Principal's Corner

 

Dear Whittier Elementary School Families,

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year!

I am honored and excited to continue serving as the principal of Whittier Elementary School. It has been a privilege to work alongside our dedicated staff, supportive families, and incredible students as we continue our Trajectory of Excellence. Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to ensuring that every Wildcat can learn, grow, and achieve.

As we begin a new school year, we are proud of the progress we have made together and excited about the opportunities ahead. Our commitment to high-quality instruction, strong relationships, and continuous improvement remains at the center of everything we do.

Data Celebrations

The 2025–2026 school year brought many accomplishments that are worth celebrating:

• ELA Achievement: Whittier met its ELA proficiency goal, reaching 21% proficiency on AASA. Literacy remains a schoolwide priority, and we look forward to building on this success as we work toward an additional 5% increase this year.

• AZELLA Success: Nearly 22% of our ELL students were reclassified through AZELLA after demonstrating proficiency on the state assessment. This accomplishment reflects the hard work of our students, the expertise of our staff, and the support of our families.

• AZSCI Growth: Our eighth-grade students demonstrated growth in science achievement, with AZSCI proficiency increasing by 2% over the previous year.

Our Focus for 2026–2027

This year, we will continue to strengthen instruction while providing targeted supports that meet the needs of every learner. We remain committed to fostering student engagement, increasing academic achievement, building meaningful family and community partnerships, and preparing students for future success.

We will also continue to emphasize our P.A.W.S. expectations of being Problem Solvers, Always Kind, Working Hard, and Staying Safe. These core values help us create the optimum learning environment for our students and serve as the foundation of our school culture.

Whether you are returning to Whittier or joining our school for the first time, know that you belong here. Together, we will continue building a school community where students are challenged, supported, and inspired to achieve excellence.

Thank you for your partnership, and I look forward to another outstanding year.

P.A.W.S. Up, Wildcats!

Mr. Richard Holmes, Principal