Daniel Wright

The DW Show Choir took to the road this week to perform in front of enthusiastic audiences in the local retirement community.

“Residents at our host venues always look forward to this joyous annual tradition and our Show Choir students benefit from opportunities for community engagement," said Choral Director Matthew Clark.

Please visit the school's Google Doc folder for pictures of the performances and interactions with residents. Watch a brief video of their performance.

Sixth- and seventh-grade science teachers created a fun learning experience with an annual activity known as the Winterfest STEAM competition. This year, the challenge was based on the Artemis Lunar Lander. Students used engineering skills to build a shock-absorbing system that protected an 'astronaut' aka egg as it landed. They used a paper plate, rubber band, balloon, and other material to guide the lander to the ground without losing its 'passenger.' Pictures of the activity can be found in the school's Google Doc folder.

We would like to remind our D103 families families that winter break begins tomorrow. Schools will be closed Friday, Dec. 23, and students will return to school on Tuesday, Jan.10. We hope you can relax and enjoy time with family and friends. See you in 2023!

The DW Science Bowl Car team may be for you. We will have a new format for the DW Science Bowl Car Team this year. The task will be to design, build, and race an electric car against other DW racers.

• Tryouts will take place after school on Thursday, Jan. 12, room 206.
• Bring your iPad, pen or pencil.

The Wright Way Club would like to thank the school wide community for bringing 100 gifts in for Toys for Tots! There are my young tots who will have smiles on their faces this holiday season due to all of your giving hearts! Bravo!

Battle of the Books has begun. Informational meetings were held this week. For more about the competition, please email Mrs. Shelton at ashelton@d103.org or Mrs. Wechselberger at jwechselberger@d103.org. If you like to read and enjoy reading Caudill books come to the tryouts in the library, during FLEX, on Thursday, Jan.12.

Congratulations to eighth-grade orchestra student Alicia Myoung who won the SHS Consortium Orchestra Poster design contest. Her poster was selected to represent the Orchestra Consortium Concert in January. All consortium middle school students were eligible to enter designs.

Daniel Wright is offering students the opportunity to take the qualifying round of the National History Bee and National Geography Bee. This is an optional activity for students at DW in grades 6-8 with an interest in competing in these areas. Daniel Wright sponsors the History Bee and the Geography Bee as part of our school programs and will pay the entry fees specific to these two competitions. Travel is the responsibility of the families.

Students may opt to take the qualifying exam for the National Science Bee, however, competition in this specific area is independent of the school and will be the financial responsibility of the student's family.

Daniel Wright is offering three days for students to take the qualifying exam.

• Wednesday, January 11
  

• Thursday, January 12

Daniel Wright Leaders in Learning Club invites first responders and veterans to The Heroes Dinner at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at DW. Please let us know you can attend. Questions? Email Erinn Vincent at evincent@d103.org.

PTO is celebrating our D103 staff by treating them to a chili and soup luncheon. We are looking for a few people to volunteer by making a crockpot of chili or soup (your recipe of choice!) for the luncheons. This year the D103 PTO Chili Lunch will take place on Monday, Jan. 30 at Sprague, Half Day, and Daniel Wright schools. The chili or soup must be dropped off at the teachers’ lounge of the school you have committed to (with your name and recipe ingredients on an index card or sheet of paper) by 9:30 a.m. Pick up your dishes after 1:30 p.m. please. We are requesting that our chefs use crockpot liners, if possible. With limited counter and sink areas, it's difficult to get your pots cleaned out properly!

We know not everyone is a chef, so if you would prefer to contribute financially, any donation will allow us to provide salads, decorations, and all of the "trimmings” for the meal.

Thank you so much for helping show the fabulous D103 staff our appreciation for all that they do for our children!

{ * Sign up or Contribute on the Membership Toolkit * }

Dr. Siggie (Cohen) is back to discuss how parents can help navigate sibling rivalry and build better relationships through increased connection.

The D103 Parent Education team, in partnership with the Vernon Area Public Library, is excited to bring back Dr. Siggie, a child development specialist and parenting expert, to help us better understand sibling dynamics. Dr. Siggie will teach parents how to mediate arguments without taking sides. She will provide parents with practical tips that will help our children use these first relationships as a way to negotiate, emotionally regulate, and compromise, providing our children with important life skills that will help them navigate other important future relationships in their lives.

If you have a specific question you would like Dr. Siggie to address please fill out our anonymous questionnaire no later than Jan. 22.

{* Register Online Today *}

D103 PTO is happy to present Social Dance lessons to sixth-grade students in 2023! Learn how to dance the Foxtrot, Cha Cha, Electric Slide, Waltz and more!

• Cost: $75 lesson fee per student which includes all classes (non-refundable).
• Register: Register on the PTO Membership Toolkit
• Dates: 1/13, 1/20, 1/27, 2/3 and 2/10
• Time: 7:30 to 8:45 p.m.
• Location: Daniel Wright Cafeteria
• Dress Code: Appropriate attire required: Dress pants, collared shirt, blouse, dress or skirt.
• Questions? Please contact Abby Jacobson (abbyjacobson@gmail.com) or Heather Vasilenko (hvasilenko@hotmail.com).

The Illinois Resource Center is offering free workshops for families and Bilingual Parent Advisory Council members. These virtual workshops will be offered monthly beginning in January. All family & BPAC members are invited to attend. Please visit the BPAC website for descriptions of the workshops.

In this winter coding camp, students will stop playing games and start making games! Students will create fun and interactive games that teach about an intro to programming using Scratch.

Metra has launched its 16th Annual Safety Poster and Essay Contest, asking students across Metra's service area to illustrate through posters and essays the importance of safe behaviors near the railroad. This year's theme is "Stay Safe, Stay Off Train Tracks." Deadline for entries is Friday, Jan. 20.

Did you know that ALL of Stevenson's incoming freshmen can take a dance course AND that this may be used in lieu of Physical Education to satisfy the PE credit?

• Daniel Wright Calendar of Events
• Daily School Announcements
• Archived Newsletters

Principals

• Principal Michelle Blackley, Ed.D.
• Assistant Principal Nina Nusbaum, Ed.D.
• Assistant Principal Melody Littlefair

• 847-604-5280
• Dw_attendance@d103.org