The WHS Art Department is proud to announce this year’s student submissions to the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts High School Juried Show. Fifteen talented students have entered work into this prestigious competition, which draws hundreds of submissions from nine counties across Southwest Michigan.

Accepted works will be announced in early March, and selected pieces will be featured in the final exhibition. We are incredibly proud of our students for their dedication, creativity, and willingness to share their artwork at such a high level.
about 2 months ago, Teri Richcreek
drawing of hands reaching out to touch & a body with a ghost head
pencil drawing of a lake with peninsula including trees
picture of an "Ugly Jug" made out of clay-oriental face
drawing of a combined animal consisting of mouse, butterfly, and bird
color painting of a storm with an eye at the top right with lightening coming out of the eye
photo of a sea shell made of clay
painting of 3 womens' faces
painting of a flower
painting & drawing of a male student playing guitar with piano keys & words in the background
Drawing of man/angel sitting
The WHS Art Department is proud to announce this year’s student submissions to the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts High School Juried Show. Fifteen talented students have entered work into this prestigious competition, which draws hundreds of submissions from nine counties across Southwest Michigan.

Accepted works will be announced in early March, and selected pieces will be featured in the final exhibition. We are incredibly proud of our students for their dedication, creativity, and willingness to share their artwork at such a high level.
about 2 months ago, Teri Richcreek
girl playing volleyball painting
painting of vase, teapot, and jar
St. Joseph Lighthouse painting
eye collage with word Realize in it
painting of vase with stems, pitcher, and skull
abstract painting of face and different objects
collage of mixed media including pages of book &  IV bag hooked into wrist stating "I'm only seen as my illness".
dog pencil drawing
cat drawing
Landscape painting
Panther Pride Spotlight 🐾
We are incredibly proud of Senior, Natalaya Desjardin for a beautiful act of kindness this past Saturday. On her own initiative, she visited the Cancer Center in Kalamazoo and placed roses along with uplifting notes on cars in the parking lot for patients and their families. The attached photos capture just a small glimpse of the compassion and thoughtfulness she shared.
Natalaya’s gesture reflects the very best of Panther Pride — showing care for others, spreading encouragement, and making a meaningful difference simply because it’s the right thing to do. We couldn’t be more proud of the example she continues to set. 💛
about 2 months ago, Christina Powers
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flower
flower
flower
Not sure if these guys are official Panthers, but they definitely showed some Panther spirit this weekend--taking it upon themselves to shovel snow off the football field so they could play soccer — talk about dedication! Nothing like a little teamwork, fresh air, and love of the game to make the most of a winter day. Gotta love the energy and determination!
about 2 months ago, Christina Powers
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Our Panthers were busy spreading the love today! Students took time to write kind messages to friends and staff, helping create a positive, uplifting atmosphere throughout the building. The banner filled with these notes will stay up for about a week so everyone can continue enjoying the encouraging messages.

It was wonderful to see both students and staff embracing Panther Pride by sharing kindness and appreciation with one another. Moments like these remind us how powerful simple acts of kindness can be in strengthening our school community.
about 2 months ago, Christina Powers
image of students
image of students
image of students
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Can you guess why it's her favorite day of the year?!?!?
about 2 months ago, Christina Powers
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Our Panthers continue to sharpen their claws — getting stronger, more confident, and better every week!
Check out this week's ROAR REPORT!
https://app.smore.com/n/16cvn
about 2 months ago, Christina Powers
CONGRATULATIONS SPEAKERS! Being selected to speak at graduation is truly an honor that reflects consistent hard work, leadership, and the positive example these students have set throughout their time at Watervliet High School. Over the past week, we’ve spent time thoughtfully narrowing down these important roles, considering both academic dedication and contributions to our school community. We are proud to recognize the students who will be serving as graduation speakers this year. Please see the list of student speakers below, and join us in congratulating them on this well-earned privilege.
about 2 months ago, Christina Powers
flyer
CONGRATULATIONS PANTHERS! Each year, Watervliet High School recognizes Greg Chisek Senior Scholars, an honor named after longtime WHS principal Greg Chisek, who was a strong advocate for academic excellence and student success. Seniors earn this distinction based on a combination of their cumulative GPA and SAT scores, recognizing those whose academic performance truly stands out. This year, only seven seniors met the qualifications, making it an especially meaningful accomplishment. These students’ dedication, perseverance, and commitment to learning reflect strong Panther Pride and the Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop mindset we value at WHS. We are proud of their achievements and excited to celebrate all they will accomplish as graduation approaches.
about 2 months ago, Christina Powers
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CONGRATULATIONS PANTHERS!
about 2 months ago, Christina Powers
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Team coil building 2026: Art I students learned how to build tall and fast using coils of clay. This challenge leads into their final clay creature project that they will begin next week.
about 2 months ago, Teri Richcreek
Students building coils of clay
Students displaying their coil of clay
students holding their coil made out of clay
studetns holding their clay coil project
students building their clay coil project
students working together to build their clay coil project
A big thank you to Wyatt MacMillan and Sienna Harris for their thoughtful work in creating a new resource for our students. This idea came forward through our SAC student group, which works closely with the principal. Students shared that they wanted an easier way to let the counselor know they would like to meet, and Ms. Powers also wanted to provide students with another way to report any concerns they may have in the building. This box is the result of that collaboration and student voice in action.

Wyatt built the wooden box in Woodshop, and Sienna added the finishing touch by painting the lettering in Art class. It will be mounted outside the counseling office and will give students a simple, accessible way to communicate when they need support — whether they want to connect with the counselor or share something important with administration.

This project is a great example of student leadership in action and truly reflects Panther Pride and our “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” mindset — students stepping up, supporting one another, and helping make our school an even better place. We appreciate their creativity, initiative, and willingness to make a positive difference for others.
about 2 months ago, Christina Powers
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Today’s Career Fair at WHS was a great success thanks to the hard work of our JMG (Jobs for Michigan Grads) students, Ms. Irmen, and the many professionals who generously shared their time and experiences with our Panthers. We are truly grateful for the incredible support from our community members and families who stepped in to speak about their careers and help our students explore future possibilities. Opportunities like this make a lasting impact, and we appreciate everyone who helped make the day meaningful for our students.

about 2 months ago, Christina Powers
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list
https://app.smore.com/n/7nmbq
This is a big edition with lots of senior scholarships and a celebration of our students of the month. Check it out!
about 2 months ago, Christina Powers
Students in the sculpture class are currently engaged in a free choice project, exploring an impressive variety of materials from clay and tile mosaics to wire sculpture and painting.
2 months ago, Teri Richcreek
female student holdig sculpture
male student shaping clay project
female student working on clay cowboy boot project
female student painting her cardboard project
female student working on her colored pencil floral drawing
female student molding her clay project
male student working on his wire guitar  project
female student working on her clay project
CONGRATULATIONS to your SENIOR January 2026 Student of the Month--SOPHIE GREAR!!
My family consists of my mom, Gina Grear, who is a senior director at Moody’s and also serves on the Watervliet School Board; my dad, Mr. Gregory Grear, a retired teacher who is now a stay-at-home dad to our seven cats; and my sister Stella, who is 25 and works as a pharmacy technician at the Meijer pharmacy in Stevensville. Along with them, we have seven cats, four ferrets, and some ducks and chickens.

My favorite class has been Mrs. O’Toole’s Anatomy class during my junior year. It was really interesting learning about the human body and doing dissections. I also had my favorite foreign exchange student, Eider, in that class, which definitely made it one of the best parts of my day.

My favorite teacher is Mrs. Hollandsworth. She always pushes me to be the best musician I can be, and I can talk to her about how my day has been. She has given me many amazing opportunities to learn new instruments and to help teach 5th, 6th, and 7th/8th graders to love music as much as I do. I always enjoy talking with her, and she has carried this band program for a long time. I’m very grateful I’ve been able to be part of it for so many years.

I am not currently in a winter sport, but I ran cross country earlier this year. In my free time, I enjoy watching movies and TV shows, cooking, and playing games with friends.

After high school, I plan to attend Southwestern Michigan College, majoring in Social Work. I also plan to join their band and orchestra.

I am proud to be a WHS Panther because I’ve been part of an amazing band program with an incredible teacher, and I’ve met so many wonderful people along the way that I’m truly grateful for.
2 months ago, Christina Powers
student
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR SENIOR January 2026 Student of the Month --JENNA RITTER!
My family consists of my mom and several brothers and sisters. Throughout my senior year, my favorite class has been JMG (Jobs for Michigan Graduates) because we are constantly interacting with other students and learning about a variety of career paths.

My favorite teachers are Mrs. Irmen and Mrs. Brush because they are both very understanding and encouraging. I am a captain of the varsity cheer team and have cheered for both football and basketball for the past two seasons.

After high school, I plan to major in Sonography, with a focus on cardiac sonography. I am proud to be a Panther because of the experiences and opportunities our school provides.
2 months ago, Christina Powers
student

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR JUNIOR January 2026 Student of the Month --ANGELICA DAISY!

I am an only child and live with my mom and dad on our family farm, along with our three dogs and seven cats. My two favorite classes are Sociology/Psychology and U.S. History in Depth — it’s honestly hard to choose between them. I love U.S. History because I’ve always enjoyed history, and the class gives you the chance to learn about things you might not otherwise hear about. Mr. Andrews really makes the class special because he is such an excellent teacher. I also really enjoy Sociology/Psychology because I’m interested in how the human mind works. I appreciate all of my teachers for different reasons, so I couldn’t pick just one favorite.

I am currently involved in Quiz Bowl, and in the spring I participate in track. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends, taking my dog to explore new places, and doing outdoor activities. When I’m ready to relax, I love watching movies in bed.

After high school, I plan to join the Coast Guard and hope to pursue a career in Homeland Security, though my plans may evolve over time. I definitely plan to continue my education at a college or university as well.

I am proud to be a WHS Panther because I believe our school works hard to provide students with a strong education and a positive atmosphere.

2 months ago, Christina Powers
student

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR JUNIOR January 2026 Student of the Month--Sarah Leoni!!
My family is my lovely mom, my two brothers Aaron and Jordan, my sister-in-law Olivia, and my two dogs Madi and Zoey.

I can’t choose between which class is my favorite, so I’ll choose these two classes, I love both ASL with Ms. Irmen, because it’s very cool to learn and we have lots of cool opportunities, and Choir with Mrs. Brush because of the songs we get to sing and I love the people in it.

My favorite teacher hands down is Mrs. Brush. She’s so kind and always knows how to cheer me up. Choir wouldn’t be the same without her

Last season I was a cheerleader, and I LOVED it, the relationship that is formed with the girls is so valuable and the practices are so much fun.

In my free time I like to read and spend time with my mom.

After high school, I want to become a hair stylist or makeup artist.

I am proud to be a WHS Panther because of the community.

2 months ago, Christina Powers
student
CONGRATULATIONS to your SOPHOMORE January 2026 Student of the Month--Ethan Westfall!!
My family consists of my mom, Jen, my dad, Josh, and my sister, Eliza. My favorite class is weight training because I enjoy lifting, playing games, and getting stronger for the sports I play. My favorite teacher is Coach Tremblay because he always pushes me to be the best version of myself. I play baseball, soccer, and football. In my free time, I practice these sports and play video games with my friends. After high school, I plan to attend college, major in sports management, and pursue a career as an athletic director or coach. I also hope to play baseball in college. I am proud to be a WHS Panther because of our school spirit and successful athletic teams.
2 months ago, Christina Powers
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