DRE Weekly News February 2, 2026

At Discovery Ridge Elementary, we take pride in our students' excellent attendance! Sharing our weekly attendance is important to us, and it will be a regular feature in our Weekly News. 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)

125 Students

ADA Hourly Attendance

Kindergarten 95.34%

First Grade 96.11%

Second Grade 95.74%

Third Grade 96.79%

Fourth Grade 95.39%

Fifth Grade 93.18%

August 18-January 30: 91.23% Proportional Attendance Rate

95.85% Average Daily Attendance

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.

February 3

100th Day of School

DRE Spelling Bee

Nothing Bundt Cakes Orders Due

February 5

DRE Spelling Bee: Inclement Weather Make-Up Date

February 7

Capes & Crowns: DRE PTO Family Dance, 6-8 pm

February 9

Late Start: Student arrival begins at 10:20 am

No PreK Classes In Session

PreK Registration Opens for Existing Students and WSD Staff

Horizons

February 11

DRE PTO 3rd Quarter Meeting, Library 6 pm

February 13

DRE Valentine's Day Service Learning: Sprinkle the Love, Sprinkle the Joy

Preschool-2nd Grade Valentine Parties, 2:20-3:20 pm

February 16

No School: Presidents Day

February 17

No School: Professional Development Day

February 19

WSD Board of Education Meeting, 6:30 pm

February 23

PreK Enrollment for All WSD Residents

PreK Big Truck Visits Begin (daily this week)

March 6

PTO Music Bingo- 7-10 pm

March 9

Late Start: Student arrival begins at 10:20 am

No PreK Classes In Session

Horizons

March 11

Rescheduled DRE Kindergarten Registration at Berrey Place 8:30 am-12:30 pm & 3:15 pm -7:30 pm

March 23-27

No School-Spring Break

Preschool: 10:35 am

Kindergarten: 11:10 am

First Grade: 11:25 am

Second Grade: 10:50 am

Third Grade: 12:30 pm

Fourth Grade: 12:10 pm

Fifth Grade: 11:50 am

Monday

Day 1

Tuesday

Day 2

Wednesday

Day 3

Thursday

Day 4

Friday

Day 5

Who: PreK-2, Traditional Class Parties & 3-5, Service Learning Opportunities

What: Valentine's Day Service Learning

Where: Discovery Ridge

Why: Opportunity for our DRE STARS to serve our community as we Sprinkle the Love, Sprinkle the Joy

When: February 13, 2026

How: Valentine Exchange PreK-5 & School-Wide Service Learning Birthday Boxes

WSD leaders are taking a step toward the District’s top strategic priority — improving academic achievement — by adjusting school schedules for the next school year. At the district level, monthly Late Start Mondays will be replaced with monthly All-District Early Release Wednesdays. At the middle and high (secondary) school level, in addition to the monthly All-District Early Release Wednesdays, the District will introduce weekly Secondary Early Release Wednesdays on full school weeks.

With these schedule changes approved by the Board of Education at the January Board meeting, the 2026-27 Academic Calendar is expected to be presented at the February Board meeting.

Pre-K Enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year will begin in February:

• February 9-13: Currently enrolled and returning Pre-K families and WSD employees.

• February 23: All Wentzville School District residents.

To enroll in our tuition-based preschool program, students must be 3 years old by July 31st of the year they are starting preschool.

In past years, families could choose their Early Childhood location. This year, your child’s Early Childhood site will be determined by your home address. Your address falls within an elementary school attendance boundary, and that boundary determines which Early Childhood location your child will attend. If you are unsure which elementary school serves your address, you can find it using the District’s interactive boundary map.

Early Childhood Locations by Elementary School Boundary:

• Barfield: Boone Trail, Crossroads, Discovery Ridge, Duello, Green Tree, Prairie View

• Samuelson: Heritage, Journey, Lake View, Peine Ridge, Stone Creek, Wabash

For more information or to register, please visit the District Website.

This year, WSD elementary summer school intervention will be held June 2-25 and will be invitation only. Families of students who qualify will be sent an invitation on February 20, and enrollment will be open February 23-March 11. Keep an eye out for program invitations later this month and learn more on the Summer School offerings webpage.

All children who will turn five before August 1, 2026, are eligible to attend kindergarten for the 2026-2027 school year. Our building's registration date is March 11, 2026. Complete the pre-screening and register for our kindergarten enrollment event at our building.

Who in your child’s day still needs a WOW Factor Award from you? The WSD is 28% of the way toward its goal of getting 2,600 WOW Factor Awards this school year. Help us show staff they matter and get to 100%!

CORRECTION: ORDERS DUE TUESDAY, PREVIOUSLY REPORTED DUE WEDNESDAY

Help support DRE PTO by ordering some delicious mini bundt cakes. Orders can be placed on the Google Form below.

Orders are due Tuesday, February 3, 2026

All mini bundtlets are $7 each. These make perfect Valentine treats!

Pickup will be available at the front of DRE on Thursday, February 12. 8:30 am - 4:00 pm, or we can send them home. We can even deliver them straight to your teacher if you would like!

Questions? Contact DRE PTO: discoveryridgepto@gmail.com

DRE Families are invited to the Capes & Crowns Family Dance on Saturday, February 7, 2026, from 6–8 p.m. in the gym! This free family event has music, dancing, and a fun craft. Families are encouraged to wear their favorite capes, crowns, or royal/superhero attire for an extra touch of fun. We hope you’ll join us for a memorable evening together!

PTO is hosting a Music Bingo night at Trigg Banquet Hall on March 3rd from 7-10 pm. Tables and single tickets are available! Adults Only. If you have Questions email: sarahgerson@wsdr4.org

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.

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