Western Dubuque Community School District

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.

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!

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.

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!

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. ❤️

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! 🌱

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.

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!

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! 🤗

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.

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. 💪🔢

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. 🌞

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! 💪💡

Dyersville Elementary students explored place value by estimating how many popsicle sticks were in a box. After making guesses, they worked in pairs and found that grouping sticks by tens and hundreds made counting easier. They were excited to discover the box held 1,000 sticks! 📦

This week is National School Psychology Week, and we're taking time to honor the school psychologists who support our students in so many important ways. ❤️

From addressing mental health concerns to fostering positive behavior and creating inclusive environments, school psychologists help students feel seen, heard, and valued.

We're thankful for the positive impact they make every day!

Voters in the Western Dubuque County Community School District are encouraged to participate in the upcoming School Board election on Tuesday, November 4. 🗳️

The candidates are:
➡️ District 1: Chad Ostwinkle and Karen Ertl
➡️ District 3: Mike Rea

Your vote helps shape the future of our schools and the students we serve! Find your polling location at https://apps.sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/pollingplace/search.aspx.

The WDHS Color Guard brought six talented students to the state solo competition in Pella on October 23! Each performer choreographed their own routine and showcased incredible skill on the stage.

A special congratulations to:

⭐️ Claire Jager, who earned a Division I rating
⭐️ Cheyenne Hoffmann, who received a medal in the Beyond Limits category and was invited to perform again at the Casey’s Center in Des Moines during team competitions

Great job to all who performed! 👏

First graders in Mrs. Hirsch’s classroom at Dyersville Elementary celebrated their Bobcat Strong behavior with a special stuffed animal day. 🧸

Their stuffed friends joined in the learning fun as they were read to, written about, and even graphed during math class!

Daylight saving time ends this weekend! Be sure to set your clocks back one hour on Saturday evening. 🕟

Mrs. Beyer is piloting a new literacy program at Epworth Elementary, where students use reader’s theater to build fluency skills. 📚

This creative approach is helping young readers grow in confidence and expression.