For William Walker Families
Family FAQ
The questions new William Walker families ask us most — pulled from our first-week ParentSquare post and organized so you can find your answer fast.
Last updated August 24, 2026 · ← All family links
Getting There & Home
Drop-off, pickup, and the walk to school.
Straight from the school & Beaverton School District
What time does the school day start and end?
Doors open at 8:10 a.m. — there's no supervision before then, so students can't be dropped off earlier. School starts at 8:25 a.m. Dismissal is 3:00 p.m., with a pickup window through 3:10 p.m.
William Walker is a late-start elementary, so its bell times are different from some other Beaverton schools — if you've had a student at an early-start school, don't go on muscle memory.
Kindergarten has a staggered start for the first two days: last names A–L start Thursday, August 27; M–Z start Friday, August 28.
How does drop-off work?
- Come to a complete stop, and wait. Don't start rolling until the door is shut and your student is clear of the car.
- Stay in the car. If you need to get out for any reason — including walking your student to the doors — park in a designated spot instead.
- You don't need to pull all the way up to the doors. Kids can walk the last few car lengths, and it gets everyone through faster.
- Watch the crosswalk, and go turtle speed. Stop for people in the crosswalk and follow the traffic laws so everyone around you can predict what you'll do.
Can we walk or bike instead of using the drop-off line?
Yes — every family who walks or bikes is one less car in the line, which makes the route safer and more visible for everyone.
It takes a little planning: map a route through the neighborhood that sticks to sidewalks and marked crosswalks, and walk it together once before the first day so it's familiar. It helps to find a nearby family to walk with — kids stick with it when it's social.
Can my child walk to school if we're outside the official walk zone?
PTC guidance — not a district policy citation
Yes. The walk zone determines who qualifies for bus service — it isn't a rule about who's allowed to walk. Plan a route with sidewalks and marked crosswalks, walk it together once beforehand, and consider pairing up with another family.
What if we're running late in the morning?
If you arrive at or after 8:25, don't use the drop-off lane — park and walk your student into the office to sign in. It takes about two minutes, and it's how the office knows they made it in.
What if my child's pickup plan changes, or we need to switch between the bus and parent pickup?
Call the office at 503-356-2520 by 2:00 p.m. That covers bus-to-parent-pickup, parent-pickup-to-bus, or any other change. Calls after 2:00 p.m. are hard to get to your student's classroom in time.
If your child is in THRIVE, also call Cedar Hills Recreation Center directly at 503-629-6340 — THPRD runs THRIVE and needs to hear about the change separately from the school.
When Something's Off
Sick days, absences, and reaching the office.
Straight from the school & Beaverton School District
When should I keep my child home sick?
Keep them home if they have a fever, are vomiting, or have diarrhea.
How do I report an absence?
Call the office at 503-356-2520. A quick call in the morning saves the office from chasing you down later, and keeps the absence recorded correctly.
How do I reach the school office?
Call 503-356-2520. The school website has other ways to reach staff and departments.
Does attendance really matter this early in the year?
Yes — the district's goal is for every student to be at school 90% or more of the time. That sounds like a low bar until you do the math: it's about one missed day every two weeks, and it adds up quickly in the early grades.
The school also recognizes students who attend every day in a given week with a small prize.
Food
Meals, menus, and allergies.
Straight from the school & Beaverton School District
Are meals free?
Yes — breakfast and lunch are free for every student, every day, with no application or income requirement. That covers all Beaverton schools this year. Breakfast is available once doors open at 8:10, so it's worth coming a few minutes early if your child wants it.
Can my child bring lunch from home instead?
Yes — kids are always welcome to eat a school breakfast or lunch even if they also packed something from home.
One thing that trips people up: for a school meal to be free, your child has to take the complete meal — grabbing just a milk, for example, doesn't count.
What about food allergies or special diets?
Special diet & allergy information , published by Beaverton Nutrition Services for every menu.
The Apps
ParentSquare, ParentVUE, the bus tracker, and menus.
Straight from the school & Beaverton School District
Do I need both ParentSquare and ParentVUE?
Yes — they're different, with separate logins.
- ParentSquare is for regular communication with the school: messages from teachers and staff, and notifications about events. It's where you'd see a post like the one this FAQ was built from — open it for day-to-day updates.
- ParentVUE is for student records: grades, report cards, and finding out who your child's teacher is — open it to check grades or confirm placement.
If you've only set up one, set up the other tonight.
What is Here Comes the Bus, and when should I use it?
It's a free app that tracks your child's bus in real time. If your child rides the bus, look up their route and stop and set it up — worth doing the night before, not on the first morning.
School Life
More on the way.
These are things families ask about often — full answers are coming as we confirm details with the school and PTC leads.
The PTC
Who we are, and how to get involved.
From the William Walker PTC — independent of the school district
What is the PTC?
The William Walker PTC is the parent- and staff-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit behind programs like Art Literacy, field trips, Oregon Battle of the Books, Reading Week, Field Day, Walkerthon, Trunk or Treat, Multicultural Night, and the teacher discretionary funds that keep classrooms stocked.
It's an independent organization — not officially administered by Beaverton School District. There are no dues, and every William Walker parent and guardian is already a voting member.
When and where are PTC meetings?
First Wednesday of the month, 6:00–7:00 PM, in the cafeteria, with a Zoom option. The next meeting is Wednesday, September 2. Come see what's being worked on, bring an idea, or just listen in.
How do I get involved or volunteer?
Come to one meeting, help at one event, or take on a whole project — all of it helps.
Do I need to be cleared by the district to volunteer?
Yes, for anything involving contact with students. Get district-cleared ahead of time so you're ready when you're needed.