Waltham Elementary School

Dear Parents,

Happy New Year! I hope this message finds you and your family refreshed and ready to start 2025 with enthusiasm and positivity. It’s wonderful to welcome everyone back to school as we dive into a productive and exciting January.

Save the Date: Trivia Night - Round Up for Waltham

We are thrilled to announce that our school’s biggest fundraiser, Trivia Night: Round Up for Waltham, is just around the corner! Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 25th, and prepare for an evening filled with fun, community spirit, and a little friendly competition.

The PTCC is looking for volunteers to help the night of the event. If you still want to play, don’t worry — there are plenty of ways to help, while still being able to participate! Please click on the Sign Up Genius link below to see what jobs are available:

Volunteer Sign Up Link

Love to bake? We are also providing a dessert table for Trivia Night and looking for volunteers to provide baked goods. Take a look and sign up for a spot to bring in some tasty treats for Trivia!

Bake Sale Sign Up Link

Have some friends who want to join in the fun? We have only 1 table left for Trivia Night, so be sure to contact Kylie at 815.910.6327 ASAP to reserve your table!

As we move through January, let’s continue working together to create a positive, supportive, and enriching environment for our students. Your involvement and support mean so much, whether through attending events like Trivia Night, volunteering your time when opportunities arise, or simply staying engaged in your child’s learning.

Thank you for being an essential part of our school community. Here’s to a fantastic start to 2025!

Melanie Lukacsy,

Principal

As a reminder, school will be closed on Monday, January 20th, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This day honors Dr. King's vision and legacy of equality, justice, and service. We encourage everyone to reflect on his impact and consider ways to engage in acts of kindness and service in our community.

As we enter the cold and flu season, we’re reaching out to our wonderful parent community for donations to help ensure all our students are supported. We are kindly asking for the following items:

• Kleenex for classroom use
• Plastic spoons and forks for students who may forget theirs
• Student Pantry Donations: Grab-and-go snacks such as applesauce cups/pouches, sandwich crackers, Poptarts, and larger-sized cereals (like Fruit Loops). At this time, we do NOT need breakfast bars and fruit snacks.

These pantry items are available to all students when needed. Your generosity makes a big difference!

Thank you for helping keep our students healthy and well-fed this season.

On Friday, December 20th, our school came alive with music, energy, and fun during our December AttenDANCE! Every student joined in the excitement, and coupons for a pizza slice from Casey's were awarded to students showing off the best dance moves.

We also held special prize drawings for students with perfect attendance throughout December. A big thank you to generous sponsors—PTCC, Casey's Culver’s, Starved Rock Storage, and Barbara Bryant of Janko Realty—for making the event extra special with their contributions! Please check our school's social media pages for photos!

As we prepare for future events, we are still in need of gift cards, prizes, and coupons to use for special awards. Thank you to those who have already provided donations—we greatly appreciate your support!

Mark your calendars—our next AttenDANCE will take place on Friday, January 31st. Let’s keep the attendance streak going strong!

Attendance Matters: Positive Trends and Proactive Goals

We are excited to share that we have seen some very positive trends when comparing this year’s attendance data to last year’s. This year, we are taking a proactive approach to attendance because we know that every day in school matters. Each day provides essential learning experiences that contribute to your child’s academic growth and overall development. Attendance is one of our key goals, and we’re committed to working together as a team with families to improve student attendance and, ultimately, their education and academic progress.

Attendance Data Highlights

In 2023-2024:

• 56.2% of our K-8 students missed between 0-4 days of school between August and December.

• 23.2% of students missed between 5-9 days.

• 4.5% of students missed between 10-14 days.

• 1.63% of students missed 15 or more days.

This year, between August 2024 and December 2024:

• 74.16% of our K-8 students missed between 0-4 days of school.

• 14.83% of students missed between 5-9 days.

• 1.91% of students missed between 10-14 days.

• 1.91% of students missed 15 or more days.

These improvements are a testament to the efforts of our students, families, and staff in prioritizing attendance. Let’s continue building on this momentum!

You may have heard terms like chronic absenteeism and truancy. Here’s what they mean:

• Chronic Absenteeism: Missing 10% or more of school days for any reason—excused or unexcused. This includes absences for illness, family emergencies, or vacations.

• Truancy: Unexcused absences. Chronic truancy occurs when a student has unexcused absences for 5% or more of school days.

In alignment with Illinois School Code and to support your child’s success, we will send letters home if your child reaches the following absence thresholds:

• After 5 days absent

• After 10 days absent

• After 15 days absent

These letters will be sent for both excused and unexcused absences because any missed day impacts learning.

For families of students who meet the committee’s criteria for absenteeism, we will set up problem-solving meetings. These meetings are designed to work collaboratively with families to identify solutions, improve attendance, and ensure students thrive academically.

We’re here to support you! If you have any questions or need assistance with attendance, please do not hesitate to contact us. Together, we can make this year a great one for your child by ensuring they’re present and making every day count.

Sincerely,

The Waltham Attendance Committee

Mrs. Lukacsy, Principal

Mrs. Lewis, Administrative Assistant

Mrs. Holtzman, Social Worker/PBIS Tier 2/3 Support

Mrs. Mitchell, Instructional Coach/ PBIS Tier 2/3 Support

Mrs. Holcman, Regional Office of Education #35 Student & Family Services Coordinator

Second grade enjoyed their SEL time with Mrs. Holtzman before Winter Break! They played

bingo and discussed what it meant to feel a certain emotion. How fun! --- Mrs. Hollingsworth & Mrs. Hill