Hello Walden Families!
It's been an incredible first week at Walden School! Welcoming children back into the building for the 24-25 school year has been such a joy. A big part of what makes our start of the year so successful is the explicit teaching of our routines and expectations. Getting into school routines at home will be helpful to your child as well. Resuming school night bedtimes and spending time reading everyday will be great for your child to get back into the school mindset.
Thank you for joining us last night at our annual Curriculum Night. We enjoyed spending time together and sharing more about the year to come.
Have a great weekend and we'll see you back at school on Monday!
- Stephanie Strenger
Safety Reminders
Please make sure you are saying goodbye to your child behind the entrance doors. We ask that parents do not call to their child or child's teacher once your child has entered into the building. We also ask that parents do not peek into classroom windows at arrival since this is very distracting to our classroom routines. Thank you!
Arrival and Dismissal
Our doors open at 8:35 and school officially begins at 8:45. Please do not drop students off before 8:35 as we do not have staff supervision before this start time. All students that arrive after 8:45 should come through our front doors since they will need to check in with our school nurse. All students exit from their same exit door except that 2nd grade exits through our front doors at the end of the day. Our dismissal takes place everyday at 3:25 however on Wednesdays our school day ends at 2:25. Also, if you drive to school and park around the neighborhood, please do not block driveways of our neighbors or park illegally near a fire hydrant or crosswalk. Thank you!
HELP TRAIN SCOUT, OUR NEW AI CHATBOT
Have you checked out our new AI chatbot, Scout? Visit dps109.org, and Scout will appear on the bottom left-hand corner of your screen. Scout is on a two-month trial from now until the end of September. The more you help train him (ask him questions), the faster he learns and "scouts" our website to help find the answers to your questions! Please use the feedback button and star rating system to help us decide if Scout is here to stay.
Technology at School (2nd Posting)
All kindergarten and first grade students receive an iPad at school, which stays in the classroom nightly to charge. Second graders through fifth graders will receive a chromebook, charger and carrying case that is to be brought to and from school each day. Charging takes place at home.
If a parent chooses to provide their child with a cell phone, this personal device is expected to be kept silenced and out-of-sight during the regular school day. (Exceptions are made for students who use a device as part of their IEP, 504 Plan, or Health Plan). While smart watches are still permitted in school, they should also be silenced at all times and not be used for texting while students are in school. Any personal devices that become a distraction to the learning environment will be brought to the office and families will be notified to pick the device up from the school. If a parent needs to send a message to their child, please call our front office and we will send the message to your child. We appreciate your cooperation!
Upcoming Dates
Mon. Sept 2 - No School (Labor Day)
Wed. Sept 4 - PTO Ice Cream Social
Thurs. Sept 12 - Picture Day
Thurs. Oct. 3 - No School (Rosh Hashanah)
Mon. Oct 14 - No School (Columbus Day)
Oct 15-17 - Book Fair
Thurs. Oct 24 - Students in Session ½ Day (PM Conferences)
Fri. Oct 25 - No School for Students (AM Conferences)
Thurs. Oct 31 - Halloween
Tues. Nov. 5 - No School (Election Day)
Thurs. Nov. 7 - Picture Retakes
Mon. Nov. 11 - No School (Veterans Day)
Thurs. Nov. 21 - 3rd Grade Music Show 6pm
Nov. 27-29 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)
Thurs. Dec. 19 - Classroom Winter Parties
Fri. Dec. 20 - No School (Winter Break Begins)
Mon. Jan 6 - Teacher Institute Day (No School for Students)
Tues. Jan 7 - Students Return from Winter Break