Washington Family Newsletter
Welcome back!
Welcome back to for the 2024-2025 school year!
Dear Washington Families,
I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. As we embark on a new academic year, I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to our students, staff, and families. I am filled with excitement as I think of our shared commitment to academic excellence and personal wellness. Please take a few moments to review our Back to School information listed below. I am eager to welcome all of our Tigers at our Back to School Night on August 28 from 4:30-6:00 PM!
As the school year begins, please recognize that Washington is here to support your student and family. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any needs.
Be well,
Mrs. Hallie Ritchay
Principal, Washington Elementary
Back to School Night for Grades K-6
Wednesday August 28th, 4:30PM-6:00PM
First Day of School / Orientation for Kinder, 7th & 10th: Thursday, August 29th
Our kindergarten students will attend a full day of school on this day.
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR ALL OTHER GRADES: TUESDAY, SEPTMEBER 3
Teacher Assignments
Teacher assignments will be viewable in Skyward Family Access after 3pm on Monday, August 26, 2024.
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Arrival to school:
School begins at 8:45 am. Students should not arrive at school before 8:20 am. Students will begin entering the building at 8:35 when the first bell rings. If there is inclement weather, all students will enter the building at 8:20 am.
Breakfast:
Breakfast will be eaten in the cafeteria. The district is providing free breakfast to all students. Any student wishing to eat breakfast will report directly to the cafeteria upon arrival.
Bus Riders:
Buses arrive on Prais Street
All students will enter the building through door 1.
Students wishing to eat breakfast will report directly to the cafeteria upon arrival.
Students not wishing to eat breakfast will report to the playground through door 6.
Before School Vehicle Drop-off Procedures:
Parents/Guardians must remain in their vehicle at all times and pull their vehicle (curbside) on Wilshire Blvd (SEE MAP).
Once the vehicle is stopped, students may exit the vehicle on the SIDEWALK side. Students must NOT exit onto the street.
Students wishing to eat breakfast will report to the cafeteria through door 6.
Students not wishing to eat breakfast will report to the playground.
Walkers:
Report to the playground area.
Students wishing to eat breakfast will report to the cafeteria through door 6.
Students not wishing to eat breakfast will remain on the playground.
Dismissal from school:
Students will be dismissed from school at 3:35 pm.
Dismissal locations:
ALL walkers/bike riders will be dismissed to the WALKER ZONE on St. Paul Street (SEE MAP) .
ALL car riders will be dismissed to the blacktop area on Wilshire Blvd. to the CAR LINE ZONE (See map).
ALL bus riders will be dismissed to the BUS ZONE on Prais Street (SEE MAP). Bus riders will remain in their classrooms until their bus is called.
After School Vehicle Pick-up Procedures:
Parents will be given a sign displaying their student’s name and grade. This sign MUST be visibly placed in the dashboard or window of the vehicle. Multiple signs will be given out to families if needed.
Parents/Guardians MUST remain in their vehicle at all times. Please stay in the pick up line and continuously pull your vehicle (curbside) forward until you reach the pick up area on Wilshire Blvd. This process does require some patience & awareness.
The Washington Staff Member will call your student(s) to come to the pick up line. Students must enter the vehicle on the SIDEWALK side. Students will NOT go into the street.
Once children are loaded, vehicles may exit the pick-up line and leave. The next vehicle will then pull up to the Washington staff member.
Do not pull out of the pick up line until the vehicle ahead of you exits.
If there is inclement weather, students will wait inside and be dismissed out door 7 as their vehicle arrives.
Walkers and Bikers
Students who bike to and from school will use the bike racks. Students are required to walk their bike when they are on school grounds. Students who walk/ride to and from school with parents, siblings, or other peers should have an agreed upon meeting location. All walkers are dismissed out of Doors 2, 3, 4, & 5 to the WALKER ZONE on St. Paul Street (SEE MAP). Vehicle pick up is NOT permitted in this zone.
The Importance of School Attendance
We believe that school attendance is crucial to the success of all students. Ensuring that students attend school regularly is a responsibility shared by students, parents, schools, and our entire community. We are committed to partnering with and communicating with families to support consistent student attendance.
Attending school all day, every day, has a significant impact on a student’s academic success, starting as early as preschool and continuing through high school. Even as students grow older and become more independent, families play a key role in ensuring that students get to school safely every day and understand the importance of regular attendance for success in school and in life.
Did you know…
- Students who are chronically absent in preschool through 1st grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade.
- By 6th grade, chronic absence is a proven early warning sign for students at risk of dropping out of school.
- By 9th grade, good attendance can predict graduation rates even better than 8th-grade test scores.
Absences can add up quickly. A student is considered chronically absent if they miss just two days of school each month. The academic impact of missing this much school is significant, and it doesn’t matter whether the absences are excused or unexcused—both can affect a student’s learning.
We understand that there are times when absences are unavoidable due to illness or family emergencies. However, we encourage you to prioritize your child's attendance and work with us to minimize any disruptions to their education. In an effort to ensure consistency across all elementary sites in the Stevens Point Area Public School District, please be aware of the following expectations regarding how attendance is documented for all K-6 students:
Any absence that extends beyond thirty minutes at the beginning or the end of the day will be counted as a half day absence. Any time less than thirty minutes will be documented as tardy.
If your child/children are absent for more than five days, you will be notified with an auto-generated letter from their school.
A similar letter will follow if absences exceed ten days. At this point you may be asked to provide a physician’s note for all future absences.
If your child is experiencing challenges that affect their attendance, please reach out to our school staff. We are here to support you and provide resources to help ensure your child can attend school regularly.
Thank you for your commitment to your child's education and for partnering with us to ensure their academic success. Together, we can make a positive impact on their future.
As a convenience for students and their families, a voluntary student accident insurance plan is available for your child.
Download a Back to School 2024-25 sign!
Take a photo and post it on social media with #PointProud to be featured on our channels!
Family Address Changes
Parents/guardians should confirm via Skyward Family Access if their address is up-to-date for the new school year. All address changes are processed through the district office, and require proof of address, such as a copy of a utility bill, driver’s license, rental/purchase document, etc. If you have any questions, please call the main office at 715-345-5421.
Get Involved with our PTO!
Our PTO is an organization made up of parents, teachers, and building leadership. We work together to support our school community through volunteerism, fundraising, and collaboration.
Stay tuned for their first meeting date announcement!
Universal Free Breakfast Program Continued for 2024-25 School Year
For the 3rd year in a row, SPAPSD Food Service Department will provide universal free breakfast to ALL students and free lunch to any student who qualifies for free or reduced price meals!
All families are encouraged to apply for free & reduced price school meals. Simply fill out and return the application, or complete online through your Skyward Family Access. Families who qualify for free and reduced also qualify for discounted school fees and fee waivers.
Student PINS
All students use Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) during meal service. Students are expected to memorize these numbers in order to help our food service line move more quickly. These PIN numbers can be found in Skyward Family Access under Food Service. A student's PIN remains the same throughout their years in school.
NOTE - Students in younger grades are not expected to know their number from the start of school. School staff will help students as needed.
Are you using the district mobile app?
The District's Mobile App 'Point Schools' is a powerful tool for end-users who can tailor the information they receive from schools while quickly having access to school calendars, key contacts, menus and more.
It's free and available on Google Play and in the mobile app stores.
Washington Elementary
Si necesita ayuda traduciendo información que se encuentra en el correo electrónico, por favor, contacte a Jami McGriff al correo jmcgriff@pointschools.net o llame al 715-498-1976.
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Email: hritchay@pointschools.net
Website: pointschools.net
Location: 3500 Prais Street, Stevens Point, WI, USA
Phone: 715-345-5426