FROM THE DESK OF: Adam Kurth, Principal

We are just two weeks away from May, with only eight weeks remaining in the school year...it always goes by quickly.

Each month is packed with activities, and this time of year is no exception. Our spring sports and activities are in full swing (despite unpredictable weather), AP exams are right around the corner, and many end-of-year events are either underway or in the final stages of planning.

One of the most meaningful milestones ahead is our graduation ceremony for the Class of 2026. To our senior parents, you have eight weeks left in your student's K-12 education. In 'parent-time,' they were just shuffling off to kindergarten last year. Below, you’ll find the first set of graduation details for our families, with more updates to come as we approach the end of the year.

May 4th–8th is National Teacher Appreciation Week. We are fortunate to have such dedicated educators supporting our students each day. Throughout the week, the school, clubs, and PTO will be recognizing our staff with a variety of treats and expressions of gratitude.

We will share one final Arrowhead Advisor for the 2025–2026 school year toward the end of May. As always, thank you for taking the time to stay informed.

Adam Kurth, Principal

Arrowhead High School

UPCOMING EVENTS

April 18: Night Under the Stars PromApril 24: No School - Teacher InserviceMay 4 - 8: National Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6 Teacher Appreciation Day)May 4 - 15: Advanced Placement (AP) TestingMay 21st-- Engineering Showcase 5:30pm-8:00pmMay 28th: AHS Art Showcase 5:00pm-6:60pm

UPCOMING SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS
May 15: Curriculum Committee Meeting, 6:45 am, District BoardroomApril 21 & May 19: Buildings / Grounds & Finance Committee Meeting, 6:45 am, District BoardroomMay 5: Policy Committee Meeting, 6:45 am, District BoardroomMay 7: Personnel & Legislation Committee Meeting, 6:45 am, District BoardroomMay 13: School Board Meeting, 6:30 pm, District Boardroom

2025-2026 Calendar

RED/BLUE Calendar

Bell Schedule

Important Dates

April 18 - Prom

April 24 - No School - Staff PD

May 25 - Memorial Day - No school

June 5 - Senior Party

June 6 - Graduation

June 10 - 12 - Final exams (grades 9-11)

June 12 - Last Day of School (grades 9-11)

State of the District Update

The Arrowhead School Board and Administration are taking this opportunity to address a recent issue that has generated some media attention. We reaffirm our recent staffing decisions, which are often inaccurately or inadequately communicated in the public space. The confidential nature of personnel issues means the public does not have the same information to which the Board and Administration are privy.

Arrowhead High School is facing unprecedented challenges. For nearly a decade, the Arrowhead School District has experienced a steady decline in student enrollment. Over the past four years alone, enrollment has dropped by more than 300 students. Because school funding is directly tied to enrollment, this decline has had a significant financial impact on our district leading to a 1 million dollar deficit heading into next year.

This trend is not unique to our community. Declining birth rates across our district, throughout Wisconsin, and nationwide are contributing to reduced student populations in schools everywhere. Over the past several years, we have presented referendums to our community in an effort to create a more financially efficient campus. We have frequently engaged with legislators to advocate for adjustments to the state funding model. Internally, we have reduced programs, tightened budgets, and limited secondary spending.

We have now reached a tipping point. Reductions in programs and operational spending are no longer sufficient to offset the continued loss of funding caused by declining enrollment. We have reduced staffing at a lower rate than our enrollment and funding have trended. This trend sees no reversal in the immediate future. As a result, the district must take the difficult but necessary step of reducing staffing levels to meet enrollment and to balance the annual budget.

When these situations occur, some misinformation within the community is to be expected as accurate, sensitive and confidential personnel details are not shared or discussed in public forums. The Board’s ability to discuss this information is limited by legal obligations under Open Meetings law, as well as the commitment to protecting the confidentiality of school staff. Personnel decisions are often extremely complex and are never taken lightly.

Every decision is made with care, based on a comprehensive review of all available information. The Board thoroughly considers multiple data points and perspectives, including the voices of students and the broader school community. Ultimately, the Board and the Administration are charged with putting together the best possible teaching staff. We seek not only outstanding classroom teachers, but stellar employees who are fully committed to the highest professional standards set forth by Arrowhead. These attitudes and behaviors must be modeled both inside and outside of the classroom.

All staff were made aware that reductions were coming. Decisions are made in the best interest of the entire school, based on a number of factors including, but not limited to:

Instructional quality
Professionalism
Documented Concerns
Certifications
Evaluations
Sectioning and programing
Leadership/Contributions

If you are interested in learning more of the facts related to staffing reductions, click on this link: Arrowhead Financial/Staffing Update - April 2026.

Great progress is being made to ensure Arrowhead is the best high school in the state. Work remains to be done, but we are on the right track!

Kim Schubert

School Board President

SENIOR UPDATES!

SENIOR FAMILIES!

It is a pleasure to reach out to you as your senior student completes the requirements leading to their high school graduation. This is an exciting time of year that only occurs with the hard work of our students, staff, and the unwavering support of family. We are planning to celebrate the graduation of the Arrowhead Senior Class of 2026 on Saturday, June 6th, 2026. This event is the culmination of 13 years of hard work and dedication to education. Participation in the cap and gown ceremony is an important part of commencement that is rich in tradition and of great meaning to the District.

To ensure that our graduation ceremony is an enjoyable time for everyone, and that the proper dignity and significance is given to this most important event, we have linked the graduation ceremony commitment agreement for you and your student to read, sign, and return. This completed form must be handed in to Jostens when they are at Arrowhead on May 1st in order for students to receive their cap and gown. If you have not ordered your cap and gown, you may still do so by contacting Jostens at (800) 567-8367 or online at Jostens.com. This form needs to be turned in even if you are not ordering a cap and gown and/or are 18 years old!

We ask all families for your support in ensuring our seniors depart from Arrowhead High School on the highest note. One of the worst phone calls we can make is to a family, prior to graduation, sharing that their student is not allowed to participate in the ceremony because of a poor choice or behavior at the end of the year. Please speak with your student to impress upon them the importance of finishing their time as a Warhawk with class and pride in their school. With the cooperation of the graduates, parents/guardians, and the school, the 2026 graduation ceremony will be an event in which we all can be proud.

Lastly, we would like to personally congratulate graduates and parents and express our sincere appreciation on behalf of our faculty for your help in what we believe is an educational partnership. That partnership has made AHS graduates some of the brightest and most prepared in the state. This is an incredible accomplishment, and a day of celebration. Our goal now is to provide a positive event that celebrates our students, together, as the Class of 2026.

Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to celebrating together on June 6th.

Please see below for Commencement information.

Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 7:30 pm

Jostens will be at North Campus Friday, May 1st from 11:00 -3:00 for senior to pick up their Caps & Gowns.
You can’t pick up your cap & gown if you don’t have your Commitment Form signed.
Commencement will be held outdoors in the football stadium. The stage faces the home bleachers with the students seated facing East.
Gates will open at 6:00pm. No early access is permitted.
Students will enter in alphabetical order and be seated by last name A-L on the left (north) side of the stage and L-Z on the right (south) side. Exact seating will be identified as we get closer to the ceremony and shared with families in future information.
There are no tickets for guests of the graduates and no limit to the number of guests per graduate. Seating for our families is available in the home bleachers. Additional seating is available for elderly and handicap attendees on the football field near the graduates, on the outer edge of the track against the bleacher base, and in the front rows of the bleachers which are accessible through ramps behind the stadium that lead to the reserved seats. Staff will be in the area to assist as needed.
For those who can’t make it to the ceremony, it will be live streamed using a link that will be sent closer to graduation from this AHS Youtube channel. For families with mobility or weather concerns, we will present the live stream in our AHS North Campus Theater.
Network Photography will be on site taking pictures. Information on how to access those photos is in the newsletter.
Graduates arrive at 6:00pm and should plan to be in their assigned classrooms at Arrowhead North Campus no later than 6:30 p.m.
We will send out room assignments for our seniors as we get closer to graduation and share the link with families in a future email.
Because of the size of our graduating class, our ceremony must be held outside to accommodate all families. The ceremony is scheduled on Saturday night to allow for inclement weather and may cause us to move the start of graduation to an earlier or later time on Saturday, or postpone until Sunday, June 8th starting at 1:30 p.m. If held on Sunday, graduates should plan to arrive at Arrowhead no later than 12:30 p.m.
PLEASE NOTE! - We do everything we can to host the ceremony on Saturday, often rain or shine. We do not book the equipment, photographer, sound engineer, and numerous other parts of our graduation for Sunday because we would need to pay to reserve those services for both days. So in turn, we are not guaranteed any of those services if we move the event to Sunday. In addition, if we have bad weather on Sunday, the result is an indoor ceremony where only two tickets are offered per family.
If weather is threatening, please monitor emails for a ParentSquare message on Saturday.

The Senior Party at Arrowhead High School has been a tradition for many years. It provides a safe environment the night before Graduation to CELEBRATE with friends and classmates at the end of their four years of high school.

Click the link for your Invitation to the Senior Party on Friday, June 5th.

Payment Information

ONLINE - pay and complete the (2) waivers by clicking this LINK

CASH/CHECK (payable to AHS) and print the PERMISSION FORM to complete

Bring in person (North Campus Main Office) or mail to AHS c/o Senior Party, 800 North Ave, Hartland 53029

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!

Since the Senior Party is not financially supported by Arrowhead High School, we are looking for your support.

It will take over 150 VOLUNTEERS and lots of DONATIONS to make this event a SUCCESS!!

Click here for the SIGN UP GENIUS which includes

-Shifts to help set up the party

-Shifts to work during the party

-Donations for Raffle Prizes (items, gift cards, or monetary) AND Food/Drinks

(Monetary Donations can also be made online when you register and buy a ticket)

Thank you!

Amy Blok & Jenny Massek

Co-Chairs Senior Party 2026

Questions - email seniorpartyahs53029@gmail.com

Ads for Grads Senior Yearbook Graduation Ads
Click here to purchase an ad for your graduate in this year's yearbook. Ads are due May 4, 2026.

Senior Yard Sign Flyer.pdf

Graduation Day Photos

Click here or use the QR code below to receive gallery notifications once they are available after the ceremony.

IMPORTANT UPDATES AND INFORMATION

2026 AHS Summer School!

Below is a list of important information for you to be aware of before we begin Summer School on Monday, June 15th. This will be sent again to parents/guardians of enrolled summer school students in May. You can still sign up for Summer courses in Skyward. If you need assistance, please contact your school counselor.

Location

Summer school will be held at SOUTH CAMPUS due to work being completed at North Campus.
Students are to enter using Door A
If you are not sure where your class is located, there will be staff and information in the lobby at Door A on the first day
- Adventure Phy Ed is meeting at South campus in the Band room on day 1
- Performance Training is meeting in Study Hall on day 1
- Traditional Phy Ed is meeting at South campus in the gym on day 1

Summer School Dates

Summer School begins Monday, June 15 and ends Thursday, July 23
Classes will be held Monday through Thursday
- No classes are held on Friday
Session one runs 7:30 - 9:55 am
Session two runs 10:00 - 12:25 pm

Attendance

Students can not miss more than 2 days of summer school; on the third absence, the course will be dropped with a failing grade added to the transcript - NO exceptions
- If you know your student will miss 3 or more days, please do not enroll in a summer course
- Students enrolled in Adventure Phy Ed, need to review communication sent from those teachers as NO absences are allowed

Every Day On Time is still in effect during the summer session so please remember:
- An absence is when a student is 20+ minutes late for class; under 20 minutes is a tardy
- 4 tardies = 1 absence (student can not have more than 2 absences)

Dropping a Course

If you decide to drop your summer school course, you need to do so on or before June 18th (end of the first week of summer school) to avoid the penalty of a failure. Let your teacher know and also contact Ms. Gordon (gordon@arrowheadschools.org) and Mrs. Gatzow (gatzow@arrowheadschools.org) to drop your course(s).

If you meant to drop your summer school course(s) but neglected to officially drop it, you will receive a failing grade once the third day of absence is reached.

Class Schedule

Please check summer school schedules on Skyward as it may have changed since registration due to class cancellations and/or shifting of sections. Also check your schedule for your room numbers.

ACT Prep: Summer 2026

2026-2027 School Year Calendar !!!

*School with run from 7:15am-2:40pm

*The graduation date is listed as tentative and still under discussion. More information will be shared with senior families once the date is finalized.

*The new schedule allows for more Resource time, more minutes of instruction prior to state and AP testing, and an earlier release in June.

NEW 2026-27 AUHSD Calendar - APPROVED - For Distribution.pdf

Career Compass Department Spotlight

English Department

The Arrowhead High School English department is dedicated to equipping students with the most powerful tools they will carry into their futures: the ability to read critically and write compellingly. Long after students have finished analyzing literature, the core competencies they develop in our classrooms continue to pay dividends in every profession. Whether they are future engineers drafting technical proposals, healthcare professionals explaining complex diagnoses with empathy, or business leaders pitching new ventures, the capacity to structure a clear argument and communicate it effectively is a universal requirement for success.

In today’s rapidly evolving, AI-driven landscape, these deeply human skills are more vital than ever. While Artificial Intelligence can generate standard text in seconds, it cannot replicate authentic human voice, emotional nuance, or original, critical thought. We teach our students to be discerning readers who can evaluate sources, detect bias, and synthesize complex information—skills essential for navigating a world flooded with fast-paced digital content. By mastering the craft of writing, our students learn to use technology as a tool to enhance their ideas, ensuring they remain the creative directors of their own work rather than simply consumers.

We strongly believe in the power of authentic practice, encouraging students to write for real-world audiences beyond the classroom walls. The dedication of our students and staff to this philosophy has yielded extraordinary results: last year alone, Arrowhead proudly celebrated 137 published student authors who collectively earned over $10,425 in state, national, and international writing contests, including prestigious competitions like the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. As we progress through the 2025-2026 school year, early achievements indicate we are on track for another season of similar outstanding success. Whether they are crafting these award-winning pieces, analyzing complex texts, or finding their unique voice, our students are proving that human creativity and articulate communication remain unmatched and highly valued.

If you would like to support any of our programs through the work you do, please consider filling out this google survey. Information will be shared with teachers who look for guest speakers, places to tour, professionals to support projects with feedback, etc.

NERF WARS STARTED SUNDAY, APRIL 12

'Nerf Wars' has returned and many AHS students are participating. 'Nerf Wars', involves the use of toy weapons, in which players have "shootouts" with other players. This activity often occurs outside in a public setting. Unfortunately, many of those participating tend to push boundaries that can result in a law enforcement response. Law enforcement response is likely to occur after a citizen complaint regarding the following, often criminal, violations: trespassing, disorderly conduct, battery, public nudity, noise complaints, car accidents, etc.

In addition, a toy weapon, if altered to be perceived as a real weapon, could result in law enforcement officers using deadly force.

Depending on the citizen complaint and circumstance, law enforcement response can/will result in a citation, criminal charge referral, and/or arrest. We highly encourage all parents/guardians to have a conversation regarding the appropriate use of 'toy weapons' in a public setting. Please understand that any “toy weapons” being brought into the school or on school grounds is absolutely unacceptable and may result in criminal action.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us or your local law enforcement agency. This information was sent via ParentSquare to all parents of Seniors and the Senior class on Monday, April 13th.

Deputy Tyler Dunker
School Resource Officer
Arrowhead Union High School District
700 North Avenue, Hartland, WI 53029
Office:262.369.3612 ext. 4771
dunker@arrowheadschools.org

Deputy Riley Schmidt
School Resource Officer
Arrowhead Union High School District
700 North Avenue, Hartland, WI 53029
Office:262.369.3612 ext. 4772
schmidt@arrowheadschools.org

ARROWHEAD HIGH SCHOOL

SCHOOL BOARD

Hello Arrowhead Community!

On Thursday, April 9, on a bright and beautiful morning, 50 Arrowhead students were honored as part of a newly launched initiative at Arrowhead High School. This meaningful program, Warhawk Rise, was created to celebrate a group of students whose achievements are often overlooked - those that have demonstrated remarkable academic growth.

This year’s honorees earned recognition for achieving one of the 50 highest grade point average increases among approximately 1,850 students. Their accomplishments reflect the power of intentional effort, improved habits, and perseverance. Collectively, these students represent the most significant “rise” in academic outcomes within our school community and serve as an inspiring example of what is possible through dedication and resilience.

Students, accompanied by parents or guardians, attended this special breakfast celebration at Chenequa Country Club. During the program, students were individually recognized, their achievements were highlighted, and one of our AHS teachers, Leah Cull, was acknowledged by the students for her exceptional impact on their success. During the morning, the level of joy and pride in accomplishment was palpable. All in all, it was a deeply moving and unforgettable experience.

This event was made possible through the support of a local family and the assistance of the PTO. Remarks from the sponsor spoke to the overall message of Warhawk Rise: success is not exclusively defined by test scores, and attainment of success arises from a lifelong commitment to such things as taking responsibility, setting goals, practicing good habits, and embracing challenges as growth opportunities.

CONGRATULATIONS to our Warhawk Rise honorees! Keep up the great work!

Kim Schubert

School Board President

CELEBRATIONS!

Congratulations to our Warhawk Rise recipients!

Arrowhead is creating a new tradition of honoring students that achieve large academic growth in comparison to past semesters. These 50 students had the largest GPA increases of 1,850 students!

They were recognized and celebrated not only due to the hard work they've put in, but to meeting and rising above the standard.

IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE FINAL GRADE, BUT THE ACTUAL "CLIMB," WHICH IS OFTEN MUCH HARDER TO ACHIEVE.

Congratulations to AHS Junior Lucy Hernandez

Bertie Green Travel Award Winner!

Each year student travel awards are granted to approximately 20 high school juniors from across the United States who are members of Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (Spanish Honor Society). In 2026, the SHH awarded 18 students a 9-day trip to Ecuador! We are happy to announce that Arrowhead junior, Lucy Hernández, was selected and will get to travel to Ecuador this summer!

The trip will be July 19-29, 2026. The application process included an essay in Spanish, two letters of recommendation, and a video interview in Spanish, among other application materials.

Here is the sample itinerary of the trip and a description of her award, for those interested to know more.

TRAVEL AWARD DESCRIPTION: Each Bertie Green Travel Award includes the following:

guided excursions in Ecuador
lodging
three meals per day while in Ecuador
travel insurance during the trip
reimbursement up to a $400 for round-trip transportation from student’s home to Miami International (MIA) airport.
round trip flights from Miami airport to Ecuador
ground transportation in Ecuador

We are so happy for Lucy and we are certain she will represent Arrowhead well on her trip to Ecuador!

CONGRATS TO OUR STUDENTS OF THE MONTH!!

Students of the Month is a monthly recognition highlighting outstanding students who have captured the gratitude and appreciation of both teachers and administrators. Our goal is to celebrate the exceptional qualities and achievements of students who display dedication, leadership, academic excellence, and high-quality character within our school. Congratulations to these incredible students who represent the true quality of our AHS student body!

Peter Marsh Silent Servant Scholarship

AHS had three Warhawk Interact members win the Peter Marsh Silent Servant Scholarship this year. Each student received a beautiful trophy and a check for nearly $600. Only 650 of these scholarships are awarded across the country so we are excited that three of our members were acknowledged with this. Pictured below are Makaela Knitt and Emelia Grinker - 10th grade and Samantha Wargula - 12th grade

AHS Wind Ensemble Performance at Carnegie Hall

The AHS Wind Ensemble had a successful trip to New York City, culminating in a performance at the prestigious Carnegie Hall as part of the NY Wind Band Festival. The ensemble also had the exciting opportunity to premiere a new work by composer Jeremy Van Buskirk, adding a special highlight to their program. “We are incredibly proud of the work our students have put in. They represented our program, school, and community on one of the most incredible stages in the world among some of the finest ensembles in the country,” said director Jake Polancich. A big thank you to our middle school directors, alumni, families, and all supporters who helped make it possible.

Lions of Delafield donates to Arrowhead Manufacturing Program for Personal Protective Equipment

Technology Education has transformed over the past ten years, including a revitalization to

excite and expose students to the possible careers that await them when they graduate. The technology engineering labs reflect modern manufacturing and are no longer dirty, dark, and dangerous. “We have clean organized labs, with high-tech equipment that reflects our industry partners.” says Anthony Christian. The job market has fueled that change as it has a growing need for talented individuals to fill positions in manufacturing and automation. “We have been able to capture the vision of our business partners and make changes not only in the physical space but also in curriculum and student experiences. Our goal is to provide the best experience possible while working in a safe environment.”

The Delafield Lions Club has generously donated funds for safety glasses and hearing protection for our students who work in those spaces. Each year, the Technology Education Department purchases 450+ sets of Z.87 safety glasses, disposable hearing protection, and vinyl gloves for our students who go through the Manufacturing and Automotive labs at Arrowhead. These essential safety items allow students to enter into the lab, participate, and practice skills in a manufacturing environment safely. This also sets the standard of safety, of how we expect them to protect themselves in any dangerous environment. Besides having the correct PPE to protect themselves, education is necessary to understand the potential risks they assume when operating equipment in the lab. “Protecting their vision and hearing is one of our highest priorities that we hope transcends after high school and into their future careers. We thank the Lions for their donation and support for this safety initiative!” says Anthony Christian, AHS manufacturing instructor.

Please mark your calendars for The Lake Country Arts Festival on Saturday, July 11th, hosted by the Delafield Lions Club. All proceeds go to support local charities and schools like AHS.

SkillsUSA State Leadership & Skills Conference

The 2 day SkillsUSA State Leadership & Skills Conference in Madison was ended and we'd like to share some exciting news!

AHS had 17 Arrowhead students compete, and they did an outstanding job representing our program and school. The professionalism, skill, and effort they showed throughout the competition was great to see, and we’re really proud of the work they put in leading up to this event.

We’re excited to share that we had 5 medalists this year, including 2 State Champions:

• 1st Place State Champion – Charlie Hansen (Woodworking Display $150–$400)
• 2nd Place – Alex Kuphall (Woodworking Display $0–$50)
• 2nd Place – Harlan Danes (Technical Drafting)
• 1st Place State Champion – Gavin Monis (Automotive Service Technology)
• 2nd Place – Evan Reinke (Automotive Service Technology)

All of these students showed a high level of skill and should be very proud of what they accomplished.

With his 1st place finish, Gavin Monis has earned the opportunity to represent Arrowhead and Wisconsin at the National SkillsUSA Competition in Atlanta, Georgia this summer—an incredible accomplishment.

Please find attached photos from the past two days.

Thank you for your continued support of our Technology and Engineering program and our students.

AHS SCHOLASTIC ART & WRITING AWARDS

High School Art Department is proud to participate in and receive both Regional and National recognition in the The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. This Art Competition and Show is the longest-running, most prestigious U.S. competition for students in grades 7–12, recognizing creative excellence in 29 art and writing categories, ranging from painting and photography, to ceramics and sculpture to win scholarships and have their work exhibited or published. As a juried show by professionals in the Art Field, it serves as a national platform for teenagers to earn scholarships, exhibitions, and publications.

Key Aspects & Purposes

Categories: Students can submit work in areas like painting, sculpture, photography, film, animation, and, for seniors, art portfolios.
Judging: Entries are judged blindly based on originality, technical skill, and personal vision by industry experts
Levels: Submissions are judged regionally and nationally for awards, including Honorable Mention, Silver Key, Gold Key, and National Medals.
Recognition: Winners gain opportunities for exhibitions, publication in the National Catalog, and scholarships.
Focus on Originality: Jurors select work based on originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision.
Impact: It serves as a major validator of creative talent, often bolstering college applications
Usage: It is used by teens to build portfolios, gain professional recognition, and showcase work to colleges and businesses.

The program is presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering creativity.

WTEA Award of Excellence

Congrats to AHS Tech. Ed. teacher Joe Premo who was honored in March at the Wisconsin Technical Education Association (WTEA) State Conference with the WTEA Award of Excellence. The WTEA Aware of Excellence is awarded each year to individual educators for "Exemplary Achievement in Technology Education”, providing quality technology programs to students at the local level. Click here to see all the WTEA awards.

The WTEA Award of Excellence is awarded annually to recognize individual technology educators who are dedicated to providing quality programs in technology education to students at the local level.

Student Senate Blood Drive Success

Student Senate held their Annual Spring Blood Drive on Friday, April 10th and it was once again a SUCCESS! They were able to donate 69 pints of blood which saves 210 lives! They also had 27 first time donors!

Thank you to everyone who was able to donate and help...special thank you to Student Senate member Kenzie Wood for supporting our donors with her smile!

AHS EDD Students visit Milwaukee Tool!

Engineering Design & Development (EDD) class visited Milwaukee Tool in. Our students got a sneak peak at their prototyping lab! Warhawks are currently prototyping their own products so the timing was perfect. This field trip helped students prepare for the May 21st Showcase event.

Congrats to our newest inductees into the Arrowhead High School National Honor Society!

These students demonstrated the best of Academics, Leadership, Character, and Service!

PARENT GROUPS

Arrowhead Scholarship Fund (ASF) and Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

AHS PTO

The PTO's next meeting is on Tuesday, April 20th at 6:30pm in the library room at North Campus. We have some exciting things planned in the next few months and would love some additional help getting them going. If you can't make the meeting but you are still available to help, reach out to us at hello@arrowheadpto.com.

The next PTO Dine Out is May 6 at Culvers (Hartland Location) all day but you must mention the AHS PTO.

Grad Grams are available in the school offices and online for purchase. It isn't too early to start to think about your favorite graduates!

RaiseRight is available to join all year long and purchases of gift cards help support the PTO!

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

WEBSITE

Please consider dining out to help the AHS PTO and their work supporting our students and staff!!! Great to support local!

IF YOU EVER BUY GIFT CARDS!!! DO IT HERE!

Support the AHS PTO at no cost to you via Raise Right. You can purchase gift cards (physical and digital) where the retailers and restaurants send a portion directly to the AHS PTO. If you download the App on your mobile device, you can have the gift cards delivered directly to the app within minutes of purchase. The link to sign up is: https://www.raiseright.com/enroll/TJ18CTSKL7AM.

Thanks to the large crowd who attended this year's ASF Fundraising Dinner and Auction at Reveres!!

They were treated to great food, incredible music from AHS Jazz students, and a fun event. All proceeds go toward scholarships for our AHS graduates!

The Arrowhead Scholarship Fund is always welcoming new members and donors to support our graduates! If interested, please reach out through the ASF Website!

ATHLETICS & ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITIES OFFICE

Arrowhead Activities

Season Sport Rosters can be found here on the Arrowhead High School Website https://www.arrowheadschools.org/activities/sports/
Scores can be found by following each sports social media handle on Instagram, twitter X, and Facebook, or Bound Wisconsin

April 2026

Congratulations to our Girls Basketball team who won the WIAA State Championship Game in a double overtime thriller over Wauwatosa East 80-74. They ended the season with a record of 28-2.

Congratulations to our CyberHawks, the AHS Robotics Team, who are State Bound! The team of 22 were event finalists and earned the Innovation in Control Award at their qualifying WIN District Seven Rivers Event. Best wishes to them as they head to their State Competition.

Winter Sports

All-Conference and All-State Recognitions include the following:

Girls Basketball -

Coach Ron Reichle - Head Coach of the Year

1st Team All Conference & Player of the Year - Senior, Natalie Kussow

1st Team All Conference - Junior, Sidney Zehner

1st Team All Conference - Senior, Presley Samz

1st Team All Conference Defensive Team & Defensive Player of the Year - Senior, Presly Samz

1st Team All Conference Defensive Team - Senior, Libby Gilmore

2nd Team All Conference - Senior, Libby Gilmore

2nd Team All Conference - Junior, Karina Klemz

Honorable Mention All Conference - Junior, Elly Petersen

Senior, Natalie Kussow earned the Ms. Basketball award. It is awarded by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association to the most outstanding senior player in Wisconsin.

She also earned Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year for the 2nd year in a row.

Natalie was also recently voted the Wisconsin High School Girls Basketball's Top Individual Standout of the 2026 WIAA State Championships by an enthusiastic fan-voted poll (held March 31-April 6), consisting of 12 talented players from the state finals. Congratulations Natalie!

All State Players

1st Team All State Player - Senior, Natalie Kussow

1st Team All State Player - Junior, Sidney Zehner

Honorable Mention All State Player - Senior, Libby Gilmore

Hono rable Mention All State Player - Senior, Presley Samz

Boys Basketball -

Coach Craig Haase - Head Coach of the Year

Coach John Hoch - Assistant Coach of the Year

1st Team All Conference & Player of the Year - Junior, Trey Resch

1st Team All Conference - Junior, Blake Basich

1st Team All Conference - Junior, Theo Toepel

1st Team All Conference Defensive Team - Senior, Domanic Rasberry

Honorable Mention All Conference - Junior, Rylan Schulz

Honorable Mention All Conference - Senior, Brady Thimmesch

Honorable Mention All Conference - Senior, Domanic Rasberry

All Freeman

1st Team - Trey Resch

2nd Team - Blake Basich

3rd Team - Theo Toepel

All State Players

Honorable Mention All State Player - Junior, Trey Resch

Boys Hockey -

1st Team All Conference Defense Player - Senior, Landon Kesy-Haren

2nd Team All Conference Goalie - Senior, Jack Adair

Honorable Mention All Conference Offense - Sophomore, Sam Bonk

Honorable Mention All Conference Offense - Senior, Alex Jenson

Spring Sports

The spring sports have started and everyone is excited for warmer weather and the seasons to begin!

Girls Track & Field - The team has had a few indoor meets and are off to a great start. They are led by strong seniors. They also have some promising young talent.

Boys Track & Field - The team has had a few indoor meets and are off to a great start. They are led by strong seniors and upperclassmen. They also have some promising young talent.

Girls Soccer - The team is set and returns 5 seniors to lead the team. They open their season with 3 home games against Sheboygan North , Whitnall and Catholic Memorial on April 7th, April 10th, and April 14th respectively. They started off with a 5-1 win over Sheboygan North.

Girls Lacrosse - The rosters are set and the team will be led by 5 seniors. They started their season playing at Mukwonago on April 8th and then host Hudson on the 11th.

Boys Lacrosse - The rosters are set and the team will be led by 8 seniors. They began their season with play at Waukesha West on April 9th before hosting a double header against Hamilton and Franklin on Saturday, April 11th.

Softball - The rosters are set and will be led by 5 seniors. They began their season with a 10-1 win over Waukesha North on April 7th and then hosted Hamilton on April 8th.

Baseball - The teams are set and the varsity team returns 8 seniors to lead the team. They opened the season at Slinger on Friday, April 10th and then hosted Hartford on Saturday, April 11th.

Boys Tennis - The team is set and looking forward to a great season. The varsity team kicked off their season on Friday, April 10th with a large 2 day invite at Brookfield Central.

Boys Golf - The team is set and looking forward to a great season. The varsity team kicked off their season on Friday, April 10th with a large 2 day invite at Hartford.

_________________________________________

If you have a student athlete who will be participating in a spring sport, please make sure all registration items are complete and on file in the activities office so there is not a delay in their participation on the first day of the season.

Our registration procedures can be found here:

https://www.arrowheadschools.org/activities/general/registration/athleticregistration.cfm

____________________________________________________________________________

You can also check out the Activities page of the Arrowhead website for all of our Activities Department information.

Please make sure the athlete's annual online athletic forms are complete. They are the concussion form, the WIAA eligibility form and the athletic permission form. The forms can be found on the FAMILY access skyward account. Please also make sure the athlete has a current green physical exam card on file in the activities office.

All of these items must be current and complete before the first day of practice / tryouts in order to be eligible to participate.

Activities Office Contact Information

Activities Director: Ryan Mangan 262-369-3612 Ext 4203 mangan@arrowheadschools.org

AD Assistant: Patrick Cottrell 8:00am-4:30pm 262-369-3612 Ext 4202 cottrell@arrowheadschools.org

Activities Asst: Jill Bradley 7:00am-10:45am 262-369-3612 Ext 4213 bradley@arrowheadschools.org

Activities Asst: Jill With 10:45am-4:00pm 262-369-3612 Ext 4213 with@arrowheadschools.org

Fax: 262-367-1870

School Year Hours: 7:00am-4:30pm

Click HERE for information on all of our Clubs and HERE for our Fine Arts Programs!

MULLETT ICE CENTER NEWS!

Registration for all of our Spring Programs opened 2/14/26

Learn to Skate Class for 4-10 year olds. 5:45pm and 6:30pm Class times. Classes started 4/8/26.

Learn to Play Hockey For 4-10 year olds. Classes started 4/8/26. Free Hockey Gear available for Arrowhead School District families!

Learn to Speed Skate For 4-12 year olds. Class started 4/6/26. Taught by instructors from the Pettit National Ice Center.

Learn to Figure Skate For 4-12 year olds. Class started 4/9/26.

PLUS we have some more programs coming up:

Summer Skating and Activities Day Camp. For 4-11 year olds. Camp runs from July 27 to August 27. Registration opened on 2/14. This camp will fill up!

Prior Newsletter Information

HOST A FAMILY FROM SPAIN OR FRANCE THIS SUMMER!

Language & Friendship (a student travel company based out of Minnesota) is currently looking for host families to host students from Spain and France for approximately 3 weeks this summer. This kind of program is a great way to meet a new friend, brush up on your language skills and create amazing memories this summer. Arrowhead has offered this experience to families for many years and families have had great experiences. Some students and families have even gone to France and Spain and stayed with their host student because they built a strong friendship with the student. I have been lucky enough to have hosted many people throughout my life and I remain in very close contact with all of them still today.

Below is basic information about the two groups visiting our area this summer:

The French students will be here from June 13 - July 6, 2026- from a school near Lyon, France. For more information about the French students and their stay here in Wisconsin check out the LF hosting page tinyurl.com/HostORD2026 or this flyer. French student biographies

The Spanish students will be here from June 27 - July 14, 2026- from Alicante, Spain. For more information about the Spanish students and their stay here in Wisconsin check out the LF hosting page tinyurl.com/HostMKE2026 or this flyer. The Spanish student biographies will be coming soon.

If this sounds like an experience that you and your family would be interested in, please register on the Language and Friendship Website (links above!)

Once you apply, the company will be in touch with you and you will be scheduled for a home visit before you can choose your prefered exchange students. There are about 10 students coming from each country. So, the earlier you complete the registration process, the earlier you can choose a student.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Ms. Koepke koepke@arrowheadschools.org.

ZRocket - Enrollment Flyer.pdf

ZMAORD_Bios_02032026.pdf

ZMAORD Hosting Enrollment Flyer.pdf

Please consider reading the long, but informative piece below from Dan Rossmiller, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards. This shares insights into school funding and why most families saw a tax increase this year.

Wisconsin's property tax "sticker shock"

Published January 9, 2026

What is going on with property taxes?

By Dan Rossmiller, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards

If you are like me, you may have received a bit of “sticker shock” when you received your property tax bill this year. Why did property taxes increase so much? The answer is not a simple one, as many factors produced the number on your bill. Maybe your first instinct was to blame your school district, but did you know that most of these factors are outside of the authority of your local school board?

Decisions made at the state level

1. No general state school aid increase

School district spending is controlled by state-imposed revenue limits. Schools collect revenue through a mix of general state aid and property taxes, but they must stay within these limits. A school district can only exceed its state-imposed revenue limit if voters pass a referendum approving additional spending. Since the 2023-24 school year, revenue limits have increased each year by $325 per student. While initially agreed upon by Gov. Tony Evers and the state Legislature for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years, it was extended to this school year (and the next 400) as a result of a controversial line-item veto by Gov. Evers that was later upheld by the state Supreme Court. For context, it is relevant to note that this annual increase is less than the rate of inflation. Ordinarily, the state provides additional school aid when it adjusts revenue limits upward. It does so to hold property taxes down. If a school district doesn’t get enough additional state aid to meet its revenue limit adjustment, local property taxes cover the difference. That is one reason property taxes increased. The 2025-27 state budget passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Evers included no general school aid increase, unlike the previous two years. This means the entire cost of this year’s $325 per student revenue limit increase was shifted to property taxpayers. There was no new state money to narrow the gap. In fact, 71% of school districts actually saw their state general aid go down this year. Some of this is the result of changes in property values as well as the passage of local referenda in many districts. Nevertheless, the lack of an increase in state general aid no doubt played a major role in such a high number of districts losing aid relative to last year. In short, the state allowed districts to raise and spend more revenue but didn’t fund that increase. As a result, that spending showed up directly on local property tax bills this year. State policymakers were aware of the consequences (higher property taxes) of this decision but approved the budget in a bipartisan manner anyways. The political parties now point their fingers at each other, and schools are forced to deal with the fallout.

2. Almost two decades of lagging inflation

You may have heard about a “historic” increase in special education aid—the largest in decades (but still reimbursing about 20% less than in the 1980s). However, it comes alongside 17 straight years of revenue limit adjustments that failed to keep up with inflation. Revenue limits have not even covered the cost of maintaining existing services, and the latest budget shifts a heavier burden onto already-stretched property taxpayers. As a result, while a welcome investment, this “historic” moment is muted at best. In part, that is because special education funding has no direct impact on property taxes. It is paid to districts outside the revenue limit as a reimbursement for special education expenses incurred in the previous school year. It is also because, in recent weeks, we have learned that the percentage of special education costs reimbursed by the aid increase will be several points lower than was assumed when the budget was passed. This means school districts must continue to transfer money from their general budgets, which are covered by the revenue limit, to pay for unreimbursed special education costs, which are not. Just as your costs go up as a private citizen, schools are not immune to these realities. Even without adding new programs, districts are facing significant cost increases for staff salaries, insurance, utilities, transportation and more.

3. School referenda at record highs

The only way for a school board to raise additional revenue above its state-determined revenue limit (to meet challenges such as inflation) is to go to a referendum where their local taxpayers vote whether to increase their own school property taxes. The number of districts going to referendum and the amounts approved by voters have increased substantially in the past decade. This is not a coincidence. It is another symptom of the state not providing revenue increases that match the rising costs of goods and services, and districts having to go to their voters for additional resources. Some might ask: If there are fewer kids in the state, why are schools seeking more money through referendums? While it’s true most schools are seeing declining enrollment, this “loss” of students happens gradually, with a few students leaving one year and a couple more the next. It takes several years of declining student populations before cost-saving measures, such as cutting staff or consolidating school buildings, can be implemented. During that time, the rising costs mentioned above have not decreased.

4. A declining share of state revenues allocated to schools

According to annual fiscal reports from the Wisconsin Department of Administration, the share of state budget revenue going to schools in 2003 was 43.1%. By 2023, that share had fallen to 36.6%. Similarly, Wisconsin Policy Forum reports have found comparable declines in per-pupil school spending compared to other states and as a percentage of income.

5. Private school vouchers

It should also be noted that growth in private school vouchers—publicly funded private school enrollment—also contributed to the property tax increase on bills statewide. The state funds payments to private schools participating in the statewide and Racine voucher programs by deducting state aid from the districts in which those voucher pupils reside. Those districts are then allowed to increase their property taxes by an amount not exceeding the state aid withheld from them. In part, because the state budget raised the amount paid per student voucher, the impact of these voucher programs on property taxes grew by 15% this year, adding nearly $47 million to statewide property taxes.

6. Property value assessments

It’s a common misconception that higher property taxes always mean schools are spending more. Individual tax bills depend heavily on local property assessments. Shifts in your assessment and/or that of the municipality in which your property is located may not reflect what is happening in the local school district. The mix of local assessments, state aid and the allowable levy determine individual tax bills—not school spending alone. While state decisions are contributing to increasing property taxes for the average taxpayer, a specific taxpayer’s school share of local property taxes may increase, or not, regardless of a school board’s decisions on utilizing the $325 per pupil increase or even passing operating referenda. Ultimately, the school portion of your property tax bill is determined by a balance of several factors that are largely outside the control of your local school board. School spending is only one part of this equation and is not always the primary driver of tax changes. Please keep these factors in mind when reviewing your property tax bill.

Additional information from WASBO

Myth vs. Fact: School Funding and Property Taxes

Myth: School districts raised property taxes because they chose to spend more than inflation.

Fact: School districts can only raise revenue within state-imposed revenue limits. To spend more than those limits requires voter approval via operating referendum. The state authorized a per-pupil revenue-limit increase that was less than inflation but did not provide the state aid necessary to fund it, shifting costs to property taxpayers.

Myth: Schools received “record funding” in the state budget.

Fact: While the budget included increases, those increases did not keep pace with inflation or rising fixed costs, and key components, like special education aid, remain underfunded due to sum-certain appropriations.

Myth: Referenda are a sign of poor local fiscal management.

Fact: Referenda are often the only remaining tool districts have to address structural gaps created when state funding does not keep pace with mandated costs and authorized spending authority. When schools are only allowed spending increases that fall below the amount necessary to keep pace with inflation, they must either cut programs and services for students or seek referendum approval. Oftentimes, they resort to both.

Myth: Property tax increases would have happened regardless of state action.

Fact: Historically, when the state matched revenue limit increases with increased general school aid, property tax impacts were significantly reduced. On a statewide basis, property tax increases were held in check. The 2025–27 budget broke from that precedent.

Myth: This is a local problem.

Fact: This is a statewide policy decision with statewide consequences. Districts across Wisconsin—urban, suburban, and rural—are experiencing the same pressures because the revenue limits apply uniformly and the school aid formula applies to all school districts. Almost three quarters of Wisconsin’s school districts will receive less general aid than they did in the prior year. And the number of districts that lost so much aid they qualified for stop-gap hold harmless funding went up by nearly 30% compared to the previous year.

VAPE SENSORS INSTALLED
IN ALL RESTROOMS AND LOCKER ROOMS!

As a reminder to parents/guardians and students, both North and South campus bathrooms (multi-stall and single-stall) and locker rooms are equipped with sensors to detect when vaping is taking place as well as when the device is being tampered with. When a sensor is triggered, administration is notified and will check the camera system to see which student(s) entered and exited at the time of the detection. Students are then brought to the office for a conversation on what happened and a search of their belongings is conducted. Parents are notified when this takes place with their student. If a vape device(s) is found, the student will be suspended in school for the remainder of that day and out of school for the following day. A citation can be written and/or the student can be referred to attend a class held at AHS conducted by Mrs. Whyte, School Counselor & AODA Coordinator and School Resource Officer Deputy Dunker. If applicable, the student would also be referred to the Activities Department. With each violation, the outcome would progress.

Vaping on school grounds is not only illegal, but it's a violation of School Board Policy 5530 - Student Use or Possession of Intoxicants, Drugs, or Paraphernalia. Vaping on school ground is also illegal for adults.

We ask that you speak with your child(ren) about the dangers of vaping and how it can negatively affect their health, well-being as well as their experience at AHS.

PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICES UPDATE

We want to first highlight the great work students and staff have done in the first quarter this school year with the cell phone expectations!

As the second quarter begins, we want to send a reminder of our expectations on personal communication devices (PCD) per School Board Policy 5136 - Personal Communication Devices.

Any PCDs including, but not limited to, cell phones, earbuds, and smart watches, should be stowed in backpacks/lockers or the teacher’s cell phone pockets during academic time. Additionally, artificial intelligence (AI) glasses, such as Meta AI glasses, are not permitted. See School Board Policy 5505 – Academic Honesty for information on Use of Artificial Intelligence/Natural Language Processing Tools For School Work.

We have also emailed the same message to all AHS students.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation with this.

Incoming Freshmen Families

Incoming families who may have missed orientation night, held on January 21st, should review the flyer.

South Campus counselors visited feeder schools to provide guidance to 8th graders.

Contact the South Campus registrar, Mrs. Hill, with questions on how to enroll freshmen at Arrowhead for the 2026-27 school year!

Arrowhead Adopted a New Parent Communication System

We're thrilled to announce an exciting transition that will help us keep you even more informed and connected with our school community. Arrowhead Union High School is adopting a new communication platform called ParentSquare!

ParentSquare is designed to be your one-stop shop for all school and classroom messages. You'll receive important updates, announcements, and information directly to your preferred device – whether that's through email, text, the app, or the web. Plus, ParentSquare offers translation into your preferred language, ensuring everyone stays in the loop.

With ParentSquare, you'll be able to:

Stay up to date on all the latest news and events.
Send and receive messages directly with teachers and staff.
Easily fill out forms and permission slips digitally.
Sign up for parent-teacher conferences and volunteer opportunities.
View important calendar items and see photos from school activities.

We'll be rolling out ParentSquare throughout the 2025-26 school year, with all staff, teachers, and coaches gradually coming on board. Our goal is to fully adopt ParentSquare as our primary communication platform by summer of 2026. This means that by the 2026-27 school year, all school, grade-level, and classroom communications will come through ParentSquare.

To make the most of this new system, we highly recommend downloading the free ParentSquare mobile app, available for both iOS and Android devices. You can also access ParentSquare from any web browser at www.parentsquare.com.

We'll be sharing more information very soon, including detailed instructions on how to set up your account and customize your notification preferences to best suit your needs.

Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting your student's success.

Sincerely,

Donna Smith Director of Library Media and Technology Arrowhead Union High School

smith@arrowheadschools.org

Arrowhead Excelling

in Four Key Academic Measures

Arrowhead Student Achievement Press Release

SECURING LOCKER ROOM BELONGINGS

Below is an email that was sent to all students from Administration and the School Resource Officers on Friday, November 7th regarding locker room thefts. We are sharing this email with you as parents/guardians so you can help reinforce this message and keep the belongings of ours students safe and secure:

Good Afternoon AHS Students,

This is a friendly reminder to use your locker and ensure it is properly secured at all times. Lockers are provided to help you keep your personal items safe during and after the school day.

If you are using the lockers in the locker room, please make sure to place a lock on your locker and secure it. Simply placing your items inside without locking the door defeats the purpose of having a locker and leaves your belongings vulnerable.

Please do not leave your belongings unattended / laying around or unlocked. Even small items like phones, wallets, and earbuds can easily go missing if not secured. Taking a few seconds to lock your locker can prevent unnecessary loss or inconvenience.

If you need assistance with your locker or have any issues with a lock, please stop by the office.

Thank you for taking responsibility for your belongings and helping keep our school a safe and respectful environment for everyone.

OPEN ENROLLMENT ATTENDANCE

If you are attending AHS through Open Enrollment, we want to congratulate you on your acceptance!

In addition to the information you already received when approved, we want to be sure you fully understand the attendance responsibility of your child(ren) by enrolling in Arrowhead High School through open enrollment.

Wis. § 118.51(11) states if an open enrolled student is habitually truant from the nonresident school district during either semester in the current school year, the student may be prohibited from attending the nonresident school district in the succeeding semester or school year. Therefore, your child(ren)’s open enrollment status can be terminated in January or June if they are considered habitually truant within that semester respectively. Before this would take place, you will be notified by the school if your child(ren) continues to be absent.

According to Wis. 118.15(3)(c), a child may not be excused for more than ten (10) days in a school year, regardless of parent permission. We have the following progressive steps in place to help keep you informed:

Letter sent when absent at approximately 5 days
Letter sent when absent at approximately 10 days
Meeting with School Resource Officer at approximately 15 days
Truancy citation issued when absent ≥ 18 days
Open Enrollment status terminated when absent ≥ 20 days

Each missed class period at Arrowhead is counted when determining the number of days absent. Five (5) missed periods (including Resource period) is equivalent to one full day. Late arrival to class may also count toward their total day absences depending on the severity.

While any/all absences excused and/or unexcused are counted, attendance absences due to exemptions or school events will not be counted against your child(ren)’s attendance record.

An exemption can be issued when you provide the attendance office with formal documentation from a professional such as a doctor, dentist, therapist, etc. It is best to share this documentation as the absence occurs, but a final deadline of January 15th or June 1st is in place before open enrollment status is terminated. If your child(ren) is absent 20 or more days as of January 15th or June 1st, their open enrollment status will be terminated. You will be informed of this status change from both the Associate Principal and the District Office.

SKYWARD APP FOR PARENTS ATTENDANCE USE

Skyward App for Attendance/Absence Procedures for Parents

In an effort to create an easier and more efficient process for families to enter absences, AHS will be using the Parent Access to Skyward via the app for submitting student attendance. We still accept phone messages but it is our hope that the Skyward App becomes the main method of absence notification.

Skyward App Absence Reporting

Log in
Select Main Menu
Select Attendance
Select Add Absence Request
The following will automatically be entered
1. Student Name
2. School
3. Current Date
The date can be changed to enter a future absence
If absence is not all day, click green switch to enter time period of absence
1. It is critical that you enter the time in and out, if not all day, so we have an accurate picture of the time your student will be gone (for example, part of a class period or only part of a day).
Select Reason (drop down box)
1. If you select “other” please enter comments on the reason
Comments (optional unless you selected “other” for the absence reason)
If you want siblings to be absent on the same time and day, click the green yes by that child’s name

Absence Requests from Guardians within Skyward Mobile App VIDEO

ePass

The following information was sent as a Parent Skylert email in September. We're just sharing the information again to keep families informed!

Arrowhead High School recently implemented an electronic hall pass system (EDLASTICS - ElasticPass, also known as “ePass”). This system is designed to strengthen student safety, reduce classroom disruptions, and ensure accountability. A recent, inaccurate and intentionally devoid of facts news article by TMJ4 news has created an unnecessary storm of questions and concerns regarding the new system and, we want to provide context and accurate information to our community and families.

It is important to note that hall pass systems, whether paper or digital, are not matters of “policy.” The School Board governs at the policy level, while daily operational decisions are made by teachers and administrators. Just as staff determined that the paper-pass system was sufficient for decades, it was again a team of teachers and administrators who determined that the ePass system would be beneficial.

The decision came after identifying a clear concern: too many students were in the hallways during class and outside of the capacity of our teachers and administration to monitor and ensure a safe and appropriate facility. This contributed to vaping in bathrooms, vandalism, bullying and harassment, meeting up with friends, and other unsafe behaviors. Traditional paper passes cannot provide accurate information and data on where students are when they are not in class. Accurate information is critical for safety, learning, and liability reasons. If knowing when students are in class is important enough to dedicate staff to supervise and manage attendance, it is even more important to know where students are when they are not in class.

Every student in a classroom has a supervising teacher. Students in the hallways are unsupervised, and unsupervised students pose safety and liability concerns. Nothing good comes from students being unsupervised in hallways. The ePass system helps prevent unsafe behavior, and it is working. Another major benefit is that, in an emergency, administrators can determine where students are quickly and accurately. Paper passes cannot do that.

The system is not unusual. It has been implemented successfully in many schools across the country, including a number in Wisconsin and in our area. The limits in place were identified as the average among schools already using this system, are reasonable to accommodate students’ needs, and do not impact the significant majority of our students.

Some concerns have been raised about student restroom access. To be clear, Arrowhead students have more opportunities than most to use the facilities without needing a pass. Students also remain fully accommodated in cases of health needs or emergencies.

Facts About Student Access:

Students have 8 minute passing periods allowing for ample time to use the restrooms. Most schools have passing times of 4-5 minutes. The 8 minutes has proven to be sufficient for students to use the facilities and get to class. Again, compared to just about every other area school, Arrowhead provides TWICE the amount of time between classes to use the facilities and the vast majority of students have no problem going to the bathroom between classes.
All students can use the restrooms during study hall time and it does not count against their pass limit.
Students can use the restrooms at lunch without a pass.
Any student with Phy Ed classes can use the restrooms at the beginning and end of class.
All staff can override the limits as appropriate, especially for any extenuating situations or emergencies.
Students with specific health needs were already, and are absolutely accommodated.
The longest a student would ever have to go without access to a restroom is 85 minutes. They have passes available during instructional time to accommodate those needs.
If students need more passes, they are not denied access to the restrooms; we work with the student and families to determine how to best move forward.
To this point in our school year, we have had zero issues of discipline in the halls and/or bathrooms which is a significant improvement from past years with over a dozen documented issues at this time last year.
The vast majority of students are not impacted by the new pass system. They always have used the facilities during the opportunities described above and will continue to do so.

Arrowhead’s teachers and administrators are in the buildings daily, working with nearly 1,800+ students. Our obligation is two-fold: to keep students as safe as possible and to ensure they are learning in rigorous, supportive environments. The ePass system helps us achieve both goals in a cost-effective way.

Preventing poor decisions and risky situations is always better than reacting after harm occurs. A system that minimally impacts most students, but improves supervision, reduces classroom interruptions, and provides useful data, is a common-sense approach. Importantly, students with legitimate needs continue to be accommodated, just as they always have been.

We know parents and community members care deeply about students—we do too. We want what is best for them, and everything we do is designed to make sure they are safe and receiving the best possible education. We treat our students as if they were our own children.

The ePass system is one tool among many that helps Arrowhead deliver on that responsibility. By reducing unsupervised time, ensuring safety in emergencies, and keeping classrooms focused on learning, the system benefits the entire school community.

RESOURCE PERIOD ATTENDANCE & TARDINESS

Attending Resource Period

Resource period was new to students and staff last school year. As a reminder, students begin their school day in Resource each morning (zero hour / 7:20-7:50 AM). Throughout last school year, teachers and administration stressed the importance of attending the new period and attending on time. With the start of the 2025-26 school year, we want to again express the importance of attending Resource period and what the outcomes will be of repeated absence and/or tardiness to school. Student tardies and absences from Resource Period do count against their attendance expectations.

Firstly, it’s important for students to check eClass each morning to ensure they’re in the correct Resource location. If students are requested to attend a classroom by a teacher and they don't attend, they are marked absent. In addition, students should be signing up for a location if a teacher hasn't requested them. If they don't sign up, students are automatically placed and must go to that location for attendance purposes, regardless of assignment. Lastly, students can sign up for their Resource weeks in advance on eClass both to take ownership of their education and avoid being randomly placed.

Absences from Resource Period

Absences from Resource period are recorded in Skyward attendance and will count towards truancy. In addition to the measures taken when a student reaches the level of truant, students will be assigned office referrals with consequences for missing Resource period. A referral will be submitted when four (4) Resource periods are missed and the student will be assigned a Saturday detention. Continued absences can also lead to conduct unbecoming of an athlete if a student is in a sport or club.

Tardiness to Resource Period

School begins every day at 7:20 AM. Thus, tardiness to Resource period is also recorded in Skyward Attendance. Repeated tardiness to Resource period will result in an office referral being submitted. A referral will be submitted when four (4) or more Resource periods are marked as tardy and the student will be assigned an after school detention. When the student reaches eight (8) tardies to Resource periods, another office referral will be submitted and the student will be assigned a Saturday detention. Continued tardiness can also lead to conduct unbecoming of an athlete if a student is in a sport or club.
REMINDER: You can always check your child's attendance in Skyward so you are up to date to their absences and tardies.
If you have any questions, you can contact the North Campus or South Campus attendance offices.

MORNING DROP-OFF!

Welcome to one of the ongoing challenges of AHS. Last year's adjustments and structures created the most efficient morning traffic flow we've had in years. If all families can support the image below, it makes for the safest and quickest drop-off experience for everyone!

Please only drop off in the green identified areas
Have students walk to the furthest north crosswalk identified in yellow on the map.
Pull all the way forward. Pulling forward allows multiple cars to drop-off and clear out at the same time. Please do not stop short or by the X's on the image as that creates unnecessary backups!
Ensure your student is ready to exit your car when you stop. Keep backpacks
The blue lines should be passthrough only lines watching for students crossing. These are not drop-off locations.

Finally, please proceed cautiously at all times! We have hundreds of students crossing our drives. Please help us in keeping our students safe!

AHS FUNDRAISING

AHS Programs Financial Support

School funding is always a challenging world to navigate. Each year, schools see a set of opportunities with costs associated with them that are unable to be funded by the current state funding and the AHS budget. We often have families with the means to support such opportunities who have expressed that there isn't an avenue to be made aware or to donate directly to a need. Each newsletter, we will list opportunities for our community to consider supporting. There is never an expectation, only an appreciation for considering.

Current Considerations

Arrowhead Scholarship Fund - This amazing program provides an incredible amount of scholarships each year thanks to the generosity of our community. Families and companies have the ability to provide direction as to how their scholarship would be decided and awarded. Please see the ASF Donor Webpage for more information!

AHS Tennis Courts Fundraiser Please consider supporting our tennis efforts to update and upgrade our AHS tennis courts!

Something we missed?

Please email kurth@arrowheadschools.org and let us know! We want this newsletter to have all of the information our families need.