Walker Wednesday News

Dear Walker Parents,

Now that we have returned to school and re-established routines for the new year, I hope your families have had a nice transition from your winter breaks and holiday celebrations. On behalf of the Walker Staff, thank you very much for your generous contributions to the Gift Crowd links for our staff--how very thoughtful! We all feel so appreciated and humbled by your warmth and partnership! It has been such a great school year so far; we look forward to our continued partnership in making the rest of the school year terrific for our Walker School community!

I am pleased to share that our long awaited hydroponic garden wall has finally been installed in the main hallway across from the front office. Thanks again to our wonderful PTO for allocating last year's funds for this project, which will allow us to teach about the life cycle and gardening in a dynamic and engaging way. We look forward to adding seedlings to the garden wall panels and eventually enjoying a front entrance that will burst with fresh vegetation, color, and smells to promote health, wellness, and education for our Walker students and staff! See pictures below...and look for updates later this spring. (Our PTO has also recently approved the purchase of new furniture to make this main hallway space more inviting for guests and students alike. Updates TBA before long.)

Also, next time, you arrive at the Walker main entrance, take a peek at the Blue Ribbon crest which was installed this winter break just outside the main doors on the west brick wall beneath the overhang. See picture below. We are SO proud!

As you may know by now, we have moved our PTO spirit lunch from Wednesdays to Tuesdays for the second half of the year, to better accommodate the transition from our PE classes to lunch in this shared MPR space. Refer to the PTO weekly reminders to sign up, including some new vendor and meal options!

Now that winter MAP testing is complete, you should be able to access scores (as well as grade 2 and grade 5 CogATs) via your Skyward Family Access. Our teachers are collecting some additional iReady diagnostic information in the next week or so and we will be meeting in teams later this month to evaluate grade level performance from fall to winter as well as adjust intervention plans and update our overall school improvement progress. Before long, I will meet with the BOE Academic Success Committee to provide a Walker School Improvement update with the other building principals. Thus far, I am pleased to share we are making some very nice growth and achievement overall given our dashboard measurements!

Reminder: Keep up these car line supports

• Have your child dressed and and ready to exit their vehicles in the AM
• Please help you child exit the sidewalk side of the traffic loop only
• Be patient while the car in front of you unloads
• No leap-frogging vehicle unless directed by our staff
• Allow extra time
• PM Pick-Up: Display your LAST NAME (placard) to help unite your child with your vehicle

Our Buildings and Grounds crews are doing the best they can to clear the snow, treat the ice, and make it easier for our traffic flow, but the timing of the snowfall and the change in temperatures sometimes makes it challenging to clear everything before arrival/dismissal. We appreciate your patience and support in making things as smooth as possible during these busy times

Also, as our students were excited to play int he snow during recess, it is a constant challenge keeping track of their extra gear. The Sunday PTO reminders asked families to write names on your child's clothing so we can try to return lost items to the rightful owners. I suggest purchasing extra sets of winter gear to be safe...especially EXTRA DRY SOCKS :) By the way, all of the unclaimed lost and found items have from the start of the year have been donated to a local charity at this point. Reminder: we will go outside for recess until the feels like temperature drops below zero, or if it's too icy. Send proper gear and layers!

Keep scrolling down for after school enrichment opportunities, which will be advertised in each of these weekly newsletters. These offerings will be updated weekly.

Upcoming SAVE the DATES:

1/5/26 Return from winter break

1/8/26 3rd grade field trip to DupAge Children's Musuem

1/9/26 PTO Executive Board Meeting at 9:00 in Conference Room

1/14 Walker School Spelling Bee after school for classroom finalists

1/16/26 StarLab presentation for first grade in PM (MPR)

1/19/26 MLK Holiday - No School

Mrs. Sciaccotta's Upcoming Musical Programs

Feb. 25 - 1st Grade @2:15

Apr. 17 - Kindergarten @2:15

May 1 - 2nd Grade @2:00

May 7 - Choir Performance @7:00

Your partner in education,

Mr. Eric Chisausky

Walker School Principal

We remember that Walker Cares! The Walker Cares program helps us to be mindful of special days each month and to practice being inclusive and kind. For the month of January, we recognize World Braille Day (January 4) and other special days. We remember that Walker cares by including others and celebrating our differences. A special thanks to Bailey Summers in 4K, and Safa Shakeel and Grace Freda in 4B for helping this month with World Braille Day."

Walker’s Spelling Bee will be on January 14 at 3:30 in the gym. Congratulations to the following students who are finalists from each of their homeroom classroom spelling bees (held in December). Families of finalists and guests are welcome to attend the Walker School Spelling Bee next week. Top 2-3 Walker School finalists will go on to the District Spelling Bee on January 21.

3rd Grade

Oliver Johnston

Rafferty Neel

Amelia Nguyen

Naira Sanagavarapu

Hayes Slocum

Eva Grimmenga

Niam Patel

4th Grade

Bethany Tu

Marco Berroya

Safa Shakeel

Lily Dragstrem

Anthony Recendez

Bailey Summers

Lily McNaughton

5th Grade

Caroline Hennegan

Charlotte Samaniego

Maddoz Campos

Margot Kim

Jordan Davis

Caitlin Dong

Luca Cadorin

Henrik Sigmund

Dear parents of 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students,

It’s almost time for this year’s Spelling Bee again! The process will be very similar to last year’s Spelling Bee, beginning with a Classroom Spelling Bee on December 16 in all 3rd-4th-5th grade classrooms.

All D181 schools will hold in-person spelling bees this year. Walker’s Spelling Bee will be on January 14 at 3:30 in the gym. Students in grades 3-4-5 will be invited to participate in the School Bee based on our Classroom Bee results. We anticipate 2-3 finalists from each 3-4-5 grade homeroom; these select students will be invited to the School Bee. NOTE: This year, anyone can watch the School Bee on January 14.

This is optional for any student in grades 3-4-5. Here is the process for any student who wishes to participate:

• On December 16, teachers will host an informal Classroom Bee in each classroom. Any student who wants to participate will write out the presented words. Students who choose not to participate can read or work quietly while remaining in the classroom during the bee.

• The top two spellers from each class will be invited to the Walker School Bee on January 14 for a traditional school spelling bee (oral spelling). Our PTO will help coordinate this extracurricular opportunity with pronouncer(s) and judges.

• The top 2 Walker spellers will advance to the District 181 Spelling Bee on Wed., January 21 after school at Hinsdale Middle School. There will be 2 spellers from each of our 7 elementary schools and 2 middle schools.

• The top 2 District 181 spellers will advance to the DuPage County Regional Bee at a date and location to be determined soon.

If you have an interested speller at home, attached are the Word Lists for the Classroom Bee (spelling words will be chosen from each of these lists):

• Third Grade Study Words (one-page PDF)

• Fourth Grade Study Words (one-page PDF)

• Fifth Grade Study Words (one-page PDF)

And…

• 2026 School Spelling Bee Study List (six-page PDF)

Also, if you are interested in this Great Words, Great Works reading list, it includes many of the books from which the words are chosen. This is not necessary! It may just be of interest to you or your speller/s.

Please reach out to Mr. C if. you have further questions about this process.

Timeline for 2026-2027 Registration

• Returning Preschool student registration opened January 7
• New Student, Kindergarten, and Returning D181 student registration opens February 2
• Register by April 10 to receive a discount on registration fees
• In-person registration appointments are available on the D181 website

Visit the D181 Registration website for more information

The recent snow/cold is a reminder that our seasons are changing and students should have all the necessary clothing for the colder, snowy weather. For the most part, we will go outside for recess everyday. When the Feels Like temperature drops to 0 or below (including windchill) you can expect us to stay inside for recess. So please be sure your child exits your vehicle/house with a coat, hat, gloves, etc. In order to play in the snow, they must have a jacket, snow boots, snow pants, gloves, hat, etc.

D181 Cold Weather Guidelines

As the temperature drops, we want to inform you about our school's procedures for cold weather. The district will follow these guidelines for outdoor activities:

Recess/Physical Education Classes:

• Feels like 0°F (or below): Indoor

• Feels like 1°F (or above): Outdoor

• Principal discretion if conditions are not safe

Please encourage your child to dress warmly for school, including a hat, gloves, and scarf. We will monitor students closely for signs of cold-related issues.

The decision to declare a snow day is made by our Superintendent after consulting many

resources. You will be notified by phone through our automated phone system if a snow

day is declared. You can also check the district website (www.d181.org) and/or local radio and

television stations.

Even if you have received text messages from us in the past, you may need to confirm your subscription to ensure you are still in the system.

To Opt-In:
Using the cell phone that you have on file with the school, send a new text message with the word "Y" (or "Yes") to our district's short code: 67587.
You should receive a confirmation text back almost immediately.
If your mobile number has changed, or if you have any trouble with this process, please contact your schools main office so we can update your contact information.
Thank you for helping us make sure we can reach you with important news!

Each trimester, students can earn poms for following the Walker Way and vote on a special spirit day celebration (i.e. Pajama Day vs. Movie at Lunch) to be held at the end of the trimester. For this second trimester, we are focused on showing "We Are RESPONSIBLE to LEARN." Students can earn the coveted glitter poms for demonstrating outstanding kindness and leadership. Each week, we will highlight our Walker Way leaders during Friday morning announcements and the next Walker Wednesday News!

This (last week of December) week's Walker Way leaders are James Flood, Claire Lazar, Jacob Virgilio, Dean Gernot, Sydney Decker, Chloe Feeney, Sam White, Lily McNaughton, Sawyer Wiklund, Layne Lacrosse, Julian Grasso, Abby Boland, Gracie Wilton, Fiona Flood, Oliver Conley, Reese Neel, Vincent Schlemmer, and London Carroll.

Skyward Family Access provides parents access to important student information. From grades and attendance to schedules and contact information, Skyward is a valuable tool for staying connected to your child's education.

Link to Skyward Family Access: https://skyward.iscorp.com/Community181ILStu

This link can also be found at the top of the D181 website, as well as through a mobile app. When downloading the app, search for "Hinsdale CCSD 181".

Follow the links below to learn more about the features of Family Access

• Skyward Family Access Overview
• Adding Optional Fees
• Food Service (middle school only)

New this year is the ability for families to report student absences directly in Skyward. We encourage families to report absences directly into Skyward Family Access to ensure timely and consistent communication to teachers and office staff.

Please follow the link below to learn more about this new feature. Also, it would be helpful to email your absent child's teacher and Secretary Mrs. Salach: gsalach@d181.org

Reporting Student Absences in Skyward Family Access

Parents,

If your child comes to school with an ortho device (walking boot, wrist brace, finger splint, etc.) please be sure to obtain a doctor's note indicating wether he/she can participate in PE and recess. For the safety of your child--and his/her peers--we typically require students to sit out from PE and recess while in such a device. Email emellens@d181.org as needed.

IMPORTANT: The previous online absence reporting link is no longer active. Please use the link below to report your child's absence:

Reporting Student Absences in Skyward Family Access

Performed by trained/certified Vision & Hearing staff in accordance with the Illinois Child Vision and Hearing Test (410 ILCS 205).

VISION:

Performed annually on all children new to the district, and teacher/parent referrals. Once a child begins school, it is performed in Grades K, 2, and 8. Children wearing glasses or contact lenses are included in the screening program, however the vision screening assessment is not administered. At the time of screening, the examiner checks frames for breaks, and the lenses for scratches. This screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor. Your child is not required to undergo the screening if an optometrist/ophthalmologist signed and completed an examination report within the previous 12 months.

HEARING:

Performed on all school age children in Grades K, 1, 2, and 3, in a special education program/or have been referred by a teacher/parent; or are transfer students. Contact Nurse Emily Mellens if you would like further information: emellens@d181.org.

School Day Information

Kinder - 5th School Day - 8:40 a.m. - 3:05 p.m.

Kinder-1st-2nd Lunch 11:25-11:50 AM

Kinder-1st-2nd Recess 11:50-12:15 PM

3rd-4th-5th Recess 11:25-11:50 AM

3rd-4th-5th Lunch 11:50-12:15 PM

• Student Arrival will begin daily at 8:30 a.m. (12:15 p.m. if going home for lunch). Please do not drop your child(ren) off before this time as we do not have adult supervision prior to these times.
• Student Dismissal will begin at 3:05 p.m. (Primary teachers will escort students outside prior to 3:05 bell.)
• We recognize the need for appointments and understand that situations may arise that require you to pick your child up early from school. We ask that you please try your best to schedule appointments OUTSIDE of the school day and not pick your child up early from school, as to not disrupt the learning process.

Arrival/Dismissal Guidelines

All Kindergarten through 5th graders will line up on the blacktop in grade level-marked areas. (NOTE: Kindergarten will no longer line up at the Kinder/Main Entrance doors). Students will be dismissed from these same locations. No entry/dismissal on the north teacher parking lot side of the school.

• Dismissal time: 3:05 (Grades K-5)

• Classroom teachers will lead their grade levels to the blacktop (grades K-5).
• WALKERS and CAR RIDERS: Reunite with families at the top of the traffic loop/blacktop or at other designated meeting spot.
• ALL students will be guided to load vehicles at the TOP of the traffic loop.

On the first day of school, dismissal supervisors will ask for your last name and child’s grade level and will dismiss in the same manner. Thank you for your patience, as this process may take a few extra minutes on the first day.

INCLEMENT WEATHER PLAN: In the case of inclement weather, students will wait inside classrooms and hallways and be dismissed as parents arrive at the top of the traffic loop.

1. Please make sure to CLEARLY display your family display card in your windshield on the CURBSIDE so that we can effectively and efficiently dismiss your child(ren). NEW families will be provided a display card.

2. Supervisory staff will be calling to dismiss your child(ren) once you are in the car line and your family display card is visible.

Note the following for safety and traffic flow:

· Implementing these safety protocols will likely impact traffic congestion. It is recommended that families walk to/from school to alleviate such congestion. Thanks in advance for your patience.

· Extra staff will be available for supervision and to assist children in locating vehicles during pick-up after each session. Children will wait for their ride along the sidewalk at the top of the traffic loop.

· Similar to the drop-off, students only enter vehicles between the two white signs along the upper area of the traffic loop. Students in grades K-5 will not be allowed to enter vehicles by the office doors area. This should keep the traffic flow moving with greater ease.

· Please remember to place the name placard in your right-hand dashboard starting on Wednesday, August, 21 (or as soon as you receive your placard if new); our staff will use this name placard to call children to the loading area as their rides idle along the curb during pick-up.

· If you need to purchase or replace a name placard for $2, you can do so by contacting the school office: 630-861-4600.

11:25 – 11:50

Grades K-1-2 Lunch in MPR

Grade 3-4-5 Recess outside

11:50 – 12:15

Grades 3-4-5 Lunch in MPR

Grades K-1-2 Recess outside

Health Forms Reminder

Just a reminder that student health forms are due soon. State law requires these forms on file for your child to remain in school:

• Physical exam with updated immunizations – Due October 15th

• Vision exam – Due October 15th

• Dental exam – Due May 15th (we’d appreciate receiving these early so our records stay up to date)

If your child transferred in from a different school, I’ve attached a Release of Records form. Please complete the form and email it to Mrs. Mellens (emellens@d181.org) and she'll submit it to your child’s prior school to request their school and health records.

If your child transferred from out of state, please note that Illinois requires the physical and vision exams to be completed here.

Forms may be emailed or dropped off at the nurse’s office. Attached are the physical, vision, and dental forms as well for your convenience. If you’ve already submitted your forms - thank you so much!

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For the specific groups listed below, please either email or deliver your health forms to the Walker School office prior to the start of school. Forms should be directed to the attention of the Walker School nurse, Emily Mellens: emellens@d181.org

• Kindergarten Students
• Physical Exam form (parents please complete the yes/no questions on the back; sign and date)
• Dental Exam form (completed on or after Nov 15th, 2024 is acceptable)
• Eye Exam form (dated within one year of the first day of school)
• Second Grade Students
• Dental Exam form (completed on or after Nov 15th, 2024 is acceptable)
• Students new to D181
• Physical, Dental and Eye exam form.

o Copies of forms submitted to previous Illinois schools are acceptable.

o Students from out of state will need to submit new Illinois forms.

When you visit Walker, you need to enter through the main doors only and be ready to provide your ID and phone number.

Serving Grades K-5, the Before and After the Bell Programs are a safe environment for your child to be with friends before and after the school day. Your child will do fun activities, gym time, enrichment activities, outdoor play, homework assistance, and organized games. A light snack will be provided for both programs. You can customize your experience by signing up for one day, week, month, etc! Click here for more information!

Before/After the Bell follows School District 181 calendar and typically runs Monday-Friday 7:00am-8:35am and 3:05pm – 6:00pm.

Depending on interest and enrollment, Before and After the Bell may be held onsite at Walker School and The Community House.

Announcing the Community Speaker Series lineup for the 2025-2026 season! We are thrilled to welcome these top experts to our community this school year.

Our first event is on Wednesday, October 8 at 7:15pm at Hinsdale Middle School: Ethan Kross, PhD - Shift: Managing Emotions So They Don’t Manage You. Register here.

The Community Speaker Series is committed to fostering a sense of community through hosting in-person and virtual events that inform and inspire. CSS is funded jointly by District 86 and District 181 and is supported by the D181 Foundation. Our events are free and open to the public. We encourage everyone to join our events, connect and learn together.

Elementary Golf School is offering an exciting junior golf program at Walker School, designed to expose golf to juniors of all ability levels. This program is created and taught by PGA Professionals, including lesson plans that are fun, safe, and educational. Youngsters will be given the opportunity to experiment with playing a variety of different shots. Our program teaches fundamentals, with plenty of variation for practicing and playing. We will not only teach the shots, but also the etiquette, behavior, and finer points of the rules of the game. Our instructors will be able to adjust the level of complexity to each child’s individual level of progress.

For more information or to register for the after-school golf program at Walker School, please visit www.elementarygolfschool.com or call (630) 853-6348.

Ready to LET IT GO and take the stage?

BAMtheatre is heading back to Walker this fall with a magically cool after-school theatre adventure!

Get ready to journey into the world of Frozen! In this session, students will sing, dance, and act to all their favorite songs from the beloved story. From Anna’s bravery to Olaf’s charm, there’s something magical waiting for every performer!

Classes begin on Thursday, starting September 18, and each week features a flurry of theatre games, skill-building activities, and rehearsals—leading up to a final showcase for friends and family to enjoy.

Spots melt away fast,—so don’t wait to sign up! #AfterSchoolTheatreMagic #FrozenFun #BAMinArendelle #LetItShow

Registration is set to open on Friday, August 29 at 10am. Families can register at this link.

Thanks,

Abriella Caravette

Managing Director

BAMtheatre

she/her/hers

www.bamtheatre.com

Email: echisausky@d181.org
Website: https://www.d181.org/schools/walker-school
Location: 120 Walker Avenue, Clarendon Hills, IL, USA
Phone: 630-861-4600
Twitter: @WildcatsWalker