News

The Whitewater Unified School District has been selected for a statewide case study on mentorship programs.

WUSD is one of only eight districts across the state chosen for the initiative, which seeks to explore best practices, successes, and challenges in educator mentorship programs. The district’s team mentorship model will be highlighted as an example of leadership and forward-thinking approaches in professional development.

Dr. Terilyn Robles, Director of Teaching & Learning, and Ashley Deininger, Mentor Lead, are leading the effort, along with the WUSD Mentor Team. The Mentor Team consists of 19 members districtwide who provide mentorship to new staff.

The study is being conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Education Research in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Instruction.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our district to share the progress we have made in mentoring and supporting educators,” said Superintendent Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty. “Our team mentorship model fosters collaboration, professional growth, and a strong sense of community among educators, and we are honored to contribute to this important study.”

The research aims to inform future mentorship initiatives across Wisconsin, strengthening educator support networks and improving student outcomes while also guiding the application and use of the state’s Peer Review and Mentoring Grant. WUSD’s teachers and staff will engage with researchers and their peers statewide to advance mentorship practices in Wisconsin.

Ferradermis, the Whitewater High School robotics team, has received an invitation to compete at the 2025 For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Championships in Houston, Texas, April 16-19.

Earlier this year, the robotics team competed at the Lake Superior Regional in Duluth, Minnesota, where the students won the event and received the Team Sustainability Award. Competing against 754 teams in the first two weeks of regional events, Ferradermis ranked 78th globally. The team’s success earned it valuable points in the global regional rankings, leading to an invitation as one of the top teams in the world.

“We are incredibly proud of our students for their hard work, dedication, and teamwork both on and off the field,” said Laura Masbruch, the team’s advisor. “Earning a spot at the FIRST Championships is a testament to their passion for STEM and commitment to excellence. We are grateful for the support of our mentors, families, and community, and we are excited for the opportunity to compete on the world’s stage.”

Ferradermis aims to raise $30,000 to fund the Houston trip. For more information about how to donate to the cause and the team’s journey to the FIRST Championship, visit www.ferradermis.org or mail a check made out to WHS to Laura Masbruch at Whitewater High School, 534 S Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, WI 53190.

Editor’s note: A previous article that includes further information regarding the upcoming Ferradermis competition may be found here.

Please note that due to construction at the library, this event is being held at the Senior Center.

The National Honor Society will be hosting its annual Spring Silent Auction April 9 – 25, 2025! 

Projects up for bid this year include babysitting, yardwork (“Weed Be Glad to Help”), manual labor, personal training, an outdoor field trip for kids (“Fantastic Field Day”), childcare with Spanish lessons, singing telegram (Life Without You Would B Flat”), self-care basket, beautiful handmade items (“Crafting a Smile for You”), a reading night basket, S’mores basket, swimming field trip with certified lifeguards (“Splash-tastic!”), savory baked goods, painting project – to help you get it done, summer fruit basket, cat sitting, dog walking (“Pawsome Walks”), movie night basket, flowers galore basket, and a youth basketball lesson with a high school superstar!  Funds raised will be used for scholarships and other worthwhile projects! Simply complete the Bid Project Form below on the NHS website before 3:30 pm on April 25.

https://sites.google.com/wwusd.org/whsnationalhonorsociety/spring-silent-auction-2025

Track the bidding process on the spreadsheet located on the NHS Silent Auction 2025 site too!

National Honor Society members will complete their projects between April 28 and May 16.  Email NHS Advisor Pam Sonmor-Wintz (psonmorwintz@wwusd.org) if you have any questions!  A great time will be had by all!

Thank you so much for participating!

Whitewater High School Art Student Cassie Bartlett received the Geneva Lake Arts Foundation Award of Recognition. Her submission included a stippling illustration. Stippling is an illustrative technique that involves creating an image using only dots to build up shading and tonal values.

“This piece is a meaningful tribute to my favorite cow I helped raise at my grandparent’s house. This pen stipple project took me 7 weeks to complete, and it’s definitely my favorite piece of art I’ve ever completed.” – Cassie Bartlett

Whitewater High School Art Student Ava Nygren Received the Walworth County Arts Council Visual Arts Scholarship. 

The Walworth County Arts Council awards $2,000 scholarships for graduating seniors who are going to study one of the fine arts in college. The applicants must provide a high school transcript, three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement of his or her future plans. The student must also perform an audition and participate in a personal interview with professionals/artists in their field of study. 

“My goal is to become an art teacher. Fostering a passion for art in young people is becoming increasingly important as the fine arts are often devalued by many. I believe that by encouraging kids and giving them a safe environment to learn artistic skills, they will be more motivated to create. I hope that the skills I learn in university will help me guide a classroom and teach art skills to others.” – Ava Nygren 

Article and Photos Submitted by Crystal Gill
Whitewater High School Art Teacher
cgill@wwusd.org

Cub Scouts from Whitewater Pack 716 distributed door hangers throughout the Whitewater community on Saturday, April 5th. On Saturday, April 12, 2025, starting at 9 a.m., the scouts will be collecting non-perishable items left on porches and delivering them to the Whitewater Food Pantry. If you did not receive a door hanger and wish to contribute to the food pantry, please ensure that your items are placed on your porch by 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Thank you for supporting the Whitewater Food Pantry.  

Scott Willms

Cubmaster Pack 716

Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center Hosting 2nd Annual Egg Hunt

The Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center is “hoppy” to announce that the Egg Hunt is returning this year! Last year the event saw nearly 100 participants, ranging in ages from two to twelve. We can’t wait to see what this year has in store! The event will take place on Saturday, April 12, with a $5 entry fee per participating child. Registration the day of the event is available.

Each age group will have a designated time to hunt for eggs in the leisure pool:
2-4 year olds: 10:00 am-10:30 am
5-8 year olds: 10:30 am-11:00 am
8-12 year olds: 11:00 am-11:30 am [Editor’s note: It’s unclear as to why 8-year-olds are shown in two time frames. Presumably they should choose one of the sections.]
Eggs will be in the leisure pool in areas that aim to be accessible for each age group and ability. Children are encouraged to collect as many eggs as possible. Once they’ve gathered their eggs they can redeem them for one goodie bag at the concessions stand window.

The Easter Bunny will also be in attendance, ready to take pictures with children starting at 9:00 am!

Advance registration is appreciated. To register in advance, log into (or create) your Civic Rec account, go to the Aquatics tab, and register your child for the appropriate age group. Advance registration may also be completed over the phone (262-473-4900) by calling the WAFC or coming to the front desk in person. Payments made online or over the phone must be card payments, as there is not a pay later option. If you pre-register at the front desk or on the day of the event, they can take cash, check or card payments.

Following the Egg Hunt, all families are invited to stay at the Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center for the remainder of the day. We hope to see you there! [Editor’s note: It is unclear as to whether family members who did not pay for the egg hunt will be free for the rest of the day or perhaps will need to pay $5.]

About Whitewater Parks and Recreation:
Whitewater Parks and Recreation is committed to providing diverse recreational opportunities
for individuals of all ages and abilities in the Whitewater community. Through innovative
programming and collaborative partnerships, we strive to promote physical activity, social
interaction, and overall well-being.

According to a press release, the City of Whitewater Fire/EMS Department was dispatched on April 9 at 7:04 p.m. to a mobile home fire at 755 N Tratt St., Lot 190. The occupants of the home were not there when the fire started. When they returned home, they were met with smoke upon opening the front door. They immediately evacuated and called 911. When the first firefighters arrived, the mobile home was completely engulfed in flames. The fire quickly spread to two vehicles that were parked nearby. The press release indicates that “An aggressive attack by Engine 121 halted the spread of the fire, preventing the neighboring trailer and shed from catching fire.” No injuries were reported. The fire was not deemed to be suspicious. The Lauderdale-LaGrange Fire Department assisted on the scene.

Editor’s note: One of the residents of the home has started a GoFundMe account.

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. This week’s image is a childhood portrait of Vernon Rieder from the society’s collection of children’s photos. The photo is probably from around 1900 and depicts the child in a full “Little Lord Fauntleroy” costume. The book by the same name was highly popular in the late 19th century and illustrations of the main character dressed like this were widely circulated. Turn-of-the-20th-century mothers loved dressing their boys in these costumes with ruffled shirts and bows, but whether the boys liked it is questionable. Here, Vernon may be just trying to stay still for the photo, but we would like to think he was not happy in this get-up.

Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.

(0116P, Whitewater Historical Society)