Winship News
November 2019
A note from the desk of Mr. Thorvilson ...
Dear Families,
Thank you for your wonderful support of the Winship PTO. Turkey Bingo planning is going well and our PTO expects another huge success. Your contributions make a big difference. Thank you to our wonderful families for supporting our school, our teachers and our students! We hope to see all of you on November 14th for Turkey Bingo!
Our PTO works very hard to make these opportunities happen (and they have fun doing it)! Please consider coming to our next PTO meeting in December. Mark your calendar for December 3rd @ 6:30pm.
Our next RED Event is on Friday, November 22nd. We hope you can attend! Our students are reading more than ever before! We have a very high number of students reading ELBA books from our school library. If you want to see something really cool, check out the display in our library windows celebrating all of our ELBA readers! If you want more information, please don't hesitate to ask our classroom teachers, our librarian or our school office! We are happy to help.
Finally, thanks for bundling up your child! We brave the weather most days to go out for recess and really need our children to be dressed appropriately and safely.
Thank you for your continued support!
Travis Thorvilson
Upcoming Events
Nov 11: NO SCHOOL Veterans Day
Nov 12: All School Assembly lead by 3rd grade
Nov 13: Caulfield Picture Re-Takes 10:30 -11:00 am
Nov 13: Early Release 1:30 pm
Nov 14-15: School Dental Sealant Program at Winship
Nov 14: Culture Night at Red River High School
Nov 18-22: American Education Week
Nov 19: 5th Grade Music Program 6:30 pm
Nov 21: PTO Turkey Bingo
Nov 22: RED Event 2:30
Nov 27: Early Release 1:30 pm
Nov 28-29: NO SCHOOL Holiday Break
Dec 5: All School Assembly lead by the EL team
Dec 9: Band/Choir/Orchestra Concert 6:30 pm
Dec 11: Early Release 1:30 pm
Dec 23-Jan 1: Holiday Break - NO SCHOOL
You can view more Winship school activities on our Winship website at:
American Education Week
The following are our focuses of appreciation and "theme days" for the week:
Monday, November 18, 2019: Kick-off Day: Wear Winship logo wear or school colors!
Tuesday, November 19, 2019: Family Appreciation Day “Hats off to Parents” Wear a hat!
Wednesday, November 20, 2019: Teacher Appreciation Day
Thursday, November 21, 2019: Substitute/Support Staff Appreciation Day: Wear your suspenders!
Friday, November 22, 2019: Grateful for Education Day: Wear your favorite team jersey/shirt or something red. RED Event 2:30-2:50 pm
Winship Families,
Statistics consistently show that schools are among the safest places to be due to the strong commitment of educators, families, and our community to our students and schools. We strive to be proactive rather than reactive.
Despite these proactive measures, there may be times when your student struggles socially, academically, or otherwise at school. There may be a time you/your student sees, hears, or is made aware of something that causes concern. In these circumstances, we would like you to remember the phrase, “See Something, Say Something.”
Please directly contact your student’s teacher, counselor, or administrator when a school-related concern arises that requires intervention or assistance. The phone number to our school office is 701-746-2325.
If there is a safety concern after school hours, on the weekend, or when school is not in session (ex: holiday break, summer break), contact the Grand Forks Police Department (GFPD) at 701-787-8000. To text an anonymous tip to the GFPD, text GFPD to 847-411.
If it is an immediate concern, call 911.
Please do not use social media (ex: Facebook, Instagram, etc.) as a forum to share these concerns. Individual privacy settings may inhibit emergency responders and school administrators from seeing these messages, making them unable to assist.
We care about each of our students and work hard each day to support their needs. Thank you for your efforts in keeping our students, employees, and community safe.
Sincerely,
Travis Thorvilson
ELBA News
ELBA -- Elementary Library Book Award -- is off to a great start! There are three divisions in which 3rd-5th grade students are invited and encouraged to read all three divisions. The student's picture is taken with their favorite book from that division and posted on the library window when they complete the division. Here are the students and staff that have completed a division in October:
Mrs. Strom's 4th grade: Taylin
Mrs. McIntyre's 4th grade: Jesli and Mrs. McIntyre
Ms. Davidson's 5th grade: THE WHOLE CLASS! Allen, Anisha, D'Angelo, Diego, Gaganjaya, Hamza, Jacqueline, Jasper, Josslynn, Lacey, Rahul, Sacaria, Surr, Willow, and Ms. Davidson.
Other Staff: Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Kulas
There are several students and staff who are close to being done and will be recognized next month.
Great job on Catching the Reading Wave Wildcats!
Notes from the Office ...
Report cards will be emailed to you. The first trimester report cards will be emailed on Friday, December 6th. If you email has changed, please make sure the office has an updated email address for you.
TELEPHONE CALLS:
Calls do not ring into the classroom during school hours to minimize interruptions. Messages for students can be left on the teacher's voicemail.
BIRTHDAY SNACKS:
Due to the increase in students who have severe food allergies and the higher level of severity, we no longer celebrate student birthdays with a "birthday snack" in our schools. Parents are welcome to find other non-food items to send to school if they wish. Please discuss with your child's classroom teacher for ideas or preferences.
CHANGING OF SEASON:
As we continue through the fall season, please be mindful of our changing North Dakota weather. Classes continue to go outside daily and so we encourage students to dress in layers so they are able to enjoy outdoor recess. A blue bag was recently given to your child that is meant to keep their winter gear in so they can bring it back and forth to school more easily. Winter gear consists of boots, snow pants, gloves/mittens, and hats. A warm winter jacket is also essential.
ABSENCES AND TARDIES:
If your child is absent or late, please call the attendance line by 8:30 am to leave a message. Communication between home and school ensures students' safety and also teachers in preparing make-up work. If you are taking your child out of school early for any reason, please stop by the office to sign them out.
- Attendance Line -- 701-746-2321
- School Office -- 701-746-2325
BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION:
The Box Tops for Education program is changing the way we can earn cash for our school. Participating brands have begun to change their packaging from the traditional "clip me" Box Top to the new Box Tops label. Take a look at the flyer explaining how to use the new Box Tops mobile app.
The scanning of Box Tops using the mobile app has begun. To learn more visit BTFE.com.
Box Tops money helps pay for field trips, technology and teacher requests. Thanks for helping Winship get what it needs!
SCHOOL CANCELLATION AND POSTPONEMENT PROCEDURES
School postponement and cancellation alternatives will be as follows:
- a. Hold school as normal
- b. Open school but delay sending buses
- c. Delay the start time in all schools by two (2) hours based on each school’s start time
- Elementary School: Start time is 8:25, so school would start at 10:25. Doors will open at 10:15 a.m.
- Middle School: Start time is 8:40, so school would start at 10:40. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m.
- High School: Start time is 8:00, so school would start at 10:00. Doors will open at 9:50 a.m.
- Head Start: Start time is 8:00, so school would start at 10:00. Doors will open at 9:50 a.m.
- When school starts late, there will be no morning Early Childhood Special Education classes. Afternoon Early Childhood Special Education classes will be held.
- Breakfast will not be served at any sites.
- d. No school in Grand Forks Public Schools all day
- e. No school for the Grand Forks Air Force Base School District students all day
- Decisions related to the weather-related delayed opening or closing of air base schools may not always be consistent with those made for in-town schools. On those days when severe weather makes travel conditions so hazardous as to threaten the safety of staff members, opening delays or the closing of base schools will be given special consideration.
- f. Once school is in session, it will not be terminated until the regular closing time except in very severe situations. However, school buses may leave early. Radio and TV stations will be used to notify parents.
The decision to close or delay school will be made as early as possible. Announcements will be made on the District webpage (www.gfschools.org), and District social media (www.facebook.com/GrandForksPublicSchools; www.twitter.com/GFSchools). Announcements will also be made on local radio and TV stations.
Grand Forks Public Schools will be using our Automated Calling system to call staff and parents if school will be delayed or cancelled due to severe weather conditions. Typically, this automated call will occur to staff between 5:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., and to parents between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.
Parents or guardians may always exercise their right to keep students home or pick them up early during stormy conditions.
If an emergency situation should develop during the time school is in session, children will be cared for in school until the storm has subsided.
If buses are sent home early, all buses will be sent.
- a. Radio and TV stations will make the announcement of the departure time.
- b. The lead-time needed for the procedure is approximately one (1) hour.
- c. If conditions are dangerous, bus drivers must use common sense in discharging students that must walk a considerable distance. If possible, use the radio and contact the base station. Have parents meet the bus or be on the lookout for their children. If the driver is unable to contact parents and conditions are dangerous, do not let students off the bus but return to school and notify the principal. Schools that have bus students must have a written procedure for caring for students in the event they must be kept overnight at school.
Updated 9/30/2019
Peanut and Tree Nut Free
Please remember that Winship is a peanut and tree nut restricted school! It is important to check all ingredients in the snacks or cold lunches that are brought to school.
Child Nutrition Program is hiring!
Cooks and Substitute Cooks
Hours vary from 4-6 hours per day
Call 746-2436 or apply on line at GFPS Website