The Lion's Roar
Important Dates
SEPTEMBER
29: Fall Picture Day
OCTOBER
01: Physical Therapy Month
02: School Custodian Appreciation Day
04: Fire Prevention Week
08: PTO Fall Fest
09: Teacher Workday - No School for Students
12: Columbus Day Holiday - No School
12: National School Lunch Week
13: CCR Day - No School for Students
15: Star Student Ceremony (Invite Only)
19: National School Bus Safety Week
20: Fall Picture Make-up Day
21: Unity Day
22: Parent/Teacher Conferences - No School
23: Parent/Teacher Conferences - No School
26: Red Ribbon Week
27: National Occupational Therapist Day
Reminders
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Tardy Bell rings at 8:30 a.m.
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No Dismissal Changes after 1:00 p.m.
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No Student Check-outs after 2:45 p.m.
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Morning Clubs start at 7:15 a.m.
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Afternoon Clubs end at 4:20 p.m.
Grade-Level Newsletters
Want to know what your child is learning this month? Click on your child’s grade level below to explore their Weekly Newsletter! Each link is packed with exciting classroom highlights, upcoming projects, learning goals, and tips to support learning at home.
As we welcome the first days of fall, we are finally noticing changes in the weather outside! However, cooler temperatures in the classrooms and warmer temperatures during recess and dismissal can make it challenging for students to stay comfortable throughout the day. We encourage families to continue dressing children in layers so they can easily adjust to the different environments they experience throughout the school day.
A big thank you to all of the families who joined us for our first Lunch With Lions event of the school year on Wednesday and Thursday! It was wonderful to see the smiles, laughter, and joy shared as our Kindergarten through 5th-grade students enjoyed a picnic-style lunch outdoors with their loved ones. Events like these help strengthen our school community, and we appreciate everyone who was able to participate.
Looking ahead, Fall Picture Day will be held on Tuesday, September 29. All classes have been scheduled to have the opportunity for individual photos to be taken. Please be on the lookout for ordering information that will be shared once the photo sessions are complete.
As we move into the final weeks of Quarter 1, our Lions continue to stay focused on their academic goals and are working hard each day. Your partnership plays an essential role in your child's success, and we are grateful for the support, encouragement, and involvement you provide!
Thank you for being an important part of the E.A. White Elementary family. We hope everyone enjoys a safe, relaxing, and wonderful weekend!
We are the E.A. White LIONS... hear us ROAR! 🦁
In Partnership,
Mrs. Thorne, Principal
Mrs. Enyeart, Assistant Principal
Tip from the Front Office
Fort Benning Schools utilize the DoWEA Notification System (Everbridge) to communicate important updates, including school closures and event reminders. To ensure you receive these critical notifications, please make sure not to block our Everbridge number: 678-364-8000.
Please be aware that, on occasion, calls from this number may be labeled as "potential spam" or “Atlanta, GA” by some cell phone carriers. We recommend adding this number to your contacts to avoid any disruptions in receiving school-related updates.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Registrar Notes
🏠 LEASE POLICY: Families who have received a 90-Day Housing Letter, kindly remember to submit a copy of your lease to the school upon receiving it.
📦 STUDENT WITHDRAWALS: If you are moving out of the Patton Village neighborhood, please notify the front office as soon as possible. This will allow us to process your student’s withdrawal and get their records ready for their new school.
UPK Meal Program Reminder
- All UPK students need a school meal account.
- Meals from home are not permitted.
- Family-style dining is a required part of the UPK curriculum.
- Students build independence by serving themselves and making food choices.
- Mealtime supports social skills, communication, and healthy eating habits.
Please create your child's meal account after completing UPK registration.
School Advisory Council Representatives
We are pleased to announce that the election process for the School Advisory Committee (SAC) for School Year 2026–2027 has concluded. Thank you to all who participated and supported this important initiative.
We are excited to welcome our newly elected parent representatives:
Parent Representatives:
- Ms. Jacqueline Crosbie
- Ms. Courtney Salcedo
- Ms. Sommer Shmidl
We are excited to welcome our faculty representatives back to their roles:
Faculty Representatives:
- Ms. Searcy Bull
- Dr. Pamela Williams
- Dr. Sharon Womack
We look forward to the great work they will do as we continue to partner together to support student success and strengthen our school community. Thank you for your continued support of E.A. White Elementary School.
Fall Picture Day is Coming
Get ready to smile, Lions! 😊
Fall Picture Day will be held on Tuesday, September 29. This is an important day because student photos taken on Picture Day will be used for this year's school yearbook.
Parents can help their students prepare by choosing a favorite outfit and making sure they arrive ready with their best smile!
Additional information regarding picture ordering will be shared with families after Picture Day. For updates and reminders, please visit the Lion Pride PTO Facebook page.
We look forward to seeing lots of happy faces and capturing portraits for our 2026-2027 yearbook!
Personal Portable Electronic Mobile Devices (PPEMDs)
Just a friendly reminder about our Personal Portable Electronic Mobile Device (PPEMD) expectations for students.
PPEMDs are personal devices that are portable and/or wearable. They may store data, communicate with others, connect to a smartphone, the internet, or a wireless network, or provide multimedia functions. Depending on the device, capabilities may include phone calls, text messaging, email, taking photos, audio or video recording, gaming, social media access, Bluetooth connectivity, and wireless network access.
Examples of PPEMDs include:
- Cell phones and smartphones
- Smartwatches
- Tablets
- Bluetooth-enabled devices
- Wearable technology
- Handheld gaming devices
During the school day, PPEMDs should be on silent or vibrate, stored securely, and kept out of sight. School-issued devices used for learning are not affected by this expectation.
Thank you for helping students stay focused, engaged, and ready to learn each day! We appreciate your partnership and support.
Learning Happens at the Lunch Table, Too!
Did you know our UPK students participate in Family-Style Dining? During mealtime, children practice important life skills by serving themselves with adult support, making food choices, and enjoying conversations with their classmates. Family-style dining is a best practice encouraged by the USDA and is part of DoWEA's full-day Prekindergarten program.
More than just a meal, family-style dining helps children:
✅ Build independence and self-help skills
✅ Practice sharing, turn-taking, and good manners
✅ Strengthen communication and language skills
✅ Develop healthy eating habits and try new foods
✅ Improve fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination
Every meal is an opportunity for our youngest Lions to learn, grow, and connect with others in a positive classroom community. 🦁❤️🍎
Lion Pride PTO
Our Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) is dedicated to fostering a strong, supportive community for our students, teachers, and families. Through various events, fundraisers, and volunteer opportunities, the Lion Pride PTO works tirelessly to enhance the educational experience at E.A. White Elementary.
Stay connected and get involved by following their Facebook page for the latest updates and ways to contribute. Together, we can achieve great things for our school!
Please note: The Lion Pride PTO is a private organization; it is not part of the Department of War or any of its components and has no governmental status.
2026-2027 Lion Pride PTO Board
President: Kayla Good
Vice President: Jacqueline Crosbie
Treasurer: Elsie Petties
Secretary: Daisy Lund
💛 Spirit Fridays 💙
Fridays are Spirit Days! Students are encouraged to show their Lion Pride by wearing their favorite school spirit wear or school colors each Friday.
Whether it's a spirit shirt, school sweatshirt, or our school colors, let's fill the hallways with Lion Pride and school spirit. We can't wait to see everyone representing our school community!
Important Links & Resources
Attendance
Our front office has a new Absence Excuse Submission Form to help make attendance notes quick and easy!
In accordance with DoDEA Regulation 2095.01, attendance is mandatory, and absences are monitored to ensure continuity of instruction and academic progress. Parents should notify the school of their child’s absence within 30 minutes of the start of the school day.
School Nurse
🧁 CLASSROOM CELEBRATIONS: If parents choose to send a food item for celebrations, it must be store-bought, prepackaged, and individually wrapped. Parents must contact the school nurse, Ms. Pettway siobhann.pettway@dodea.edu, at least ONE WEEK before the celebration if food will be brought in. This ensures we can address any student allergies.
School Advisory Committee
If you have a topic or concern you would like discussed at our next SAC meeting, please use our Google Form to submit your input.
Featured News
Activities
Follow us on Social Media
School Procedures
School Administrators
Contacts
| Name | Position Details | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Front Office | Front Office | 762-524-6560 |
|
Grades |
Regular Hours |
Tuesday Hours |
|---|---|---|
|
Prekindergarten - 5th |
8:30 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. |
8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. |
The 2nd Tuesday of every month is our Early Release Day.
Lunch is served from 11:15 - 12:30 depending on the grade level. Please note that no outside fast food is allowed in the cafeteria.
Office Hours
Monday - Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
