The Bulldog Brief

As we enter the final months of the school year, we encourage all students to finish strong by staying committed to excellent attendance, putting forth their best effort in academics, and demonstrating positive behavior each day. Your partnership at home in reinforcing these expectations makes a meaningful difference. Let’s work together to ensure a successful and rewarding end to the school year for every student!

Mr. Jeff Moore, Walker Principal

2: BARK Bash

3: No School

6: No School

8: IAR Testing Begins (3rd-5th)

10: BARK Bash

16: Progress Reports Sent Home

17: IAR Testing Concludes

21: ISA Testing Begins (5th Grade Only)

23: ISA Testing Concludes

24: BARK BASH

Please join the BPFD in their annual open house on May 2nd.

The link below is a current listing of all the events District 104 offers to families. Please visit the link so you don't miss out on great programming!

Students in grades 3-5 participated in an IAR Math Egg Hunt. Eggs were hidden around the park. Students collected the eggs than worked with classmates to solve the problem that was inside.

The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) is a statewide assessment that measures student progress in English Language Arts and Mathematics. It is aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards and provides valuable information about how well students are mastering grade-level expectations. The results help guide instruction, support student growth, and inform school and district planning.

To help your child feel confident and prepared, your support at home is essential. Here are some helpful strategies:

• Ensure a good night’s sleep each evening so your child is well-rested and ready to focus.
• Provide a healthy breakfast each morning to help maintain energy and concentration.
• Maintain a positive mindset by encouraging your child to do their best and reminding them that effort matters most.
• Establish a calm routine at home during the testing window to reduce stress.
• Encourage reading and problem-solving at home to reinforce daily learning.
• Arrive at school on time so your child does not feel rushed or miss important directions.

We are confident in our students and the hard work they have put in this year. Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting their success.

ISA testing for our 5th grade students will begin on April 21st. This assessment measures students’ understanding of science concepts and their ability to apply critical thinking skills. We encourage families to help set students up for success by ensuring they get plenty of rest, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time each day. We are confident our students will do a great job showing what they have learned!

See flyer below if elementary athletic opportunities for the 2026-27 School Year

Hello Walker families! Please take a look for some important updates.

Ronald McDonald Mobile Unit returns to Graves/HMS on May 13th. The team will be providing school physicals and immunizations to those who are uninsured or receive state-funded insurance. Please call Walker to make an appointment. See the registration packet (front page) for the state-mandated requirements for each grade level.

Registration health documents for the 26-27 school year are due August 1, 2026! This includes students who are new to the district and ALL students entering kindergarten, second and sixth grade next school year. Packets were sent home this week. Health documents may be turned into the building nurse anytime during the school year.

Please note: all action plans and medication authorization forms are to be updated every school year.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we work to provide students with a safe and healthy

As we head into Spring Break, it’s a great time to remind students about staying safe and making positive choices—both in person and online. Social media can be a fun way to connect, but it’s important to think before posting, protect personal information, and always treat others with kindness and respect. Words shared online can have a lasting impact, so choosing to be kind matters. I encourage everyone to take time to relax, recharge, and enjoy time with family and friends. Wishing all of our students and families a safe, happy, and fun Spring Break!

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Each month I will share the focus for the Art, Music, PE, Steam, and Social Emotional Learning in the newsletter.

Every morning, students complete the online reading program Lexia. With handwork and dedication, students move through units and levels. We celebrate students at every BARK Bash when they level up!

Below are the students who leveled up this week! Congrats!

Students pictured below demonstrated Excellence in Listening!

Students who attend school regularly feel more connected to their school community and are more engaged in learning. As a result, they are more likely to earn better grades and test scores and have greater chances of graduating and achieving postsecondary success.

It is crucial to start setting good attendance habits in the child's first year in school. Preschoolers who are chronically absent are likely to continue to be chronically absent as they get older in school. From pre-K through high school, poor attendance can negatively affect students socially and emotionally:

• They feel out of place
• They fall behind in their work
• They miss meaningful opportunities that can inspire their future
• They have a hard time working with others
• They don't see how school is connected to their future success

Students who are chronically absent are more likely to have low grades and test scores and are less likely to be on track for high school graduation.

The students below had perfect attendance for the month of March! Great job families!

The PTO donated 8 Brookfield Zoo passes to 1 girl and 1 boy that were in perfect for the month of March! Thank you PTO!

Please open the file below for February's lunch menu.