Shoutout to our amazing choir and band programs at Drexler Middle School! The recent concerts were outstanding. With so much talent and participation, we might need to build a bigger stage! 😉

Bravo to our student musicians and dedicated staff for an incredible performance season! 👏
4 months ago, WDCSD
band concert - rich hatcher
Throughout November, Mrs. Hoff’s 2nd grade class has been building a Thankful Wall! Students are sharing photos and notes of what they’re grateful for, creating a growing display of kindness and gratitude. 😊
4 months ago, WDCSD
A classroom “Thankful” wall display featuring a banner spelling THANKFUL across the top. The whiteboard is covered with student photos and handwritten words of gratitude, including “family,” “food,” “pets,” “my teacher,” and “friends.” The Western Dubuque Schools logo appears in the upper right corner.
Fifth grade students at Farley Elementary have been busy creating tree art in art class!

Using their knowledge of trees and perspective, they’re learning how to create the illusion of depth in space. They’re also practicing how to blend oil pastels to bring their tree leaves to life. Beautiful work in progress! 🍂🌳
4 months ago, WDCSD
Students sitting at a long table in an art room, coloring fall-themed radial art designs with crayons and cotton swabs.
Students seated around a table in an art room working on black-and-white radial art designs, adding color with crayons and tools from small plastic bins.
A group of students seated at a rectangular table creating fall-themed radial artwork, with an adult assisting a pair of students on the right.
Six square pieces of student radial artwork with fall colors displayed on a white tiled wall, each labeled with a student’s name.
Seven pieces of student-created radial artwork in red, orange, yellow, and black tones displayed on a white tiled wall, each labeled with a student’s name.
It's Substitute Educators Day! 🌟

Our substitute teachers are problem solvers, quick learners, and classroom leaders all rolled into one. Whether it's kindergarten or high school calculus, you show up prepared to make the day a success.

Thank you for all you do! 🤗
4 months ago, WDCSD
Graphic with a purple textured background and the Western Dubuque Schools logo in the top left corner. In the center, a red heart filled with school-related icons—pencil, ruler, books, apple, letters, scissors, crayons—sits above the text “We ♥ our Substitutes!” Red accent lines radiate around the heart. At the bottom, the text reads “Substitute Educators Day | November 21, 2025.”
At Farley Elementary, we’re proud to serve approximately 285 students from preschool through 5th grade in a caring, student-centered environment. 📚

FES is rated as “High Performing” in the Iowa School Performance Profiles.

Our school offers a full range of programs to meet the needs of all learners, with a staff committed to providing a rigorous curriculum while creating a safe and nurturing space for every student to thrive. 🚀
4 months ago, WDCSD
Western Dubuque_Social_School Highlight FES
Mrs. Hummel’s preschool class brought storytime to life with a hands-on pancake-making activity inspired by “If You Give a Pig a Pancake!”

Our young learners loved connecting literacy with real-life experiences, and the pancakes were a delicious bonus! 📚✨
4 months ago, WDCSD
2 - Abbey Hummel
download (1) - Abbey Hummel
download (2) - Abbey Hummel
download (3) - Abbey Hummel
download (4) - Abbey Hummel

Third graders have been diving into the world of orchestral music, learning all about the string, woodwind, brass, and percussion families. Their unit came to life with a visit to the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra at Five Flags Theater, where the live performance had everyone fully engaged! 🎶

Throughout this experience, students connected with key music standards, and many walked away inspired to explore orchestral instruments further, with some eager to learn how to play one!

4 months ago, WDCSD
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20251118_124929 - Lisa Ludwig
20251118_125205 - Lisa Ludwig
20251118_125230 - Lisa Ludwig
orchestra 1 - Melissa Feldmann
orchestra 4 - Melissa Feldmann
orchestra 7 - Melissa Feldmann

Today is National Parent Involvement Day! When parents are engaged, students are more successful. Here are some ways to support your child's education:

✅ Keep communication open with teachers

✅ Establish regular routines at home

✅ Show interest in what students are learning

✅ Make reading a daily habit

✅ Participate in conferences and school activities

Your involvement makes a meaningful difference! 😃

4 months ago, WDCSD
Graphic with the text “National Parent Involvement Day — November 20, 2025” at the top. Behind the text are three large sketch-style figures with raised arms. The background shifts from deep blue at the top to light purple in the center. The Western Dubuque Schools logo appears in the bottom left corner.
Fifth grade students at Epworth Elementary are learning about Battle of the Books—an exciting opportunity to build teamwork and a love of reading! 📚

This fun competition is a great way to promote literacy and engage young readers.
4 months ago, WDCSD
Students sit at tables in a school library eating lunch and listening to an adult who is standing and holding a paper. Bookshelves line the back wall, along with colorful murals and a “WELCOME” banner. On the right side of the graphic, bold text reads “Battle of the Books!” above a stack of brightly colored books. The Western Dubuque Schools logo appears in the bottom left corner.
Drexler Middle School staff spent time today building stronger connections and deepening teamwork through an engaging, hands-on activity.

Teams practiced the same collaboration that drives their work with students every day—because when we grow together, we get better together. Teamwork truly makes the dream work! ⭐
4 months ago, WDCSD
Western Dubuque_Social_Teamwork 11
It was a great morning at Cascade Junior/Senior High School as local employers, educators, and community partners came together to support our career and technical education programs!

The group explored industry needs, toured our labs and greenhouse, and discussed new ways to create even more hands-on learning opportunities for students.

We love working side by side with our local partners to prepare students for the future! 🤝
4 months ago, WDCSD
Western Dubuque_Social_Cascade HS Employer Visit (1)
Our Epworth Elementary preschoolers have been learning all about transportation. They explored cars, tractors, trucks, and more through hands-on play and discovery!

We love watching our youngest learners investigate the world around them. 🚦✨
4 months ago, WDCSD
IMG_4993 - Greg Deutmeyer
FullSizeR - Greg Deutmeyer
IMG_4957 - Greg Deutmeyer
IMG_4970 - Greg Deutmeyer
Happy Education Support Professionals Day to the ESPs who strengthen our schools every day! 💪

Your work supporting teachers, assisting students, overseeing activities, and helping with operations is essential to creating effective learning environments. Thank you for all you do!
4 months ago, WDCSD
Graphic with a red-to-purple gradient background and silhouettes of a school staff member on the left and a custodian holding a broom on the right. The Western Dubuque Schools logo appears in the upper left. Large text reads, “Thank you, Education Support Professionals!” with smaller text underneath that says, “You are what keeps our schools running!” A header at the top reads, “Education Support Professionals Day | November 19, 2025.”
Peosta Elementary 5th graders are practicing measurement during Number Corner! Each day, students add one meter and convert it into centimeters, decimeters, decameters, and kilometers.

It’s hands-on learning that builds strong math and measurement skills—one meter at a time! 📏
4 months ago, WDCSD
A student wearing a pink fuzzy jacket sits at a round table and writes on a November record sheet clipped to a blue clipboard.
Students sit in a hallway near a row of black lockers, writing on worksheets clipped to clipboards.
Three students kneel on the hallway floor next to black lockers, measuring along a yardstick placed on the ground.
Students at Cascade Elementary strengthened relationships and teamwork through a friendly game of tetherball! ☀️
4 months ago, WDCSD
A group of elementary students play tetherball on a sunny day. Four children stand around the tetherball pole, watching the ball as one student prepares to hit it. A chain-link fence, green grass, and homes are visible in the background. On the right side of the graphic, illustrated text reads “Tetherball Fun!” next to a drawing of a tetherball pole and the Western Dubuque Schools logo.
Kindergarten students at Cascade Elementary are working hard on their letter sound fluency, building strong foundations for reading success! 💪📚
4 months ago, WDCSD
A young boy sits at a table working on a phonics worksheet. He points to letters on the page while smiling and concentrating. He wears a brown “John Deere” shirt and camouflage sleeves.
A young boy wearing a blue “Peterbilt” hat and headphones works on a phonics worksheet. He points to a row of letters on the page while leaning over the table.
We're celebrating American Education Week by recognizing everyone who contributes to our vibrant learning environment! ✨

From innovative teachers to supportive staff, engaged students to involved families—each of you plays a crucial role in helping our learners discover their strengths and achieve their goals. We're grateful for you!
4 months ago, WDCSD
Graphic for American Education Week, November 17–21, 2025. The right side features bold text reading “American Education Week” with the Western Dubuque Schools logo underneath. The background is purple with subtle school-themed illustrations and red and blue diagonal stripes across the top and bottom. On the left, three photos show students in classrooms: a group of four smiling at a table, two students working together on a project, and a row of young children holding colorful artwork.
In preschool and kindergarten at Cascade Elementary, students are learning all about shapes by sorting and exploring objects during center activities! 🟣🟧
4 months ago, WDCSD
20251104_123903 - Kelli Ludwig
IMG_8584 - Tori Freiburger
Students at Cascade Elementary were challenged to design a model that could travel the farthest using a bag of materials!

What a fun way to explore motion, forces, and creativity in their science unit! ⚙️
4 months ago, WDCSD
Western Dubuque_Social_Motion Science
At Farley Elementary School, we believe every child can be a successful reader. 📚

Fifth graders and their 2nd grade reading buddies meet twice a month to read and share their love of books, fostering literacy and leadership!
4 months ago, WDCSD
reading buds - Tera Sheehy
reading buds (2) - Tera Sheehy
reading bus - Tera Sheehy