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Photo by Tom Ganser

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.

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

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 Irvin L. Young Memorial Library in Whitewater, WI  will be closed on Friday, July 27^th for staff training.

Spring 2018 Graduates

Ricky Amador Serna, College of Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Michala Schramm, MACC, Accounting, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Thomas H. Weston, Bachelor of Science In Materials Science and Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Rachel DeVoe, Technical Diploma One Year, Online Child Care E-Connect, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College

Emily Markham, Bachelor of Arts, English Major: Rhetoric and Writing Emphasis, Highest Honors, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Bradley Stoll, Arts and Sciences, Bachelor of Science, criminal justice, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Justin Sdano, M.S. Information & Communication Tech, University of Wisconsin-Stout

Spring 2018 Chancellor’s List (4.0 GPA)

Emily Heckert, Animal Science, University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Spring 2018 Dean’s List (Varies, Typically minimum 3.75 GPA)

Bradley Stoll, Arts and Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Emily Markham, English Major: Rhetoric and Writing Emphasis, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Thomas McManaway, Recreation Management, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Benjamin Freiermuth, Business Administration, Economics, University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Isabelle Zahn, Criminal Justice, University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Melissa Mursch, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Jacquelyn Caldwell, School of Business, Dean’s List, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Mitchell Dalzin, College of Letters and Science, Dean’s List, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Shannon Kehoe, School of Education, Dean’s List, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Thomas Maloney, Division of Continuing Studies, Dean’s List, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Jan Maroske, College of Engineering, Dean’s Honor List, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Courtney Martens, School of Nursing, Dean’s Honor List, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Noah Miller, College of Letters and Science, Dean’s List, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Stephanie Nelson, School of Education, Dean’s List, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Ashley Young, Col of Agricultural & Life Sci, Dean’s List, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Joshua Pelayo, Mathematics, St. Olaf College

The city of Whitewater’s “Flower Girls” have worked to plant many beautiful roses and hydrangeas at and around Trippe Lake Park’s Gazebo this past week. Thanks to the generosity of Whitewater’s Walmart, many donated plants were made available to improve this area. Winter injury had killed off four out of the five roses that had been donated by a local resident last year, and the donation of more roses was truly timely and appreciated. Over the past few years, the gazebo’s plantings had been dwindling so both workers and residents are really grateful for this generous donation from Walmart.

Her exhibit titled “Abstract Journey” will include over 70 of her favorite abstract paintings from the past few years. Karolyn is an active member of the Whitewater Arts Alliance and the Janesville Art League.

There will be an opening reception on Friday, August 3 from 5 pm – 8 pm.

Beloit Art Center is located at 520 E Grand Ave in Beloit, WI. Hours are Monday, 10 am-2, pm, Tuesday through Friday, 10 am – 5:30 pm and Saturday, 10 am – 3 pm.

Please visit the following websites for more information:
Beloit Art Center
Karolyn’s website

Pictured here are Kiwanis President Jerry Grant with Whitewater Community Food Pantry Co-Managers, Patricia Chaput (left) and Barbara Quast (right).

Kiwanis Whitewater Breakfast Club donated $500 to the Whitewater Community Food Pantry after a presentation on Tuesday by Co-Managers, Patricia Chaput and Barbara Quast.

The Food Pantry accepts donations Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon at their location in the Whitewater Downtown Armory.

In 2017 alone, the Whitewater Community Food Pantry served 10,719 individuals in 3,006 households, including 6,136 adults and 4,583 children.

After their presentation, Ms. Chaput and Ms. Quast signed a children’s book, which will join the Kiwanis Whitewater Breakfast Club collection at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library.