Western Dubuque Community School District

Community partnership is what Peosta Elementary Bobcats are all about! First grade classrooms are partnering with Project Rooted to connect students with fresh, local food and hands-on nutrition education right in their school. 🌱

These experiences help foster healthy habits from a young age while building meaningful connections to the community.

Dyersville Elementary students and staff enjoyed a fun and meaningful Artist in Residence experience featuring “Billy Goats Gruff!” 📚

The light-hearted story of kindness kept everyone laughing while sharing an important message.

Chemistry II students recently explored mixtures and substances through a hands-on, two-day caffeine lab. Students conducted filtration and crystallization experiments, calculated percent recovery, and tested their results through sublimation, deposition, and reactivity with acids and bases. 🧪

Their hard work paid off, with strong results and thoughtful data analysis!

Students in 2D Art at Drexler Middle School are exploring texture and value using scratch boards and tools.

Seventh grader Serenity Ritt created a detailed and realistic snow leopard through careful use of line direction and size. Outstanding work! 🎨

Cascade High School celebrates the legacy of alumnus Greg McDermott as he announces his retirement from Creighton University after a remarkable coaching career. 🏀

A member of the CHS Hall of Fame, Coach McDermott has made an impact on our community. His leadership, dedication, and success continue to inspire our students and athletes.

We congratulate Coach McDermott on an outstanding career and thank him for representing Cascade with pride!

Read the article here: https://archive.ph/A4TL3#selection-523.25-523.44

Photo credit: Adam Cairns/IndyStar

In recognition of National Nutrition Month, we are proud to highlight the dedicated team supporting student health and wellbeing across our schools! 🥗

Director of Food and Nutrition Services Clif Cameron, along with kitchen managers Stephanie Knapp at Western Dubuque High School, Kelli Wessels at Drexler Middle School, and Shelly Ludwig at Cascade High School, work each day to provide nutritious meals for our students. We appreciate all they do!

We are saddened to share the passing of Vicki Recker, a dedicated educator who spent 25 years teaching art and photography.

Vicki made a lasting impact on her students and colleagues through her creativity, kindness, and passion for learning. She will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 26, from 2:00 to 8:00pm at Kramer-Morris Funeral Home in Dyersville, with additional visitation from 9:00 to 10:00am on Friday. Funeral services will take place at 10:30am on Friday, March 27, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville.

Farley Elementary 3rd graders had a special visit through the Read with a Farmer program, sponsored by the Dubuque County Farm Bureau! 🐄

Students welcomed a farmer from Jackson County who shared about dairy farms and answered their thoughtful questions.

Western Dubuque High School is proud to celebrate graduates Meredith Riley (Class of 2024) and Rachel March (Class of 2025), whose friendship, determination, and success continue to inspire our community. ❤️

Now working at Round 2 in Peosta, Meredith and Rachel have embraced meaningful employment, built strong connections, and continue to grow in their independence and life skills. Their journey from classmates to coworkers highlights the power of perseverance, support, and lifelong friendship.

We are proud of Meredith and Rachel and all they are accomplishing as they continue to learn, work, and thrive.

Read their story on the Telegraph Herald website: https://archive.ph/qNdSa

Photo credit: Stephen Gassman via Telegraph Herald

Dyersville Elementary’s round two of Delaney’s March Madness Scooping Challenge was a night of connection, laughter, and community. Thank you to our staff for their energy and to our families for your continued support! ❤️

We’re excited to share some great news from Western Dubuque Schools! 🎉

Please join us in welcoming Steve Driscoll as our new Director of Transportation. Steve will be stepping into the role as Diane Elgin prepares for her well-earned retirement at the end of the school year.

We are incredibly grateful to Diane for her years of dedicated service and the lasting impact she’s made on our district. 💙

Steve will be joining us in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition, and we’re looking forward to the leadership and experience he brings to our team.

Welcome to Western Dubuque, Steve! 🚍👏

#wdbqschools

We are proud to recognize National Athletic Training Month!

A huge thank you to the athletic trainers who work tirelessly to keep our student-athletes healthy, safe, and performing at their best:

⭐ Sue Theisen, District Athletic Trainer
⭐ Maria Klein, Cascade Athletic Trainer (through Dubuque Physical Therapy)

Our athletic programs are stronger because of you! 💪

Prekindergarten students at Farley Elementary wrapped up their teddy bear unit in Bridges Math with a fun celebration. Students brought teddy bears to school and used them during center rotations, including drawing their bears, taking them to the “doctor,” matching alphabet letters, and measuring them with unifix cubes.

It was a great way to combine learning and play! 🧸

Epworth Elementary’s 5th grade leadership club has been having fun with its own March Madness challenge over the past week!

Students and staff have been sampling different M&M’s flavors and casting their votes for the favorite. It has been wonderful to see a student-led idea come to life and bring our school community together! 🍬

Chemistry II students at WDHS took advantage of the beautiful weather by heading outside for a hands-on lab experience! ☀️

During the “Fire Snake” lab, students used simple household reactants to observe combustion and decomposition reactions in action. The outdoor setting made for an exciting way to connect classroom learning with real-world chemistry.

Students in the Introduction to Literature course at Cascade High School recently participated in their first Discussion Circle Smackdown, a collaborative activity designed to analyze their class novel through multiple literary lenses. 📚

Students worked in small groups to prepare for different literary theories, and one representative from each group joined the center circle to take part in the discussion. Teams earned points based on the type and quality of their engagement, creating a friendly competition for bragging rights.

The smackdown led to thoughtful conversations and strong participation, with students fully engaged in the learning process! 😀

Creative movement opportunities are helping Epworth Elementary students start their mornings on the right foot. 🤗

Morning gym supervisors have been designing fun activities to keep students active while they wait for the school day to begin. In this example, Mrs. Frank leads students through a movement circuit that encourages participation, energy, and a positive start to the day!

March is Music in Our Schools Month! 🎶

Studies show that students who participate in music programs demonstrate stronger working memory and critical thinking skills. We're proud to provide these opportunities across our schools—and to see the difference they make in our students' lives!

Chemistry II students at WDHS have been sharpening their periodic table skills as they prepare for upcoming labs and learning. 🧑‍🔬

To review key concepts, students engaged in a few friendly rounds of Periodic Table Battleship, turning practice into a fun and competitive challenge while reinforcing their understanding of the elements!