Hello Wildcat families,

Our first 2 days of school were great! I don't remember ever starting on a Thursday, but it was also the smoothest first day I can recall. A big thank you to all of our families for following our morning drop-off and pick-up procedures! It helps so much when we can rest assured that everyone is working together to keep our kids safe around moving vehicles.

The weather was nicer last week for outside recess (at least nice for Phoenix summer!), but when the National Weather Service says that our county is in an Excessive Heat Warning, our kids stay indoors for recess during the hottest time of the day. The temperatures are low enough for before-school morning recess and teachers may take kids out for mini-breaks, but those can't exceed 10 minutes. Since our lunch/recess times are 20 minutes each for those, we just keep kids indoors for lunch/recess during the Excessive Heat Warnings. We have board games, coloring pages, videos, and indoor games for students during Rainy Day/ Excessive Heat recess days.

We've had parents & guardians on campus for morning drop off the last 2 days, and will continue it Monday 8/5. Starting 8/6, only FESD employees and students will be allowed through the gates in the mornings. This helps to ensure that we know exactly who is on our campus at all times. For any visitors, eating lunch, bringing a donation of tissues & disinfectant wipes to the classroom, dropping off birthday treats, etc., you'll have to sign in with a photo ID at the front office, and be given a visitor sticker.

This week, our students will be taking their district pretests. This helps to give us a baseline of where students are academically, and in which area(s) they need more support, as well as in which area(s) they need enrichment. Most of our assessments are given online, and while the younger students sometimes need help logging in, most of our kids operate the online testing program like a pro!

Keep an eye out for the start of the year Curriculum Night. At that meeting, each grade will share an overview of what your child will learn in that grade level, and how you can support at home. Date and details are coming soon!

Have a wonderful afternoon, and stay cool!

Jennifer Quirk

At WVE, we guide learners to reflect, communicate, and grow, to strengthen ourselves and our community.

WVE engages learners in a growth mindset to reach their potential while being accountable to their role within the community.

WVE is a place where everyone believes students can learn and grow as individuals. Effort is valued, teaching is intentional, progress is shared, and ideas are welcomed.

Water refill stations & drinking fountains are all around campus. Sending your child with a water bottle ensures they are never without a quick drink of water!

And don't forget to write their name on their water bottle!

For the 2024-2025 School Year, we will be providing all playground equipment for student use, and will not be allowing students to bring equipment from home (e.g. soccer balls, footballs, kickballs, etc.). This allows more students to be included in games, fewer issues to arise, and play will be more fun for all when school equipment was used exclusively.

Did you know that every 4th grade student in the US is eligible for the "Every Kid Outdoors" pass? This pass gives free admission the 4th grader and their family to National Parks and other landmarks around the country. It's a great way to explore different parts of our beautiful country. While you're at a National Park, ask about the Junior Ranger program. It's a fun way for kids to get involved and learn a little more about our natural resources.

Fourth grade teachers will have paper copies of the pass available at Curriculum Night, or parents can sign up on their own on the website.

https://everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htm

We had some parent volunteers last year for making copies, Book Fair, field trips, and in the cafeteria to help students open packaging and keeping tables clean. It was a HUGE help! We would like to extend the invitation again this year. If you are interested in volunteering at school,

please fill out this form. We will begin with volunteers by mid-August.

https://forms.gle/dwDkf4kz3My2vBV19

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Our students will all receive free lunch this year (no lunch applications needed), but we do need families to please complete the income eligibility form as well- this helps to pay for our Reading Intervention services, after school tutoring and clubs, summer school, Instructional Assistants, and so much more!

https://linqconnect.com/public/income-form/new?identifier=TARLF2

If you send lunch or snacks with your child, please only send one serving of chips/ cookies/ treats with them. Last year we had many "Party Size" bags of chips, or a whole sleeve of cookies, or a liter of soda sent with a child for lunch. This creates a lot of excitement in the cafeteria, meaning kids crowd around the child with the giant bag of treats, and creates a chaotic situation. Additionally, kids are less likely to eat the rest of their lunch when they have a huge bag of snacks. This also can create headaches later in the day.

Please send only water or juice with your child's lunch, or something they can finish in the cafeteria. They will not be allowed to bring food or drinks outside to the playground.

Thank you for your help with this!

Our arrival and dismissal procedure will be similar this school year. For the safety of your children, please only use the parking lot and 63rd Ave to park and walk WITH YOUR CHILD to the crosswalk. Children may not be dropped off in the parking lot or along 63rd Ave to walk by themselves. It is simply not safe for them.

As a reminder, the drop-off area is along the fire lane curb, and the parking lot is ONLY for families who want to park and walk up their student. Students MAY NOT be dropped off in the parking lot. This creates an unsafe situation for children, which of course, no one wants. We will have signs up as reminders, but please be safe, and drop off children only in the designated areas.

**For the parent pick-up area, we will have grade levels wait under the shade structure (as best as will safely fit). A change this year is with older siblings meeting younger kids. They will NOT meet them in the classroom this year. Instead, upper grade siblings will meet their younger siblings outside, and will wait with them under the shade structure. This allows students to exit more quickly, and to meet up with the parent or guardian who is picking them up.

Use your Dashboard card for a faster Parent Pick Up! Ask your teacher or the front office for one.

Kids get breakfast in the classroom starting at 7:55, and we are into the start of instruction by 8:10 every day, so arrival any later than that means students are missing important learning time. And it adds up!

Students may now wear a WVE Spirit Shirt on Thursdays with uniform pants.

Order your Spirit Shirt now! You can pay cash or Zelle to jreeser@fesd.org

All students have been issued a bus ID. They will scan on and off the bus each time. The first bus ID is free, broken or lost replacements will cost $5.

If your child will need to take medication at school, please bring it (in the prescription bottle/box) to the Health Office. Children may not bring medication to school themselves. This includes even cough drops. When in doubt, don't send medicine to school with your child!

Also, if your child has a Chronic Illness, and may miss school often due to an illness or condition, ask the office or Mrs Reyes about a Chronic Health Form.

Learn a new skill, or continue to grow in a field you've worked in before! Keep the same work schedule as your kids!

Check out some other openings around the district here- https://fowler.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx

Our office is open 7:30am-4pm Mon-Fri.

Our administration & office staff are happy to help!