Winchester Elementary
June 4, 2021
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
June 8: Credit Union Deposit Day
June 17: Half Day - Last Day of School
Thank you Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts!
2020-21 Safety Protocols and End of Year Celebrations
As the pandemic impact begins to recede as a result of vaccinations and other mitigation measures, we had the opportunity to relax some of the safety protocols such as no longer requiring masks outside during recess. While the relaxation of the outside masking safety protocol was a welcome relief, outside of that, the CDC recommends that schools continue to use the current COVID-19 prevention strategies for the 2020-2021 school year.
As recommended by the CDC, including that vaccines are not available for students under the age of 12, schools will continue to maintain the current mitigation measures that have allowed us to remain in-person, full-time at the K-5 level through the end of the 2020-2021 school year.
We continue to work hard to safely create a joyful and celebratory environment for all students as we come to the end of a very long and difficult year. While we would love to be able to have traditional events, such as field days, clap out events, and celebration events that include parents and volunteers in and around our buildings, these events are not aligned with our safety protocols in place through the end of June, 2021.
With these familiar safety measures in place, we are planning many opportunities for students to connect with one another and celebrate their year together, while maintaining a safe environment for finishing the year strong and going into the summer months healthy!
We look forward to returning to a typical in-person school experience in the 2021-2022 school year and while we are not there yet, we look forward to what next year will bring. To learn more about the NPS plan for the 2021-2022 school year, please click here: 2021-22 NPS School Year Planning and Communication 5-28-21.
Sincerely,
Kelly Lindsay, Principal
Rebecca Pek, Director
COVID-19 Response Coordinator
Important Covid Update for Schools
CDC recently released guidance on the ability of fully vaccinated people to resume pre-pandemic activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and work place guidance. This guidance has raised questions for schools about how to proceed in the current school year. CDC recommends schools continue to use the COVID-19 prevention strategies outlined in the current version of CDC’s Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools for at least the remainder of the 2020-2021 academic school year.
Recommendation for continuation with these prevention strategies is based on
- Students will not be fully vaccinated by the end of the 2020-2021 school year. Youth under the age of 12 are not yet eligible for vaccination. Youth between the ages of 12 and 15 became eligible for vaccination on May 12, 2021. Because people are not fully vaccinated until 2 weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine, students in this age group will not be fully vaccinated before the end of current school year.
- The time needed for schools to make systems and policy adjustments. Systems and policy adjustments may be required for schools to change mask requirements for students and staff while continuing to ensure the safety of unvaccinated populations.
PLEASE CONTINUE COVID REPORTING TO YOUR CHILD’S SCHOOL
It is important that families continue to report to your child's school attendance office and/or principal's office if anyone in your household is a presumed or positive COVID case, if your child has been in close contact with a presumed or positive COVID case, or if your child is being tested for or is COVID positive. Our COVID Response Team, in coordination with our school nurse and the Wayne County Health Department, are ready to support you through the reporting and necessary quarantine requirement process.
CLOSE CONTACT QUARANTINE UPDATE
As you may be aware, the Wayne County Health Department has adjusted the quarantine requirements for students identified as being a close contact to a positive COVID-19 case to 10 days (from the previous requirements of 14). Parents should continue to monitor their child for symptoms and not send them to school where symptoms are present. Additionally, if your child has had COVID-19 in the past 5 months (evidenced by a positive PCR), quarantine is not required. We began following these new requirements immediately and notified all families where an identified close contact quarantine could be shortened under these new rules.
The NPS Covid Response Team along with the Health Department will continue to monitor any outbreaks and all other cases. The NPS COVID-19 Dashboard lists the up-to-date COVID-19 data for Northville Public Schools, and includes a link to the more detailed, school-specific NPS COVID-19 Case Transparency Report.
Yearbook Update
Thank you to everyone who ordered a yearbook online this year! The online store is closed and yearbooks will be distributed the week of June 14th. The school will communicate a distribution plan to our student families in the virtual program.
If you discover that you did not order a yearbook and your child would like one, cash sales will be available on a first come, first served basis (no reservations) after the online orders have been distributed. The yearbook cost is $20 and exact change or check is required. Please send money in with your child and have them let their teacher know they would like to buy one. Every effort will be made to help your child get one.
The online store for school supplies is Open!
If you're interested in ordering your school supplies online, click on the link http://www.schooltoolbox.com to get started. Place your order online and it will be DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO YOUR HOME ADDRESS. You will have the option to CUSTOMIZE your order by adding or removing any items from the teacher approved list. Your online store will be open through the summer to shop from your homes.
Orders leave warehouse within 10 days of ordering. If you ordered last year, you can log back in using your current username and password. If you have any trouble logging in you can use your email address as your username and easily reset your password. If anyone needs any help please feel free to reach out to Kristy Kowalec - gkrikow@gmail.com.
Calling All Future Meads Mill Patriots!
Current student? Headed to 6th grade? Future Patriot?
Get ready to show your Patriot spirit with some awesome new swag! Check out the link below for the newest line of spirit wear offered by the PTSA.
The online store has been extended, so be sure to get your order in! All items will be delivered to your school and will arrive before school lets out for the summer.
Questions? Contact Kelly Knotts at knottske@northvilleschools.org or 313.475.4305 (call or text).
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
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