Welcome Back, Families!

As I embark on my 11th school year at Waltham Elementary School, I am thrilled to welcome you and your children back to another exciting academic year. Our school continues to stand out as an exemplary institution, and I am eager to see what this year holds for us.

With over 240 students enrolled and a dedicated team of over 40 amazing staff members, we are ready to make this year one of growth, achievement, and community spirit. We have some exciting initiatives planned, and I am particularly enthusiastic about our two schoolwide goals for this year:

1. Improving Student Attendance: We believe that regular attendance is crucial to academic success, and we are committed to working with families to ensure that each student is present and engaged in their learning.

2. Enhancing School Pride: Building a strong sense of pride and belonging within our school community is vital. We will be focusing on celebrating our successes and fostering an environment where every student feels valued and motivated.

We look forward to seeing all of you on Monday evening!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Melanie Lukacsy

Principal

• Waltham’s school supply drop-off and Meet the Teacher Night will be Monday, August 12th from 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. This will be for all grade levels, PreK-8. Please use this time to drop-off your child/children’s school supplies to their classroom and get acquainted with their teacher prior to the first day of school.
• Parents will be able to sign-up for the time/day of their choice for parent/teacher conferences at this time. You may also drop off student physicals, birth certificates, dental or vision exams to the office.

• PE uniforms will be available for purchase for junior high students.
• Our new modular classroom unit where junior high will be housed will be open for viewing!

Here are the links to the lists:

There will be a 2:10 p.m. dismissal every day from August 14th - August 23rd for students in grades K-8. (Preschool will run their normal AM/PM class times beginning Thursday, August 15th.)

• Please note that the regular school day for students, PreK-8, will be 8:05 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.
• Every Wednesday will either be a 2:10 p.m. or 11:35 a.m. dismissal for K-8 students.
• Preschool students will follow their normal AM/PM schedule. These students will not be in attendance on 11:35 a.m. dismissal days.

Please check the main calendar or preschool calendar for specific dates.

• Students that do not ride the bus should be dropped off/picked up in the car line in the front of the building.
• When entering the parking lot, cars should veer to the right and enter the pick-up/drop-off line.
• PreK-8th grade students should not arrive before 8:00 a.m.
• Students can be picked up at the same entrance at the end of the school day.
• Parents should not begin lining up in front of the building for the car line until 15 minutes prior to student dismissal. This blocks our main entry for deliveries, early pick-ups and emergency vehicles. If you arrive earlier than 15 minutes prior to dismissal, you may be asked to move your vehicle to a parking space.

Kindergarten - 8th grade students will be dismissed at 11:35 a.m. on the following days:

• Wednesday- September 18th,
• Wednesday- October 23rd,
• Wednesday - November 20th,
• Wednesday - December 18th,
• Wednesday- January 15th,
• Wednesday- February 19th, and
• Wednesday- March 19th

Preschool students will not be in attendance these days.

Parent/Teacher conferences will be held this year on Monday, November 25th from 2:30-6:30 p.m. and Tuesday, November 26th from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Parents will be able to sign-up for the time and day of their choice during Supply Drop/Meet the Teacher Night on August 12th.

• School will be dismissed at 1:45 p.m. on November 25th for kindergarten-8th grade students.
• No school for preschool Monday, November 25th or Tuesday, November 26th.
• No school for all preschool-8th grade students on Tuesday, November 26th.

Non-prescription medications will not be dispensed by school personnel. If students need non-prescription medicine during the school day, a parent/guardian is required to come to school and administer the medicine.

• Students will be marked tardy if they are not in their classrooms, ready for learning, at 8:15 a.m.
• If your child needs to be picked up early, please pull up to the front of the building and call the office at 815-667-4417. We will sign your child out and send them out to your car. Junior high students in the trailer must be picked up/dropped off at the main office.
• No students will be dismissed between 2:50 – 3:10 p.m. unless they are leaving for a Waltham-sponsored event.
• We ask that you please make every effort to make appointments for your children before or after school to minimize disruptions to the learning environment and office.

Unless written notice or a phone call from a parent/guardian is received by the school office one hour prior to dismissal, students will be sent home on the bus.

Report cards will be sent home this year, (with the exception of the 1st trimester report card that will be given to parents during conferences). They will also be available via Teacherease. An announcement will be sent to you when they are ready for viewing.

Report cards will report trimester and final grades. The criteria for earning honor roll status for the Awards Day Assembly will be based on the student’s cumulative GPA for the 3 trimesters. Requirements for honor roll are as follows: Honor Roll – 2.7-3.69 and High Honor Roll – 3.70-4.3.

In order to minimize disruptions in the classrooms, we request that items (i.e., lunches, P.E. clothes, uniforms, instruments, homework, etc.) be dropped off in the office. Office personnel will make sure the item gets to your child.

Parents may not go directly to the trailer without first signing in to the office.

As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we want to inform you about some important updates to our school's student handbook. We believe that open communication between home and school is essential for our students' success, and we encourage you to review the updated handbook together with your child.

Our student handbook is divided into two parts:

1. Student Assignment Notebook: This portion of the handbook is a valuable resource for students, containing essential information they may need daily. It includes details on topics such as the dress code, grading scales, honor roll criteria, bus conduct, and attendance policies. Students will find this information readily available in their assignment notebooks.

2. Online Handbook: The complete version of our student handbook is available online. This comprehensive document includes all school policies, procedures, and guidelines. It is a living document, subject to updates as needed and approved by our school board. We encourage you to review the online version with your student(s) to ensure you are familiar with the current policies and any changes that may arise during the school year.

Please take some time to go through both the student assignment notebook and the online handbook with your child. This will help them understand the expectations and standards of our school community, and it will also provide an opportunity for you to discuss any questions or concerns they may have.

The Awards Day Assembly will take place during the school day, prior to graduation. (We want all of our students to have the opportunity to participate and be recognized by their peers.) Further information regarding the assembly and confirmed date will be sent home after the March Board of Education meeting.

The 8th grade graduation will take place on a Wednesday evening in May. The date will not be set until the end of March, and will be based on the number of emergency days the district has to utilize throughout the year.

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/2065/WESD/4553672/2024_2025_School_Calendar_-_Sheet1__1_.pdf

• Download the Waltham Elementary School App using either:
• Android: https://bit.ly/3fezeBS or
• iPhone: https://apple.co/2QoGMIC

• Website: www.wesd185.org
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/WalthamPride
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/walthampride185
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/walthampride185/

Email: waltham@wesd185.org
Website: http://www.wesd185.org/
Location: 2902 Illinois 178, North Utica, IL, USA
Phone: 815-667-4417
Facebook: facebook.com/WalthamPride/
Twitter: @WalthamPride185