As summer begins to wind down, the excitement of a new school year starts to build. I hope you have had the opportunity to relax, enjoy your favorite summer activities, and make lasting memories with family and friends.

On behalf of our entire staff, welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! We are excited to partner with you in supporting your child's learning and growth throughout the year. We look forward to seeing everyone at Open House on Tuesday, August 11, as we kick off another wonderful year together.

Our building vision is centered on a simple but meaningful message: "We care. We learn. We grow." These three words reflect who we are and what we strive to be each day.

It all begins with caring. We believe that strong relationships are the foundation of a successful school. When students feel safe, valued, and connected, they are better able to learn, take risks, and reach their full potential. Building those relationships with students, families, and one another is at the heart of everything we do.

Learning is, of course, a central part of our work. We are committed to helping every student grow academically while fostering curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning.

Growth goes beyond the classroom. We want our students to develop socially, emotionally, and as individuals of strong character. We also believe that learning and growth are lifelong pursuits, which is why our staff is continually learning alongside our students.

As we begin a new school year, we look forward to partnering with you to create a caring, engaging, and supportive environment where every child can thrive. Together, we will care, learn, and grow.

You should have received an email in July regarding the completion of online forms. Thank you to all families who have already completed their back-to-school forms. At this time, over half of our families have completed this important process!

If you have not yet completed the required forms, please log in to your Parent Portal and complete them by August 7.

Parents of all students in grades K-5 have the opportunity to purchase daily classroom snack for their child. To ensure the safety of all of our students, snacks brought from home are not allowed. The cost of snack is separate from the cost of lunch. Snacks can be paid for by semester or year ($37 per semester or $74 per year) and payments can be made through the Parent Portal under "Food Service and Fees". Additional information regarding daily snack can be found in your Parent Portal under section 2-3 Elementary Classroom Snack.

Birthday Treat Reminder: If your child will be bringing treats for a birthday or classroom celebration, please review the district guidelines below. To help keep all students safe, only treats on the district's approved list may be brought to school for classroom celebrations.

District 145 strives to exceed the federal/state nutritional standards as well as uphold our own student school wellness policy. Our schools are a safe, equitable place for all students, including those with medical diagnoses and/or food allergies, therefore it is our duty to protect all students by providing them with safe treats. These guidelines will be followed in all classrooms in all buildings across the district. Please understand that we will not serve any items that are not on the approved list. Students will never be charged for treats brought in for birthdays or celebrations.

An updated treat list will be shared with you once it is complete.

To help protect curriculum materials, library books, homework, and other school items from accidental spills, we ask that families send a water bottle to school that can be closed when not in use. Students who bring bottles with straws that cannot be closed will be asked to take them home. Water bottles with straws that flip down and close securely are welcome.

You can expect to receive communication from WIS in the following ways:

The Hamlow/WIS PTO is excited to host our first ever Back to School Bash featuring our Family Fun Run/Walk!  Please see the attached flyer for more information and details regarding the event.  

A registration and waiver form, along with payment, is required prior to attending and participating in the event.  These may be turned into your student's school starting Monday, August 3.  

We'll have FOAM, music, treats and water at the end of each race, along with prizes for the top finishers!  We'll also have a tent to turn in PTO apparel order forms (order forms will be available during Open House). The Patina Joe coffee trailer will be on site as well selling their amazing drinks!  

As always, we are in need of volunteers to help us make this event successful.  Please see our SignUpGenius and help us by signing up for a short time slot.  

We can't wait to see everyone on Saturday, August 15 to kick off the 26-27 school year with some fun in the sun!