarán a construir una red de aliados comunitarios y empresariales que puedan apoyar el crecimiento de los estudiantes, el personal y la comunidad.