Summer Notes – August 10, 2023
From Mr. Brooke’s Desk
2023-2024 School Year
What an incredible time of year! I am always so appreciative of the energy and excitement that a new school year brings. I look forward to seeing our entire community come together next week to launch into all that God has for us in the coming year. We value this partnership with your family and consider it a privilege to have you a part of this school.
Would you join our team in praying for the coming school year? We are asking the Lord to do immeasurably more than we could ever expect or imagine in the lives of students and families.
Have a wonderful start to the year and I look forward to seeing you all very soon!
From Mr. Painter’s Desk
Our 2023-2024 Team
I am grateful to the Lord for His provision in putting together our faculty and staff for the 2023-2024 school year. I am confident that this team will help advance our mission and, ultimately, bring glory to God through the lives impacted on a daily basis! Please read this article to meet our new hires, as well as read about the transitions to new roles for some of our faculty and staff.
Class Lists.
Today is an exciting day…class lists will be released! You should have all received an email today from Debbie Cairncross about how to access class lists for your child(ren). The lists will be available for viewing after 5:00 p.m. today. Please reach out to Debbie Cairncross (Registrar) directly if you have any problems accessing your account.
Important Upcoming Dates
Wednesday, August 16 – 10:00 a.m.-Noon
Open Houses for Kindergarten through 5th Grade
Wednesday, August 16 – 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Orientation for Grades 6-8
(New students arrive at 10:30 a.m.)
Thursday, August 17 – 8:50 a.m. First Day of School
(Kindergarten dismissal at noon; Grades 1-8 dismissal at 3:25 p.m.)
Thursday, August 17 – 8:45-10:00 a.m. First Day Parent Welcome
Thursday, August 17
Q1 Hot Lunch / Popcorn / Sunset Slush Orders Open
Friday, August 18
Summer Reading Logs are Due / Summer Library Books are Due
August 21-25
MAP Growth Testing (Grades 4-8)
Thursday, August 24
Q1 Hot Lunch / Popcorn / Sunset Slush Orders Due
Thursday, August 24 – 6:30 p.m.
Grades K-5 Back to School Night
Please plan to meet and hear from your child(ren)’s teacher(s) during this special evening. Watch for more details coming soon.
August 28-September 1
MAP Growth Testing (Grades K-3)
Monday, August 28 – 9:00 a.m.
Room Parent Orientation for Grades K-1
Tuesday, August 29 – 9:00 a.m.
Room Parent Orientation for Grades 2-5
Tuesday, August 29 – 6:30 p.m.
Grades 6-8 Back to School Night
Please plan to meet and hear from your child(ren)’s teacher(s) during this special evening. Watch for more details coming soon.
Wednesday, August 30 – 9:00 a.m.
Room Parent Orientation for Grades 6-8
Thursday, August 31
School Pictures for Grades K-8
Tuesday, September 5
Hot Lunch Begins
Notable Notes
All-School Open Houses and Orientations – Wednesday, August 16
Grades K-5 Open House
We are pleased to welcome our K-5 students for an open house from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. This is an informal drop-in time to meet the teacher and drop off school supplies. Feel free to come in anytime during this two-hour window.
Grades 6-8 Orientation
All students in grades 6-8 should plan to attend the entire hour of their respective grade level orientations from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. New students in grades 6-8 are invited to come early from 10:30-11:00 a.m. to meet their student ambassadors and teachers, as well as get acclimated to the junior high hallway.
First Day Parent Welcome
Plan to join us on the front field the first day of school, Thursday, August 17, from 8:45-10:00 a.m. for the Parent Welcome. Stop by at this open house to check out some of the many ways you can get involved at WCGS. This is also a great opportunity to meet and greet many other WCGS parents as well. Don’t miss it! (In case of inclement weather, this event will be held in the Commons.)
Zero Hour Spanish
For those who enrolled in Spanish for grades 6-8, classes will begin on the following dates:
Grade 8 will start on Monday, August 21, and will meet in Room 614. Class will meet on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 7:45-8:40 a.m. and be taught by Mrs. Sharenda Barlar.
Grade 7 will start on Tuesday, August 22, and will meet in Room 610. Class will meet on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 7:45-8:40 a.m. and be taught by Mrs. Michelle Clousing.
Grade 6 will start Monday, August 21, and will meet in Room 611. Class will meet on Monday and Wednesday from 7:45-8:40 a.m. and be taught by Mrs. Michelle Clousing.
School Supplies
It’s time to shop for your school supplies! Make sure you have your items to bring to school on Wednesday, August 16. Click for the 2023-2024 School Supply List.
School Pictures
Picture Day is Thursday, August 31, during normal school hours. We will again be using JostensPix to capture smiles. JostensPix offer the availability to preview pictures online before purchase, to personalize your background, to buy exactly what you want at an affordable price, and photos will be shipped directly to your home! Previewing, personalization, ordering, and payment will all take place online at jostenspix.com. No picture forms! You will receive a flyer and an email with more specifics in the coming days. Please note that all students will be photographed for the yearbook, but there is no obligation to make a purchase. If a student is absent on picture day, re-takes will take place on Friday, October 6.
Forms on the FACTS Family Portal
Information regarding the following web forms can be found on the FACTS Family Portal.
If you have any specific questions about these forms, please email Debbie Cairncross.
Please complete these forms by Thursday, August 17.
Criminal History Background Check
(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
(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.)
Master Field Trip Form
(To be completed for each child granting permission for participation in grade level field trips listed.)
To access these forms, follow the instructions below:
Go to the school website (www.wheatonchristian.org)
Scroll and click on the FACTS Family Portal
Click “Web Forms”
Complete the forms described above (only as needed)
Click on one form at a time, returning to complete the other forms
Updated Thursday Notes
We hope you are enjoying the new format for Thursday Notes. We updated our format so that you are able to read the notes easily in your inbox and can search for keywords and announcements. In addition, we will be archiving Thursday Notes on our school website so you will have easy access to each week’s notes. The Thursday Notes archive is accessible on the website under the “Parents” Tab.
There will also be a weekly photo album for you to enjoy in each edition of Thursday Notes. Here is this week’s link to the school photos.
Library News
Summer Reading Program There is still time to finish up the summer reading program for incoming 1st-6th graders! It is an optional program, but most students do participate, so don’t let your child be left out of the fun! Your child should have brought home a reading log. If you do not have the reading log, it can be accessed here or on the school website in the “Parents” section under Library Media Center:
The summer reading celebration will take place on Friday, August 25, in the library. Participating students from each class will come to the library to receive a dog tag (collect all six!), a goodie bag, and a free book. Please help your child continue to grow as a reader this summer!
Help at the Summer Reading Celebration!
Please let Mrs. Brown know if you would like to help with decorating for the celebration on the afternoon of Thursday, August 24, or help at the event during the morning of Friday, August 25. We will need several parent helpers on both days. Email Mrs. Brown if you are available.
Summer Reading Assignment for Incoming 7th and 8th Graders
Parents of incoming 7th and 8th graders, please make sure your child completes his or her summer reading assignment. Students received a hard copy at the end of last school year. It is also available here: Summer Reading Challenge / Summer Reading List. This will count for a grade in Literature class and is due on the first day of school. It is also available on our school website on the library page in the parents’ section.
Summer Book Checkout!
Did your child check out books for the summer? All summer books are due on Friday, August 18, and students will need to return summer books before they can check out additional books for the new school year.
Shelving Volunteers Needed
The library is in need of some weekly shelving volunteers since some of our main shelvers “graduated” with their 8th graders last year. If you could give even an hour on a weekly basis right after drop-off or right before pickup, that would be very helpful. Please e-mail Mrs. Brown if you are interested in this opportunity, or we will also have a signup at the First Day Welcome event on August 17.
Reading Volunteers Needed
We have two possible reading needs this year:
- Although most of our Christian fiction books have AR tests, there are a few that do not, and we would like to see those books circulate more by allowing students to earn AR points for them. Please let Mrs. Brown know if you would be interested in reading a book and writing an AR quiz for it—this would involve writing 10 basic multiple choice questions that students could answer if they had read the book. It is just for accountability, so the questions do not need to be overly difficult. If you are interested, Mrs. Brown can give you a list of books to choose from.
- We also need people to volunteer to read books to preview them for addition to our collection. If you are interested in helping with this, please let Mrs. Brown know.
Volunteers Needed during Open House
We need volunteers to assemble 400 reward bags for our summer reading program next Wednesday during the open houses. We will be doing this assembly-line style in the library from 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. on August 16. If you are a junior high parent and need something to do for an hour, we would love to have you! Other families are welcome, too, and older children are welcome to help. Please email Mrs. Brown if you can participate.
Nurse Notes
Medication Forms and Prescription Medications
A new form is required each school year for any prescription medications that are to be administered during school hours. Please turn in a completed Student Medication Administration Authorization (SMAA) that is signed by both the prescribing physician and the parent/guardian. In addition, if applicable, turn in the completed and signed Asthma Action Plan or Food Allergy Emergency Action Plan. All forms can be dropped off at the front office. All forms can be found on the school website.
If your child will require a medication on the first day of school, the medication and all required forms should be dropped off in the office no later than Wednesday, August 16. Also, please email the nurses ahead of time that your student will require a medication dose on the first day of school. All other medications can be dropped off at their earliest convenience.
