The WCSD believes in the importance of providing continuing education opportunities related to current and relevant topics to assist our school counselors in the performance of their job tasks.  The trainings are planned with interactive content and so they are immediately implementable.  During the 2020-2021 school year, trainings on topics such as Social Emotional Learning, Trauma Informed Classrooms, MTSS and Early Warning System Data and many more were provided to the WCSD school counselors. These topics were chosen based on input from the counselors, as well as, state and district initiatives. We are very proud of the dedication, collegiality and professionalism of our school counselors.

WHAT is STEM Discovery Expedition 2021? • FREE, three-day VIRTUAL event during which students take part in hands-on STEM expeditions online from any location! Students will work with instructors during live online sessions. • Opportunities to build, design, problem solve, write code, analyze materials, and get creative, all while learning and doing STEM with amazing presenters! • The majority of hands-on activities will require that students use items they already have access to at home. • At least thirty learning sessions, each an hour-long, from which to choose. Students may attend as many as they wish. • Learning will occur in a secure environment in which student identities will be hidden and chat comments will not be public; instead, they’ll go directly to a teacher who is managing the meeting room.

HOW do I join the expedition? • REGISTRATION OPENS THURSDAY, MAY 27. 2021. • Go to http://www.paec.org/STEMDiscoveryExpeditions2.0/ • Click on the “create an account” tab at the top of the page. • Complete the account information. • You will be able to see the complete list and descriptions of Expeditions and register for those in which you want to take part.

Click the link below for more information.  

Dune Lakes Elementary School celebrated their fifth graders in a promotion ceremony on Monday, May 24th. Students and guests were welcomed to an outdoor ceremony on the school’s north lawn and basketball courts where each student was presented a certificate of promotion to sixth grade. 

Fifth grade student Levi Peterson read poem “Let No One Steal Your Dreams” by Paul Cookson, the school choir, the Sandpiper Singers, sang a piece from their Spring Concert.

 An extra special thank you to Sandpiper Boosters who secured Epic Photo, Co. to provide a complimentary photo for each student with their family. 

Principal Chavers left students with thoughtful remarks like “look up” from your device or screen to be present in life happening around you and to be kind to one another. 

While the 2020-2021 fifth grade class was the second to promote to sixth grade from the new campus, opened in 2019, it was the first to be formally recognized in an on campus ceremony.  

Our Dune Lakes family is so proud of this fifth grade class and wish them the very best as they prepare for middle school!  

All school year, WMS seventh grade Civics teachers Mrs. Katie Williams and Ms. Regina Messer have worked hard to impart a strong civic education to their students. Throughout the year, students developed the following key understandings: the principles, functions and organization of government; the origins of the American political system; the roles, rights, and responsibilities of citizens; and the methods for actively participating in our political system. To review all of these essential concepts at the end of the year, Mrs. Williams and Ms. Messer designed a variety of collaborative learning opportunities for students, allowing them to put their heads together to think deeply about real world applications of their learning. At the beginning of May, seventh grade Civics students demonstrated their knowledge and understanding on the Civics end-of-course exam (EOC). Thanks to their teachers’ dedicated preparation and the students’ hard work, WMS seventh graders were well equipped for success on not only the EOC but also for their futures as United States citizens.