Waterville Senior High School

Tel (207) 873-2751
Brian M. Laramee, Principal
Christie Jernigan, Assistant Principal
Heidi A. Bernier, Director of Athletics

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ATTENDANCE MATTERS

Waterville Elks Lodge Makes $500 Donation to WSHS Food Pantry!

School News and Updates

FALL SPORTS PLAYOFFS: Fall Playoff Schedule

FOOD SERVICE: Meal Benefit Application Information

COVID-19 UPDATES: WPS Health and Safety Page

DRAMA AUDITIONS: The Sound Of Music

WSHS Community Values:

  • Respect: We strive to demonstrate self-worth, exhibit courteous behavior, and value the beliefs and opinions of others.

  • Responsibility: We strive to fulfill our commitments, be mindful of our actions, and be accountable for our behavior.

  • Grit: We strive to make continuous progress toward our goals despite adversity, hardships or obstacles.

  • Openness: We strive to embrace diversity by honoring the ideas, experiences, and differences of others.

  • Curiosity: We strive to grow by exploring new ideas and experiences both inside and outside the classroom.

  • Kindness: We strive to actively demonstrate concern and caring for others and the environment.

  • Engagement: We strive for depth of commitment in both school activities and in the greater community.

  • Integrity: We strive to act in an honest and ethical manner and demonstrate consistency of character regardless of self-interest or outcome.

WSHS Learning Expectations:

Academic Expectations:

Each Waterville Senior High School student shall be:

  • A clear and effective communicator who

    • Adjusts communication for a variety of purposes

    • Employs varied modes of expression appropriate for authentic tasks

  • A self-directed and lifelong learner who

    • Demonstrates initiative and gains understanding through self-assessment and reflection

    • Works independently and collaboratively to meet challenges and accomplish goals

  • A creative and practical problem solver who

    • Frames questions, makes predictions, and designs data/information collection and analysis strategies

    • Uses information and appropriate technology to address real world problems

  • A responsible and involved citizen who

    • Demonstrates personal responsibility, cultural awareness and ethical behavior

    • Practices personal wellness and demonstrates awareness of health concerns and issues

  • An integrative and informed thinker who

    • Analyzes, synthesizes, and evaluates information from multiple sources

    • Applies ideas across disciplines

Civic Expectation:

  • Each Waterville Senior High School student shall be positively engaged in the community.

Social Expectation:

  • Each Waterville Senior High School student shall demonstrate respectful and responsible behavior.

Panther Pride


2022 National Merit Scholarship

KEYA S. AMUNDSEN

Senior Keya S. Amundsen has been named a Commended Student in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, will be presented to this scholastically talented senior. Throughout the nation about 34,000 Commended Students were recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2022 competition for the National Merit Scholarship awards, commended students placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2022 competition by taking the 2020 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).


“Those being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” commented a spokesperson for NMSC. “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”


Keya is the daughter of Minakshi and Ole Amundsen.

WILLIAM D. JACKSON

Waterville Senior High School senior William D. Jackson has been named a Semifinalist in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. Throughout the nation about 16,000 academically talented Semifinalist have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million that will be offered next spring. Semifinalist placed among the top one percent of high schools seniors who entered the 2022 competition by taking the 2020 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). The nationwide pool of Semifinalist includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of Semifinalist in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.


“The young men and women being named Semifinalists have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” commented a spokesperson for NMSC. “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.” National Merit Scholarship winners of 2022 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July.


William is the son of Susan and David Jackson.

Meet Our New Staff

Faculty Spotlight

Peter Perkins is new to Waterville Senior High School, where he will be an Educational Technician III in the lighthouse room. He previously worked as a Behavioral health professional with CFK in MSAD 49. Peter is excited to be part of the WSHS team and looking forward to working with the students and his fellow staff in the lighthouse program.

Faculty Spotlight

Sheila Lefresne is returning to Maine after teaching as a High School Special Education Inclusion (English) teacher in Indiana for the past 3 years and Special Education Resource teacher in Tampa, Florida for 4 years prior. Sheila taught at Mt Abram High School when she lived in Maine previously. Sheila has previously worked as an American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter and in Residential Programs for people with disabilities. Sheila’s Husband Pete works at UMF as the Director of Athletic Communications. They have two children, Fiona and Brandon and a puppy, Lucy.

Faculty Spotlight

Kelley Dow is excited to join the Waterville Senior High School faculty as a physical science and biology teacher. Kelley is from Maine and earned her Bachelor's degree in food science and human nutrition from the University of Maine in 2005, her Registered Dietitian (RDN) degree from Keene State College in 2006 and Masters of Science in Education from Thomas College in 2021. Prior to employment in the public school system Kelley had the pleasure of working for Colby College, The University of Florida Shands teaching hospital and several other medical centers highlighting nutrition therapy for burn and trauma patients. Her personal interests include fishing, hunting, weight lifting, running marathons and spending time with her busy three boys.

Faculty Spotlight

Eric Palin is starting his second year as PE teacher at Waterville Senior High School. Eric is from New Jersey, and received his Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2015. After Graduating, he moved to Denver Colorado where he managed a fitness center, and was on a mountain either snowboarding, hiking, running or biking in most of his free time. He soon realized he wanted to work with children, so he moved back to New Jersey and earned his Bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education from Kean University in 2020. After graduation, he accepted his first full time position here in Waterville. He lives in Sidney, and spends his free time playing softball, baseball, snowboarding, and kayaking.

Faculty Spotlight

Jessica Graham is excited to join the Social Studies Department at Waterville Senior High School. After earning an undergraduate degree in history and a graduate degree in American and New England studies from USM and spending the first part of her career in museum education, she transitioned to classroom teaching a few years ago. She has lived in Waterville for twelve years, and is excited to work and grow in her own community. When not at school she spends time with her two children, three cats, and a very rambunctious dog. She is currently working on her PhD in History at the University of Maine.

Faculty Spotlight

Suzanne Zanoni is the new clinician for the Lighthouse Day Treatment Program at Waterville Highschool. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts and has recently moved to Maine. She obtained her Master of Education and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Massachusetts and is also a Licensed Social Worker Associate (LSWA) Most recently, she obtained her Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). She worked for the Department of Children and Families/ Department of Mental Health for the past fifteen years and does outpatient therapy with adolescents part-time. She is passionate about working with adolescents and loves to help them reach their goals . Outside of being a clinician she loves dogs, working out, cooking and spending time with family and friends.

Faculty Spotlight

Josline Watkins is one of our new English teachers this year at Waterville Senior High School. Ms. Watkins has taught at Upper Kennebec Valley High School in Bingham, Maine for the past three years as the junior and senior English teacher. This year she is excited to teach varying levels of sophomore English as well as creative writing! She graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington in 2018 after studying under their secondary education program and completing student teaching at Spruce Mountain High School. Ms. Watkins was born in southern New Hampshire but fell in love with Maine’s natural wonders. In her spare time she is either reading something for fun, exploring nature, playing a musical instrument, or hanging out with her cats Merlin and Thoreau. She loves getting involved in the community and can’t wait to be cheering at all of the Waterville Panther events.

Faculty Spotlight

Jill Jordan is the new English Teacher at Waterville Senior High School. She comes to us with a Masters in English, a Masters in Teaching Secondary English from the University of Alaska and a Masters in Organization Management from the University of LaVerne in California. She graduated from Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania before joining the US Air Force. After separating from service, Jill and her family moved to Anchorage Alaska where she taught first year Composition and Literature, and Business Writing for the University of Alaska Anchorage, English and English Language Learners at East Anchorage High School, the most diverse high school in the United States). After her boys graduated from high school Jill and her husband began a new adventure in Nampa, Idaho where she was part of the team that opened the new Treasure Valley Leadership Academy a 9-12 school with a focus on Community Service and Social Justice. Jill is very excited to be joining the Waterville community and teaching 9th and 11th grade. When not in the classroom, Jill spends time reading, or hiking, looking for great places to eat and gardening with her husband Tom.

Faculty Spotlight

Dylan Dillaway is starting as a math teacher this year at Waterville Senior High School. Dylan has lived in Maine for the past 8 years, earned his Bachelor’s degree from Penn State, a Masters degree from the University of Kentucky and a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to coming to WSHS, Dylan had been teaching at the college level as an assistant and associate professor at Louisiana Tech University and most recently Unity College. Dylan is excited to join the faculty at Waterville this year. He lives in Vassalboro with his partner and 4 children. In his spare time you can find him spending time with his family or most often in the garden.

Faculty Spotlight

Sarah Pickell is our new main office receptionist. She was born and raised in central Maine. After college she spent 6 years in New Hampshire and Vermont, but decided to move closer to family after the birth of her son. She has enjoyed working in various roles in the field of education for the past 14 years. When not at work, Sarah enjoys spending time with family, hiking, baking and reading. She also is a bit of a fitness nut and makes sure to spend time everyday being active and enjoys the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle.

Faculty Spotlight

Meghan Buzzell is new to Waterville Senior High School as an Educational Technician III. Meghan has spent most of her life in Maryland and the past 5 years in Pennsylvania. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology in 2009 and her Master's Degree in School Counseling in 2012. She has spent most of her career working with students on the Autism spectrum. Meghan is excited to be a part of the WSHS team and looks forward to assisting in any way possible. She lives in Clinton with her young son, Conor, and enjoys doing anything outdoors.

Faculty Spotlight

Amy Cole is the new school counselor at Waterville Senior High School, coming from Gardiner Regional Middle School where she was a school counselor there for 7 years. She is a graduate of Hopewell Valley Central High School in Pennington, New Jersey. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the University of Maine in Orono. During her Master’s program she spent a semester abroad interning at an International 6-12 School in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam where she worked with students on college and career aspirations. Amy is also a whitewater raft guide and in her spare time enjoys rafting and most other outdoor activities as well as spending time with her family and traveling.

Waterville Senior High School was named one of the top high schools in the State of Maine by US News & World Report.