Thursday Notes – May 21, 2026
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From Mr. Painter’s Desk
Awards Assemblies
We are excited for our annual Awards Assemblies for Grades 1-8, taking place next Friday, May 29. Our grade 1-5 students will meet in the gym at 9:00 a.m. and our grade 6-8 students will gather in the Commons at 10:30 a.m. This will be a special time for students to be acknowledged by their teachers and peers for the many activities, accomplishments, and talents from this school year. Although space is limited, parents are welcome to attend these Awards Assemblies.
Due to the nature of this event, students are asked to dress nicely (*see below for description). With the awareness that many students will be walking up on the stage, we feel it is especially important to remind families to pay attention to the length of dresses and skirts due to current style trends (and the fact that kids grow quickly!).
All students should arrive for a normal school day start time of 8:50 a.m. The times of the events are as follows:
- 9:00 a.m. Awards Assembly: Grades 1-5 (Gym)
- 10:30 a.m. Awards Assembly: Grades 6-8 (Commons)
- 12:00 p.m. 8th Grade Celebratory Lunch
Thank you for helping us create an environment that is conducive to celebrating God’s goodness in the lives of our students.
*Chapel Days/Awards Assembly Appearance Code:
It is our intent that students recognize that chapel days are unique, special days that we come together as a school to corporately worship God. To signify the distinctiveness of the day, we think it is appropriate for students to “dress up” on chapel days as an outward gesture of an inward attitude of our hearts. Students should refrain from wearing jeans, shorts, or sweatshirts on these days and boys in grades 6-8 are encouraged to wear shirts with ties. Girls are encouraged to wear pants, dresses or skirts that conform to our school appearance code. We do not desire to be legalistic or harsh in the application of these expectations. God ultimately cares more about our hearts than our clothes, but we do wish to signify that the day has a special meaning and purpose that is different from most school days. Similarly, students are asked to “dress up” for the annual Awards Assembly. (Parent Handbook, Appearance Code)
Important Upcoming Dates
Friday, May 22
Zero Waste Day
10:15-11:30 a.m. – Kindergarten Field Day
3:30 p.m. – 8th Grade Class Trip Return
Saturday, May 23
BIRTHDAY: Cindy Olsen (Kindergarten Teacher)
Monday, May 25
BIRTHDAY: Heather Van Wagner (K-5 Student Services Director)
NO SCHOOL – Memorial Day
Tuesday, May 26
Hot Lunch – Jersey Mike’s/Augustino’s
9:45-11:30 a.m. – Field Day (Grades 1-3)
1:15-3:10 p.m. – Field Day (Grades 4-5)
Wednesday, May 27
Last Hot Lunch
Hot Lunch – Barone’s Pizza and Pasta
9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. – 1st Grade Trip to Peck Farm (Geneva)
12:20-3:15 p.m. – Field Day (Grades 6-8)
Thursday, May 28
BIRTHDAY: Luke Spradley (Jr. High Science Teacher)
9:00 a.m. – All School Praise and Worship Chapel (Gym)
Friday, May 29
BIRTHDAY: Lea Lamb (K-3 Music Teacher)
Zero Waste Day
9:00 a.m. – Awards Assembly (Grades 1-5)
10:30 a.m. – Awards Assembly (Grades 6-8)
12:00 p.m. – 8th Grade Celebratory Lunch (Courtyard)
Saturday, May 30
BIRTHDAY: Lauren Fortosis (Administrative Assistant to the Head of School)
Nurse Notes
End of Year Reminders from the Nurse’s Office
- All medication kept in the nurse’s office will be returned on or before last day of school. As a reminder, a new action plan or medication form is required each school year. 2026-27 forms are available on the website.
- Any grade 5-8 student wanting to participate in a fall sport will need a physical or sports physical prior to tryouts. A new physical is needed each year for sports. Summer appointments fill up very fast so now is a great time to schedule those.
- All incoming kindergarteners, and sixth graders need a physical turned in by August 1. There are required immunizations for each of those grades. Please email nurse@wheatonchristian.org for any questions about physicals.
- All forms be emailed, faxed, or turned in at the front office. The school’s fax number is 630-668-2475.
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. Interest forms are due tomorrow, May 22, to Mrs. Brown.
End-of-Year Dates
8TH GRADERS: All books were due on May 15. Books and fines should be turned in ASAP.
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
Golf Outing WAITLIST and LAST CALL for the Ladies Brunch!
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.
This is the last call to register for the Ladies’ Brunch event! Join us for a relaxing and fun morning at Cantigny. Starting at 9:00 a.m. on June 2, we will enjoy coffee on the patio, a delicious breakfast buffet, a scenic welcoming atmosphere plus, new this year, a hands-on activity where you’ll create a little something special to take home! At $35 per person, it’s a great way to celebrate the end of the school year and spend a little time in community. Grab a friend or come ready to meet new people. We’d love to see you there! Please RSVP by Friday, May 22.
We are so excited about our current list of 41 generous event sponsors! Sponsorship makes such a big impact on helping us meet our annual Scholarship Fund goal. We are grateful for the incredible support!
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.
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 Sports Camps at Wheaton Academy
Top high school coaches lead all camps this summer at WA:
D.A. Nichols – Volleyball camps and Multi-Sport Camp
Kurt Vahle – Girls Summer Hoops
Jeff Brooke and Maria Selvaggio – Warrior Youth Soccer
Paul Ferguson (new WA head coach boys) – Co-Ed Hoops
Camp Information and Registration – CLICK HERE
We can’t wait to see you for a great summer of sports fun for elementary school and middle school boys and girls.
Chicago Eagles Supplemental Tryout
We are holding a Free Supplemental Tryout for our girls’ teams! It will be open to girls that are categorized in the U9 to U12 age groups for the 2026/27 year! It will be held on Thursday, May 28, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at New Life Bilingual Church (468 Ann St, West Chicago, IL 60185). You can sign up with the link HERE. Please spread the word to any families with girls who may be interested in joining an Eagles team! If there are any girls that would like to play but are unable to attend the supplemental tryout, email info@chicagoeagles.com and we will find a different time for them to tryout!
The Age Groups for the 2026-27 Season are as follows.
U9: August 1, 2017 – July 31, 2018
U10: August 1, 2016 – July 31, 2017
U11: August 1, 2015 – July 31, 2016
U12: August 1, 2014 – July 31, 2015
We hope to see you there!
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.
