Winter Hill Wildcat Weekly
December 8, 2023
Principal's Message
Thank you to all the parents and caregivers who attended last night's conferences. It was wonderful to see you all!
This week we had our first very cold day. At indoor arrival on Wednesday, the "feels like" temperature was 15 degrees so we had indoor arrival but it warmed up a bit so we went out for recess. Please ensure that your child has appropriate winter clothing including a winter coat, gloves and a hat. We go outside as long as the "feels like" temperature is above 15 degrees. If you are in need of these items. please reach out to Ms. Marylou or Ms. Karla.
Spirit Week sponsored by the Student Council
The week before winter vacation, our student council is sponsoring a spirit week. Be sure to show your school spirit!
Monday 12/18 - PJ day
Tuesday 12/19 - Culture Day. Wear colors from your cultures or your flag
Wednesday 12/20 - Sports team day. Where a shirt from your favorite sports team
Thursday 12/21 - Hat day
Friday 12/22 - Ugly sweater day
PTA Update
Ms. Stier’s call via our “Cheer the Wildcats” Program! The Order Form for Cheer Supplies is now closed. However, you may visit the PTA table at the Winter Concert to purchase your Cheer Cards in person. We take payment via cash or credit card. Use the supplies provided by the PTA to write your own “well wishes” for excited and nervous Wildcats BEFORE the concert, or compliments to joyful Wildcats on a job well done AFTER the concert. You can also write your own customized message to the ENTIRE class!
Holiday donations pouring in for our families from Winter Hill Brewing! Winter Hill Brewing Company is providing donations of toys and gifts this holiday season. Family Liaisons are coordinating the delivery of anonymous gifts to our families. Lots of pretty and very cool gifts for children, teens and adults. Please contact our Family Liaisons to sign up for anything on your family’s wish list!
Also -- did you know that Winter Hill Brewing Company is partnering with our PTA on a fundraiser in February? Stay tuned for more details! If you are able to help with decorating and donating to local families this December, please visit Winter Hill Brewing Company any day starting now, until Dec 15th, or email Bethany.Stoll@gmail.com.
Neighborhood Produce donates to us in December!
Shop all “Dollar Deal Monday” items at Neighborhood Produce throughout December, and 5% of all that you spend will be donated to our PTA. That’s every Monday in December! Neighborhood Produce is located at 415 Medford Street. Check out their offerings on Facebook.
Did you know that Matt Gray, owner of Neighborhood Produce, is on the board of the Winter Hill PTA? If you ever see him, thank him for his service to the Wildcat community! He has helped us get so many things in place that help us serve you better.
Dec 13th “Fun Raiser” – Get it? Get ready for some great musical bingo and drinks at Daddy Jones bar starting at 8pm on Dec 13th! Make a reservation on Open Table. Can’t hang out late at night on a Wednesday? No worries, we get it! All orders, dine in or take-out, count towards a 10% giveback to our PTA starting as early as 5pm on December 13th.
Fundraising Update: Himalayan Kitchen donated $850 to the PTA after our Nov 15th fundraiser with them. This is a generous gesture, because this is about 30% of the Wildcat-related food sales that night. We hope everyone enjoyed their unique mix of ethnic and all-American menu items.
Volunteer Recognition: We would like to recognize Shauna Powers for setting up partnerships with Winter Hill Brewing Company for Holiday Gifts and for the upcoming restaurant fundraiser in February.
Big thanks to Jamie O’ Leary for designing flyers and other media that helps us publicize our fundraising and events.
Shout out to parents who supported Family Liaisons on school tours this week: Tara Barreira; Aili Contini-Field; Daphne Jochnick; Shauna Powers.
Become a Member! We continue to take members throughout the school year. If you haven’t yet signed up to become a member, you can sign up as a member online, and pay your dues online too! 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!
Please contact winterhillpta@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Coffee Hours
We hope to see you at our next coffee hour!
December 14, 2023 8:15 - 9:00 --> Meet Our School Counselors: Come learn about the role of counselors in our school (This is a Thursday to accommodate the winter concerts.)
Our counselors will lead the sessions in English, Spanish & Portuguese:
Ms. Stead, Ms. Thies, Ms. Greland - English
Ms. Jessica - Spanish
Ms. Karina - Portuguese
Click https://sites.google.com/k12.somerville.ma.us/winterhill/departments-and-programs/support-staff/counselors to get to know our counselors.
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.
- 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. Rothstein (3rd - 5th grade AIM) & Ms. Nikolaki (AIM ESL)
Next Week: Ms. Singleton (6th-8th grade AIM)
Important November & December Dates
December 14, 2023 - Principal Coffee Hour 8:30 - 9:15 AM
*Note this is a Thursday to accommodate the Winter concerts.
December 14, 2023 - Governing Board 6 :00 - 7:30 PM
*Meeting will be in the Edgerly library.
December 15, 2023 - Winter Hill @ Edgerly Concerts
*Grades 4 - 8 Winter Concert @ East Somerville Neighborhood School 9:30 AM
*Grades 1 - 3 Winter Concert @ East Somerville Neighborhood School 1:15 (We adjusted the time to accommodate PK pick-up at the Capuano.)
December 22, 2023 - Winter Hill @ Capuano Concert 9:30 AM
December 22, 2023 - Early Release Day
*PK dismissed at 11:30
*Kindergarten dismissed at 12:15
*Grades 1 - 8 dismissed at 12:00
December 26, 2023 - January 2, 2024 - Winter Break, No School
January 3, 2023 - Students return from winter break
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