Wasco Weekly

Dear Families,

T​his week, our ​third grade students recently had the wonderful opportunity to perform for the entire school! These performances are more than just showcases of talent—they're valuable learning experiences that build confidence, presentation skills, and community connections.

When students share their work with a broader audience, they develop essential life skills including public speaking, teamwork, and overcoming nervousness. Performing also gives them a genuine sense of accomplishment and pride in their hard work.

A heartfelt thank you goes to our dedicated music teacher, Mr​s. Chris Miller, for ​organizing this experience​ for Wasco. Coordinating three entire classrooms for a school-wide performance is no small feat! ​M​rs. Miller's commitment to our children's musical education and growth deserves our appreciation​.

We encourage all parents to ask your children about the performance experience and what they enjoyed most about it. These shared experiences help build the strong, supportive school community we value so much!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Kind regards,

Mrs. Brennan

Principal, Wasco Elementary School

stephanie.brennan@d303.org

331-228-6294

Mar 17: Talent Show Tryouts @Wasco 5:30-7:15pm

Mar 24: Donuts With Grown Ups (sign up below)

Mar 26: Early Release at 2:35pm

Mar 31-April 4: Spring Break (No school)

Wasco students participated in the Heart Adventure Challenge Course this week during PE classes. They learned about the parts of the heart including the four chambers, names of valves, and the major arteries. Students also learned about the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the lungs and why exercise is important for our heart muscle. Ask your students what they learned about being heart healthy!

The 5 Essentials survey is now open and awaiting your feedback. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. All responses are confidential. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey by clicking the button below. We need a minimum of 20% parent response. Survey Closes 3/28/25

Good nutrition is crucial to the development and function of the brain, supplying key nutrients like iron, iodine, and omega-3 fatty acids, which fuel memory and learning skills.

Dental Exams for Kindergarten and 2nd Grade are due by May 15th, 2025!

Illinois law requires all children in Kindergarten, second, sixth, and ninth grades to submit a dental examination form completed by a licensed dentist by May 15th, The exam can be completed up to 18 months before the May 15th deadline, so if your child has been to the dentist in that time, please call the dentist and request that the exam form be completed. The district's health services website has all health forms.

If you have any questions about the dental health requirements, please contact the

Health Office at 331-228-2904. Completed forms can also be emailed to

was-nurses@d303.org or faxed to 331-228-2901.

Thank you,

Wasco Health Office

As we embark on the season of planning for the 2025-2026 school year, the identification process is underway for accelerated placement for next year’s 4th, 5th and 6th graders. Here is some helpful information:

• All 3rd grade students are automatically considered for potential placement in Academically Talented (AT) Math and AT ELA programming. You do not need to request it. However, you can reach out to ask questions about the process anytime using the contact information below.
  
  

• 5th grade students are also automatically considered for potential placement in an additional Accelerated Math Pathway that starts in middle school. This pathway provides for the completion of Algebra before entering high school by allowing students to complete more than one grade level of math in 6th grade and 7th grade.
  
  

• 5th grade students who are currently in our AT programming may be identified for potential placement in the Infinity Gifted Program at the middle school level. These students may take part in additional testing in February. Parents will be informed in advance if additional testing is requested.
  
  

• Families of students who are identified for placement in our AT Math, AT ELA, Infinity Gifted or Accelerated Math programming will be informed by March 28. Please refer to the Identification Timeline for additional information.
  
  

Yvette Stahl, Gifted Coordinator

yvette.stahl@d303.org | 331.228.6166

Our Spirit Club has chosen to sponsor Cals Angels for our Wasco community project this year. You may ask “What is Cals Angels”? Cals Angels is a nonprofit organization founded in 2007 after Cal Sutter lost his battle with Leukemia, in August 2006, at the young age of 13. Cal’s Angels is going to WAR against pediatric cancer. Our mission is granting Wishes, raising Awareness, and funding Research to help kids who are fighting cancer.

Part of Cal's Angels wishes is to provide patients and families with gift cards to ease their burden of caring for a sick child. Their philosophy is “the personal connections developed with our patients is what inspires us to continue doing what we do. We walk alongside them from the moment we meet them until well beyond the end of their treatment.”

We would like Wasco School to contribute gift cards ($5-$20) to places like Panera, BP, Shell, Portillo's, Chick-Fil-A, Subway, Wendy's, Burger King, Taco Bell, McDonalds, Starbucks, and Dunkin Donuts.

Our Gift Card Tree Collection starts Monday, March 10th and ends on Friday, March 21st . If everyone in our school even brought 1 gift card, we would have 444 gift cards to share with the patients and families. Of course, you can bring more!

A collection box will be in the main office for drop offs.

*Photo-Students from Spirit Club sharing information about Cal's Angels

Family friendly bingo! Space is limited and you MUST reserve a ticket FOR EVERYONE ATTENDING through push coin in order to attend the event.

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.

The map below displays how Wasco organizes dismissal for car riders. We will be directing students to wait on our “front lawn” for their ride. If they see their families' vehicles, they can walk along the sidewalk and enter the stopped vehicle. If you would like to leave your car to pick up your child, you are free to park in the lot.

You can save this as a handy reference for your caregivers or visiting family members who do pick up as well!

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