Thursday Notes – October 22, 2026
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From Mr. Brooke’s Desk
Student Services Staffing Update – Thank you, Heather!
After 27 years of faithful service to Wheaton Christian Grammar School, Heather VanWagner, K-5 Student Services Director, has shared that she will be leaving WCGS on November 17, 2026, to begin a new chapter in her life and ministry. We are so grateful for the incredible work Heather has done at WCGS. She has grown the Student Services program, cared for students, built community, discipled students, guided colleagues, and served faithfully. Her humble approach and student focused efforts have profoundly impacted many. We believe the Lord has opened up an incredible door for Heather. She will be greatly missed here at WCGS, but we are so excited for the role the Lord has carved out for her in Indianapolis. Her family will be sincerely blessed by this move as they will get to see her on a regular basis. Please join us in praying for Heather as she transitions to Heritage Christian School. Also, please pray for us as we look to care for Heather’s position. Thank you, Heather! You have made a remarkable impact on this community, and we praise the Lord for your time here.
Please take a moment to read Heather’s letter HERE as she shares this important update and her appreciation for the WCGS family.
Scholarship Auction & Trivia Night – November 13, 6:30 p.m.
It’s time to RSVP! Don’t miss your chance to join us at WCGS for this year’s Scholarship Auction & Trivia Night! Keep a look out for some sneak peeks of items that will be up for silent auction in the days ahead – it proving to be a great line up! Bidding goes live on November 7, so even if you can’t attend in person, you will have the opportunity to get in on the action. Your participation, at any level, truly makes a difference!
We can continue accepting donations and sponsorships through the end of October and would LOVE to hear from you if you would like to support the cause while showcasing your business to our community! Thank you for considering this fun opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students and families. Questions? Contact Shannon McDonald.
From Mr. Painter’s Desk
Parent-Teacher Conference Registration
Registration for Parent-Teacher Conferences is now open. You received specific instructions on how you are able to sign up last Friday from Beth Wright. Conferences are being held on Thursday, October 29, from 1:00-8:00 p.m. and on Friday, October 30, from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. There is no school on these two days. We look forward to seeing all of you at your children’s conferences as we seek to gain a more complete picture of who your children are and what they need as individuals. Click here for instructions.
Important Upcoming Dates
Friday, October 23
BIRTHDAY: Jennifer Rodriguez (Jr. High Math Teacher)
Junior High Jersey Day
Popcorn Day
Zero Waste Day
3:30-5:00 p.m. – Junior High Capture the Flag (Field)
Saturday, October 24
BIRTHDAY: Jake Lindstedt (Jr. High History Teacher)
Sunday, October 25
BIRTHDAY: Lucy Weber (4th Grade Teacher)
Monday, October 26
BIRTHDAY: Karen Cherry (Nurse)
Hot Lunch – Chick-fil-A/Culver’s
9:00-10:00 a.m. – Moms in Prayer (Room 716)
Tuesday, October 27
Hot Lunch – Jersey Mike’s/Augustino’s
1:15-3:00 p.m. – 5S and 5S2 Trip to Wade Center (Wheaton College)
3:15-5:00 p.m. – Robotics Team (Innovation Hub)
Wednesday, October 28
BIRTHDAY: Antonio Rodriguez (Maintenance)
T2 Hot Lunch Orders Open
Hot Lunch – Barone’s Pizza and Pasta
7:55-8:30 a.m. – MathCounts (Room 807)
3:30-4:30 p.m. – Chess Club (Innovation Hub)
Thursday, October 29
NO SCHOOL – Parent-Teacher Conferences
1:00-8:00 p.m. – Parent-Teacher Conferences
Friday, October 30
BIRTHDAY: Carleigh Schoenleber (Instructional Coach)
NO SCHOOL – Parent-Teacher Conferences
9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. – Parent-Teacher Conferences
Saturday, October 31
BIRTHDAY: Amber Snoeyink (5th Grade Teacher)
Library News
Volunteer Readers Needed to Create AR Tests for Chistian Books
If you enjoy reading and would like to make some of our Christian titles more appealing for our students in grades 3-5, we have a job for you! While many Christian books have official AR tests, occasionally some do not, and we are in the process of writing tests for those books to make them just as appealing as any other book for students who do AR. This task would involve reading the book and writing a 10-question multiple-choice comprehension quiz in a template provided by Mrs. Brown. Please email Mrs. Brown if you are interested and/or stop by the library to choose one or more books. We currently have fantasies, biblical retellings, and apologetics books that are in need of quizzes. Thank you!
Book Fair Volunteers Needed!
We will need many parent volunteers during all parts of the fair including:
- Set-up times on November 16 and 17
- Before, during and after school timeslots to help with book selection and sales on November 18, 19, 20, and 23
- Sales and activities at our Family Night on Thursday, November 20
- Sales on Grandparents Day on Tuesday, November 24
If you are able to volunteer, please sign-up HERE. Classes will be coming during their normal library time which is listed in the sign up. Additional information for KE, 3rd and Jr high will be added to the Sign Up Genius as it is confirmed with teachers.
Notable Notes
Veterans Day Assembly
We have always looked forward to our annual Veterans Day Assembly each November. We believe it is important that we pause and remember all that this day represents. Our assembly will be taking place in the gym on Wednesday, November 11, at 9:00 a.m. We’d love to honor the veterans in our school community by showing their picture in a slide show that students will see during the program. Any student with a parent, grandparent, or other family member who IS or HAS BEEN a member of the Armed Forces is invited to email a picture of that individual to Lauren Fortosis by Friday, October 30, so that it can be included in a tribute video. (If you have submitted information for the video in the past, we will automatically include it in this year’s video unless you contact us indicating that it needs to be removed). Please include the following information with your picture:
- Student Name:
- Veteran’s/Active Duty Soldier’s Name:
- Relationship to Student:
- Branch of Service:
We would also love to invite veterans who are family members of current students to attend the assembly (in uniform if possible) to be introduced. Our guests of honor and their families will have a reserved seating section that is easily accessible and a brief reception following the assembly. If you have a veteran who can attend, please RSVP to Lauren Fortosis by Wednesday, November 4.
An Evening with Heather Headley – Saturday, November 7
In partnership with Wheaton Christian Grammar School, Wheaton Academy presents an evening with Grammy and Tony Award-winning WCGS and WA parent, Heather Headley. Heather brings decades of professional performance experience, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our stage for a special concert event! An Evening with Heather Headley will be at the Wheaton Academy Fine Arts Center on November 7 at 7:00 p.m. As a valued part of our WCGS community, we would like to offer you 50% off your ticket purchase. Use code Heather50 at checkout to apply the discount. Tickets are limited for this one-time event, so order now! Heather Headley – Wheaton Academy
WCGS Custodian Needed
WCGS is seeking to hire a custodial technician. The person will provide part-time support services for all school activities and program as relating to maintaining a clean, safe environment including the exterior, interior and mechanical systems and equipment. The position is 20 plus hours a week on Monday through Friday from 4:00-9:00 p.m. More information is available on the WCGS website.
Community Corner
A Weekend with Ayman S. Ibrahim
This exciting event featuring Dr. Ibrahim will be held on Saturday, November 7, and Sunday, November 8, at Christ Presbyterian Church (371 S. Schmale Road, Carol Stream). The conference on Saturday, November 7, begins at 9:00 a.m. and runs until 2:00 p.m. Dr. Ibrahim will also be speaking on Sunday, November 8, during Sunday School at 9:15 a.m. and at the worship service at 10:30 a.m. For more information about the conference and a biography of Dr. Ibrahim, please click here.
