Welcome from the Principal!

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! Our theme this year is “Best Foot Forward Every Step of the Way.” This theme will be shared with our students throughout the year encouraging them to put forth their best effort, make positive choices, and keep moving forward with perseverance, kindness, and confidence every day. 

Mark your calendars with the following information:

• New Family Orientation for 1st-5th Grade Families on Friday, August 14th at 9:00 a.m. All 1st-5th grade families new to R. D. White will become familiar with the school’s educational programs and general guidelines. Students are encouraged to attend,
• TK and Kindergarten Orientation on Friday, August 14th at 11:00 a.m. All incoming TK and kindergarten students and families, including Dual Immersion kindergarten students, will receive basic information about R. D. White’s TK and kindergarten program. This is NOT required for students who have already attended TK at R. D. White. Students are encouraged to attend. 
• First Day of School: Wednesday, August 19th. 

Arrival: Students enter the playground each morning from either the Geneva St. or the Everett St. pedestrian gate. Parents will pull through the traffic lane along the gate, remain in cars, and prompt their children to exit once the car is in the green coned area (safe zone). Gates open at 7:40 a.m. each morning. Since school starts at 8:10 a.m., the pedestrian gates will close at 8:10 a.m. Please do not drop off students as the gate is closing. It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that their child has entered the playground. Students who arrive after the gate has closed will need to enter school from the front office to receive a late slip.

Dismissal: Students will be dismissed by grade level on the front lawn. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays:

o   TK is dismissed at 1:10 p.m.

o   Kindergarten is dismissed at 1:55 p.m.

o   1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade is dismissed at 2:15 p.m.

o   4th and 5th grade is dismissed at 2:35 p.m. 

Wednesdays are Banking days and students are dismissed earlier. On Wednesdays:

o   TK is dismissed at 12:35 p.m.

o   Kindergarten is dismissed at 12:55pm

o   1st -3rd grade is dismissed at 1:15pm

o   4th -5th grade is dismissed at 1:35pm. 

Please refer to this map for classroom dismissal locations.

*The first day of school is on a Wednesday, a banking day! 

Class Assignments: Class assignments will be available to you on Tuesday, August 18th after 4:00 p.m. on Parent Square. Download the Parent Square App now as this will also be the main communication tool. On Parent Square, families can see which teacher their child has been assigned to. During this transition to a new school year, remember to surround your child with positivity. Some students will miss their previous teacher and some may have hoped to have a different teacher. All of our teachers will provide support and encouragement, and combined with your help, your child will adjust to a new year quickly. There will be no class changes.

First Day of School: The first day of school is on Wednesday, August 19. School begins at 8:10 a.m. for all students in TK - 5th grade. Please plan to arrive early on the first day of school to avoid traffic. The pedestrian gates will be open at 7:40 a.m. on the first three days of school. Please refer to this map to see where your child will line up each morning. Know your child’s room number and identify it on the map. All students line up at their room number every morning. During the first three days of school, we allow parents to join students on the playground to help them find their room number and designated line up area. This is a good way to help your child become familiar with the school. This is also where you will say goodbye for the day as parents will NOT be allowed in the classrooms. Beginning Monday, August 24th, we ask that you drop off your child(ren) at the Everett or Geneva St. pedestrian gate and not enter campus for safety reasons.

Breakfast and Lunch: All students are eligible to receive two free meals per day. Students may have breakfast before school or at recess, and then a lunch. Breakfast is served from 7:40-8:00 a.m. These meals are optional. Students may bring lunch from home if they prefer. All families are encouraged to complete the annual nutrition services application on the GUSD website under Nutrition Services. 

Additional Information:

• Back to School Night and PTA Association meeting will be on Wednesday, September 2. 
• Friday, September 4 is a minimum day. Students in TK will be dismissed at 10:44am, Kindergarten will be dismissed at 11:34am, students in 1st-3rd grade will be dismissed at 11:54am, and students in 4th and 5th grade will be dismissed at 12:14pm.  
• Please reference our school website for additional information. 
• Every Friday is spirit day.  Students can show their school spirit by wearing their favorite R.D. White shirt or purple, our school color.  More information on ordering school shirts will follow soon.
• Every Sunday evening you will receive a notification through Parent Square, along with an email, with the week’s events. Please read all messages thoroughly. Download the Parent Square App!
• You can reference the school calendar through the Parent Square App or on the website.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Sincerely,

Lisa Kaprielian
Principal