Watervliet Middle School

Dear MS Panther Parent:

Welcome to the 25-26 school year at Watervliet Middle School! Along with our
Terrific faculty and staff, I am thrilled to welcome you back to a new school year! We
are privileged to continue to work with an outstanding teaching and support staff aimed
at supporting the success of all our students!

We have been hard at work all summer preparing for the new school year. Some
important things to know about the upcoming school year (25-26) are:

❖ We will continue our arrival/entry process in the mornings. All students will enter
through the main doorway at the end of the covered walkway. This includes bus
riders, walkers, and parent drop offs.
❖ We remain in a 7 period day. This affords our students to have Advisory time,
and choices for electives to have a richer experience.
❖ Advisory has been moved to 7th hour instead of 1st hour. SO 1st hour will
be content classes - so being at school on time is critical!
❖ Continue to check your email every week for a newsletter from the principal with
important updates and information!
❖ Our bell schedules remain the same for all regular, half day, and early releases.
See the schedules below.
❖ The enrollment process is digital. You will receive instructions on how to
complete this. Your information will sync with PowerSchool. Please make sure all
information and enrollment procedures are completed online before school starts.
❖ There will be some changes to the Chromebook rollout and technology use
agreement. Chromebooks will be handed out during the first week of school after
an agreement form has been signed by both parent and student and all online
enrollment has been completed.
❖ Please note the red fire lanes outside the front of the middle school building. In
order to keep the building safe and clear, cars are not permitted to park,
attended or not, in this lane. Drivers may be ticketed for being parked in this
lane. All students should be dropped off and picked up outside the main MS
covered entryway.

❖ Attendance reporting procedures have changed. Students can be marked
absent for the following reasons:
➔ UA = Unexcused absence, no parent contact or a reason other than what is listed in EA
(this is not an excused absence)
➔ EA = Excused Absence(with Doctor, Court, Religious Holiday, or Funeral documentation )
➔ HB = HomeBound Services (requires a letter from a medical doctor and a meeting with
the principal)
➔ T= Tardy (late to school or a class within 10 minutes; students who are tardy more than
10 minutes to school or a class, will be marked absent for that class–this is not an
excused absence)
➔ OSS = Out of School Suspension (this is not an excused absence)
➔ EF = School Field Trip/School Function (this is an excused absence)
** Students with more than 10 days of absences in the school year with the codes EA and/or UA, will be referred to the Truancy Officer at the Berrien RESA.

Daily Schedules:
Full Day: 8:10AM -3:10PM (building opens at 7:45AM)
Half Day: 8:10AM-11:40AM
Early Release Day: 8:10AM-1:10PM

Save these important dates for the start of the new school year !
➢ Aug 18th 6th Grade Orientation All 6th graders should report to the Middle
School by 11:00 AM for a fun-filled and educational day intended at preparing
and supporting them for a successful new school year. An agenda has been
emailed to all 6th grade families. 6th graders will attend a number of
educational/informational sessions, receive lunch, play games with their 8th
grade mentors, and get some of their needed materials for the new school year.
➢ Meeting(6:30-7:30 PM) Although this time is set aside to meet with 6th grade
parents to help the transition to middle school, there is benefit for any parent to
join and find out about any helpful information, or procedures.
➢ Aug 19th Annual Open House 5:30-7:30 PM All 6-8 graders and / or parents
will pick up a schedule(if they do not have one yet), grab a bite to eat, then follow
the schedule as if it were an actual day. It is a shortened timeline, but it is a
structured format. Enter through the main doors of the Middle School.
➢ Aug 25th First Day of School Students can enter the building at 7:45 AM and
walk through the main door, down the long hallway and into the cafe until 8:00
AM where they will grab a breakfast. All students enter through the main entry of
the building every morning. Class starts at 8:10 AM and students are dismissed
at 11:40 AM. Students can grab a sack lunch as they exit the building for the
day.
➢ Aug 26th First FULL Day Regular school day hours are 8:10 AM -3:10 PM
➢ Aug. 29 & Sept. 1: NO SCHOOL for students and staff; LABOR DAY WEEKEND


David Kindt
Principal

Time to Re-Enroll!
Re-enrollment is now open for all returning Watervliet Public Schools students!
Please take a few minutes to review and update your student’s information to ensure we have the most current details on file.

Important: Students entering 3rd, 6th, and 9th grade must submit two proofs of residency to complete the re-enrollment process.

Use this link to access the login page for the Parent Portal: https://watervlietpowerschool.berrienresa.org/public/home.html

Need help? We’re here for you!
enroll@watervlietps.org
(269) 463-0759

Video Instructions: https://youtu.be/fVWKjBoowOA

Get to know your Fall Coaches! The Watervliet Athletic Department will be hosting a meeting for parents of Middle School and High School Fall Athletes on Sunday, July 27th at 5:00pm in the high school gym. Fall School Sports Include: Boys Soccer: 6th - 12th Grade Cross Country: 6th - 12th Grade Football : 7th - 12th Grade Sideline Cheer: 7th - 12th Grade Volleyball: 6th - 12th Grade Contact the athletic department if you have any questions!

The Watervliet Athletic Department has a number of summer camp opportunities for our Panthers in the near future! Girls Basketball Camp: July 21st - 23rd for grades 3rd - 6th Soccer Camp: July 25th and 26th for grades 1st - 6th Cheer Camp: July 29th - 31st for grades K - 5th Football Camp: August 10th for grades 1st - 8th Parents can register their children for Basketball, Soccer, and Football via the following link https://gofan.co/app/school/MI3768. Parents can register their child for the Cheer Clinic via the QR code found on the attached document. Please contact the athletic department if you have any questions!

Attention Panther Families – For Athletes Going Into 6th Grade through 12th Grade Get ready for the 2025-2026 athletic season! Final Forms registration is now open. Please log in at the link provided to begin the process. A quick reminder that both parents and athletes must log in to their respective accounts to complete and sign all necessary documents. You can conveniently upload physicals directly via Final Forms, or if preferred, a copy can be dropped off at the athletic office. Please note that all physicals must be dated after April 15, 2025. Students must have a physical on file and have all of their forms signed before they can participate in a sport. Fall high school sports begin August 11th. https://watervliet-mi.finalforms.com/

Reminder to Middle School parents that medications must be picked up by June 6th or they will be disposed of. We do not send medications home with students. Any questions please call the office. Thank you

Due to power outages and downed trees across many roads throughout the district, all Watervliet Public Schools will be closed today, May 16th.

Today, May 8, 2025, we experienced a malfunction of our duress system, leading to several lockdown alert initiations within a short period. These alerts were false alarms. Our Technology Services team worked with service providers to identify the bug and stabilize the system. At no time were any students or staff in peril. We are working with our partners to determine why this happened and take appropriate actions to make certain the system is functioning properly at all times. We know lockdown notifications can be unsettling for some of our students. However, as we discover any system integration problems, we are able to fix them and build a more robust security situation for our students and staff. Thanks, Ric Seager

THANK YOU, Watervliet Community! Your support passed the $13.5 million bond! We're so excited for the bright future ahead for our community and schools. We couldn't have done it without you!

Congratulations Kailyn Hinkelman! Kailyn was recognized last night as one of the recipients of the RESA Award at the annual Box Factory Community Art Exhibition. In total, 33 Watervliet Middle School students have artwork in the exhibit that is up on display for the public to see through May 4.

Your chance to learn more! Join us this Tuesday, April 8th, at 6:00 PM in the Watervliet High School Media Center to learn more about the bond proposal and how it can be achieved with no-mill-increase to the current bond levy. We'll have a brief presentation followed by an extensive Q&A session.

Watervliet Public Schools is home to amazing teachers, and it's time to celebrate them! The Michigan Department of Education invites you to capture a heartfelt 15-30 second video of your student thanking a teacher who's made a difference. Simply record it on your phone, and follow the submission instructions on the flyer or MDE website. Videos are being accepted until April 16, 2025.

Come learn more about the facilities proposal and learn about the no-mill-increase (over current levy) bond proposal this Wednesday, March 26th, at 6:00 PM, at the Watervliet HS Media Center. A brief presentation will be followed by a robust Q&A opportunity for all attendees.

Two 8th grade Interacters are volunteering at the North Berrien Senior Center distributing free meal boxes to seniors in our community today. This will be a monthly project for the club for the remainder of this school year. Thank you to Sativa Cardona and Michael Wigent for dedicating their time and service today!

We look forward to seeing all of our 8th grade parents at our next meeting !

All 8th grade parents are strongly encouraged to attend one of the two offered meetings on March 6th. This will be the first of 3 informational meetings to prepare your 8th grader for high school. The same information for this meeting will be presented to 8th graders in their social studies classes on March 4th. Please make sure that your 8th grader is in school on that day to hear this very important information. They will also hear from current 9th graders about the high school experience.

Good Morning! Due to inclement weather, all Watervliet Public Schools will be closed today, February 20th. Decisions regarding evening events will be made later today. If you must go out, please drive carefully.

Due to icy covered roads, all Watervliet Public Schools will be closed today, February 6, 2025. Conferences will not be held today and may be rescheduled. Afternoon and evening events will be determined by noon today.

During conferences on Thursday, Feb. 6 from 4:30-7, come visit us in the intervention room across from the library at North Elementary to learn more about our Title programs and provide input to our programs that are designed to help struggling learners!

Due to the weather conditions all school Music Rehearsals are canceled for Tuesday, January 21st, 2025.