🐾 DES Family Newsletter 🐾

Greetings from the Principal

🌞🐾Dyersville Elementary–Beginning of Summer Message🐾🌞

What an incredible school year we had at Dyersville Elementary! As we wrapped up the final weeks of school, our building was filled with so many special memories — finishing strong in reading and math, enjoying exciting field trips, playing kickball games, celebrating during our annual Color Run, and proudly promoting our 5th graders on to middle school. 🎉📚⚽🌈

None of these moments would have been possible without the partnership and support of our amazing families. Thank you for trusting us each day to help your child(ren) grow academically, socially, and emotionally. It has truly been a privilege to watch our students learn, build friendships, overcome challenges, and become the best versions of themselves throughout the year. ❤️

We are so grateful for the encouragement and support you have shown to your child(ren), our staff, and our entire school community. Together, we continue to make Dyersville Elementary a welcoming, safe, and positive place for all students to learn and grow. 🐾

As summer begins, we hope your family takes time to relax, recharge, make memories, and enjoy all the fun that summer brings! ☀️🍉🏖️📖

Please watch for information regarding the upcoming 2026–2027 school year, which will be sent out toward the end of July.

Have a safe, fun, and fantastic summer, Bobcat families! ❤️🖤

Sincerely,

Mrs. Hillebrand

Principal

jenny.hillebrand@wdbqschools.org

(563)663-9641

Registration for the 26-27 School Year

For families new to the district or those who have not previously had a student enrolled in any of our schools, we have provided a helpful guide. Please refer to the "New Families to the District" section below for detailed instructions on how to register your child for the current or upcoming school year.

Additionally, scroll down this page for important information about Preschool and Kindergarten enrollment.

Online Registration Process

Our online registration process has been created to allow parents/guardians to register their students at their own convenience and is designed to retain all of your student/family information to save you time for future registrations. If you do not have access to a computer, please contact your child's home residence school for assistance. Once you have completed the registration process for one year, the majority of the information you have added will be visible for each following year. YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO UPDATE THE DATES FOR SELECTED FIELDS EVERY YEAR.

REGISTRATION LINK

St. Mark Youth Enrichment After School Program

We strive to create an after school environment of safety and belonging by embracing Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) practices. We achieve this by offering students homework help, unique literacy and physical activities, and community guests sharing hands-on opportunities for students to explore interests in science, technology, engineering, arts, math, and music (STEAM). Students also receive a healthy snack during program.

AFTER SCHOOL

Monday through Friday, from school dismissal until 5:30 pm. Students may be picked up any time before 5:30pm, a late fee will be issued if students are picked up after that time.

Reason for no program

No school days
Early release due to weather
School cancellations
Legacy of Learning - St. Mark Youth Enrichment Gala in May

REQUIREMENTS

Pre-K-5th grade students are eligible. All children must be toilet trained and able to manage their own toileting needs.

PROGRAM FEES

$100 Registration Fee per family & $50 a week per student ($45 for tuition + $5 snack fee).

The fee is due prior to attending a parent information session. If your child is placed on the waitlist, your fee is retained as a placeholder. If you do not wish to remain on the waitlist, a refund may be available. Payment by credit/debit card is available through PayPal. Please click on the PayPal button on this page and follow the on-screen steps.

Register for the 2026-2027 School year

Please note that openings are limited. You will know if you have been accepted into the program in early June.

ST. MARK REGISTRATION

Health, Wellness & Learning Updates 💚📚

Mrs. Domeyer's Health Update

The Importance of Sleep:

As the days get longer and the weather gets nicer, we know it becomes easier for children to stay up later enjoying outdoor play, family activities, and evening events. While this time of year brings many positives, we want to take a moment to emphasize the continued importance of adequate sleep for your child’s health, learning, and overall development.

Sleep plays a vital role in children’s physical growth, brain development, emotional regulation, and ability to focus during the school day. Well‑rested children are better able to concentrate, follow directions, manage their emotions, and engage positively with peers.

Here are a few simple ways families can support healthy sleep habits:

Have a consistent bedtime. Try to maintain this schedule, if possible, on weekends as well.

Create a bedtime routine such as reading, taking a bath, or quiet conversation before bed.

Limit screen time in the evening, especially in the hour before bedtime, as the screens can interfere with falling asleep.

Keep bedrooms dark and quiet.

Avoid caffeine, large meals, and sugary foods/drinks before bedtime

Encourage plenty of physical activity during the day, which can help children sleep more soundly at night.

Source: Mayo Clinic, Sleep Foundation

Mrs. Pederson's Counselor's Corner

Please find the two attachments for Mrs. Pederson's Counseling Newsletter for the summer!

Counselor's Summer Newsletter

Mrs. Pederson

chelsey.pederson@wdbqschools.org

563-258-4011

Mrs. Greenwood's Instructional Update

It has been an incredible year of learning and growth for students here at Dyersville Elementary School! As your Instructional Coach, I’ve had a front-row seat to your children’s hard work—from mastering new phonics sounds to tackling complex math problems. We are so proud of the persistence they’ve shown. To keep that momentum going over the summer, I encourage you to keep reading together and finding 'math moments' in everyday life. Thank you for being our partners in your child's education!

Here is a link to a quick summer activities video: You can skip to the one-minute mark and that is where the activities are explained. These games can be adapted for whatever skills you want to highlight.

5 Fun & Educational Summer Activities for Kids ages 5-8 // outdoor activities for K-2

The "20-Minute Reading Rule" is also a widely recognized educational standard aimed at preventing the loss of academic skills that can occur when students are out of school for extended periods.

Research shows that reading for just 20 minutes a day is the "magic threshold" for maintaining and even improving literacy skills.

Why the "20-Minute Reading Rule" Matters

Vocabulary Exposure: A student who reads for 20 minutes a day is exposed to roughly 1.8 million words per year. In contrast, a student who reads for only 1 minute a day may only see 8,000 words annually.
Academic Achievement: Consistent daily reading is linked to higher test scores, better writing skills, and improved comprehension across all subjects, including math.
Habit Formation: Many experts believe 20 minutes is the ideal duration to turn reading into a lifelong habit rathe than a chore.

Tips for Implementing the Rule

Student Choice is Key: Let students pick what they want to read, whether it's graphic novels, magazines, or sports statistics.
Consistency over Intensity: Reading for 20 minutes every day is more effective than reading for several hours once a week.
Reduce Friction: Keep books in the car, in the living room, or even by the bed to make picking one up as easy as possible.
Audiobooks Count: Listening to a story can build the same background knowledge and vocabulary as physical reading.