Westridge Elementary (WDMCS)

🏫🚌🥪We’re hiring, and we want to meet YOU!

Join us for the Support Staff Career and Interview Fair on Tuesday, July 28 from 3-7 p.m. at the Learning Resource Center in West Des Moines. Interact directly with hiring managers, apply for a job, or sit down for an interview if you’ve already applied. We think you belong HERE!

Open positions for 2026-27 include:
✅Special Education Assistant
✅Noon Hour Supervisor
✅Building Supervisor
✅Nutrition Assistant
✅Custodian
✅Groundskeeper
✅Bus Driver
✅Bus Assistant
✅Substitute Support Staff

View a complete list of openings, apply for a job, and learn more about the event at https://discover.wdmcs.org/interview-fair.

🟩👀Take a look at our new playground surface!

Thanks to our community’s support of the bond, this space has been reimagined to provide a safer place for students to run, jump, and play. We can’t wait to welcome them back to enjoy the new turf on August 24. 🧡🖤

📅 Join us to sign up for school! You can sign up at ANY location — you do not need to go to the school your child attends. Dates and times: discover.wdmcs.org/onsite-enrollment.

July 15 — Learning Resource Center
July 16 — Indian Hills Junior High
July 21 — Stilwell Junior High
July 22 — Learning Resource Center
July 23 — Valley High School
July 28 — Crestview School of Inquiry

📸🏆 The WDMCS Photo Bracket Challenge is BACK!

Beginning Monday, July 6, head over to the WDMCS Instagram Story to vote on your favorite photos from the 2025-26 school year. We’ve rounded up the top 16 photos—now it’s up to you to help crown the champion!

Make sure to check in every Monday and Thursday for the next two weeks to vote on the latest matchups. We’ll announce the winners of each round on Tuesday and Friday and the winner will be announced Friday, July 17.

Which moment will take home the title this year? Stay tuned, get ready to vote, and let the fun begin!

🎉Introducing our new assistant principal! 🎉

Join us in welcoming Michelle Knox as our new AP for the 2026-27 school year, pending Board approval. Michelle comes to us from Willowbrook Elementary in Southeast Polk, where she spent two years as a building improvement leader. She has extensive experience handling day-to-day operations and excels at building relationships. 🧡

Read the full announcement and get to know our new AP ➡️https://discover.wdmcs.org/4rt

Take a break next week, and let Community Education plan your student’s activities!

Check out Art Discoveries and Craft Camp, for grades 1-6. Choose from Week 4 classes in the morning, afternoon, or both!

🍎 Saying Goodbye & Happy Retirement! 🍎
We are filled with immense gratitude as we wish the best to our departing staff and celebrate the incredible careers of our retirees!

✨ To the Teachers Moving On to New Adventures:
Thank you for your dedication, enthusiasm, and the countless ways you’ve inspired our students. You will be dearly missed, and we know you’ll do amazing things in your next chapters!

Join us in wishing all the best to:

Miss Cronin
Miss Taylor
Miss Coleman
Mrs. Hopkins
Mrs. Leopold
Mr. Dvorak
Mrs. Strozinsky
Mrs. Mary

🎉 To Our Wonderful Retirees:
You have dedicated years to shaping minds, building community, and leaving a lasting legacy at our school. While we can’t imagine the hallways without you, we hope your retirement is filled with relaxation, joy, and well-deserved rest!

Happy Retirement to:

Mrs. Kaufman
Mr. Chapman
Mrs. Ratcliff

💙 To all of you: Thank you for being such a vital part of our school story. You will always have a home here!

👇 Parents, students, and alumni: Please join us in the comments below to share your favorite memories and wish these incredible educators well!

☀️ And just like that, another incredible school year is in the books! 📚🎉

If you happen to walk by Westridge lately, you might notice things are a little quieter... because our amazing staff is officially ducking out for the summer! 🦆

🏝️ The Great Westridge Duck Hunt: Summer Edition!
Our staff members have officially adopted these rubber ducks for the summer. The rules? They must take their duck with them on vacation and capture their adventures.

🍩 A Sweet Send-Off
A massive, heartfelt thank you to our amazing local Hy-Vee for supplying our staff with delicious donuts! You fueled our final day and made our send-off extra sweet. We appreciate your incredible community support! 🙌❤️

Have a safe, happy, and relaxing summer, Westridge families! We will miss you, but we can't wait to see you back in the fall. ☀️🕶️

📰Check out the June edition of the We Are ALL WDMCS Newsletter, including ways families can stay engaged in learning over the summer 👇

We are All WDMCS: June 2026 We are All WDMCS: June 2026