25-26 WBES Parent Newsletter
October 3, 2025 - Issue 10
Whitesburg Elementary Schools
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
Week of October 13 - October 17, 2025
*** October 6-11 - Fall Break - No School ***
October 13, 2025 (Day 6)
PTA Board Meeting
4th/5th Grade BOY Forefront Fractional Screener Window (10/13-24)
October 14, 2025 (Day 7)
October 15, 2025 (Day 8)
October 16, 2025 (Day 9)
Title 1 Parent Focus Meeting - Keys for Academic Success at 5:30
October 17, 2025 (Day 10)
Report Cards
Upcoming Dates (dates subject to change)
Oct 22 Title 1 Parent Advisory Committee Meeting at 10:00
Oct 22 Orange/Blue BBQ
Oct 23 Fall Photo Make-up
Oct 27-31 Red Ribbon Week
Oct 28 Spelling Bee
Oct 31 ½ Day Student
Nov 1 Native American Heritage Month
Nov 10 Veteran’s Day Program
Nov 10 PTA Board Meeting
Nov 11 Veteran’s Day Holiday – No School
Nov 13 Title 1 Parent Focus Meeting - Importance of Family Dinner at 5:30
Nov 13 Intruder Drill
Nov 19 Title 1 Parent Advisory Committee Meeting at 10:00
Nov 19 Progress Reports go home
Nov 20 Thanksgiving Meal
Nov 26-28 Thanksgiving Holiday
Dec 5 Hazardous Materials Drill
Dec 8 PTA Board Meeting
Dec 10 Winter Concert (K-2) – 5:30
Dec 10 Title 1 Parent Focus Meeting - Family Game Time - at 5:00
Dec 12 Lion Shop
Dec 15 AR Point Cut-off
Dec 17 Title 1 Parent Advisory Committee Meeting at 10:00
Dec 17 AR Party
Dec 18 PBIS Party
Dec 19 ½ Day Student
Dec 22-Jan 2 Winter Holiday
Jan 1 School Board Appreciation Month
Jan 6 Students Return
Jan 6-16 MOY IReady Window
Jan 6-Feb 6 K-2 MOY Numeracy Screener Window
Jan 6-16 4th Grade MOY Forefront Fractional Screeners Window
Jan 7-16 MOY DIBELS Window (K-3)
Jan 9 Report Cards go home
Jan 12- Mar 13 ACCESS and Alt ACCESS Window
Jan 12 PTA Board Meeting
Jan 14 Lock Down Drill
Jan 19 MLK Jr Day – No School
Jan 30 100th Day of School
Jan 20-30 5th Grade MOY Forefront Fractional Screeners Window
Jan 22 Class Portraits
Feb 1 Black History Month
Feb 6 Severe Weather Drill
Feb 9-13 Bookfair
Feb 9 PTA Board Meeting
Feb 10 Tall/Small Ball
Feb 11 Progress Reports go home
Feb 11 Kindergarten Cap and Gown Photos
Feb 13 Half Day Students
Feb 26 Black History Program
Mar 1 Women’s History Month
Mar 2-6 Read Across America Week
Mar 2-Apr 3 ACAP Alt. Window
Mar 9 AR Cut-off
Mar 9 PTA Board Meeting
Mar 11 AR Party
Mar 12 Spring Photos
Mar 13 PBIS Party
Mar 16-20 Spring Break
Mar 16-Apr 24 ACAP Summative Window
Mar 21 Down Syndrome Awareness Day
Mar 24 Fire Evacuation Drill
Mar 26 Color Run
Mar 27 Report Cards go home
Mar 27 Color Run Make-up
Mar 30 ELA ACAP Week
Apr 1 Month of the Military Child
Apr 1 Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
Apr 2 Autism Awareness Day – Wear Blue
Apr 3 ½ Day Student
Apr 3 School Librarian Appreciation Day
Apr 6 Math ACAP Week
Apr 13 Science ACAP Week
Apr 13 PTA Board Meeting
Apr 15 Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast
Apr 15 Purple Up Day
Apr 22 Field Day – PK – 2nd
Apr 22 Administrative Professional Appreciation Day
Apr 22 Weather Drill
Apr 23 Field Day – 3rd-5th
Apr 24 Weather Day
Apr 27-May 8 EOY iReady Window
Apr 27-May 6 EOY DIBELS Window
Apr 27 Field Day Make-Up
Apr 28 School Bus Appreciation Day
Apr 29 Progress Reports go home
May 1 Asian Pacific Islander Month
May 1 Mental Health Month
May 1 Principal Appreciation Day
May 1 Parent Coordinator Appreciation Day
May 4-8 Teacher Appreciation Week
May 8 Teacher Duty Free Lunch
May 6 Bomb Evacuation Drill
May 11 PTA Board Meeting
May 13 AR Cut-off
May 14 Awards Day
May 15 5th Grade Clap Out
May 15 Grissom Clap Out
May 18 AR Party
May 19 PBIS Party
May 21 ½ Day Student – Student Last Day
May 21 Report Cards go home
WBES Mission: Inspire, Engage, Empower
Whitesburg Parents and Guardians,
It has been a great week of teaching and learning at the Burg!
I respect your parent concerns when you call or email. I pride myself in communication and I promise you if I get your communication, I will contact you back (and usually quickly); however, you have to give me time to investigate your concerns. It will not help to come to the school first thing in the mornings with a concern that I do not know about. I will not have answers for you, and I will have to thoroughly investigate the allegations, and I may already have other tasks to attend to that are already scheduled.
I take each student's safety seriously and I am going to do everything possible to assure that they remain safe and learning.
While we are talking safety, I still have parents dropping students off in the teacher parking lot in the mornings. YOU CANNOT DROP YOUR STUDENTS OFF IN THE PARKING LOT FOR NO REASON! It is not safe!
Let's continue to strive for excellence in everything that we do.
Thank you for your support! I am blessed to serve with you at the BURG!
Shine Bright Whitesburg!
Thanks,
Mrs. Jones
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.
WBES Mission: Inspire, Engage, Empower
Best Faculty/Staff Ever!
WHITESBURG ELEMENTARY IS BRICK HOUSE STRONG! ALL STUDENTS DO ALL ASSIGNMENTS!
Character Word of the Month
Our Student's of the Month SHINE BRIGHT!
Faculty/Staff of the Month - Mr. Jake Eckenrode
The Sparkly Spoon Award
Ms. Pruitt's class received the Sparkly Spoon Award this week. Thanks to her class for being a part of making our cafeteria "SPARKLE and SHINE BRIGHT!"
School Photos!
Please, please, please check your emails for school photo codes. They are fantastic and you are going to want to get them.
National School Lunch Program
To recognize the National School Lunch Program, which serves nearly 30 million children each day, Huntsville City schools will celebrate National School Lunch Week from October 13 to 17, 2025. The fun and creative campaign theme, “Taste The World: Your School Lunch Passport,” highlights the importance of a healthy school lunch to a student’s success both in and out of the classroom.
Research shows children are getting their healthiest meals at school. National School Lunch Week will highlight the nutritious foods available daily at Huntsville City schools. We offer our students a variety of healthy options during the school year, including fresh apples, pears, bananas, whole baby carrots, cut broccoli, and steamed green beans. We also display helpful communication materials that help educate kids about healthy choices.
School lunches offer students fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and milk, and meet federal nutrition standards that limit fat, calories, and sodium. National School Lunch Week helps us educate parents and students about all the incredible benefits of our lunch program.
During this special occasion, Child Nutrition Program staff will promote this event by wearing National School Lunch Week T-shirts and decorating the school meal serving areas and cafeterias.
The federally funded National School Lunch Program (NSLP) has been fueling students for success for 79 years. Students can enjoy the convenience of a healthy school lunch for just $2.65 per meal. Some students may qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Please visit our website at https://www.huntsvillecityschools.org/page/child-nutrition-program
to learn more.
The “Taste The World: Your School Lunch Passport” campaign is made possible by the nonprofit School Nutrition Association. Parents and students can follow the fun on social media using the hashtags #NSLW25, #TastetheWorld, and #SchoolLunch.
Teacher Wishlists and Favorites
I know a lot of you want to help your teachers, but just do not know how. Please see the link below to see all of the teacher's favorites things and also their Classroom Wishlists. Please encourage your teacher throughout the year. Little "happy's" can make their day!
Students cannot be dropped off in the parking lots for arrival-This is unsafe!
Supplies Needed
Please know that we cannot use school funds for certain items. Please see the below list for items we are constantly needing. It would be appreciated if you could donate these items.
Paper towels
Clorox Wipes
Kleenex
All Purpose Cleaning Spray
Student breakfast and lunch are free at the Burg!
Slushies
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.)
23-24 Whitesburg Elementary's Alabama State Report Card Grade
The official State of Alabama School Report Card grade for Whitesburg was released today. Our official score is an 82, which is a "B." While we are excited to have a "B," let's continue to strive to increase that score with a goal of raising our "B" to an "A." We will continue to work with our students to be grade level proficient. Parents can help us by working closely with the teachers to get ideas of how you can help you child at home, encouraging them to do their very best every day, and to make sure they are in attendance each day.
Bullying
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.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income.
Please use the link below to sign you child(ren) up. It is no charge and the child will receive a free book each month.
https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability/?#selectedCountry=US
We also have our "Goodnight with Dolly" video series you can share with your child in the meantime. Happy reading!
Huntsville Schools Mission Statement
The mission of Huntsville City Schools is to inspire, engage, and empower all students in becoming creative problem solvers, active citizens, and life long learners through rigorous curriculum and relevant instruction within a supportive environment. Vision: high expectations, character driven, and student centered. Core values: service minded, transparent, resilient, accountable, team focused, equitable, goal oriented, inclusive, and creative.