Thursday Notes – May 14, 2026
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From Mr. Brooke’s Desk
29th Annual Scholarship Golf Outing
The response from golfers has been excellent and golf registration is now full. Please email Shannon McDonald if you would like to be added to a waitlist to be contacted if any spots become available in the coming weeks. We are so grateful to our current list of sponsors for their help in anchoring this meaningful event. Sponsorship makes a significant impact on helping us meet our annual scholarship goal which provides tuition assistance to make Christian education possible for about one-third of our families. We would welcome a few more sponsors to partner with us and get your name out on the course while supporting scholarship.
Sign Up Soon!
Golf might be full, but there is still some room for the Ladies’ Brunch event! Before summer schedules take over, join us for a relaxing and fun morning at Cantigny. This is the perfect opportunity to connect with friends, meet new people, and enjoy the beautiful golf course setting with no golf required. Starting at 9:00 a.m., we will enjoy coffee on the patio, a delicious breakfast buffet, and a scenic welcoming atmosphere. At $35 per person, it’s a great way to celebrate the end of the school year and spend a little time in community.
We’re also working on adding a little extra fun to the morning with a possible special take-home experience, so keep an eye out for updates. Grab a friend or come ready to meet new people. We’d love to see you there!
More questions? Contact Shannon McDonald at 630.668.1385, ext. 201.
Important Upcoming Dates
Friday, May 15
Popcorn Day
Zero Waste Day
2:00 p.m. – Co-Ed Track IESA Sectional Meet @ Chicago Hope Academy
6:00-9:00 p.m. – Jr. High Gala (Grades 7-8)
Saturday, May 16
BIRTHDAY: Bill Bickhart (K-3 P.E. Teacher)
9:00 a.m. – Girls’ Soccer SWAC Tournament @ Westminster Christian
Monday, May 18
BIRTHDAY: Kat Floeter (3rd Grade Teacher)
Hot Lunch -Culver’s
7:00 p.m. – Board Meeting (Library)
Tuesday, May 19
Hot Lunch – Jersey Mike’s/Augustino’s
7:00 p.m. – Junior High Spring Choral Concert
Wednesday, May 20
Hot Lunch – Barone’s Pizza and Pasta
6:00 p.m. – WCGS Art Showcase
Thursday, May 21
BIRTHDAY: Annie Sparacio (Kindergarten Teacher)
7:00 a.m. – 8th Grade Class Trip Departure for Gull Lake (Michigan)
Friday, May 22
Zero Waste Day
10:15 a.m. – Kindergarten Field Day
3:30 p.m. – 8th Grade Class Trip Return
Saturday, May 23
BIRTHDAY: Cindy Olsen (Kindergarten Teacher)
STEAM+ Notes
Family Garden Days
This summer, we will have four Family Garden Days. We welcome helpers of all ages and for any length of time. Join other families and serve by helping with weeding, watering, caring, and harvesting the garden. Mark your calendar for June 5, June 17, July 15, and August 1. Let us know how many are coming by signing up here. Hope to see you there!
Terracycle and SCARCE Collection Update
A special thanks to all parents, students, and faculty for making our collection this year such a great success. Our school collected over 300 pounds of apple sauce pouches and 20 pounds of pop tabs. Way to go WCGS! We also collected over 10 pounds of broken crayons and 2 pounds of plastic bread tabs. All of these items collected will be recycled and not enter the landfill!
The last day for our collections of apple sauces, crayons, pop tabs, and bread tabs will be this coming Wednesday, May 27.
Robotics Team Application for the 2026-2027 Season
Students entering grades 4-8 this fall have the opportunity to be part of the WCGS First LEGO League Robotics Team, Peculiar People. Students research a real-world engineering challenge, develop a solution, and compete with LEGO-based robots of their own design. For more information, check out this website: First Lego League. If your child is interested in trying out, please read through this application and return it completed by Wednesday, June 3. Teacher recommendations will be due Wednesday, June 3. Printed copies of the application are available from your child’s science teacher or in the main office. Please hand deliver it or email to Jacqueline Lauriat no later than June 3, 2026.
Zero Waste Day is tomorrow!
Every Friday for Zero Waste Day, there will be no plastic silverware available at lunch time. Please send in reusable utensils for your child to use in their lunch.
Library News
Battle of the Books
Any incoming 4th or 5th grade students have the opportunity to participate on our Battle of the Books team for next year. This is a team of students who will read from a list of 40 books and compete with other area schools at the Wheaton Public Library about their knowledge of the books. You can find the Book List and Information and Interest Form here. The first reading requirement is to read 10 books from the list over the summer, so students should sign up now to be on the team.
End-of-Year Dates
8TH GRADERS: Library books will be due Friday, May 15 (grace day on Monday, May 18)
ALL BOOKS DUE (K-7): Tuesday, May 26
LAST DAY FOR AR TESTS TO COUNT TOWARD AWARD CERTIFICATES: Tuesday, May 26 (Tests may still be taken for classroom goals.)
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Students will not be able to receive their yearbooks until all of their library books are returned and fines paid. These obligations need to be taken care of by Wednesday, May 27, to ensure that students will receive their yearbooks with the rest of their classmates. Yearbooks that are held due to library obligations will need to be picked up from the library when the fine is paid or book is returned.
Summer Book Checkout!
Stock up on some great books to read over the summer! Each returning student may check out up to TEN books to keep over the summer. All books will be due on Friday, August 21. Note that we will not have summer library hours, so this will be their opportunity to get books.
Students taking advantage of summer book checkout MUST have a signed Permission Form. Feel free to accompany your child to check out his or her summer books, but it is not required. Summer checkout hours are:
Tuesday, June 2—8:30-9:00 a.m. and 3:25-4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 3—8:30-9:00 a.m. and 3:25-4:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 4—8:30-9:00 a.m. and 10:00-10:15 a.m.
We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity and keep our books from getting dusty on the shelves over the summer!
Fine Print: Students must have returned all books and paid all fines from this school year. Unfortunately, graduating 8th graders and students not returning to WCGS next year cannot participate.
Summer Reading Program and Assignments
Parents of students entering 1st-8th grade, be on the lookout in the next few weeks for information regarding our summer reading program (grades 1-5) and assignments (grades 6-8). We hope students will fill those long summer hours with some great books!
Notable Notes
Calling All Junior High Readers
Sign-ups for the Young Adult Battle of the Books team (YABOB) have begun for next school year! YABOB is for Junior High students (rising 6-8 graders) who love to read and would like to compete in trivia-style competitions with other schools. Students will begin and complete the majority of reading this summer along with one gathering. In the fall, practices and competitions will be held during lunch or after school. If your child would like to be part of the team, email Mandy Jasper by Monday, June 1, to sign up. Reading assignments and further details will then be provided to the team in early June.
Art Showcase
This year WCGS will be hosting its own “Art Showcase” to celebrate those students whose artwork has demonstrated excellence in both skill and design. Student artwork that was selected for the Art Showcase will be evaluated and judged by impartial art colleagues outside of the WCGS community. The Art Showcase will take place on the evening of Wednesday, May 20, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. in the Atrium (enter through Door 2) – all are welcome to attend! This will be an open house event, providing a chance for friends and family to enjoy a special art display to celebrate the hard work of these students. Refreshments will be available for your enjoyment. *Communication was sent out to those families whose child/children were chosen to participate in this event.
Missing WCGS Visitor Lanyards
Please take a moment to check your vehicles and purses for any missing WCGS visitor lanyards. Our supply is getting low and we need any stray lanyards to be returned. Thank you!
Looking for Summer Tutoring Options?
Parents, if you are considering a tutor for your child for skill and concept remediation, review, or enrichment, we have a list of WCGS teachers who are available for tutoring during the summer months. Please reach out to Mandy Jasper, 6-8 Director of Student Services & School Social Worker and she can provide you with resources. Tutoring arrangements are independently made between the parent and the tutor.
Community Corner
Summer Stage Theater Camp
Summer Stage Theater Camp is back for its 4th year! This camp, led by Mae Iseman, Hannah Peacock, and Hailey Weston, is being held August 3-8 from 12:30-3:30 p.m. with a performance on Friday at 3:00 p.m. The cost of the camp is $85 and includes a daily snack and craft, plus a camp t-shirt. Camp is for girls ages 6-11 and will be held at the Weston home (1 Marywood Trail, Wheaton). For more information see the camp flyer.
Fiber Arts Camp
Join this camp and learn to crochet, sew, weave, and more! Camp will be held August 3-7 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at 893 Chatham Drive, Carol Stream. This camp is open to incoming 3rd graders and older. Materials and a snack will be provided each day. This group is facilitated by Wheaton Academy students Abby Willemssen, Faith Romanovich, and Ada Wang. The cost is $45 for the week. If interested, contact Abby Willemssen at abigail.willemssen@icloud.com.
Wheaton College Soccer Camps
Wheaton College is hosting soccer camps and clinics for players ages 5-13 in the summer. Programs are designed for every skill level, offering instruction and activities that are geared to the levels of all participants. Camps are led by the Wheaton College Men’s Soccer coaching staff and current soccer players. Camps are held June 8-12 and June 15-19 in Joe Bean Stadium at Wheaton College. For more information and to register, please visit their website. Camp is nearly full! A waitlist will be started. For more information, please contact Steve McCrath.
