WELCOME CLASS OF 2026
INFORMATION FOR
INCOMING 9TH GRADERS
Click to view videos & Scroll Below
Click To Access Registration Worksheet
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Click Here For A List of Freshman Course Options
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Click to view WHS Welcome Class of 2026 Video
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Click Here For Online Course Book & Descriptions
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Click Here For CTE Course Information
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8th Grade Information Open House
We invite you to Washington for a chance to see the building and learn about academic & co-curricular opportunities.
Friday, January 7 - 6:30pm to 8:00pm
-or-
Saturday, January 8 - 9:30am to 11:00am
Counselors will be at Middle Schools to assist with registration on the following dates:
Whittier
January 7 & 21
Ben Reifel
January 6 & 20
Patrick Henry
January 7 & February 4
Edison
January 10 & 26
Questions? - Email Your Counselor
A-COL - Mr. Jacob McDonald - jacob.mcdonald@k12.sd.us COM-G - Mrs. Jennifer Witt - jennifer.witt@k12.sd.us
H-LA - Mrs. Shelli Wiese - shelli.wiese@k12.sd.us
LE-OL - Mrs. Tammy Nold - tamara.nold@k12.sd.us
OM-SO - Mrs. DeAndra Jenkins - deandra.mccarthy@k12.sd.us
SP-Z - Mr. Travis Sieber - travis.sieber@k12.sd.us
Questions Regarding Specific Courses/Activities?
Email WHS Department Chairs
Activities Principal - Nate Malchow - nate.malchow@k12.sd.us
Applied Arts (CTE/JROTC) - Alysha Baus - alysha.baus@k12.sd.us
EL - Michele Blair - michele.blair@k12.sd.us
English - Fred Reiner - frederick.reiner@k12.sd.us
Fine Arts - Matt Schuldt - matthew.schuldt@k12.sd.us
Math - Kady Heyden - kady.heyden@k12.sd.us
Physical Education - LaDawn Nesje - ladawn.nesje@k12.sd.us
Science - Janet Swier - janet.swier@k12.sd.us
Social Studies - Jamie Nieuwsma - jamie.nieuwsma@k12.sd.us
Special Education - Kris Vesely - kristin.vesely@k12.sd.us
World Language - Karen Auten - karen.auten@k12.sd.us
Terms That New Students Should Know
Credit: The value given to a course. 1.0 or .5
Required Course: A course you MUST take and complete to graduate from high school. Remember to sign up for both sections of a year-long course (A & B)
Elective: A course you select that interests you or can prepare for future learning and career aspirations.
Pre-requisite: A course you take before another; example: Drawing or Exploring Visual Art before 3D Design... Spanish IA before Spanish IB
Middle School Credit
Students who have taken high school courses in 8th grade and passed will receive high school credit.
The credit will appear on your college transcript.
If a student takes a semester's worth of health in middle school, it will satisfy the high school health requirement.
Important Numbers For Freshman To Know
5.0 credits = Sophomore
11.0 credits = Junior
16.0 credits = Senior
22.0 credits = Graduation
Graduation Requirements
English- 4 credits
Social Studies- 3 credits
Math- 3 credits
Science- 3 credits
Fine Arts- 1 credit
Physical Education- .5 credit
Health Requirement- taken either in middle school or .5 credit in high school
Economics/Personal Finance- .5 credit
World Language or CTE combination- 1 credit
Electives- 6 credits
Total Minimum- 22 credits
WHS Freshman Academy
Directed by Wade Kippley
Students will be part of a team
Study/Lunches are with team teachers
Two Primary Goals:
1. Students pass all of their classes
2. Each student will become involved in high school student life (activities, sports, fine arts, clubs, events, etc)
Summer Opportunities
Connections Class
•10 days in the summer at WHS (Pick one)
•Study Skills and all kinds of activities
•Walk into high school on that first day ready for the jump to high school!
•Talk to your Middle School Counselor for information
•Cost: $25; earn .5 credit
Summer School
•Located at CTE Academy (I-29 & West Madison Street)
•Attendance is mandatory
•Responsible for own transportation
•More information in the counseling office and on the SFSD website.
•Cost: $180 per ½ credit; $120 for reduced; $90 for free lunch
We invite you to Washington for a chance to see the building and learn about academic & co-curricular opportunities.
Friday, January 7 - 6:30pm to 8:00pm
-or-
Saturday, January 8 - 9:30am to 11:00am
Counselors will be at Middle Schools to assist with registration on the following dates:
Whittier
January 7 & 21
Ben Reifel
January 6 & 20
Patrick Henry
January 7 & February 4
Edison
January 10 & 26
Questions? - Email Your Counselor
A-COL - Mr. Jacob McDonald - jacob.mcdonald@k12.sd.us COM-G - Mrs. Jennifer Witt - jennifer.witt@k12.sd.us
H-LA - Mrs. Shelli Wiese - shelli.wiese@k12.sd.us
LE-OL - Mrs. Tammy Nold - tamara.nold@k12.sd.us
OM-SO - Mrs. DeAndra Jenkins - deandra.mccarthy@k12.sd.us
SP-Z - Mr. Travis Sieber - travis.sieber@k12.sd.us
Questions Regarding Specific Courses/Activities?
Email WHS Department Chairs
Activities Principal - Nate Malchow - nate.malchow@k12.sd.us
Applied Arts (CTE/JROTC) - Alysha Baus - alysha.baus@k12.sd.us
EL - Michele Blair - michele.blair@k12.sd.us
English - Fred Reiner - frederick.reiner@k12.sd.us
Fine Arts - Matt Schuldt - matthew.schuldt@k12.sd.us
Math - Kady Heyden - kady.heyden@k12.sd.us
Physical Education - LaDawn Nesje - ladawn.nesje@k12.sd.us
Science - Janet Swier - janet.swier@k12.sd.us
Social Studies - Jamie Nieuwsma - jamie.nieuwsma@k12.sd.us
Special Education - Kris Vesely - kristin.vesely@k12.sd.us
World Language - Karen Auten - karen.auten@k12.sd.us
Terms That New Students Should Know
Credit: The value given to a course. 1.0 or .5
Required Course: A course you MUST take and complete to graduate from high school. Remember to sign up for both sections of a year-long course (A & B)
Elective: A course you select that interests you or can prepare for future learning and career aspirations.
Pre-requisite: A course you take before another; example: Drawing or Exploring Visual Art before 3D Design... Spanish IA before Spanish IB
Middle School Credit
Students who have taken high school courses in 8th grade and passed will receive high school credit.
The credit will appear on your college transcript.
If a student takes a semester's worth of health in middle school, it will satisfy the high school health requirement.
Important Numbers For Freshman To Know
5.0 credits = Sophomore
11.0 credits = Junior
16.0 credits = Senior
22.0 credits = Graduation
Graduation Requirements
English- 4 credits
Social Studies- 3 credits
Math- 3 credits
Science- 3 credits
Fine Arts- 1 credit
Physical Education- .5 credit
Health Requirement- taken either in middle school or .5 credit in high school
Economics/Personal Finance- .5 credit
World Language or CTE combination- 1 credit
Electives- 6 credits
Total Minimum- 22 credits
WHS Freshman Academy
Directed by Wade Kippley
Students will be part of a team
Study/Lunches are with team teachers
Two Primary Goals:
1. Students pass all of their classes
2. Each student will become involved in high school student life (activities, sports, fine arts, clubs, events, etc)
Summer Opportunities
Connections Class
•10 days in the summer at WHS (Pick one)
•Study Skills and all kinds of activities
•Walk into high school on that first day ready for the jump to high school!
•Talk to your Middle School Counselor for information
•Cost: $25; earn .5 credit
Summer School
•Located at CTE Academy (I-29 & West Madison Street)
•Attendance is mandatory
•Responsible for own transportation
•More information in the counseling office and on the SFSD website.
•Cost: $180 per ½ credit; $120 for reduced; $90 for free lunch
