Wasco Weekly

Dear Wasco Parents and Families,

I'd like to share highlights from our fantastic Town Hall Meeting that took place on Wednesday. These gatherings are important moments when our Wasco Community comes together to discuss ways to strengthen our school community by working together toward a common goal.

For those new to our school, Town Hall Meetings begin with the entire school gathering in the community room, followed by breaking into mixed-age groups in classrooms for focused activities. This format allows our students to build relationships across grade levels while working collaboratively on important life skills.

This Month's Focus: Decision Making and Problem Solving

This month, we explored two essential skills that benefit students both in and outside the classroom:

Problem Solving: We discussed how problem solving involves defining a problem, determining its cause, identifying and prioritizing possible solutions, and then implementing the best solution.

Decision Making: Students learned that making good decisions requires identifying what decision needs to be made, gathering relevant information, assessing alternatives, and choosing the best path forward.

During our Town Hall, we:

- Read and discussed "Iggy Peck, Architect" by Andrea Beaty, which beautifully illustrates creative problem solving and perseverance

- Gathered in small mixed-age groups where students shared challenges they face and brainstormed potential solutions

- Watched an engaging and motivational video from Kid President about responsible decision-making that had our students both laughing and thinking deeply

Building on our Town Hall discussions, here are some ways you can help reinforce these important skills at home:

1. Model problem-solving out loud:Let your child hear you working through everyday problems step-by-step

2. Ask open-ended questions:When your child faces a challenge, ask "What do you think you could try?" rather than immediately providing solutions

3. Encourage reflection: After decisions are made, discuss what worked well and what could be improved next time

4. Create opportunities for choice:Allow your child to make age-appropriate decisions and experience natural consequences

5. Celebrate thoughtful processes: Praise effort and careful thinking rather than just successful outcomes

These skills take time to develop, and your partnership in reinforcing them at home is invaluable. By working together, we can help our students become confident, thoughtful problem-solvers and decision-makers.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like additional resources to support these skills at home.

With kindness,

Mrs. Brennan

Principal, Wasco Elementary School

stephanie.brennan@d303.org

331-228-6294

April 28: Orchestra Concert at Thompson @ 6:30pm

April 30: Early Release @ 2:35pm

May 2: Wasco PTO's End of Year Family Picnic (see ad below)

May 7: Band Concert at Thompson @ 7:00pm

May 16: 5th Grade Fine Arts Night @ 6:00pm

May 23: Field Day!

May 26: Memorial Day-No School

May 29: Last Day of School (dismissal at 3:25pm)

June 4: Report Cards Ready on HAC

Celebrate the end of the year with our fun schoolwide spirit days! Participation is optional!

Wasco’s Field Day is Friday, May 23rd. We are working together as a Music, Art, P.E., LRC, and Stem team to provide a fun-filled day of activities. This year FIELD Day is representing the specials team and their day-to-day happenings with the acronym Fun, Imaginative, Exploratory, Learning, and Discovery. Grades K-2 will be 9:10 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. and the grades 3-5 session will be 12:55 p.m. to 3:05 p.m. A volunteer sign-up will be sent via the Wasco Weekly Newsletter in early May. We hope to see you there!

Should you have additional questions, please contact the Physical Education teacher, Mrs. Julie Misner at julie.misner@d303.org.

District 303 is proud to partner with the Glenbard Parent Series (GPS) to offer our families broader access to information sessions and resources that support their child’s development.

For decades, GPS has been offering free programs that aim to empower and strengthen families, individuals and communities. As a partner organization, District 303 will support promoting upcoming programs and their importance to our local community.

Attention Parents!

Please be mindful of communications coming from “donotreply@d303.org”. This is the email address for our school newsletters and our all school emails. If you reply to this email address it will not be forwarded to office staff.

Office Contact Emails:

candace.thoke@d303.org

heather.kudabeck@d303.org

stephanie.brennan@d303.org

Email: heather.kudabeck@d303.org
Website: https://district.d303.org/
Location: 4N782 School Street, Wasco, IL, USA
Phone: 331-228-2900