Thursday Notes – August 27, 2026

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From Mr. Painter’s Desk

K-5 Back to School Night

I am looking forward to connecting with many of you this evening for our K-5 Back to School Night!  A few brief reminders:

• You may park and enter at Door 1 (front door) or Door 21 (by the playground/blacktop).
• We will begin the group session at 6:30 p.m. in the Commons, so please go directly there when you enter.
• Classroom sessions will be held at 7:00 p.m. and 7:35 p.m., and the two sessions will be identical. If you only have one child in grades K-5, you are welcome to leave after the first classroom session.
• Please review the schedule that I attached in my email on Monday for specific times for this evening.

Smooth Start and Traffic Flow!

I simply wanted to communicate to all of you that you have done a fantastic job with our new staggered start schedule and traffic pattern.  Things have seemed to run very smoothly, and we appreciate your flexibility and patience as we implemented some of these new changes this year.  We believe it has improved our safety and efficiency, both of which are important!

Dogs/Pets on Campus

While many people are fond of dogs and have no fear of them, we do have students and other family members who are fearful of certain animals (dogs included).  We would ask that if you have a dog or other pet, please keep the animal in your vehicle or in the parking lot by your vehicle.  If your children or their friends would like to interact with the pet, then that would be their choice to approach the animal.  We want all students to feel safe when they are on campus, especially near our buildings and by the playground.  Thank you for your help with this!

Save the Date: Parent Series Prayer and Worship Event

This year, we are pleased to announce that the Parent Series will focus on uniting our school community through intentional evenings of prayer, worship, and fellowship.  These gatherings are designed to provide parents with an opportunity to connect with one another, pray together, and encourage each other as we raise our children to love and follow the Lord.

Please plan to join us and mark your calendar for our first Parent Series event on Wednesday, October 7, at 7:00 p.m.  Registration will follow with limited, on-site childcare available for students enrolled at WCGS.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Mandy Jasper, School Social Worker.

Important Upcoming Dates

Thursday, August 27

T1 Hot Lunch Ordering Closes

6:30-8:30 p.m. – Grades K-5 Back to School Night

Friday, August 28

BIRTHDAY: Kaila Van Cott (2nd Grade Instructional Aide)

9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. – 8th Grade Challenge

Monday, August 31

MAP Growth Testing – Grades 7/8

4:00 p.m. – Boys’ V Soccer @ Schaumburg Christian

4:00 p.m. – Girls’ JV VBall @ Schaumburg Christian

5:00 p.m. – Boys’ JV Soccer @ Schaumburg Christian

5:00 p.m. – Girls’ V VBall @ Schaumburg Christian

7:00 p.m. – Board Meeting (Library)

Tuesday, September 1

MAP Growth Testing – Grades 6/8

9:00 a.m. – Room Parent Orientation Meeting (Grades K-1)

Wednesday, September 2

MAP Growth Testing – Grades 6/7

9:00 a.m. – Room Parent Orientation Meeting (Grades 2-5)

Thursday, September 3

BIRTHDAY: Abi Babick (1st Grade Teacher)

MAP Growth Testing – Grades 4-5

9:00 a.m. – Room Parent Orientation Meeting (Grades 6-8)

4:00 p.m. – Boys’ V Soccer vs. Benjamin MS (WCGS)

4:00 p.m. – Girls’ JV VBall vs. Benjamin MS (WCGS)

5:00 p.m. – Boys’ JV Soccer vs. Benjamin MS (WCGS)

5:00 p.m. – Girls’ V VBall vs. Benjamin MS (WCGS)

Friday, September 4

MAP Growth Testing – Grades 4-5

Summer Reading Celebration

Notable Notes

MAP Growth Testing

Over the next few weeks, your child will take an online test called Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) on a school computer. Wheaton Christian Grammar School gives the MAP test to students in order to measure their progress in reading and math throughout the year, and from year to year. The MAP Growth Assessment will be given to all of our students in the fall and again in the spring. Teachers will use the MAP results to identify which skills your child needs to work on in reading and math. MAP tests are unique in that they adapt to your child’s level of learning. As a result, each student has the same opportunity to succeed and maintain a positive attitude toward testing. For more information about MAP Growth, visit NWEA.org/familytoolkit.

Our students will be taking one test in math and one test in reading. Each test will average approximately one hour and will be taken with their homeroom teacher. Below are the testing dates for students at the various grade levels. It is extremely important that your children are in attendance on these days so that they take the test with their class.

• Monday, August 31 – Wednesday, September 2: Grades 6-8
• Thursday, September 3 – Friday, September 4: Grades 4-5
• Tuesday, September 8 – Wednesday, September 9: Grades 2-3
• Thursday, September 10 – Friday, September 11: Grades K-1

We value the incredible partnership that we have with all of you and consider it a blessing to work alongside your children on a daily basis.

Forms on FACTS Family Portal

Information regarding the following web forms can be found on the FACTS Family Portal. If you have any specific questions regarding these forms, email Debbie Cairncross.

Please complete these forms TODAY! They are overdue.

To access these forms, follow the instructions below:

Log into FACTS Family Portal

Click on “School” at the left of the screen

Click “Web Forms”

Complete the forms described below (only as needed)

Click on one form at a time, returning to complete the other forms

Criminal History Background Check Form

This form is required for people who want to volunteer at school but have not completed the form previously. Please do not submit this form a second time! If you are unsure about whether or not you completed a form in the past, please email Debbie.

Driver and Chaperone Form

This form is for volunteers who want to drive on school field trips and also for volunteers who would like to chaperone but not drive on field trips. This form needs to be completed each year.

Master Field Trip Form

This form is to be completed for each child granting permission for participation in grade level field trips listed. This also needs to be completed each year.

Resource Guide: Sexual Abuse and Prevention

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) maintains a resource guide on sexual abuse response and prevention and requires non-public schools to share this information with their school communities. This comprehensive guide provides information and resources to support victims of child sexual abuse.  The guide can be accessed here.

Asbestos Inspection and Management Plan

To the best of our knowledge and that of our architects (Legat Architects), our school was not built nor constructed with any asbestos or asbestos-containing materials. As required by law, we are to inform you that we have an Asbestos Management Plan (Click here for more information.)

Community Corner

Junior Cheer at Wheaton Academy

Junior Cheer is back at Wheaton Academy this fall! The clinics will be held September 16 and 17 from 4:30-6:00 p.m. in the Field House, and the girls will perform at halftime of the Varsity football game on September 18! Registration includes a game day shirt and bow. Registration is open at wheatonacademy.org/camps.