Wilcox Elementary Newsletter
August 2023
Principal Welcome Message
I am extremely excited to welcome all our students, teachers, staff, PTA and families to the 2023-2024 school year at Wilcox Elementary School. Our staff and I are ready to help you and your children have a positive and wonderful educational experience. Our first day of school is Monday, August 14, 2023 from 7:45AM - 2:00PM. Our Transitional Kindergarten (TK) students (only) will start with minimum day schedule starting Monday, August 14th -Wednesday, August 30th of school with minimum days. Minimum day dismissal is at 12:45PM. TK students full day starts on Thursday, August 31st.
During the summer, our custodial and main office staff have been busy working on our maintenance projects and welcoming new families and students. Our summer school and after-school programs provided enrichment activities and intervention to our WIE, BVE, and PHE students. We are still accepting TK - 5th students for the 2023-2024 school. Our school district hosted In-person Enrollment Fairs on July 25th - July 27th for new student enrollment support https://bit.ly/3rJpaJU, if you were not able to attend the enrollment fair to enroll a new student we will gladly help you in the main office.
This school year all parents must update all contact information and emergency contact information via PowerSchool Parent Portal along with completing the Alternate Income Form and other school documents. To support everyone with the before the first day of school task, all documents needed with links are listed below in this newsletter. Wilcox Elementary will be also hosting 3 student registration days to allow all TK - 5th grade families to bring in required documents.
Upcoming Student Registration Dates
1st & 2nd Grade: Wednesday, August 2nd 9:30AM - 3:00PM
3rd & 4th Grade: Thursday, August 3rd 9:30AM - 3:00PM
5th Grade: Friday, August 4th 9:30AM - 3:00PM
(updated) TK & K: Thursday, August 10th 2:00PM - 3:00PM
*If you have time constrains and are not able to come in the designated grade level date, you may walk-in on any of the 4 dates listed.
*To access Student ID information, a valid form of parent identification will be required.
We will continue to utilize our Chromebook devices daily at school and home. Please make sure that your child brings his/her Chromebook on the first day of school. All TK/K students will be receiving a Chromebook at the beginning of the school year.
Per Nutritional Services, the entire state of CA is offering Universal Meal Services - breakfast and lunch served to school children at no charge. However, we need all households to complete the online Alternate Income Application at https://montebellousd.rocketscanapps.com/. This will maximize educational resources for our school. It is also critical that all our parents and guardians update their emergency information in PowerSchool Parent Portal for safety reasons and to receive school and district updates. To access and set up your PowerSchool Parent Portal, please go to https://mymusd.powerschool.com/public/.
Lastly, Wilcox Elementary strives in promoting a positive school culture, school spirit and a college going culture. I encourage all our Wilcox Wildcats to observe and wear the following T-Shirts during the week:
• Wednesday’s College Day: Wear a College T-Shirt
• Thursday’s PBIS/Anti-Bullying Day: Wear your blue Smurfs T-Shirt or a blue shirt
• Friday’s School Spirit Day: Wear your School T-Shirt or school colors (green and yellow)
Our priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, our staff, and our community before all other considerations. We remain steadfast in our mission to educate our students and guide them as they discover their passions and pursue their dreams. Thank you for your patience and continued support.
Sincerely,
Veronica Fernandez
Principal
Wilcox Elementary School
Dates to Remember
First Day of School: August 14th
TK Only Minimum Days: August 14th - August 30th Dismissal at 12:45PM
Parent Orientation and Elections: August 16 at 8:00AM
School Site Council (SSC) Officer Elections: August 29 at 8:00AM
Labor Day-No School: September 4 (No School)
Coffee with the Principal: September 5 at 8:00AM
Student of the Month: September 13 at 8:00AM Location: Cafeteria
Back to School Night: September 14 5:00-7:00PM
Fall Pictures: September 15
SSC and ELAC Meeting: September 19
WIE Fire Drill: September 22 at 8:00 AM
PBIS PAW Store: September 29 (Accepting Prize Donations)
Wilcox PTA and Membership
Wilcox Elementary has been very fortunate to have a long standing PTA team every year. Our PTA has provided valuable support to our school by providing wonderful activities to our students, staff and parents. This year we welcome our new Wilcox PTA Board. Our board is more excited than ever to be bringing wonderful new activities and events to help strengthen our Wilcox village so that our student continue excel and thrive. Please join the PTA family by becoming a PTA member and attending our monthly scheduled general meetings to hear about our upcoming events ideas. Follow Wilcox Elementary School PTA on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/wilcox_pta/
PTA Board Members
President: Steven Cardenas
1st VP Membership: Araceli Cardenas
2nd VP Hospitality: Jennifer Watkins
3rd VP Ways and Means "Fundraising": David Moya
Secretary: Esmeralda Moreno
Treasurer: Willy Lanunza
Please support our PTA by becoming a member.
Membership Registration Link: https://bit.ly/3Qfh1XC
2023-2024 General Meetings
*2nd Tuesday of every month
Time: 5:30-6:30PM
Location: TBD
September 8, 2023
October 10, 2023
November 14, 2023
December 12, 2023
January 9, 2024
February 13, 2024
March 12, 2024
April 9, 2024
May 14, 2024
June 11, 2024
Parent Advisory Committee Orientation and Elections
Date: Wednesday, August 16th at 8:00AM
Location: Wilcox Elementary School Room 17
Closed Campus & After-School Dismissal Gate Assignment
The first days of school are an exciting and confusing time for our Wilcox students and families. Because Wilcox Elementary is a closed campus school, students and staff are the only people allowed on campus. On the first day of school, parents have the option to drop off their children at the gate 1 or gate 5. Our support staff will be ready to assist students and families with classroom assignments prior to entering. For the safety of students, the gate entry ways need to remain clear to allow students to enter school. Crowding of the gates creates anxiety for our little Wildcats and thus a negative first day of school experience.
Any parent or community members with appointments on campus must present a valid ID and obtain a visitors pass at the main office.
School starts at 7:45AM and dismisses at 2:00PM on Mondays, Tuesdays. Thursdays and Fridays. Wednesdays are our minimum days. Minimum day dismissal is at 12:45PM. All students will be dismissed at designated gates by grade level. Plan accordingly. Students tardies will be documented starting Monday, August 21st. Observing all traffic laws are critical during drop and pick-up for the safety of students and pedestrians. If you have any questions regarding gates and close campus, please contact the main office at (323) 728-1833.
Dismissal Gate Assignments
GATE #1 = K14 & K15
GATE#2= K12 & K13
GATE #15= K1 & K2
Cafeteria = 1st Grade
GATE #5 = 2nd and 3rd Grade
GATE #6 = 4th & 5th Grade
GATE #7 = Bus Riders and SDC
PowerSchool Parent Portal
A lot happens in a year. Families move, phone numbers change, your designated emergency contacts are no longer available to serve as an emergency contact for student pickup. Therefore, it's that time of year that you update your student's emergency contact information in your PowerSchool Parent portals. Emergency cards will no longer be sent home. If you are new to PowerSchool Parent portal you do require your student's login name and password to access your account. Please stop by the office to obtain a copy of the this information. A valid ID is required at all time to obtain student information from the main office.
Power School Parent Portal Resource Page: https://bit.ly/3zyeIGH
Action Youth America (AYA) After-School Program
Wilcox Elementary is proud to offer free Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO) from 2:00-6:00PM Monday - Friday after-school to our Wilcox families. AYA under the direction of Leilany Ornelas "Coach O" and her amazing AYA coaching staff offer fun, engaging after-school clubs, activities and homework help. Enrollment is now open. Returning student need to enroll if returning to the after-school program. Program begins August 14th (first day of school).
AYA Site Coordinator
Leilany Ornelas
(323) 316-4072
AYA Program Hours
2:00-6:00PM (M, T, Th, F)
12:45 - 6:00PM (W)
ELO Link: https://sites.google.com/montebello.k12.ca.us/eloafterschool/home
ELO Application Link: rb.gy/g4h8n
Return the following Forms to School
The following information requires your attention. Take a moment to complete the required form/online form and return the Wilcox Elementary School's main office.
- Education Benefit Form - All Students
- PowerSchool Parent Portal - All Students
- Parent/Student Handbook Acknowledgement - All Students
- Chromebook Contract - Only for Grades TK/K and New Students
- Library Program Form - All Students
- Bus Rider Information Form - Only for bus riders
- Parent Volunteer Form
- Media Release - All Students
- *Emergency Kit Letter - All Students DS
Education Benefit Form "Lunch Application"
All students/families must have a completed Application for the 2023-2024 regardless of income.
PowerSchool Parent Portal
All student emergency contact information must be updated in your Power School Parent Portals for the 2023-2024. Parents, and guardians, make certain that the your family members/friends that will be allowed to pickup your children in the event of an emergency are updated in your PowerSchool Parent Portal account.
Click on the link to create or login into your PowerSchool Parent Portal Account
Chromebook Contracts
Only new students must complete and return to Mr. Mario Aguilera via email aguilera_mario@montebello.k12.ca.us or at one of our in-person (new/returning) Wilcox Student Registration Days:
Upcoming Student Registration Dates
1st & 2nd Grade: Wednesday, August 2nd 9:30AM - 3:00PM
3rd & 4th Grade: Thursday, August 3rd 9:30AM - 3:00PM
5th Grade: Friday, August 4th 9:30AM - 3:00PM
Library Program Form
All students must have a signed Library Program Form signed to check books out from the school library.
Bus Rider Information Form
All student bus riders, new and returning must complete a new Bus Rider Information Form and return to Ms. Jennifer Moreno via email moreno_jennifer@montebello.k12.ca.us or at one of our in-person (new/returning) Wilcox Student Registration Days:
Upcoming Student Registration Dates
1st & 2nd Grade: Wednesday, August 2nd 9:30AM - 3:00PM
3rd & 4th Grade: Thursday, August 3rd 9:30AM - 3:00PM
5th Grade: Friday, August 4th 9:30AM - 3:00PM
(updated) TK & K: Thursday, August 10th 2:00PM - 3:00PM
Parent Volunteer Form
Wilcox Elementary is looking for volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering in the classroom, office, with PTA, school events, and field trips, all volunteers are required to complete a Volunteer Form and provide the following:
- Valid ID
- TB Test
- *Live Scan (fingerprints) - Only required if volunteering 10+ days per month
https://bit.ly/3QjKrEk
Media Release Form
Wilcox actively updates families and community via Instagram, school webpage, monthly newsletters and Blackboard regarding school events and Montebello Unified School District Events. All students must have a completed Media Release form on file. If you do not consent to write "I do not consent to have my child's picture taken."
Emergency Kit Letter
All Wilcox students and staff will be participating in regularly scheduled emergency drills for the 2023-2024 school. As part of our emergency preparation, we ask that students bring an Emergency Kit to be stored in the classroom. All kits will be returned at the end of the school year.
Wilcox Elementary School
Address: 816 Donnay Way, Montebello 90640
Office: (323) 728-1833 Fax: (323) 887-3096
Office Hours: 7:15-3:15PM
Facebook: facebook.com/Wilcox_Wildcats
Instagram: instagram.com/wilcox_wildcats
Twitter: @Wilcox_Wildcats