Winter Hill Wildcat Weekly
April 5, 2024
Principal's Message
April is Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month
Please find information about autism and how to talk to your students about students who have autism. Be sure to join in next week for Autism Acceptance Week (see below) and the Principal's Coffee Hour to learn and share about autism programming and advocacy here at Winter Hill.
Autism Acceptance Month
April is Autism Acceptance Month, while we are working towards celebrating neurodiversity every month of the year, April provides us an opportunity to raise awareness and reflect on the environment we are co-creating at WHCIS. Here are some answers to common questions for you to discuss at home with your child.
How can I explain Autism to my child?
You might say something like: "Autism is a way our brains can be wired differently. It affects how we understand and interact with the world around us. Some people with autism might have super sharp focus on things they're interested in, while others might find it hard to understand social cues or express their feelings. But just like how we all have our own talents and challenges, people with autism have their own unique strengths and ways of thinking. Autism is a spectrum which means it shows up in everyone differently. Autistic people need different amounts and kinds of support. It's important to be accepting and supportive because everyone deserves to be understood and valued for who they are."
What is stimming?
People with autism sometimes do repetitive behaviors, known as stimming. They might flap their hands or rock back and forth repeatedly. You can explain to your child that stimming helps autistic people calm down when they feel overwhelmed or too excited. Remind your child that we all do repetitive behaviors like bouncing our leg, tap our feet or rock back and forth a little when we feel excited or overwhelmed.
How can I teach my child to be a good friend to an Autistic person?
Teaching your child to be a good friend to an autistic person involves fostering empathy, patience, and understanding. Start by explaining autism in simple terms, highlighting that everyone is different and that's what makes us special. Encourage your child to practice inclusivity by inviting their autistic peer to join activities and conversations, ensuring they feel welcomed and valued. Emphasize the importance of clear communication and respecting boundaries, showing kindness and support when needed. Encourage your child to be a good listener, to try to understand their friend's perspective, and to celebrate their unique strengths and interests. By modeling acceptance and providing guidance, you can help your child develop meaningful and supportive friendships with autistic individuals.
Autism Acceptance Week April 8 - April 12
Autism Acceptance
Spirit Week
April is Autism Acceptance Month and to Celebrate at Winter Hill…
Spirit Week
Monday April 8
Magnificent Mind Monday - Let’s celebrate how wonderful it is that our minds all work in different and amazing ways by wearing a fun hat or hair accessory!
Tuesday April 9
Team Up for Autism Tuesday - Wildcats are supportive of everyone and our differences are what make us unique! Team up and wear your favorite team’s apparel or jersey!
Wednesday April 10
Be a Hero Wednesday - Be a hero and follow the wildcat way by respecting others and wearing something like your favorite superhero…or be/make your own!
Thursday April 11
Be You Thursday - Be an individual and show off your unique self and style by wearing crazy socks!
Friday April 12
Sensory Friendly Friday - Some people with Autism have a variety of sensory sensitivities/preferences. Let’s acknowledge and support this by wearing your comfiest (school appropriate) clothes!
*School appropriate pajamas allowed
8th Grade Civics Project Focusing on a New Winter Hill
For their Civic Action Project, the 8th graders are leading a community research project about the options for a new Winter Hill building.
This is their mission statement: 'We started this project to help students and educators get a better learning and teaching environment. By doing this project, it will help students and educators be heard about their own options about their OWN school building.'
Please help us ROAR louder by following along with our project on Instagram, @whcis8thgrade. Thank you!!
Solar Eclipse on Monday, April 8th
On Monday, April 8, there will be an eclipse of the sun. The moon will block the sun and cover most of it, creating an episode of darkness in the middle of the day. The eclipse will begin around 2:30 pm and last for approximately an hour.
To ensure the safety of our students, the district has made arrangements to provide solar eclipse glasses that will be given to students at dismissal time. These glasses are specifically designed to protect your eyes while viewing the eclipse. Remind students to use the provided glasses responsibly.
Please remember, you should never stare directly at the sun without special eclipse glasses as it can be damaging to the eye.
Since the eclipse will coincide with school dismissal on Monday, we strongly encourage families and staff to remind their students not to look at the eclipse without special eyewear. We would like to encourage you to review the following safety reminders with your student:
- Viewing any part of the sun without eye protection can cause immediate eye damage.
- It is not safe to view the eclipse with binoculars, telescopes or cameras.
- To view the eclipse safely, you must wear specially-designed eye protection (“eclipse glasses”).
- Regular sunglasses are NOT safe for viewing the eclipse.
- A pinhole projector is a fun and safe way to view the eclipse indirectly.
Red Sox Tickets - City of Somerville Commission for Persons with Disabilities
The City of Somerville Commission for Persons with Disabilities has tickets for the Red Sox Disability Pride event on May 13.
- The commission has a total of 68 tickets for this event; 50 grandstand and 18 accessible seats together at Fenway Park.
- Residents can reserve a ticket for themselves and for a guest and they ask that one of the two ticket-holders has a disability.
- Transportation to the game and refreshments provided.
- People can also contact Holly Simione directly for tickets or with questions. Phone: 617-676-7545 Email: hsimione@mac.com
- Website information here.
- This is the flier on the city website: https://s3.amazonaws.com/somervillema-live/s3fs-public/2024-03/SCPD-fenway-disability-pride-2024.pdf
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!
Winter Hill Community Meeting - Monday, April 8
Please join us on Monday, April 8 from 6:30 - 8 pm. for a community meeting about renovations planned for the Edgerly building this summer. The meeting will be held in the ESCS auditorium across from the Edgerly building on Cross Street. If you have any questions, please email communications@k12.somerville.ma.us.
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.
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. Landry (Grades 1 - 2 AIM)
Next Week: Ms. Morgan (Kindergarten)
Important End-of-Year Dates
Somerville Public Schools Calendar can be found here.
Monday, April 15th - Friday, April 19th --> School Vacation
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.
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 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