Dear Walker Families,

As we kick off another exciting school year, we want to take a moment to highlight the critical importance of regular attendance for our elementary students. It’s not just about being present; it’s about setting the stage for a successful educational experience that supports academic growth, social development, and lifelong habits.

Why Attendance Matters

1. **Academic Success**:

Research consistently shows that students who attend school regularly perform better academically. When children miss school, they miss valuable instruction, discussions, and hands-on learning opportunities. This can lead to gaps in understanding, making it challenging for them to catch up. Regular attendance helps ensure that students are not only present for lessons but also engaged in collaborative activities and projects that reinforce their learning.

2. **Social Development**:

School is a vital environment for socialization. Children learn to interact with their peers, develop friendships, and navigate social situations. Regular attendance allows them to build these important relationships, which contribute to their emotional and social well-being. Missing school can lead to feelings of isolation and anxiety about returning.

3. **Building Responsibility and Life Skills**:

Establishing a routine of consistent attendance helps children develop a sense of responsibility. Learning the importance of showing up on time and being prepared fosters skills that will serve them well throughout their lives, whether in further education or the workforce.

4. **Positive School Climate**:

When students attend school regularly, they contribute to a vibrant and dynamic school community. High attendance rates foster a sense of belonging and connection among students and staff, creating a positive learning environment where everyone can thrive.

Incentives for Great Attendance

At Walker, we recognize and celebrate the importance of attendance. This year, we are excited to announce that we will be tracking attendance by grade level and offering incentives for students who demonstrate excellent attendance. Our aim is to motivate and encourage our students to make attending school a priority. We believe that these incentives will not only boost attendance rates but also create a sense of camaraderie among students working towards a common goal.

Attendance Guidelines

To ensure that absences are properly documented, please keep in mind the following guidelines: absences related to illness, doctor appointments, bereavement, family emergencies, or district-approved family absences are only excused if the school is notified in advance or on the day of the absence. This communication is vital for us to support your child’s learning and ensure they receive any necessary resources or assistance when they return.

Thank you for your continued support in making this school year a successful one for all our students. Together, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive academically and socially.

Sincerely,

Leighann Reynolds, Principal

Walker Elementary School

School starts promptly at 7:30am. The west gate will close at 7:30am each day and students who arrive late will need to go to the front office to sign in. Please be sure to communicate your child's schedule for getting home to their classroom teacher. We ask that you try to keep this as consistent as possible and to avoid last minute changes unless absolutely necessary. If a change is needed, please call the office before 1:00pm and we will notify the teacher.

Bus Reminders:

• Download the new My Ride K-12 App to manage your student's district transportation to and from school. More information can be found here: https://www.amphi.com/Page/23946
• Kindergarten students must be met by an adult at the correct stop.
• Students must be waiting safely at the stop in the mornings. Buses may not stop if they do not see students waiting.

Parent Pick Up Reminders:

• The preferred, and safest practice to use is the drive-thru line. Staying in your vehicle eliminates pedestrians in the parking lot and allows us to load and dismiss cars as quickly and safely as possible.
• If you are parking and walking up to the west gate, thank you for standing under the tree, north of the cones. This is allowing us to safely walk students out of the gate and get them to the correct vehicles. Please be sure to wait for cars to pull up to the loading zone and come to a complete stop before crossing the street. Do not walk out in front of moving vehicles or stop traffic from moving in the drive-thru line.
• Please make sure you have your student's car tag. This provides us with all the information we need to call for students efficiently.
• If you are using the car line to drop off or pick up your child, please do not exit and leave your vehicle.
• A reminder that the shoulder along Roller Coaster is not Walker Elementary School property and it is illegal to park in the bike lanes, as well unsafe. Please utilize the parking spaces within the Walker Elementary School parking lot if you would like to meet your child at the west gate for dismissal.

Teachers have begun assessing their students and will use this data to drive personalized instruction throughout the year. All kindergarten through third grade students will be screened for reading difficulties and characteristics consistent with dyslexia using the Amira Dyslexia Risk Screener. This universal screening process includes our English Learners and those who have a 504 and/or IEP. This universal screener allows us to provide targeted supports for students.

Additionally, all students in grades 2-5 will be taking the NWEA MAP assessment for Reading and Math. This assessment is taken three times total throughout the year, and students aim to grow each time they take it.

Your Walker PTO welcomes you to the first meeting of the year, this Thursday at 2:30pm in the library. PTO is looking for new members in a variety of capacities. Interested or have questions? Email walker2019pto@gmail.com.

Our first fundraiser night will take place this Tuesday, August 20th from 5pm-8pm. Bring in or mention the flyer attached, and Walker PTO will receive 15% of the proceeds.

Classroom and Title 1 Information Night is right around the corner! This event will be held August 28th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. This parent only event is an opportunity to learn more about our Title 1 program and what your child will be doing this year in class. This information night runs in two sessions so families can visit multiple rooms. The first session is from 5:00pm-5:50pm. The next session is from 6:00pm-6:50pm. We look forward to seeing you there!

Wolf Pack Awards are designed to support our schoolwide behavior program, recognizing and rewarding students for being respectful, responsible, safe and kind. As students exhibit these behaviors, they earn "wolf treats", which are collected in individual jars. Once a student's jar is filled with wolf treats, they are celebrated with a special certificate, a prize, and their name is read on the announcements.

Here are our jar fillers from the first full week of school:

Ms.. Bermudez’s Class:

Carlos

Enzo

Arianna

Iris

Haya

Anaiyah

Mariah

Jacob

Naomi

Eric

Santiago

Ms. Maddox’s Class:

Cameron

Ms. Acuna-Newman’s Class:

Fiona

Daniel

Ms. Brown’s Class:

Meylani

Jhosalyn

Ms. Luciano’s Class:

Aiden

Duvan

Ms. Williams’ Class:

Gabriel

Amaya

Dominik

Ms. Flippo’s Class:

Margaret

Luci

Julian

Anthony

Ryan

Mackenzie

Halle

Laylon

Julio

Uziah

Matthew

Samuel

Marisol

Emilio

Jayden

Jonathan

Monday 8/19 - Odyssey of the Mind Parent Meeting, 2:30pm, Room 16

Tuesday 8/20 - Eegees Percentage Night, 5pm-8pm

Wednesday 8/21 - Early Out at 12:00pm

Thursday 8/22 - PTO Meeting, 2:30pm, Library

Friday 8/23