W. A. Young Elementary School

10/13/2026

Good evening, Wildcat families! 🐾

This is Melissa Street calling with two important updates for this week!

🚌 Update #1: Bus 260

Great news! Bus 260 will run on its regular morning schedule tomorrow, Wednesday, October 14, 2026! We have secured a driver! Thank you for your patience and understanding!

🌟 Update #2: AIG Nominations

Burke County Public Schools has opened the nomination window for the Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Program for students in grades 3–8.

The nomination window is open October 12–23, 2026.

Parents and teachers may nominate students to be considered for testing and possible placement in our district's AIG program.

If you feel your child should be considered for AIG testing, please notify your child's teacher by Friday, October 23rd.

Thank you, Wildcat families, for your continued support! Have a wonderful evening!

10/12/2026

What if your next career is in a school?

When you think about working in education, you probably think of only teachers. But schools need teachers plus all kinds of other workers to help students learn, grow and succeed.

Join us for the Education Career Expo on Thursday, Oct. 29, at Patton High School and discover what a career in education could look like for you or your student.

Middle and high school students: Get a look at career paths that could start now and continue through college.

College students: Learn about pathways into teaching and other careers in schools.

Adults: Explore meaningful career opportunities, including current job openings, whether you’re considering a career change or looking for a way to make a difference in your community.

You’ll hear from leaders in education, learn about different pathways into the field and have the chance to talk one-on-one with people who can help you figure out where you might fit.

🍔 Free cheeseburger meal starts at 4:30 p.m.

🎤 Keynote speaker: Charles Williams, principal of Draughn High School, at 5:30 p.m.

Then, explore information booths featuring specific education career opportunities, programs and current job openings.

📅 Thursday, Oct. 29
📍 Patton High School
⏰ 4:30 p.m.
📝 RSVP by Oct. 13: https://bit.ly/3ToetKP

Have questions? Call 828-439-4323.

Come curious. You might leave with a whole new idea about what your future could look like.

10/11/2026

Hello Wildcats it’s Mrs. Street again calling with an important transportation update. I want to let you know that school will operate on a normal schedule tomorrow, Monday, Oct 12th. However, due to some roads that may still be closed because of flooding from this weekend’s rain, some of our buses may need to be rerouted due to those closures. Please keep in mind that this may impact pick up times Monday morning. Thank you for your patience and continued support of our school.

10/11/2026

🎃📚 BOOK CHARACTER PUMPKIN CONTEST! 📚🎃

It's time to get CREATIVE, Wildcats! 🐾❤️💙

Each classroom at W.A. Young Elementary will decorate a pumpkin inspired by a favorite BOOK CHARACTER! We can't wait to see all the creativity from our Wildcats! 🎨✨

🎃 Here's how it works:

📚 Theme: Book Character

🎃 One pumpkin per classroom

🎨 Pumpkins can be painted, decorated, glittered, or bedazzled — NO CARVING!

🏫 All pumpkins will be decorated at school.

💕 Families interested in donating decorating materials should contact their child's teacher.

🗳️ VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE!
Every 25¢ donated = 1 VOTE! 💰

📅 October 19–28: Pumpkins will be displayed in the Media Center.

🏆 October 29: Winner announced!

🎉 THE FUN PART! 🎉

The classroom that raises the most money will win a special prize from SGA!

AND...the winning homeroom teacher will have to wear an INFLATABLE COSTUME FOR THE ENTIRE DAY! 🤣🎃

Let's see which classroom can create the most festive pumpkin AND earn the most votes!

🐾❤️💙 Walk This WAYE, Talk This WAYE, We Teach GREAT Kids! 💙❤️🐾

10/11/2026

The Wildcat Fam Jam: Week of October 12, 2026

The Wildcat Fam Jam

10/09/2026

Sharing for our friends at Burke County Rec:
2026–27 Burke County Youth Basketball Signups

Signup contacts:

Salem: Kristen Carter, 828-430-1285.
Salem: Ashley Jones, 828-695-3579.
Mull: Cody Reid, 828-493-5193.
Mull: Josh Carswell, 828-244-8032.
Oak Hill: Brian Mize, 828-455-6629.
W.A. Young: Forest Duckworth, 828-292-3651.
Glen Alpine: Duran Clark, 828-855-7702.
Glen Alpine: Sandy Clark, 828-855-7715.
Drexel: Lisa Butler, 828-430-1051.
Mountain View: Chelsea Beam, 828-409-1932.
Forest Hill: Nikki Costello, 828-502-9235.
Ray Childers: Mark Stilwell, 828-514-0072.
Ray Childers: Ashley Bryant, 901-530-7526.
George Hildebrand: Rose Cook, 828-244-3511.
George Hildebrand: Josh Watts, 828-764-7501.
Hillcrest: Marquiese Sudduth, 828-334-0758.
East Burke: Eric Eckard, 828-723-0770.
East Burke: Melissa Barnes, 828-723-0770.
Valdese: Jonathan Carter, 828-874-6736.

Key dates:

Friday, November 6 through Monday, November 9: Dick’s Sporting Goods Discount Weekend.
Monday, November 16: Practice can start.
Saturday, December 5: Regular season opener.
Friday, December 11: Last day to add players.
Coaches meeting: Date and time to be determined.

Eligibility and contact information:

Players must live in Burke County or attend school in Burke County. Contact the signup coordinators for registration as soon as possible. For other questions, text or call Wesley at Burke County Parks and Recreation at 828-796-4806.

Age groups:

Ages 5–6: Must turn 5 before August 31, 2026, and cannot turn 7 before August 31, 2026.
Ages 7–8: Must turn 7 before August 31, 2026, and cannot turn 9 before August 31, 2026.
Ages 9–10: Must turn 9 before August 31, 2026, and cannot turn 11 before August 31, 2026.
Ages 11–12: Must turn 11 before August 31, 2026, and cannot turn 13 before August 31, 2026.
Ages 13–15: Must turn 13 before August 31, 2026, and cannot turn 16 before August 31, 2026.

10/09/2026

🧱 BURKE COUNTY KIDS — IT’S TIME TO BUILD.

The Studio by UNEEK TREE is proud to officially announce the 1st Annual Burke County LEGO® Building Championship! 🏆

This is your chance to dream it. Build it. Tell its story. And show Burke County what you can create.

🏆 THREE AGE DIVISIONS
• Ages 3–5
• Ages 6–8
• Ages 9–12

💵 $5 TO ENTER

And this competition is about more than building.

100% of entry-fee proceeds will be donated to Burke County Smart Start and South Mountain Children’s Home.

Every entry helps support organizations making an impact in the lives of children right here in our community. ❤️

🎁 AND YES… THERE ARE PRIZES.

The winner of each age division will receive:

💵 $100 CASH
📸 Free Family Photoshoot from The Studio — $250 value
🍦 Two Myra’s ice cream cones every month for an entire year
🎟️ Family passes to Marbles Kids Museum
🥤 Custom Championship tumbler
👕 Championship T-shirt
🏆 Recognition at Myra’s
🧱 Winning creation displayed at The Studio for one month
🖼️ Winner photo framed and displayed at Myra’s

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Build something completely original using LEGO® bricks. No boxed-set builds. No parent help. We want to see what YOU can create.

Parents will submit exactly 5 photos documenting the build—from the beginning, through the process, to the finished creation—along with the child’s written story about what they created.

📅 SUBMISSIONS CLOSE NOVEMBER 6

Finalists will be selected in each age division and presented to an incredible panel of local judges from across Burke County.

🏆 WINNERS ANNOUNCED
November 23, 2026 • 5:00 PM
The Studio by UNEEK TREE + Facebook Live

📍 Open to Burke County residents only.

👉 READY TO BUILD?

Full rules, prizes, important dates, judging information and the official entry form are available on our website:

https://thestudiobyuneektree.com/1st-annual-burke.../...

Parents — share this with another Burke County family.

Teachers, schools, churches, businesses and community organizations — please help us spread the word.

And make sure you’re following The Studio by UNEEK TREE as we introduce our judges, spotlight our nonprofit partners, share competition updates and eventually introduce Burke County to our finalists.

Let’s see what Burke County’s young builders can create. 🧱🏆

The Studio by UNEEK TREE
Where Creativity Creates Impact.

LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO Group. The Burke County LEGO Building Championship is an independent community event presented by The Studio by UNEEK TREE and is not sponsored, authorized, endorsed by, or affiliated with the LEGO Group. See less
— with UneekTree.

10/04/2026

The Wildcat Fam Jam: Week of October 5, 2026

10/02/2026

10/02/2026

🇺🇸🐾 A special thank you to Mrs. Bridges for coordinating with Senator Warren Daniel to provide W.A. Young Elementary with a brand-new North Carolina flag! Our previous flag had become worn, and we are so appreciative of this thoughtful gift. ❤️🤍💙

We also want to give a big Wildcat shout-out to our Flag Patrol! 🐾 These students help us honor our country and our great state of North Carolina each day by faithfully raising and lowering our flags.

Thank you for serving our school with pride! 🇺🇸 ⭐️ 🐾