What's Up Walnut?

Dear Team Walnut Families,

What a wonderful evening at Monster Mash! It was such a joy to see our students and families laughing, playing, and celebrating together. Thank you to our PTA and all the volunteers who helped make the evening so special. These moments remind us how much our school community means to our Wildcats and how much fun we can have together!

The fun continues this week as our students in grades 1–5 will have a visit with Newbury Park High School dance students to learn our annual Spooky Dances! This special partnership gives our Wildcats the opportunity to learn from older student role models, try something new, and build confidence through the arts. Dancing brings creativity, teamwork, and healthy movement together, helping students discover enjoyable ways to stay active.

This also connects perfectly with our Red Ribbon Week focus on healthy living this week, October 26–30. Throughout the week, students will celebrate what makes them unique, practice making good choices, spread kindness, and identify healthy habits. Remember to wear red on Tuesday and tie-dye on Wednesday! At home, keep the conversation going by asking your child to name one choice that helps keep their body and mind healthy.

We look forward to welcoming parents to our annual Halloween Parade this Friday, October 30, at 8:25 a.m. on the basketball courts. Come enjoy this favorite Walnut tradition and cheer on our Wildcats!

Thank you for making Walnut a place where children feel connected, supported, and ready to shine.

One Team, One Dream!

Principal Farhit

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, but helping children feel safe, valued, and included is something we work toward all year. Through The Wildcat Way — Be Respectful, Be Safe, Be Prepared, and ALWAYS Be Kind, we teach students that their everyday choices help shape our school community.

Understanding Bullying

Bullying involves unwanted, aggressive behavior, an imbalance of power, and behavior that repeats or is likely to repeat. It can include physical harm, threats, name-calling, spreading rumors, or intentionally excluding someone. It can also happen online. Not every disagreement or hurt feeling is bullying. Children are still learning how to navigate friendships, manage frustration, and resolve conflicts. However, hurtful behavior deserves attention whether or not it meets the definition of bullying.

How families can help at home

• Keep conversations open. Ask questions such as “Who did you spend time with today?” “Did anyone feel left out?” or “Was there a moment when you needed help?” Listen calmly and thank your child for sharing.

• Practice what to do. Help your child identify trusted adults at school. Practice simple phrases such as “Stop. I don’t like that,” when it feels safe to speak up, followed by moving to a safe place and getting adult help. Children do not have to handle bullying on their own.

• Teach children how to support others. They can invite someone to join them, check on a classmate, refuse to join hurtful behavior, and tell an adult. Explain that reporting a safety concern is helping, not tattling.

• Model kindness and respect. Children notice how adults handle disagreements, talk about others, and respond to differences. Show them how to be firm while remaining respectful.

• Stay involved in online activity. Monitor your child's online activity regularly. Talk about group chats, games, and messages. Remind children not to post, forward, or “like” hurtful content. If something concerning happens, save the messages and seek help.

• Partner with the school. If your child shares a concern, contact their teacher or the office. Be ready to share specific details—what happened, when, where, and who was involved. Help us understand the situation and respond.

If your child has hurt someone

Learning that your child has behaved unkindly can be difficult. Stay calm, listen, and make clear that hurtful behavior needs to stop. Help your child understand its impact, take responsibility, and practice a better response. Working together gives children the support and accountability they need to grow.

At Walnut, we take concerns seriously. We listen, gather information, address behavior, and provide support and follow-up. While we cannot share another student’s private information or consequences, we can work with you to support your child’s safety and well-being.

Walnut students may wear their Halloween costumes to school for our Halloween Costume Parade at 8:25am on the basketball courts Friday, October 30th. Parents are welcome to join us!

Please read these important participation rules for our Halloween Costume Parade...

HALLOWEEN COSTUME RULES

1. No Blood

2. No Weapons

3. No Masks or Face Paint

4. Students Should Wear School Appropriate Shoes (No Heels or Sandals)

5. Costumes Should Be Worn Over Regular Clothing if Possible

*Students will change out of their costumes at the conclusion of the parade. Walnut is not responsible for lost or damaged costumes during the school day. You may consider labeling items with your child's name and sending an extra bag for their costume.

**Students who may not want to wear their costume to school may choose to dress like a book character or wear fall colored clothing instead.

***If your child is in need of a costume for the parade or you prefer your child not participate, please contact the Walnut Office, ASAP for support - (805) 498-3608 or complete THIS FORM.

Our Walnut chickens have quickly become a special part of our school community, and we would love some help from our amazing Wildcat families to care for them over weekends, breaks, and special days throughout the year. Caring for the chickens includes simple tasks like feeding, refreshing water, collecting eggs, and giving them a little love and attention.

If your family is interested in helping, please complete the Google Form below. We are so grateful for your support in helping our chickens stay happy and healthy while teaching our students responsibility, compassion, and care for living things!

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Nuestras gallinas de Walnut se han convertido rápidamente en una parte muy especial de nuestra comunidad escolar, y nos encantaría contar con la ayuda de nuestras increíbles familias Wildcat para cuidarlas durante los fines de semana, vacaciones y días especiales a lo largo del año. El cuidado de las gallinas incluye tareas sencillas como darles comida, cambiarles el agua, recoger los huevos y brindarles un poco de cariño y atención.

Si su familia está interesada en ayudar, por favor complete el siguiente formulario de Google. ¡Estamos muy agradecidos por su apoyo para ayudar a que nuestras gallinas se mantengan felices y saludables mientras enseñamos a nuestros estudiantes responsabilidad, compasión y el cuidado de los seres vivos!

We’re excited to continue caring for our beloved Walnut chickens, and we’d love your support! If you’re interested in contributing, families can make a direct donation to help cover feed and supplies, or choose an item from our Amazon Wish List. Every little bit helps us provide a safe, healthy, and enriching environment for our feathered friends and gives our students hands-on learning opportunities they truly enjoy. Thank you for supporting our chickens! 🐓

California law requires that children between the ages of 6 and 18 attend school regularly unless they have a valid legal excuse for an absence. By making school attendance a priority, you're giving your child the best opportunity to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

If your child is having difficulty attending school regularly, please reach out to Mrs. Magdaleno, Walnut's Title 1 Counselor and/or Mrs. Farhit, Walnut Principal, as soon as possible. We are here to partner with your family and provide support.

Please remember to call the school office or email BY 9:00AM if your child will be absent. Parents have 3 days to clear all absences, so please make it a priority to clear your child's absence as soon as they occur. Students have the opportunity to clear up to 15 days of absences through Short Term Independent Study. Please inquire in the office.

Thank you to all of our drivers for following our parking lot procedures and helping arrival and dismissal run safely and smoothly!

As we continue settling into our routines, please remember these important safety expectations:

• Pedestrians must use the designated crosswalk at all times. Please do not cross through the middle of the parking lot.

• Drivers must remain in the drop off and pick up line and follow the vehicle in front of them. Never pull out of line and cut into the drive through lane.

• Drivers may not leave their vehicles while stopped along the drop off and pick up curb. Leaving a vehicle unattended slows the flow of traffic for everyone.

• Please do not park in or block the bus lane during STAR and ELOP pick up. This lane must remain clear for buses and authorized vehicles.

Please share these procedures with anyone who may be dropping off or picking up your child. A little patience, kindness, and attention go a long way. Keeping our Wildcats safe is a responsibility we all share. Thank you for doing your part!