Winter Hill Wildcat Weekly
October 27, 2023
Principal's Message
In November, we will be having a lockdown safety drill. Please click the link below for more information.
PTA Update
Membership Drive
PTA will be closing up our member drive on Oct 27, 2023 with 92 members. We will continue to take members throughout the school year. Please note that advocacy content from the PTA is only distributed to members, and only via email. If you haven’t yet signed up to become a member, you have probably not seen the two latest advocacy efforts led by the Somerville Educators Union that our PTA is supporting. Later today, our members will receive access to candidate questionnaires compiled by the Council of Somerville PTAs in preparation for Election Day 2023, where our school community will have an opportunity to vote for candidates that are most likely to support your family’s needs, values and priorities in local body elections. You can sign up as a member online, and pay your dues online too! Please also note that unless we have the vast majority of parents, caregivers and teachers signed up as members, our PTA will not have the legitimate ability to speak for the whole school community. At a time when our community is so fractured and dislocated from our beloved location on Sycamore Street, we cannot amplify your voices until you JOIN US!
The membership form can also be found here in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Kreyol. Please contact winterhillpta@gmail.com if you have any questions.
First Annual Title I Basketball Tournament
We had a wonderful evening of fun and intense sportsmanship last night! Teachers and staff from the two Title I schools in Somerville faced off on the basketball court at the Healey school. The Healey’s team came out on top, but our school came out winning immense goodwill and support! What an exciting time it was! Check out our Facebook page for some of the most perfect pictures of the WHCIS team, taken by our own Nancy McWeeny!
Last night would not have happened without Mr. Senecal and his counterpart at the Healey School, who worked tirelessly to recruit teams. Both sides played to win. Special thanks to Ms. Anzalone for taking on the toughest job of all – being a fair and firm referee. Great job to all the teachers who represented WHCIS. Ms. Barros, we will miss you next year. Because, if the Healey and WHCIS get their way, this will be an annual event, co-sponsored by the two schools.
Ticket sales were a total of $674 (including “Pay What You can” and “Sponsor a Family” tickets). These will be split with the Healey PTA, netting us $337 each. Separately, WHCIS raised $425 in concession sales. Not a bad night for fundraising!
The Healey school subsidized our popsicle sales – it was a hot day! Ms. Jen Miller subsidized our popcorn sales. Tara Barreira subsidized the cost of a banner we presented to the Healey, made by our very own Eran Blank Phinney.
More pictures of action are coming to our Instagram page soon.
Winter Hill at the Healey
Wait, don’t panic! This is actually GOOD news!
The WHCIS PTA would like to name Emily Ann Lalka, President of the Healey PTA, the sole representative of the WH @ the Healey! See her picture below? If you ever see her, know that she has been instrumental in making last night’s basketball fundraiser a success for us. Throughout last year, she has stepped up to amplify our voices and concerns to City Council. Thank you Emily! We love you to the moon and back. (Open the document below for a picture of Emily.)
Volunteer Recognition
Please thank the following people if you know them, for service to the WHCIS community:
Carter of fifth grade for so being so calm and competent and precise with keeping score at the basketball game last night.
Kayleth of fourth grade for helping to unload concessions from the car for sale at the basketball game last night.
All members of the WHCIS Student Council for taking a huge load off our shoulders last night, helping with everything from flyers, logistics and concession sales, allowing us to enjoy the event unlike ever before.
Our amazing Ms. Jen Miller and Ms. Tara Stead for organizing the Student Council team with job duties on the day of.
Other volunteers: Diane Nazeer; Bev Feldman; Jennifer Shay; Tara Barreira. If we forgot anyone, it’s just from sheer exhaustion, and not any lack of deep gratitude.
Fundraising Committee
The following individuals have supported fundraising for the school:
Shauna Powers wrote a grant to potentially fund a magic show for our kids.
Daphne Jochnick applied to Whole Foods for a grant to support general operations. (And she secured refreshments for the Principal’s Coffee Hour in October.)
Jen Miller and Tara Murphy-Beardsley for helping PTA apply to two other grants for in-school programming for our kids. For more information, contact winterhillpta@gmail.com
Welcome Klaus and Mimi Schultz to the Fundraising Committee, and thank you for taking on the responsibility for securing donated refreshments for Principal’s Coffee Hour on an ongoing basis.
Join our Fundraising Committee! Email us at winterhillpta@gmail.com if you can help us or if you have any exciting fundraising ideas. We are always looking for help with identifying restaurants, coffee shops and ice cream parlors who can help us fundraise. If you are a local business owner, or if you know local business owners who want to advertise through us, or sponsor our events, get in touch please!
Clothing Drive
Winter Clothes for Wildcats! PTA and Family Liaisons are hosting a Winter Clothing Drive for our school community. We will build custom clothing packages for families who fill out this form: https://forms.gle/JKT4qnpoYN4Z54gZ7
AIM Teacher Wishlists
Please check out four wishlists from our AIM teachers!
Ms B’s CLASS
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3CAO0VJL30LKR...
Ms. D’Paulo’s CLASS
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/VRE6J64EDD4...
Ms. Landry’s CLASS
https://www.amazon.com/regist.../gl/guest-view/1QGOW1JALNJAZ
Mrs. H’s CLASS
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2ELB6XBPYWPA0?ref_=wl_share
Restorative Practices @ Winter Hill
Circles practice basic ways of being that are fundamental to being successful together. The Circle is a carefully constructed, intentional dialogue space, rooted in indigenous practices.
Restorative Justice is not new. The practice in the Western world was born in the 1970s. The roots in restorative thinking can be found in various faith traditions and indigenous cultures dating back centuries.
What is being practiced in Circle?
Respect In a Circle, every perspective is valued as meaningful to that person
Equality In Circle, the expectations are the same for the adults as they are for the students.
Empathy and Emotional Literacy In Circle, there is greater opportunity to reflect on what you are feeling and to talk about your feelings than in normal conversation
Problem Solving In Circle, we are operating from a place of confidence in the innate capacity of humans as a collective to work our way through difficult places without expert help.
Responsibility Circles are a space for practicing responsibility with both words and actions. The physical structure of a Circle encompasses a non-verbal kind of accountability.
Self- regulation and self- awareness This is not our usual way of talking. It takes a lot of self-discipline.
Shared Leadership The Circle allows the gathering of differences, holds space for multiple perspectives, and recognizes the existence of multiple truths. Every member is a leader, and every member owns the decisions of the Circle.
Intro Circle Rounds
Check In - one word to describe how you are feeling. What is your weather report today?
Round 1: Everyone take a hand shape cut out and write 2-5 agreements you need from yourself and others to be at your best in the classroom and in a circle.
Round 2: Please share what you wrote on the hand and place it in the center.
Round 3: How can you work towards the agreements that have been written?
Round 4: (sometimes we throw in a silly question) Cereal before milk or milk before cereal
Check Out - How was circle today?
Coffee Hours
Each month, from October - May, we will host a coffee hour for parents and caregivers to discuss various topics.
All are welcome! Interpretation will be provided.
We will alternate between mornings (8:15 - 9:00) and afternoons (1:45 - 2:30). These will be held at the Otis Street Play Area (weather permitting) or in the cafeteria.
- November 17, 2023 1:45 - 3:00 --> Community Resource Fair: Come find out what resources are available in the community (This event will be longer and in the music & after school rooms.)
- December 15, 2023 8:15 - 9:00 --> Meet Our School Counselors: Come learn about the role of counselors in our school
- January 19, 2024 1:45 - 2:30 --> Online Safety: Come learn about how to keep students safe on the Internet
- February 16, 2024 8:15 - 9:00 --> Math Curriculum: Come learn about our math curriculum and how families can support students at home
- March 15, 2024 1:45 - 2:30 --> Summer Programming & Preparing for the Next School Year: Come find out what programs are available for students over the summer and how to support students transitioning to the next grade
- April 26, 2024 8:15 - 9:00 --> Autism Awareness & Acceptance: Come learn about autism, our AIM (Adapt*Include*Motivate) Program for students with autism, and acceptance for neurodiversity
- May 17, 2024 1:45 - 2:30 --> Supporting Healthy Lifestyles & Good Nutrition: Come learn about activities and supports for students to choose healthy activities and foods
Information from Coffee Hours:
- 10/20/23 - ELA Curriculum - https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ifnzM-9VXprhNpDcKQakDwIea_qUUpiGYcgT-BtQPVE/edit?usp=sharing
Thank you to the PTA for sponsoring these coffee hours and your generous donations of coffee and snacks!
Wildcat Blog
We feature a different class on our Winter Hill Wildcat Blog each week.
This Week: Ms. Scafidi (8th grade math)
Next Week: Ms. Luna (6th grade math & science) & Noelle Pino (6th-8th grade ESL specialist)
Flu Clinics
We will be having two flu clinics in conjunction with Health & Human Services. Please register and attend. They are open to all SPS staff and families.
West Somerville Neighborhood School, Cafeteria 11/8/23 3:00-5:00. Use this link.
East Somerville Community School, Cafeteria 11/16 3:00-5:30 use this Link to register.
Important October & November Dates
October 30, 2023 - Picture Make-up Day
October 31, 2023 - Wildcat Spirit Day
*My Favorite Character - Come to school dressed as a character from any game, story, book, movie, comic or show character - All outfits must follow the school dress code and the following are not allowed: face masks, props, or violent themes. (T-shirts with your favorite character are acceptable as well.)
November 3, 2023 - Quarter 1 Ends
November 7, 2023 - No School, Election Day
November 10, 2023 - No School in Honor of Veteran's Day
November 15, 2023 - Early Release Day
*PK dismissed at 11:30
*Kindergarten dismissed at 12:15
*Grades 1 - 8 dismissed at 12:00
November 20, 2023 - Report Cards Go Home for Quarter 1
November 22, 2023 - Early Release Day
*PK dismissed at 11:30
*Kindergarten dismissed at 12:15
*Grades 1 - 8 dismissed at 12:00
Somerville Public Schools Calendar can be found here.
Please see here for important dates on the Enrollment Calendar for SY25 school registration.
Winter Hill Community Innovation School
115 Sycamore Street
Somerville, MA 02145
School: 617-629-5680
Cell: 781-227-7861