Welcome to the 2022-23 school year! We are happy to welcome you to the new school year! The Walker Elementary Staff has been extremely busy this summer preparing for our Wildcats. We can't wait to partner with you for this upcoming 2022-23 school year. This newsletter contains important information as we start the new school year. Our job is to serve your child and your family! We are so excited to see our Wildcats back at school. Please let us know if you have questions or need help.

Walker Elementary has received the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant program for the upcoming school year. 21st CCLC supports the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment during non-school hours for children.. The program helps students meet state and local student standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and math; offers students a broad array of enrichment activities that can complement their regular academic programs; and offers literacy and other educational services to the families of participating children. We are calling our program Roar and will be on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays after school. More information as well as the link to sign up can be found below. We have space for 100 students so space is limited.

Thank you for your partnership,

Mrs. Lynn Ryan, Principal, lryan@sdale.org

Mrs. Carrie Farris, Assistant Principal, cfarris@sdale.org

1. Fill out the free and reduced forms online using the link below. Each household will only need to submit one online form. The breakfast and lunch menus can be found below
2. Pay the supply fee of $30.00 for school supplies. You can pay this fee online using the link in the button below. This fee will include the supplies your child will need for school, a school t-shirt. When paying online, don’t forget to type your child’s name and grade in the description box. Students will also need to bring their own headphones, a water bottle and a backpack without wheels.
3. Sign up for Walker Text Messages. To sign up any number for Walker text messages fill out the Google form linked below.
4. Fill out the form for the Walker Elementary School Required SPS Acceptable Usage Agreement (AUA) and the optional Springdale Chromebook Protection Plan (SCPP) using the link below. Optional: Pay $20 to purchase the Springdale Chromebook Protection Plan (SCPP) for your student: Information regarding the benefits of this coverage can be found in the AUA linked below.
5. Read the Student Handbook and fill out the form linked below or return the paper signature pages signed that are also linked below.
6. Sign up for The After School Program (ASP) if you are needing after-school care for your child. Information about this program and how to register can be found linked below.
7. All students will need a water bottle from home. Kindergarten parents will need to send a small snack each day. All other grades may send a snack if your child would like.
8. Join the Walker Wildcat PTA! Order PTA Spirit Wear!
9. Fill out the PTA volunteer form to get involved! We need your partnership!

1. For the safety of students and staff, all doors, including the front door, will remain locked at all times. Only students will be allowed in the building, unless prior arrangements have been made (this includes the first day of school).

2. Students cannot be picked on the front porch after school.

3. When students are picked up or dropped off in the car rider line, adults must remain inside the vehicle. Please be considerate of others and have your child ready to exit the car immediately upon arrival in the morning.

4. Per Arkansas state law, there is NO cell phone use on school premises.

5. Car tags MUST be displayed from the rearview mirror. Please do not place on dashboard, as car callers cannot see the tag. You must have a car tag to pick up students. If you do not have your tag, you will need to park in the parking lot and wait until the line is through, take your ID to the front door, and be verified for pickup.

6. Visitors conducting school business must check in at the front office door.

Walker Parents:

As you may have heard, the waiver that allowed free lunches for all students has expired. Beginning this year, we will again be charging for breakfast and lunch. The good news is that thanks to Federal assistance, we will NOT have to increase costs for student trays.

2022-2023 Prices

Breakfast - $1.30 full price, $0.25 for reduced

Lunch - $2.45 full price, $.040 for reduced

To APPLY for free or reduced meals, and to PAY for meals, please visit the following website: https://www.sdale.org/page/food, also linked below.

Did you know that all Walker parents, grandparents, and guardians can all sign up for Walker Text Alerts?

Our system automatically includes one number on each student's account. To add an additional number, simply fill out the form in the link below. We use this list to send out important school information through our weekly Walker newsletter as well as quick text reminders about events. We would like to get all parents, grandparents, or guardians of our Wildcats connected. Please sign up by clicking on the link below.

https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSeSHPQzfgPTwm.../viewform

The After School Program was established in 1992 as a partnership with the Springdale School District to provide a safe, fun, and nurturing environment for school-age children. We provide after-school care from the time school is dismissed until 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday, and are conveniently located in every elementary school, except Jones and Parson Hills Elementary. We have also expanded our program to include Hellstern Middle School.

Tuition consists of a $50 per child registration fee. $65 per week for one child, $125 per week for two children, and $150 per week for three children. Children may attend on a drop-in basis at a rate of $25 per day/per child. If families choose to have their tuition automatically drafted, a $2.50 per week discount will be applied to full-time enrollment.

The After School Program offers an exciting summer program and provides all daycare for most holiday breaks. Every member of our staff is privately background checked, and CPR/First Aid certified. We are licensed by the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Better Beginnings level 2, accept the child care voucher program, the essential workers funding, and the Ottawa Tribe childcare funding. The After School Program is a member of the Better Business Bureau, the Springdale Chamber of Commerce, and are proud sponsors of numerous local charities and events.

Please see the two pages below for general information about Walker Elementary. A paper pamphlet will come home the first week of school.

If you need an interpreter our ESL office available 8 am - 4 pm. Ms. Gaby is also able to answer questions in Spanish at Walker from 7:30-4:00. We have a school program for parents to learn English while also learning how to support their child's learning needs. Please see the information below to join our Springdale Family Literacy Program. Our Springdale Family Literacy Program will start the year online. If you or someone you know is looking for classes in English, check out the information linked at the bottom of this newsletter.

As a new school year begins we all know their will be jitters and blues that first couple of weeks. I would encourage you to start setting routines to help with back to school. They will be tired the first week, so give them plenty of time to rest! I am here to help if you need anything please don't hesitate to reach out. I am thrilled for the school year to start! I have been a school counselor for 5 years now and absolutely love my job. Each year individual and small group services are available for all students, as well as classroom lessons. These services promote personal and social growth, which, in turn, raise academic standards. I am thrilled to work with your child this year. This school year will be filled with lots of learning and new adventures.

Arisa Health / Ozark Guidance Counseling (OGC) has partnered with us to provide school counseling services for students and families. If you would like to get your child into these services you can either call our school counselor, Mrs. Erin Waterman or call the service provider directly and ask to schedule an intake appointment. If you call directly, remember to say that your child attends Walker Elementary in Springdale. OGC (479) 750-2020

School Hours

Our school office hours will continue to be from 7:00 am - 4:30 pm. Our school day will start at 7:45 am every day. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays students will be dismissed at 3:10 pm. On Wednesdays, students will be dismissed at 1:50 pm to allow staff time to meet in teams. More information about this change can be found below including an informational video.

Arrival Procedures

All students in kindergarten through fifth grade will need to be in their classes ready to learn by 7:45. All students will need to unload from the passenger's side of the car (no exceptions). This ensures that we do not have children walking in the area where cars drive. Please have your child unbuckled with their backpack on and ready to hop out of the car when you stop Adults may not get out of the car during our drop-off. Parents can not park and walk their child to the crosswalk unless they are a pre-k parent who needs to sign your child in.

Arrival and Dismissal

Students may be dropped off between 7:15 and 7:44. Students are tardy if not in class at 7:45 am. Students who are tardy will need to be checked in by a parent using our online form. Dismissal of students begins at 3:10 pm. If you do not have your car tag hanging from your mirror, you will need to pick up your child in the office and show your ID.

Walkers will be walked to the crosswalk and helped across the street. Duty staff do not walk students any further than our campus. Car riders must be picked up by 3:20 or you will need to make arrangements with our ASP program for child care.

Attendance

We are so excited to serve your child and family as we learn together each day. We need your at school every day in order to ensure learning for all. Please communicate with us if your child has to miss school. It’s Arkansas state law for your child to attend school.

Springdale elementary students will be released early on Wednesdays at 1:50 pm. so that teachers have collaborative team meetings. This time will allow all district teachers to be part of a Professional Learning Community. The communities will provide educators with time to work together to focus on student achievement and data that shows which students are progressing academically and which may need additional support.

The Springdale School district created a great video that explains collaborative team meetings.

To watch this video, go to https://www.sdale.org/page/early-out

If you need child care on Wednesdays, the After School Program will provide extended child care for elementary and middle school students who are enrolled in the program on Wednesdays at no additional cost to families.

Walker Elementary has a Facebook page for the school, EAST, KKids, and PTA. Like all these pages to keep up with the latest school information. Click on the links below to get to each page. Then click on the like button to follow our pages. Once you like our pages, you will see our posts in your Facebook newsfeed.

Instagram Account: Walker_Elementary_School

Email: lryan@sdale.org
Website: http://walker.sdale.org/
Location: 1701 S 40th St, Springdale, AR 72762, USA
Phone: (479)750-8874
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Walker-Elementary-School-153949846329/?fb_dtsg_ag=AdwRYGYALRWaOM_WFS6amN-KET7MLpVyEIsHP67NBtqKpw%3AAdzbMII6M5eTTkPHoihXX-c_sZfj8FhoBtbfGpEfoEMIPA
Twitter: @WalkerWildcats1