Where's Walden
8-3-16
Communication
I hope this email finds you well, enjoying your summer months, and excited for the upcoming school year. We are busy preparing to welcome back our students for the 2016-17 school year on August 22nd. As the next few weeks unfold, I promise to be in touch again, with the goal of ensuring our families have all the information you need to start the year on the right foot. In the meantime, here are a few pieces of information...
For our returning families - I plan on continuing to write my Friday (or as needed) "Where's Walden" emails. My emails are intended to provide you with timely, helpful, and important information that will keep you in the loop on all-things Walden. You will notice a different format from how I have communicated in the past, done in effort to provide you with information in a clean and easy-to-read way.
For our new families - I communicate in a variety of ways in effort keep you in the loop and provide you with information that allows you to be an active member of our school community. In addition to my Friday (or as needed) "Where's Walden" emails, I regularly post to the Walden Facebook page that you are encouraged to "Like" and we use our Twitter account (and the hashtags #wal109 and #engage109) to share many of the exciting happenings taking place in our classrooms. Many of our teachers create their own classroom hashtags, too!
You are also encouraged to view our "at-a-glance" page on the Walden website to see a comprehensive list of of items that intend to make your transition to our school a smooth one.
For all families - You have control over the email addresses and phone numbers District 109 can contact. If you change your email, please make sure to log in to Family Access to update your contact information under the Student Information section. While you're logged in, click on "Skylert" to select your notification preferences, and add additional email addresses and phone numbers where you wish to receive school and district emails like this one, as well as to update your emergency contacts.
Teacher Meet and Greet and the Kindergarten Scavenger Hunt
This year, our K-5 teachers, Mrs. Kerner (our librarian) and Mrs. Gutman (our TAP/Gifted Teacher) will be on site to meet their new students and to showcase their classrooms! You are cordially invited to our inaugural Teacher Meet and Greet (and Kindergarten Scavenger Hunt) on August 18th any time between 3:30 and 4:30 (the Kindy Scavenger Hunt will extend until 5:30). You may come any time between these hours - if you have more than one child at Walden, you'll need to visit each classroom within that one hour period (or two hour period for kindergarten).
We are excited to make this change and provide this opportunity. Unfortunately, we will NOT be able to extend or reschedule for individual families. I understand that some families may have vacations planned or other conflicts. If you are unable to attend, that is okay. This is an optional opportunity and your child will simply meet their teacher on the first day of school.
WHAT THIS IS:
- An optional opportunity for you and your child to meet your teacher
- An opportunity for your child to see their classroom, locker, old friends, and new classmates.
- An opportunity to tour the building (including our new library and SMART Lab space)
- A time for parent-teacher conferencing. It would be inappropriate, in a public setting, to discuss private/personal matters with your child's teacher at this time. There are other opportunities for those conversations to take place.
Some teachers may take the time to put away school supplies, some may have another structured activity for their new class, or some may choose to be completely open-ended and unstructured. Any way in which your individual teacher decides to run this event is fine.
Lastly, I will email individual classes if a teacher is unable to attend this event. Given that it is "after hours," teachers may not be able to stay due to family obligations or other unavoidable conflicts. In those incidences, your child will meet their teacher on the first day of school.
Thursday, Aug 18, 2016, 03:30 PM
Walden School, Essex Court, Deerfield, IL, United States
Teacher Placements
Early Release Wednesdays
Here is a link to more information about our early release days.
New Lunch Times
K-1st = 11:25-12:20 (lunch then recess)
2nd-3rd = 11:25-12:20 (recess then lunch)
4th-5th = 12:25 - 1:20 (lunch then recess)
Teachers will be communicating more specifically about their snack times in the coming weeks (FYI - snacks are fruits and vegetables only).
Check Out A Live Feed of Our Library Construction
We have installed a camera in our LMC to document the transformation of the learning environment. You can see a live feed at the link above as well as view a time-lapse video. We will be ready to go at the start of school, so check back regularly to see the work being completed. Here are a few pictures...
Upcoming Dates
8/11- Class placements available in Family Access
8/18 - Open School and Teacher Meet and Greet - 3:30 - 4:30pm
8/18 - Kindergarten Scavenger Hunt - 3:30-5:30pm
8/21 - Kindergarten "Play Date" held on the Walden primary playground - 3:00-4:30
8/22- First Day of School - Half Day - Dismissal at 11:40am
8/24 - Ice Cream Social at Walden 6:00 pm-7:30 pm
9/1 - Walden Open House - Schedule coming soon
Connect with Walden!
Email: sschwartz@dps109.org
Website: http://walden.dps109.org/
Location: 630 Essex Court, Deerfield, IL, United States
Phone: 847-945-9660
Facebook: facebook.com/waldenelementaryschool
Twitter: @109walden