Dear Students and Parents/Guardians,

Welcome to Washington Elementary School, which serves 3 rd, 4 th, and 5 th grades. The faculty and staff at Washington School are excited about starting the 2008-2009 school year.

This may be your first experience at Washington School. We welcome you, and you can be sure that we intend to make your school experience a positive one. For 4 th and 5 th graders who are returning to Washington School, we welcome you back and we ask that you remember that you are the leaders at Washington School. We challenge you to provide positive leadership for our new 3 rd graders by setting an excellent example and by consistently maintaining a calm and positive presence in our classrooms, hallways, lunchroom, and schoolyard.

It is our goal at Washington School to provide maximum quality instruction while maintaining a safe, inclusive, and caring environment. In order to achieve that goal, we need to maintain high expectations and standards for our students in terms of academics, work ethic, and behavior. We all have to work together, faculty, staff, parents, and students, to make Washington School the very best it can be. With this goal in mind, please see Washington School’s Mission and Vision Statements on the back of this page. These Mission and Vision Statements reflect Washington School’s proud history as well as its exciting future.

In addition to academic instruction, Washington School partners with outside agencies, such as Sterling Park District, Sterling Police Department, YMCA, YWCA, Sterling Township, LSSI, and University of Illinois Extension. These agencies provide additional activities and services for our students so that they may get the most out of their educational experience.

Parents/Guardians, there are a variety of ways in which you can get involved in your child’s education at Washington School. You could attend parent-teacher conferences, observe your child’s class, volunteer at the school, attend P.T.O. meetings, or participate in one or more of the special events/activities hosted by Washington School. In any case, remember that you are always welcome at Washington School, and you are invited to become involved in your child’s education. If you ever have questions or concerns, please feel free to call us at (815) 625-2372.

Our parent handbook was given out at parent-teacher conferences and is filled with important information regarding Washington Elementary School and its procedures and policies. I ask that you review the contents of this handbook carefully. If you have questions that remain unanswered after reading this handbook, please feel free to call or stop in the office. Information on District policy is available at www.sterlingschools.org. If you did not receive a handbook, copies are available in the school office.

Students at Washington School continue to use a planner. The planner is designed to promote success for Washington students by helping them develop good organizational skills with their schoolwork. Please use the planner on a daily/nightly basis to keep track of assignments and completed work. The planner may also serve as a communication tool between home and school.

I am extremely proud to be the principal at Washington School. I am looking forward to a great 2008-2009 school year.

Sincerely,

Patrick L. Fortney

Principal, Washington School