WSD Weekly
Boletín Semanal del Distrito Escolar de Wenatchee
New 26-27 Student Calendar
The Wenatchee School District Board of Directors has approved the 2026-2027 school calendar, which includes changes designed to support student learning and family well-being.
What's New For 26-27
Half-Day Professional Development Wednesdays
To prioritize consistent instructional momentum, we're moving Professional Development (PD) days from full-day Fridays to half-day Wednesdays. This change:
Maximizes staff attendance at critical training sessions
Minimizes the frequency of "short" four-day school weeks for students
Keeps students in a consistent five-day-a-week routine throughout the year
New Mid-Winter Break
By streamlining our PD schedule into a half-day model, we've reclaimed enough instructional time to build a Mid-Winter Break into the calendar. This break in February provides a vital "reset" for both students and staff during the long stretch between winter break and spring break.
What Your Child's Teacher Learned on Professional Development Day
While students enjoyed a day off on February 6th, WSD teachers were hard at work sharpening their skills to better serve your children. Here's what they focused on:
Elementary: Building Strong Writers
Teachers learned new strategies for Explicit Sentence Instruction—breaking down writing into manageable building blocks that help students become confident communicators.
K-1 teachers explored how to move young learners from simple sentences to complex, descriptive ones using connector words and transitions.
2-5 teachers practiced four key tools for building sophisticated sentences: subordinating conjunctions, transitions, appositives, and sentence combining.
Middle & High School: Learning How to Learn
Secondary teachers focused on Close Reading and Focused Note-Taking—essential skills for college and career success.
Teachers reviewed the "5 Phases of Focused Note-Taking," a method that helps students move beyond just copying information to actually understanding and remembering material. They also explored how to use AI to create more engaging lessons.
Students Led the Way
AVID students from Wenatchee High School and Orchard Middle School shared how organized note-taking helps them learn at deeper levels. As one student said: "Taking notes and writing helps you learn and remember, and that's why this helps students."
What This Means for Your Child
In the coming weeks, you may notice your child using more sophisticated sentences in their writing, taking more organized notes, and explaining not just what they're learning but how they're learning it. When teachers have time to collaborate and refine their practice, every student benefits.
Thank you for supporting our educators as we work together to build future-ready students!
