Whittemore Elementary School
Family Update 10/1/23
Principal's Update
Dear Whittemore Community,
Last week, all staff members participated in ALICE training with Officer Arevalo, our School Resource Officer. ALICE is a widely adopted method of response training to prepare staff and students in the event of an emergency.
During the school year, we will conduct two ALICE drills to prepare staff and students and to review and improve our emergency protocols. Prior to the drills, Officer Arevalo will meet with classrooms to explain the purpose of the drills and to reinforce the importance of following our safety procedures using developmentally appropriate language. Families will receive communication with more detailed information before the first drill is conducted.
Wednesday, October 4 is our first "Whittemore Wednesday" of the year. Students and staff dress in Whittemore gear or black and yellow to show our school spirit!
As a reminder, there is no school on Monday, October 9.
I hope you all have a wonderful week!
Thank you,
Mr. Sweder
Important Dates
October
- Tuesday, October 3: Picture Day
- Wednesday, October 4: Whittemore Wednesday - wear your Whittemore gear or black and yellow.
- Monday, October 9: No School, Columbus/Indigenous Peoples' Day
- Tuesday, October 10: We will follow a Monday schedule
- Thursday, October 12: Back to School Night (6:00-7:30pm)
Picture Day Information
Please use the links below to read more about Picture Day on Tuesday, October 3. The information is in both English and Spanish.
Whittemore PTO Update
Whittemore Clothing
Whittemore t-shirts and sweatshirts are now available for purchase! You can pick up order forms in the office. We'll also have shirts for sale at the PTO table at Back to School Night on October 12.
October Meeting
Join us this Thursday, October 4 at 6:30 pm in the school library for our monthly PTO meeting! All are welcome.
School Handbooks
The links to the Waltham Public Schools Elementary School Handbooks are below:
2023 - 2024 ES Handbook English
2023 - 2024 ES Handbook Spanish
Affordable Connectivity Program
Xfinity is proud to participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides qualified households with a credit of up to $30/mo towards internet and mobile services.
Who Is Eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program?
A household is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program if the household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or if a member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:
- Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
- Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's existing low-income internet program;
- Participates in one of these assistance programs:
- Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, including at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Community Eligibility Provision schools.
- SNAP
- Medicaid
- Federal Housing Assistance, including:
- Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program (Section 8 Vouchers)
- Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA)/Section 202/ Section 811
- Public Housing
- Affordable Housing Programs for American Indians, Alaska Natives or Native Hawaiians
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- WIC
- Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits
- or Lifeline
Waltham Police: Safe Driving Letter
Please use this link to read the WPD Safe Driving Letter from the Waltham Police Department.
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:
Thursday, October 12
Thursday, October 26
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.
Early Childhood Resource Fair
The Waltham Public Library will be hosting an Early Childhood Community Resource Fair on Saturday, September 30th from 10:00am - 12:00pm.
Waltham Fields Community Farm
Waltham Fields Community Farm 13th Annual Farm Day
Saturday, October 14th
1:00 - 4:00pm
FREE ADMISSION
Whittemore Website
Please visit our Whittemore Elementary School website for information and updates.