October 9th, 2026

Welcome again to the month of October! We are three days away from the end of the first quarter at WHS and the students and staff here at WHS continue to work hard in the classroom and excel in extracurriculars. We look forward to fall break next week and a brief time to collectively take a breath and prepare for a great second quarter. 

As always, may we continue to PURSUE EXCELLENCE here at WHS through the core principals of Value, Integrity, Knowledge, Effort, and Service! 

Go Vikings! 

Mr. Jordan Cudney - High School Principal 

Oct 14 @ 10:00 AM: ASVAB Testing (Seniors; register by Oct 7)

Oct 15: No School (Staff Professional Development)

Oct 16: No School

Oct 23: School Picture Make-Up Day (All Day)

Nov 2: No School (Staff Professional Development)

Nov 5 (4:00 PM – 8:00 PM): Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences

Nov 13: NCAA Clearinghouse Meeting (Pod 4000; 3rd period for 9th/10th, 4th period for 11th/12th)

Just a friendly reminder to parents/guardians and students that there is NO SCHOOL this coming Thursday, October 15th and Friday October 16th. Enjoy some time off as we end the first quarter here at WHS!!! 

Waverly Public Schools, District 145, invites parents, staff, and community members to participate in an upcoming Superintendent Search Community Input Meeting as the district begins the process of selecting its next superintendent.

The meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 21, from 6:00–7:00 p.m. at Waverly High School. Attendees will have an opportunity to share their thoughts on the qualities, characteristics, and leadership priorities they believe are most important in the district’s next superintendent.

Community feedback will help guide the Board of Education throughout the search process. Parents, staff, and community members are encouraged to attend and provide input as the district looks ahead to its next chapter of leadership.

For additional information about the superintendent search, visit www.district145.org.

Harvest season is underway, and families should be aware of the increased presence of tractors, combines, grain carts, and other large agricultural equipment on rural roads. As students travel to and from school, we encourage everyone to use extra caution and allow additional time for their commute.

Please remind student drivers to slow down, stay alert, maintain a safe following distance, and be patient when encountering farm equipment. Always pass only when it is safe and legal to do so, and be especially cautious on narrow roads, at intersections, and near field entrances.

Our rural roads are busier this time of year, and a little extra patience can make a big difference. Thank you for helping us keep our students, families, and agricultural community safe throughout harvest season!

Parent and Guardians please take a look at the lost and found items above.

These items will be discarded at the end of the day on Wednesday, October 14th.

Please have your student claim them at their earliest convenience. 

Thank you in advance for your help in this matter! 

When: Wednesdays from 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM in Pod 1000

Details: Hosted by the National Honor Society (NHS). Peer tutors are available for help with concepts, assignments, and test preparation.

How to Join: Students should scan the QR code on school flyers to request a tutor.

ASVAB Test (Oct 14): Available to interested seniors. Taking the exam does not obligate students to join the military. Email Jason Boitnott by Wednesday, October 7 to register.

NCAA Clearinghouse Meeting (Nov 13): For students planning to participate in college athletics (NCAA, NAIA, JuCo). Complete the Registration Form to receive a pass to Pod 4000 during 3rd or 4th period.

To assist staff with building safety, upperclassmen exiting or entering the building during the day must display colored tags on their backpacks:

🔵 Blue Tag: SCC Dual Credit (Pick up from Mrs. Verkamp)

🟡 Yellow Tag: Lunch Consent Form on File (Pick up from the Main Office)

🔴 Red Tag: Work Release (Pick up from Mr. Wynn)

Seniors and Senior Parents,

Graduation will be here before you know it. The ceremony is set for Sunday, May 16th.

If you have any questions about how your name (or your senior's name) is written on the diploma, please see Jill VanDusen in the main office or reach out to her at 402-786-2765 #2200 or jill.vandusen@district145.org 

Graduation Packets: Distributed in class today. Orders for caps, gowns, and announcements can be placed online or in-store. Ordering everything at once reduces shipping fees. Link to Josten's website can be found HERE.

The following are categories of academic honor that are recognized during the graduation ceremony:

Cum Laude -- includes students with a cumulative 3.5 GPA or higher

Magna Cum Laude -- includes students with a cumulative 3.75 GPA or higher

Summa Cum Laude -- includes students with a cumulative 4.0 GPA 

Seniors qualifying for Summa cum laude, Magna cum laude, and Cum laude will be recognized during the graduation ceremony by wearing a medallion. A Summa cum laude member will receive a gold medallion and gold ribbon, a Magna cum laude member will be recognized with a silver medallion and silver ribbon, and a Cum laude student will wear a bronze medallion and white ribbon.   

Summa cum laude students shall be responsible to provide a commencement address as approved by Mr. Cudney.  Additional information will be provided to this group or individual closer to graduation.  

Senior Photos: Due December 22 (Winter Break). Email vertical JPG files (no props, no black & white) to waverly.yearbook@district145.org.

Yearbooks can be purchased through your parent portal on EduTrak, instructions to purchase are linked HERE. Books are $60 before January 1st, and $65 after. 

Senior photos are due by Winter Break (December 22nd), and can be emailed to: waverly.yearbook@district145.org No props, not black and white, jpg file, vertical preferred. 

WHS COUNSELORS: 

Jason Boitnott - Serves students with last names beginning with A-G.

jason.boitnott@district145.org 

TJ Wynn - Serves students with last names beginning with H-O

tj.wynn@district145.org

Kelly Verkamp - Serves students with last names beginning with L-Z. 

kelly.verkamp@district145.org 

COUNSELOR REQUEST FORM: 

Students can schedule an appointment via Classlink or QR codes posted around school. In a crisis, students can go directly to the counseling office for immediate assistance.

COLLEGE VISITS & JOB SHADOWS:

Juniors and seniors planning visits must arrange their own transportation and details.

To Request: Call the Main Office (402-786-2765 ext. 2201) with the location, date, and time.

Note: Visits count toward parent-requested absences (subject to the 8-day policy). Verification forms are available in the office or on the website. Contact Hunter Smith with questions.

ACT NATIONAL TEST DATES:  

Juniors take the ACT at WHS in April, but juniors/seniors can retake it on national test dates (WHS Code: 282-490). Most students test at a Lincoln site.

Register: Visit the ACT Registration Page.

Accommodations: Contact Nick Sims before the late registration deadline.

HELPFUL SENIOR & PARENT LINKS: 

PowerSchool

WHS Counseling Page

EducationQuest

My Next Move?

Bright Outlooks

ABC--Apprenticeship

Nebraska Apprentice

JATC Apprenticeship

Personality Portrait

ACT Registration

College Board

NCAA Eligibility

NAIA

UNL Transfer Guide

Transfer Nebraska

Khan Academy 

VIKING ACTIVITIES HELPERS NEEDED:

Help support our student-athletes! No experience is needed, and training is provided.

Open Roles: Gate / Admissions, Scoreboard Operator (softball, baseball, lower-level volleyball), and Shuttle Driver (football golf carts).

Sign Up: Pick a shift that fits your schedule on the Event Schedule sign-up sheet.

ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY & RED CARD SYSTEM:

Students become academically ineligible if they have two or more D’s or one failing grade on the bi-weekly grade report.

Upcoming Timeline: Grades update on Thu, Oct 8. Red Cards go out Fri, Oct 9, with the ineligibility period running Wed, Oct 14 – Mon, Oct 26.

Regaining Eligibility: Grades do not necessarily need to be fully raised; students can regain eligibility by setting a clear academic improvement plan signed off by their teacher.

HOME EVENT REMINDERS: 

Seating Areas: High school students should sit in designated student sections (Viking Crew on the South end of the bleachers in the stadium; North West bleachers in the gym).

Supervision: All elementary students must be accompanied by an adult.

Prohibited: No running under/behind bleachers, playing games in grassy areas/commons, noisemakers, or balls brought from home.

Pets: No pets permitted on school property or at outdoor events (service animals excepted).

Throughout the school year, our newsletter will feature a new CTE (Career Technical Education) Spotlight section highlighting the incredible opportunities available through Waverly High School's Career & Technical Education programs.

Last week, Waverly High School students stepped out of the classroom and onto the farm at the SCC Beatrice Ag Day to explore exciting career paths in modern agriculture.

Throughout the day, students engaged in hands-on learning experiences across a wide variety of high-demand fields. Highlights included:

Welding & Fabrication: Practicing essential industrial and mechanical skills.

Precision Agriculture: Flying specialized drones used for crop monitoring and field mapping.

Turfgrass & Grounds Management: Operating equipment used in golf course and sports turf management.

Agribusiness & Technology: Discovering how technology and business principles intersect in today’s agricultural industry.

Events like Ag Day give our students valuable real-world exposure to emerging career paths and post-secondary training programs. Thank you to Southeast Community College for hosting a fantastic day of career discovery!

To ensure safety, WHS conducts multiple safety drills each year. So far this semester, students have successfully completed:

1 Bus Evacuation Drill

3 Fire Drills

1 Tornado Drill

1 Lockdown Drill