DRE Weekly News December 15, 2025

At Discovery Ridge Elementary, we take pride in our students' excellent attendance! We invite you to join us in celebrating the hard work of our students and their families, ensuring that DRE Stars have the opportunity to attend school every day, all day!

Perfect Attendance (Zero Absences)

182 Students

ADA Attendance August 18-December 12

Kdg 96.02%

1st Grade 96.74%

2nd Grade 96.73%

3rd Grade 97.15%

4th Grade 96.19%

5th Grade 91.09%

DRE SIP 25-26 Goal: DRE will improve the proportional attendance rate

from 93.4% to 94.3% by the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

The growth will be 1% per school year, as measured by the Annual Performance Report.

We have really enjoyed the festive spirit across our classrooms and halls this month! We hope your family has enjoyed the December dress-up days!

December 15

Book Fair Begins

December 18

Winter Parties, PreK-5th Grade, 2:20-3:20 pm

December 19

Early Release, 1:35 pm

No PreK Classes

January 5

Classes Resume

WSD Late Start Day, 10:35 am

No PreK Classes

No Horizons

Student Leadership Assembly

January 7

Boosterthon Assembly Celebration: Mad Science Fire & Ice

Special WSD Board of Education Meeting, 5:00 pm

January 9

DRE PTO Dine Out, Red Robin

January 15

January BOE Meeting, 6:30 pm

January 19

No School, Martin Luther King, Jr Day

January 27

DRE Kindergarten Registration, Berrey Place

Monday

Day 2

Tuesday

Day 3

Wednesday

Day 4

Thursday

Day 5

Friday

Day 1

Preschool-10:35 am

Kindergarten-11:10 am

First Grade-11:25 am

Second Grade-10:50 am

Third Grade-12:30 am

Fourth Grade-12:10 pm

Fifth Grade-11:50 pm

Has your child's teacher made a significant impact on their education and life? Do you want to recognize a staff member who goes above and beyond? Let them know with a Wentzville Wow Factor Award; you can submit one at any time throughout the school year to show them that they are making a difference!

All children who will turn five before Aug. 1, 2026, are eligible to attend kindergarten for the 2026-27 school year. Our building's registration date is January 27. Complete the pre-screening and register for our building's kindergarten enrollment event.

We use the following information to determine the safety of outdoor activities during our cold-weather months.

As we approach the colder months, we want to re-share the District communication with information on the WSD's inclement weather procedures for the 2025-26 school year. This year, snow days one and two will be traditional snow days. After our second snow day this year, we will switch to AMI (alternative methods of instruction) for snow days three through seven. You can read more on what to expect this winter or view AMI assignments.

Please consider partnering with our school by joining PTO! Our Parent Teacher Organization supports our school community in many ways, made possible by YOU! Each family membership is $10 annually.

January 7: DRE PTO Dines Out, Red Robin

February 11: 3rd Quarter PTO Meeting, Library 6 pm

April 10: Skate Night, 4:30-6:30 pm

Dear Discovery Ridge Elementary Families:

Throughout the duration of the academic year, the Wentzville School District partners with community agencies that specialize in providing students, families, and educators with preventative education. Agency presenters are credentialed, coordinated through the District, and under the supervision of building administrators. Presentation topics are targeted toward specific grade levels. All students will participate in each program unless you choose to opt your child out of the lesson(s). If you are interested in opting your student(s) out of the presentation(s), please click the appropriate link(s) below.

Kindergarten Opt-Out Form

First Grade Opt-Out Form

Second Grade Opt-Out Form

Third Grade Opt-Out Form

Fourth Grade Opt-Out Form

Fifth Grade Opt-Out Form

If you have additional questions, please reach out directly to your student’s guidance counselor.

Thank you,

Mrs. Kelly Stratman, Principal

Mr. Ben Tracy, Assistant Principal

Mrs. Stacy Browning, 1-3 Counselor

Mrs. Jane Douglas, K, 4-5 Counselor

Mrs. Sarah Holcomb, Education Support Counselor

Each new school year brings opportunities for academic growth and growth in all areas of development. Although children must be knowledgeable when they graduate, they must also be healthy, engaged, responsible, and caring people.

We’re grateful you’re here at our school and we’re excited to partner with you and your child. As a Leader in Me School, we believe that every member of your family has greatness and we can’t wait to learn and grow from you! Leader in Me (LiM) is an evidence-based, comprehensive school-improvement model—developed in partnership with educators and FranklinCovey—that empowers students with the leadership and life skills they need to thrive in a global community.

Our school has chosen to operate through a uniquely different lens. Leader in Me is about empowering your child to reach their full potential while ultimately finding their voice. As a school, the staff in this building have made five core commitments to your child. We call these our Core Paradigms. In these paradigms you will find the belief and way we view all students. At this school we see that:

• Everyone is a leader.
• Everyone has genius.
• Change starts with me.
• We empower students to lead their own learning.
• Educators and families partner to develop the whole person.

Not only do these paradigms apply to your student, they apply to all of us!

Leader in Me provides our school with the vision and language to lead the school in a way that addresses all areas of development. As each child discovers and develops their unique gifts and talents, they are given opportunities to lead.

As leaders, they become active, engaged partners in their own education, and their self-confidence, responsibility, and initiative grows. The children quickly understand the benefits of different gifts and talents; they learn to listen to new ideas, work together to achieve results, and motivate one another to be the best.

We hope your school enjoys sharing these new opportunities. Together, we will see each child grow throughout the year.

Mrs. Kelly J. Stratman, Principal

Mr. Ben Tracy, Assistant Principal