The Bulldog Briefs

Thank you to all the families that participated in our Trunk or Treat event. Students had an amazing time.

Please see all the updates below, paying closer attention to Parent Teacher Conferences on November 23rd.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Go Bulldogs! 🐾

Mr. Jeff Moore, Principal

6: Picture Retakes

9: PBIS Celebration: Earth Rangers Assembly

12: 4th Grade Ag in the Classroom

13: End of Trimester 1

18/19: 5th Grade Candor Health Presentations

20: Report cards will be sent home/ PTO Fall BALL

23-27: Fall Break. No school

23: P/T Conferences

30: Classes resume

Our lost and found area is growing. Please remind your students to take their belongings home each day. We will have all items set out during our conferences.

Walker School averaged at 94.5% attendance rate for October! Our goal every day is to strive for 95%. On average, students can miss 1-2 days per month.

We had 43 students with perfect attendance for the month of October. Ms. Pisano's 3rd grade class won the monthly contest. Students were treated to an extra recess and a treat.

Walker perfect attendance pictured below.

Please take a moment to read the uniform policy at Walker School.

Just a reminder, Walker shirts can be worn everyday, but students must wear correct uniform bottoms. Jeans are only allowed on Fridays.

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

We celebrated students on September 25th that demonstrated Excellence in Citizenship.

We also celebrated our Lexia Superstars!

Great job Bulldogs!

Every month, students have the opportunity to earn a PBIS Celebration. Students will work towards a universal goal. Our goal for the month of October is "Excellence in Safe and Respectful Behaviors." If students exhibit positive behavior with this expectation, students will participate.

Students will not participate when they receive: 3 minor referrals on Physical Aggression/Throwing Objects or 1 major in the same area.

We have an Earth Rangers assembly on Monday the 9th for all the students who are able to participate.

All students will be working on part of a collaborative pixel poster project. This project explores the life cycle of a pumpkin for K-1, basic coding for 2nd-3rd and the use of pixels in digital displays for 4th-5th.

Each student will create his/her own unique piece to add to the collaborative poster. Students may choose to complete their piece using art supplies or Google paint tools.

Kindergarten: We are still doing rhythm practice and movement, but our main focus is our songs for our Holiday show in December.

1st: We are still doing rhythm practice and movement, but our main focus is our songs for our Holiday show in December.

2nd: We are still doing rhythm practice and movement, but our main focus is our songs for our Holiday show in December.

3rd: We are still doing rhythm practice, musical staff notation, and movement, but our main focus is our songs for our Holiday show in December.

4th: We are still doing rhythm practice and movement, but our main focus is our songs for our Holiday show in December.

5th: We are still doing rhythm practice and movement, but our main focus is our songs for our Holiday show in December.

Barban K-1: We are continuing to explore music through movement and listening, including our songs for our Holiday show in December.

Garcia 1-5: We are continuing to explore music through movement and listening, including our songs for our Holiday show in December.

Kindergarten

Continue to practice fitness movement skills and introduce underhand and overhand throwing skills with round ball, leading into catching a ball..

1st Grade

Continue to practice fitness movement skills and introduce underhand and overhand throwing skills with round ball, leading into catching a ball.

2nd Grade

Introduce underhand and overhand throwing and catching skills with round ball, leading up to catching skills and passing with partner and in small group.

3rd Grade

Begin the ultimate football unit by practicing overhand throwing and catching skills with football, leading up to developing teamwork through gameplay.

4th Grade

Begin the ultimate football unit by practicing overhand throwing and catching skills with football, leading up to developing teamwork through gameplay.

5th Grade

Begin the ultimate football unit by practicing overhand throwing and catching skills with football, leading up to developing teamwork through gameplay.

Gratitude is what Art will focus on for November. We will be making art that personalizes and expresses what we are thankful for. Students in grades two through five will be asked to think about what they are thankful for and create symbols that shows it. Ideas for art include, but are not limited to, posters, 3-D cubes, turkeys, and trees. For Pre K through first grade, students will continue using various art materials to understand how to use them. We will focus on the element of line and the skill of illustration. Across all grades, we will be learning about Native American artist Nakoma Volkman by looking at some of his highly detailed illustrated posters and using Visual Thinking Skills strategies.

For all art lessons the Illinois Visual Arts Standards (isbe.net/Documents/Visual-Arts-Standards.pdf) are used. Here are the standards for the second trimester Pre-K through 5th Grade:

VA:Cr1.2.PK Engage in self-directed creative art making.

VA:Cr1.2.K Engage collaboratively in creative art making in response to an artistic problem.

VA:Cr1.2.1 Use observation and investigation in preparation for making a work of art.

VA:Cr1.2.2 Make art or design with various materials and tools to explore personal interests, questions, and curiosity.

VA:Cr1.2.3 Apply knowledge of available resources, tools, and technologies to investigate personal ideas through the artmaking process.

VA:Cr1.2.4 Collaboratively set goals and create artwork that is meaningful and has purpose to the makers.

VA:Cr1.2.5 Identify and demonstrate diverse methods of artistic investigation to choose an approach for beginning a work of art.

Transitional K-5th: Students are working on developing their ability to listen, attend, and follow directions through structured social work activities. We begin by listening to a story together, encouraging students to focus and engage with the group. Students then practice following directions by completing a tracing sentence and a related cut-and-paste sequencing activity. These activities help students strengthen listening skills, attention, task completion, and their ability to follow directions in the correct order. Positive reinforcement and support are provided throughout the lesson to encourage participation, independence, and success.

K-2nd: Students are working on developing their ability to listen, attend, and follow directions through structured social work activities. We begin by listening to a story together, encouraging students to focus and engage with the group. Students then practice following directions by completing a tracing sentence and a related cut-and-paste sequencing activity. These activities help students strengthen listening skills, attention, task completion, and their ability to follow directions in the correct order. Positive reinforcement and support are provided throughout the lesson to encourage participation, independence, and success.

3rd-5th: Students are working on identifying and understanding different emotions and recognizing that all feelings are okay to experience. The focus is on helping students understand that while we cannot always control how we feel, we can control how we choose to react to those feelings. Students will practice naming their emotions, recognizing what their bodies may feel like when experiencing different emotions, and identifying safe and appropriate ways to respond. Through discussion, modeling, and practice, students will learn that our reactions and choices are what count, and that using coping strategies can help us make positive choices even when we are experiencing big or uncomfortable feelings.

🩺 Healthy Students, Ready to Learn!

A Message From Nurse Bianca

This month’s edition of 🩺Healthy Students, Ready to Learn! Will focus on the importance of preventing chronic student absenteeism and how consistent school attendance supports students' academic, social, and emotional well-being.

Under Illinois law, chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more school days within an academic year, regardless of whether the absences are excused or unexcused.

Since the beginning of this school year, we have had a total of 53 school days. This means that students who have missed 5 or more days have already reached the threshold for chronic absenteeism.

Frequent absences can have a significant impact on a student's ability to keep up academically, participate in classroom activities, and maintain meaningful connections with peers and teachers. However, the effects extend beyond academics. Regular attendance helps children establish consistency, structure, and predictable daily routines—something many students rely on to feel secure, confident, and successful throughout the school day.

Every school day matters! Let's Work Together💗

At Walker school we remember every student's situation is unique, and understanding the reasons behind frequent absences is an important first step. We realize some of us at one point or another may face health challenges, transportation issues, or other barriers that impact regular attendance. However, working together to communicate and identify these challenges and provide support can help ensure every student has the opportunity to be present, learn, grow, and succeed.

📰🌟In Other News...

• Hearing and vision screenings took place at Walker school on 10/22 and 11/3. Students who did not pass one or more screenings were sent home with a referral. Please follow up with the appropriate physician and return the medical documentation to school.

• Dental Day 2027 will be Thursday, Feb 18th at Walker. This is a great resource that offers free dental exams and cleanings for ALL students. Please complete the consent form by using the attached QR code or return the paper copy that will be sent home next week. All dental exams will serve as the registration requirement for Kindergarten, 2nd and 6th grade.

🏥 Community Resources: Health, Dental & Vision Care

Attached are community resources to use for your family’s health needs.

References:

https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Chronic-Absenteeism.aspx

https://www.ed.gov/teaching-and-administration/supporting-students/chronic-absenteeism

Staying Strong as We Finish the First Trimester!

Fall is in full swing, and the holiday season is just around the corner! As the temperatures drop, the days get shorter, and we approach the end of our first trimester, it's a great time to remind ourselves of the importance of staying connected, motivated, and focused on finishing strong!

With all the excitement and changes this season brings, consistent school attendance remains a key part of student success. Every day at school is an opportunity to learn, grow, build friendships, and strengthen important social-emotional skills.

As we navigate this busy time of year, it's equally important to be mindful of our social-emotional well-being. Encouraging students to recognize their feelings, practice healthy coping strategies, show kindness, and ask for support when needed helps create a positive and supportive learning environment. Remember, taking care of our emotional health is just as important as academic success!

Together, as students, families, and staff, we can finish the first trimester strong! By prioritizing attendance, supporting one another, and working as a team, we can help ensure that every student enters the second trimester feeling confident, connected, and ready to succeed.

Let's keep showing up, lifting each other up, and making every school day count!

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.