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Whittemore Elementary School

Whittemore Family Update: 10/12/26

Posted Date: 10/12/26 (03:00 PM)

Whittemore Elementary School

Family Update 10/12/26

A brick building with many windows and a decorative arched entrance.

Principal's Update

Dear Whittemore Community,

We are looking forward to welcoming families and students to Whittemore for Back to School Night on Thursday, October 15 from 6:00-7:30pm. 

As I mentioned in last week's update, we are following an open house model this year. Families can visit all areas of the building at any time from 6:00-7:30pm based on what works best for your schedules. As always, students are strongly encouraged to attend!!

To help navigate the building, students will serve as "tour guides" for their families, using the Beehive Checklist below. Paper copies and maps will be available at Whittemore on Thursday night.  We look forward to seeing you soon.

Also, Whittemore's Trunk or Treat event is scheduled for Sunday, October 25. Please see the notice from the PTO below for additional details. 

I hope you have a wonderful week!

Thank you,
Mr. Sweder
 
A colorful Back to School Night flyer for Whittemore Elementary, shown in English on the left and Spanish on the right.

Important Dates

A close-up of a calendar with several dates marked by push pins.
October
  • Thursday, October 15: Back to School Night, 6:00-7:30pm 
  • Wednesday, October 21: Early Release, 1:00pm dismissal
  • Sunday, October 25: Trunk or Treat, 5:00pm
 

Whittemore PTO

Save the date for the Whittemore trunk-or-treat on Sunday, October 25 at 5 p.m.! Sign up to decorate your trunk: https://forms.gle/h9bShmEBHhccWgBV7

There will be food and drink for sale. You can donate candy in the candy monster in the school lobby the next few weeks, to be given out at the event.

Whittemore shirts and pants and sweatshirts are for sale! Order using the form that came home with your students, or at https://forms.gle/VrSgMAT9CyPbZ2qD8

Do your kids want to bike to school with their friends? Every Monday (Tuesday this week), students and parents meet at Gilmore Playground by 8:15 to bike together to school. It's a fun and healthy way to start the week!

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Follow the PTO on social media!
Join the PTO WhatsApp community
 
A black and white flyer for a Trunk or Treat event on Sunday, October 25 at Whittemore Parking Lot, featuring Halloween graphics and two QR codes.
A black zip-up hoodie featuring a yellow school crest on the chest and text on the sleeve.
An informational flyer for the Whittemore Bike Bus, featuring children riding bikes on a street and a map showing the route from Gilmore Playground.
 

Whittemore Wednesdays

All Wednesdays are Whittemore Wednesdays!

Wear your Whittemore gear, black and yellow, or bee themed clothing to show your school spirit every Wednesday!

October Menu

A calendar for the month of October 2026, featuring an elementary school lunch menu with daily entree options and a fall-themed design.
A school lunch menu calendar for October 2026, featuring daily meal options in Spanish.

School Hours

After the first day, students may enter the building at 8:15am ONLY if they are eating breakfast. Students who are not eating breakfast may enter at 8:25am to go to their classrooms.

If a student participates in the before/after school program with the YMCA, they may enter the building between 7:30am-8:15am. Drop off and pick up for the YMCA program will be at the back of the school, door #13.

If a student does not participate as part of the YMCA program, they should not arrive prior to 8:15am.

Students are dismissed at 3:00pm. Prior to 3:00, students will be called for dismissal and will be organized into groups to make the process as efficient as possible.

Dismissal: Hovey Road

Reminders

Hovey Road dismissal is for students being picked up by car only. Any student being dismissed and walking home or to a car, should be picked up from their classroom teacher at the assigned location.

For pickup via car, please form a line up on Hovey Road before the crosswalk near the opening of the fence and remain in your vehicles. If you are leaving your car to pick up your student, they should be dismissed with their teachers for pick-up on foot NOT at Hovey Road.

It is important that family members do not park beyond the crosswalk or in the neighborhood for Hovey Rd. pickup. This area is marked by the RED Xs on the picture below. Safety is our top priority, and lining up in cars before the crosswalk reduces the number of students and adults crossing Hovey Rd and loading in cars during a very busy time.

Once students arrive by the trees, they will be dismissed. Please do not leave your car to retrieve your student. It may require a bit more patience; however, the line moves much more efficiently if everyone stays in their cars.

Additionally, we have received notification from city officials that many cars are being parked idling on Ash Street and Parmenter Road during dismissal. Please be aware of this and reduce the amount of time that cars are idling.

Thank you for your understanding and attention to this matter.
Aerial view of Henry Whittemore Elementary School and surrounding streets.
 

Transportation

Please review the Whittemore 2026-27 Bus Routes below.

Students are assigned a school bus based on their address. Students are only allowed to ride the bus to which they are assigned. There are no exceptions.

We will review expectations for bus behavior with all students at the beginning of the year. It is imperative that students follow all rules related to the school buses so that everyone can travel safely to and from school.

It is important to note that the time riding the school bus is an extension of the school day, and dangerous or inappropriate behavior on the bus may result in disciplinary consequences.
 
A schedule document displays Waltham Public School bus routes for Whittemore Elementary, including stop locations and start times.

Contact information

Henry Whittemore Elementary School