Welcome Back!
Dear Whitney parents & Guardians,
Welcome back to school and to Whitney Elementary, home of the Wildcats! The Whitney staff is excited to work with you and your student this year to provide the best education possible. Our mission statement: Whitney will prepare students to be lifelong learners and productive community members through a commitment to high standards for all. We expect success from all students and we will work with you as a team to ensure that your student is successful.
Open house this year will be on August 30th from 5:30 - 6:30pm. Please come and meet your child’s teacher, see their classroom, and learn more about our core beliefs at Whitney. All school supplies will be provided by Whitney Elementary. Listed below are a few useful tips for parents and students:
INSTRUCTIONAL DAY
School starts Wednesday, August 25th with a 12:00 release.
Classes begin at 8:45 a.m. with breakfast at 8:15 a.m.
Classes end at 3:15 on Tuesdays through Fridays, and 2:15 on Mondays (except for the first day which is 12:00 release).
Please drop your student(s) off no earlier than 8:15 a.m. as there is no supervision.
Please do not pick your child up early from school. Our teachers need the entire instructional day to ensure your child receives a quality education. If your child needs to be checked out early it will need to be pre-arranged through the office 30 minutes before the end of the school day. Thank you!
NOTIFICATIONS
ParentSquare is an easy-to-use communication tool that combines multiple communication streams into one easy-to-use interface for families and staff.
Some features include:
Choose your preference on how you’d like to receive messages from the school via email, text or mobile app notification
Communicate in your preferred language
Mass Notifications and Urgent Alerts with Two-Way Translation
Direct message teachers and staff with Two-Way Translation
Parent-Teacher Conference Sign-Ups
ParentSquare will launch for parent use on August 18.
PICK UP/DROP OFF
Our parking lot is often very crowded. In order to reduce traffic during pick up/drop off several options are available. We will be sending out a video guide of our pick up/drop off procedures.
COVID GUIDELINES
All school personnel, volunteers, visitors, and students must wear cloth face coverings, or an acceptable alternative (e.g., surgical mask or clear face shield with a drape), at school when indoors.
Please see the Yakima School District website for additional information as it becomes available.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
We have a security fence next to the school, and along the bus area; both of which will be locked when classes begin at 8:45. All fences will remain locked until the instructional day ends.
Students being picked up at the front of the building will exit through the front security gate at the end of the school day. Please wait for teachers to bring them out to you. Do not pass through the gate.
If your student is late, you will need to come into the office to sign him/her in.
For the safety of your children, please do not allow them to walk across the parking lot alone.
We have students who have life threatening allergies to nuts/peanuts. We ask that all treats brought to school are store-bought with the label intact.
DRESS
Students should be dressed ready to learn, and to participate in PE and recess. Tank top straps should be at least 2 finger-widths wide. Flip flops are not encouraged due to safety concerns. Clothing with drug/alcohol/gang paraphernalia and/or colors, is not allowed at school.
ATTENDANCE
Your child’s attendance at school is very important. Please make every effort to have your students attend school on time every day. Of course, if your student is ill, please keep him or her at home so they can recover quickly. Notes regarding absences must be brought when your child returns to school. Seven tardies and/or early check-outs, equal one unexcused absence.
BUS RIDERS
Students that are scheduled to ride the school bus will be sent on the bus on the first day of school unless a note or a phone call is received before dismissal at 12:00. No transportation changes will be made on the first day of school.
Your child's teacher is included on the letter sent home to parents this week.
Sincerely,
Brandon Hunt
Principal
Whitney Elementary