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Due to recent inclement weather cancellations, the School District of Wisconsin Dells has updated the 2025-26 academic calendar to ensure we meet our required instructional hours.
Please note the following adjustments to the upcoming schedule:
- April 15: Now a full day of instruction.
- May 13: Now a full day of instruction.
- June 5: Final day of school; students will follow the early release schedule.
We appreciate your flexibility and continued support as we finalize this academic year.
SDWD is currently accepting applications for open enrollment for the 2025-26 school year. Please visit DPI for more information and to print the application. You can direct any questions to Tiffany Clary at tclary@sdwd.k12.wi.us
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SDWD is hiring bus drivers for AM/PM routes, AM routes, PM routes, sports trips, or substitute drivers! Sign-on bonus, no experience necessary, paid in-house training!
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APRIL 2026
Dear Parents & Caregivers,
This month’s edition of the district newsletter comes at the time of a well-deserved spring break! Whatever your plans may be for spring break, we hope this allows all students to return with renewed energy for the final stretch of the 2025-26 school year. We welcome the return of students on Monday, April 6, 2026!
2025-26 SCHOOL CALENDAR ADJUSTMENTS
As most of you know, the district has experienced a handful of school cancellation days due to inclement weather. As such, the 2025-26 school calendar has been adjusted. Please note the changes as outlined below:
- Wednesday, April 15, 2026, will be a full day of instruction.
- Wednesday, May 13, 2026, will be a full day of instruction.
- Thursday, June 4, 2026, will be a full day of instruction.
- Friday, June 5, 2026, will be a half-day of instruction with an early release for students.
You can find an updated 2025-26 calendar at the following link here.
With students and staff returning, there are 43 days of classes left before the end of the 2025-26 school year. During this last quarter of the school year, we want to continue emphasizing the importance of good daily attendance and of students remaining engaged in their own personal learning.
OPERATIONAL REFERENDUM VOTE APRIL 7, 2026
Following the return to classes after spring break, the spring election will take place on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, to address the proposed operating referendum question. Despite hosting a handful of listening sessions, turnout was relatively low. As such, if your schedule did not permit you to attend a listening session, I have devoted a second article specific to the operational referendum later in this newsletter. I want to be clear that the Board of Education took a very careful review when setting the amounts the district is seeking. These details are outlined in the second article. This question focuses on the services the district has provided over the past couple of school years. Please see more specific details regarding the ballot questions here.
SENIOR SCHOLARSHIPS & GRADUATION DATES SET
For those of you with a future graduate, a friendly reminder that graduation is scheduled for Friday, May 22, 2026, and we will provide more details in the near future. Additionally, the annual SDWD & WDEF Scholarship Award Program will take place on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, beginning at 6:00 pm. This event will take place in the Nelson PAC and is an example of students being generously rewarded for their academic efforts. It is anticipated that members of the Class of 2026 will receive more than $750K of local scholarship gifts. Additionally, there will be plenty of accolades and awards to recognize the talents of the class of 2026. Our students are so very fortunate to live in such a giving community.
GIRLS' BASKETBALL HISTORY MADE
As most of you know, the winter sports season has closed, and the WDHS Girls Basketball team made not only a lifetime of memories but also made a lot of record-setting history during their historic tournament run along the way. They completed their record-setting season with a 29-1 overall record and brought home the D-3 state runner-up trophy. The fan support during their historic tournament run was second to none, and a sea of Columbia blue filled the Resch Center in Green Bay to cheer on our beloved Lady Chiefs Basketball Team. Our student body did an excellent job cheering for the girls, providing the team with an amazing amount of energy. Additionally, the fan support at the sectional games versus Aquinas and Edgerton was absolutely EPIC!
2026 WIAA DIVISION THREE STATE RUNNER-UP GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM
A few of the team records this team set this year were the most wins in a season with 29 wins, and as previously mentioned, an overall season record of 29-1. Additionally, the girls program won the South-Central Conference Championship, were the Regional Champions, Sectional Champions, and for the first time in program history brought home their first runner-up trophy. It is now proudly on display at the entrance of Jack B. Olson Court.
Not only were this group of girls talented on the basketball court, but multiple members of the team earned prestigious postseason academic awards. Earning Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Academic All-State Awards were Maia Marsich, Madi Gussel, Vivian Gavinski, Aja Gall, Grace Grove, Natalie Backhaus, and Jaz Alwin. Additionally, Senior Natalie Backhaus received WBCA Elite Academic All-State, just one of 15 female student-athletes statewide to receive this honor. With over half the team earning these academic awards, it is easy to see why they performed so well at the most challenging moments in their season. Their composure and poise under pressure were outstanding, and this is directly correlated with their academic focus in the classroom. Nicely done, ladies!
Finally, let me close out this newsletter article by saying thank you for the opportunity to serve our community’s children, for it is both our highest priority and privilege to do so!
Have a great month!
Respectfully submitted,
Terrance Slack, District Administrator
2024-25 Wisconsin DPI School and District Report Card