Helpful information for families about the school day, including dress code, arrival, personal technology, dismissal, and creating a safe school community.
School breakfast and lunch are FREE for every student.
Label all coats, hats, gloves, and water bottles with your student's name and classroom teacher.
All parent volunteers must have up-to-date volunteer clearance to attend field trips.
All snacks and lunches must be peanut-free.
Students must turn in all electronic devices at the start of the school day.
Keep toys at home — we cannot guarantee they will be treated at school as at home.
White or burgundy POLO shirt WITH KHAKI PANTS, SKIRTS, OR SHORTS.
Students are not permitted to wear head garments or wraps inside the building. Parents should notify the school in writing if a student must wear headgarments due to religious purposes.
Students can wear their Whittier swag any day of the week with khaki bottoms and on Fridays with jeans.
Please use the dress code options above as a guide when preparing your student for school.
Student dress-down days are only on the student's birthday, unless noted by Principal Johnson, and during spirit weeks throughout the year.
To ensure the safety and security of our school community, Whittier will operate with one designated entrance at 3rd and Sheridan. Parents and caregivers may not proceed beyond the drop-off zone near Building 1. Staff members will be stationed outside each morning to assist families, particularly as parking may be limited.
Drop-off is at the Building 1 drop-off zone. Please follow staff directions and use the designated entrance.
Students in Kindergarten through fifth grade will enter the bubble upon arrival.
PreK students should be dropped off at the entrance to Building 1. Staff are available to direct them to their classrooms.
School starts at 8:45 a.m. Students arriving after 9:00 a.m. should enter through the main gate, report to Building 2, and sign the tardy log, located inside the Welcome Center. There are also scannable QR codes posted that parents/guardians can use to sign the electronic Tardy Sign-in Sheet.
Students should not arrive before 8:00 a.m. because supervision is not available.
Whittier's cell phone policy will remain in effect this school year. If families choose to send their child to school with a cell phone or other personal technology, the device will be collected upon arrival, consistent with the Family Handbook.
DCPS policy prohibits students from accessing cell phones or personal electronic communication devices during the bell-to-bell school day while on DCPS school grounds. This includes cell phones, smartwatches and other wearable devices, Bluetooth headphones, laptops, tablets, and similar personal electronic devices.
DC Public Schools is deeply committed to the safety and security of all students. Beginning in School Year 2026–2027, every student in Pre-K–5 must have a completed and signed Elementary Student Dismissal Authorization Form on file.
The form includes two sections:
Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 students must be picked up by a parent, caregiver, or authorized adult and may not be released to another elementary-age child. Paper copies of the form are available in the main office.
In the event of inclement weather dismissal, families should pick up students from their designated building. Gates will open at 3:00 p.m., and families are encouraged to proceed directly to the boardwalk area for student pickup.
After-care programs will follow their regular dismissal procedures.
When the teacher dismisses the students at the end of the school day at 3:15 p.m., they are to go directly home, to their designated transportation area, or their daycare provider.
If a child is not picked up promptly — 10 minutes after dismissal — every effort will be made to contact the parent or the persons listed on the emergency card.
No supervision is provided for children after school unless they are in aftercare or participate in an extra-curricular activity.
If no contact is made within 30 minutes utilizing the emergency numbers, your child will be referred to Child and Family Services.
Whittier Elementary School is a community where it is imperative that all students and families feel welcomed and safe. We do not and will not tolerate bullying.
We ask that all of our students remember our mantra: if trouble finds you, find the nearest adult.
We also ask that our students be upstanders by working with us to make adults aware of any bullying and help anyone who might need it.
If you have experienced or witnessed bullying, please contact Ms. O'Connell, our school counselor, at jessica.oconnell@k12.dc.gov .
Read the DCPS Bullying Prevention Policy and parenting tips about cyberbullying →