The Dolphin Digest

THIS WEEK

MONDAY

NO SCHOOL: Labor Day Holiday

TUESDAY

Battle of the Books Meets (7:15 AM)

Get Up & Move Begins (Grades K-2) (7:15 AM)

WEDNESDAY

Get Up & Move Begins (Grades 3-5) (7:15 AM)

Beginning of Grade Reading Assessment for Third Graders

THURSDAY

Get Up & Move Begins (Grades K-2)

Chess Club for 4th and 5th Grade (7:15 AM)

PTA Committee Meeting in the WBS Library (7:45 - 8:45 AM)

AIG Parent Presentation (7:45 AM & 5:30 PM)

FRIDAY

Chess Club for 2nd and 3rd Grade (7:15 AM)

SAVE THE DATES

Sep 15: Parent Palooza and PTA Meeting

Sep 22: Fall Picture Day

Sep 23: Interim Reports go home today

Sep 25: Dolly Parton Tribute Day

Sep 29: PTA Executive Board Meeting (7:45 AM)

Oct 2: Fall Festival, 4:15-6:15pm

Oct 7: Walk and Bike to School

Oct 26: NO SCHOOL (Teacher Workday)

Nov 3: NO SCHOOL (Election Day & Teacher Workday)

Nov 11: NO SCHOOL (Veterans Day Holiday)

Nov 16 - 20: Fall Book Fair

Nov 19: Grandparents Breakfast, 7am

Nov 25: NO SCHOOL (Teacher Workday)

Nov 26 - 27: NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Holiday)

Dec 8: Holiday Performance and PTA Meeting, 5:30pm

Dec 11: AIG Local History Fair

Dec 21 - Jan 1: Winter Break

From the Desk of Principal Jackson Norvell

“Now I know we had no money, but I was rich as I could be”

-Dolly Pardon

Mighty WBS Dolphins,

Greetings from the principal’s office. I hope this Labor Day weekend finds you deeply appreciative of the hard work that has paved the way for all of us, both the hard work you’ve done on your own, and for that of countless others. You know there’s a certain joy that comes to pouring your all into something…it’s the type of true joy that money just can’t buy. On matters of joy and hard work, I’m reminded of my all-time favorite quote by George Bernard Shaw.

“This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. Being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”

Indeed! Let’s make this one the best week yet.

As always, thank you for sharing your children with us. It’s an honor.

Great things happen here,

Jackson

Friendly Reminder: Morning Drop-Off & Tardy Procedures

Beginning this week, please keep in mind our morning arrival and tardy procedures to help us start the school day safely and on time:

School Starts at 7:40 AM: The morning instructional day begins promptly at 7:40 AM.
Parent Check-In Required: Any student arriving after 7:40 AM is considered tardy. Parents/guardians must come into the main office to check their child in.
Curb Drop-Offs: Please do not drop students off at the curb after 7:40 AM, as exterior doors will be locked and morning drop-off duty staff will have returned inside.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our students safe and ensuring a smooth start to their school day!

Set Sail for Success on the BOG3 Reading Assessment! 🐬📚

Attention 3rd Grade Families!

On Wednesday, September 9th, our 3rd graders will take the North Carolina Beginning of Grade 3 (BOG3) Reading Assessment. This important state assessment helps establish a baseline for your child’s reading journey this school year and provides valuable insights to help teachers tailor instruction to support every reader's success.

Here is how you can help your student prepare to do their best on test day:

Get a good night's sleep: Ensure your child gets plenty of rest the night before.
Eat a healthy breakfast: A nutritious meal in the morning powers up brain function and focus.
Arrive on time: Being at school on time helps students settle in comfortably without feeling rushed.

We are so proud of our hard-working Dolphins and know they are ready to shine! If you have any questions about the BOG3 assessment, please reach out to your child's classroom teacher.

AIG Informational Meeting

Interested in learning more about the Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) program? Mrs. Kochakji, our AIG Specialist, will be hosting an informational meeting for parents on Thursday, September 10th.

To help accommodate busy schedules, two meeting options will be offered:

Morning Session: 7:30 AM
Evening Session: 5:30 PM

During the meeting, you'll learn about AIG services, the nomination process, and how programming supports advanced learning in our school.

For additional resources and nomination details, feel free to visit Mrs. Kochakji's AIG Website.

We look forward to seeing you there!

AIG Newsletter: Back to School Edition

WBS Chess Club for Experienced Players

Are you ready to sharpen your chess skills? Join our chess club for experienced players!

When: Starting the week of August 31st
Where: The WBS Library
Who: . 4th and 5th graders meet on THURSDAYS. 2nd and 3rd graders meet on FRIDAYS.
Time: 7:15 AM - 7:35 AM
Volunteers: If you would like to volunteer to support students during Chess Club, please contact Ms. Kochakji, our AIG Teacher. mailto:katherine.kochakji@nhcs.net

Note: This club is intended for players who already know how to play chess.

Battle of the Books Team Meetings are on TUESDAYS

Calling All Expert Readers!

Are you a 4th or 5th grader with a passion for reading? If you missed our interest meeting, don't worry—it’s not too late to join the team! You can still participate and help represent WBS in this spring's county-wide tournament.

What is BOB? It’s a fun, team-based reading competition where students read select titles and test their knowledge against other schools.

Weekly Team Meetings

Whether you attended the initial meeting or are joining us for the first time, all interested 4th and 5th graders are welcome at our weekly practice:

When: Every Tuesday at 7:15 AM
Where: Media Center with Mrs. Medlicott

Missed the Meeting?

If you were unable to attend, please review the Battle of the Books Kickoff Presentation to learn all about the competition expectations, reading lists, and guidelines.

Simply review the slides with a parent and show up on Tuesday morning to get plugged in! We can't wait to see you there!

Battle of the Books Kickoff Presentation

Get Up & Move Begins Week of September 8th

WBS “Get Up & Move” Club Expectations

● “Get Up & Move” is from 7:15 – 7:35 am, weather permitting!

● Students MUST check-in with their homeroom teacher and drop-off belongings BEFORE heading to track

● All participating students will be sent back in around 7:35 TOGETHER—participants cannot leave early for safety reasons.

● Students arriving after 7:30 may not participate that day.

● Grades 3-5 may participate on Mondays and Wednesdays.

● Grades K-2 may participate on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

● Participation is encouraged! Come as often as possible.

● Walk/Run as many laps as possible …Do your best!

“FITNESS with a Porpoise!”

Our "porpoise" is to positively promote fitness in a fun and encouraging way to instill healthy habits that will lead to good choices into adulthood.

Dolly Tribute Day on Friday, 9/25!

We’re celebrating Dolly Tribute Day on Friday, 9/25! Come dressed in your cowboy boots, pink, or something sparkly, and don’t forget to bring your favorite book to share!

We’ll celebrate Dolly-style by spreading kindness, a love of reading, and lots of sparkle!

PTA Membership and Big Splash

Help Your Child’s Class Win a Pizza Party!

Join the PTA and donate to the Big Splash fundraiser by September 30th to enter your student's class to win! We are making great progress toward our goals, but we need your support to finish strong.

PTA Membership ($10.00): Fuel our school community! Higher parent participation helps WBS qualify for NCPTA incentives and grants. There is zero time or volunteer commitment required—just your registration.
"Big Splash" Fundraiser: This is our single, one-time ask of the year! Every dollar supports classroom supplies, marine science, teacher appreciation, and school improvements. While our goal is $100 per student, any donation—big or small—makes a splash.

Numbers at a Glance:

PTA Memberships: 109 Parent/Guardian | 23 Faculty
Big Splash Raised: $10,885.00 of our $13,000 goal

Upcoming Meeting: Join us for our beginning-of-year PTA Committee Meeting on September 10th at 7:45 AM.

Give today and join today at www.wbspta.org! (The full PTA budget can always be viewed in the front lobby or on our website.)

JOIN the PTA Membership & "BIG SPLASH" Donation

Mark Your Calendars for the Annual Fall Festival!

Get ready for an evening of autumn fun with our entire school community! Join us on October 2 from 4:15 to 6:15 PM at Wrightsville Beach Park for our annual Fall Festival. We have a fantastic lineup planned, including:

Activities & Entertainment: Games, inflatables, a climbing wall, DJ, face painting, and exciting prizes!
Food: Dinner will be available on-site so you can relax and enjoy the evening.

Wristband & Ticket Information:

Presale: $20 per wristband
At the Door: $25 per wristband

Save money by purchasing your wristbands early! Scan the QR code on the flyer or click the link below to buy tickets, check out event FAQs, and find full details. We can’t wait to celebrate the season with you!

Click HERE for Fall Festival Info, FAQ & Event Purchases

Community Event: Liam Strong Charity Beach Run

Support the Liam Strong Charity Beach Run!

Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 20, 2026, for the 8th Annual Liam Strong Charity Beach Run at Wrightsville Beach! Featuring a 1-mile fun run and a 5K, this event is open to runners and walkers of all ages.

Hosted by the Batten family—including WBS alum Charlotte and current student Finn—this special event marks 11 years since Liam's passing and brings our community together to honor his memory. All proceeds directly benefit UNC Children’s Hospital. Let's show up strong as a WBS family to support this incredible cause!

📲 Sign up today: liamstrong.com