The Bulldog Briefs

Thank you for an amazing start to the school year! It has been wonderful to see our students return to school with excitement and enthusiasm. We truly appreciate the support and partnership of our parents and families as we begin another successful year together.

As we continue to settle into the school year, our focus is on establishing strong school routines and helping students understand the expectations that will support a positive learning environment. Students are becoming familiar with their daily schedules, classroom procedures, arrival and dismissal routines, and school-wide expectations.

We are also working with students to demonstrate respectful, responsible, safe, and kind behaviors throughout the school day. By maintaining consistent routines and clear expectations, we can create an environment where every student feels supported and ready to learn.

Thank you for reinforcing the importance of coming to school each day, arriving on time, following school and classroom routines, and making positive choices. Your continued partnership is essential to our success.

We are excited about the year ahead and look forward to continuing to work together to make this a wonderful and successful school year for all of our Walker Bulldogs!

Mr. Jeff Moore, Principal

Students can wear any Walker Spirit Wear during the school week. Please use the link below to order. To save on shipping, please select "send to school."

Deadline to purchase is September 14th.

2: Late Start (8:50 AM)

7: Labor Day: No School

8: Curriculum Night (6:00-7:30)

9: Late Start (8:50 AM)

11: BARK Bash

16: Late Start (8:50 AM)

18: Picture Day!

21: MAP Testing Begins for 1st-5th Grades

25: BARK Bash

30: Late Start (8:50 AM)

We will begin to conduct state mandated emergency drills beginning the week of August 31st. Some drills will be conducted internally with Walker staff, while others will be supported by local law and fire agencies.

If you do not want your child participating in a lockdown drill, please notify the office.

We are required to complete:

3 evacuation drills

1 lockdown drill

1 shelter (weather)

1 bus evacuation.

Walker Curriculum Night will be held on Tuesday, September 8th from 6:00-7:30. This is a great opportunity for parents to visit the school, meet the teachers and staff, and learning about the curriculum and expectations implemented at Walker. Hope to see you there!

What a fun filled week!

On Friday, August 21st, students participated in a PBIS behavior expectation rotations in the morning and had a fun day in the sub in the afternoon.

The Board of Education has adopted a mandatory school uniform policy for all students in grades Kindergarten through 8th grade. Please note that any article of clothing or accessory considered to be disruptive to the educational environment or that poses a danger to any student may be disallowed at the discretion of the building principal. Students may wear any approved spirit wear attire or school athletic uniforms on any day.

SHIRTS/TOPS

Plain maroon collared polo or dress shirt with long or short sleeves is required. Plain black or white undershirts may be worn under the maroon collared shirt. Shirts must extend to waistline. Plain black or maroon sweaters, sweatshirts, or hooded sweatshirts may be worn over a collared maroon polo or dress shirt or a plain white or black undershirt. Hooded sweatshirts must be worn with the hood down.

PANTS

Pants must be black or khaki and worn at the waist. Solid leggings may be worn, but only when a shirt extending to mid-thigh is worn as well. -

SHORTS/CAPRI PANTS/SKIRTS

Plain black or khaki, knee length shorts, Capri pants, skirts or jumpers may be worn.

Students are expected to wear appropriate clothing while on school property and/or in attendance at school sponsored activities. Students are to use discretion in their dress and are not permitted to wear apparel that causes a substantial disruption in the school environment.

Uniform shirts can be purchased at the main office for $12

A copy of the permission slip is below.

Just a reminder that students should be taking care of their technology devices, especially when they take them home.

The district will assume the cost of parts and labor associated with all repairs deemed due to natural failure. If the technical department determines a failure due to damage, the student will be responsible for any hardware costs needed to return the device to a functional state. The district will assume all labor costs associated with damage repairs. Cosmetic damage will not be charged or repaired.

• Sleeve/Cover Replacement ($10)
• Charger Replacement ($25)
• Keyboard Replacement ($25)
• Touch Screen Replacement ($115)
• iPad Replacement: ($300)
• Chromebook Replacement:

- $250 for a new device, Year 1

- $200 for a device that is 2 years old

- $150 for a device that is 3 years old

- $100 for a device that is 4 years old

In an effort to increase safety at Walker Elementary School, with cooperation with the Bedford Park Police Department and the Village of Bedford Park, we will be implementing a student drop-off line for all families traveling by vehicles. This drop-off line will be monitored by school personnel, and supported by the Bedford Park Police Department. This line will be available from 7:25 AM to 7:50 AM and is located at 66th place, adjacent to Walker Elementary School. When dropping off students, please proceed to marked area. Drivers will remain in their vehicle, and students will exit out the passenger side of the vehicle. Students will be assisted by school personnel. All families wishing to walk their students to the school, please park your vehicle in the public parking area located on 67h Street in front of the Swanson Center.. Parking on residential streets is prohibited and will be strictly enforced by the Bedford Park Police Department. Please see below for detailed map and instructions. We thank you for your cooperation and support.

Arrival Procedures

• Please utilize student drop of line if dropping off by vehicle. Breakfast begins at 7:30 am. Please enter through door 1.
• Students Walking to school can enter through door 4.
• Parking is only available in the parking stalls on 67th street in front of the Swanson Center
• No parking on 66th Place

Dismissal Procedures

• Students will be dismissed at 2:50 each day.
• Door 1 (MAIN OFFICE): SPED Transitional Classroom K-5
• Door 4 (FRONT of SCHOOL): Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd
• Door 5 (BACK of SCHOOL): 2nd, 4th, and 5th
• No Parking on 78th Ave

Transportation registration was completed when you registered your child for school. If you did not select transportation during the registration process a link will be provided. Please visit the transportation link below for all questions. Bus times and routes are below.

Hello Walker Families!

Take a look below for some important reminders:

Required Health Records

All kindergarten students and new students entering the district must have the following on file:

• An updated Illinois physical examination
• Updated immunization records
• A dental examination
• An eye examination

These requirements are mandated by Illinois state law. Students who do not provide proof of immunizations, a completed Illinois physical examination, or an approved medical or religious exemption will be excluded from school beginning Thursday, October 15, 2026. Please submit all required health forms to the school nurse as soon as possible.

Ronald McDonald Care Mobile

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile will be returning to Graves/Heritage on Wednesday, Sep 30th. The Care Mobile provides physical exams, immunizations, and sports physicals for students ages 4–18 who have Medicaid or are uninsured. All eligible students are encouraged to participate. Please contact Walker's main office, 708-458-7150, to schedule an appointment and complete the required consent form.

Illness Guidelines

Please review the attached Welcome Back Parent/Guardian letter. This letter outlines when your child should stay home due to illness and the procedures to follow when reporting an absence.

Your partnership helps keep our school community healthy.

Bianca Vazquez, MSN, RN, PEL-CSN
Walker School Nurse

We have had such a great start to the school year! It has been wonderful to see our students come in each day with positive attitudes, strong energy, and ready-to-learn mindsets. I am so proud of the way our students have started the year!

Let’s keep that momentum going! Remember that we all have an important role in creating a positive school community. Let’s continue to be positive role models, positive supports for one another, and remember to follow BARK each and every day.

I am also excited to see some of our parents and families at Curriculum Night on September 8th! It is always wonderful to have our families connected and involved in our school community.

As we continue through the school year, let’s remember to be good students, keep up the great work, support one another, and always be kind. A little kindness can make a big difference!