Wildcat Weekly

Welcome to the 2024-25 school year! This year our theme is "The Walnut Creek Collective." Together--as students, staff, families, and community--we can ensure our Wildcats receive a solid education and important life skills to help them reach their full potential.

Our Parent-Teacher Organization is vital to the mission and culture of our school! Please consider getting involved with PTO through meetings, classroom parties, school events, and volunteer opportunities. Your support strengthens not only your home-school connection, but also our school community as a whole.

This newsletter will offer answers to any questions that you might have to get the school year started off right. Additional information such as lunch times and updates from our Health Office can be found in our Walnut Creek Student & Parent Handbook (attached below). You can also check our facebook page for upcoming events.

We look forward to seeing you soon! The 2024-25 school year promises to be filled with rigorous academics and engaging educational experiences for all of our students.

Warmest regards,

Jaime Bizal, Principal

August

9th - Classroom assignment email from PLCS at 3:00 p.m.

12th - Back to School Night 5:00-6:30 p.m. (A-I 5:00-5:30; J-R 5:30-6:00; S-Z 6:00-6:30)

13th - First Day of School 8:05-11:40 a.m.; PTO Boo-Hoo/Woo-Hoo Breakfast at 8:10 a.m. in the Library

16th - Spirit Day! Wear your Wildcat gear or our Walnut Creek school colors- Titan blue, silver/gray or black!

If you have paperwork to drop off prior to the school year, please visit our office Monday-Friday between the hours of 7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. You can also make an appointment with Olivia at (402) 898-9630 or olivia.weddell@plcschools.org.

Enrollment paperwork includes a current physical, record of immunizations, birth certificate, parent's driver's license, and proof of residency. Students will not be able to begin school without these documents on file.

On Friday, August 9th at 3:00 p.m., you will receive a district email with your child’s teacher. Our goal is to ensure that each of our students is placed in an environment where he or she can be most successful.

It can be difficult, however, to make determinations about student placement for our Kindergarteners and new students before we have spent time getting to know each child. Therefore, we want you to know that we may move your child to another classroom in an effort to best meet his or her individual needs. This decision will be made by our team after careful consideration of your child’s strengths, areas for growth, and interactions with peers. I will inform you of any changes to your child’s placement by Friday, August 23rd via phone. If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to give me a call.

We invite you to join us for Back to School Night on Monday, August 12th from 5:00-6:30 p.m. You will be able to meet your child’s teacher, drop off school supplies, tour the building, and sign up for volunteer opportunities in the gym.

We are offering staggered times (Last names beginning with A-I 5:00-5:30; J-R 5:30-6:00; S-Z 6:00-6:30) to ease congestion in the classrooms and parking lot. If you need to adjust your time to better meet your family's needs please feel free to do so.

If you would like to get a head start on school supply shopping, the suggested supply list is linked below. Items listed are suggested for donation, but are not mandatory. The district will provide all supplies needed in the classrooms for all students.

If you ordered 1st Day School Supplies, they will be placed on your student's desk for Back to School Night.

Our first day of school is Tuesday, August 13th and is a modified schedule (8:05 a.m.-11:40 a.m.) No lunch will be served. Our regular schedule will begin on Wednesday, August 14th (8:05-3:05 p.m.).

Buses will run on the first day of school, with a modified drop-off time due to the half day. Please expect a delay in pick-up and drop-off times for the first few days as bus routes are established. Your student will not be marked tardy if the bus arrives late to school.

We are happy to welcome the parents of our Kindergarteners and new students to our PTO Boo-Hoo/Woo-Hoo Breakfast on Tuesday, August 13th at 8:10 a.m. in our library. Whether you need a tissue or a pom-pom, our PTO and supportive community will have you covered!

We have a very active and supportive Parent-Teacher Organization at Walnut Creek. Please consider how you can contribute your time and talents to strengthening our home-school connection. PTO will be available in the gym during Back to School Night to answer any questions you might have.

7:50 a.m. Students may begin arriving on campus; enter the building through the main doors, and proceed directly to their classrooms. Students who choose to eat breakfast may arrive between 7:45-8:00 a.m. and proceed directly to the gym.

8:05 a.m. Bell rings. Students who are not in their classrooms are marked tardy and must report to the Health Office for a pass.

3:05 p.m. Bell rings. All students are walked by their teacher through their assigned exit door and to the parking lot. Students who attend an after school daycare or who ride the bus are dismissed at 3:00 p.m. Students who attend Kids Club are dismissed with the rest of the class at 3:05 p.m.

We respectfully request that parents stay in their vehicles while in the drop-off/pick-up lane. If your child needs assistance exiting your vehicle, a staff member will be available or you can pull into a parking stall. We appreciate your cooperation to ensure a safe arrival and dismissal.

The school lunch menu can be found here. Please refer to the WC Student & Parent Handbook for information regarding lunch times, prices, and payment options.

Some grade levels may offer a snack time which will be communicated by the classroom teacher. Healthy snacks include fruits, vegetables, yogurt, cheese, crackers, cereal (not sugar based), popcorn, or snack mixes and must be ready to eat with utensils provided. Snacks may not be shared. Snacks will not be provided, from the office or the classroom teacher, if a student forgets or chooses not to bring one. Please reach out to our school counselor if financial situations prevent your child from having a snack.

Classroom teachers will communicate any food restrictions or if their classroom is “Nut Free” due to allergy concerns. It is the responsibility of all of us to follow these restrictions–student safety must always be our priority!

Students are encouraged to stay hydrated throughout the day. They may bring a clean, filled water bottle each day. Bottle fillers and drinking fountains are available at school.

As part of our no shared foods policy, birthday treats will not be allowed. Birthdays are recognized during morning announcements, a slide on the hallway tv, and a trip to the principal’s office for a birthday book, pencil, and sticker. Goody bags should not be handed out.

Birthday/party invitations may not be passed out at school. For more information about this policy, please see the District Elementary Student Handbook. Student addresses cannot be given out by the office. A student directory will be available from our school PTO at a later date.

The health office will be open during Back to School Night to drop off any necessary supplies and scheduled medications. Please keep the following in mind:

PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION

• Prescription medication will only be received in the original, properly labeled prescription container, including the following: student’s name, medical provider’s name, and directions for administration by school personnel.
• Your pharmacy should be willing to give you a second, empty, properly labeled prescription container to divide the meds between home and school, if necessary.
• Prescription medication will only be administered at school with written permission from both the parent and the medical provider.
• You can access our Medication Permission form here.
• We require a medication form for EACH medication.
• Please have the completed medication permission form with the medication you are dropping off.
  
• Please note that a current prescription label from the pharmacy will be accepted as written permission from the medical provider.
• Please send only ONE month supply of medication to school to facilitate appropriate storage and administration.

OVER THE COUNTER (OTC) MEDICATION

• OTC medication will be given with written permission from a parent with specific instructions for administration, using our PLCS Medication Permission form.
• OTC medication must be brought to school in the original container.
• OTC medication may be brought to the school by the student, providing the signed medication administration form is on file in the health office.

Looking for a way to get involved at school and meet new people? Our PTO has two open committee head positions available--Popcorn Days and Spring Bingo Night. Please reach out to a board member listed below to get more information or to volunteer!