Career and Technical Education Month is a great time to highlight the hands-on learning happening in our classrooms. In Family and Consumer Sciences classes at WD, students explored all things eggs! 🥚

5th grade mathematicians are using geoboards to model and solve fraction multiplication, building a deeper understanding through hands-on learning. 📐

Career & Technical Education Month is a great opportunity to highlight how Western Dubuque High School students are building real-world skills through our carpentry program! 🛠️

In Intro to Industrial Technology, students rotate through three shop areas, including carpentry, where they design and build their own cutting boards while learning foundational skills. Carpentry 1 students take on projects such as end tables and participate in a creative birdhouse competition each trimester.

As students advance, Carpentry 2 focuses on cabinetmaking and introduces professional techniques using our state-of-the-art spray booth. Carpentry 3 operates as an independent study, giving students the opportunity to design and build custom furniture or one-of-a-kind pieces from start to finish.

We are proud of the creativity, craftsmanship, and problem solving our students bring to life every day! 🌟

Students and staff marked the 100th day of school by celebrating 100 days of learning, growth, and perseverance. 🎉

Our Farley Elementary 4th and 5th graders partnered with the Western Dubuque Lions Chapter for a pop tab drive benefiting Ronald McDonald Charities. Through teamwork and generosity, students helped support a great cause and showed the power of giving back! ❤️

Preschool students in Miss Lindsey’s classroom are learning all about pets by naming animals that can be pets, sharing photos of their own, talking about how to care for them, and welcoming special pet visitors into the classroom. 🐾

Our 5th graders celebrated writing by sharing fictional narrative stories inspired by characters from our novel study, The Phantom Tollbooth. ✏️

It’s Dental Health Month! Here are some simple tips to keep in mind:

✅ Brush your teeth twice a day
✅ Floss every single day
✅ Avoid excess sugary foods and drinks
✅ Schedule regular dental checkups

Small changes today can lead to big results down the road. Remember: it’s never too early to develop a good habit! 🦷

Career and Technical Education Month highlights the hands-on learning happening in our Intro to Engineering and Design course. Students use Autodesk Inventor and the design process to solve real-world problems while building skills in teamwork, communication, quality control, and technical documentation. 🛠️

This year, the course serves 43 students across grade levels as they explore future opportunities in design engineering and related careers!

Fifth graders at Peosta Elementary are diving into science by learning all about yeast! Students are creating and caring for their own sourdough starters, observing yeast in action through hands-on experiments—and even taste testing homemade sourdough bread as part of the learning process. 🍞

Students in Mrs. Messer's kindergarten class enjoyed a variety of hands-on activities as they celebrated 100 days of learning together. It was a fun-filled milestone that highlighted growth, creativity, and teamwork! 💯

What happens when you ask preschoolers to wait before eating a marshmallow? At Epworth Elementary, these young learners are building self-control and patience through playful activities like Red Light, Green Light, freeze dances, bubbles, and, of course, marshmallows. 🍬

In their latest challenge, students had to choose whether to eat one marshmallow right away or wait five minutes to earn a second one. They smelled it, touched it, stared at it, and showed impressive focus along the way. An incredible 95% chose to wait, demonstrating strong self-control and patience. This fun and tasty experiment helped students practice skills that support learning and growth for years to come.

WDCCSD was well represented on the state mat this week. Congratulations to Elli Casey and Ava Pfab on earning 5th place at the Iowa Class 2A State Wrestling Tournament, and to Carly Manternach for finishing 8th place in Class 1A. Each competed with toughness, composure, and pride while representing their schools and communities at the highest level. We’re proud of the work, resilience, and example these student-athletes continue to set. Better Every Day. #wdbqschools

We went on a number hunt at Peosta Elementary! Students made learning fun by searching for numbers throughout the hallways while practicing important math skills. 🔢

We are lucky to have Ms. Decker from Dubuque County ISU Extension and Outreach visit our Farley Elementary third graders each month! In January, she taught students an engaging lesson about how the heart works. 🫀

Dubuque County Conservation visited our 3rd graders at Farley Elementary this month, bringing Iowa wildlife learning to life! 🐢

Students explored animals like salamanders, turtles, and snakes. They also discovered the five elements every habitat needs: food, water, shelter, space, and arrangement.

During National School Counseling Week, we're also shining a light on the mental health counselors who provide critical support to our students:

🌟 Laura Foust, Western Dubuque High School & Cascade High School
🌟 Sarah Smith, District-Wide

Your care and support make a profound difference in our students' lives each and every day. Thank you! 🙏

February is Financial Aid Awareness Month, and we want students to know that help is available to fund your college education! 🎓✨

From grants to work-study opportunities, there are many options. In fact, most families qualify for some level of financial aid. The most important thing you can do is fill out the FAFSA, so you know what level of support is available to you.

Get started with your application at https://www.fafsa.gov.

During Career and Technical Education Month, we’re proud to recognize the impact of agricultural education at Cascade High School—where 33% of the student body takes an agriculture class. Through Cascade FFA, students are learning leadership, responsibility, and service while giving back to the community. 🌾

This year, FFA members have supported local nursing homes, schools, veterans, and families through community meals, food pantry donations, Ag Safety Day activities, holiday support, and service projects across Cascade.

Their dedication reflects the FFA motto and the value of career and technical education in agriculture!