Grandparents Day

Today GDW welcomed over 850 grandparents and special guests to our school as part of our annual PTO Grandparents Day event.  Our students worked very hard to make the day special for our guests of honor, where they performed songs, made special projects, and had an opportunity to show their special someone around their classroom.  This was certainly a heartfelt and memorable day for our students and their grandparents.  We hope all of our distinguished guests enjoyed visiting Gary D. Wright Elementary School.  I would also like to recognize and thank the PTO, all of our parent volunteers, and the GDW Staff for their efforts in making today positive, meaningful, and extremely organized.  Happy Grandparents Day, GDW!

PTO Walk-a-Thon

Today, Gary D. Wright Elementary School participated in our annual Walk-a-thon, which is a PTO fundraiser.  Our entire school spent the morning walking, dancing, and participating in other fun challenges on the Hampshire High School track.  We had a blast and also raised $25,776.39 in the process!  I would like to take an opportunity to thank everyone involved in making this event a huge success, including our PTO, parent volunteers, students, staff, Mr. Hicks and Hampshire High School for so graciously hosting us, and all those who donated time and/or funds in support of the Gary D. Wright Elementary School learning community!  I am so proud to be a Wildcat!

Greetings From Camp Duncan

The GDW Fifth Grade Team took their show on the road today, as they traveled to YMCA Camp Duncan for a field trip filled with team building activities and outdoor environmental education fun!  YMCA Camp Duncan, located in Ingleside, Illinois, provides students with the opportunity to make nature their classroom as they learn throughout its 300 acres of forest trails, meadowlands, and 65-acre lake.  As you can see from the photos below, Camp Duncan was a memorable experience for GDW's Fifth Grade Team!

Midwest PBIS Network Silver Level Recipient

We are pleased to announce that Gary D. Wright Elementary School was recently recognized by the Midwest PBIS Network as a Silver Level Recipient for the 2015-2016 school year.  Gary D. Wright Elementary School is part of a larger community of implementers across the country with a strong commitment to positive student outcomes and PBIS implementation.  As a recognized school, we are prominently featured on the Midwest PBIS Network website.  We are both thankful to all of the students, staff, parents, and community who support our efforts and excited to see our school’s progress throughout the 2016-2017 school year!

So Many Activities, So Little Time

Students who are involved in extracurricular activities, from chess club to cheerleading to chorus, tend to have higher self-esteem and stronger connections to school. But an overloaded schedule with too many activities can have the opposite effect, leaving kids and parents stressed out. Each month, the National Association of Elementary School Principals publishes its Report to Parents.  This month's Report to Parents, "So Many Activities, So Little Time", offers families strategies to support their child's extracurricular activities while ensuring they're manageable.