Winter Hill Wildcat Weekly
January 19, 2024
Principal's Message
We had a blast of cold, wintry weather this week, with ice, snow and low temperatures. Our students did a great job of adjusting to indoor recess for three days. Luckily, today was a balmy 21 degrees and we were able to go outside!
Our goal is always to ensure that students are outside on a daily basis, while always considering all factors that can impact their safety and well-being.
Outdoor activities will take place as scheduled, unless absolutely necessary. The district will determine whether the temperature and wind-chill are severe enough to cancel outdoor recess. A basic framework for weather decisions is the following: (based on the Child Care Weather Watch) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QXdxDTFWV8TIw83RSCAyW22HEVtJsFry/view?usp=drive_link
These are the guidelines we are following to determine when we can and cannot take students outside:
If the temperature feels like (considering wind chill factor) 20 degrees or higher, we will go outside for morning recess and lunches. Line-up will be outside.
If the temperature feels like 19 to 11 degrees, we are asked to exercise caution to determine if we should bring students out. This means we need to consider the length of time outside and if students are dressed appropriately. In most cases, less than ½ of the students have all the necessary gear to be outside.
If the temperature feels like 10 degrees or less, all activities will be held inside. This includes having an indoor line-up.
Please know that most days, we are making these decisions as the day goes, before morning recess and from one lunch to another. We know how much our students need the outdoor time and we will continue to bring them out weather permitting.
If the weather is 32 degrees or lower, students should have a coat, long pants, hats and gloves. If your family needs help getting these items, please reach out to Ms. Marylou or Ms. Karla--they can help you find gear in your child's size!
PTA Update
Somerville Arts Council supports WHCIS: Our school, led by Principal Gosselin and Ms. Jen Miller, has received a grant from Somerville Arts Council to offer social and emotional learning curriculum via theatre programming for middle school students during the school year. PTA assisted Ms. Jen with writing the grant application, in response to calls from teachers across the school at the end of the last school year, for PTA to bring in additional programming and supports for middle schoolers. The SAC grant will help WHCIS bring in teaching artists affiliated with Rehearsal for Life (of Boston) - a nonprofit theatre group that promotes social and emotional development among children via theater programming. This grant, specifically, will provide 3-4 assemblies where WHCIS middle school students will learn about topics such as bullying, conflict, anxiety, peer pressure, identity/teamwork, homophobia, privilege, racism, electronics use/addiction, etc. Students will work with their teachers to identify topics of interest to them. Rehearsal for Life will use improv theatre to teach their curricula.
Additional Updates on Grants:
· PTA will be working with homeroom teachers and specialists to distribute the $7,000 from New England Biolabs for classroom support, field trips and academic enrichment. All projects funded by this grant will be entirely at the discretion of teachers involved.
· Stay tuned for more information on the STEM activities for students and families funded by the National PTA for our school, in after-school settings.
8th Grade Moving Forward Fundraising:
· Jan 16th in Davis Square: PTA sold baked goods and Blind Book Dates at American Flatbread Company, for a total of $106. We are still waiting to hear how much we raised from pizza sales. · Wildcat Gear: Today is the last chance to order! https://forms.gle/MTiurDcjps5fJ86z7
Save the Date! Winter Hill Brewing Company (WHB) and Scott Brothers Kitchen are hosting a fundraiser for the PTA on Groundhog Day, Feb 2, 2024. Admission is free. There will be free appetizers for all school staff from 4-6pm, followed by Groundhog Day Trivia at 6:30pm. Proceeds from food and beverage sales will be donated to the PTA. PTA will offer prizes for winners, and incentives for individuals who make donations to the PTA that evening.
Fundraiser Updates:
· Neighborhood Produce: We received a check for $922.13, which includes proceeds from “Monday Dollar Deal” sales as well as $250 direct donation!
· Daddy Jones Restaurant and Bar: Daddy Jones donated $286 to the PTA.
Board Certified Behavioral Analyst from WHCIS runs the Boston Marathon! Hello, my name is Melissa Starr, and I am passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I received my undergraduate degree in English Literature from Western New England University. I have a Master's in Education as well as Applied Behavior Analysis. I enjoy running, going to beach, and spending time with my family. In my free time, I volunteer at the West Suburban YMCA. I love being a part of the Wildcat family! I believe that small actions can create big changes. I have a fundraising goal I must meet as part of the Boston Marathon. Please join me in strengthening our community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Together we can make a difference. https://www.givengain.com/project/melissa-raising-funds-for-west-suburban-ymca-71335
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.
Stay Safe Online
Thank you to Assistant Principal Barros for presenting at our coffee hour today on Internet safety for students and to all the parents who attended. Please find her presentation below and reach out if you have any questions about this important topic.
As a reminder, we can keep our students safe on the Internet by:
Monitoring children's screen time
Limiting social media usage and have direct access to all accounts
Never posting personal information online
Keeping accounts private
Having open conversations about what is happening online
THINKING before you post
Coffee Hours
Join us at our next coffee hour!
February 16, 2024 8:15 - 9:00 --> Math Curriculum: Come learn about our math curriculum
and how families can support students at home
All are welcome! Interpretation will be provided.
Each month, from October - May, we will host a coffee hour for parents and caregivers to discuss various topics.
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.
- 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. Sahlas (Grade 3) & Ms. Mitchell
Next Week: Ms. Robert (Grade 3)
Community Meeting Announcement from Superintendent Carmona
Dear WHCIS Families and Staff,
First and foremost, Happy New Year to all. I hope that you had a restorative and happy winter break.
I am writing today to invite you to a community conversation on February 1st at 6:00 p.m. I am eager to meet directly with stakeholders from the Winter Hill to gather input and hear your questions and ideas around next steps. We will meet in the lower cafeteria at Somerville High School at 81 Highland Ave. This will not be a presentation, but rather an opportunity for us to connect directly and have a deeper conversation about your ideas.
On December 19th, we had a very productive meeting coordinated by the City where we reviewed the findings of the K-8 Capacity Study, and in particular we discussed some potential options for a new Winter Hill school that could also accommodate for the needs of the Brown School, should we as a district decide to pursue that option. To be clear: no decisions have been made. We are gathering community feedback as the very first part of this process. If you were not able to attend on December 19th, you can:
I anticipate we will have more opportunities for community engagement, but as a school who could be directly impacted by the MSBA process, I look forward to hearing from you early on in this journey. I hope you will be able to join me on February 1st.
Sincerely,
Dr. Rubén Carmona
Superintendent of Schools
Important January & February Dates
Somerville Public Schools Calendar can be found here.
Please see here for important dates on the Enrollment Calendar for SY25 school registration
Wednesday, January 24th - Early Release Day
*PK dismissed at 11:30
*Kindergarten dismissed at 12:15
*Grades 1 - 8 dismissed at 12:00
Thursday, February 1st - Community Meeting @ Lower Cafeteria of Somerville High School
Tuesday, February 6th - Food for Free Market @ East Somerville 2:45 - 4:30 PM --> See attached flyer.
Wednesday, February 7th - Early Release Day
*PK dismissed at 11:30
*Kindergarten dismissed at 12:15
*Grades 1 - 8 dismissed at 12:00
Thursday, February 15th - Governing Board 6 - 7:30 Edgerly Library
Monday, February 19th - Friday, February 23rd - Winter Break, No School
Wednesday, February 28th - Early Release Day
*PK dismissed at 11:30
*Kindergarten dismissed at 12:15
*Grades 1 - 8 dismissed at 12:00
Winter Hill Community Innovation School
115 Sycamore Street
Somerville, MA 02145
School: 617-629-5680
Cell: 781-227-7861