Wasco Weekly

Wasco Families,

This week our parent news focuses on our Elementary STEM curriculum. As educators committed to preparing our students for a rapidly evolving world, our D303 STEM program provides a comprehensive scientific learning experience that inspires curiosity, critical thinking, and innovation.

Our curriculum is structured around the four primary scientific domains of:

Earth and Space Science, Physical Science, Life Science, and Engineering Technology and Applications of Science.

The curriculum is delivered through a collaborative approach because both our STEM teachers and homeroom teachers address Science learning standards. Our STEM specialists lead most of the scientific instruction, bringing expert knowledge and specialized teaching techniques to each lesson. Also, your child’s classroom teacher periodically integrates core scientific units into their curriculum, creating meaningful connections with other subjects and reinforcing learning through cross-disciplinary approaches.

We are incredibly proud of our commitment to provide a well rounded STEM program that prepares our students to become innovative thinkers and problem-solvers of tomorrow!

Kind Regards,

Mrs. Brennan

Principal, Wasco Elementary School

stephanie.brennan@d303.org

331-228-6294

Kindergarten & First Grade: Spatial Sense and Coding

In this module, students will develop spatial sense as they engage in activities that explore directional movement - over, under, through, and around. They begin to develop coding skills as they plan a path, create wearable code, and code an interactive robotic device. Using the engineering design process, students create code that will lead them to the location of a hidden item.

Second & Third Grade: Stability and Motion: Forces and Interactions

In this module, students will learn that forces and interactions are at work all around us. We experience pushes and pulls, resistive forces, gravity, and friction in our daily routines. Students explore, design, sketch, and build both simple and compound machines that demonstrate the use of forces. They test the force of magnets and explore the interaction of the magnetic poles. Students use the skills and knowledge gained in the module to solve an open-ended, real-world problem. As students work through this module on Stability and Motion: Forces and Interactions, they engage in hands-on experiences and use a step-by-step process to solve problems.

Fourth & Fifth Grade: Matter: Properties and Reactions

In this module, students learn about the three states of matter and the properties that make them unique. They use a simulation to observe the particle arrangement of solids, liquids, and gases, and explore what happens when heat is added or taken away. Students deepen their understanding of matter as they explore the law of conservation of mass. They then investigate new substances as they examine what happens when substances are mixed together. Students apply this knowledge as they explore mechanical properties and their application to engineering. Students follow testing procedures for different materials at centers to investigate methods of testing compressibility, hardness, softness and firmness, and tensile strength. After students establish an understanding of matter and its properties, they take a deeper look at mechanical testing. Students use the design process to design a testing procedure that demonstrates whether a material has the required mechanical properties.

Dec 16: Band Concert @ Thompson

Dec 20: Winter Class Parties; Last day of school before Winter Break

Dec 23 - Jan 6: Winter Break (No School)

Jan 7: School Resumes

Jan 20: MLK Jr. Holiday (No School)

Computer Science Education Week started Monday (December 9th through the 15th) during which time schools across the world participate in The Hour of Code, a basic introduction to computer science designed to demystify "code" and show that anyone can learn the basics. Wasco students will learn about coding with Mrs. Furlong in the LRC and then work on coding basics in the LRC and classroom. Participants will receive a vinyl (Chromebook) sticker to showcase their participation!

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!

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