February Newsletter

February is full of learning, celebrations, and opportunities to connect!

This month we recognize both American Heart Health Month and National Children’s Dental Health Month—wonderful reminders of the importance of caring for both our bodies and our smiles. We look forward to celebrating Heart Health with our students and kicking off our Kids Heart Challenge later this month.

Please mark your calendars for these important February dates:

• Friday, February 6 – Hot lunch for K–8 students

• Monday, February 9 at 6:00 p.m. – PTCC Meeting

• Friday, February 13 at 2:30 p.m. – Valentine’s Day classroom celebrations; Grades 5–8 will also have pizza hot lunch

• Monday, February 16 – No School (Presidents’ Day)

• Wednesday, February 18 – 11:35 a.m. dismissal for K-8 students; NO preschool classes

  • Also our Heart Health Celebration and the start of our Kids Heart Challenge

  • Kindergarten registration, 1-3:30 p.m., by appointment only

  • Board of Education meeting, 6 p.m.

• Friday, February 20 – End of Trimester 2

• Wednesday, February 25 – Read Across America Family Reading Night (5:00–6:30 p.m.) followed by the Beginning Band Concert (6:45 p.m.)

• Friday, February 27 – Report cards sent home with students

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We are grateful to be part of such a caring school community!

Mrs. Melanie Lukacsy,

Principal

A huge thank you to our incredible PTCC parent group for the months of planning, preparation, and dedication that made this year’s Trivia Night such a tremendous success. Melinda Magerkurth and her amazing team of volunteers truly went above and beyond—bringing the Mardi Gras theme to life and creating an unforgettable evening for our school community.

From the exceptional raffle baskets to the highly desirable silent auction items, every detail reflected the care and commitment poured into this event. We are so grateful to everyone who attended, supported our school, and helped make the night so special.

Your hard work directly impacts our students and staff, and we cannot thank you enough for all that you do for Waltham. We are fortunate to have such a passionate, generous, and supportive PTCC—thank you for everything! 💜💛💚

We’re excited to kick off the American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge on Wednesday, February 18, during our schoolwide Heart Health Celebration! This annual event helps students learn the importance of heart health, physical activity, and helping others—all while supporting lifesaving research and education through the American Heart Association.

Students will have the opportunity to participate by setting personal goals, learning about healthy habits, and asking friends and family to support their efforts. Every contribution makes a difference, and participation at any level is celebrated.

Each year, we also create a special experience for the student (or students) who raise the most money—and this is where the excitement really builds! Will this year’s top fundraiser choose a Mr. Brannan Human Sundae, a slime-filled surprise, or come up with something entirely new? We can’t wait to find out!

More information will be shared as we get closer to kickoff. Thank you for supporting our students as they learn about heart health, compassion, resilience, and the power of giving back. ❤️

We’re excited to celebrate Read Across America Week, February 23–27, as we shine a spotlight on the joy and importance of reading! During this week, our Scholastic Book Fair will also be open (February 23–27). Book fair hours will be shared as the date gets closer.

Families are invited to join us on Wednesday, February 25 from 5:00–6:30 p.m. for Family Reading Night—an evening filled with stories, connection, and fun. We’ll also be giving away lots of great prizes, so you won’t want to miss it!

We hope to see everyone there as we come together to celebrate reading and learning!

Dear Families,

Our Student Pantry continues to be an important support for our students, and we are currently in need of donations. We are looking for individually packaged, shelf-stable “grab-and-go” items that do not require bowls or silverware. Please note that we are unable to accept large boxes of cereal, oatmeal, jars of peanut butter or similar items.

For your convenience, an Amazon Wish List is attached. Items may be purchased directly through the link and shipped straight to the school, or you may use the list as a guide when shopping on your own.

All students have access to the pantry. Some may need a quick breakfast item to help them start the day on the right foot, while others may occasionally forget a lunch and need a small item to tide them over until they get home. These items are provided on an as-needed basis and are not intended for daily use.

Thank you for your continued generosity and support of our students.

As we move into the colder months, please make sure your child comes to school each day with proper winter gear. Hats, gloves, coats, snow pants, and boots are required for any student who wants to play in the snow. We will go outside for recess as long as the wind chill is 20°F or above, so warm layers are important!

Students in grades 5–8 also travel between the main building and the trailer throughout the day, so appropriate coats and footwear are essential for staying safe and comfortable.

Thank you for helping our students enjoy a fun—and warm—winter season!

Students and staff members are encouraged to show their school pride every day, but especially on Fridays! Spirit wear is now available for purchase for students, families, and community members. Click here to shop: https://thesudco.com/collections

As we kick off February, we are thrilled to celebrate the incredible commitment our students and families have shown toward attendance over the past two years. Thank you for truly partnering with us—our students are excited to be at school, and our attendance initiatives continue to be helpful motivators, even on the coldest or rainiest mornings. We are working together, and it shows!

January’s Atten-Dance was proudly sponsored by Illinois State Representative Murri Briel, who joined us for the fun and excitement of what attendance celebrations are all about—high energy, great dance moves, joyful moments, and prizes galore! Students enjoyed fantastic rewards including bracelet-making kits, Super Mario sets, $10 gift cards to McDonald’s, Casey’s, and Target, a $20 AMC Theatre gift card, and even the chance to be Principal for the Day. We also offered a second-chance prize wheel filled with snacks, candy, and other fun surprises.

We love celebrating being together and learning each day—and we can’t wait to see this success continue in the months ahead!

Thank you to Dr. Deric R. Truskoski, DMD, MS of Floss Academy in Chicago for serving as our February Attendance Sponsor—especially fitting as we celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month! We are grateful for his support of our attendance initiative as we recognize dedicated students and continue building positive attendance trends. Healthy smiles help students feel their best and show up ready to learn each day!

Thanks to all of our monthly attendance partners, we’ve seen meaningful growth here at Waltham—and it truly makes a difference for our students!

👑❤️Come join us for the Queen of Hearts Raffle at Joy & Ed's Thursdays at 7 p.m.!

One ticket for $5 or 6 for $20! 👑❤️

1. Strengthening Math Instruction - This year, we’re transitioning to the new Illustrative Math program to deepen student understanding. Our staff is undergoing specialized training to bring this new and improved curriculum to the classroom.

2. Fostering a Safe, Inclusive, and Positive Climate - Our school culture is built on strong relationships. We're committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment where every student feels welcome and supported to be their authentic self.

3. Increasing Student Attendance and Engagement - Our attendance incentive programs were a big hit last year—so they’re back and even better! Students will once again have chances to win awesome prizes just for showing up and giving their best each day.

4. Strengthening Staff Development Aligned to School Priorities - Our professional learning this year is focused on the things that matter most to students: math instruction, use of AI in education, grading practices, and meaningful assessment.

5. Enhancing Communication and Community Outreach - We are committed to keeping you connected. We will continue to use our newsletters, social media, and in-person events to ensure you feel like a valued partner in your child's education.
   

2nd grade worked in groups to make tie-blankets as an act of kindness for staff members. The blankets will be raffled at our monthly PBIS Assembly! Thank you 2nd grade grown-ups who donated to help make this possible.

On January 28th, our 6th-8th Graders shone as they were able to thank the residents at the Veterans Home in LaSalle.

Our kids read stories, passed out thank you cards, assembled poppies, and, most importantly, joy was spread throughout by all!

Thank you to the Waltham family for supporting our events, as well as the gracious staff and administrators at the Illinois Veterans Home. It was an unforgettable experience! --- Mr. Bailey & Ms. Lucio

Student Absences

• If your child/children are going to be absent for the day, for any reason, please contact the office directly at 815-667-4417 or email both tlewis@wesd185.org and shewitt@wesd185.org.
• Do not contact your child's teacher directly with daily absences.
• Any absences for extended periods of time, please communicate with homeroom teachers AND the main office.
• Any student absences not communicated to the office by 10 a.m. will receive a phone call from the school.

Student Arrival

• Students that do not ride the bus should be dropped off/picked up in the car line in the front of the building. When entering the parking lot, cars should veer to the right and enter the pick-up/drop-off line.
• The car line will begin moving at 8:00 a.m.
• PreK-8 students should not arrive before 8:00 a.m. Students can be picked up at the same entrance at the end of the school day.
• Please stay in your car after you pull up in front of the building during arrival.

Student Dismissal

• Unless written notice or a phone call from a parent/guardian is received by the school office one hour prior to dismissal, students will be sent home on the bus.
• Cars should not line up for the end-of-day car line until 15 minutes prior to student dismissal. If you arrive early, you will be asked to park your vehicle in a parking space until the appropriate time.
• If you need to buckle a child into your vehicle, please pull forward into a parking space after they get into your car. We need to keep our car line moving at a steady pace.
• Please stay in your car after you pull up in front of the building during dismissal.
• It is important that you pass this information along to anyone who may be picking up your child at the end of the day.

Tardiness / Early Departure

• Students will be marked tardy if they are not in their classrooms, ready for learning, at 8:10 a.m.
• If your child needs to be picked up early, please pull up to the front of the building and call the office at 815-667-4417. We will sign your child out and send them out to your car.
• If you are dropping a junior high student off late, they MUST enter the building through the office. No students should go directly to the trailer after 8:10 a.m. without first stopping in the main building.
• We ask that you please make every effort to make appointments for your children before or after school to minimize disruptions to the learning environment and office.

No students will be dismissed in the final 20 minutes of the school day unless they are leaving for a Waltham-sponsored event.

Early Release Days for K-8 Students

• Students will be dismissed at 11:35 a.m. on the following days:
• Wednesday-September 17th,
• Wednesday- October 15th,
• Wednesday- November 19th,
• Wednesday, December 17th,
• Wednesday- January 21st,
• Wednesday-February 18th,
• Wednesday-March 18th,
• Wednesday-April 15th, and
• Wednesday-May 20th.

Student Illness Policy

• Students must be 24 hours fever-, vomit-, and diarrhea-free before returning to school.

• A doctor’s note is required if a student is absent 3 or more consecutive days due to illness.

• Students absent for any part of the school day due to illness may not attend school events that evening—this applies to both participants and spectators.

Non-Prescription Medicines

• Non-prescription medications will not be dispensed by school personnel. If students need non-prescription medicine during the school day, a parent/guardian is required to come to school and administer the medicine.

Student Lunch Information

• Daily Lunch – Students must bring their own lunch to school each day.

• Monthly Hot Lunch – Once a month, students will have the option to order Pizza Hut pizza, organized by our PTCC.

• Drinks – Only water or milk are allowed at school. Other drinks such as juice boxes, Gatorade, soda, colored/flavored waters, etc. are not allowed at school.

• Milk at School – Milk can be purchased at school for $0.40 per carton. Please send exact change if possible.

School Day Disruptions

• In order to minimize disruptions in the classrooms, we request that items (i.e., lunches, P.E. clothes, uniforms, instruments, homework, etc.) be dropped off in the office. Office personnel will make sure the item gets to your child.

Cellphones and Wearable Technology

• During the school day, which is the time between 8:05-3:10 p.m. on regular school days, electronic devices such as cell phones, smart watches, and earbuds/headphones must be kept powered-off, and in locker/backpack.

• Android: https://bit.ly/3fezeBS or
• iPhone: https://apple.co/2QoGMIC

Follow us for up to date news & information:

• Website: www.wesd185.org
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/WalthamPride
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/walthampride185
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/walthampride185/