Western Dubuque Community School District

A heartfelt thank you to our Peosta Elementary families and community for your incredible generosity during our Tackle Hunger Food Drive in conjunction with Service Day! 🥫

Because of your kindness, we were able to support both our Peosta Elementary food shelves and the Epworth Food Pantry at Epworth Methodist Church. This amazing organization provides weekly food bags to families in our community—and your donations will make a real difference for those in need!

Epworth Elementary students have been building their skills in adding and subtracting two-digit numbers. This week, they measured the lengths of different beans using unifix cubes, then worked together to add the measurements. 📏

It was a great opportunity to practice problem-solving and explore strategies for adding larger numbers!

Our 6th grade science students at Drexler Middle School put their creativity and critical thinking to the test as they designed and launched water bottle rockets! This hands-on lab was a fun way to explore physics in action and strengthen collaboration skills. 🚀🔬

Our Cascade Elementary 4th graders are sharpening their multi-digit multiplication skills by practicing quick sketches of arrays—right on their desks! ✅

Using dry-erase markers added a fun, hands-on twist that kept math engaging and creative.

Cascade Jr/Sr High School—home of the Cougars—proudly anchors the Cascade community in Western Dubuque County. 🐾

In the 2024-25 Iowa School Performance Profiles, Cascade Jr/Sr High continues to stand out—recognized as “Commendable” for overall academic performance.

With high proficiency in math and reading, strong student growth, and a favorable student-to-teacher ratio, Cascade delivers results while nurturing students for life beyond graduation.

We’re proud of our students, staff, and community for making the school a place of excellence. We look forward to continuing that tradition of success each year! 📈

Last year, our Epworth Elementary K-5 students explored Number Corner as part of our adoption of Bridges Math. This year, our preschool learners are joining the journey by building number sense, developing math confidence, and growing as young mathematicians. 📐✨

Our Dyersville Elementary 4th grade scientists explored how positive and negative charges work together to light a bulb!

Hands-on learning like this helps students build a deeper understanding of electricity and circuits. 💡🔋 #wdbqschools

Epworth Elementary 2nd and 4th graders took full advantage of the beautiful fall weather by heading outside for singing games!

Laughter, movement, and music made for a joyful afternoon of learning and fun. 🍂🎵

At this week’s school board meeting, Cascade Elementary shared how the Cougar Families initiative is building a stronger school culture. Principal Dan Wendler, along with Rachel Brindle and Amber Gravel, highlighted how this program brings students and staff together across grade levels to focus on leadership, connection, and shared expectations.

Older students mentor younger peers, while staff use dedicated Cougar Time to reteach expectations and celebrate positive behavior. The result is a more engaged student body, stronger staff connections, and a building full of Cougar Pride. 🐾 #wdbqschools

Our 5th grade students take on important leadership roles at Farley Elementary. They help lead assemblies, support our youngest learners, and play a big part in welcoming new students to our building!

We’re proud of the way they model kindness, responsibility, and school spirit. 🌟👏

Teamwork in action at Cascade Elementary! 🤝

Our 2nd and 3rd grade students enjoyed working and playing together at recess, building friendships and learning how to collaborate through play.

During Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month, we encourage families to have open conversations about emotions at home.

Discussing feelings, validating experiences, and modeling healthy emotional responses helps children develop the skills they need to thrive. Together, we can support our students' emotional growth! 🌟

Over the past few weeks, Dyersville Elementary students have had a wonderful time welcoming grandparents to their school and celebrating homecoming! ✨

We are recognizing Down Syndrome Awareness Month and the individuals who bring joy, creativity, and unique perspectives to our classrooms. We're proud to support all learners in our schools! 💙💛

Our 2nd graders couldn’t wait to explore the new library at Cascade Elementary! 📚

They loved choosing books and getting excited about reading in this inviting new space. #wdbqschools

Western Dubuque High School Spanish I students brought language learning to life with a fast-paced team challenge!

In small groups, runners memorized Spanish phrases outside the room, then helped teammates piece them together to form a complete story. A fun mix of movement, collaboration, and competition! 💬

Students at Peosta Elementary have been strumming their way through music class with ukuleles in hand! From learning chords to playing simple songs, they’re building skills and having fun along the way. 🎶🎸

Preschool and kindergarten students at Epworth Elementary had a special visit from our local firefighters last week! 🚒

They learned important fire safety tips and got an up-close look at the gear and equipment used to keep our community safe. A big thank you to our hometown heroes for helping our youngest learners stay safe and informed!

Fun in the sun! ☀️

Students at Cascade Elementary enjoyed lunch outside in our beautiful literacy garden. What a great way to soak up fresh air and smiles during the school day!

Our second School Board building visit took us to Epworth Elementary, where staff shared insights into their “High Performing” rating on the Iowa School Performance Profile! They’ve seen notable growth in mathematics and created a promising literacy pilot program. 📚📈

We’re grateful for the strong partnership and engagement between our staff and board in supporting student success across our schools!