March Newsletter

As we welcome March and the first signs of spring, we are reminded that this season represents growth, renewal, and fresh opportunities. In schools, spring is a time when we truly see the results of months of hard work—students gaining confidence, strengthening skills, and demonstrating perseverance. It is one of the most rewarding times of the year!

Please mark your calendars for these important March dates:

• Monday, March 9 at 6:00 p.m. – PTCC Meeting

• Friday, March 13 – Last PTCC Hot Pizza Lunch of the year for students

• Monday, March 16th - 20th - Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) testing window for students in grades 3-8

Additional important dates:

• Wednesday, March 18 – 11:35 a.m. dismissal for K–8 students; preschool classes WILL be in session for both AM and PM classes

• Wednesday, March 18 – LEASE Preschool Screening Day for all students new to Waltham’s preschool (flyer below)

• Wednesday, March 18 at 6:00 p.m. – Board of Education Meeting

• Thursday, March 26 at 11:45 a.m. – PTCC Spring Dinner for students in K–8 (Preschool will have a celebration during class time.) More information below.

• Friday, March 27 – March Atten-Dance; 2:10 p.m. dismissal for K–8 students to begin Spring Break; No preschool classes

Thank you for partnering with us to support your child’s academic focus, preparation, and success during this important time of year.

We are grateful every day to be part of such a caring and supportive school community.

Mrs. Melanie Lukacsy,

Principal

Our Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) testing window for students in grades 3–8 begins on Monday, March 16. This is an important opportunity for students to show what they have mastered!

To help our students do their very best:

• Please help your child get a restful night's sleep and a good breakfast.

• Please refrain from picking students up early during the testing week-long window, as this disrupts testing schedules and student concentration.

• All students in grades 3–8 must bring a working pair of headphones or earbuds for testing. We no longer have replacement sets available, so please be sure your child comes prepared.

Only students who have never attended preschool OR have never had a LEASE preschool screening completed should make an appointment and plan on attending.

If your child attends a preschool outside of Waltham School and has a LEASE screening on file, they do not need to attend.

We are excited to continue one of our school’s most cherished traditions — our Annual Spring Dinner, which will take place on Thursday, March 26 at 11:45 a.m. for students in grades K–8.

This special event brings our entire school community together as students dress in their “Sunday best” and enjoy a formal, sit-down meal alongside classmates and staff in the gym. Tables will be beautifully decorated by our PTCC room parents, helping create a warm and festive atmosphere centered around this year’s theme, “Bloom and Grow.”

Students will choose between turkey or ham as their entrée, served with mashed potatoes, corn, and a roll, followed by dessert.

We look forward to sharing this meaningful tradition that celebrates community, connection, and the growth we see in our students throughout the year.

We kicked off the American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge on Wednesday, February 18, during our schoolwide Heart Health Celebration! This annual event helps students learn the importance of heart health, physical activity, and helping others—all while supporting lifesaving research and education through the American Heart Association.

Students will have the opportunity to participate by setting personal goals, learning about healthy habits, and asking friends and family to support their efforts. Every contribution makes a difference, and participation at any level is celebrated.

Each year, we also create a special experience for the student (or students) who raise the most money—and this is where the excitement really builds! Will this year’s top fundraiser choose a Mr. Brannan Human Sundae, a slime-filled surprise, or come up with something entirely new? We can’t wait to find out!

Thank you for supporting our students as they learn about heart health, compassion, resilience, and the power of giving back. ❤️

Dear Families,

As we move into March and the heart of cold and flu season, we are reaching out with a small schoolwide wish list. There are just a few items that would make a big difference for students and staff during the remainder of the year.

We are currently in need of:

• Boxes of Kleenex (our supply is dwindling quickly this time of year)

• Individually wrapped ear buds that can be given to students as needed throughout the school year

• Sign boards

• Markers

For your convenience, we have attached an Amazon Wish List. You are welcome to purchase items directly through the link and have them shipped directly to the school, or you may simply use the list as a guide while shopping locally.

These simple items have a meaningful impact on our students’ daily comfort, engagement, and learning environment. We are always grateful for your generosity and your continued willingness to support our district.

Thank you for partnering with us to take care of our school community.

Students and staff members are encouraged to show their school pride every day, but especially on Fridays! Spirit wear is now available for purchase for students, families, and community members. Click here to shop: https://thesudco.com/collections

As we kick off March, we are thrilled to celebrate the incredible commitment our students and families have shown toward attendance over the past two years. Thank you for truly partnering with us—our students are excited to be at school, and our attendance initiatives continue to serve as helpful motivators, even on the coldest or rainiest mornings. We are working together, and it shows!

Looking ahead, our March Atten-Dance will be held on Friday, March 27. We are grateful for the continued support of our community partners who help us celebrate positive attendance and student success.

We extend our sincere thanks to Clarks Run Antiques in downtown Utica for serving as our March Attendance Sponsor. We are grateful for their continued support of our attendance initiative as we recognize dedicated students and work together to build positive attendance habits.

Thanks to the generosity of our monthly attendance partners, we have seen meaningful growth in attendance at Waltham. This community support truly makes a difference for our students and helps reinforce the importance of showing up each day ready to learn.

👑❤️Come join us for the Queen of Hearts Raffle at Joy & Ed's Thursdays at 7 p.m.!

One ticket for $5 or 6 for $20! 👑❤️

We are proud to recognize Gemma Sobkowiak and Lillian Schneider, two exceptional eighth-grade students, as recipients of the Illinois Principals Association John Ourth Outstanding Student Award.

These remarkable young ladies exemplify excellence both inside and outside the classroom. They demonstrate strong academic achievement, leadership, integrity, and a genuine commitment to their school community. They serve as positive role models for their peers and represent the very best of our school! Congratulations Gemma & Lily!

First Grade has spent the past month learning how to write an informative paragraph about an animal of their choice. After learning about the animal, the Superkids worked with their families to create a diorama of their animal in its habitat. We are so very proud of their hard work to grow their brains and learn important new skills

1. Strengthening Math Instruction - This year, we’re transitioning to the new Illustrative Math program to deepen student understanding. Our staff is undergoing specialized training to bring this new and improved curriculum to the classroom.

2. Fostering a Safe, Inclusive, and Positive Climate - Our school culture is built on strong relationships. We're committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment where every student feels welcome and supported to be their authentic self.

3. Increasing Student Attendance and Engagement - Our attendance incentive programs were a big hit last year—so they’re back and even better! Students will once again have chances to win awesome prizes just for showing up and giving their best each day.

4. Strengthening Staff Development Aligned to School Priorities - Our professional learning this year is focused on the things that matter most to students: math instruction, use of AI in education, grading practices, and meaningful assessment.

5. Enhancing Communication and Community Outreach - We are committed to keeping you connected. We will continue to use our newsletters, social media, and in-person events to ensure you feel like a valued partner in your child's education.
   

Student Absences

• If your child/children are going to be absent for the day, for any reason, please contact the office directly at 815-667-4417 or email both tlewis@wesd185.org and shewitt@wesd185.org.
• Do not contact your child's teacher directly with daily absences.
• Any absences for extended periods of time, please communicate with homeroom teachers AND the main office.
• Any student absences not communicated to the office by 10 a.m. will receive a phone call from the school.

Student Arrival

• Students that do not ride the bus should be dropped off/picked up in the car line in the front of the building. When entering the parking lot, cars should veer to the right and enter the pick-up/drop-off line.
• The car line will begin moving at 8:00 a.m.
• PreK-8 students should not arrive before 8:00 a.m. Students can be picked up at the same entrance at the end of the school day.
• Please stay in your car after you pull up in front of the building during arrival.

Student Dismissal

• Unless written notice or a phone call from a parent/guardian is received by the school office one hour prior to dismissal, students will be sent home on the bus.
• Cars should not line up for the end-of-day car line until 15 minutes prior to student dismissal. If you arrive early, you will be asked to park your vehicle in a parking space until the appropriate time.
• If you need to buckle a child into your vehicle, please pull forward into a parking space after they get into your car. We need to keep our car line moving at a steady pace.
• Please stay in your car after you pull up in front of the building during dismissal.
• It is important that you pass this information along to anyone who may be picking up your child at the end of the day.

Tardiness / Early Departure

• Students will be marked tardy if they are not in their classrooms, ready for learning, at 8:10 a.m.
• If your child needs to be picked up early, please pull up to the front of the building and call the office at 815-667-4417. We will sign your child out and send them out to your car.
• If you are dropping a junior high student off late, they MUST enter the building through the office. No students should go directly to the trailer after 8:10 a.m. without first stopping in the main building.
• We ask that you please make every effort to make appointments for your children before or after school to minimize disruptions to the learning environment and office.

No students will be dismissed in the final 20 minutes of the school day unless they are leaving for a Waltham-sponsored event.

Early Release Days for K-8 Students

• Students will be dismissed at 11:35 a.m. on the following days:
• Wednesday-September 17th,
• Wednesday- October 15th,
• Wednesday- November 19th,
• Wednesday, December 17th,
• Wednesday- January 21st,
• Wednesday-February 18th,
• Wednesday-March 18th,
• Wednesday-April 15th, and
• Wednesday-May 20th.

Student Illness Policy

• Students must be 24 hours fever-, vomit-, and diarrhea-free before returning to school.

• A doctor’s note is required if a student is absent 3 or more consecutive days due to illness.

• Students absent for any part of the school day due to illness may not attend school events that evening—this applies to both participants and spectators.

Non-Prescription Medicines

• Non-prescription medications will not be dispensed by school personnel. If students need non-prescription medicine during the school day, a parent/guardian is required to come to school and administer the medicine.

Student Lunch Information

• Daily Lunch – Students must bring their own lunch to school each day.

• Monthly Hot Lunch – Once a month, students will have the option to order Pizza Hut pizza, organized by our PTCC.

• Drinks – Only water or milk are allowed at school. Other drinks such as juice boxes, Gatorade, soda, colored/flavored waters, etc. are not allowed at school.

• Milk at School – Milk can be purchased at school for $0.40 per carton. Please send exact change if possible.

School Day Disruptions

• In order to minimize disruptions in the classrooms, we request that items (i.e., lunches, P.E. clothes, uniforms, instruments, homework, etc.) be dropped off in the office. Office personnel will make sure the item gets to your child.

Cellphones and Wearable Technology

• During the school day, which is the time between 8:05-3:10 p.m. on regular school days, electronic devices such as cell phones, smart watches, and earbuds/headphones must be kept powered-off, and in locker/backpack.

• Android: https://bit.ly/3fezeBS or
• iPhone: https://apple.co/2QoGMIC

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