Washington Wildcat Chat

Dear Washington Family,

Welcome back! It was wonderful to see all of our students and staff at Washington last week, and it was nice to settle back into the routines of school. I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday season and winter break, and that you are staying warm on this chilly day!

The new year brings with it a sense of hope and possibility. It is also an opportunity for growth, learning, and discovery. I am confident that, with the dedication of our talented educators, the support of our committed parents, and the enthusiasm of our amazing students, we will continue to achieve great things in the months ahead.

Today we celebrate and honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. who dedicated his life to justice, equality, and the pursuit of a dream that unites us all. In the spirit of Dr. King, we remain committed to creating a community of inclusion and understanding at Washington, where every student feels valued, respected, and empowered.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to the success and well-being of our students. Your support is invaluable, and I am excited about the possibilities that the new year holds for our school.

Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy New Year filled with health, happiness, and prosperity.

Warm regards,

Angie

Dear District 64 Families,

As we get settled back into the school year, it’s time to discuss registration for the 2024-2025 school year. Registration opens for all District 64 students on Tuesday, January 16th; this includes preschool and kindergarten.

Like last year, we improved the registration process to put us in the best position to help your children. The deadline to register your child for the 2024-2025 school year is noon on Friday, March 22nd. We are offering an early bird discount on families’ school fees if they complete registration, as well as pay fees before noon on Friday, March 22nd. For any families who do not register by this date, you’ll receive a records release as we’re assuming you’re going to another district.

It is important to note that to take advantage of the discount, you will need to have the registration forms filled out and submitted by Monday, March 18th. This allows our staff time to verify documents and send out invoices so you can pay them by noon on Friday, March 22nd. You can find our fee list for 2024-2025 here, and it shows what fees would be before and after the deadline.

Another improvement to our registration process is adding an in-person option for families who need help filling out documents or can’t do it online. We will offer these at your school’s parent-teacher conferences in February/March.

Thank you to all the families who registered their children before the deadline in 2023. The earlier families register, the better we can plan for staffing throughout the District, classroom arrangements, and materials needed for the school year.

Where can you find registration information? All of the links and directions for 2024-2025 registration will be placed at the top of our registration page on Tuesday, January 16th.

How can I take advantage of the fee discount? You will need to have the registration forms filled out and submitted by Monday, March 18th. This allows our staff time to verify documents and send out invoices so you can pay them by noon on Friday, March 22nd.

What happens after March 22nd? If you miss the deadline and receive a records release form but want your child to go to school in District 64, You will need to complete a few items to enroll:

• Prove residency, even if you were previously cleared
• Provide a birth certificate of the child registering

We appreciate the community’s help in meeting this deadline so that we can accurately plan for the upcoming year.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ben Collins
Superintendent

The next Washington PTO meeting will be held onWednesday, January 17th at 7:00 p.m. in the MPR. This month we will be discussing Special Education and the continuum of services provided in District 64. Ms. Brito will provide information about Special Education programming at Washington, and our All Abilities Committee members will share how they support the inclusion of students with special needs in our school and community events. Please join us to learn more about our programs and ways you can get involved in supporting our All Abilities committee.

With winter weather now upon us, snow has finally arrived! We would like to share a few reminders about arrival and dismissal procedures to ensure that our students, staff and parents stay safe. Please note that students are required to have snow pants and boots in order to play on the field at recess. See below for more information and thank you for your support!

Cold and Flu Season is here! Please do not send your student to school if they have a fever of 100 or above, vomiting and/or diarrhea, or if they feel too sick with a sore throat, cough, runny nose, etc. to participate in class. Keep them home, give them time to rest and do not send them back to school until they are 24 hours free of vomiting, fever, and diarrhea without the use of medication AND feeling well enough to participate in the school day. Please read this illness letter that was sent home earlier this year about the common illnesses we’re seeing this time of year. IDPH and CDC have asked us to remind you to make sure you and your students are up to date on your flu and COVID immunizations (and RSV vaccine for infants or older adults).

If your child will not be attending school due to illness or any other reason, please report it to the school absence line at any time and leave a message stating the reason for the absence. We want everyone to be healthy for the last week of school before break and want to help everyone have a healthy holiday season.

Thank you!

• MLK Day - January 15

• PTO Meeting - January 17

• Board of Education Meeting - January 25

• Washington Open House - February 15

• No School - Teacher Institute Day - February 16

Inspire all students to discover their strengths, embrace learning, achieve personal excellence, and demonstrate care. Students thrive in a rich, rigorous, and innovative curriculum delivered by highly qualified teachers. Each student learns and grows in a safe, nurturing environment. In collaboration with student, parents, teachers and the community, District 64 provides opportunities for each learner to investigate, be successful, be resilient, and become inspired and empowered as they contribute to our global society.