WE ARE BURLINGTON PROUD!
Welcome back Waller Students! It seems like just yesterday we were enjoying field day, silly string, and our final waves goodbye at the end of the year. I can't believe we are getting ready to start the 23-24 school year! I hope this newsletter reaches you having had a wonderful summer filled with family, fun, and relaxation.
Before I discuss next year, I would like to give a personal thank you to this fantastic Waller community of families. You made my first year as principal absolutely AMAZING. The kindness and love you have taught your students shows everyday as they walk through our doors, and we can't wait to get them back! So on to the new school year!
Please see some of the following updates that exemplify how Waller Elementary is contributing to BASD’s Mission of being Compassionate, Committed, and Comprehensive:
With our new school year we look forward to welcoming our new 4K students. This year we will add another classroom of 4K along with a 2nd classroom of our Early Childhood program. With those additions, our school is going to be over 310 students. But as I always say, the more kiddo's the better!
We will also be welcoming our WISCO enrichment students. These students will be working at home either virtually or on our book based program, and will be coming together on Wednesdays to participate in specials, library, and other services. We look forward to having them spend time with us.
We will again have several opportunities for families to get involved in our PTO activities. Please, please, please take the time to sign up to volunteer for one or more of our events. Last year they were a huge success, and we had lots of fun organizing them and planning. There will be a table at the open house for you to sign up to get more information. You never know what can happen at a PTO meeting! Last year, the crazy new principal committed to sleeping on a roof at a PTO meeting…anything can happen!
As usual, Mrs Behling has done an amazing job of collecting lots of great information in this newsletter. Every week she makes sure we all know what is happening the following week. If there's ever a question, about the goings on at Waller, please look at the Waller Weekly News to find out.
In closing, I hope you have time to enjoy the remainder of Summer, and I look forward to seeing all of your smiling faces in the very near future.
Ms Phillips
2023-24 REGISTRATION
School fees are as follows:
4K Full Day - $40.00
4K Half Day - $25.00
Kindergarten - Gr. 5 - $40.00
Grades 3, 4 & 5 are required to buy a Student Planner - $3.00
This will be paid for along with the registration fees in Skyward, and you will receive the planner the night of Open House in your classroom!
NEW TEACHERS AT WALLER ~
We would like to welcome, and introduce to you ~
Linda Tenhagen who will be teaching an Early Childhood class!
We will be having a second section of 4K this year - that teacher will be announced soon!
Jolene Halvorsen, Waller's new Kindergarten Teacher!
Shannon Benavides and Cailin Lawton are both joining Waller's Special Education Department!
A Huge Welcome to these teachers, and welcome to the Waller Family
OPEN HOUSE
There will be a 4K Parent meeting this same day at 4:30 in the Waller Cafeteria. Only 4K families will enter the school at 4:30.
Thomas Bus Co. will provide a "Bus Safety Event" for any 4K students and any new students that will be riding a bus for the first time. A bus will be parked at Waller from 5:45 - 6:00 for these families to view, learn bus info., and take a ride around the block!
There will be PTO information and sign ups available at Open House! We would love to have you and your friends sign up to work one of the upcoming PTO events! Parent Volunteers Applications are required to assist at school events. Please see the information below regarding this!
SCHOOL INFORMATION - SCHOOL CALENDAR
WALLER ADDRESS: 195 Gardner Ave., Burlington, WI 53105
WALLER PHONE: 262-763-0185
EXT. 1 - ATTENDANCE - Health Office - Mrs. Thomsen
It is Very Important that if your child is going to be Tardy or Absent (for ANY Student) that you call Waller Attendance -
Ext. 1
EXT. 2 - SCHOOL COUNSELOR - Mrs. Hoffman
EXT. 0 - MAIN OFFICE - Ms. Behling
FAX: 262-763-0187
OFFICE HOURS: - 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
4K Half Day: 8:10 - 11:30
4K Full Day: 8:10 - 3:15
5K, Grades 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5: 8:10 - 3:20
REGISTRATION FEES:
$25 - Half Day 4K
$40 - Full Day 4K
$40 - 5K, Grades 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
$3 - Assignment Notebook Planner for Grades 3, 4 & 5
HOT LUNCH: $2.45
GRAB & GO BREAKFAST - FREE
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL:
Tuesday, September 5th for Grades 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
5K Staggered Start - September 5 & 6
4K Staggered Start - September 7 & 8
Early Childhood - September 11
BASD WEBSITE:
basd.k12.wi.us There is So Much Information here!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
If you will be picking up your child at a time other than the end of the school day, please send a note along with them to give to their Teacher! You may also call the Waller Attendance Line to let Mrs. Thomsen know at 262.763.0185 ext. 1 - Health & Attendance!
2023-2024 CALENDAR:
Click on this link to view the 2023-24 School Calendar. Mark any of these special days off onto your calendar, print the calendar to hang on your fridge for weekly viewing, or feel free to pick up a printed copy at Open House!
STAGGERED START
How a staggered start works is - 1/2 of the class will come to school on the first designated day, and the second 1/2 of the class will attend on the following designated day. The class as a whole will all start on the third day!
5K Staggered Start Days are September 5th and 6th, the whole class will attend on the 7th.
4K Staggered Start Days are September 7th and 8th, with the whole class attending on the 11th.
Each Elementary School will have the beginning of the alphabet come on the 1st day of the school staggered start, and the end of the alphabet will attend on the 2nd day! 4K and 5K Parents will also get an individual letter emailed/mailed to them with the specific date. If for some reason this date won't work for you, please let Ms. Behling know in the Waller Office.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Feel free to bring your school supplies along the night of Open House! It is so much easier for the kids if they don't have to carry all of their supplies by themselves on the first day!
PICK UP / DROP OFF
IMPORTANT NOTE: ONLY RIGHT HAND TURNS ARE PERMITTED INTO THE PARKING LOT BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL - To help with Traffic Congestion
Buses will arrive at Waller, and students will walk from the Randolph Street sidewalk, down the ramp, into the school doors. Adult supervision will be on hand. Walkers and Car Riders will enter the middle set of doors on the playground / parking lot side of school as they arrive.
For students that arrive by car, parents are welcome to drive into the parking lot thru the "Drop Off Zone". When you arrive to the front of the car drop off line, your child will exit your car on the passenger side. We ask that the kids are ready to get out as you pull up so that we can keep the line moving in a continuous manner. There will be a Staff member in the area to assist the students if needed!
When the students enter the building, they are able to either go to the Cafeteria to have Grab & Go, or go the the Gym and be part of the "Waller Walking Club". At 8:05 the kids will be ready to go to their classrooms - school starts at 8:10.
Students are able to be dropped off to come into the building at 7:45. If students arrive prior to 7:45, they will have to wait outside, as there is no supervision available until then.
PM PICKUP:
This will work similar to above, only the students will be waiting for parents to pull up - to the front of the line, and then they will get into the car on the passenger side again to go home! The Pick up line can be lengthy at 3:15, but it moves quickly once the kids start entering their cars!
Parents, please do not get out of your car at drop off or pick up time, as you go through this zone. If you would like to walk your child to a door, or talk to someone during pickup time, please feel free to park your car in a parking spot in the parking lot - there are always extra spaces!
CHROMEBOOKS
As part of the Registration, families are required to review and electronically sign that they have read and understand the Student Acceptable Use of Technology Guidelines.
If a Chromebook is damaged, the damage needs to be reported. BASD will assess if the damage can be repaired by staff. Student and parents will be notified of specific repair charges. When billed, these can be paid for through your Skyward account.
BUS INFORMATION
Please be sure that you have your most current email address in Skyward, as this is where they get the email address to send your information to! Email Subject will be: Bus Info
During the first week of school, please be patient with the time that the kids arrive home, as everyone - bus drivers and students - are all becoming familiar with their new bus route. Once they have a week or so under their belt, the bus routes will go quicker!
If you have any questions about bus transportation, you can call Thomas Bus Co. directly at 262-763-7564.
HEALTH INFO
If you have a Sick Child during the school year, please keep them at home so that the germs are not shared. If a child is at school not feeling well, they will be sent home with a fever of 100 or more. Children will have to be fever free for 24 hours without being on any type of medication, to return to school.
Please be sure to update your Contact Information including Emergency Contacts in Skyward as you register for the school year.
No medication can be administered without "Medication Paperwork" being filled out and turned in to the Waller Health Office. See Mrs. Thomsen for more details.
Please be sure that we have your child's most current and up to date immunization information on file.
PARENT VOLUNTEER FORMS
If you need an application, they will be available at Open House, or anytime during the school year. They are also available on the BASD website - English Application. Spanish Application.
MORNING BREAKFAST - PAID LUNCHES
Elementary Lunch will be $2.45 daily or $12.25 weekly. You are able to add any amount of money you chose to the online Skyward Lunch Account. The children will enter their PIN# at lunch time, which will deduct the lunch charge directly from their account.
Milk cost is 30 cents for those taking cold lunch, or if anyone taking hot lunch would like a second carton of milk.
Families who may qualify for free and/or reduced-price meals should complete the Skyward step for Add a Food Service Application as part of the registration process. The application will be submitted electronically.
Paper forms can be found by clicking FREE & REDUCED SCHOOL MEALS
Completed free/reduced school meals application forms should be submitted to the BASD District Office, 209 Wainwright Ave., Burlington WI 53105, or turned in to the Waller School Office.
For Lunch and Milk costs ~ Families can deposit money into their child's food service account before an item or meal is purchased. Families who have a negative Food Service Account balance will receive weekly automated notices until the account has a positive balance.
If a child is just purchasing milk, you are welcome to send the coins along to school for them to purchase the milk!
WALLER PTO
We are aiming to keep the Waller PTO going strong this year! We would love it if you would please sign up for one of our Events at Open House in August! Meetings will be held the 1st Wednesday of each month! Join Ms. Phillips and our Waller Staff to create magic for every school event!
Some of the events that have been held during the school year are:
Popcorn Friday, Book Fairs, Walk-a-Thon, Field Day, Movie Night, Carnival, Trunk or Treat, Bingo for Books.... Come to the first meeting and bring ideas of your own!
BASD'S BEFORE / AFTER SCHOOL CARE
This school year, BASD has expanded its before and after school care program for the elementary buildings.
Care will be at:
AM: Waller - for Waller daycare kids
AM: Dyer - This site will host the child care for Dyer, Cooper, Lyons and Winkler students.
PM: Waller will host the p.m. child care for Waller, Cooper, Lyons and Winkler students.
PM: Dyer daycare kids will remain at Dyer.
Waller and Dyer students are the only students that will stay at their neighborhood schools for daycare, Thomas Bus will transport students as done previously.
Daycare is available starting at 6 a.m. and then after school until 6 p.m.
Families who pre-registered are guaranteed care. After May 15, care will be as space is available. For more details and cost information, visit the Before/After School Care webpage
WALLER TID BITS.....
* STUDENTS - Waller will house approximately 310 Students this year!
* WATER BOTTLES - We encourage All Students to bring a Water Bottle to School with them each day! There are filling stations at school for refueling! Please label the water bottle with your child's name on it!
* CELL PHONES - We highly discourage students having cell phones at school. Although, we know that there are situations that this is helpful to parents. We ask that if your child brings a cell phone to school, please tell them to Turn It Off while in school. Also, they can either keep it in their backpack so that no one knows it is there, or drop it off in the Office in the morning and pick it up before leaving the building. When kept in backpacks, we don't want to run the risk of the phone being taken. If others see that there is a phone, there is always a chance of this happening. If we see kids with cell phones out during the school day, the phone will be taken directly to the Office for the remainder of the day.
* ABSENCE - Be sure to contact the school if your child will be late, or not attending on any given day.
* WALLER PTO -We encourage parents (and grandparents) to get involved with the Waller PTO! What a great way to be connected to your child's school, and meet new friends at the same time!
* PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT - Principal Phillips has started looking into and contacting companies regarding the new Swings we will be installing this school year! Thanks to our PTO Fundraiser that was held in the the Spring!
* If you have any questions, feel free to email us at vbehling@basd.k12.wi.us
CONTACT US AT WALLER SCHOOL ~
ADMINSTRATIVE ASSISTANT: VICK BEHLING
SCHOOL COUNSELOR: MELINDA HOFFMAN
Email: vbehling@basd.k12.wi.us
Website: basd.k12.wi.us
Location: 195 Gardner Avenue, Burlington, WI, USA
Phone: 262-763-0185
Facebook: facebook.com/WallerElementarySchool
