Whittemore Elementary School
Family Update 11/5/23
Principal's Update
Dear Whittemore Community,
We ended the week on a high note with our Kindergarten Showcase on Friday afternoon. Students and staff showed off the hard work and creativity of our youngest Whittemore Bees. Students displayed the fantastic toys they created while explaining their thinking. Thank you to our amazing Kindergarten team for organizing and to all who were able to attend.
Check out some fun pictures below!
This week's schedule is unusual, so here are some reminders:
Tuesday, November 7: No school: Election Day and Professional Development
Wednesday, November 8: We will follow a Friday schedule. Students will have their Friday specials
Friday, November 10: No school: Veterans Day
I am also excited to share that Whittemore's Multicultural Potluck will be held on Thursday, November 16 from 5:30-7:00pm. It's a fantastic event and a great opportunity to learn about the different cultures and experiences that make our Whittemore School Community so incredibly strong.
I hope you all have a wonderful week!
Thank you,
Mr. Sweder
Important Dates
November
- Tuesday, November 7: No school, Professional Development Day
- Wednesday, November 8: We will follow a Friday schedule
- Friday, November 10: No school, Veterans Day
- Wednesday, November 15: Early Release, 1:00pm dismissal
- Thursday, November 16: Multicultural Potluck, 5:30-7:00pm
- Tuesday, November 21: Picture retakes
- Wednesday, November 22: Half-day, 11:45 dismissal
- Thursday, November 23 and Friday, November 24: No school, Thanksgiving Break
Panorama Family Survey
Dear Families,
Our district values your feedback! We are currently surveying Waltham families in order to gain insight into your perception of our school and district effectiveness. To ensure we continue to provide high quality, rigorous learning experiences that meet the needs of our learners and prepare them for college and career, we need your input. We want to know what you think.
Our schools have partnered with Panorama Education to conduct our Fall 2023 Family Survey. Panorama protects your privacy, keeping your responses confidential. The survey shouldn’t take more than a few minutes to complete, and will be a valuable source of information for us as we work to make our schools and district as good as they can be.
You may complete the survey online between October 23 - November 9 using a computer, tablet, or smartphone by visiting this link:
surveys.panoramaed.com/waltham/fall23family
We thank you in advance for your thoughtful responses. If you have any questions about the survey administration, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s school.
Thank you,
Waltham Public Schools
Whittemore Wednesdays
All Wednesdays are now Whittemore Wednesdays!
Wear your Whittemore gear, black and yellow, or bee themed clothing to show your school spirit every Wednesday!
School Handbooks
The links to the Waltham Public Schools Elementary School Handbooks are below:
2023 - 2024 ES Handbook English
2023 - 2024 ES Handbook Spanish
Youth Basketball Registration
Waltham Girls Basketball Registration is now open for girls in Grades 1 - 8.
Waltham Girls Basketball Grades 1 - 8
Waltham Wrestling Club
Healthy Waltham
Healthy Waltham is excited to announce that we will move to 123 Felton St. in 2024! While we plan the new space, our pantry will continue at the Fitch School, 5 Cherry St. We will temporarily scale back the food we are offering to shelf-stable boxes at this time. We look forward to resuming our full-service pantry in the future and appreciate your understanding.
NEW TIME: 1:30 pm – 6pm
LOCATION: 5 Cherry Street, Fitch School, Waltham
WHERE TO PARK: STREET PARKING ONLY.
NO parking in private lots on Cherry and Ash Streets – you will be towed. Parking is on-street and in municipal (public) lots only.
Pantry is walk up only.
TO RECEIVE FOOD:
Please sign up for an appointment through the Your Market website link here: https://www.your-market.org/
Choose Healthy Waltham from the list of pantries. Registration is available in multiple languages. Please register if you have not already done so and choose your appointment time. Appointment sign-ups will be released approximately 1 week prior to the pantry date.
Food will be distributed by appointment only.
Don’t have an appointment or need help? We will accept walk-ins from 4:30-6:00 on pantry days.
PANTRY UPDATE:
We will be offering boxes of shelf-stable food. Thank you for your patience as we prepare for our move to a new space.
FOOD PANTRY DONATIONS:
If you would like to make food donations of any kind, please contact us via contact us form on this website. No deliveries will be accepted at our mailing address without prior contact and coordination.
For more information on any of our services or events, please contact us or (781) 314-5647.
Upcoming pantry dates:
November 16 (Thanksgiving distribution)
November 30
Waltham Public Schools: BELPAC
Please use the link to learn more about Waltham's BELPAC (Bilingual English Learner Parent Advisory Council):
School Hours
After the first day, students may enter the building at 8:15am ONLY if they are eating breakfast. Students who are not eating breakfast may enter at 8:25am to go to their classrooms.
If a student participates in the before/after school program with the YMCA, they may enter the building between 7:30am-8:15am. Drop off and pick up for the YMCA program will be at the back of the school, door #13.
If a student does not participate as part of the YMCA program, they should not arrive prior to 8:15am.
Students are dismissed at 3:00pm. Prior to 3:00, students will be called for dismissal and will be organized into groups to make the process as efficient as possible.
Transportation
Please click this link to view the Whittemore 2023-24 Bus Routes
Students are assigned a school bus based on their address. Students are only allowed to ride the bus to which they are assigned. There are no exceptions.
We will review expectations for bus behavior with all students at the beginning of the year. It is imperative that students follow all rules related to the school buses so that everyone can travel safely to and from school.
It is important to note that the time riding the school bus is an extension of the school day, and dangerous or inappropriate behavior on the bus may result in disciplinary consequences.
Dismissal: Hovey Road (Please Read)
Reminders
Hovey Road dismissal is for students being picked up by car only. Any student being dismissed and walking home or to a car, should be picked up from their classroom teacher at the assigned location.
For pickup via car, please form a line up on Hovey Road before the crosswalk near the opening of the fence and remain in your vehicles.
It is important that family members do not park beyond the crosswalk or in the neighborhood for Hovey Rd. pickup. Safety is our top priority, and lining up in cars before the crosswalk reduces the number of students and adults crossing Hovey Rd and loading in cars during a very busy time.
Once students arrive by the picnic tables, they will be dismissed. Please do not leave your car to retrieve your student. It may require a bit more patience; however, the line moves much more efficiently if everyone stays in their cars.
Nutrition
Breakfast and lunch is served daily in our cafeteria. ALL Whittemore students receive FREE breakfast and lunch.
Visit the Waltham Public Schools Nutrition Site for lunch menus and information about our nutrition program.
Whittemore Website
Please visit our Whittemore Elementary School website for information and updates.