At Epworth Elementary School, students teamed up with their buddy classrooms to create “thankfulness feathers.”

A wonderful reminder to show gratitude and kindness this season! ❤️🍂
6 months ago, WDCSD
A large paper turkey displayed on a school hallway wall, with colorful hand-drawn feathers created by students.
A teacher helps a small group of students attach colorful feathers to a paper turkey on the hallway wall. Two other students watch and wait their turn.
Two students work together in a hallway to add brightly colored paper feathers to a turkey mural on the wall.
In a classroom, two students sit at a desk coloring paper feathers for a Thanksgiving project.
Our Cascade Elementary 5th grade students programmed their robot, Artie, to draw and complete coding challenges! 🤖

They’re learning how creativity and technology come together through hands-on STEM exploration.
6 months ago, WDCSD
IMG_0901
IMG_0896
IMG_0897
On Veterans Day, we recognize and thank some of the incredible staff members in our district who have served our country:

⭐ Kristina Beard
⭐ Bob Bonert
⭐ Andrew Carbajal
⭐ Dan Friedman
⭐ Garry Gansen
⭐ Loras Mauer
⭐ Andrew Roberts
⭐ Gerald Schneiter
⭐ Zach Schlichtmann
⭐ Matt Smith
⭐ Kevin Spooner
⭐ Rick Wagner

We are deeply grateful for their courage, sacrifice, and continued service to our students and community. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all veterans in our schools and beyond. 🇺🇲
6 months ago, WDCSD
Thank you Veterans
Farley 2nd graders are expanding their vocabulary and reading comprehension! 📚

Teachers are using new strategies from LETRS training, including graphic organizers from their “Sports Theme” reading unit.
6 months ago, WDCSD
IMG_7951 - Jennifer Burr
IMG_7852 - Jennifer Burr
IMG_7853 - Jennifer Burr
IMG_7947 - Jennifer Burr
IMG_7949 - Jennifer Burr
Our 2nd graders at Cascade Elementary had a blast celebrating Halloween with friends, fun, and festive activities! 👻🧡
6 months ago, WDCSD
A group of six elementary students stand smiling in a classroom wearing colorful costumes, including a dragon, minion, Ghostbuster, inflatable alien, unicorn, and superhero.
Six students pose in a classroom dressed in various Halloween costumes, including Darth Vader, a clown, a police officer, and Wednesday Addams.
Seven elementary students stand together in costume, featuring characters such as Superman, Darth Vader, a police officer, and a baseball player.
Preschool and prekindergarten students at Farley Elementary are exploring squares during Bridges Math! 🟦

Through small- and large-group activities, they explore numbers, patterns, shapes, weight, and length—learning math by doing and having fun!

6 months ago, WDCSD
prek - Andrea Timmerman
sqaure 1 - Andrea Timmerman
square 2 - Andrea Timmerman
sqaure 3 - Andrea Timmerman
IMG_8544 - Andrea Timmerman
IMG_8449
IMG_8156
IMG_8162
IMG_8212
IMG_8397
Students at Peosta Elementary are turning learning into play with engaging games that make sight word practice exciting and memorable! ✨
6 months ago, WDCSD
Graphic featuring a young student seated at a classroom table, focused on a sight word activity with green word cards spread out in front of him. The student holds a small toy and has a snack nearby. On the right side, a red background with the Western Dubuque Schools “Better Every Day” logo includes the text: “Sight words are FUN!”
First graders at Cascade Elementary made pumpkin slime with Mrs. Decker from the Iowa State Extension Office! 🎃

This hands-on activity connected perfectly with their science unit on plant and pumpkin life cycles.
6 months ago, WDCSD
A group of elementary students sit around long tables covered with plastic as they scoop seeds and pulp from pumpkins.
Several students gather around a table cleaning out a large pumpkin. One student uses a spoon to scrape the inside while others smile and laugh, reacting to the messy pumpkin contents.
Excited students work together to clean out pumpkins during a classroom activity. One student proudly holds up a spoon, while others reach into the pumpkins and chat with friends.
It's National STEAM Day! 🚀

Subjects in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math encourage students to think critically, work collaboratively, and approach challenges with creativity.

We're proud to offer learning experiences that prepare our students for the in-demand careers of the future!
6 months ago, WDCSD
Graphic celebrating National STEAM Day featuring the words “Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math” spelled out in large red letters. The Western Dubuque Schools logo with the motto “Better Every Day” appears at the top. Icons representing each STEAM subject are shown in red circles along the bottom. A photo on the right shows a student wearing safety goggles conducting a science experiment in a classroom with a “Science Matters” poster on the wall. Text reads: “National STEAM Day! November 8, 2025.”
Our next stop on the School Board Building Visit Tour brought us to Farley Elementary!

The visit highlighted the incredible work happening around Farley’s building goals — with a strong focus on relationship building and student/staff connections, schoolwide literacy efforts, and opportunities for student leadership.

A heartfelt thank-you to Mrs. Amanda Klaas and the entire Farley team for showcasing how you’re bringing our district mission to life — developing individuals through lasting education and opportunities.
6 months ago, WDCSD
Graphic showing photos from the Western Dubuque Community School District’s School Board building visit to Farley Elementary. The collage features board members and staff seated in classrooms for discussion, along with a student participating in an activity. The Western Dubuque Schools logo with the slogan “Better Every Day” is centered near the top. Text reads: “School Board Building Visits: Farley Elementary.”
First graders at Farley Elementary are diving into math through collaboration and hands-on learning! 🔢🤝

During math workplaces, students are exploring doubles, making connections to “one more” and “one less,” and working with addition combinations. Together, they’re building strong number sense!
6 months ago, WDCSD
Two students sit on a carpeted area playing an educational card game that uses number and dot cards.
Two students smile while sitting on the classroom floor near tan cushions and a tall lamp. They are playing a math game using worksheets and colorful cards.
Two students sit together at a desk working on a math activity. One holds a yellow counting block and points to a spinner card, while the other watches attentively.
Two students sit at a classroom table smiling while playing a math board game using cubes and dice. A worksheet with numbered squares and illustrations lies in front of them
Kindergarten and 3rd grade buddies teamed up for a fun math activity using candy corn! These partnerships help students connect, learn together, and build our strong Bobcat Family. ❤️
6 months ago, WDCSD
Four elementary students sit together at a classroom table working on a candy corn-themed activity.
A group of students sits around a classroom table completing a candy corn math or writing activity.
Two smiling students sit at a table with a “Candy Corn Activity Book” and a small bag of candy corn.
Three students sit together at a table working on a fall-themed classroom activity using candy corn and worksheets. They smile toward the camera.
Two students work together on a fall-themed worksheet at their classroom table.
Two students lie on the classroom floor collaborating on a worksheet that includes candy corn illustrations.
Since opening its doors in 2011, Dyersville Elementary has been a vibrant learning community built on shared values, strong traditions, and a commitment to every child’s success. 🤗

We are proud to be ranked as an “Acceptable” school on the Iowa School Performance Profiles. Inside our school, students begin their learning journey with the support of a dedicated staff and an incredibly supportive community.

Together, we’ve created a place where pride, purpose, and progress thrive! 🌱
6 months ago, WDCSD
Dyersville Elementary graphic
Kudos and congratulations to newly elected school board member Chad Ostwinkle, who will represent District 1! 👏

We also extend our congratulations to Mike Rea, who will continue to serve as District 3.

Mr. Ostwinkle will be officially sworn in during the November 24 board meeting. We look forward to their leadership, dedication, and continued service to the students, staff, and families of Western Dubuque Schools.
6 months ago, WDCSD
Congrats graphic
Seniors: National Scholarship Month is your reminder that scholarship deadlines are approaching! 📝

Start researching scholarships, drafting essays, and securing recommendation letters now. Your school counselor can help you navigate the process and identify great opportunities!
6 months ago, WDCSD
Graphic for National Scholarship Month featuring the Western Dubuque Schools logo and the text “National Scholarship Month” in red and white on a purple background. A hand holds illustrated dollar bills with a graduation cap resting on top, symbolizing educational funding and scholarship support.
Third graders at Farley Elementary are measuring liters and milliliters as part of their monthly Number Corner collection.

These hands-on activities help students explore metric units, apply math skills, and—best of all—work together and have fun! 🤗
6 months ago, WDCSD
Two elementary students sit at a table in a classroom conducting a hands-on experiment. One student smiles while holding a measuring cup with green liquid, and the other prepares to pour it into a can.
Two students work together at a table measuring green liquid into a smaller cup using clear plastic measuring containers.
Two students collaborate on an experiment involving green liquid in a measuring cup.
Two students sit side by side measuring green liquid into a red plastic cup as part of a classroom learning activity.
What kind of toothpaste do elephants use? Our Western Dubuque High School physical science chemistry students found out by making some themselves! 🐘

Students have been learning about types of reactions, including endothermic and exothermic.
6 months ago, WDCSD
Students wearing safety goggles work together on a chemistry lab at a black science table. One student in a pink hoodie pours liquid into a beaker while another leans in to discuss the lab sheet.
Several students wearing goggles conduct experiments in a classroom labeled “Science.” They record observations on orange lab sheets while using beakers and flasks filled with colorful liquids.
A student wearing a gray hoodie and goggles stirs a solution in a flask while a classmate observes and takes notes.
Two students in sweatshirts and goggles react with surprise and excitement while watching a foamy chemical reaction form in a flask during a science experiment.
Students in goggles record observations on orange worksheets while watching a foamy reaction take place in a flask.
Students in safety goggles pour liquid from a beaker into a flask labeled “Group 8” during a classroom chemistry experiment.
Students wearing goggles stand around a lab table mixing colorful liquids in beakers and flasks.
A group of high school students wearing goggles work at science lab tables, measuring and mixing liquids while recording data on blue worksheets.
Students in goggles perform a hands-on experiment at lab tables, mixing clear and colored liquids in flasks and beakers.
Our Peosta Elementary 5th grade students are hard at work multiplying and dividing decimals by powers of 10! They’re building strong number sense and discovering how moving the decimal can make big changes. 💪🔢
6 months ago, WDCSD
IMG_2447 - J Lester
IMG_2446 - J Lester
Farley Elementary 3rd graders begin one morning each week with mindfulness and movement!

They practice focusing on one thing at a time, paying attention to how their bodies feel, and taking deep breaths to center themselves for the day ahead. 🌞
6 months ago, WDCSD
A student wearing a black “Farley Elementary” shirt lies on the classroom carpet with eyes closed and hands resting on their stomach, participating in a mindfulness or relaxation activity.
Two students lie on the classroom floor with eyes closed, relaxing quietly during a calm mindfulness activity.
A student stands in a classroom balancing on one foot in a yoga pose, arms raised and eyes closed.
A group of elementary students in a classroom stand in yoga poses, balancing on one leg with arms outstretched.
During last week’s professional development, Cascade Jr./Sr. High School teachers took 10 minutes to competitively collaborate in a puzzle competition. It was a great way to build teamwork, share some laughs, and get those problem-solving skills warmed up! 💪💡
6 months ago, WDCSD
10c - Ryan Fritz
10a - Ryan Fritz
10b - Ryan Fritz