Winchester Weekly
December 3rd 2021
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!
Upcoming Key Dates
December 10th -12th: PTA Holiday Scavenger Hunt
December 17th: Winter Recess begins. School dismissal 3.45pm.
Winter recess December 18th - January 2nd.
January 3rd: School resumes.
A Note from the Principal
Dear Winchester Families,
It was great to see so many of you in the building this week for the Book Fair event on Tuesday evening and again for Parent-Teacher conferences on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon and evening. It was nice connecting with all of you and sharing the growth your children have made during the first part of the year!
This week also brought tragic news for the Oxford school community. This news was also incredibly difficult for our school community as we grappled with our own emotions. We are grateful for the Northville Township Police Department as they put teams in place at all of our elementary buildings and supported Winchester during arrival, dismissal, and during Parent-Teacher conferences. As mentioned in District communication, we continue to follow a variety of safety protocols to protect our students and staff at Winchester and continue to work with local First Responders to review our safety and security protocols.
We are fortunate to have a fabulous team of support staff at Winchester should any of our students need additional support. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher or myself if you feel your child needs assistance.
I hope you and your family are able to find time for each other over this long weekend.
We are continually grateful for your support.
Take care,
Kelly Lindsay
Toys for Tots
The PTA and the Student Lighthouse Leadership Team are working together to collect toys for Toys for Tots this holiday season! The primary goal of the Toys for Tots program is to help bring the joy of Christmas and send a message of hope to America's less fortunate children through the gift of a new toy.
If you would like to help, new, unwrapped toys can be dropped off in the Toys for Tots collection box outside of Winchester next week and also at the last stop on the Holiday Scavenger Hunt, December 10th-12th.Winchester Holiday Scavenger Hunt
Sign up for the scavenger hunt here: Winchester PTA: Winchester Holiday Scavenger Hunt (signupgenius.com)
Dear Families,
If your student missed the Book Fair on Friday, they will have the opportunity to go on Monday.
You can also shop online at our school’s Virtual Book Fair. The virtual fair will be open until December 5th. All orders ship directly to your home, and shipping is free for book orders over $25. Your online orders will also benefit our school.
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/winchesterelementaryschool7
*During the Book Fair we will also be participating in “All for Books.” This is a coin challenge where students bring in coins to donate towards purchasing new books for the media center. Scholastic will match all donations! The classroom that collects the most coins will earn a special prize! Monday is penny day, Tuesday is nickel day, Wednesday is dime day, Thursday is quarter day, and Friday is any coin day! All classrooms will have a collection bucket where students will be able to donate their change.
Happy Reading!
Gift Crowd is Back!
If you are looking for a way to say Happy Holidays to your favorite teacher or staff member, look no further:
Follow this link, select the staff member and amount you wish to gift. The staff member will then be able to select the gift cards of their choice.
https://app.giftcrowd.com/join-event/0yO8RWnTBT
Spirit Days!
- January 5th: Pajama Day
- February 2nd: Sports Teams
- March 2nd: Dress as a book or movie character
- April 6th: Under the Sea
- May 4th: Crazy Accessories (hat, headband, mask, socks)
- June 1st: Career Day
Massages for Winchester Teachers and Staff
As a thank you for all they do, the PTA is bringing in relaxing 15 minute chair massages for the teachers & staff during the fall conferences this year. These will be provided by 2 masseurs from Main Street Massage.
The teacher appreciation committee is asking for donations to help cover the cost. If you would like to contribute please click on the link below, go to the gift certificates tab, and choose the amount you would like to donate. You may either print the certificate and drop it off in the office labeled: PTA massage event, or forward it to Laura Paredes in an email: lamarlau@gmail.com. Please include a note of thanks from you or your kiddo. We will be using these to decorate the teachers' lounge.
Bus Route Cancellations
Bus J: December 6th - 10th
Bus M: December 13th - 17th
We recognize the inconvenience caused by these adjustments to our transportation program, and we regret the hardship it may cause for families. We believe that the proactive approach outlined above will result in a more predictable transportation program during this period of severe driver shortages.
Click link below to see full details about the schedule changes and please see the pdf of the bus route cancellation schedule.
If you have any questions, please contact our Transportation Office at (248) 465-2073 and/or email nps@northvilleschools.org.
A Note from Mrs. Bush our School Social Worker
Mrs. Bush is looking for some photos of how our students self-regulate. We have been learning that self-regulation helps to keep us in the "Green Zone" where we are calm, happy, and ready to learn. We do things throughout our day to help us to self-regulate. For instance, I like to walk my dog every morning, I bring a jug of water to school so I can stay hydrated, eat healthy snacks during the day, and like to work out or read a book in the evening. Some students may like drawing, playing with friends, playing an instrument, sports, deep breaths, fresh air, etc. Send me a photo of your child using a self-regulation strategy with the child's name/teacher and I will highlight some of these ideas on the morning announcements, as well as create a bulletin board here at school with self-regulation ideas! Please email photos to bushje@northvilleschools.org.
Northville C.A.R.E.S Coming Attractions!
On December 16th at 7:00 PM, Northville C.A.R.E.S will be showing a pre-taped student panel that some of our high school students participated in. The panel was facilitated by Kerri Ann Sondreal (Social Work-Northville Youth Network) and Dianna Shamus (Social/Emotional Learning Counselor-NHS). Our students shared their thoughts on the pressures they face as they navigate through high school. Please contact Susan Johnson at johnsosu@northvilleschools.org or 248-344-3532 if you are interested in attending this virtual event.
As part of Northville C.A.R.E.S, we are happy to provide 2 opportunities for our families to view the movie Chasing Childhood. Chasing Childhood explores the pressures for families and children in a high achievement culture. Northville Youth Network and PTA are sponsoring this movie in the Northville High School Auditorium on:
Thursday, January 20th 6:30-8:15
Saturday, January 29th at 10:00-11:45
There will be a short Q & A after the movie facilitated by Amy Prevo (Director-NYN), Kerri Ann Sondreal (Social Work-NYN) and Dianna Shamus (Social/Emotional Learning Counselor-NHS). Please feel free to view the Chasing Childhood trailer
If you would like to reserve a spot to view Chasing Childhood, please contact Susan Johnson (information listed above) to communicate which showing and how many spots you are reserving.
If you weren't able to make the Book Fair, then shop online at our school’s Virtual Book Fair. The virtual fair will be open until Dec 5. All orders ship directly to your home, and shipping is free for book orders over $25. Your online orders will also benefit our school.
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/winchesterelementaryschool7
Happy Reading!
Winchester PTA
INVEST IN YOUR CHILD! MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Why should you support the Invest in Your Child Fundraiser? It is through generous donations from you that the Winchester PTA is able to provide:
* Movie Nights
* Holiday Scavenger Hunts
* Junior Enrichment Series (JES) enriching and interactive
presentations provided to students during the school day
* Teacher Stipends
* Field Day
* March is Reading Month activities and guest authors
* Math Pentathlon
* Health and Wellness (Girls on the Run/STRIDE)
* Yearbook
* Paper Bound Student Directory (only provided to PTA members)
* Mother/Son Bowling
* Breakfast with a Buddy
WINCHESTER PTA MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
We need YOU! Have you joined the PTA? Please go to https://winchesterpta.memberhub.com/ and join today! Thank you to everyone that has already joined! We are getting closer!
Northville Public Schools Close Contact Quarantine Protocol
NPS has aligned our Close Contact Protocol with the guidance provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) shown here in the School Quarantine Guidance graphic and supported by our local Health Department. This guidance provides multiple pathways for students to remain in school. For a more detailed explanation of this graphic, please see this NPS Close Contact Quarantine Protocol Explained document.
If your child is an identified Close Contact to a positive COVID case, we will contact you and further explain your options of, where possible, keeping your child safely in school.
*Note: If your child is identified as a contact fully masked 3 to 6 feet apart, we will send an email notification regarding monitoring your child for 14 days.
COVID Safety and Mitigation Plans
As we come together in learning this year, it is important to remember to perform at-home self-monitoring using the COVID-19 Daily Student Symptom Screening Tool. This screener serves as a daily reminder that children who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 (or ANY illness) need to stay home from school. This is an important measure that will help prevent or reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our schools. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in using this screener each school day. In addition to the daily screener students and staff are required to wear masks while indoors.
Northville Public Schools COVID-19 Testing Site
Northville Public Schools (NPS) announces a new partnership with RAPIDBIO to provide the NPS community a reliable and convenient COVID-19 testing site on campus.
As part of the NPS CLOSE CONTACT QUARANTINE PROTOCOL and in partnership with RAPIDBIO, all Northville students, staff and families are eligible to make a COVID-19 test appointment at this priority testing site:
NPS COVID-19 Testing Site Location:
Northville High School, 45700 Six Mile Rd, Northville MI 48168 (Main Entrance)
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Thursday, 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Appointment Link:
Northville Public Schools/RAPIDBIO Appointment Link
(select Northville School District under Location options)
We are incredibly thankful for the opportunity to partner with RAPIDBIO to provide our community with a priority test site on our high school campus allowing our students and staff to remain in school and continue to discover a World of Possibilities.
(Additional testing resources can be found at NPS COVID-19 Testing Resources.)
Thank you!
Yearbook
Order your Winchester Elementary Yearbook in our PTA Store! Please order by December 31st to help us accurately determine the full order quantity. Yearbooks are $17 each (includes shipping to the school and MI sales tax). If you’d like to help build our yearbook, please contact the PTA Yearbook Committee at winchestermiyearbook@gmail.com.
Submit Pictures for Yearbook
Please submit Skatin' Station and Movie Night pictures by October 30th for yearbook inclusion! The attached file provides details of how to submit pictures at https://studio.balfour.com/ezpix/ or using the Balfour ImageShare app. Images must be high-resolution .jpg or .png format.
The Yearbook Committee will review all photos and determine final yearbook content. We cannot guarantee that all submissions can be used (for example, low picture quality), but we do make every effort to utilize all images. We need and appreciate all picture submissions as these make up a large part of our yearbook each year! Please submit only high-resolution photos that are school related activities/clubs.
Lost and Found
Northville Public Schools is hiring the following part-time positions:
- Food Service Assistant: Please visit www.northvilleschools.org click on the "Employment Tab" and select "Current Job Openings" for more information.
- Lunch/Recess Monitor: Please contact the school principal for more information.
- Substitute Teachers, Paraprofessionals, Para Educators: Substitute employment opportunities can be found through educational placement services at EDUStaff. Northville Public Schools uses this service for placement of teachers, K-12 Paraprofessionals, Para Educators and Office Support. If you are interested in becoming a Substitute, please visit www.edustaff.org/ or call (877)974-6338 for more information.
Office Hours
Our office is open from 8:00 to 4:30.
Contact us at (248) 465-2400
Website: http://winchester.northvilleschools.org/
Follow us on Twitter: @ WinchesterElem
Would you like something included in the Winchester Weekly?
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