Winchester Weekly
September 9th, 2022
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
Sept 16th: 3rd grade Heritage Field Trip
Sept 28th: Picture Day
Sept 30th: PTA Movie Night
Morning Bell Schedule
School begins each day at 8:46 AM. Drop off begins at 8:35 AM. Students will be allowed to enter the building at 8:41 AM each morning.
The school day ends at 3:45 PM
Arrival and Dismissal
Please remember the first few days of school will be busier than usual in the parking lot and carpool lane. Patience is greatly appreciated.
Arrival:
The image below shows the entrance doors for each grade level.
- Kindergarten students will enter the main entrance doors and line up by class in the main entrance foyer.
- 1st, 2nd, and 3rd will enter the building through the main entrance doors and line up by class in the gymnasium until the bell rings.
- 4th and 5th-grade students will line up outside the upper elementary doors and enter the building when the bell rings.
Students will be dismissed at 3:45 PM. They will exit the same doors they entered.
Bussers will go to the gymnasium and line up by bus letter to await the arrival of busses.
Carpool Reminders
For the safety of our students, we ask that you follow the etiquetter while in the carpool drop off lane. It is for everyone's benefit that we need everyone to follow these instructions.
- Pull ALL THE WAY forward to the front of the carpool lane before dropping children off or picking children up.
- Try to stay BUMPER TO BUMPER in the carpool lane, don’t leave space between cars
- Students should get in and out on the passenger side of the vehicle.
- Parents remain in the car.
- Drop off all children at one time and not at each entrance door during arrival.
The Winchester staff will be present to ensure safe arrival procedures are being followed. Thank you for helping us keep everyone safe!
Annual Online Registration
Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year!
All new and returning families: It's time to fill out your required online Annual Registration!
Every year, all families (including those who recently enrolled) are required to fill out the digital Annual Registration for each student. Families may complete these forms through MiStar ParentConnection. Through this process you will be asked to update your student’s emergency contact information, home address and health information, review our technology use policy and student handbooks, learn more about PTSA/PTA, access the web store and much more.
Need Help? Many of the most commonly asked questions can be found on our FAQs page (located in the upper right-hand corner of ParentConnection.) If you have further questions, please email the helpdesk at parentportal@northvilleschools.org
- All NHS students must have the Annual Registration completed before Transition Day the Week of Monday, August 22, 2022.
- All Hillside and Meads Mill Middle School students must have the Annual Registration completed before Transition Days starting on Thursday, August 25, 2022.
- All elementary students and Cooke School students must have the Annual Registration completed prior to the start of school on Tuesday, September 6, 2022.
With Much Appreciation!
A big shout-out also goes to Kevin Tomasitis and Matt Rimmel for painting the blacktop on the playground with fun dragonfly hopscotch boards, new four-square games, and a kickball field on the blacktop between the Kindergarten and upper playground! It looks amazing and the kids are so excited to be able to use them during recess!
Yearbook
Ordering for the 2022/2023 Winchester Elementary Yearbook is now open. Yearbooks are $20 each from now until January 9th, 2023. After January 9th the price will increase to $25 and copies cannot be guaranteed. Order today to reserve your copy at the following link:
https://www.balfour.com/michigan/northville/winchester-elementary-school
If you’d like to help build our yearbook, please contact the PTA Yearbook Committee at winchestermiyearbook@gmail.com.
Submit Pictures for Yearbook
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.
Medication Drop Off
If you have been unable to drop off medications, please drop off as soon as possible.
Please remember, we cannot accept medication without signed forms. If possible, bring medication and forms in a zip loc bag, so all medication and paperwork is clearly designated to your student. Thank you.
National Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day
Northville Academic Games Fall Registration
NEW: Free School Meals for All Students Has Ended
Hello Northville families,
When the 2021-2022 school year ended, so did free meals for every student. While the federal government funded a program that allowed all students access to free meals during the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress recently declined to continue funding this program.
We understand this change may cause you to worry. However, there are important steps you can take NOW to be sure your student receives the meals they need this school year.
If your student qualifies for free or reduced priced meals, they can still receive them this fall, but you must take action to make it happen. Please complete the 2022-2023 online application for free or reduced meals. The application is available on the district’s Food Service webpage. The online application link can also be found in the MiStar Parent Connect portal. Paper applications are also available at the school where your child attends.
If you do not qualify for free or reduced meals, you may begin depositing money into student accounts at any time to prepare for the cost of school lunches. Money can be deposited online before school starts through the MiStar Parent Connect portal. Once school resumes money can be deposited online or can be sent to school with your student (cash or check). Information on meal prices for the 2022-2023 school year are listed below:
Lunch Meal Price - Elementary $4.00
If your student has a negative lunch account balance, we encourage you to pay it off as soon as possible and then begin depositing money into the account to prepare for the 2022-2023 school year. You can check your students balance online and make a payment online, through the MiStar Parent Connect portal.
Completing an application is the only way to be considered for free or reduced meals next school year. Please take action now.
For assistance, please contact our Food Service Department at 248-344-3690. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Thank you for your understanding,
Northville Public Schools
SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM
The Northville Public Schools provides a hot lunch program for interested students.
Families must preorder lunches for preschools and elementary students. Orders must be in by 8:00 AM for preschool students and 8:30 AM for elementary students to receive a lunch that day. The system will not allow you to order after the time listed above. For your convenience, meals can be preordered up to 30 days in advance. To avoid any issues, we recommend ordering the night before. You will need your Students Student ID number to complete the order.
Birthday Book Club - Join Today!
Please consider joining the 2022/2023 Birthday Book Club by completing and returning the attached flyer (also sent home in your student’s Monday envelope). Your donation is used to purchase new books for the Media Center. During your student’s birthday month, a book plate with your student’s name will be placed in the book they select and they get to be the first to read it! Thank you for helping our library to grow!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HN-ss9dXLCAOHIIn7qrSFDHY3wAz99wZJm8464IJx6g/edit
Society of Readers
Society of Readers
Winchester’s Society of Readers program is ready to go! For those families who might not know, the Society of Readers program has a long history at Winchester. It was started many years ago as a way to promote reading outside of the school day. As with developing any skill, progress comes with practice.
Please view the attached slide show for more information.
Students will receive a SOR calendar from their teachers during the first week of school. You can count minutes your student reads at home starting September 1st. Record them on paper and when your student gets his/her calendar, you can transfer the minutes to the calendar.
If you have any questions about the SOR program, or would be willing to volunteer to enter reading minutes at the end of each month, please contact Mrs. Rush at rushka@northvilleschools.org.
Infectious Disease Response to COVID 2022-23
Students and staff that contract COVID should follow the Health Department recommendations and isolate for five days from the date where symptoms were present or from the date of their positive rapid or PCR test. Isolation includes waiting to return to school until the isolation period has ended. It is also recommended that students or staff should wear a mask for 5 days past their isolation period. See MDHHS Graphic below.
Parents should notify their child’s school of the absence reason so that teachers are aware of the student's absence period and our nurses can follow the health department’s infectious disease requirements. NPS School Nurses are available should you have any questions.
Winchester PTA Welcome Back Meeting!
It was great to see so many families at the Winchester PTA Welcome Back Meeting! We are looking forward to an amazing school year!
Become a Member of the PTA
Welcome Students, Families, and Staff! We are excited to begin the 2022-23 school year and are already hard at work planning activities for our students and families to enjoy. Our Winchester PTA mission is to support and lead parent, teacher, and student efforts toward the best educational experience possible. We coordinate student enrichment activities and social events that enhance our students’ school life and bring the Winchester community together.
What does the Winchester PTA provide?
● Family programs and Community events
● Junior Enrichment Series (enriching and interactive presentations during the school day)
● Teacher stipends to enhance classrooms and lessons
● Field Day, March is Reading Month, Book Fair
● Yearbook
● Student directory (only available with PTA membership)
How do we raise money for this?
Invest in Your Child is a donation to the Winchester PTA, which gives you the opportunity to support our students and staff directly. Through the generous donations of our Winchester families, we can provide a variety of enrichment programs, activities, and family-centered opportunities.
How can I get involved?
● Please join our Welcome Back PTA meeting on September 9th at 9:00 AM where you will hear from our Winchester Principal and PTA officers. This is a great way to learn about the different committees and ways the PTA supports our Winchester community.
● Visit https://winchesterpta.memberhub.com/store, where you can purchase a PTA membership and donate to the Winchester PTA Invest in Your Child fundraiser (bundled and non-bundled options are available). PTA membership includes access to a student directory and voting privileges in the Winchester PTA.
● Check out our Winchester PTA website for more information on our organization and the ways you can get involved.
The PTA runs on the volunteer energy of our families, and we would love to have you join us! We have opportunities to match with your interests, talents, and time. It takes an entire community of volunteers to pull off this magic! If you have any questions, please reach out to Stephanie Smith, PTA President, at winchesterptapresident@gmail.com.
Cub Scouts!!!
Cub Scouts is fun for the whole family. It’s hands-on learning and achievement that puts kids in the middle of the action and prepares them for today – and for life. Anyone interested in Cub Scouts please send an email to: cubmaster@northville903.mypack.us.
Winchester Girl Scouts
If you are interested in learning more information about Winchester Girls Scouts, please join us next Wednesday, Sept 7th on the kindergarten playground at 6 pm. This is for kindergarteners and all other girls interested in girls scouts at Winchester. If you can not join us but would like to be added to the list, please give us your contact your information here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1D72Bkh3vDn0hoP0pUQS_lt43qDShiTcuvZfZa_6FW04/edit
Please sign up on this Google form even if you have signed up before. We had a technology glich.
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