The Walden Weekly
School News You Can Use
Happy First Week!
Our first week back at Walden School has been a success! Students and teachers have gotten to know each other and everyone is becoming more familiar with their routines. School felt like "normal" for the first time in a while with students back in the lunchroom, our return of flexible seating, and less distancing between students. It's been a great first week!
We are looking forward to our Curriculum Night next week. Please see some information below about this special event.
Have a great weekend!
- Stephanie Strenger
Curriculum Night - August 25
We are looking forward to Walden’s Annual Curriculum Night for parents of kindergarten through fifth grade students on Thursday, August 25. This will be an in person event for parents and guardians only and we appreciate your participation!
Curriculum Night is an opportunity for you to meet the teacher and learn about our instructional programming. Classroom teachers will share information regarding our curriculum as well as school/classroom procedures and expectations for learning. Your child's teacher will be in their classroom and will be sharing important information. We hope to see you there!
Curriculum Night Schedule:
5:25 - 5:50 - Teacher Presentation Session #1
6:00 - 6:25 - Teacher Presentation Session #2
6:35 - 7:00 - Principal Presentation in Big Gym
This year our teachers will be presenting twice which allows our parents to select a session that best fits their needs and see more than one teacher in an evening. Parents will only attend one session per teacher since the material is being repeated. We will conclude in the big gym with a presentation from the principal and assistant principal.
As a reminder, the purpose of Curriculum Night is to share information about how we meet the needs of all students in the classroom. As such, we respectfully ask that you refrain from asking questions about large scale district planning or your child’s individual needs. If you need to speak with your child’s teacher about any issues specific to your child, please make an appointment to do so. We are always happy to meet with parents.
We look forward to seeing you at our annual Curriculum Night on Thursday!
Specials Teachers during Curriculum Night
You will also have an opportunity to meet our Specials teachers at Curriculum Night if you would like. They will be together in the library and would be happy to speak with parents about their programs.
Mrs. Brown, Music
Mrs. Summers, Art
Mrs. Kerner, LMC
Ms. McKee, STEAM
Mr. Rendl and Ms. Walker, PE
Mr. Schwartz, Band
Mrs. Arbetter, Orchestra
Student Services/Support Staff during Open House
Our student services and support staff will be available during Walden’s Curriculum Night as well. Due to the confidential nature of these services and supports, we will not hold a large group session. Instead, parents are invited to set up a brief one-to-one meeting with the teacher by emailing the teacher member prior to Curriculum Night.
Mrs. Weiner, Response to Intervention Specialist - mweiner@dps109.org
Mrs. Sexton, Social Worker- asexton@dps109.org
Mrs. Lin, School Psychologist - rlin@dps109.org
Mrs Lara, Special Education Resource Teacher - sayala@dps109.org
Ms. Pignatari, Special Education Resource Teacher - kpignatari@dps109.org
Mrs. Bielawa, Special Education Resource Teacher - kbielawa@dps109.org
Mrs. Burgess, Special Education Resource Teacher - jburgess@dps109.org
Ms. Zimmerman, Special Education Resource Teacher - kzimmerman@dps109.org
Ms. Lowderman, Special Education Resource Teacher - llowderman@dps109.org
Ms. Foley, Speech and Language Teacher - rfoley@dps109.org
Mrs. Sazy, Instructional Coach - msazy@dps109.org
Ms. Tallman, Instructional Coach - mtallman@dps109.org
Mrs. Bonnette, English Learners, jbonnette@dps109.org
A Note From P.E.
Hello Walden Families,
I am so excited to see all your children and see how they have grown over the summer. I know a lot of kids participated in fun and exciting activities over the last few months and that as parents, you may have taken pictures of them doing these activities. I am asking you to send a picture of your child doing something active. It will be on display in the gym. You can send it in with your child or you can email me a picture and I can print it out. I can be reached at the email link below. Thank you and I am looking forward to a great year!
Thank you,
Mr. Rendl
Dogs on the Premise
Is your child symptomatic for COVID?
As a reminder; if your child is presenting with COVID-19 symptoms, we will be continuing to accept home test results via our website. Here is the link to submit your child’s home test results (please select your child’s school from the drop down menu). If you have any questions or concerns about your ability to access home tests during the school year please reach out to Joanna Ford at jford@dps109.org.
SHIELD Take Home Testing Begins Next Friday
If your family opted in prior to August 11th, expect your child to bring home testing supplies next Friday along with information on what to do. Those that opted in after our initial deadline will begin testing next month.
Turn in those required health forms!
There’s still a few weeks to accomplish this. Check this list by grade to make sure you’ve got all the right forms submitted!
Walden Parking Lot (2nd Posting)
- Only use the inside lane to drop-off and pick-up your child.
- Once your child has been dropped off or picked up, drivers will merge to the outer lane for an easy exit.
- The outside lane is never for drop off or pick up. This is a drive-thru lane only.
- Children should enter/exit the car from the school side of the vehicle to prevent children from walking into or blocking traffic.
- Drivers need to pull as far forward as possible when picking up and dropping off.
- At the end of the day, cars often arrive early. Once our lot is full, drivers will be asked to pull around and exit the lot in order to allow our buses to enter.
- Drivers are never permitted in the bus circle.
- Drivers should never be on their cell phones in the Walden parking lot.
- Please be patient. We usually have the entire lot cleared in 10 minutes.
Upcoming Dates
- Monday, August 22
- PTO Ice Cream Social @ 6pm
Wednesday, August 24
Early Release begins - dismissal is at 2:25
Thursday, August 25
Curriculum Night
Monday, September 5
No School - Labor Day
Tuesday, September 13
Picture Day
Monday, September 26
No School (Rosh Hashanah)
Wednesday, October 5
No School (Yom Kippur)
Monday, October 10
No School (Columbus Day)