2024-25 DISTRICT REGISTRATION INFORMATION

As we approach the new academic year, we are filled with anticipation for the exciting opportunities ahead. To ensure you are well-prepared, we have compiled a comprehensive document containing all the essential information.

NEW TO THE DISTRICT FOR 2024-25

If your child/ren did not finish the 2023-24 school year in any of our Waterloo Schools CLICK HERE to register.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Children who are five years old on or before September 15 are eligible for Kindergarten starting with the 2024-25 school year. Registration needs to be done by the legal parent/guardian. CLICK HERE to register.

ALL RETURNING STUDENTS

Students that ended the 2023-24 school year in a Waterloo School, those that have been approved for Preschool and those that have already completed Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-25 school year, you will need to complete an Annual Update: CLICK HERE.
Annual updates for current Waterloo Schools Students will start July 10, 2024.

Once you are logged in, click “More” under the Message Center, then “Online Registration”. All returning students must register and provide current proof of address. Acceptable forms for proof of address: current utility, water or cable bill; lease agreement or new home purchase agreement, paystub or DHS approval letter.

It is important that you complete this as soon as possible. Completing Annual Updates help us with busing, change of address, emergency contacts, required annual forms, new health information, etc.

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHTS

All elementary students and their families are welcome to visit their school between 4:30-6:00 pm on August 22. This is a great time to find classrooms, drop off supplies, and meet new friends!

Incoming 6th-grade students and any new-to-the-district middle school students are invited to an open house at their home middle school on August 22 from 5:30-7:00 pm.

ORIENTATION

East, West, & EXPO ALC will hold 9th-grade orientation on Wednesday, August 23.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

The first few days of school will be a rolling start, similar to last year, and include 2-hour early
dismissals.

• Friday, August 23, for grades: K, 1, 2, 6, 9 *2-hour early dismissal
• Monday, August 26, for grades: 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 (in addition to K-2, 6, 9) *2-hour early dismissal
• Tuesday, August 27 *2-hour early dismissal
• Thursday, August 29, First day for PreK

IMMUNIZATIONS

Iowa Vaccine Law Requirement
Vaccination Requirements for students in grades 7 and 12:

7th Grade:
Students entering 7th grade are required to have a minimum of one dose of TDap and Meningitis vaccines to attend school. If a child has not had a Meningitis vaccination after the age of ten years, they will be unable to go to school until after the dose is given or a
medical/religious exemption is obtained.

12th Grade:
Students entering 12th grade are required to have a minimum of two doses of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (A,C,W,Y); or 1 dose if the student previously received a dose at sixteen years of age or older. There is no provisional period to implement this requirement, meaning students will be sent home on the first day of school until after the dose is given or a medical/religious exemption is obtained.

You may call your medical provider or visit the Iowa Department of Public Health website at:
https://idph.iowa.gov/immtb/immunization/laws for more information on Iowa immunization laws and the meningococcal requirement.

Please contact your medical provider now to set up an appointment to get your child immunized. Medical and religious exemptions must be on file with your child’s school (they must be done yearly).

FEE WAIVER POLICY

There will no longer be a standard instructional fee for students based on the new Board policy. However, there may be costs associated with instrument rental if your child enrolls in one of those classes. Students will be notified by their teacher and given the appropriate fee waiver form for those who qualify. There will continue to be fees for lost books, ID cards, yearbooks, parking, etc. that apply to various schools. These fees are not subject to Fee Waiver.

DISCRETIONARY TRANSPORTATION

Under authority of Chapter 285 of the Code of Iowa, the Waterloo Community School District will provide transportation, or reimburse parents for all high school students residing more than three (3) miles from their designated high school; all middle school students residing more than two (2) miles from their designated attendance center; and all elementary students residing
more than one (1) mile from their assigned attendance center.

Students who live under the above guidelines may apply for discretionary busing. Consideration will be based on space availability on the bus, on a regularly scheduled stop, and on a regularly scheduled route. Applications will be available beginning July 1st of the upcoming school year and approved in the order they are received. Discretionary forms are available on the WCSD website www.waterlooschools.org under “Bus Transportation”.

Students on a Voluntary Transfer do not have the option to apply or receive a discretionary route/stop. Your application will automatically be denied.

Discretionary transportation will not be available for at least the first month of school.
During the school year, any request for transportation on a discretionary basis will require a minimum of 3 days for processing. This will provide time for the transportation staff to determine space availability on existing bus routes.

Please review the district transportation handbook on the WCSD website www.waterlooschools.org for more guidelines.

SUGGESTED SUPPLY LIST (2024-25)

FOR ALL WATERLOO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

• A backpack for each child is recommended. No wheels.
• All students need gym shoes for gym class.
• Classrooms can always use extra Clorox wipes, Copy paper, Dry Erase Markers.

(These are suggested supplies, but not required for your child to attend school.)

KINDERGARTEN

• 2 boxes of 24 crayons (regular size, Crayola work best)
• 1 package of dry erase markers – BLACK (Expo works best)
• 1 pair of scissors (Fiskars work best)
• 4-6 glue sticks
• 24 #2 wooden pencils with erasers (Ticonderoga works best)
• 2 pink erasers
• 2 different PLAIN/SOLID spiral notebooks, wide ruled, 70-100 sheets
• 2 different PLAIN/SOLID colored plastic pocket folders
• 1 hard-sided supply box (5 by 8 inches)
• 3 large boxes of tissue
• 1 package of sticky notes
• 1 box Crayola markers
• 1 ruler- 12 inch
• Earbuds/headphones (optional)
• 1 composition notebook

FIRST GRADE & SECOND GRADE

• 2 boxes of 24 crayons (regular size, Crayola work best)
• 4 dry erase markers – BLACK (Expo works best)
• 1 package of washable colored markers (Crayola works best)
• 1 pair of scissors (Fiskars work best)
• 4 glue sticks NO Liquid glue
• 48 #2 wooden pencils with erasers (Ticonderoga works best)
• 2 pink erasers
• 5 different PLAIN/SOLID spiral notebooks, wide ruled, 70-100 sheets (red, yellow, blue)
• 5 different PLAIN/SOLID colored plastic pocket folders (red, yellow, blue)
• 1 hard-sided supply box (5 by 8 inches)
• 2 large boxes of tissue
• 2 packages of sticky notes
• 1 package of wide-lined loose-leaf paper
• 1 one-inch three-ring binder (black) with front view clear sleeve
• 1 ruler 12 inch
• Earbuds/Headphones (optional)
• 2 composition notebooks

THIRD, FOURTH & FIFTH GRADES

• 1 box of 24 crayons (regular size, Crayola work best)
• 4 dry erase markers – BLACK
• 1 package of washable colored markers
• 1 pair of scissors (Fiskars work best)
• 2 glue sticks
• 48 #2 wooden pencils with erasers (Ticonderoga works best)
• 2 pink erasers
• Ear Buds/Headphones
• 1 package of pencil top erasers
• 1 pack of colored pencils
• 5 different PLAIN/SOLID spiral notebooks, wide ruled, 70-100 sheets (red, yellow, green,
  blue, black)
• 5 different PLAIN/SOLID colored plastic pocket folders (red, yellow, green, blue, black)
• 1 package of loose-leaf paper (wide ruled)
• 1 hard-sided supply box (5 by 8 inches)
• 2 large boxes of tissue
• 2 packages of sticky notes
• 1 inch three-ring binder
• 1 ruler- 12 inch
• 2 composition notebooks

MIDDLE SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST
(These are suggested supplies, but not required for your child to attend school.)

• 4 spiral notebooks
• 2 pocket folders
• 1 package loose-leaf paper (college or wide rule)
• 24 pens
• 48 pencils
• 1 package of markers
• 1 package of colored pencils
• 2 glue sticks
• 4 highlighters
• earbuds
• 4 boxes of tissue
• Shorts, T-shirt and tennis shoes for P.E.
• Note:
  • Parents are asked to replenish supplies as necessary.
  • Planners will be supplied by the schools, so assignment books need not be
    purchased.
  • Other supplies may be required for students in band.

DRESS CODE UPDATE

Follow the link for the board-approved dress code for students: CLICK HERE.

LUNCH PROGRAM

All students enrolled in the Waterloo Community School District are eligible for a healthy breakfast and healthy lunch at NO CHARGE to your household each day of the school year.

ALL WATERLOO SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE FREE LUNCHES FOR THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR!

The Waterloo Community School District is participating in the United States Department of Agriculture’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) in all elementary, middle, and high school buildings. The school district meets the reimbursement formula to qualify for no-cost breakfast and lunch. Pre-K students will also be offered an afternoon no-cost snack.

Please note:

Families will still be responsible for a la carte items, such as extra milk, extra entrées, and extra
side items.

There are no standard instructional fees.

There will continue to be fees for lost books, ID cards, yearbooks. parking, etc. that apply to
various schools. These fees are not subject to the Fee Waiver.

The school district operates a lunch and breakfast program. Students may bring their own lunches to school or they are eligible for free school lunch, including milk. Students with cold lunch brought from home, if they wish, may purchase milk for $.50. We do not participate in the free milk program. Students are not permitted to leave the building during lunchtime.

FOOD BROUGHT TO SCHOOL FROM HOME OR BY PARENTS/GUARDIANS

Food brought to school should adhere to district nutritional standards and should not be of minimal nutritional value. Parents/guardians are asked to only send items that will make positive contributions to a child’s diet and health. All food items, including those sent for class distribution (parties, birthdays, etc.) will be handled in accordance with the Regulation for Food Safety in Schools.

When a parent requests to have lunch with their student and it includes outside food (restaurant-prepared food), a place will be provided to have lunch. If bringing prepared food becomes a problem, each situation will be dealt with on an individual basis.

STUDENT LUNCH BALANCES CARRIED OVER

The monies that are currently in your student’s lunch account will remain there. The money can
be used for extra milk or ala carte items at the middle and high school levels. If you would like a
refund of the lunch monies in your child’s lunch account, please call (319)433-2037 or email
[email protected]. A refund will be processed.

NEGATIVE LUNCH BALANCES

Students who have negative balances from prior school years will continue to have a negative
lunch balance. Even though your child is eligible for free lunch meals this year, you are still
responsible for the meals served in prior years. Please make payments at your child’s school
building either to the lunch associate or the main school office. Payments for negative balances
can also be mailed to the WCS Food Service Office, 1554 Oakwood Drive, Waterloo, IA 50703.

 

Please [CLICK HERE] to access the PDF guide and ensure a successful start to the 2024-25 school year.

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