26-27 WBES Parent Newsletter

Email: lisa.jones@hsv-k12.org
Website: https://www.huntsvillecityschools.org/schools/whitesburg-elementary
Location: 107 Sanders Road Southwest, Huntsville, AL, USA
Phone: 2564287780
Facebook: facebook.com/WhitesburgElem
Twitter: @whitesburgElem

WBES Purpose of Whitesburg Elementary is to inspire, engage, and empower all students to a successful future.

WBES Vision of Whitesburg Elementary School is to be recognized globally as a model school offering transformative opportunities for students.

WBES Mission of Whitesburg Elementary is to provide a safe and supportive learning environment characterized by quality staff, rigorous academic instruction, innovative programs, outstanding extracurricular opportunities, and exceptional resources.

Hello Whitesburg Families!

We had a great week of teaching and learning this week.

Our schoolwide attendance goal is 95% each month, and unfortunately, we did not meet that goal this past month. Attendance is an area where we really need to improve, and we cannot do it without your support!

I know there has been a lot of sickness going around, and I certainly understand that children get sick. If your child has a fever, is vomiting, or is too sick to participate in the school day, please keep them home. We want our students to be healthy, and we certainly do not want illnesses spreading throughout our classrooms.

However, a mild runny nose, occasional headache, or lingering cold symptoms do not always mean a child needs to miss school. If your child is feeling well enough to participate in learning and meets our school health guidelines, we encourage you to send them to school.

Did you know that missing just 18 days of school in a year can cause a student to be considered chronically absent? That's only about two days each month! Chronic absenteeism also impacts our school's state report card grade.

While our school report card is important, what matters most is the impact missed school days have on student learning. Every day students are absent, they miss valuable instruction, classroom discussions, hands-on activities, and opportunities to build important skills. Over time, those missed days really add up!

Please take a few minutes to read the attendance flyers below. They provide important information about how regular school attendance supports student success.

We need your partnership! Please help us make school attendance a priority and ensure your child is at school each day unless they are truly sick or have another necessary reason to be absent.

Thank you for helping us make every school day count!

Mrs. Jones

Principal

November 9–13, 2026

Training Today. Achieving Tomorrow!

Get ready, Whitesburg families! Next week, our students will participate in our very first Academic Boot Camp!

During this special week, our teachers will focus on strengthening important reading, writing, listening, and math skills to help students become more confident and successful learners.

Our Academic Boot Camp will focus on:

Reading & Language Arts: Listening skills and using evidence from texts to support written responses.

Math: Strengthening number sense, understanding place value, and building problem-solving skills.

Throughout the week, students will participate in engaging lessons, hands-on activities, academic challenges, and opportunities to practice and strengthen their skills. We may even see a little camouflage around the building as we get into the Boot Camp spirit!

Our goal is simple: Identify areas where students need additional practice, provide focused instruction, and celebrate their progress!

At Whitesburg, we believe every student can learn, grow, and achieve success. Academic Boot Camp is just one more way we are working together to make that happen!

One Team, One Pride!

On 11/13/26 (next Friday), we have Makeup Pictures for any students not here on our original picture day 9/22. These are our Fall Yearbook pictures. Nov. 13th is the same day as the optional Holiday mini-sessions. Separate emails have been sent about the Holiday mini-sessions.

Pictures will start first thing in the morning. If your child is affected, please send them to school ready.

We need helpers that day to assist the photographers during Makeup pictures as well as the Holiday mini-sessions. There is a link & QR code below to sign up to help. Spoiled Rotten Photography offers a discount coupon for picture day volunteers who fulfill their commitment.

From our photographers:

We are excited to create awesome yearbook portraits for your school! We'll do our best to get everyone looking great!

• No forms will be distributed... ALL orders will be placed on-line.

• We will send you an email notification once yearbook photos are ready for viewing!

Thank you! -- Your loyal, local, lovable photographers of Spoiled Rotten Photography!

Huntsville City Schools is asking eligible families to complete the Federal Impact Aid Survey Form electronically starting October 22, 2026 through December 17, 2026. Spanish Versions of the form are available at each school. Impact Aid provides school districts with additional federal dollars to help support resources in classrooms.

Who is Eligible to Complete the Impact Aid Form?

• Parents/Guardians who work/live on Redstone Arsenal or other federal properties.

• Parents/Guardians on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces.

• Parents/Guardians who live in federal/public housing communities.
  

How to Complete Impact Aid Form Electronically?

• Login to the Powerschool Parent Portal or use the Powerschool App.

• Click on Forms, then click on Huntsville City Impact Aid.

• A form should be completed for each student attending Huntsville City Schools.

• A Spanish version of the form is available at each school.
  

How to Set up an Account in PowerSchool?

Parent/Guardian can create an account by following these steps:

Access the Student and Parent Sign In page.

1. Click the Create Account Tab.

2. Click Create Account.

3. Enter your first name, last name, and email address.

4. Enter the student's name, access ID, and access password, and the parent’s relationship to the student (access ID and access password is provided by the school).

5. Click Enter.

6. Once the account is created, follow the above directions on how to complete Impact Aid Form electronically.

Need to Request a Spanish Version of the Impact Aid Form?

If a parent/guardian needs a Spanish version, copies are available at each school.

Deadline to Complete Impact Aid Form:

Impact Aid Forms are due by Thursday, December 17, 2026.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact the Student Welfare office at 256-963-9806.

The Student Council and Peer Helpers are hosting an Alabama vs. Auburn canned food drive from 11/16 through 12/04/26.

We will sell slushies each Friday afternoon.

· $1 for 5oz cup

· $5 for souvenir Whitesburg Elementary Plastic Cup. This cup can be reused each Friday for a $2 refill.

(Slushie Friday's intention is not a fundraiser. It is for student encouragement and celebration. However, we do make a little money off of the sales, and that money goes into WBES's General Budget and is used for student incentives.)

• Family & Community Newsletter – This is a great resource to share with families and your school community.
  View the Family & Community Newsletter
• ARI Newsletter – This newsletter includes updates, information, and resources from the Alabama Reading Initiative.
  View the ARI Newsletter

Any intentional and repeated act of unwanted aggressive or demeaning behavior involving a real or perceived power imbalance, in which one or more people intentionally and repeatedly cause physical or psychological harm to another person. To be considered bullying, the conduct must also place a student in reasonable fear of harm or of damage to property, have the effect of substantially interfering with educational performance or school operations, or create a hostile, intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment.