Dear Walker Families,
Welcome back! I hope your family has had a wonderful summer and is getting excited for a brand-new school year at Walker Elementary. We have been busy preparing classrooms, planning instruction, and getting our campus ready to welcome our students back. We cannot wait to see our Walker Owls!
This year, we are stepping up to the plate with our theme, “A League of Our Own.” At Walker, we know every student brings something special to our team, and when our students, staff, families, and community work together, there is truly no limit to what we can accomplish.
⚾ OPEN HOUSE – AUGUST 5 | 4:00–6:00 PM
We invite all families to join us for Open House! This is your opportunity to meet your child’s teacher ( will be available in Focus on July 31st), visit the classroom, receive important information for the year, and help your child feel comfortable and excited about coming back to school.
Doors will open at 3:30 PM for families who need to get in line for a car rider tag. If your child will be a car rider this year, please take care of this at Open House if possible so we are ready to go on the first day!
If you already have a car tag and nothing is changing, there is no need to wait in the car tag line. If you are simply adding a sibling to your current car tag number, let us know at Open House or email Ms. Shana Blahuta (shana.blahuta@okaloosaschools.com) with current tag number and the student you need to add.
Please also make sure your child’s teacher knows exactly how your child will be getting home each afternoon. Having accurate dismissal information before the first day helps us make dismissal as safe and smooth as possible.
📚 FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL – AUGUST 11
Our first day of school is Tuesday, August 11!
School begins at 8:30 AM each day, and our doors open at 8:05 AM.
We will have photo booths set up at the amphitheater and at various locations out front, so be sure to stop and grab those first-day pictures!
Parents are welcome to walk their students to class during the first four days of school. However, please remember that our teachers have a classroom full of students, and arrival time is not the best time for conferencing. If you need to have an in-depth conversation with your child’s teacher, please email them to set up a time to meet. This will ensure you have adequate time to discuss your questions or concerns without taking away from the teacher’s responsibility to welcome and supervise all students.
If your child will be eating breakfast with us, please plan your morning accordingly so they have enough time to eat and get to class. Students arriving after 8:30 AM will be tardy.
Every minute counts, and being at school on time and ready to learn makes a difference! We understand that occasionally our buses may arrive late, and we will absolutely accommodate our bus riders when that happens.
The first few days of arrival and dismissal naturally take a little longer as everyone learns routines and we verify transportation information. We appreciate your patience as we work to keep all of our students safe.
🍎 MEALS, SUPPLIES & FREE/REDUCED LUNCH APPLICATION
One very important back-to-school task for every Walker family is completing the Free and Reduced Lunch Application — even if you do not think your family will qualify.
These applications impact much more than meals. They help determine funding and resources available to our school and our students.
Completing the application is a simple way you can help Walker continue to receive resources that directly benefit our kids.
We are excited to share that the bulk of your student’s school supplies have already been purchased and delivered directly to your child’s teacher! This is one of the ways we are working to support our Walker families and help keep back-to-school costs as low as possible.
For the few remaining items listed on your child’s school supply list, we ask that you bring those with you to Open House if possible. Our hope is to alleviate some of the stress that can come with the first day of school—fewer supplies to carry, fewer things to remember, and one less thing for families to worry about as we start a great year together!
We never want back-to-school costs to be a burden for your family. If you need assistance with school supplies, please call our front office or email
Ms. Shana Blahuta. We will gladly make sure your child has what they need and have the supplies waiting with their teacher at Open House or on the first day of school.
💙 FIRST TWO WEEKS & CAMPUS VISITORS
The beginning of the school year is incredibly important for establishing strong routines and expectations for our students.
For the first two weeks of school, we will not have volunteers on campus or visitors joining students for lunch. This gives our teachers and students time to establish classroom, cafeteria, arrival, and dismissal routines without additional distractions.
After the first two weeks, families are welcome to begin joining their students for lunch and participating in volunteer opportunities according to our regular campus procedures. We love having our families involved and look forward to welcoming you once our students have had time to settle into their routines!
💙 THE WALKER WAY
At Walker, we believe in high expectations AND taking care of our kids. Our goal is for every child to feel known, loved, supported, and challenged to grow.
We are incredibly proud to begin this year as an A school, and we are not stopping there! Our goal is to continue growing academically while making Walker a place where children genuinely love coming to school.
This year you will hear us talk a lot about student growth, goal setting, celebrating progress, strong instruction, and making sure every student receives what they need to be successful. Our students will learn to take ownership of their learning and recognize that the small things they do each day add up to BIG growth.
Most importantly, you are part of our team. Communication and partnership matter. If you have a question or concern throughout the year, please reach out. We would much rather work together early than allow a small concern to become a big one.
There is something special about Walker Elementary, and I am incredibly excited about what is ahead for our students this year. We have an amazing staff, wonderful families, and some pretty incredible kids.
So get those backpacks ready, start practicing those early bedtimes, and get ready to play ball!
Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year. There truly is no league like our own!
We’ll see you at Open House on August 5!
With love and excitement,
Brittany Young
Principal
Walker Elementary School