Summer Book Clubs with Ms. Hartley

Looking for a fun way to get your kiddos reading this summer? Ms. Hartley is bringing Summer Book Club opportunities your way! She hopes these Book Clubs will be a fun way to keep reading & hang out with new and old friends. These will be mini (2-session) Book Clubs this summer to accommodate travel plans. Times might be adjustable - let her know if you have a conflict and she will consider it with the group.

Sign ups will close:

June Book Clubs -- May 24

July Book Clubs -- July 5

Click the link below to see what books are being offered, meeting dates and details. Please reach out with any questions!

TNLittles Summer Book Clubs CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

Field Day Volunteer Needs

WB Field Day is coming up on May 15th and this year's theme is BEACH games! Coach Edwards and Coach Dison have an awesome day planned for our kids. To make it a success we need LOTS of parent volunteers!

The sign up is organized in 2 different ways this year - Allowing for some parents volunteer with their child at 50 minute rotations and also so WatchDogs and community volunteers can take half day shifts at particular rotations. Note, all rotations will be on school property this year!  You are also welcome to sign up for multiple slots! If a slot is full and it's the only time you can help, come help anyways, we can use the extra people throughout the day.

PLEASE PRIORITIZE VOLUNTEERING WHEN THERE ARE SLOTS BECAUSE WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

There are also slots available for when need help at lunch time delivering pizza to classrooms and at the end of day delivering popsicles for cool down treats. 

NOTE: The WatchDOG games held on the WB basketball courts are all led by WatchDOGS again this year so we especially need coverage in this area to facilitate games!

SIGN UP HERE!

WBES Spring Art Show

Spring Art Show on Wednesday, April 29th from 5:00pm - 6:30pm in the gymnasium. 

Over 1000 pieces of artwork will be on display for families to see. Students have worked so hard this year to make this event amazing. Please join us to celebrate the boundless creativity of our young artists. 

Select artworks are framed and readily available for pre-order purchasing. A portion of the proceeds will go to our art program for art supplies! 

To view your child's artwork online, the virtual art show is now available for you to pre-order your child's framed art. Once pre-orders are made, you can pick up your child's artwork at the art show. In the website, you can find the artwork by searching for your child's homeroom teacher's name and/or grade level in the following online link:   https://artomestore.com/collections/waverlybelmontelementary37204

Here are your options to purchase framed art:

Option 1:Preorder your child's framed art online (recommended) and pickup in person

Option 2: Attend the art show and purchase in person

Option 3: Order online & ship it to your home

Option 4: For duplicates, pre-order online and pickup at the art show or ship it to your home.

Option 5: Become an "Art Angel" to donate a frame to another family. 

If for any reason that you're unable to attend the art show and you've preordered your child's framed art before the day of the art show, it will be given to your child's homeroom teacher upon the next 1-5 days.  

If you do not see your child's artwork online from the homeroom teacher link, please check the grade level link on the website or their art will be displayed at the in-person art show. All students artwork pieces are in alphabetical order, according to each student's first name.

Thank you for supporting the arts and students at Waverly Belmont and we look forward to seeing you there. 

Please contact Sheronda.howard@mnps.org with any questions!

BUDGET/WAITLIST INFO NEEDED

A note from the principals:

As many of you know, we had to lose a teacher at the beginning of this school year due to enrollment. In preparation for next school year, we want to ensure our enrollment numbers are accurate and that we are budgeting correctly for faculty/staff and resource needs.

If you will NOT be attending Waverly Belmont Elementary School for the 2026-2027 school year, please fill out the form below to let us know. We have a long waitlist and will be offering spots based on this data. Thank you for your help!

FILL OUT THIS FORM

Playground Update 3/19/26

Thank you again for the incredibly valuable feedback on the playground options—we truly appreciate the time and thought you all put into it.

We wanted to share a quick update following spring break, as our timeline has shifted slightly. Based on your input, we selected Burke as our vendor, and they’ve refined the initial design to align with both our budget and community priorities. The updated design has been with MNPS for review and ADA approval since the first week of February.

While we’ve encountered a few delays during that process, we’re actively working through them and staying closely engaged to keep things moving. The PTO is focused on completing this process as quickly as possible.

We’ll share more details on installation as soon as we have a confirmed timeline. Thank you again for your partnership and patience—we’re excited to bring this project to life for our community!

-Brittany Finney (New Playground Initiative Lead) & Bethany Gillin (25/26 PTO Pres)

FONDA HOT CHOCOLATE FUNDRAISER

All Waverly-Belmont families are invited to enjoy an afternoon of delicious treats, Mexican hot chocolate, and family-friendly fun! Ticket includes an assortment of refreshments (dessert, snacks, hot chocolate) and exclusive access to FONDA 12South from 3-5 pm on March 1st. 
This event is generously sponsored by FONDA 12South. All proceeds go directly to the WB PTO to support school-based initiatives. Thank you to FONDA and to YOU for supporting the students of Waverly-Belmont!  
Tickets ARE $15 for adults and $10 for kids and can be purchased by clicking the link HERE!

SGA Share The Love Toiletry Drive

The Student Government Association is collecting travel-size toiletries to donate to individuals experiencing homelessness in our community. Travel-size toiletries provide comfort, dignity and care to those in need. Your donation shows kindness and compassion from our school community. Even the smallest items can make a big difference!  Donations are accepted through Friday, February 20 and can be delivered to the front lobby of the school during drop-off in the morning.

READ ME WEEK: March 2-6 & Family Literacy Showcase (March 5)

Read Me week is one of the most fun weeks of the year at WBES! The theme this year is “Reading Takes You Places.” Check out the flyer below for the dress up day themes, Literacy night info and volunteer requests!

We also need volunteers to help decorate the school and the different hallways, OR make donations of items and decor if decorating isn’t your thing. You can check out that list and SIGN UP HERE! NOTE: This sign up genius includes BOTH time-slot times to sign up for AND the Amazon Wishlists for each hall are included in the “extended description” at the top of the signup genius.

Lastly, Mark your calendars for the Family Literacy Showcase on March 5th from 5-7pm. This fun FREE event includes pizza, activities a goodie bag and book for each family! Come enjoy all the amazing places reading can take you (including WBES!)

Summer Camp with Ms. Elliott!

Join one of our amazing GATE teachers, Ms. Elliott for camp this summer!

Games & Gadgets camp will be offered June 15-19 and June 22-26 with different challenges offered for each week of camp.

Jungle Camp will be offered July 13-17 with a readers theater!

$295 per camper per week, Rising K-5th, 9am - 3pm at the Wedgewood Houston Community Center. To register or ask questions, email Ms. Elliott at daveandnat0607@yahoo.com

New Playground FAQ

Here are the answers to some Frequently Asked Questions as we anticipate the purchase and installation of new playground equipment.

 

  • Why was the Natural Playground deemed unsafe?

    • The natural playground does not meet Metro ADA standards, the tunnel creates opportunities where the view is obstructed for supervising teachers, and the fall area around the hill and large boulders are not cushioned enough since rain frequently washes away all of the mulch.

  • Where will the new playground be located?

    • The new playground will replace the existing natural playground's footprint.  The structure and swings will be the primary components with most likely some open space to evaluate a phase two in future years (zipline, climbing tower, obstacle course, etc.) - or to leave open for football/soccer if that's what our kiddos want and need!

  • How will we know that the new playground is safe?

    • The new playground will meet all of Metro's safety requirements, including a substantial layer of mulch to provide cushion from falls.  The mulch will be secured in place with borders to prevent rain from washing the materials away.

  • How big will the new playground be?

    • The primary playset structures range in size between 4,500 sq ft and 5,500 sq ft.

  • Can we have slides? What will they look like?

    • Yes! See the more detailed renderings added to the PTO website here: New Playground.  Each option includes two slides.  The Burke playgrounds (options 1 and 2) include a straight one with a fast decent and a spiral one.  The Playworld playground (option 3) includes two that are more 'wavy or curvy' in different heights.

  • What is the additional amount needed to be able to get the zip line now? 

    • Approximately $20k-$25k, depending on the final design.

  • Might we be able to raise some additional funds for the zip line?

    • Several of you have expressed interest in donating towards a zip line, and we are so grateful for this community’s generosity. We have received thoughtful feedback and alternative suggestions, however, that we feel should be fully evaluated before deciding to move forward with this specific feature.  Concerns raised include increased supervision and management challenges for our teachers, durability and maintenance inquiries, limited capacity, and safety logistics. Alternative suggestions, including from our kids in grades 3 – 5, that would serve more than one child at a time include an obstacle course, monkey bars, and net climbing structure.  We are excited to continue exploring the best options to support our families and staff for this specific space in the future.

  • Will there be any shade components?

    • The current designs do not include any features that provide shade, but a number of responses indicated that there is a strong desire for that. If we cannot fit that into this current budget, we feel it should be a priority for next year’s fundraising efforts.

  • Will there be any trash cans or locations for coats/backpacks?

    • Like the shade component question, the current designs do not include these features. We will work with Admin to try to source these items upon completion of the playground.

  • We have some physically challenged students, will there be anything that is easily accessible to them aside from the one swing?

    • Each playground design is currently going through preliminary review with MNPS to verify that they are ADA compliant. With playgrounds, ADA compliance often comes down to interpretation of the ADA standards, but we can say that each manufacturer has strived to make these designs as inclusive as possible. A small example is the ADA ramp that will be used to access the playground. Also, as part of the playground designs, several of the accesses to the structures are ground-level and designed specifically for children who are mobility impaired.  The Quote Comparison Chart highlights some of the ADA/inclusive elements from each design, including elements that may assist with regulation needs for certain students.

  • Will we be removing the stumps and rocks?

    • Yes, the plan is to haul those off with the installation of the new playground. If anybody is interested in a commemorative Waverly Belmont tree stump, we’re happy to set it aside J

  • Can we have a net/rope climbing structure?

    • Both Burke designs currently have multiple net structures included in the renderings shown on the New Playground website.

  • Will the new playground have similar drainage issues to the current Natural Playground?

    • We did speak with the vendors about this issue during site visits. We are confident that a leveled, raised mulch bed with full borders will allow rainwater to seep through and exit the playground without washing the substrate away. Should we experience drainage issues early on, we discussed the possibility of adding a French drain to assist in drainage.

NEW PLAYGROUND INFO

As many of you know, many of our fundraising efforts the past two years have included plans to purchase new playground equipment and the time to do that has come! Read on for:

JT MOORE WELLNESS MATTERS EVENT

JT Moore will host their 3rd-annual Wellness Matters event Wednesday, Jan. 28th  at 5:45 pm. This event is for ALL parents, caregivers, and educators to come and learn about ways to help their children navigate various mental health and wellness issues facing children today. Parents will get to choose from topics presented by Nashville-area professionals. Topics include: Screentime, anxiety, navigating peer conflicts, motivation, the joys and sorrows of parenting teenagers, and more! Feeder schools such as WB are invited to attend.

RSVP HERE (https://forms.gle/8B5ecj2k67jCZ7URA)

STAFF MEMBER HOLIDAY GIFTS

Every year we love to make sure all of our staff who work so hard for our kids every day gets a gift during the holiday season.  Below is a sign up, you can sign up for a staff member to bring a gift (gift cards are great).  More info is in the sign up.  Please have the gifts delivered or brought to school by Wednesday, December 17th.  Thank you SO much for help with these efforts!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E49AFAA28AAFAC16-61201074-wbholiday