Wizards Newsletter

We made it! The staff remain the kickball champions, defeating the 5th graders in a well-fought game this morning. Best wishes to our 5th graders as they move up to middle school next year. We will miss this amazing class more than they know.

Report cards are coming home with your child(ren) today. These reports reflect the progress your child has made throughout the school year, both academically and socially. We encourage you to take a few moments to review their achievements, celebrate their hard work, and talk with them about their successes and goals for the future. It has been a true joy to watch our students grow, and this final report serves as a meaningful reflection of all they’ve accomplished.

Today, your child also participated in our “Step Up” activity, where they spent time with their 2026–27 homeroom teacher and classmates. Our hope is that this experience helps ease the uncertainty that can come with waiting all summer to find out class placements. While most placements are now set, please know that a few changes may still occur over the summer. If your child’s classroom assignment changes, we will be sure to communicate with you directly.

We kindly ask that you wait until the fall to reach out to your child’s new teacher. While they are excited to welcome their incoming students, they are currently focused on wrapping up the year with their current classes and recharging over the summer.

I also want to take a moment to thank you all for the support, encouragement, and grace you showed me during my recovery from a concussion this spring. It was certainly not how I expected the second half of the school year to go, but I am incredibly grateful for the understanding and kindness I received from our school community. I hope to be returning full-time this fall after a summer of rest.

As we move into summer, I hope you find time to relax, recharge, and rest. We’ve accomplished so much together this year, and I can’t wait to see all we’ll achieve in the year ahead.

Your voice matters! As we continue to implement Levels One & Two of High Reliability Schools (HRS), we're capturing feedback from families to improve how our school functions. Share your thoughts and help us create the best environment for our students by clicking the box BELOW!

As we wrap up the school year, please keep in mind that the Wickham office will be closed from June 9th through early August. During this time, no one will be available to check voicemails or emails—we’ll be soaking up some much-needed summer sunshine! 🌞

Mr West is returning to the Technology Department and a permanent Principal's Secretary will be joining the Wickham team in the fall.

August 4th- Elementary Registration in Person

August 20th- Meet the Teacher Night

August 24th- First Day of Classes

August 31st- 1st Day of Preschool Classes

September 7th & 21st- NO SCHOOL / DISTRICT CLOSED

Linked here is our 2026-2027 District Calendar!

End of Year Picnic

We had a great turn out at the End of Year Picnic yesterday evening. It was a hot one, but kudos to our Wickham Wizards for still showing up and bringing the positive energy! It made the dunk tank even more exciting (if that's even possible).
Special thanks to:
Mr. Cronk, Mr. Hanrahan, Ms. Titze, Ms. O'Donnell & Mr. Lowry for volunteering to get dunked! We know it's a big ask, and we truly appreciate your commitment and willingness to continue this fun end-of-year tradition.
Everyone who volunteered to sell tickets, food, and manage the dunk tank. These events are put on by PTO, but volunteer help is essential to keep them going.
Kona Ice for the shaved ice & Costco for slinging 30 pizzas!
Our custodians who help with setup and cleanup after these events. Their behind the scenes work is imperative in making nights like this happen. If you see them, tell them thanks for all they do!
And lastly, thank you to our Wickham community for joining us! It's a joy to be part of such a connected group of parents, caregivers, teachers and students and we look forward to bringing this event back again next year! Have a wonderful summer and we hope to see you in August at Meet the Teacher Night!

Save the Date - Meet the Teacher Night

Before Summer ramps up, we want you to get this date on your calendar! Meet the Teacher Night at Wickham will be Thursday, August 20th from 5:30PM to 6:30PM. All families will be able to see their student's classrooms, meet their teachers, and get school supply boxes (if you ordered). Students and families will receive ice cream provided by Wickham PTO. Please stop by our table to make your Wizard Drive Donation and grab your ice cream!

Dear Families,

The Iowa City Community School District is pleased to once again participate in the Summer Food Service Program, providing free meals and snacks to children throughout our community during the summer months.

All children ages 18 and under are welcome to participate, and no registration is required. Meals and snacks are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The program will run from June 15 through August 7, 2026, with no meal service on June 19 and June 29 through July 3. Additional schedule variations are noted below.

Meal Site Locations and Schedules

Antelope Mobile Lending Library
Snacks served from June 16 to August 14. There will be no service from June 30 through July 3. Below are the locations with serving times:

• Tuesdays:
  Regency Mobile Home Park, 4455 Oak Crest Hill, Iowa City (4:30-6:00 pm)
• Wednesdays:
  Breckenridge Estates, 4494 Taft Ave, Iowa City (3:30-5:00 pm);
  HACAP Waterfront, 367 Southgate Ave, Iowa City (5:30-7:00 pm)
• Thursdays:
  Lake Ridge Mobile Home Comm, 893 Spring Ridge Dr, Iowa City (10:00-11:30 am)
  Boys & Girls Club, 1045 Hwy 6 E, Iowa City (2:30-4:00 pm)
  Hills Splash Pad, 200 Knoll Ridge Dr, Hills (4:30-6:00 pm)
• Fridays:
  Coralville Food Pantry, 804 13th Ave, Coralville (11:30 am-1:00 pm)

Iowa City Public Library (123 S Linn St, Iowa City)
Snacks served from June 15 to August 14, Monday - Friday from 3:00-5:00 pm.

Wetherby Park (2400 Taylor Drive, Iowa City)
Snacks served from June 15 to August 7, Monday - Friday from 10:30-11:00 am. There will be no service on June 19 and June 29 through July 3.

Grab-and-Go Meals
Breakfast and lunch provided for 2-3 days. There will be no service from June 29 through July 3. Below are the locations with serving times:

• Hills City Park (111 Preslee Lane, Hills)
  Beginning June 15 through August 5, distributions will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from noon to 1:00 pm.

Breckenridge Mobile Home Park (4494 Taft Ave, Iowa City)
Beginning June 16 through August 6, distributions will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 1:00 pm.

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Good morning, West High families and supporters—

Summer is one of the best opportunities for students to grow, stay active, and build meaningful connections, and West High is excited to offer a wide variety of camps and clinics for students of all ages.

These camps provide much more than skill development. They give kids the opportunity to:

• Build relationships with future teammates, coaches, and mentors
• Stay engaged and productive during the summer months
• Learn new skills while having fun in a positive environment
• Gain confidence through activity, teamwork, and competition
• Become more connected to the West High community and programs

Our coaches and student leaders work hard to create experiences that are energetic, welcoming, and beneficial for every participant—whether they are trying a sport or activity for the first time or continuing to develop their passions.

By participating, families are also directly supporting West High programs and helping strengthen the opportunities available for our students throughout the year.

You can view all available camps and registration information here:
West High Summer Camps & Clinics Registration

We hope your family will take advantage of these great opportunities and be part of another outstanding summer at West High!

Warmly,

Coach Craig

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Dear Families,

We would like to notify you of the 2026-27 Pay-to-Ride school transportation program, which is available to families who do not qualify for mandatory transportation under the State of Iowa's requirements.

Iowa Code 285.1.a. The Board of Directors in every school district shall provide transportation, either directly or by reimbursement for transportation, for all resident pupils attending public school, kindergarten through twelfth grade, except that:

1. Elementary pupils shall be entitled to transportation only if they live more than two miles from the school designated for attendance.
2. High school pupils shall be entitled to transportation only if they live more than three miles from the school designated for attendance.

The Pay-to-Ride program details are available on our District website at www.IowaCitySchools.org/PayToRide. If you have any questions before applying, please don’t hesitate to contact our Transportation Department via email at Davis.Esme@iowacityschools.org.

Payment and Fees for Service

• Pay-to-Ride fee:
• $700 per student, per year, round trip
• $415 per student, per year, round trip, for students who qualify for reduced-price lunch.
• $0 per student, per year, round trip, for students who qualify for free lunch.
• Full payment must be made no later than June 5, 2026, to be included on a bus roster for the start of the 2026-27 school year.
• Applications submitted after June 6 through September 7, 2026, will be included on a bus no later than September 28, 2026, if space is available. Efforts will be made to make placements earlier; however, a date prior to September 28 cannot be guaranteed and remains subject to available space.
• After September 7, 2026, applicants will be notified no later than 10 school days from submission if space is available.
• Applications will be accepted after the due date as long as capacity remains on existing routes. (Note: Students will only be assigned to existing bus stops and routes; buses will not be rerouted to accommodate requests.)
• Students are not eligible to ride until payment is received and the application is approved.

Application Process

1. To apply for Pay-to-Ride busing, please complete the Pay-to-Ride application available at www.IowaCitySchools.org/PayToRide
2. Payment can be made online at https://www.myschoolbucks.com or by check made payable to Iowa City Community School District

If you are interested in participating in the Pay-to-Ride program, please complete the application and submit payment no later than June 5, 2026, to be considered for a bus roster for the start of the 2026-27 school year.

Sincerely,

Esme Davis
Transportation Manager

Looking for information on Securly, our web filtering tool?

Find all the information here www.IowaCitySchools.org/Securly.

It is the policy of the Iowa City Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact:

• Laura Cottrell (Executive Director of Educational Services & Student Success) for programming at cottrell.laura@iowacityschools.org
• Nick Proud (Chief Human Resources Officer) for employment at proud.nick@iowacityschools.org, 2255 N. Dubuque Road, Iowa City, Iowa 52245, (319) 688-1000; or
• If you are unsure how to proceed or would like assistance in discussing your options, you may also contact Janet Abejo-Parker at ombuds@iowacityschools.org or (319) 688-1312