January 2025 Newsletter

We are the Whittier Wolf Pack, a caring community of diverse global citizens committed to persevering and creating a positive impact on the world.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Happy New Year! We hope you had a restful and joyous winter break with your loved ones. As we embark on the second half of the school year, we’re excited to partner with you in supporting your child’s success.

The start of a new year is the perfect time to reflect on accomplishments and set fresh goals. Encouraging your child to set achievable academic and personal goals helps them build confidence, focus, and motivation. Whether it’s improving study habits, participating more in class, or exploring new interests, setting goals is a powerful step toward growth and success.

Equally important is maintaining consistent attendance. Every day of school counts, and regular attendance is key to academic achievement and social development. Please help your child establish routines to ensure they arrive on time and ready to learn. If you need support in addressing attendance challenges, our team is here to help.

Thank you for your continued partnership. Let’s make this a fantastic year of learning and growth together!

Warm regards,

Andy Kramer

Whittier Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope this message finds you well! We would like to inform you that our school will be administering the ACCESS for ELLs (English Language Learners) testing soon. This is an important assessment used to measure your child's progress in learning English across four key domains: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.

Here are the key details:

Testing Dates: Various testing days in January and February
Grade Levels: K-5
Purpose of the Test: The results from ACCESS help us better understand your child’s English language proficiency and guide instructional support.

How You Can Help:

1. Ensure your child gets plenty of rest the night before the test.
2. Provide a healthy breakfast on testing days.
3. Encourage your child to do their best.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns regarding ACCESS testing. You can contact [Insert Contact Information] for further details.

Thank you for your continued support in your child's education!

Happy New Year! As we begin this new chapter, we want to emphasize the importance of attendance for your child’s academic success and overall well-being.

Why Attendance Matters:
Consistent attendance is crucial for building academic skills, staying connected with classmates, and maintaining positive routines. Every day counts!

Key Reminders for January:

• Set the Tone for the Year: Let’s start the new semester with great habits. Regular attendance helps students feel prepared and confident.
• Weather and Health Precautions: With winter weather and flu season, please ensure your child dresses warmly and stays healthy. If your child is unwell, follow school policies for reporting absences.
• School Support: If you’re facing challenges that affect attendance, such as transportation or scheduling, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help!

Celebrate Success:
We’ll be recognizing students with outstanding attendance at the end of the month. Let’s make January a month to remember!

Thank you for your partnership in making attendance a priority. Together, we can help your child succeed academically and socially.

As the colder weather is upon us, we kindly remind you to ensure your child comes to school prepared to enjoy outdoor recess. Please send your child with appropriate winter gear, including a warm coat, hat, gloves or mittens, snow pants, and boots. It is District policy not to allow students outside for recess or any other outdoor activities when temperatures drop below 10 degrees Fahrenheit, or when unsafe windy, icy or snowy conditions exist.

Outdoor play is an important part of the school day, and having the proper attire allows students to stay warm and comfortable while enjoying fresh air and physical activity.

Families needing assistance with cold-weather clothing may reach out to their schools’ social worker, or the District’s Family and Community Engagement department at 224-303-1051.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students safe and warm during winter recess!

Cold Weather Information for WPS Schools

As part of our shared commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all students and staff, we would like to remind you of the importance of monitoring the items your child brings to school.

Guidelines for School-Safe Items:

• School Supplies Only: Please ensure that your child’s backpack contains only necessary school supplies and materials.
• No Prohibited Items: Items such as toys, sharp objects, electronic devices (unless approved), or any items that could pose a safety risk should not be brought to school.

How You Can Help:

1. Check Backpacks Daily: Make it a habit to review your child’s backpack before school.
2. Discuss with Your Child: Have a conversation about why certain items are not allowed at school to reinforce the importance of safety.
3. Contact Us with Questions: If you are unsure whether an item is appropriate to bring to school, feel free to reach out to the school office or your child’s teacher.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping our school a safe and welcoming place for everyone. Together, we can ensure a productive and secure learning environment for all.

School Hours

8:30 - 3:03

Breakfast 8:00 - 8:20

Early Release Hours 8:30 - 1:03

Early Release Dates

1/15, 1/29, 2/12, 2/26, 3/12, 4/9, 4/23, 5/14

Waukegan 24-25 SY English Calendar | Waukegan 24-25 SY Spanish Calendar

7 Students return to school from Winter Break

8 Chicago Bears Staley the Bear - Visiting Whittier Wednesday, 1/8 8:45 - 9:45

15 Early Release Day @1:03 PM

20 School Closed ML King Day

29 Early Release Day @1:03 PM

30 Math Night Parent Engagement Event - 5:30 - 7:00 PM

We hope this message finds you well! We would like to invite you to become an active part of our Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) and help make this a wonderful school year for all our students.

The PTO plays a key role in organizing events, supporting school programs, and fostering a strong connection between parents and teachers. By joining the PTO, you’ll have the opportunity to make a direct impact on your child’s school experience and help build a positive, thriving school community.

Whether you can volunteer your time, provide ideas, or simply stay informed, your involvement will make a difference. We welcome parents of all interests and availability!

GPTO will be meeting once a month on Thursday's. We will add a virtual link for families to join that are unable to join in person. Meetings will be from 3:30 - 4:30 in the teacher's lounge.

• 1/16

• 2/19

• 3/13

• 4/17

• 5/8

GPTO is organizing a dance at Whittier on Friday, 2/7/25 for families to attend with their children.

Agenda Meeting Notes:

• 11/21/24 meeting notes
• 12/12/24 meeting notes

Teachers will begin inputing weekly grades starting in September. This is a new district policy and will allow parents a deeper understanding of their child's academic performance.

You can log into Infinite Campus Parent portal to see your child's grades and check on their academic progress.

It is recommended that you make a tag for your child's book bag, that includes name and ID number and bus route number.

For transportation changes, please contact us or your students school for further instruction. Changes typically will take 5-7 business days to process. It will be your responsibility to transport child to and from school until changes have been complete.

• Alternative Transportation Application English | Spanish
• Pay to Ride English | Spanish
• Transportation 101 English | Spanish
• Daycare Procedures English | Spanish
• My Stop Phone App
• Pay to Ride payment

Transportation 101 Information

Download the Track My Stop App to follow your child's bus route

We offer a free breakfast to every student from 8:00-8:20. Students are not required to eat breakfast but it is available to anyone who chooses.

Lunch is also free to every student. We offer a variety of healthily and delicious foods prepared by our cafeteria staff.

Parents and guardians that drop their children off are to park in the South Whittier parking lot or at St. Paul's Church. Parents and guardians then walk their child and wait for our first bell to ring at 8:00. Students will enter the building at door 12. Breakfast will be available to any child in the cafeteria. Students that choose to not eat will wait in the gym with their classmates.

Cars should not be sitting in the front of the school as indicated on the map.

Email: whi_parentsupport@wps60.org
Website: https://whittier.wps60.org/
Location: 901 North Lewis Avenue, Waukegan, IL, USA
Phone: 224-303-1900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whittierwps/