Western Dubuque Community School District

Students at Farley Elementary are working on counting collections of objects close to 1,000 to strengthen their understanding of place value in math. These experiences help students understand number sense and see the value of digits in different places! 🧠

We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and former colleagues of Steven Rutz, who passed away on January 12. Steve dedicated 39 years to education, serving the Western Dubuque CSD as a teacher, coach, athletic director, and administrator.

His impact reached far beyond the classroom, touching the lives of students, staff, and communities across our district. We are grateful for his years of leadership, service, and commitment to education.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 to 7:00pm on Thursday, January 15 at Kramer Morris Funeral Home in Dyersville. Visitation will continue on Friday, January 16 from 11:30am to 12:30pm at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Dubuque, where a memorial service will follow at 1:00pm. A private burial will take place at a later date. 💙

Thank you to all the families who submitted the preschool pre-registration form! ❤️

Our early childhood team will review submissions and contact families in the order forms were received. If you completed a form, please keep an eye on your email for details on next steps.

Haven’t filled out the form yet? There’s still time! Complete it online: https://forms.office.com/r/HmFmJE8sMu

Our 4th and 5th grade students at Epworth Elementary are diving into great stories as part of this year’s Book Bowl! 📚

Each participant has the chance to read a selection of books and cast their vote for their favorite. It’s been wonderful to see the enthusiasm and conversations sparked by reading throughout our school!

Ms. Bowles’s Physical Science Chemistry students explored periodic trends with flame tests! They tested seven known elements and one unknown to observe patterns and make connections to the periodic table.

By applying their knowledge of atomic structure, students took on the challenge of predicting atom behavior, just like real scientists! 🧪

January is National Mentoring Month!

Whether you're an educator, parent, community member, or professional, you have valuable experience to share. Consider becoming a mentor and helping a young person navigate their path to success. 🌱

Our Farley Elementary 3rd grade students wrapped up the year with winter rotations filled with fun and teamwork!

Both classes joined together and rotated through six engaging stations, including reading books, playing games, and enjoying seasonal activities. It was a joyful way to celebrate the end of 2025! ❄️

With 2026 ahead of us, we’re ready to build even more memories.

As part of the Bridges Math curriculum, Farley Elementary students took their learning beyond the classroom!

During small group time, students went on a shape hunt through the hallways and found rectangles, squares, triangles, and circles all around. It was a hands-on way to connect math to the world around them! 🙌

Farley Elementary prekindergarten students are learning alphabet concepts in meaningful, personal ways! By using classmate names to introduce letters, students stay engaged while building foundational skills. They match photos to names, form letters with wooden pieces, and greet each other by recognizing names and letters at the morning meeting! 😀

The past year brought so many wonderful moments of learning, laughter, and connection at Farley Elementary. As we begin 2026, we’re excited for all the opportunities to grow, explore, and celebrate together. Here’s to another outstanding year! 🎉

Preschool pre-registration is NOW OPEN for the 2026-27 school year! 🎉

Families can complete our quick online form to be added to the contact list in the order responses are received. Please note: this is NOT a registration form, but it is the first step in registering your child.

➡️ Complete the form: https://forms.office.com/r/HmFmJE8sMu
➡️ Learn more on our website: https://www.wdbqschools.org/page/early-childhoodpreschool

Welcome back from break! Let’s start off the new calendar year strong. 💪

Friendly reminder! Preschool pre-registration for the 2026-27 school year opens Monday, January 5 at 12:00pm. 📚

The pre-registration form will be available on our website. Completing it adds your name to the contact list in the order it’s received. This does not register your child, but it's the first step!

Learn more about our Early Childhood Programs on our website: https://www.wdbqschools.org/page/early-childhoodpreschool

First graders at Cascade Elementary are learning about new math concepts through independent practice and small group activities. We’re proud of their focus and effort! ➕

Happy New Year! We’re looking forward to another year of excellence in 2026 as we partner with our families, staff, students, and community. 🎊

Cascade Elementary students welcomed Remy during guidance time! Students learned to recognize body signals and use coping tools to manage stress. Remy was a great helper in building healthy habits! 🐶

Second grade students at Cascade Elementary are working with pattern blocks to build math and spatial reasoning skills! 🔷