Whitmore Elementary🐾

Welcome to November!

As the second semester gets underway, the holiday season is among us. Please stay tuned in to Dojo as teacher communicate the latest events at Whitmore.

Arizona Department of Education released school grades and Whitmore is a "B" rated school. Although we were a "B" last year, our score increased to almost an "A". Thank you for all the support and focus on academics. State testing results determine our letter grade. Growth and proficiency are the two big categories considered. Students and teachers will focus on the following to increase student achievement throughout the school and district.

Academic Focus for 2024-2025:

Triple Crown:

1. Teacher Clarity - Learning Targets and Success Criteria for the highly leveraged and continuing standards for learning.

2. PLCs - Plan instruction based on student understanding/data

3. District Curriculum - Fidelity to the state authorized and district adopted curriculum

Lost and Found. Our lost and found is located in the foyer by the cafeteria. It is a wooden rack with a bin. Please check it regularly to reclaim your lunch boxes, backpacks, sweatshirts, jackets, etc. Glasses are turned into the office. Items not claimed in a timely manner will be donated to the TUSD clothing bank.

Connect with Whitmore:

via Whitmore Webpage

via Facebook @whitmorewildcatsTUSD

via Instagram @whitmorewildcats

via ClassDojo - Please let teachers know if you are not connected so they can assist you.

Reporting Absences/Attendance:

TUSD/Whitmore streamlined our attendance reporting procedures. Parents/guardians can now log into ParentVUE to enter a student's absence.

Late/Tardy.

If students are late, arrive after 8:15am, students must stop in the office for a tardy slip before heading to class, even if they come on the bus. This is to ensure students are not marked absent. Parents can call the office and excuse tardies if you don't walk in with your student(s).

School Hours:

7:45am - Students may enter campus; Breakfast begins in the cafeteria

8:10am - First bell - Students line up and teachers lead to class

8:15am - Tardy bell rings; Class begins

8:30am - All gates are locked except the one closest to the office, off of the bus bay/Glenn St.

2:15pm - Gates are opened.

2:25pm - Whitmore dismisses (1:25pm - Wednesdays)

Bus Riders:

All students who ride the bus must have and wear an ID to get on the bus at home and at school. Please ensure your child keeps their ID with their backpack and school items so they have it available daily. This is their ticket to ride!

Cell Phones:

Students often come to school with their cell phones. However, Whitmore has a policy for cell phone usage. Students and parents are NOT permitted to video record or take pictures of students at any time. This includes the bus! Once students arrive on campus, phones are to be turned off and kept out of view in a backpack. Phones shall not be turned on at any time. Students violating the policy may have the electronic device confiscated and be subject to disciplinary action.

Mark your calendars:

November 4th - 14th - CATS CLUB - Basketball try-outs

November 11th - No School - Veteran's Day

November 12th - School resumes

November 18th - December 13th - DIBELS assessment window (K-3 grades)

November 20th - Turkey Trot @ 9:00am

November 28th and 29th - Thanksgiving - No School

December 3rd - 5th - Quarterly Benchmark Assessments (2nd - 6th grades)

December 20th - No School - Grading Day

December 23rd - January 3rd - Winter Break

Thank you,

Jennifer Figueroa, Principal

Whitmore Elementary School

Mrs. Sawyer and Mr. C support our strong PBIS program at Whitmore. Through positive behavior, students earn points to redeem for rewards. Students have a menu of items to choose from weekly. Teachers nominate students who are rocking kindness, safety, and responsibility!

Ms. Sawyer and Mr. C also provide student check-ins and small group support. If you think your child would benefit from these services, please contact either or both of them through Dojo or by calling 520-232-8046.

Who will be our first "Cool Cat" Champions???

Parent Drop-off and Pick-up:

The bus bay is not a parking, drop-off, or pick-up area. This lane is strictly for buses at all times.

Enter the parking lot from Glenn (this is an entrance only). There are two lanes. The right lane is a valet and keeps moving as students exit their vehicle curbside. All students must exit the vehicle curbside to use the valet lane. If that is not possible, please park and an adult will cross in the cross walk. Do not park in the right lane or leave your car in the right lane. You must use a space to park.

The left lane is not a drop-off or pick-up lane. It is used to park into a parking space. Please do not let your child exit the car in this lane. The adult (usually Mrs. Fig or Mrs. Madrid) will assist in merging traffic. Do not merge yourself. Continue forward until the monitor guides you.

Driver speed should be at a minimum speed to ensure student, family, and staff safety.

Our mission is to encourage, motivate, and support all students, families, and the community to meet each child’s needs – socially, emotionally, and academically so they develop into a mature, responsible, and respectful citizen.

Our vision - Safe Environment, Take Academic Risks, Get Involved with School Enrichment Programs (the school community), and Take Pride in Education by Respecting, Acknowledging, and Including students of all different backgrounds and differences.

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Address: 5330 East Glenn Street, Tucson, AZ

Email

Office: 520-232-8000

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