Wickliffe Family Update

Dear Wickliffe Families,

We are gearing up for an exciting week and cannot wait to open our doors and welcome all our Wickliffe students back to school!

Our staff have been working incredibly hard to prepare their classrooms and create warm, welcoming spaces for students. The building is beginning to come alive again, and we are excited to see it filled with the energy, joy, and excitement our students bring when they arrive on Wednesday.

We look forward to welcoming our kindergarten parents to Kindergarten Information Night tomorrow. We also cannot wait to welcome all families back into the building for Meet Your Teacher Night on Tuesday from 4:00–5:30 p.m. This is an open-house-style event, so please feel free to come and go at any time during that window. Students will have an opportunity to meet their teachers, visit their classrooms, and begin feeling comfortable and excited about the year ahead.

As we begin a new school year, we look forward to partnering with each of you to support your child’s growth, learning, and development. Strong relationships between home and school are such an important part of helping every child feel known, valued, and supported.

It is going to be a wonderful year filled with learning, connection, and opportunities to strengthen our Wickliffe community. Thank you in advance for your continued partnership, trust, and support. We cannot wait to welcome everyone back!

Warmly,

Angela Evans
Principal

August 7,10, and 11: Bear Essentials Community Shopping Hours, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

August 10: Kindergarten Information Night, 6:00 p.m.

August 11: Meet the Teacher Night, 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

August 12: First Day for Students, 1st-5th Grades Only

August 12: Kindergarten with the last name A-M first day, stay home on the 13th

August 13: Kindergarten with the last name N-Z first day, stay home on the 12th

August 14: All Students in Session

August 20: Parent Information Night

• First, 4th, and 5th @ 6:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.

• 2nd and 3rd @ 7:00 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.

August 21: PTO Parent Coffee

August 27: Jeni's Restaurant Night

August 28: School Picture Day

August 31: Parent Information Night / Elementary Gifted Services, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. @ Jones

September 1: Religious Expression Form Due

September 2: Parent Information Night / Elementary Gifted Services, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. @ Hastings

October 23: School Picture Make-Up Day

It’s time to start getting ready for the 2026-2027 school year! Here’s what you need to know to be ready!

Back-to-school forms (K-12) — available now: Families of returning students will receive information in late July in order to complete back-to-school forms in PowerSchool. Families will need to complete the forms prior to the first day of the school year.

Back-to-school fees (K-12) — available now: Families of new and returning students can log in to PaySchools Central in late July to pay any fees associated with their students and put funds on their lunch accounts. The student fee schedule approved by the Board of Education reflects the elimination of all student class and course fees for the 2026-2027 school year. The annual fees for the 2026-2027 school year include:

• The optional Technology Protection Plan fee ($25) for students in grades K-12

• Athletic fees at the middle school and high school levels

• Student parking fees at the high school

Families wishing to purchase the optional Technology Protection Plan must complete the technology forms in PowerSchool AND pay the $25 fee in PaySchools Central before the first day of school for the 2026-2027 school year (August 12, 2026).

Finalized schedules and teacher assignments (grades 1-8) — available now: Schedules and teacher assignments for grades 1-8 have been finalized and are available in PowerSchool . Teacher assignments for incoming kindergarten students will be finalized and shared with families on August 7 following kindergarten screenings.

Submit a Change of Address Form: If you have moved recently, please complete a Change of Address Form as soon as possible to enrollment@uaschools.org along with a copy of your proof of residency.

Wickliffe will continue its bulk school supply program for the 2026–2027 school year. For the past several years, the Wickliffe PTO has purchased supplies in bulk for all students, ensuring that every child has exactly what their teacher has requested and is fully prepared to begin the year. This program has been a great success, and we are excited to continue it!

The suggested donation is $50 per student and covers nearly all shared and individual supplies needed throughout the year, including notebooks, crayons, folders, markers, and more. Supplies will be delivered directly to your child’s classroom before the first day of school. Families only need to provide a backpack, water bottle, and headphones.

Next Steps:

School supplies and other Wickliffe fees are available for purchase School Supplies & Wickliffe Fees are available for purchase now here:

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do I only need to pay $50 per student?
Yes! Once you've completed your payment, you won't need to shop for classroom supplies.

Will there be a school supply list?
No. Since the PTO purchases supplies directly for every classroom, a traditional supply list will not be published. If the supply fee creates a financial burden, please don’t hesitate to contact the PTO at wickliffepto@gmail.com. We are here to support our students and families and want to ensure every child has what they need for a successful school year.

Do I need to pick up supplies?
No. All supplies will be delivered directly to your child's classroom before school begins.

• School Day: 8:10 a.m. - 2:50 p.m.

• Arrival on the playground--8:00 a.m. (No student supervision is available before 8:00 a.m. For safety, we kindly ask that students not arrive prior to this time. Supervision begins at 8:00 a.m. on the back playground.)

• First bell: 8:10 a.m.

• Tardy bell: 8:15 a.m.

• Office Hours: 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

• Lunch:

• K–11:00 a.m.

• 1– 11:25 a.m.

• 2– 11:10 a.m.

• 3– 11:15 a.m.

• 4– 11:40 a.m.

• 5– 11:40 a.m.

Routes To and From School During Arrival and Dismissal:

• There are many ways to travel to and from Wickliffe! If your child is walking or biking, please remind them to cross at the designated marked crosswalks. When on school property – which includes crosswalks and sidewalks – students must walk their bicycles.

• Please do not drop your child off in either parking lot during the 8:00-8:15 time frame. You will need to use the car line.

• In the AM walkers can enter at the front or back part of the building.

• In the PM walkers will exit the building out back near the black top/playground. Siblings/parents will meet out back. Walkers will NOT be dismissed out front near the bus lane. Only bussers/daycare vans will exit out the front.

• As students walk home, they will need to follow the same safety precautions of walking on the sidewalks around the building.

• If you plan to meet your child at dismissal, please determine the spot that your child is supposed to meet you. This will help your child know where to find you at the end of the day. Please plan for this spot to be out back and not in the front part of the building.

• If you are driving and plan to park your car and then pick up your child on foot, please follow the suggested street parking signs. There should be no parking along Cimmaron Rd. and Eastcleft Dr. during morning drop-off. There should be no parking along Eastleft during dismissal. We will have a number of students moving around in those areas and, for safety, it’s best if students and families are not crossing in areas where our car drop off/pick up occurs.

• Cimmaron Rd. is available for parking on both sides at the end of the day for parents who want to pick their children up on the playground by foot.

• On inclement weather days, students will report inside and remain in the Town Square until 8:10 am.

• Will arrive at school and stay on the bus until 8:10 when the morning bell rings. Students will then enter the building and go directly to their classrooms.

• Students will get picked up by the bus at the end of the day in the bus lane at the front of the building (Wickliffe Road)

• On inclement weather days, students on our bus will stay on the bus until the first bell at 8:10.

• Please use the bike racks that are at the back/front of the building near the blacktop.

• Please remind your child that when riding their bike, they need to start walking once they are on school sidewalks.

Car Line:

• AM Drop Off:

• The car line involves driving along Eastcleft Dr. from the east and dropping your child off at the designated areas just before the indent in the sidewalk. (When in doubt, look for the signs for car drop off.) In the drop off area, there are aides and teachers on duty from 8:00am through 8:15am and 2:50pm through 3:05pm. To use the car line, please pull all the way forward in your car, as far as you can, and then you can let your child(ren) out of the car once you are in the drop off zone. All students K-5 can use the car lines.

• PM Pick Up:

• ALL students will get picked up on Eastcleft Dr. at the end of the day.

• Please place a sign in your window with your child’s name and grade on the passenger side of the car.

• Car Line Drop off/Pick up reminders:

• Pull all the way up to the front of the drop off lane.

• Do NOT allow your child to exit the car outside of the drop off and pick up zone as it slows the car line.

• Children need to exit/enter on the right side of the car.

• Students need to be ready to get out of the car as you pull forward (backpacks and lunch boxes in hand).

• DO NOT pull around cars after you drop your child off. Please stay with the flow of the line. While we know people are in a hurry in the morning, our priority is the safety of everyone.

• Parents need to stay in the car during drop off/pick up. The teachers on duty will help assist with getting students out of the car.

• Please keep your child in the car until you see an adult on duty at 8:00 am.

• If your child arrives past 8:15, and there is not a teacher out on duty, please bring them to the front office to check in.

• DO NOT drop your child off in either parking lot during the 8:00-8:15 time frame. You will need to use the car line.

• There is NO parking, drop off or pick up in the Eastcleft Drive staff parking lot. This is a dangerous spot with the potential of students crossing on foot and bikes coming and going at that time.

• PLEASE do not block the entrance to the staff parking lot.

If your child will be picked up through the car line this year, we kindly ask that you follow the procedures below each day.

On a standard sheet of paper, please write the following information in large, bold letters for each child you are picking up:

• Child’s name
• Classroom teacher
• Grade level

Please place the sign where it can be easily seen by staff as you enter the car line. This helps us account for every child while keeping dismissal safe, organized, and moving smoothly.

Thank you for your patience, partnership, and help in keeping all our students safe!

Tardiness

Our doors open at 8:10 a.m. Students must be in their classroom by 8:15 a.m.

• If you arrive after 8:15 a.m., your student will need to sign in at the Main Office.

Note: Exceptions may be made in the instance of a long car line due to inclement weather, etc. If you do not see an adult monitoring the car line, you must bring your child to the office (or drop them off by the front entrance).

Reporting an Absence

A parent or guardian should email wickliffeattendance@uaschools.org by 8:30 a.m. on any day their student will be absent. Please include your student's first and last name in the email. If you are aware of an upcoming absence, you are welcome to email in advance. Please include your student's teacher in the same message—there’s no need to send separate emails.

If your student's teacher marks them absent, and we haven’t received an email by 9:15 a.m., you will receive an automated call as a reminder to contact the Attendance Office so we can update their attendance.

• If you have already reported the absence and still receive an automated call, no further action is needed—thank you!

As we prepare for another great school year, we'd like to remind families of Ohio's law regarding personal communication devices during the school day. Students are expected to keep cell phones, smartwatches, and other personal communication devices secured in their backpacks or lockers throughout the entire instructional day, including lunch, recess, and transitions.

As we do each year, our teachers will review this expectation with students during the first few days of school and help reinforce the routines that support a focused learning environment.

We appreciate your partnership in talking with your child about this expectation before the school year begins. Thank you for helping us create a school environment where students are engaged, connected, and focused on learning.

We are grateful for the many parents and family members who volunteer to chaperone our field trips each year! If you hope to join your child's class on a field trip this school year, now is a great time to complete your volunteer requirements so you're ready when opportunities arise.

All volunteers must have a current background check on file with Upper Arlington Schools. Background checks are completed at the Mincy Center (1619 Zollinger Road) Monday–Friday from 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (closed 12:30–1:30 p.m. for lunch).

Thank you for partnering with us to help make field trips safe, fun, and memorable for our students! More information can be found on the UA Schools Volunteering webpage.

Overdue email notices

• Lisa Young has sent out emails to families for overdue books.
• Please look for these emails and contact Lisa with any questions about what books need to be returned or paid for — if books are damaged or lost.

• Any prescription medication administered at school requires written authorization from the student’s physician as well as written parental permission. Per Ohio Revised Code, the Prescribed Medication must be received by the health office in the container in which it was dispensed by the provider or pharmacist (we cannot accept medication in baggies). Medication authorization forms and other health forms can be found on the district website at: UA Health Forms. Should you have any questions, please contact the Wickliffe Health Office at 614-487-5150.

• Our health clinics track communicable illnesses and work with local public health agencies to mitigate potential outbreaks. If your student is diagnosed with or treated for a communicable illness/condition (strep, pinkeye, influenza, COVID-19, lice, etc.), please report those to the school nurse at wickliffehealthclinic@uaschools.org, or wickliffeattendance@uaschools.org. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure Wickliffe is a healthy learning environment for all of our students!

• The nurse's office is desperately in need of boys' underwear in all sizes! If your child has outgrown theirs or you would like to donate some to the clinic, we would welcome any and all sizes!!

• August 21st - PTO Parent Coffee
• August 27th - Jeni's Dine & Donate
• September 25th - Fall Fest
• October 15th - Fun Run, Walk, & Roll

• Volunteer in the lunch line with Chef Amber! Sign up here: Lunch Help!

• We have partnered with UA owned, Primowear to do our back to school spirit wear sale! Our online store is open now for shopping through August 25th.
• Shop online here!
• We will also have some styles from previous years for sale at next week's Meet the Teacher night! Be sure to stop by and check out what we have in stock if you need to add to your Wickliffe wardrobe!

Support Wickliffe and Make a Lasting Impact in Our Community

• We're seeking local businesses and community partners who want to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students, teachers, and families. To learn more, visit our website here!

For many years, After School Discovery (ASD) has provided Wickliffe students with opportunities to

explore new interests, build friendships, and extend their learning beyond the school day. We are incredibly grateful to the instructors, volunteers, and families who made the program such a

meaningful part of our school community.

After thoughtful discussion and careful evaluation, the Wickliffe PTO, in collaboration with school leadership, has made the difficult decision to pause the After School Discovery (ASD)

program for the 2026–2027 school year.

Over the past year, we strengthened ASD through additional policies, procedures, and support. While these improvements enhanced consistency, the program continued to face challenges that made it difficult to sustain within a volunteer-led model, including:

• Increasing complexity of student supervision and dismissal
• Extensive coordination of instructors, classrooms, attendance, and daily operations
• Growing demands on school staff, volunteers, and resources
• Limited space and scheduling flexibility within the school

These challenges are largely structural and cannot be resolved simply by adding more volunteers. As a result, the program’s demands have exceeded what is sustainable within a volunteer-led model and the school building.

Although ASD will no longer be offered at Wickliffe, the PTO remains committed to supporting enrichment opportunities by sharing programs offered by many of our current instructors and trusted community organizations operating independently throughout the year.

We know this news may be disappointing, and this decision was not made lightly. Thank you for your continued support and for helping make ASD such a special part of the Wickliffe community over the years.

Questions can be directed to wickliffepto@gmail.com

Check our website for details on the PTO and upcoming events!

This summer, Upper Arlington Schools is transitioning to a new transportation app called BusRight, available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The app allows families to view their student's bus route information and track the bus in real time.

Parents/guardians who requested transportation for their student will receive an email invitation on July 31 to create their BusRight account. You must accept the invitation and set up your account before you can access your student's bus information for the 2026-2027 school year.

Need help? Please use the contact below that best matches your question:

• I didn't receive my BusRight email invitation: Contact the Transportation Department at 614-487-6477.

• I'm having trouble accessing the app or viewing my student's route information: Email support@busright.com.

• I have a question or concern about my student's assigned bus route: Email schoolbusquestions@uaschools.org.

Based on changes in Ohio law and Upper Arlington Schools Board of Education policy, new attendance requirements will be in effect beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. These changes affect how schools track student attendance, when families receive notifications, and when districts must intervene to address attendance concerns.

The biggest change is that all missed time is counted — includes tardies, medical absences, pre-planned absences, non-school-sponsored activities and competitions, and Religious Expression days — toward chronic absenteeism. Parents/guardians may find information about the changes in attendance policy on our website.

State law does allow a student’s parent or guardian to request up to three religious expression days for each school year without any academic penalty. Religious expression days may be used to take holidays for reasons of faith or religious or spiritual belief system or participate in organized activities conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church, or other religious or spiritual organization.

Parents/guardians must submit this form within the 14 school days after the start of the school year (September 1, 2026) to request up to three religious expression days for the 2026-2027 school year. Requests received after 14 days from the start of the school year will not be approved. For additional information, visit our website.

Elementary parents are invited to attend one of two Elementary Gifted Services Parent Information Nights in the coming weeks. These sessions are designed to help answer questions regarding gifted services, including gifted qualifications, gifted clusters and Written Education Plans (WEPs). The same presentation will be provided on both nights, so please select the date that works best for you.

• Monday, August 31: Jones Middle School auditorium, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, September 2: Hastings Middle School auditorium, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Forward for Hope 5K

Join the Carter Edell Foundation for the inaugural Forward for Hope 5K at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 15 at Thompson Park. Plan to participate in the 5K, walking or running, or in the quarter-mile kids dash. Learn more and sign up at this link.

Attendance Information - Click link for full details

District Attendance Policy

• Please obtain a medical excuse for ANY visit to a doctor, dentist, therapist, etc that occurs during a school day.

Planned Absence Form - Forms should be completed 10 school days in advance of the first date of the planned absence whenever possible. Otherwise, the absence may be unexcused.

District Website Link

• 2026-2027 School Year Calendar

• A-E Calendar

Instagram Account ~ @wickwolves

Lunch Menu

Difficulty accessing your PaySchools Central account? Email psc_help@payschools.com or

call 1-877-393-6628 between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. ET Monday-Friday.

Nurse Notes

Any prescription medication administered at school requires written authorization from the student’s physician as well as written parental permission. Per Ohio Revised Code, the Prescribed Medication must be received by the health office in the container in which it was dispensed by the provider or pharmacist (we cannot accept medication in baggies). Medication authorization forms and other health forms can be found on the district website at: UA Health Forms. Should you have any questions, please contact the Wickliffe Health Office at 614-487-5150.

Our health clinics track communicable illnesses and work with local public health agencies to mitigate potential outbreaks. If your student is diagnosed with or treated for a communicable illness/condition (strep, pinkeye, influenza, COVID-19, lice, etc.), please report those to the school nurse at wickliffehealthclinic@uaschools.org, or wickliffeattendance@uaschools.org. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure Wickliffe is a healthy learning environment for all of our students!

PowerSchool Parent Portal: https://ps-uar.metasolutions.net/public/home.html

If you need assistance logging into PowerSchool, you may reach out to: familytechhelp@uaschools.org

Technology Family Support

• Check out this resource for K-5 families.

• WOSU Digital Wellness

• CommonSense Media Activities

Transportation Services

Email: schoolbusquestions@uaschools.org

UA Flyer Connection

Wickliffe PTO

Links to Previous Updates:

All of our updates can be found on the Wickliffe website under “school news”.