I hope you had a relaxing and joyful summer, and that you’re feeling refreshed and ready for the new school year ahead. It’s with great excitement that I welcome back our returning families and extend a heartfelt greeting to those who are new to our Whitney community. We’re so glad to have you with us!

As we begin this new academic chapter, I want to thank you for your continued partnership and support. The months ahead will be filled with opportunities for learning, growth, and connection, and we look forward to celebrating our students’ successes and supporting one another through any challenges that may come our way.

What makes Whitney truly special is our shared commitment to creating a supportive, engaging, and inclusive environment where every student can thrive. Together, we’ll continue to uphold our core values of excellence, compassion, and community, ensuring that each child feels valued and inspired to reach their full potential.

I’m excited to see all the amazing things our students will accomplish this year. Thank you for being such an essential part of our school family— we’re stronger together, and I’m confident that this will be a year filled with meaningful growth and memorable achievements.

Here’s to a fantastic year ahead!

Warm regards,

Miss King

Principal

Tue 8/12: Meet the Teacher Popsicle Social 4:00-5:00pm

Thu 8/14: First Day of School 7:45am-11:45am TK/K and 7:45am-1:00pm 1st-5th grade

Tue 8/19: Lockdown Drill

Mon 8/25- Fri 8/29: Dot Week

Tue 8/26: Fire Drill

Fri 8/29: Fall Picture Day

Mon 9/1: Labor Day (no school)

Thu 9/4: Back to School Night 5:15-6:30pm

Thu 9/18: Site Council Meeting 2:30-3:30pm

Tue 9/23: Mugs & Muffins 7:45-8:15am

Tue 9/30: Fire Drill

Tuesday 8/12 4:00-5:00pm: Meet the Teacher! Be sure to join us for our annual welcome back event on our upper grade blacktop on the south side of the school. Students will have the opportunity to meet their teacher for the upcoming school year and receive a ticket for an Otter Pop. We will also have interpreters available and the FACE mobile will be present with resources for families. We look forward to seeing you there!

Thursday 8/14: First day of School! All grades TK-5th start at 7:45am. Breakfast is served from 7:25-7:45am. Students may be dropped off at 7:25am or later, as we do not have supervision before that time. Please help us keep students safe by not dropping students off before 7:25am. If you arrive prior to 7:25am, you may wait in your car with your child. Thank you.

TK/K are dismissed daily at 11:45am.

The first day of school is a Thursday, and students in grades 1st-5th are dismissed early on Thursdays at 1:00pm.

*Please note that school gates will be locked at 7:45am, and students will need to enter at the front office for a tardy slip after 7:45am. Thank you.

We are pleased to share that our school has undergone a fencing update as part of San Juan Unified School District’s ongoing efforts to enhance safety and security at school campuses across the district. This project is part of an initiative to improve perimeter fencing and establish a single point of entry. By creating a more secure and manageable entry point, we can better monitor who enters our campus and ensure a safer environment for students, staff, and visitors.

While the updated fencing will change how guests enter campus, it will not change our commitment to being a welcoming place for families. We’ll continue to provide clear and easy ways for families to visit, volunteer, and engage in school events. We appreciate your support and understanding as we take this important step to strengthen campus safety.

Bridges After School is accepting applications for this current school year. If you're struggling to pick up your students on time after school, or looking for a safe environment, grab an application today and turn it in to the office. We offer homework support, art and science activities, recreational time, and social connection for students. If you have any questions, please call Mrs. Amber, the Site Facilitator at (916) 496-2045.

Our first Site Council meeting is coming up on September 18th. School Site Council (SSC) is a group of teachers, parents, community members, and classified employees that work with the principal to provide input to our School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) and see how to best use resources to meet student academic success.

Please consider running for a position. We need parent representatives to join us! The members of Site Council are elected by their peers through an election process.

Site Council is a great way to have your voice heard and make a difference at our school. If you would like to nominate yourself or someone else, or if you have questions, please send me an email at stephanie.king@sanjuan.edu. Please watch for more information to come home with your child once school starts.

For information on school meals, menus, accommodations, and resources, click on the link below:

San Juan Unified Nutrition Services Department

Please help us keep our students safe! Below are a few reminders that will help with student safety during student drop off and pick up.

• School starts at 7:45am and ends at 2:15pm for grades 1st-5th with the exception of early dismissal Thursdays at 1:00pm. TK/Kindergarten are out daily at 11:45am, and students will be taken to the back gate for dismissal.
• TK/Kindergarten families are to park in the back parking lot for drop off and pick up.
• Do not drop off students before 7:25am. We do not have supervision until 7:25am. If you arrive early, please wait in your car with your child. Please note that school gates open at 7:25am when supervision begins and close at 7:45am when instruction begins. Students must check in to the front office for a late pass after 7:45am.
• Drive slowly and cautiously in both parking lots.
• The yellow curb is for loading and unloading of passengers only - drivers may not park/get out of their cars in a yellow zone or leave cards unattended in the pick up lanes. If you would like to pick up from the classroom, you must park in the back parking lot.
• We ask that you are only on campus no more than 5 minutes prior to pick up. Gates will be open in the back at 11:45am for TK/Kindergarten and 2:15pm for 1st-5th. Similarly, gates will be closed and locked by 7:50am in the morning. If you arrive late, please come around to the front.
• Please pick students up promptly at dismissal time, 11:45am for TK/Kindergarten, and for all other grades 2:15pm M/Tue/W/F and 1pm on Thursdays.
• Please do not use the bus lane.

Thank you for your support in keeping our students and campus safe.

Please be sure to call or email when your child is absent from school. If students are home sick, they must be symptom-free for 24 hours before returning to school.

If your child arrives to school after 7:45am, they must check in at the office for a late slip to class. Please note that school gates close at 7:45am when instruction begins. Students must check in to the front office for a late pass after 7:45am. After school has started, if your child needs to be walked to class, please notify a staff member in the front office. For the safety of our campus and all students, once school has started, only staff and students are allowed within the gates.

Breakfast is served daily from 7:25-7:45am. If students arrive late, please get a pass from the office, and nutrition services is able to offer a late breakfast up until 8am.

Why Volunteering Matters at Our School:

Volunteers can be the heart of a school community! Whether you’re helping in the classroom, supporting events, or lending a hand behind the scenes, your time and energy make a big difference! Volunteering not only strengthens our school but also shows our students the value of teamwork, service, and connection. Every minute you give helps create a more vibrant and supportive learning environment. That’s why we are asking you to sign up today to be a Whitney Avenue Wildcat volunteer by visiting www.sanjuan.edu/volunteer. Step by step instructions are provided on the website, and we’ve also outlined them below:

Step 1: Complete Volunteer Verification form by visiting www.sanjuan.edu/volunteer

Step 2: (3-5 business days) Application reviewed/prescreened by analyst for current background review (fingerprinting) on file. If found on file, or if the application declines a background review, process skips to step 6.

Step 3: (2-3 business days) If a background review is not found on file, instructions on how to complete the process, and the required form for LiveScan are sent via email: “Authorized for Background Review.”

Step 4: If background review is needed, schedule a fingerprinting appointment with the district’s Human Resource Department at www.sanjuan.edu/fingerprint. Volunteer fingerprinting is offered at no cost through this process. Appointments are during business hours. A valid photo ID is required. Evening hour walk-ins are also available during the school year, no appointment needed. Evening dates available on the calendar on the sanjuan.edu/volunteer website.

Step 5: (5 - 30 business days after fingerprinting, some instances may take longer) Upon receiving results from the DOJ and/or FBI, an analyst provides the appropriate clearance level.

Step 6: (2-3 business days) Review for final approval. Volunteer and primary school site will receive notification via email upon completion. School staff and families may confirm volunteer status with the school office, or with the Volunteer Help Desk at (916) 971-7935.

Final Step: Volunteer! Connect with your school site for volunteer opportunities throughout the school year.

Thank you for being part of our Whitney Wildcat team!

Office Hours: 7:25am-2:45pm Monday-Friday

Phone Number: (916) 971-7407

Attendance 24 Hour Line: (916) 979-8589

Attendance Email: WhitneyAbsence@sanjuan.edu

Website: https://whitney.sanjuan.edu/

Instagram: @whitneyavewildcats

Principal, Stephanie King, stephanie.king@sanjuan.edu

School Secretary, Marquesa Kajar, marquesa.kajar@sanjuan.edu

Attendance Clerk, Heather Kocourek, WhitneyAbsence@sanjuan.edu

School Community Specialist, Whitney Belton, whitney.belton@sanjuan.edu

School Community Intervention Specialist, Yolanda Harris, yolanda.harris@sanjuan.edu

School Social Worker, Taylor Munion, taylor.munion@sanjuan.edu

Please call, email, or stop by the office if you have any questions or need any help. We are here to support you and your students.

Tue 8/12: Meet the Teacher Popsicle Social

Thu 8/14: First Day of School

Tue 8/19: Lockdown Drill

Mon 8/25- Fri 8/29: Dot Week

Tue 8/26: Fire Drill

Fri 8/29: Fall Picture Day

Mon 9/1: Labor Day (no school)

Thu 9/4: Back to School Night

Thu 9/18: Site Council Meeting

Tue 9/23: Mugs & Muffins

Tue 9/30: Fire Drill

Thu 10/2: School Custodial Workers Recognition Day

Fri 10/3: Minimum Day (11:55 dismissal)

Mon 10/6: No School

Wed 10/15: Unity Day

Mon 10/27- Fri 10/31: Red Ribbon Week

Tue 10/28: Fire Drill

Mon 11/3- Fri 11/7: School Psychologist Week

Mon 11/10: Teacher Work Day (no school)

Tue 11/11: Veterans’ Day (no school)

Fri 11/4: Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day

Mon 11/17- Fri 11/21: Parent Conferences (10:55 dismissal)

Tue 11/18: Mugs & Muffins

Mon 11/24- Fri 11/28: Fall Break

Tue 12/2: Fire Drill

Thu 12/4: Site Council Meeting

Mon 12/15- Fri 12/19: Spirit Week

Mon 12/22- Mon 1/5: Winter Break

Tue 1/6: Fire Drill

Tue 1/13: Lockdown Drill

Mon 1/19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (no school)

Tue 1/27: Mugs & Muffins

Mon 2/2- Fri 2/6: School Counselor Appreciation Week

Tue 2/3: Fire Drill

Mon 2/9 - Fri 2/13: Friendship Week

Thu 2/12: Site Council Meeting

Mon 3/2- Fri 3/6: School Social Worker Week

Mon 3/2: Read Across America Day

Tue 3/3: Fire Drill

Tue 3/10- Fri 3/13: Parent Conferences (10:55 dismissal)

Tue 3/24: Mugs & Muffins

Mon 3/30- Fri 4/3: Spring Break

Mon 4/6: School Librarian Appreciation Day

Tue 4/7: Fire Drill

Fri 4/10: Spelling Bee

Mon 4/20- Fri 4/24: Bridges Appreciation Week

Wed 4/22: Administrative Professionals Day

Thu 4/30: Principal Day

Thu 4/30: Lunch Hero Day

Fri 5/1: No School

Mon 5/4: No School

Mon 5/4- Fri 5/8: Staff Appreciation Week

Tue 5/5: Fire Drill

Wed 5/6: School Nurse Day

Thu 5/14: Site Council Meeting

Mon 5/18: Speech Pathologist Day

Thu 5/21: Open House 4-5:30pm

Fri 5/22: Talent Show

Fri 5/22: Minimum Day (11:55 dismissal)

Mon 5/25: Memorial Day (no school)

Thu 6/4: Water Field Day

Fri 6/5: Kindergarten Promotion

Mon 6/8: 5th Grade Promotion

Tue 6/9: Last Day of School (11:55 dismissal)