Dear Students, Parents and Guardians,
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the start of the 2024-2025 academic year. We are thrilled to have each and every one of you as part of our school family. This year promises to be one filled with exciting opportunities for growth, learning, and creating lasting memories.
At Whitman, we place a strong emphasis on three fundamental pillars that form the foundation of our educational philosophy: Academics, Behavior, and Attendance. Together, these key aspects provide a well-rounded and supportive environment for our students to succeed.
Academic Excellence: We are committed to providing a rigorous, standards based curriculum where all students will demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and mindset to perform academically at or above their grade level in all disciplines. Our motto is: Every Student, Every Staff Member, Every Day! Our dedicated team of educators is passionate about providing engaging, challenging, and innovative instructional approaches that cater to the diverse needs of our students. We will be implementing various strategies to promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. Our goal is to prepare them for success in post secondary education, future careers, and life-long learning.
In order to ensure your child’s success at Whitman and beyond, we recommend frequently monitoring your child’s grades on Infinite Campus. It is the student’s responsibility to submit quality classwork in a timely manner. Report cards will be released at the end of every Trimester (November, February and June). Mid-trimester progress reports will also give a snapshot as to how your child is performing academically in the main content areas. We welcome parents to communicate questions and concerns with the teacher as soon as they arise. Infinite Campus will give you access to your child’s grades for individual assignments and course grades. Visit this website frequently to know what your child’s grade is for each class.
Infinite Campus: https://milwaukeewi.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/milwaukee.jsp If you need to create an account, please contact our parent coordinator, Amanda Sobie, at 414-604-7761.
Positive Behavior and Character Development: At Whitman, we strongly believe in the importance of instilling positive values and character development in our students. We foster a respectful, inclusive, and compassionate school culture where kindness, empathy, and cooperation are expected. We will recognize and encourage positive behavior through various reward systems. Additionally, we will provide support and guidance to help students make responsible choices and grow into well-rounded individuals who positively contribute to their community.
We focus on Social Emotional Learning opportunities and the PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) system to reinforce the positive behaviors we see in our students and reward those behaviors.
Situations do arise in which students’ negative behaviors need to be addressed. Your child’s teacher will use their professional discretion when using a variety of strategies to correct your child’s behavior. The standard procedure to correct a student’s behavior is as follows:
- 1st Warning: Verbal
- 2nd Warning: Phone Call Home
- 3rd Warning: Additional Interventions
Excellent Attendance and Punctuality: Regular school attendance is crucial for academic success and building a strong sense of responsibility. We kindly request parents and guardians to emphasize the significance of punctuality and consistent attendance with their children. We understand that occasional absences may be inevitable, but we encourage families to prioritize attendance whenever possible. To support this effort, we will be working closely with parents and students to address any attendance challenges and provide necessary resources.
In the event of an illness or emergency, please make every effort to notify the office staff on our attendance line as soon as possible at 414-604-7760.
As we embark on this new journey together, I want to assure you that our school is committed to creating a safe and nurturing environment where every child feels valued, supported, and empowered to achieve their fullest potential. We encourage open communication between parents, students, and the school staff to ensure that we can work collaboratively to foster a positive and enriching educational experience for all.
On behalf of the Whitman community, I extend a warm welcome to our new students and a heartfelt welcome back to our returning students. Let us embrace this academic year with enthusiasm, determination, and a spirit of camaraderie.
Here’s to a successful, inspiring, and memorable 2025-26 school year!
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me either by email, [email protected] or phone, 414-604-7705 with any comments or concerns that you have. Please allow me 24 hours to get back to you.
Sincerely,
Deb Clemens
Principal, Walt Whitman School