The Washington Elementary School District (WESD) is looking forward to sharing a great school year with you.Please read below for information related to the start of the school year.

Locations, contact information and websites for all WESD schools

Start and dissmissal times 

Meet the Teacher Night

 Each WESD school will hold thier own Meet the Teacher Night, where families can visit campus, meet thier student's teacher and recieve important information related to the start of the school year.

Please note that within the times listed below, many of our schools have assigned windows for families to visit based on last name. For more information, visit your school’s website, Facebook page, or call the front office.

2021-2022 Back to School Event Schedule

WESD Safe Return to Learning 2021 - 2022

WESD has revised our safety protocols for the upcoming school year based on the requirements from the Arizona Governor and legislature, as well as guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Maricopa County Department of Public Health. The plan outlines how the WESD will mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Please refer to the full reopening plan below.

At a special meeting on August 4, the WESD Governing Board voted to modify the district’s plan to include a provision that masks be required at all district facilities for both students and staff while they are indoors.  Additionally, the WESD will also follow all quarantining mandates for those exposed to COVID-19, regardless of their vaccine status.

Families who wish for their child to opt out of the WESD’s face mask requirement must complete the "Permission to Opt Out of Face Covering Requirement" form. The student’s parent/legal guardian must present this signed form to the school office to verify identification.

The opt out does not apply to school bus riders, as face masks are required per a CDC order.

WESD Safe Return to Learning 2021-2022 Full Plan 

Key takeaways for families from the WESD Safe Return to Learn 2021-2022 Plan:

• Face masks are required indoors all district facilities with an option to opt out.
• Physical distancing of three feet or more to the greatest extent possible will be practiced. The WESD has committed to reducing class size this year to help with this step.
• Enhanced air cleaning and ventilation will be utilized.
• Students and staff will wash their hands frequently and use proper respiratory etiquette.
• High touch point areas will be disinfected often.
• Students and staff will be encouraged to stay home when they are sick.
• Contact tracing, in combination with isolation and quarantine, will be used to limit spread.
• Visitors and volunteers will not be permitted beyond the front office for the first quarter.
• Field trips will be suspended for the first quarter.
• Group gatherings of limited numbers are permitted with mitigation strategies in place.
• The COVID-19 vaccine is available at no charge and is encouraged for all individuals 12 and up.

ParentVUE

All WESD parents and guardians have a ParentVue account. ParentVUE is a helpful tool for parents where you can confirm emergency contact information as well as see teacher information, attendance, grades and other important information. Parents will need an activation key to log into ParentVUE for the first time. If you do not have an activation key, contact your school's front office. 

Log into ParentVUE

Communication

Communication with famlies is an important part of our school communities. All WESD schools send out a monthly newsletter to thier families with important school and district information. These newsletters are delivered to parent emails using the PeachJar digital flyer delivery service. 

Weekly district updates are sent out via email through SchoolMessenger. Families do not need to sign up for these communications but are encouraged to log into ParentVUE to ensure that thier email addresses and contact information are correct. These weekly district updates are also available on our COVID Updates webpage. 

Families can also stay up to date with the WESD through Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. We encourage you to also follow your student's school on Facebook. 

Supply Lists

The WESD provides textbooks and basic supplies. Some additional materials are useful, below is a list of optional supplies that are helpful.

This list is meant to be a guideline only, please check your school's website for school-specific supply lists.

• Individual hand pencil sharpener
• Metric ruler
• Backpack or book bag*
• Washable markers
• 3-ring binder
• Subject dividers (1 pkg of 5)
• Set of colored pencils
• Pocket folders
• Plastic pencil pouch for 3-ring binder
• Box of tissues

*Palo Verde Middle School, Deser Foothills Junior High School and Royal Palm Middle School, and Alta Vista Elementary School are no backpack campuses

Breakfast and Lunch

 All WESD students recieve free breakfast and lunch during the school year. Visit the WESD Nutrition Services homepage for additional information.

Breakfast and Lunch Menu

Bus Information

Bus route information is now available online. Families will need thier student's six digit ID number and date of birth to login. Parents can get thier student's ID numbers through ParentVUE or by contacting thier school's front office. 

The following WESD schools do not provide transportation to regular education students:

• Abraham Lincoln Traditional School
• Acacia Elementary School
• Arroyo School
• Chaparral Elementary School
• Manzanita Elementary School
• Sahuaro Elementary School
• Sunset Elementary School
• Sweetwater School

Find your student's bus

Immunizations

To attend school, student immunizations must be current. Documented proof of immunizations must be provided to the school as stated by Arizona state law, (A.R.S. 15-873).

The following immunizations are required:

• DTap/DPT/DT/TD
• Tdap (students 11 years of age and older)
• Polio
• MMR (measles, mumps and rubella)
• Varicella (A second dose is required if dose No. 1 was given at 13+ years of age.)
• Hib (students under 5 years of age)
• Hepatitis A (students under 5 years of age)
• Hepatitis B
• Meningococcal (students 11 years of age and older)

More information on immunization requirements

Uniforms

There are five WESD schools that require uniforms: Cactus Wren Elementary School, Mountain View School, Palo Verde Middle School, Washington Elementary School and the Arizona Cardinals Academy.

Families can learn more about the uniform requirements and how to purchase uniforms by visiting thier school's website or calling the front office. If you require uniform assistance, please contact your school's social worker.

Students attending non-uniform schools must follow the WESD dress code.

WESD Dress Code

Vistors on Campus

No outside visitors beyond the school office, except for the safety and well-being of students and approved service and program providers, for the first quarter of the school year. Parents will report to the front office and not go beyond unless it is for the safety or well-being of their child.