Weekly Blog 10/10

Dear Wines Families,

Run-a-Thon:
It has been a great Spirit Week so far. The number of students who have participated has been outstanding! Spirit Week culminates with the Run-a-Thon on Friday morning. Attached to today's email is the final Run-a-Thon flyer with the times when all of our grade levels are participating. The weather for Friday is looking like good running weather—cool and dry!

Every student received a Run-a-Thon packet last week with information about how to collect pledges. Again this year, pledges can be made online. Visit the Run-a-Thon page on the PTO website for more information. You can find the page at http://www.winespto.org/runathon.php. The online pledge is great for friends and family not in the Ann Arbor area. I recently met with a representative from playground equipment company and we are looking at some great ideas to upgrade our playground with proceeds from the Run-a-Thon. We are also working with the company on replacing our gymnasium basketball hoops with more kid-friendly adjustable rims. In addition, 10% of Run-a-Thon proceeds will go to Ele’s Place. The students voted for Ele’s place as the recipient of the donation last week.

Walk to School:
Friday is also a Walk to School Day at Wines. As a reminder, we will walk to school every Friday this month. We will have a culminating celebration and competition with Evening Street Elementary School in Columbus, Ohio on Friday, Oct. 26th.

A few reminders from the office:
• I want to remind parents that we love it when you visit Wines! However, it is very important that everyone who visits our school signs in so that we know you are here. Please make your first stop in the office when you arrive.
• Unfortunately, it seems that cold and flu season is already here. To help prevent the spread of illness at school, please follow the 24 hour fever rule. Kids need to be fever free for 24 hours (without medication) before they can return to school.
• The end of the day is a VERY busy time at school. Often we have students who do not know their end of day plans and we need to hustle to make last minute phone calls before our busses leave. While we understand that plans do change at the last minute and kids can become confused, we ask that you please try to make sure that your child knows the after school plans before he or she arrives to school in the morning. In addition, if changes are made to plans, please inform the office as soon as possible so we can have time to get the message to teachers and students.
• Finally, just a reminder our school day ends at 3:42. If you are picking your child up from school, please be here either outside waiting or waiting in the pick up line in your car at that time. Thank you!!

Newport Road Meeting
Tomorrow (Thursday) evening, there is a community meeting at Wines with Mayor John Hiefje and Ann Arbor City Council Woman Sabra Briere to discuss improving pedestrian access on Newport Road. I know this is an important issue in our community. Please attend if you can! The meeting begins at 7:00 PM in the cafeteria.

Thanks!
David