** NEW School HOURS 2023-2024 ** 

M/Tu/Th/F: 8:30-3:30 

Wed: 8:30-2:30

Welcome to Wheeler Elementary! 

Dear Wheeler Families,

Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year. We are honored that you have chosen Wheeler for your child’s education. We are looking forward to an amazing school year.  We are committed to your child achieving short-term and long-term personal excellence.  It is with great anticipation that we look towards a school year filled with wonderful achievements for each Wildcat!

This school year we will be celebrating the theme “CREATE”.  We will focus on empowering each member of our Wheeler family to grow and celebrate their CREATIVITY. I encourage you to stay up to speed on communication from Wheeler and MPS. Please check your email regularly, and follow us on Facebook (WheelerWildcatsWorld) and Twitter (@wheeler_mps).

WELCOME NEW STAFF

2nd Grade- Miss Emily Lorenzen

3rd Grade- Miss Elizabeth Clay

4th Grade- Mr. TJ Kloewer

ACP- Mrs. Ashton Simon

Full Time Music- Miss Aliya Spale   

 .5 Music & Orchestra- Mrs. Val Kemp    

SLP- Mrs. Emily Kurz

Occupational Therapist- Ms. Emily Nielsen    

Grade Level Sections :

• ACP- Mrs. Simon, Mrs. McGuire

• Kindergarten - Mrs. White, Mrs. Sobotka, Mrs. Hammer, Mrs. Sherman

• 1st grade - Miss Steensma, Ms. Stock, Mrs. Bartling, Mrs. Chandler

• 2nd grade - Mrs. Chapman, Mrs. Studt, Miss Lorenzen, Miss Cloyed, Mrs. Ellsworth

• 3rd grade - Mr. Fleming, Mrs. Rupp, Mrs. Venn, Miss Clay, Mrs. Wurtele

• 4th grade - Mrs. Krienke-Hansen, Mrs. Beresh, Miss Timmons, Miss Hammer, Mr. Kloewer

• 5th grade - Mrs. McGregor, Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Zuniga, Mrs. Wismer

Teacher assignments are based on many factors including academic need, a blending of students, and gender balance. This work is done as a large team during the early spring of the prior year. Following these considerations, placement is assigned. We have great teachers, supportive parents, and super kids. Please know much thought has been given to the placement of each child. Classroom teachers will be emailing families with your child's classroom placement by Monday, August 7th by 5pm.

Regular School Hours:

• School hours are 8:30 - 3:30 on M, T, Th, F and 8:30 - 2:30 on W.

• Morning supervision begins at 8:15.  

• The tardy bell rings at 8:30.  

• Students arriving after the tardy bell rings will need to enter the school through the front doors and check-in at the office.

• Afternoon supervision is from 3:30 - 3:40.  

• Please make sure your children are picked up by 3:40 pm.

Drop Off Procedures:

• We ask that you drop your child(ren) off between 8:15-8:30. Staff members will be available to assist students to their classrooms.  

Traffic

• **Please see the upcoming 7/28 Growler**

Lunch/Breakfast Accounts:

• Please go to Millard Public Schools Food Service website (https://www.mpsomaha.org/departments/food-services) to learn more about My School Bucks for depositing money in your child’s lunch account or to find the application for FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH.

• If your child will be eating breakfast at school, we ask that they please arrive between 8:15 - 8:25 so they can eat breakfast and start the school day on time at 8:30.

• You can check the MPS food service website for menu listings.

Communication:

• Every other Friday, you will receive an email with reminders about upcoming events and/or a link to our school newsletter, The Wheeler Growler. Please take time to read through this newsletter as it contains important information about school-wide happenings. Classroom teachers will also communicate with you in various ways such as electronic or paper newsletters, classroom Facebook pages, email or the SeeSaw app. 

Safety:

• Staff members will be monitoring all arrival and dismissal areas for safety.

• Observe all posted signage related to traffic.

• Always remain in your car when dropping off/picking up your child(ren) along the curbs. Staff members will be available to assist your children in exiting or entering a vehicle.

• Children should exit/enter cars through the curbside door only.

• Please observe arrival and dismissal times --- it's important to have your child at school on time as classes start promptly at 8:30. Dismissal time is also important as staff members have additional responsibilities at the end of each school day.

It is such a pleasure to serve as your principal.  Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions, celebrations, or concerns.  It is the goal of all Wheeler staff to provide your child with the best educational experience possible. I look forward to working with each of you during the 2023-2024 school year.

Sincerely,

Dr. Courtney Manzitto

Principal