New Families

We are so happy to welcome your child to Walnut Acres! We hope that your whole family will feel right at home here.

Each year we hold a kick-off event called Jaguar Day in the Multipurpose Room and the quad. At this event, you receive your teacher assignment, donate to Jaguar Fund, purchase Jaguar spiritwear, and learn all about the PFC activities and programs.

2022 Jaguar Day date: August 9, 2022

Prior to Jaguar Day:

New families should go to the school office (M-F, 7am-4pm) to get your verification code to enter your new student in HomeLink. You will need to show a photo ID (such as a driver's license) to receive the letter that contains your verification code.

Thursday, August 11th - First Day of School!

If you have questions about starting school you can email us at

newfamilies@walnutacrespfc.net

We have included some key details below. You can also use the following helpful links:

Walnut Acres Elementary School Website: Check out the academic calendar, your class bell schedule, how to report an absence, Titan for school lunches, school lunch menus, and how to volunteer.

2022-2023 Key Dates

Please follow this link to view our Student Emergency Guidelines

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PLEASE JOIN KONSTELLA -

The best way to stay up-to-date with what's going on at school is to sign up for Konstella, our private parent community that includes an online parent directory, events, announcements and signups from your classroom and the PFC. How to Join Konstella - please follow this link: www.konstella.com/cd/RC7E18

You can get a real sense of the current direction of the school by attending the monthly PFC meetings. Everyone is welcome and you will gain a better understanding of how the school functions. Meetings are generally at 7:00 pm on the third Tuesday of every month.

PLEASE JOIN PARENT SQUARE -

Our Principal uses ParentSquare to communicate with families for general information and emergencies. You will receive emails via ParentSquare without your own account. The advantage of having your own account is that you can

control how you receive communication. You can download the app on your phone and receive communication via text. How to Join ParentSquare - please follow this link: https://www.parentsquare.com/signin

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SCHOOL SUPPLIES

There are 2 options for purchasing school supplies. You can order a kit, or purchase items using the grade-level supply lists.

To purchase a school supply kit via our online partner, School Tool Box, please check out the School Supplies Page here http://www.walnutacrespfc.net/activities/school-supply-kits for more information. A small proportion of your purchase back goes back to the PFC. There is no deadline for placing your order. It takes approxiately 2 weeks for delivery.

To purchase school supplies using a supply list, here is the link: https://waes-mdusd-ca.schoolloop.com. Please click on the appropriate grade level on the school website, and towards the bottom of the page you will see the list items that have been requested by teachers.

Have your child bring their school supplies on the first day of school.

Please Note: You are not required to purchase, donate, or contribute any of the requested items on the school supply list for your grade level. Additionally, no student will be denied from participating in any classroom activity if he or she chooses not to purchase, donate, or contribute any requested item(s). However, if you voluntarily decide to purchase, donate, or contribute any item, any quantity of the requested supplies and provide them to your student’s teacher(s), the supplies will be shared equally among all the students in the class in order for each student to participate in the planned, fun, academic activities.

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Back To School Night (BTSN) Back to school night is the an opportunity to meet your child’s classroom teacher and the room parent(s), the other families in the class and most importantly to sign up to volunteer in the classroom or for field trips and class parties. Please note that you will also need to bring your checkbook to pay for field trips, classroom party donation and also donate to Jaguar Fund if you have not had an opportunity during Jaguar Day. DATE TBA.

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BEFORE/AFTER SCHOOL CHILD CARE: Recognizing that many parents need to arrange school pick-up/drop-off schedules well in advance of Jaguar Day, the Walnut Acres Children's Center provides on-campus childcare before and after school from 7:00am-6:00pm. You can register your child before you know their assigned schedule. Information about Walnut Acres Children's Center can be found here: https://walnutacreschildrenscenter.org/

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VOLUNTEERING GUIDELINES: For the safety of our children, ALL school volunteers are required to be fingerprinted, and successfully pass a TB test. Effective Septemeber 1st, 2021 all volunteers MUST show proof of Covid-19 vaccination in the SCHOOL OFFICE upon initial arrival. If you plan to volunteer in the classroom or chaperone on field trips, it is recommended to complete the volunteer process before school starts. The teachers will need your help right off the bat!

Please visit MDUSD Volunteer Instructions website at www.mdusd.org/volunteer for full instructions, and access all required forms.

STEP 1 -- REQUIRED FORMS

STEP 2 -- TUBERCULOSIS (TB) CLEARANCE

  • Contact your physician for a current tuberculosis (TB) clearance, required by law. Please remember to plan for the 48 hour test reading requirement. Proof of TB clearance cannot be older than 60 days from your fingerprint appointment. Please note, TB clearance must be renewed with the district every four years.

  • If you do not have a current physican, you can go to one of the Muir Diablo Lab locations on a drop-in basis to complete the TB test (let the lab know it is for MDUSD-the cost is approximately $20). Muir Diablo Labs Concord Location: 2231 Galaxy Ct. (925) 685-7744 and Walnut Creek Location: 1981 N. Broadway, Ste. 190 (925) 932-7715

STEP 3 -- FINGERPRINTING

• Download & complete the Livescan application form or Livescan - Spanish application form.

• Due to Covid-19, the district is not fingerprinting volunteers in the MDUSD main office. Fingerprints can be processed at an outside agency using the Livescan forms. A short list of local Livescan vendors can be found here, or visit the Livescan Locator.

• Please bring your Livescan Form and a Valid Photo ID to the Livescan location for fingerprinting.

STEP 4 -- TURNING IN YOUR APPLICATION TO THE DISTRICT OFFICE

  • Once you have completed your Volunteer Request Form, TB Clearance, and Livescan Fingerprinting, please return the completed forms to MDUSD via email to personnelfrontdesk@mdusd.org. Completed forms can also be faxed to (925) 676-4092, or sent by US Mail or delivered to the district office located at 1936 Carlotta Drive, Concord, CA 94519.

  • You will not be added to our master list of school volunteers until ALL required documents have been received at the district office, and your fingerprints have been cleared by the Department of Justice, which can take 1-30 days.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call (925) 682-8000 ext. 4153 or email personnelfrontdesk@mdusd.org.

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FUNDRAISING:

Jaguar Fund

Donate Now

The Jaguar Fund is the Walnut Acres Parent Faculty Club’s primary source of funds to bridge the gap between public funding and the true cost of the full educational experience we all want for our students at Walnut Acres.

The suggested donation for the 2022-23 school year is $65 per month or a one-time donation of $650, per child.

The best time to give to the Jaguar Fund is at the beginning of the year at Jaguar Day. Early donations make it easier for the PFC to plan their expenditures. However, donations are accepted throughout the year and can be turned into the Jaguar Fund box in the school Office.

We know every family situation is different so the goal of the Jaguar Fund is to achieve 100% participation regardless of the dollar amount. No amount is too small, and it will make a difference for our school.

The Jaguar Fund is our largest fundraiser. We are fortunate to generate additional income from various PFC approved fundraisers such as Read-A-Thon, Walk-A-Thon, Auction, and Shop n' Earn, all of which round out our budget and are essential parts of funding our staff, programs and activities.

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Safety Responsibilities

Kindergarten parents are encouraged to walk your child to their respective classrooms. This is not necessary for the older grades. Walnut Acres has a designed Drive Thru Drop Off/Pick Up area beginning at 7:45am. Parent volunteers run the drive-thru to facilitate the smooth and safe drop off in a timely manner. The morning parent volunteers direct the traffic, open car doors, and greet students.

Drive Thru Guidelines

Go to: http://www.walnutacrespfc.net/schedules/drive-thru

• Drive carefully and slowly.

• Respect the directions of the volunteers.

• There is to be NO pedestrian traffic in the drive-thru. Parents are not allowed to walk their children from Cerezo Drive through the staff parking lot. This is extremely hazardous.

• Drop off children only where there is a volunteer. Children should be ready to exit the car when you pull up.

• If you already dropped off your student, please don’t pass cars which are still dropping off or drive through the staff parking lot. We have had many near accidents from people doing this.

• DO NOT park in the staff parking lot.

• Stop at the stop signs. Remember pedestrian have the right of way, especially when they are our children.

• DO NOT leave vehicles unattended in the drive-thru. This applies all day.

We hope you and your child have an amazing first year at Walnut Acres!

If you have any questions, please email Jessica Streeter and Stacey Henley at: newfamilies@walnutacrespfc.net