Dear Wood River Families,
It is winter break, and there is no school next week. This is the first time we have planned a week-long break this time of year. I know many families and staff are taking the opportunity to get away. Next year’s calendar has another winter break as well. If you care to share, please provide your feedback about the week-long break to tzessin@wrrsd.org.
We are getting closer to completing the portrait of a graduate. In the January 4th newsletter, I described it in detail. We have been focusing on the benchmarks to ensure they can be met and help students be as successful as possible. The vision for our students is to Work Hard, Open Doors, Build Community, and Lead the Way. Here are the benchmarks as they are now:
Wood River graduates demonstrate readiness through Academics, Culture, and Leadership.
Academic
Graduate with 260 credits and demonstrate readiness through at least one of the following:
Graduate with 260 credits and demonstrate readiness through at least one of the following:
- College credit
- ACT or ASVAB benchmark
- Industry certification
- Seal of Biliteracy
- Structured job experience
Culture
Students demonstrate strong work habits by:
Students demonstrate strong work habits by:
- Maintaining consistent attendance (about 95% during high school)
- Participating in school activities
- Completing about 10 hours of community service per year
Students demonstrating exceptional reliability may earn the Work Ethic Distinction.
Leadership
Students develop leadership skills by:
Students develop leadership skills by:
- Maintaining a leadership portfolio
- Earning Leader in Me / 7 Habits Credentials
- Completing a Senior Leadership Capstone presentation
Students demonstrating exceptional leadership may earn Leadership Distinction recognition.
The plan would highly encourage our current high school students to meet the benchmarks while aiming to have our 2026-2027 freshmen meet them by their 2030 graduation. If you have any questions or feedback about these, please do not hesitate to reach out to me, tzessin@wrrsd.org.
Eagles Soaring High:
Madden Brabec for being awarded the Nebraska Production Animal Health scholarship, recognizing outstanding academic potential and commitment to rural veterinary medicine. This scholarship will support Madden’s first year at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln by covering 50% of tuition and offering valuable mentorship and professional development opportunities. We are proud to celebrate Madden’s achievements and look forward to seeing the positive impact on Nebraska’s rural communities.
Rod and Maria do an excellent job of keeping the elementary school clean each day.
Shelby Morse, Jordy Miller, Jace Miller, Gabe Musquiz, Kylon Musquiz, and Aaron Avila for assisting Mrs. Burnett with the wheelchair lift on the bus. Their willingness to step up and help when needed is truly appreciated.
Ryan, Jim, Lee, Rosa, and Cliff for their dedicated work in maintaining our school grounds and ensuring everything stays clean and in good repair. Their efforts keep our facilities safe and welcoming for everyone. We truly appreciate their commitment to our school community.
Have a wonderful winter break!
Terry
Terry Zessin
Superintendent
Terry Zessin
Superintendent
