Gertrude Walker Dolphins SplashCast

By the end of the school year, 80% of K–4 students will demonstrate typical to aggressive growth in both math and reading as measured by FastBridge assessments.

We kicked off our kindness campaign today at GW!! Each month we will be focusing on different ways to express acts of kindness. For the month of September we are focusing on kind words. Each student that displays acts of kindness will have their picture taken by the kindness tree and we will add them to the news letter.

Kindness Pledge - Today your child made the kindness pledge below. Ask them about the pledge and help them practice acts of kindness at home.

Let's have fun helping students create a habit of Kindness!

We hope all of you can come to the homecoming parade. The parade starts at 6. 4th grade and 3rd Grade Student Council members are invited to walk with GW in the parade. Be there at 5:30. We will meet on Cherokee St. and Labrador Blvd. behind the Icehouse. Everyone else can find a place to watch along the route.

Where your Dolphin Shirt and Dolphin Pride!

At Gertrude Walker Elementary, we believe strong relationships are the foundation of learning and growth. Restorative practices are the way we build these relationships, address conflict, and help students take ownership of their actions in a positive and supportive way.

The 3 Tiers of Restorative Practices

1. Tier 1 – Building Community (Prevention)

   • Focuses on creating a safe, respectful classroom culture.

   • Teachers use morning meetings, classroom circles, and team-building activities so every student feels valued and connected.

2. Tier 2 – Responding to Harm (Early Intervention)

   • When problems or conflicts arise, staff guide students through conversations that help them understand how their choices affected others.

   • Students are encouraged to reflect, take responsibility, and find ways to repair harm.

3. Tier 3 – Repairing and Restoring (Intensive Support)

   • Used when conflicts are more serious or ongoing.

   • Students, staff, and sometimes families work together in restorative conferences to rebuild trust, create agreements, and strengthen relationships.

Why It Matters

• Foundational and Lasting Relationships: Students learn that every person belongs to our school community.

• Ownership of Mistakes: Instead of punishment alone, students learn accountability by recognizing their impact on others.

• Repairing Relationships: Students actively make things right—through apologies, problem-solving, or positive actions—so trust can grow stronger.

By practicing these skills every day, students develop empathy, responsibility, and the confidence to contribute to a positive school community.

W - Wise Decisions

A - Ambitious

V - Value Self and Others

E - Encourage

S - Self-Reliant

Your child can earn a WAVE slip every day if they are seen following our building-wide expectations. On Friday all those WAVES are sent to the office at the end of the day. We pull 2 WAVES from each class for students to come to the office for a prize.

Every day, your child has an opportunity to receive a positive referral. Positive referrals are for students making big WAVES. These referrals are recorded in Skyward. Each morning, during announcements, students who have received a positive referral are called down to the office and given the opportunity to call home to celebrate their positive referral.

Sept. 1 - No School

Sept. 7 - GCHS Homecoming Parade

Sept. 12 - ASQ for Kindergarten - Kindergarten No School - 1st-4th grades have school

Sept. 19 - OUR First STUCO Movie Night