Dachshund Digest - News Just for You!

WES Families

As October begins at Wiesbaden Elementary, our campus hums with purpose under this year’s guiding theme: “Next Steps to Growing Greatness; Cultivating Connections.” We are planting roots of community, kindness, and growth as we move through autumn’s brightness.

This month, our PBIS (School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports) initiative continues to bloom. Students everywhere are earning Dachshund Dollars—slips of recognition issued by any staff member (even substitutes and aides) when students demonstrate being Safe, Respectful, or Responsible. Ms. Rueda in the hallway, Mr. Adams in the lunchroom, and all who walk our halls take a moment to stop and say, “Here’s your Dachshund Dollar because …” It’s not just the reward—the reason is just as important. Those slips are then dropped into the Grade Level Neighborhood boxes in the cafeteria, where Friday drawings draw winners from every grade. It’s our way of turning everyday choices into celebration  and recognition of moments when our students were SAFE, Respectful, or Responsible.

October also brings beloved traditions and timely reminders. We will spotlight Red Ribbon Week, a time when students and staff commit to healthy, drug-free lives—complete with theme days, red ribbons, and schoolwide messages of well-being. Families should also mark your calendars for Spooky Math Night, where our calculators collide in a night of puzzles, costumes, and family problem solving. In a similar spirit of unity, our Elementary Unity Day invites all children to wear orange.

From the Health Office, Ms. Zesiger offers a friendly but important reminder: immunizations matter. Please check that your child’s vaccinations are up to date and submit any new records so we can keep our community healthy and safe.

Of course, learning never stops—and neither do the supports behind it. Our students are already familiar with The Learning Pit, a metaphor we use to affirm that challenge and confusion are part of growth. In October, we continue guiding students through those dips in understanding—encouraging perseverance, strategic thinking, and collaboration. Because when a child reaches out, stretches, asks questions, and climbs back up, that is connection in action.

Supporting instruction, our MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) gains energy this month. Teachers and staff are analyzing data, enhancing Tier 1 instruction, and layering core interventions. We refine group work, adjust feedback loops, and create engaging instruction that honors students’ individual paths.

October is more than a collection of events—it’s a step forward, together. Together, we celebrate behavior, encourage curiosity, support health, and deepen connection. Thank you, families, for walking alongside us. Let’s make this month one of momentum, kindness, and growth.

Principal Harwell