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Whittemore Elementary School

Whittemore Family Update: 10/18/26

Posted Date: 10/18/26 (07:04 PM)

Whittemore Elementary School

Family Update 10/18/26

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

Principal's Update

Dear Whittemore Community,

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend Back to School Night last week. It was incredible to see so many students and families connecting with teachers and with each other. We're so proud of our students and the how hard they work every day!! 

We are looking forward to our next Whittemore event, Trunk or Treat, on Sunday, October 25 at 5:00pm. This event is organized by the  Whittemore PTO and you can sign up here to decorate a trunk: https://forms.gle/h9bShmEBHhccWgBV7

There will be food and drink for sale. Children and families are welcome to wear their costumes, and there will be a costume parade by the playground.

The PTO is also happy to announce that Whittemore shirts and pants and sweatshirts are on sale! Order by Wednesday using the form that came home with your students or at https://forms.gle/VrSgMAT9CyPbZ2qD8

As a reminder, Wednesday, October 21 is an Early Release Day. Students will be dismissed at 1:00pm

I hope you have a wonderful week!

Thank you,
Mr. Sweder
 

Important Dates

A close-up of a calendar with several dates marked by push pins.
October
  • Wednesday, October 21: Early Release, 1:00pm dismissal
  • Sunday, October 25: Trunk or Treat, 5:00pm
 

Whittemore PTO

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

The Whittemore trunk-or-treat is next 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. Kids and parents are welcome to wear their costumes, and there will be a costume parade by the playground.

Do your kids want to bike to school with their friends? Every Monday, 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!
 
A flyer for a 'Trunk or Treat' event on Sunday, October 25 at 5:00 P.M. in the Whittemore parking lot, featuring free admission, costumes, and food.
A child and an adult in costume stand by a car trunk decorated with a Hocus Pocus theme and filled with candy.
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!
 

Police Athletic League (PAL) Sports

A promotional flyer for the Waltham Police Athletic League Winter 2027 sports programs, featuring basketball and soccer leagues.
A promotional flyer for the Waltham Police Athletic League winter 2027 sports program, featuring basketball and soccer details.

STEM WEEK

 

Halloween Parade

 

Moody Street Halloween Maps

 

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