Dustin Reichwald

WUSD receives two grants: Mental Health Services Grant & Safety Grant

School-based Mental Health Services Grant

WUSD was recently notified that it was awarded a School-based Mental Health Services Grant. This was a very competitive grant process. 141 districts/charter schools/consortia applied requesting over $8,000,000.00. Of the 141 applications, 52 applications were funded totaling $3,250,000. Dr. Lanora Heim co-wrote the School-based Mental Health Services Grant with other area pupil service directors. In a collaboration with 6 other Jefferson County School Districts and Jefferson County Health and Human Services the $75,000 grant will provide mental health screening, staff training in Social Emotional Learning standards to be taught in 4K through 12th grade via Second Step and DBT Steps A curriculum as well as parent and community outreach to support the mental health needs of families throughout the 7 school districts.

Safety Grant

The Whitewater Unified School District has been awarded a School Safety Grant by the Wisconsin Department of Justice for $100,063.00. These dollars will augment the district’s current safety plans and procedures. The safety grant will fund a new emergency notification system, allow the district to enhance its visitor screening process, improve communication with new walkie-talkies, and increase the number of cameras in the buildings. David Brokopp, Safety Coordinator for the Whitewater Unified School District, shared that a huge benefit of this grant will be in the District’s increased communication. We will be able to alert law enforcement more quickly in the event of an emergency and we will have more efficient and dependable interdistrict communication for daily use. Our new visitor screening system will allow us to take full advantage of our new, more secure, entries and make sure that we know who is in our schools.

Library Little Free Pantry low on supplies, donations requested.

Donating to the Little Free Pantry is an opportunity to help build a sense of community while providing for your neighbors in need.

The Library Little Free Pantry, located in the lobby of the Whitewater Public Library at 431 W. Center Street, is often stocked with nonperishable food items, hygiene products, and household items for neighbors who need them. Right now, supplies are very low.

If you are able to help refill our pantry, donations can be brought to the library and left in the box across from the returns desk. Items especially popular include: Peanut butter

  • Canned tuna and chicken
  • Canned vegetables
  • Boxed pasta and jarred sauce
  • Bags of rice, lentils, and beans
  • Soup packets
  • One box complete meal kits
  • Toothbrushes
  • Toothpaste
  • Feminine hygiene supplies
  • Bars of soap
  • Dish soap
  • Laundry detergent

WUSD July Construction Update. Actualización de construcción de julio.

From Mark Elworthy, District Administrator:

Construction Update: There is a lot of progress in all of the buildings. We have heard many positive things coming from staff and students who have enjoyed the completed projects. The projects remain on target to be completed prior to the school year starting. Keep watching for future announcements about ribbon-cutting ceremonies. Here is a link to the July Construction Update.

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Actualización de construcción: Hay mucho progreso en todos los edificios. Hemos escuchado muchas cosas positivas provenientes del personal y los estudiantes que han disfrutado de los proyectos completados. Los proyectos se mantienen en camino de ser completado antes del inicio del año escolar. Esté atento a futuros anuncios sobre ceremonias del corte de listón. Aquí hay un enlace a la Actualización de construcción de julio.  July Construction Update.

WHS Sign Update

Peer Mentoring Review Grant award to WUSD

In the spring of 2018, Dr. Kelly Seichter on behalf of the Whitewater Unified School District and the School District of Fort Atkinson consortium submitted a Peer Mentoring Review Grant through the Department of Instruction.

Last week, the Whitewater Unified School District was notified that they were awarded the grant in the amount of $25,000. The intention of this funding will be to enhance the instructional capacity of our newest teachers. Across the state, 73 partial or whole grants were awarded out of 86 consortia that sent in applications. WUSD will be the fiscal agent for this grant.

These funds will be used to train veteran teachers in becoming instructional coaches for our newest hires. These “mentor coaches” will meet regularly with new teachers assigned to them to improve the instructional practices of our new teachers. This will also ensure our new teachers are supported as they become oriented to the district and to the profession. We believe this will also contribute to higher new teacher retention rates.

The Leisure Seeker – Tuesday, July 24 at 12:30 PM, Seniors in the Park

From Wikipedia:

The Leisure Seeker is a 2017 comedy-drama film directed by Paolo Virzì, in his first full English-language feature. The film is based on the 2009 novel of the same name by Michael Zadoorian. It stars Donald Sutherland and Helen Mirren, acting together for the first time since the 1990 film Bethune: The Making of a Hero. It was screened in the main competition section of the 74th Venice International Film Festival. Mirren received a Golden Globe nomination for her work in the film.

When: Tuesday, July 24 at 12:30 PM

Where: Seniors in the Park

Upcoming City Meetings: Week of July 23 to July 29

Urban Forestry Commission  – Monday, July 17, 2018, 4:30 pm, City of Whitewater Municipal Building – Cravath Lakefront Room. For agenda, 

WUSD School Board – Monday, July 23, 2018, 7:00 pm, Whitewater Unified School District Central Office. For agenda, 

CDA Board of Directors – Thursday, July 26, 2018, 5:30 pm, Innovation Center, Room 105. For agenda,