Winter Hill Wildcat Weekly
March 22nd, 2024
Principal's Message
It has been a VERY exciting week for our Winter Hill community!
First and foremost, I am very happy to share that the plans are final and ALL and of our classes, PK - 8th grade will be at the Edgerly in the fall of 2024. Our community will finally be together in one building and we are looking forward to welcoming PK and K to the Edgerly. Please find the full notice below.
While most of us do not look forward to April and the return of street sweeping (because of parking), our PK students had an exciting experience on Thursday when the street sweeper came to visit. They got to meet with DPW workers and see the street sweeper first hand.
Last, but certainly not least, our boys' soccer team won the intramural city championship last Saturday. Congratulations to Coach Keegan and our amazing players! The soccer players truly represent what it means to be an accepting community and to ROAR.
Reminders:
* Grades 3, 6, and 7 are taking English Language Arts MCAS on Thursday, March 28th and Monday, April 1st. Grades 4, 5, and 8 are taking it on Thursday, April 4th and Monday, April 8th. Please ensure that students are in school (unless they are sick) and arrive on time.
* There is no school on Friday, March 29th. Due to the holiday, my next newsletter will be sent on Friday, April 5th.
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!
Community Update for 2024 - 2025 School Year
full text of message sent on 3/22/24
Dear WHCIS Community,
With the recent update on planned renovations at the Edgerly Building, we are returning to regular bi-weekly email updates to WHCIS families and staff. This morning, we confirmed an important new update to share with you. A summary is included below, and you can read the full memo here.
Summary of Important Details
- All WHCIS classrooms will be at Edgerly as of Fall 2024.
- Some spaces at Edgerly will be renovated this summer to allow us to bring in PK and K classrooms for September 2024, including relocating or renovating some classrooms and spaces, adding an ADA accessible ramp from the Otis St. play lot into the building, and improving exterior stairs. City departments continue to explore additional improvements, such as adding sound mitigation to the hallways, cafeteria, and music room.
- This memo from the City provides more detail on why the former Boxing Club at Edgerly cannot be renovated.
- SPS is potentially contracting with Playworks to provide structured movement activities for recess. We hoped to add play structures in the outdoor spaces however due to available space and industry safety standards, we are not able to do so.
- City and SPS staff are planning a meeting with WHCIS and families. More information will be shared next week.
- There is a joint City Council/School Committee School Building Facilities and Maintenance Committee meeting on Monday evening. Monday’s meeting is virtual. Updates on the Edgerly Building will be discussed. No new information is expected to be presented. You can find the agenda and meeting link here.
- Important clarification about the MSBA Advisory Group being formed: Volunteers will serve an 18 month term for this group. However, this timeline does not delay the overall MSBA timeline. The Advisory Group will run concurrently with the MSBA timeline.
Sincerely,
Dr. Carmona & Principal Gosselin
PTA Update
FREE CONCERTS
Families from Somerville schools are able to get free tickets to the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra concert this weekend. The concert is Sunday, March 24th at 4 PM and features music by immigrant composers. There are a total of 20 free tickets available to SPS families. In order to redeem a free tickets, families can enter the code SPRINGSAVE2 when they book tickets online here: https://www.cambridgesymphony.org/upcoming-concerts/a-new-beginning
LAST OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE PTA OFFICERS
Museo Inmigrante closes this Saturday! More than ever, we need to become educated and aware of the dignity and resilience of our immigrant community. PTA VP Gandhy Aldana is in this news clip, as also Ivan Abarca, who many of us know from his numerous visits to our school to enroll kids in soccer.
YEAR TO DATE FINANCIAL UPDATE
As of Feb 29, 2024, we have $22,253.20 in our bank account! Considering that we started off the current fiscal year with $6,150.51, we have indeed made enormous strides in fundraising. Most of the new funds came in as grants from corporations, National PTA, and from corporate matches. Click to review our Unaudited Financial Statement and Fundraising Report.
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
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. Keefe (Grade 1) & Ms. Zager (Reading Specialist)
Next Week: Ms. Orosz (Grades 1 - 2 AIM)
Important March Dates
Somerville Public Schools Calendar can be found here.
Wednesday, March 27th 3:14 - 4:45 - Conference for Grades 1 - 8 @ Edgerly
--> Teachers will reach out to parents and caregivers directly to schedule conferences.
Wednesday, March 27th - Early Release Day
*PK dismissed at 11:30
*Kindergarten dismissed at 12:15
*Grades 1 - 8 dismissed at 12:00
Friday, March 29th - No 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.
English Language Arts
- Grades 3, 6, 7 - March 28 and April 1
- Grades 4, 5, 8 - April 4 and April 8
Math
- Grades 3, 6, 7 - May 6 and May 9
- Grades 4, 5, 8 - May 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