DRE Weekly News September 7, 2026
DRE Weekly News September 7, 2026
Week of September 7, 2026
Attendance
Kindergarten 98.16%
First Grade 96.17%
Second Grade 96.26%
Third Grade 96.25%
Fourth Grade 98.13%
Fifth Grade 97.09
Overall ADA 97.07%
August 24-September 4, 2026
We Are a Caring Community Dedicated to Leadership, Learning, and Life-Long Discoveries.
Our STARS did a great job with their early-morning alternate heat recesses last week, as well as their week-long indoor recess. We are eager to enjoy our typical outdoor schedule this week as the weather allows.
Our Outdoor Education Experience for our fifth-grade students has been rescheduled for October 12 and October 13 due to the elevated temperatures on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Our first DRE PTO Dine Out Event is Tuesday, September 9, at Chick-fil-A Lake St. Louis, from 4-8 pm. You can even credit DRE when ordering from your app! We appreciate your support of our DRE PTO through membership and dine-out events.
Mum sales officially close out on Tuesday! If you missed sending in your order slip, please email Mrs. Penn to add your order. Mums are $12 each and available in Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple, and White.
On Friday, we will recognize the twenty-fifth anniversary of 9/11, Patriot Day. It is our DRE tradition to wear Red, White & Blue and recite the Pledge of Allegiance, following a moment of silence, as individual grade levels around the flagpole throughout the day. We wish to extend our deep appreciation to all first responders and their families in our DRE community of students and staff.
We had an unexpected water event at DRE over the weekend, and our WSD staff was hard at work on Monday afternoon with cleanup. We are pleased to have all classrooms and learning spaces accessible and ready for students on Tuesday morning. You may see restoration equipment and company vehicles on site for a few more days. Any questions can be directed to Mrs. Stratman.
DRE Student Activity Clubs
Discovery Ridge Elementary is excited to offer a variety of extracurricular clubs and activities for our students this year. Participating in a club is a fantastic way for students to explore new interests, build confidence, and make lasting friendships with their peers.
Registration is officially open now through September 8, 2026.
Please note that space for certain activities may be limited so we encourage you to sign up early. If you have any questions regarding specific activities or clubs, please reach out to that specific club sponsor.
Ready to sign up? Registration Link
DRE Fall Mum Sale
The annual fall mum sale is now open! We will collect orders in the office until the morning of September 8. Mums will be available for pickup starting September 16.
Mums are priced at $12 each and can be paid for in cash or by check. They come in five colors: Orange, Purple, Red, White, and Yellow.
*Our recent paper flyers listed the price as $13 in error on the lower half of the order form. Mums are $12 each
Special Area Schedule: Days 1-5
Day 1: Tuesday, 9/8
Day 2: Wednesday, 9/9
Day 3: Thursday, 9/10
Day 4: Friday, 9/11
2026-2027 Lunch Times by Grade Level
Kindergarten: 11:10 am
1st Grade: 11:25 am
2nd Grade: 10:50 am
3rd Grade: 12:30 pm
4th Grade: 12:10 pm
5th Grade: 11:50 am
Student lunch periods last 20 minutes, providing additional time for clean-up and transitioning to outdoor recess. We have designated seating for guests, and when you join us for lunch, this time is meant exclusively for you and your child. Please do not bring food or treats for other students. Your child's friends and classmates must stay seated with their assigned class.
School Volunteers
Save the Date!
September 8
Student Activity Club Registration, Closes
Fall Mum Orders Due, $12 each
Chick-fil-A Dine Out, 4-8 pm
September 11
Patriot Day-Wear Red, White & Blue
September 16
Early Release, Dismissal 1:35 pm (Register for Early Release Supervision by September 6 in Focus)
Fall Mum Order Pick Up
Kona Ice Day, Lunch Recess
Community Awareness Week: Scouts Visit During Lunches
September 17
September 18
Community Awareness Week: Girl Scouts Visit During Lunches
September 25
DRE PTO Family Outdoor Movie Night, Arrival, 6:30 pm, Movie begins at 7 pm
Late Start Mondays Are Now Early Release Wednesdays
Please note that for this school year, WSD is replacing monthly Late Start Mondays with monthly All-District PK-12 Early Release Wednesdays (2 Hr).
- The first monthly All-District PK-12 Early Release (2-hour early dismissal) will be Wednesday, Sept. 16.
- Elementary Early Release Supervision: Paid supervision will be available for preschool and elementary students on early release days, similar to previous Late Start supervision. This is separate from our Chautauqua Program.
Helpful Links:
School Start and End Times
Academic Calendar & Future Early Release Dates
Learn why this change is taking place
Reading Intervention and Assessments
This fall, teachers and reading specialists will be conducting reading assessments with all students. These assessments help plan for daily instruction and identify students who might benefit from extra reading support. To complete these assessments, reading specialists may work with students in small groups. Working in a small group for testing is separate from receiving reading intervention services. If assessment results show that your child qualifies for reading intervention, you will be contacted directly. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your child's classroom teacher.
Make the Most of Your Stopfinder App Experience
Is your student a bus rider? Stopfinder is the WSD transportation app for bus-riding families. It provides families with convenient access to their student’s transportation information and is the district’s primary source for transportation notifications. Read about the Stopfinder app and how it can work for you by turning on notifications, which are not automatically set up, or sharing access to route information with caregivers.
DRE PTO Movie Night: September 25, 6:30 pm
We hope your family can join us for our Family Movie Night, featuring The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
- Arrival begins at 6:30 pm, movie begins at 7 pm
- Free popcorn, candy & soda available for purchase
- Preorder Papa John's Pizza by 9/21, $10 Each (Cheese, Pepperoni, or Sausage)
- Payment Options: Venmo @DRE-PTO or cash sent to DRE Office
- All children must be accompanied by an adult, bring your blankets & chairs for seating
Upcoming DRE PTO Annual Fun Run Fundraising Ideas
Our upcoming fundraiser is a great opportunity to make a difference at Discovery Ridge Elementary, and we want to hear your ideas!
What would you love to see the PTO use fundraiser funds for? Maybe something for the students, teachers, classrooms, special events, or something completely new!
Please share your ideas with us by filling out the Google Form. We’d love to hear what would make DRE an even better place for our students and staff!
Thank you,
DRE PTO
Parent Teacher Organization 'PTO' News
Whether you’re a first-time member or a returning volunteer, your time, energy, and ideas are incredibly valuable. Together, we help make DRE a vibrant and welcoming place for all of our children to grow and thrive.
Here’s what to expect as a new member:
- Quarterly Meetings: Stay informed and share your voice. Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 4 at 6 pm in the library.
- Volunteer Opportunities: From classroom support to school events, there’s something for everyone. We’ll send out sign-ups and information.
- Community Connection: PTO is a great way to meet other families, build relationships, and have fun while making a difference.
Be on the lookout for our PTO event updates. In the meantime, feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like to get involved right away.
PTO Board Members: Mindy Meinert, Kari McDonnell, Victoria Dailey
WSD Quick Links
Community Partnership Opt-Out Information
Dear Discovery Ridge Elementary Family,
Throughout the academic year, the Wentzville School District partners with community agencies that specialize in providing students, families, and educators with preventive 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.
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, Guidance Counselor (Grades 2-4)
Mrs. Jane Douglas, Guidance Counselor (Grades K-1, 5)
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
