August 2023 Edition 11
AUGUST 2023-2024 EDITION 1
Alpha Notes
Welcome Back Wolfpack!
Welcome back to school and welcome to the Wolfpack!!
I’m thrilled and honored to say hello to you as the Principal of Whitlow Elementary, in my very first edition of The Howling Herald!
I knew I was in for a treat when I met so many excited parents and saw so many smiling student faces at the Ice Cream Social Meet and Greet in July. The fact that so many parents and students were willing to stand in line when it was 95 degrees, just to get an ice cream and to meet me, let me know what a dedicated school community this is. That dedication was evident once again at Kindergarten Round Up and Open House. The Whitlow community is one that truly values education and deeply cares about the school experience their child(ren) receive while they are in this building. I quickly learned that the beauty of this school community is that it’s not just the parents who feel that way! Every member of the Whitlow staff returned for pre-planning with so much enthusiasm and determination to make this year the best school experience possible for every child. Teachers and staff attended trainings throughout the summer, they came in even before pre-planning to create the perfect classroom set-up, and they brought excitement about new curriculum, new instructional tools, and new ideas. Our custodial staff worked tirelessly throughout the summer to make repairs, to clean and to prep the building so it was shiny and ready for the new year. The office and cafeteria staff also worked throughout the summer collecting records and enrolling students, setting up class lists, purchasing teacher materials and supplies, coordinating food shipments, and so on, and so on. All of this, so we could open the doors on August 3rd prepared to embrace the real reason behind what makes this Whitlow community so special and worth all of the hard work and preparation…our students!
And these first few days have been an incredible reflection of all of the heartfelt investment that each parent, teacher, and individual staff member has made, in order to set the stage for the kind of outstanding educational experience that every child here deserves. When I say that I’m honored to be a part of this school community, I sincerely mean it. And I can’t wait to continue this journey with each and every one of you throughout what will surely be, the very best school year yet!
Go Wolves!
Dawn Bush
Mrs. Dawn Bush
Whitlow Elementary School
Principal
Cache Connection- News You Can Use
School Start Time- 8:20 a.m.
School Dismissal Time- 3:00 p.m.
Latest time to check out- 2:45p.m.
Infinite Campus- Parent Portal
Stay engaged & connected with Parent Portal
See what is happening in the classroom so you can understand, monitor, and participate in the educational process.
Questions? Click here.
Parent Permissions
Please make sure to sign your student's beginning of year permission forms on Parent Portal. These forms are due on August 15, 2023. After August 15th, the permissions on the form will default to yes responses. Please make sure to log into your Parent Portal account and complete these forms prior to the due date. For instructions about how to complete the forms, click here. Please disregard if you have already completed these forms but are still receiving reminders.
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Attendance
WYNTK About Attendance
Parents, we love seeing our Whitlow Wolves at school every day. Attendance at school, especially during the first month, is critical to a student having a successful school year. Check out the following facts about the importance of school attendance according to the non–profit organization, Attendance Works.
- Absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Half the students who miss 2-4 days in August go on to miss nearly a month of school. (attendanceworks.org)
- Chronic absence appears to have doubled by the end of the 2021-22 school year. We estimate that it now affects nearly one out of three students or 16 million vs. 8 million students in the 2018-19 school year. (attendanceworks.org)
- Research shows that missing 10 percent of the school, or about 18 days in most school districts, negatively affects a student’s academic performance. That’s just two days a month and that’s known as chronic absence. (attendanceworks.org) the importance of school attendance according to the non–profit organization, Attendance Works
- Absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Half the students who miss 2-4 days in August go on to miss nearly a month of school. (attendanceworks.org)
- Chronic absence appears to have doubled by the end of the 2021-22 school year. We estimate that it now affects nearly one out of three students or 16 million vs. 8 million students in the 2018-19 school year. (attendanceworks.org)
- Research shows that missing 10 percent of the school, or about 18 days in most school districts, negatively affects a student’s academic performance. That’s just two days a month and that’s known as chronic absence. (attendanceworks.org)
For Whitlow's attendance policies and procedures, please click here. Please communicate absences to your child's teacher and include the attendance email whitlowreceptionist@forsyth.k12.ga.us
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Transportation
1. Please send a handwritten note to your child's teacher if you have transportation changes, as well as filling out the Transportation Form here.
2. Finding 2023-24 Bus Route, Bus Stop & Pick-Up Information:
If you want to find your child’s bus transportation information online, you have two main options: • Log into FCS Infinite Campus Parent Portal, select your child, and then click open the Transportation heading from the menu to see morning & afternoon bus route information for your child.
- Go to the Forsyth County Schools website at www.forsyth.k12.ga.us, click on the Departments heading and select Transportation to go to the FCS Transportation home page.
- Once on the Transportation home page, select and click on the Bus Routes heading to access the Bus Route Information page.
- Once on this page, you can click to open either I agree, continue to 2023-24 Bus Route Maps to see a Forsyth County map identifying bus stops or Parent Portal to see bus route & stop information without a map.
3. Bus Tag Color -If you wish to submit changes to your student's existing verification, and/or update your contact information please submit the digital verification form here.
4. Student Bus Release Pass- For our elementary (K-5) parents & families, the following are step-by-step directions you can use to access your FCS Student Bus Release Pass through your Infinite Campus Parent Portal account. A parent / guardian / authorized adult can show either a printed paper copy or a digital copy (IC Parent Portal, a screen shot / picture of the bus release pass from IC Parent Portal) of the FCS Student Bus Release Pass to the bus driver. If the FCS Student Bus Release Pass is not presented to the driver when required, then the student will be return to the school to ensure their safety.
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Helpful Tools
Canvas
What is Canvas?
Canvas is a learning management system that replaced itslearning. This school year, all teachers and students will use Canvas on a daily basis. Similar to itslearning, your child will access Canvas on his/her ClassLink dashboard to access courses, instructional materials, assignments, and important dates at anytime. For more information, click here.
My Payments Plus + School Pay
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PBIS
PBIS Parent Corner
What is PBIS? Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) are an implementation framework for maximizing the selection and use of evidence-based prevention and intervention practices along a continuum that supports the academic, social, emotional, and behavioral competence of all students. PBIS is for all students. PBIS develops teacher practices that create positive, predictable and safe environments for students. PBIS strengthens relationships between students and teachers.
Whitlow has been a PBIS school since the 2020-21 school year. Look at this space in the Howler throughout the school year for more information about PBIS, how it is implemented here at Whitlow, and how you can support PBIS at home.
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Are you looking for an engaging environment for your student after school? Well look no further! Whitlow offers an after school program from 3:00-6:30 Monday-Friday for all Wolves in grades Kindergarten through 5th . The Whitlow After School Program (WASP) offers structured activities each day which include an art activity, recreational play, and homework time. A staple of the after school program is having a trustworthy staff of which most staff stay for a couple of years. This is a key component in establishing relationships between students and staff. For more information about the program, please click here. If you would like to register for the Whitlow After School Program, please click here.
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Buy your yearbook early
Pack Tracker- Happenings Around the School
We invite all grade levels to join kindergarten in our annual "Color Days." Each day will highlight a specific color. To participate, have your student(s) wear the color of the day while maintaining school dress code and let's have some fun :)
Den Dates- Upcoming Events
Wed 8/16, 9:30a.m.
PTO Volunteer Interest Meeting in the Cafe
Thurs 8/17, 5:00p.m.
Cub Scout Pack Meeting at 5:00p in Cafe
Wed 8/23
Family Connect Night- No homework! Plan a fun evening with family :)
PTO Annual Fundraiser Launches Mon 8/21
Thurs 8/24, 6:00p.m.
Scouts Round Up Meeting in Cafe
Mon 8/28 & Tues 8/29
Fall Picture Day(s)
Grades K-2 Monday
Grades 3-5 Tuesday
Fri 9/1
Early Release Day
Dismissal at 12:30pm