Managing Your Child's Health Issues at School

If a student has a health issue, it is absolutely essential that families and schools work together as a team.  Each month, the National Association of Elementary School Principals publishes its Report to Parents.  This month's Report to Parents, "Managing Your Child's Health Issues at School", offers families important strategies to advocate for their child's health.

Happy Holidays

On behalf of the Gary D. Wright Elementary School Staff, I would like to wish all of our Wildcat Families a safe, warm, and relaxing Winter Break!  Happy Holidays!

Holiday Hoopla

Thank you to the GDW PTO and Staff for organizing our first-ever Holiday Hoopla!  Throughout the evening, over 800 members of our Wildcat Learning Community enjoyed shopping at the Holiday Store, visiting Santa, listening to the GDW Choir perform, and engaging in a variety of holiday activities!  We hope everyone had a fun-filled time kicking off the holidays with family and friends!

Culver's Night

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the GDW PTO for organizing this evening's Culver's Night. Also, thanks to our Fourth and Fifth Grade Volunteers (and their parents) for working shifts throughout the evening, the Wildcat Learning Community for coming out to support this event, and the Huntley Culver's for providing us with this opportunity.  Whether you volunteered, dined-in, carried-out, or drove through, we appreciate your involvement and support!  I hope you enjoyed the evening as much as I did!  Culver's will be donating 20% of the evening's sales to the GDW PTO, which equates to $1,142.94!

Setting Goals

The middle of the school year is a great time for families to check in with students on goals. Setting academic and personal goals helps motivate, energize, and focus students, and it is a valuable skill that will benefit learners throughout their lives.  Each month, the National Association of Elementary School Principals publishes its Report to Parents.  This month's issue of Report to Parents, "Setting Goals", will assist families in helping students set and achieve goals.  

A Time To Give Thanks

This week, Gary D. Wright Elementary School's Third Grade Students performed a music concert entitled, "A Time To Give Thanks".  In addition to singing about my favorite Thanksgiving food, mashed potatoes, the students shared with the audience those things that they are most thankful for. In keeping with this theme, I would like to share how thankful I am this holiday season to be part of such a caring learning community.  I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

GDW Collects Box Tops for Education

Did you know that Gary D. Wright Elementary School collects Box Tops For Education?  Every Box Top you collect and send in to school is worth 10¢ to Gary D. Wright Elementary School, and that money really adds up!  Our school collects Box Tops year-round.  As an extra incentive for bringing in Box Tops, Gary D. Wright Elementary School will conduct monthly raffles where each Box Top entered into the raffle will provide students with a chance to earn cool prizes!  Raffle prizes will include “Lunch with Mrs. Gravel, Dr. Unruh,  and a Friend”, school spirit wear, gift cards, and more.  For each Box Top, we are asking that students place their name on the back, which will serve as their ticket to be entered into the raffle. Please place Box Tops in an envelope or baggie and send them in to your child’s classroom teacher.  Every Box Top counts, so even if you have one, please send it in!

Thank you in advance for your continued support of our school and the Box Tops For Education Program! 

GDW's PTO Featured in PTO Today

Recently, the Gary D. Wright Elementary School PTO's annual Spring Flower Sale was featured in both PTO Today and ptotoday.com.  For more details, please check out the article, "Put Some Bounce in Your Spring Fundraising".  Way to go, PTO!

Happy Halloween!

On behalf of the staff at Gary D. Wright Elementary School, we would like to wish all of our Wildcat families a safe and Happy Halloween!

Welcome, Assistant Principal Unruh!

Today, Gary D. Wright Elementary School students and staff welcomed the newest member of our learning community, Dr. Brett Unruh.  Dr. Unruh has officially begun his new role as Assistant Principal of Gary D. Wright Elementary School.

Dr. Unruh has been teaching in District 300 for 10 years serving as a Social Studies and Language Arts teacher at Carpentersville Middle School.  He has fostered not only his teaching career at CMS but also had the opportunity to harness his leadership skills for both school and district wide initiatives.  In addition to completing the district’s Aspiring Administrator Pipeline, Dr. Unruh has served on the Social Studies framework committee, provided leadership regarding the expansion of technology use in the classroom by serving on the 1:1 Team, and was a member of the Pre-AP Team, dedicated to prepare middle school students for Advanced Placement (AP) courses in high school. He also led his colleagues as a team leader.  Dr. Unruh attended and earned his doctorate in Educational Leadership in 2014 from Argosy University.  He also attended National Louis University for his Master’s degree and the University of Iowa for his Bachelor’s degree.  Dr. Unruh has presented at several conferences including:

·        Illinois Council for the Social Studies (2015)

·        Mid-West Educational Research Association (2014)

·        Dissertation (2014)

·        D300 Educator to Educator (2009)

If you would like to send a note welcoming Dr. Unruh to the Gary D. Wright Elementary School Learning Community, his email address is brett.unruh@d300.org.

Dads and Donuts

A huge thank you to all of our GDW Dads for attending this morning's Dads and Donuts Event!  It is my hope that you enjoyed spending some special time at school with your children.  I would also like to recognize and thank our PTO for coordinating a special morning with our dads!

GDW Participates in "Blue Shirt Day" World Day of Bullying Prevention

This October, District 300 is celebrating Bullying Prevention Month and Red Ribbon Week.  On Monday, October 5, Gary D. Wright Elementary School students and staff participated in "Blue Shirt Day" World Day of Bullying Prevention. Students and staff wore blue shirts to school in support of bullying prevention. 

GDW Gives Thanks To Our Custodial Team

In honor of National Custodial Workers Recognition Day, (celebrated on October 2, 2015),  the Gary D. Wright Elementary School Students and Staff would like to recognize the members of our Custodial Team and thank them for all of their efforts in promoting a safe, clean, and effective learning environment for us!  Thank you, Mrs. Gennardo, Mr. Arias, and Mr. Peters for making GDW a great place to learn!

PTO WALK-A-THON

A huge thank you to our Wildcat Community for supporting today's PTO WALK-A-THON fundraiser.  We are pleased to announce that as a result of the tremendous support and generosity of our community, we have well exceeded this year's goal of raising $25,000.  In fact, to date, we have received $31,584.95 in donations!  Thank you to everyone who supported the PTO WALK-A-THON!

Wildcat Night at HHS Football Game

Gary D. Wright Elementary School participated in Wildcat Night and cheered on the Hampshire High School Football Team as they played Grayslake Central.  It only seemed fitting that our new Wildcat mascot made his debut  to help cheer the HHS Whip-purs on to victory!  The announcer even introduced him to the crowd and he has quickly become a fan favorite amongst out Wildcat Learning Community!

Grandparents Day 2015

Today Gary D. Wright Elementary School hosted our Annual Grandparents Day Event!  A huge thank you to the PTO and the GDW Staff for all of their efforts in coordinating this truly memorable event for our students and their families.  Over 850 grandparents were in attendance.  The day's events included a visit to classrooms, treats from the sweet table, photo opportunities, and a song led by our music teacher, Mrs. Rorer.  It was so nice to be able to spend time with many of our grandparents today and to reflect on how proud I am to be a part of such a supportive learning community!  To all of our grandparents, on behalf of Gary D. Wright Elementary School, I wish you a Happy Grandparents Day!

Exciting Things Happening at GDW

Dear Wildcat Families,

It is hard to believe that school has been back in session for nearly three weeks!  This week I have had the privilege of reading Pete The Cat and His Magic Sunglasses to our PreK classes, listening to some of our Kindergarten students read (we are assessing their letter and letter sound recognition), and assisting many of our first through fifth grade classes with the i-Ready Reading and Math Diagnostic Assessment.  We have had a very busy and productive week here at Gary D. Wright Elementary School!  I am thoroughly enjoying getting to know our students, staff, and families!

I am pleased to announce that as a result of our increasing enrollment, in the upcoming weeks the staff and I will be working to select the newest member of our GDW Team.   We are excited to announce that we will be welcoming an assistant principal to Gary D. Wright Elementary School and are anxious to fill the position with the next dynamic member of our staff.  With over ninety new students enrolled this school year in comparison to last school year, the addition of an assistant principal will enable us to better serve the needs of our growing learning community.  Once selected, I look forward to working in partnership with our assistant principal in support of your student’s success!  Enjoy the upcoming Labor Day Weekend!

Warm Regards,

Mrs. Gravel