Hi Families! Join us tonight from 5:30–7:00 PM at the Elementary in Crawfordsville as we celebrate our month of reading Mr. Popper’s Penguins!
We’ll have:
🍽️ A small meal
🐧 Penguin-themed activities
🏅 Fun Olympics-themed games
📖 A celebration of reading together as a school community
We can’t wait to see our WACO families there for a fun evening of literacy and learning! 💙✨
💬 Read what one colleague/parent had to say about Amy:
“Amy is at school early each day to help out with the supervision of children in the WACO Elementary gym. She is also in the lunchroom every day helping with seating, condiments, opening containers, getting students items they may forget, washing tables, excusing kids for bathroom breaks, helping scrape trays, etc. I know she loves each student, including my son, like her own and she always has a smile on her face and a positive thing to say. My son adores her and I am so grateful that she is with him every day.”
As a reminder, you can submit a shoutout here:
https://forms.gle/ryxw63QNCEQrtkdMA
WACO Families Read in February
WACO Elementary students and their families are reading the classic book Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater. Activities at school are coordinating and promoting the shared reading experience that students are getting at home.
The benefits of reading aloud to children are remarkable. Studies have shown that reading to children helps them listen better and develop comprehension skills, build bigger vocabularies, feel positive about both books and learning, and it’s a great way to spend quality time together!
Students at school are currently participating in activities planned around the book and the Winter Olympics including dress up days, reading buddies, finding hidden penguins, Olympics classroom countries, Family Literacy Night on February 19, and at the end of the month a wrap-up celebration with different penguin and Olympics-themed games and activities.
Interested in becoming a WACO Warrior?
Families choose WACO Community School District for a supportive, student-centered learning environment where academic growth, strong relationships, and community values thrive—made possible by our unbelievable community support.
Why WACO?
📅 4-Day School Week – Offering families added flexibility while maintaining high-quality instruction
🌾 Hands-On Learning Opportunities – Including a brand new Eichelberger Farms Agri-Science Center
🏆 Positive & Supportive Climate – Proud to be named an Iowa Top Workplace, reflecting the strong culture we’ve built for staff and students
🎓 Considering Open Enrollment?
Learn more and get started here:
👉 https://www.wacocsd.org/page/open-enrollment
📣 WACO Open Enrollment Deadlines
• Grades 1–12: Applications due March 1
• Kindergarten & Special Education Preschool: Applications due September 1
💬 We want to hear from YOU!
If you’re part of the WACO family, comment below and tell us why you chose WACO Community School District. Your story might help another family make their decision!
Our WACO Staff Shoutout this week goes to Michelle Fedler: Preschool Teacher/Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
💬 Read what one parent had to say about Michelle:
“She does such an amazing job with all her students talks, listens, and supports them. She treats her kids like they are her own!! My daughter loves going to her class and if she could tell me about her day it would be full of wonderful things!”
As a reminder, you can submit a shoutout here:
https://forms.gle/ryxw63QNCEQrtkdMA
In an effort to help families plan ahead, we want to notify you that WACO Community School District will operate on a 2-hour delay on Monday, January 19th, due to predicted cold weather conditions and the potential for blowing snow throughout the evening.
We appreciate your flexibility and understanding as we make adjustments to prioritize the safety and well-being of our students and staff.
Thank you for your continued support.
💬 Read what one parent had to say about Kelsey:
“Kelsey is truly amazing and has exceeded my expectations not only as a teacher, but also as a person and a friend. She has been incredibly supportive during a very difficult time in my life and consistently shows genuine care and dedication to my kid. Her compassion, kindness, and commitment mean more to our family than words can express.”
As a reminder, you can submit a shoutout here:
https://forms.gle/ryxw63QNCEQrtkdMA
WACO Families,
WACO CSD will dismiss at 1:00 p.m. today, December 11th, due to forecasted weather conditions. All evening activities and all practices are cancelled, and school buildings will remain closed for the remainder of the day.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
There is a story behind this Veteran's Day display. Last year, Kindness Week and Veteran's Day fell during the same time. To support the Brown family during SFC John Brown's deployment, students in every grade created cards celebrating holidays throughout the year. Each holiday, a new set of cards was mailed to John and his company to help spread kindness across the world and show our support for our troops. These cards not only traveled the globe—they made it home. They are proudly displayed during the month of November, surrounded by photos of those who are currently serving or have served in our community.
We thank all who have served and those who continue to serve for the strength, dedication, and selflessness they show our nation. Our school community is grateful for you today and every day.
To recognize these efforts, we are excited to introduce the WACO Staff Recognition Program! This initiative gives families and community members the chance to celebrate the incredible work happening across our district.
Here’s how it works:
👉 Share your nomination using this form: https://forms.gle/cA4j2KWbcfamaJdL7
👉 Each week, one nomination will be featured on the WACO CSD Facebook page and other platforms.
👉 The recognized staff members will be celebrated for their positive impact and contributions.
This program is our way of saying thank you and ensuring the everyday efforts of WACO staff don’t go unnoticed!
