Thursday Notes – August 21, 2025
View This Week’s Photos
From Mr. Brooke’s Desk
First Day of School
We were so excited to welcome students and families to campus this morning to launch the first day of school. As we begin, we are asking God to guide students toward knowing God, loving God, and loving others in a transformational way. It is such an honor to partner with families who seek to raise their children to be Christ-centered, critical thinkers, who build community for God’s glory and only by His grace. Thank you for the privilege of engaging with your family this school year.
Year Verse
The youngest student in each family will bring home a Mark 1:17 verse card in the next few days. Please place this around the house, in the car, or in a place that allows your family to reflect on this verse throughout the year. If you need extras, please don’t hesitate to stop by the front office. We will focus on the theme, “Follow and Fish” all throughout the year, and I am excited to see this theme take root in our community.
From Mr. Painter’s Desk
Morning Drop-off
It was a beautiful morning for the first day of school! We enjoyed having so many of you on campus today. Thank you for your patience in our parking lots as we navigated an unusually high number of vehicles coming on campus. We know there will be far fewer tomorrow! As a reminder, teachers of students in grades K-4 will continue to meet their students at their designated locations until after Labor Day (September 2). Teachers of students in grades 5-8 will meet their students at these locations again tomorrow (Friday), and then students will be able to enter on their own starting Monday, August 25. For all students in K-8, if the weather is poor, students can be dropped off at their designated entrances and walk into the building directly.
Jr. High Atrium
Parents of junior high students may drop their children off at the Jr. High Atrium starting at 8:30 a.m., utilizing its main entrance (Door 2). We encourage our junior high students to take advantage of this great opportunity to connect with their peers in this space before school begins!
Handbooks
Please review the 2025-26 Parent Handbook and Jr. High Handbook that have been updated on our website. You can find them here.
Back-to-School Night.
Please save these dates!
- Grades 6-8 Back-to-School Night: Tuesday, August 26, at 6:30 p.m.
- Grades K-5 Back-to-School Night: Thursday, August 28, at 6:30 p.m.
These evenings are planned for you to meet and hear from your child’s teacher. Please make them a priority. More details will be sent out next week. As a reminder, these events are for parents, and childcare will not be available. Thanks for your understanding!
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 in their homeroom 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.
- Tuesday, September 2 – Thursday, September 4: Grades 6-8
- Friday, September 5 & Monday, September 8: Grades 4-5
- Tuesday, September 9 – Wednesday, September 10: Grades 2-3
- Thursday, September 11 – Friday, September 12: 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.
Important Upcoming Dates
Thursday, August 21
Q1 Hot Lunch/Popcorn/Slush Orders Open
Friday, August 22
Summer Reading Logs Due
Summer Library Books Due
3:30 p.m. Auxiliary Treats on the Playground
Saturday, August 23
9:00-11:00 a.m. – Jr. High Praise Team Auditions
Monday, August 25
BIRTHDAY: Delena Ollila (Choir Teacher)
Tuesday, August 26
6:30-8:30 p.m. – Grades 6-8 Back to School Night
Wednesday, August 27
9:00 a.m. – Chapel (Grades K-2)
9:45 a.m. – Chapel (Grades 3-5)
10:45 a.m. – Chapel (Grades 6-8)
7:00-8:00 p.m. – Beginning Instrumental Night
Thursday, August 28
Q1 Hot Lunch/Popcorn/Slush Orders Due
6:30-8:30 p.m. – Grades K-5 Back to School Night
Friday, August 29
8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. – 8th Grade Challenge (Fox Valley Action Center)
Library News
Summer Reading Logs and Summer Books Due Tomorrow!
Please turn in any books that you still have from summer checkout tomorrow. Students can turn in their summer reading logs to their classroom teachers if they have not already done so.
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, September 4, or help at the event on Friday, September 5. We will need several parent helpers on both days. Please sign up HERE if you are available.
Shelving Volunteers Needed
The library is in need of some weekly shelving volunteers. 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 email Mrs. Brown if you are interested in this opportunity.
Notable Notes
School Pictures
Picture Day is Friday, September 5, during normal school hours. We will again be using JostensPix to capture smiles. JostensPix offers 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! Reminders and additional information will be provided as the date approaches. 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 10.
Forms on FACTS Family Portal
Have you completed your forms yet? 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 no later than August 26.
To access these forms, follow the instructions below:
Go to the school website (wheatonchristian.org)
Click the tab, FACTS Family Portal, at the top of the screen
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.
Sports Forms
These two forms are to be completed for your grade 5-8 child for participation in athletics this school year. Any questions regarding these forms can be directed to Bess Paull.
Fall 2025 Grades K-8 Chess Club
Registration for the 2025 Fall Season of the WCGS Chess Club is now open for interested students in grades K-8. This club will meet Thursdays after school from 3:30-4:30 p.m. We plan to split the students into two groups according to ability level/experience. To sign up, email wcgschess@gmail.com with your student’s name and grade. We are excited that our previous chess coach, Mr. Jeff DiOrio, will be teaching again. Jeff DiOrio is the owner of Elite Chess and has been coaching chess for many years. The first Chess Club session begins Thursday, September 18. The club will meet for the following 12 sessions: 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/13, 11/20, 12/4, 12/11, and 12/18. Cost to participate: $100.
Backpack Donations
Are you looking to donate your gently used or new backpacks? Please bring them to WCGS and place them in the utility tote labeled Serve for Hope Uganda located just inside Door #1. The utility tote will be available for donations until mid-September. Leonard and Lauren Matovu (parents of Joelle, 3rd grade) founded and lead a ministry called Serve for Hope Uganda located in Namungoona, Uganda. Through a variety of programs, the Matovus and their team in Uganda aim to share the love of Christ and provide quality education to students in need. One way this is accomplished is by providing backpacks filled with school supplies which will be distributed at the start of the Ugandan school year (late January/early February). Thanks for your partnership in sharing the love of Christ and providing quality education for students in need!
Additional Recess Supervisor Needed
We are looking for one additional Recess Supervisor who is willing to serve on Mondays for this coming school year. This is a paid position and a wonderful opportunity to serve the school and your children on a weekly basis with a minimal time commitment. Just think – you get to be outside, interacting and playing with our precious students (your children!) on days that work best in your own schedule! The Recess Supervisor time commitment is from 11:40 a.m. –1:10 p.m. We would appreciate your help anywhere from one day a week to five days a week. If you are interested in serving, please contact Beth Wright so that we can provide you with more information about this opportunity. Thank you!
Community Corner
FCA Basketball 2025-26 Evaluations
Information for FCA Basketball – CLICK HERE
Boys DYTBL teams’ evaluations will be Monday, August 25, and Wednesday, August 27
3rd / 4th / 5th grade 6:00-7:15 p.m. both nights
6thA and B / 7th A and B / 8th A and B 7:30-8:50 p.m. both nights
Register for boys’ evaluations – CLICK HERE
FCA DYTBL Girls teams!!
We will run girl’s grades 3rd-6th DYTBL travel teams.
Evaluations will be Tuesday, August 26, and Thursday, August 28
3rd / 4th / 5th / 6th grade only 6:00-7:30 p.m. both nights
