Winter Hill Wildcat Weekly
April 12, 2024
Principal's Message
It was another great week at Edgerly and Capuano as we head into the April break. Thank you to the PTA, staff, and everyone who came to the Eclipse Viewing Party on Monday. It was wonderful community event and really highlighted how strong and wonderful the Winter Hill community is!
I wish all students a safe and fun vacation and look forward to welcoming them back on Monday, April 22nd.
8th Grade Civics Project Update
As part of their Civic Action Project, the 8th graders created informational videos about the five options for rebuilding the Winter Hill. The videos are in four languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. You can watch them here! Please support the 8th graders' impressive work by sharing their videos with people you know!
Winter Hill After School Clubs for Spring 2024
We are excited to offer new after school clubs. Click here for more information: Winter Hill Afterschool Clubs for Spring 2024!
PTA Update
WINTER HILL STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK
Winter Hill PTA and the Capuano PTA are each organizing a teachers' appreciation week celebration from May 6 to May 10. The WHCIS staff at Capuano will be included in celebrations by both PTAs. Thank you, Capuano PTA!
Let us all come together to show how much we love Winter Hill staff! Check out the plans for celebrations here: 2024 Winter Hill Staff Appreciation | Givebacks (memberhub.gives) All students can participate in fun ways, both ours or their own. If you are able to, please donate to the PTA’s offerings to all staff.
PTA ELECTIONS PROCESS
The PTA’s Nominating Committee is working to identify at least one individual to fill three positions that will be vacated at the end of June. These positions are: President, Vice President and Secretary. You will be considered for your service to the PTA regardless of whether you are already a member. Please email nominations@winterhillpta.org if you have any interest to learn more. We have job descriptions that you could look at, and discuss with the Chair of our Nominating Committee.
FUNDRAISING UPDATES
We have received a $500 mini grant from Massachusetts PTA’s Health, Safety and Wellness Committee. This grant will support an after-school event for parents and teachers, where teaching artists from Rehearsal for Life of Boston will perform an improv theatre show that informs and cultivates conversation around the social and emotional experiences of our children in school, with particular focus on understanding the differences between developmentally appropriate peer conflict and what is legally considered “bullying”.
CAPUANO PTA FUNDRAISER
Capuano PTA is organizing a Fun Run on April 25. If your child is at the Capuano, you can register your child here: Cappy's Fun Run - Sponsor a Cub! | Capuano Store (square.site) and select Winter Hill as your school. Each child will get a Certificate of Participation that acknowledges their sponsors. Deadline for contributions is April 20th. Please reach out to capuanoschoolpta@gmail.com for any questions. They are offering fun volunteer opportunities!
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.
Covid-19 Updates
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) has adopted the latest COVID-19 guidance issued by the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Going forward, COVID-19 will be treated much like other respiratory viruses such as influenza (flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Instead of a 5-day isolation period, students and staff with COVID-19 can now return to school:
- 24 hours after fever subsides (without the use of fever-reducing medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen)
- when symptoms are improving
- with the recommendation that they wear a mask for five additional days
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, and all other respiratory viruses, we ask for your cooperation with the following:
- Stay home when ill
- Wash hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
- Wear a mask when you have respiratory symptoms
- Consider testing for COVID-19 and Flu if symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, shortness of breath
Coffee Hours
Join us at our next coffee hour!
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
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 main conference room. Please enter the building through 8 Bonair Street.
- 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
Thank you to the PTA for sponsoring these coffee hours and your generous donations of coffee and snacks!
Information from Coffee Hours:
Wildcat Blog
We feature a different class on our Winter Hill Wildcat Blog each week.
This Week: Ms. Morgan (Kindergarten)
Next Week: Ms. Ellis (Kindergarten)
Important End-of-Year Dates
Somerville Public Schools Calendar can be found here.
Monday, April 15th - Friday, April 19th --> School Vacation
Thursday, April 25th - Governing Board 6 - 7:30 in the Edgerly Library
Thursday, May 23rd - PK - 8 Showcase of Learning @ Edgerly - More details to follow
Friday, May 24th - Spring Concerts: 4th - 8th grade 9:15 @ East, K - 3rd grade 1:15 @ East
Monday, May 27th - No School in Honor of Memorial Day
Friday, May 30th - Field Day: 4th - 8th grade in morning, 1st - 3rd grade in afternoon, all @ Foss Park
*PK / K field day TBD
Thursday, June 13th - Step-Up Day
Friday, June 14th - Last Day of School
MCAS 2024
We will begin our annual MCAS testing at the end of March. Our students have been working very hard this year to grow emotionally, socially, and academically. This is their opportunity to show what our 3rd - 8th graders know and their growth in English Language Arts and math and for our 5th and 8th graders in science.
Please see the dates below for when each grade will be testing. We ask that caregivers avoid absences as much as possible on these dates so that students can take the assessments with their planned group, which supports students to do their best. Thank you for your support.
Math
- Grades 3, 6 ,7 - May 6 and 9
- Grades 4, 5, 8 - April 29 and May 2
Science
- Grades 5, 8 - May 13 and May 16
Information for the 2024 - 2025 School Year
2024–2025 School Year Calendar. Available now. Find the new calendar in English on the SPS website. Translated versions will be available soon. The first day of the 2024–2025 school year for grades 1–12 is August 28, 2024. The first day of school for students in grades PK and K is September 3, 2024. Beginning in the fall of 2024, PK–8 students will be released early every Wednesday. Learn more.
Please see here for important dates on the Enrollment Calendar for SY25 school registration
Winter Hill Community Innovation School
@ 8 Bonair Street
Somerville, MA 02145
School: 617-629-5680
Cell: 781-227-7861