Western Dubuque Community School District

On National Instructional Coach Appreciation Day, we want to thank the leaders who guide, support, and inspire their colleagues to continually improve on behalf of our students.

We're grateful for all our instructional coaches:

⭐ Josey Noonan, Peosta Elementary
⭐ Mary Kate Rios, Epworth Elementary
⭐ Libby Gansen, Farley Elementary
⭐ Trisha Greenwood, Dysersville Elementary
⭐ Amber Gravel, Cascade Elementary
⭐ Matt Breitbach, Western Dubuque High School
⭐ Ken Kurt, Western Dubuque High School
⭐ Sarah Goldsmith, Drexler Middle School
⭐ Lindsay Schlichtmann, Cascade Junior/Senior High

By helping educators grow, adapt, and succeed, you are shaping a brighter future for our students every day. Thank you for all you do!

October 5-11 is Fire Prevention Week! 🧯

Make sure you’re prepared in the event of a fire. Start with these simple yet essential tips:

✅ Replace smoke alarm batteries twice a year
✅ Keep a flashlight and fresh batteries in each bedroom
✅ Practice feeling doors with the back of your hand before opening
✅ Designate a neighbor as an emergency contact
✅ Review your escape routes from different areas of your home

Get more fire safety tips here: www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/fire/home-fire-preparedness.html

Behind every breakthrough, every “aha” moment, and every achievement is a teacher who believed in their student's potential.

World Teachers Day reminds us to thank our educators, who never give up on students. Your persistence and passion make a difference! 🙌

What a week to remember! WDHS Homecoming was filled with energy, pride, and unforgettable moments. #wdbqschools

🎉 Homecoming Spirit is Alive at WDHS! 🎉 From the energy of the drumline, to the cheerleaders, to the parade floats packed with students showing their Bobcat pride—Western Dubuque knows how to celebrate Homecoming! Our students, staff, and community came together to showcase what makes being a Bobcat so special: school pride, friendships, and memories in the making. 💥 Go Bobcats! 💥

Congratulations to Western Dubuque High School’s 2025 Homecoming King and Queen! We are proud to recognize Quentin Nauman and Racquel Fern for this well-deserved honor. Their leadership, character, and school spirit truly represent what it means to be a Bobcat. What a special way to celebrate Homecoming week at WDHS—Better Every Day!

Earlier this week, Epworth Elementary students laced up for our annual walk-a-thon, the PTO’s largest fundraiser of the year! 👟

We’re proud to share that the event raised an incredible $19,500! These funds will support a variety of activities and opportunities for our students throughout the school year.

A HUGE thank you to our families, community, and PTO for making this fundraiser a massive success!

Our Cascade Elementary students had a blast joining in the fun at Cascade Jr/Sr High School for homecoming activities recently! 💛

From cheers to smiles, it was a celebration full of Cougar pride.

School spirit was on full display as our high schoolers led a pep rally for Dyersville Elementary!

Students had a blast cheering with Bruiser the bobcat, joining in on chants, and singing the Bobcat Fight Song together. 🎉

Congratulations to Cascade High School Sophomore Rylan Smith for being named KCRG’s Student of the Month! 🎶👏

Rylan is a talented musician whose hard work, passion, and uplifting attitude continue to inspire those around her. We are so proud of her achievements and cannot wait to see what she accomplishes next!

Watch the feature here: https://www.kcrg.com/2025/09/30/kcrg-tv9-student-month-honored-musical-talent-uplifting-attitude/

Western Dubuque County Community School District had a strong performance on the 2024-25 Iowa School Performance Profiles. Highlights include:

⭐ Epworth Elementary, Farley Elementary, Peosta Elementary, and Western Dubuque High School rated “High Performing”
⭐ Cascade Elementary, Cascade Jr/Sr High School, and Drexler Middle School rated “Commendable”
⭐ Dyersville Elementary rated “Acceptable”

We’re proud of the progress across our district and remain committed to continuous improvement. Thank you to our students, staff, families, and community for your support! 👏

View the district’s full report: https://www.iaschoolperformance.gov/ECP/StateDistrictSchool/DistrictSummary?k=9517&y=2025

We’re proud to share that Western Dubuque County CSD has been ranked #4 among large school districts on the Iowa School Performance Profile!

This recognition reflects the hard work of our students, staff, families, and community.

Epworth Elementary students welcomed some very special guests recently! 💛

Students loved showing their visitors around the school and sharing a glimpse of their daily routines, classrooms, and learning. It was a joyful day filled with smiles! 📸

Western Dubuque High School biology students have been busy exploring macromolecules in action! This week, they tested carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids through hands-on lab experiments. 🔬

Students first practiced identifying positive and negative results, then applied their skills by analyzing a McDonald’s Happy Meal. The next day, they put their detective hats on to solve a “murder mystery” by examining stomach contents to uncover the victim’s last meal and identify the culprit. 🕵️‍♂️

It was an engaging way to bring science concepts to life while strengthening students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills!

WDHS Homecoming is this week, and we are excited to introduce the 2025 homecoming court. 👑

Your queen candidates are:
⭐️ Natalie Fangmann
⭐️ Racquel Fern
⭐️ Etta Lukes
⭐️ Avery Mertz
⭐️ Madison Randall
⭐️ Carly Vogel

Your king candidates are:
⭐️ Andy Althaus
⭐️ Luke Boyle
⭐️ Brett Harris
⭐️ Rory Higgins
⭐️ Quentin Nauman
⭐️ Ben Wernimont

Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees, and best of luck! 🎉

Miss Lindsey’s Epworth Elementary preschool students are learning all about apples and had fun making homemade applesauce together. 🍎

What a sweet way to bring their unit to life! 👩‍🍳

Our Cascade Elementary kindergarten students are hard at work in small groups—collaborating, learning, and having fun together! It’s amazing to see their teamwork and growing independence in action. 💛

Two of our students had fun learning about measurement during a scavenger hunt activity at Cascade Elementary! They worked together to find objects of specific lengths, turning math into an exciting, real-world challenge. 🙌

Students at Cascade Elementary are using pattern blocks during math workplaces to explore shapes, build designs, and strengthen spatial reasoning! Hands-on learning encourages creativity and problem solving for students. 💡