Winchester Weekly
March 23, 2020
Winchester Purpose & Mission
Winchester is a Leader in Me school with a common purpose to inspire students to be critical thinkers and problem-solvers who demonstrate responsibility for themselves and respect for others.
Learning together, Leading forever!
Mark your Calendars
March is Reading Month Activities
March 24th - Read the back of a box of cereal
March 25th - Make a bookmark
March 26th - Put a little sugar on a cookie sheet and write words in it.
March 27th - Make a fort. Read a book inside your fort.
A message from the Principal
It is hard to believe that just over a week ago our schools were shut down. A lot has happened in a very short period of time. I hope all of you have figured out how to navigate your days and have found time to connect with your family members over a board game or a good story!
Many hospitals, doctors, nurses, and other health care providers and workers need our help. As you might know, the Winchester community has several families working on the "front lines" as health care providers and they need our help. A listserv was sent out Sunday afternoon about making face masks to help our very own community members. I have included the information below for your awareness. In addition to face masks, surgical gloves, science goggles, and plastic gowns are also needed and would be appreciated. Any of these items can be placed in the bin outside of the school and they will get distributed where they need them! Thank you in advance!
Remember, the District is committed to providing up to date information to all of our families as it becomes available. You can access information, updates, and FAQs via the Northville Public Schools website or at this link: https://www.northvilleschools.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=350918&type=d&pREC_ID=1851982
Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's classroom teacher or myself if you have any questions or need additional support.
Take Care and Be Well!
Kelly Lindsay, Principal
3-20-20 Superintendent Update
Dear Northville Public Schools Families, Staff and Community,
Thank you for your patience and support as we continue to navigate unprecedented times and an evolving public health matter that has brought about significant change and a great deal of uncertainty in a matter of a days. Parents were thrust into trying to navigate learning with their children while also managing their own jobs, and our students lost their daily connection to their peers, their teachers, their classroom communities. Our teachers and staff likewise are mourning this loss – while all of us grapple with the worry of COVID-19.
In spite of the many challenges, I first want to express heartfelt gratitude to our students, our teachers and staff, and our families for the many ways in which our community has come together in support of one another in the space of only one week. Our educators came together last Friday to identify and deploy several resources, beginning the work of supporting our students and families with access to learning materials. With Michigan Department of Education (MDE) support, we launched a Grab & Go school breakfast/lunch program available to all students, facilitated by our Food Services staff. Already, we’ve seen great examples of our students’ ingenuity, heard stories shared virtually by our principals, had teachers engage with their students in various forums, and were invited into our first digital PTA meeting. I am confident that we will continue to seek ways to connect and support one another as we face the challenges ahead.
We are also listening to the questions, concerns and feedback we are hearing from our parents, our students and our staff, as we continue to navigate uncharted territory. Please see the attached letter for important updates and information.
We are grateful for our strong community partnership as we work together with our students, staff, families and community to promote the safety, health and well-being of all.
Take care,
Mary Kay Gallagher
Superintendent
Items Needed to Support our Community
Items Needed:
1. Masks
2. Gloves
3. Plastic gowns
4. Face shields
5. Goggles
The supplies will be gathered and distributed to help those on the front lines protect themselves so they can continue to provide care for our community.
Winchester has personal connections at:
- St Joe’s Trinity Health ER and patient floors as well as outpatient offices
- Ascension Providence Novi and Southfield ER and patient floors
- Henry Ford ICU
- Children’s Hospital of MI
- IHA outpatient clinics
- And many more facilities
We will gather and spread out the donations! Please drop off at any of the elementary schools
Amerman
Moraine
Ridge Wood
Silver Springs
Thornton Creek
And of course Winchester
Calling all construction workers, contractors, dental offices or anyone else who has any of the above items laying around.....we would be eternally grateful for your donation!!!
We can’t thank you enough!
Medical Mask Help Project
In these difficult and anxious times our thoughts are with those on the front lines of taking care of the sick during this pandemic. We all know that getting adequate protection has been difficult. Physicians are finding it difficult to find medical masks. If you are someone who sews, your skills are needed. If you have a sewing machine at home, this may be a great instructional opportunity for your children. Please help make face masks that can be worn over N-95 respirators to keep them clean, and allow them to be functional longer.
If you sew, please consider helping. Here is a printable version of the N-95 face mask pattern, along with photos:
Mask Production 2020 - N95 cover - Please use a different color, pattern, or otherwise designate the outside of the mask so that the Health Care Provider knows which side is soiled.
And for pleated face masks:
See the video link here for instructions: How to make a Pleated Face Mask
How to make a Face Mask - PDF detailed instructions
Additionally, there is a need for face shields. If you or someone you know is a crafty person, we’d appreciate the help:
Please place completed masks and face shields in the collection box located outside each of our NPS elementary schools (Winchester has a box near the front entrance of the school) and the Old Village School, north entrance, where they will be collected and distributed as needed. *Please make sure masks are in a ziploc bag, are airtight and wiped down before putting in the bins. While the frontliners are doing everything to sanitize these are small steps we can do for our individual contributions.*
Please feel free to share this information with others who sew. Thank you so much for your time and talent to support health care providers during the pandemic.
Northville Elementary School Principals
*The same information is contained in the attachment*
Neighborhood Window Walk
March is Reading Month
March is Reading Month Update
Dear Families,
We have to make some adjustments to our March is Reading Month plans. Here is an updated plan.
Reading Minutes
You can still have your child read and record his/her minutes each day. Once we return to school, your child can turn in the reading slips. The Pizza Cutter coupon, the custom-designed bookmark, and the brag tag will be available for students that meet the reading minute goals.
Bookmark Contest
Your child can still participate in the bookmark contest. We will determine a final due date for entries once we return. Click here for the contest paper.
Calendar
Here is an updated calendar with fun literacy suggestions for the remainder of March. Click here for the calendar.
End of the Month Celebration
The end of the month celebration will not be rescheduled.
Building Words using letter tiles
Parents you can access Reading Rockets for more information on phonics by clicking here!
Tips on Creating a Daily Schedule
Of course Khan Academy is suggesting you use their resources for each of the content areas, but your child(ren)(s) classroom teachers sent out a variety of other learning opportunities and activities you could use during each of the scheduled times that align with the grade level curriculum. Remember these are just a couple of suggestions. Sit down with your child(ren) and make a schedule that works for you! Most importantly enjoy the time with one another!
A Note from the Northville Public Schools Support Staff
Northville Families,
The school social work/school psychology/counseling department wanted to share resources for your children and families to utilize until we resume school.
Below are some tips from the CDC to keep in mind as we move forward:
Turn off the TV: Avoid excessive exposure to media coverage of COVID-19.
Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep.
Make time to unwind and remind yourself that strong feelings will fade. Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories. It can be upsetting to hear about the crisis and see images repeatedly. Try to do some other activities you enjoy to return to your normal life.
Connect with others. Share your concerns and how you are feeling with a friend or family member. Maintain healthy relationships.
Maintain a sense of hope and positive thinking.
Please download the attached PDF for additional enrichment ideas and links to community resources.
Screen Time - How much is too much?
As you work on creating a schedule that works for your child(ren) this week, consider creating a schedule that balances screen time with other activities that allow your children to step away from their technology. Reading a book or magazine, playing board games, building with blocks or legos, cooking, etc.
Screen Time, just like food, can be categorized into two groups, good and bad. Think of it as screen time vegetables and screen time candy. We can get a healthy amount of screen time vegetables without a negative impact. That differs from screen time candy. Screen time candy for both children and adults should be used in moderation.
Screen time vegetables are anything that improves your cognition and has educational content. It could include school programs like Moby Max, RazKids, Freckle and Xtra Math just to name a few. Screen time vegetables could also be a YouTube video if they are being watched to learn or how to make/fix/cook something.
Screen time candy is more entertainment based. It includes games like Fortnite and Minecraft. But also includes Social Media and YouTube videos that do not increase your cognition.
Common Sense media has provided some great guidance for parents on this very topic. Click here to read more!
Spirit Wear
You have another opportunity to order Winchester Spirit Wear!! Please reach out to Donna Coleman colemandonna1@yahoo.com with any questions. Act fast-ordering deadline is 3/25.
Yearbooks - DON'T MISS OUT!
Don’t miss out! We are still taking orders for the 2019-20 Yearbook. Order online now at www.balfour.com. The cost is $16.
Contact knottske@northvilleschools.org with any questions.