South Walnut Elementary

Dear South Walnut Families,

As we enter March, it is hard to believe there are only a few months left in the school year! This time always seems to fly by as we move into the final stretch of learning and growth.

With the changing weather and temperatures fluctuating between warm and cold, please help your child dress in layers each day. Layering helps students stay comfortable on the bus, outside at recess, and inside the building. It is still important that students bring jackets, as the weather can change quickly throughout the day.

March will be a busy month. We are looking forward to our Family Glow Night on March 13th from 4:30–6:00 p.m. (see the flyer below for more details). Please note there is no school on Friday, March 20th. Spring Break is also quickly approaching and will take place March 30–April 3.

Looking ahead, our 3rd and 4th grade students will begin M-STEP testing after Spring Break, and all K–4 students will participate in NWEA testing in early May. We appreciate your continued support in ensuring students are well-rested and ready to do their best.

I hope you have a wonderful March. We are looking forward to more consistent warm weather and extra daylight as Daylight Saving Time begins on March 8th.

Warmly,

Haley Crowton
Principal, South Walnut Elementary

We know plans can sometimes change! 🌟 If your child’s way home will be different, please give the South Walnut office a quick call no later than 1:30 p.m. that day. This helps us make sure every student gets home safely and with ease.

• Friday, March 13th- End of Marking Period 3
• Friday, March 13- Family Glow Dance
• Wednesday, March 18- Statewide Tornado Drill 1:00pm
• Friday, March 20- Staff PD Day, No School for Students
• Tuesday, March 24- Rescheduled Lockdown Drill 9:00am
• Friday, March 27- Student of the Month
• Friday, March 27- PBIS STAR Party
• Monday, March 30-Friday, April 3- No School/Spring Break

We are always collecting extra clothing donations and are currently in need of elementary-aged boys’ and girls’ pants, shorts, and other basic items. Students sometimes forget clothing, spill, have accidents, or get messy outside, and having a well-stocked, clean clothes closet helps ensure they can remain comfortable and successful throughout the school day.

If your student borrows clothing from the closet due to spills or accidents, please wash and return the items as soon as possible so they are available for others. Thank you for your support!

• If your child has any sensitivities, allergies, or requires medication during the school day, even over-the-counter medicine, a doctor’s note must be provided to the nurse for documentation purposes.

• Nurse JoAnn would also like to remind families to check their child’s head weekly for lice.
• If your student is running a fever, please keep them home and let the main office know. This helps keep all our staff and students healthy during this season of illnesses!
• If you have any questions or additional health needs, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our school nurse: jghidotti@bangorvikings.org

School Hours & Attendance Information

• Start Time: 8:00 AM (students must be in class and ready to learn)

• Dismissal Time:

  • Full Day: 3:05 PM

  • Half Day: 11:55 AM

Regular attendance is essential for student success. If your child will be absent, please call the office at 269-302-8100.

Attendance Guidelines:

• Tardies/Early Releases: Every 4 tardies or early releases = 1 full absence.

• Morning Absence: Arrival after 10:00 AM.

• Afternoon Absence: Leaving before 1:30 PM.

• Tardy Windows:

  • Arriving between 8:05–9:59 AM

  • Leaving between 1:30–3:05 PM

Monitoring & Notifications:

• Attendance will be carefully tracked.

• Families will receive letters after 5, 10, and 15 absences.

• Please make sure you are contacting the school if you know your student will be absent,

• Truancy referrals will be made for chronically absent students.

If you would like to volunteer for classroom parties or field trips this school year, please provide a copy of your government-issued photo ID. You may:

• Email a copy to Manny Vargas at mvargas@bangorvikings.org ,or

• Bring your ID directly to the school office.

This allows us to complete the required background check and keep it on file for the school year.

In addition, even if your background check is already on file, we are required to re-run a quick check at every school event (classroom party, field trip, etc.). For this reason, you must bring your photo ID with you each time you attend an event.

Thank you for helping us keep our students safe while continuing to support their school experiences!

At our school, we focus on creating a positive environment where everyone can succeed. Our S.T.A.R. behavior expectations help guide us in how we act every day.

Here’s what S.T.A.R. stands for:

• S - Stay Safe
  We make choices that keep ourselves and others safe.

• T - Take Pride
  We take pride in our work and our school.

• A - Act Responsibly
  We take responsibility for our actions and choices.

• R - Respect Everyone
  We treat everyone with kindness and respect.

By following these expectations, we build a strong, positive community where everyone can learn and grow! Please talk with your students about these school expectations at home as well!

Friday, March 20

Monday, March 30-- Friday, April 3

Monday, May 25

Thursday, May 28

Friday, May 29 (LAST DAY OF SCHOOL)

We value strong partnerships between home and school, and the best way to ensure your child’s needs are met is to start with their classroom teacher. Teachers know your child best during the school day and can provide the most direct support and answers. If additional support is needed after connecting with the teacher, our next step is to work together with the school office staff. Following this chain of command helps us respond quickly and effectively while keeping communication clear and positive. Thank you for being such an important part of our school team!

Our main office is always happy to help! 🌟 If you need to get in touch with a teacher, staff member, or another office, simply call the main office at 269-427-6863. We’ll make sure your call is quickly transferred wherever it needs to go. This helps us keep communication smooth and ensures your questions get answered as quickly as possible!

Open House 2026-2027 School Year: Wednesday, August 26th, 2026 4:00pm-6:00pm

First Day of 2026-2027 School Year: Monday, August 31st 1/2 Day

Last Day of 2026-2027 School Year: Friday, June 4th 1/2 Day

No School Days/Breaks 2026-2027:

• Friday, Sept. 4, 2026
• Monday, Sept. 7, 2026
• Friday, Oct. 16, 2026
• Friday, Nov. 13, 2026
• Wednesday-Friday, Nov. 25-27, 2026 - Thanksgiving Break
• Monday, Dec. 20, 2026-Friday, Jan. 2, 2027- Winter Break
• Friday, Feb. 19, 2027
• Friday, March 19, 2027
• Monday, March 29- Friday, April 2, 2027 - Spring Break
• Monday, May 31, 2027

1/2 Days of School 2026-2027 (11:55am Dismissal)

• Monday, Aug. 31, 2026 (FIRST DAY)
• Thursday, Nov. 2, 2026
• Thursday, Dec. 17, 2026
• Friday. Dec. 18, 2026
• Thursday, Feb. 18, 2027
• Thursday, June 3, 2027
• Friday, June 4, 2027 (LAST DAY)

• Principal: Haley Crowton hcrowton@bangorvikings.org
• MTSS Coordinator: Katy Hills khills@bangorvikings.org
• Special Education Director: Heidi Diaz hdiaz@bangorvikings.org
• Behavior Interventionist/SSC: Caitlynn Jean cvanlandingham@bangorvikings.org
• Secretary: Manny Vargas mvargas@bangorvikings.org
• Office Paraprofessional/Attendance: Enedina Chavez echavez@bangorvikings.org

Email: hcrowton@bangorvikings.org
Website: https://swe.bangorvikings.org/
Location: 309 S Walnut St. Bangor, MI 49013
Phone: 269-427-6863