Happy Halloween, Wildcats!

Hampshire Fire Protection District's Fire Prevention Month Coloring Contest

Congratulations to the following Gary D. Wright Elementary School students, who were winners of the Hampshire Fire Protection District's Fire Prevention Month Coloring Contest:

• Greyson Fikis - Kindergarten
• Kelianna Larkin - First Grade
• Vivian Pusateri - Second Grade
• Kaylee Miller - Third Grade

Oh, My! Our Principals Got Pied!

As an incentive for our Wildcat Learning Community raising approximately $36,000 in support of this year's PTO Walk-a-thon, our Wildcat students earned the opportunity to "pie" Principal Gravel and Assistant Principal Cappas during grade-level assemblies.  During the assemblies, we shared in many laughs and used just as many cans of Reddi Whip in the process!  We would like to thank everyone for their support of the Walk-a-thon!  Thank you, GDW PTO,  for assisting throughout the assemblies and for all that you do to support our school!

Fire Prevention Education

We would like to thank the Hampshire Fire Protection District for Providing Fire Prevention Education to all of our Wildcats at Gary D. Wright Elementary School throughout the month of October.  We are incredibly appreciative of the Hampshire Fire Protection District for teaching us these important lessons and keeping us safe!

Second Grade Music Performance

Under the direction of GDW Music Teachers, Miss Crater and Ms. Ritchie, our second grade students put on a fabulous music performance this evening entitled, "Let's Eat"!  In addition to so many of our family and friends filling the audience, we were graced with two very special concert-goers.  Mr. Wright and Mrs. O'Conner were in attendance at this evening's performance.  Mr. Wright was Miss Crater's principal and Mrs. O'Conner was Miss Crater's music teacher while she attended Hampshire Elementary School.  Both Mr. Wright and Mrs. O'Conner were highly influential in Miss Crater's education, as they were to so many students in the Hampshire community.  It was an honor to have them as our special guests this evening.  Perhaps some of our Wildcats will choose to become music educators and someday Miss Crater and Principal Gravel would love to be sitting in the audience at those performances!

GDW Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month

As part of our celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we welcomed Grupo De Danza Folklorica Quetzaly to perform in an assembly at our school today.  The group focuses on promoting Mexican culture through dance and folk music and consists of dancers who range in age from five to nineteen years old, including GDW's very own, Mia Munoz.  Mia is a current fifth grade student at Gary D. Wright Elementary School.  We enjoyed the vibrant colors of the costumes, the beautiful dancing, and rhythmic music that filled both our gymnasium and our hearts.

Wildcats Participate in ILMEA Elementary General Music Festival

Congratulations to GDW Music Teacher, Miss Crater, and to the following GDW fifth graders for their participation in the 2019 District 9 Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) Elementary General Music Festival: Ethan Reddy, Lianne Bucana, Ryder Fischer, Zoe Neitzel, Gracyn Rodriguez, Nathaniel Ohprecio, Caylee Blatz, and Lily Ireland.  This year, the festival was located at Westfield Community School.  Our students represented GDW well as they had a great morning singing, moving, and drumming!

GDW Welcomes "The Juggler With the Yellow Shoes"

To kick off Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, Gary D. Wright Elementary School welcomed Mr. Dan Kirk ("The Juggler With the Yellow Shoes") to our school.  Mr. Kirk, who has been on America's Got Talent, performed in two assemblies at GDW.   During the shows, he shared anti-bullying messages while also providing some entertainment including juggling and even a unicycle ride around our gym.