Washington Wildcat Chat

Dear Washington Families,

I hope you are enjoying these last days of summer break! It was great to welcome our staff back to Washington today, and we forward to seeing you tomorrow from 8:30-9:30 for our annual Supply Drop Off/Meet the Teacher event. Students and parents will have a brief opportunity to meet their teacher, see the classroom and drop off supplies. Please be reminded that we are putting the final touches on our spaces, but rest assured, we will be ready for Wednesday!

The first day of school for students is Wednesday, August 14th. We will follow the regular Wednesday early release schedule, which means students are dismissed at 2:40. Any students attending half-day kindergarten will be dismissed at 11:05. Please see below or click here for more information about all of our arrival and dismissal procedures at Washington. Thank you for your support in ensuring the first day of school is a smooth transition for all!

Finally, mark your calendars for several special events happening in the coming weeks:

• The annual Back to School Picnic will take place on the evening of Friday, August 16th on the Washington playground and field. More details will be shared soon!
• Washington's Curriculum Night will take place on Wednesday, August 21st from 6:00-7:30. Parents are encouraged to attend to learn more about our instructional programming and classroom procedures. We will also share more information about this event in the coming weeks.

We thank you for your partnership and look forward to another exciting year of learning and growing together! See you tomorrow morning!

Warmly,

Angie

As a reminder, D64 is again partnering with Quest Food Management Services Inc. to provide complete, high-quality hot meals for preorder. Your child’s Student ID number is required to enter the ordering and payment system, called myMealOrder. For more information, please consult the Elementary School Lunch webpage.

All cell phones and other personal devices are to be powered off or silenced and out of sight during the school day. However, students in elementary school are allowed to have wearable smart devices with them if they follow the guidelines listed below. Please do not communicate with your student via these devices while we are in school, as these communications should occur before and after school. If there is an emergency and you need to contact your child, call the school’s main office for assistance.

● Students are permitted to have wearable smart devices like smartwatches only if they’re being used to view the time, like a traditional watch. Any student using a smartwatch can’t text, call, or use any apps during school. This includes communicating with parents! If a student is found using any apps on a smartwatch or communicating with it, they will be asked to put the watch/device in their locker.

● Parents can help ensure smartwatches are set to not allow notifications from other apps by placing the device in a mode that does more than silence it. For instance, with an Apple Watch, a parent can put the device in “Schooltime” mode, which limits how the student can use the watch during school. Schooltime mode also easily allows staff members to see that the watch is configured to not be a distraction during school. You can find steps on how to 24 set up Schooltime mode here. Android users can find parental controls by following these steps.

● Parents can configure wearable smart devices in other available ways as long as students cannot communicate with the device or use any apps during school.

Chess-Ed is excited to return to Washington School to provide lunchtime chess instruction

this Fall. The 10-week program runs from 09/13/24 to 11/22/24 and takes place on

Fridays from 11:35 am to 12:30 pm (during lunch). The program is open to students in

all grades and of all chess abilities (including those in full-day and half-day Kindergarten).

Professional instruction will include the basics for beginner and novice players and build

with opening theory, middle game planning, and end game combinations for continuing and

advanced students. Playing chess improves memory, uses analytical and critical thinking

skills, teaches problem solving, responsibility, sportsmanship, social skills and more! The

benefits of chess last a lifetime!

To register, please go to https://2024-2025washingtonchess.eventbee.com/.

Register by 08/30/24 to take advantage of lowest available fee. For more information about the

program, please refer to the program flyer. Chess-Ed is looking forward to working with

your CHESS ENTHUSIAST this Fall!

The School Safety Drill Act requires that within the first 90 days of every academic year, we conduct at least one lockdown drill. This drill addresses and evaluates the preparedness of school personnel and students for situations where there is an active threat or an active shooter within a school building.

Please be assured that the lockdown drill does not include any simulations that mimic an actual school shooting incident. The lockdown drill Is announced in advance to all school personnel and students before it begins. Local law enforcement may attend this event to share feedback and guidance with building administration.

This year’s lockdown drill will take place on Tuesday, August 27th. If you do not want your child to participate in the lockdown drill, please email Ms. Brito at abrito@d64.org. If your child is exempted from the drill, we will provide your child with alternate instruction related to an active threat or active shooter event.

There is still time to register your child/children for our 2nd session of the Rainbows for all Children peer groups. The first session for this school year begins Tuesday, Sept. 10th at 5:30 pm. This free program will meet weekly, for 1 hour, at the Park Ridge Community Church and provides a safe space for students in 1st - 8th grade to share their experiences associated with loss of a loved one and/or a changing family dynamic due to divorce, deployment, etc. Trained facilitators help encourage communication while identifying, navigating and discussing feelings amongst the group.

Please use the Google form link below to sign up your child and/or to be added to our email communications list. Any questions or interest in volunteering to become a facilitator, please contact rainbows64@att.net . For more info about Rainbows, please visit: https://rainbows.org/

Rainbows Student Peer Group Sign up

• Supply Drop Off/Meet the Teacher, August 13th, 8:30-9:30
• First Day of School, August 14th
• PTO Back to School Picnic, August 16th
• Pizza Day Ordering, August 16th - 30th
• Washington Curriculum Night, August 21st
• Walk-a-thon, September 13th
• Camp Duncan, September 19th

Inspire all students to discover their strengths, embrace learning, achieve personal excellence, and demonstrate care. Students thrive in a rich, rigorous, and innovative curriculum delivered by highly qualified teachers. Each student learns and grows in a safe, nurturing environment. In collaboration with student, parents, teachers and the community, District 64 provides opportunities for each learner to investigate, be successful, be resilient, and become inspired and empowered as they contribute to our global society.