Whitney M. Young

                                                                                                                                                    July 26, 2023

Dear Whitney M. Young Parents, Guardians, Caregivers, and Families,

Hope you are all doing well and excited for the upcoming school year. As we continue to prepare for the return of the scholars on August 21, 2023, we wanted to take a moment to provide a school supply list for scholars in grades kindergarten through eight. The items below are important as we noticed a need to assist our scholars regarding organization. Additionally, as we are aware of the economics of this, please keep in mind special days set aside for this such as Tax-Free Day which occurs from Friday, August 4^th to Sunday, August 6^th, 2023. During this weekend, the following provisions include:

• School supplies at $20 or less are tax free.
• School instructional materials at $20 or less also fall into this tax-free category.

During tax-free weekends (weeks, in some cases), participating states cut sales tax on certain items and make back-to-school shopping a little more affordable. That means, if you shop at a retailer in a state while that state is running its tax-free holiday, you’ll pay no sales tax. No paperwork or coupon is required, the state sales tax will just be waived at checkout, assuming you make a purchase that’s covered under your state’s tax-free weekend. All states offering tax-free weekends place some restrictions on what you can buy tax free.

And, yes, national retailers are required to participate in tax-free weekends in the states they do business in. So, as long as you’re shopping during your state’s tax-free weekend or tax-free week IN that state, you won’t pay sales tax at retailers like Walmart, Amazon and Target.

Please see below for the K-8 school supply list:

As organization will be a large focus this year for the middle school team, we are also implementing Binder Checks on a biweekly basis in each of the four academic classes. That means that scholars will be required to bring their materials (see list above) with them to each class and that it will be a grade.

On a final note, in a continued effort to support our scholars and families in preparation for the end of the year state tests, scholars will have homework for grades K-8 Monday through Thursday . This homework will be paper, and pencil based, not online. It will be turned in daily to the respective teacher and graded.  To assist with this, it will be necessary for each family to have school-based supplies as well as an appropriate working space for scholars to complete their assignments at home. These assignments will be a reflection and a review of the material that has previously been covered in class to reinforce the skills. Each assignment should be completed independently and with minimal adult support.

Lastly, while each classroom will have two pencil containers, one for sharp pencils and one for dull, we are not providing pencils. Instead, teachers will exchange dull pencils for sharp ones when scholars ask. That way, we are holding to the expectations that scholars are coming prepared to each class and are ready to learn.

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at (216) 838-5350.

Go Warriors!

The Whitney M. Young Admin Team

(Mrs. Bias, Principal, Mrs. Dykstra, Vice Principal and Mr. McFarland, Dean of Engagement)