Weekly Blog 3/30

Dear Wines Families,

I have a number of important announcements this last week before spring break.

M-STEP

The 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th grade students will be taking the state assessment beginning after spring break. Our 5^th graders start right after the break. Your child’s teacher should have already shared the dates of testing for their class. While there is some flexibility to account for student illness, please have (healthy) students in school during assessment days.

Silent Auction Tickets Now On Sale

Our Silent Auction will take place on Friday, April 30^th at Null Taphouse in Dexter. Please see today's email with more informatino. Tickets can be purchased online at https://squareup.com/market/wines-elementary-school-pto/silent-auction-ticket?square_lead=item_embed

5th Grade Chorus performs tonight at Board of Education meeting

The 5th grade chorus will sing tonight for the opening of the Board of Ed meeting. They perform at 7:00 pm at the Forsythe auditorium, but need to arrive at 6:30. If possible, please have students wear Wines chorus t-shirts (black with red logo) and any pants/skirt. Parents should plan to attend the performance. Please, no drop-offs. Our portion lasts 7-8 minutes, so we’ll be done by around 7:15 pm. 

Tell your friends and family that this Board of Education meeting - including the opening Wines Chorus performance - can be watched live on CTN's Educational Channel 18!  Or they can watch it live streamed by going to the BOE page at http://a2schools.org/domain/275.  

Wines Art Night | Thursday, May 5th, 6:30-8

Please mark your calendars for Art Night on May 5th from 6:30-8. While the main attraction is your students’ work, we will keep with the Art Night tradition of asking each family to bring a dozen cookies to share. We’ll also have a special performance from the 5th Grade Choir, and a few other surprises in store for the evening. See you then!

That’s all for this week. No school next week for Spring Break. Safe travels for anyone getting away.

David

Weekly Blog 3/23

Dear Wines Families,

I hope this message finds you well. In addition to the items below, please remember that there is no school this Friday.

Parent Survey

On Monday, each family received an email from Dr. Swift with a link to our annual parent survey. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey as it gives us excellent information on the areas we are meeting parent expectations and those areas where we have growth potential. I appreciate your participation!!

M-STEP Assessment Dates

Our annual state assessment for 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th grades begins after spring break. Each grade level has a three-week window to complete the assessments. Third grade has three sessions during their window, 4^th grade has five, and 5^th grade has six sessions. While we certainly have some flexibility to accommodate student illness, etc. we do want to make sure students are in school (if healthy) during their assessment dates. Your child’s teacher will be sending home the dates of his/her classroom testing dates this week. Please let your child’s teacher know right away if you know that your child will not be in school on any of those assessment dates. Our 5^th grade students begin their assessment window the week we return from spring break.

ColorCyle Marker Recycling

Our Student Council is participating in a recycling program called ColorCycle by Crayola. Students, staff, and families can collect any brand of plastic markers when they don't work anymore (including dry erase, sharpies and highlighters). Each classroom has a collection jar and when there are at least 100 or up to 40 pounds, we will send the markers to Crayola (they pay for the shipping). The markers are then “downcycled” into fuel by a company called JBI. If you want more details feel free to email Cristina Rojas ( cristina_rojas@yahoo.com) and  you can learn more about the program at the Crayola website.

Save the Date: Wines Silent Auction

Please save Friday, April 30^th for our first ever “off site” Silent Auction. The event will take place at Null in Dexter from 6:00-10:00 PM (auction ends at 8:40). Proceeds from the event will go towards purchasing of new iPads, curriculum enhancements, and playground enhancements.

If you would like to donate to the auction some ideas are: Restaurant and other Gift Cards, Wine priced at $25+ for the wine pull, sport tickets and memorabilia. Please contact Tracie Clarke (traciemcginty@hotmail.com). Please contact Amy Holland at 313-790-9667 if you have any food or desserts to donate for the event.

That’s all for this week!

David

Weekly Blog 3/16

Dear Wines Families,

Sorry for the late message today. I have been attending a leadership training on effective decision making yesterday and today and we were asked to be completely off technology during the session. Thus, I’m just getting to my technology now! A few announcements this week:

Wines Wahoo

The Wines Wahoo is this Friday from 6:30-8:30 at Forsythe Middle School. Come get out of the cold and have the family join us for this Hawaiian-themed event with a DJ, dancing, open gym, movie, tattoos, face painting, board games, pizza, snacks and more! As a reminder, this event is for elementary school age kids and younger. A $5.00 suggested donation per family is asked at the door. Concessions are available for purchase. Questions, please contact Jill Greene (jill.greene@gmail.com) or Melissa McVicker (mcvicker.meg@gmail.com).

WE STILL NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR THE WAHOO!

Please volunteer using the link below.

https://www.volunteerspot.com/client/invitation/90a053ba6d4b3825071b751987d4a51435292835/1419077/false?popup=true&preview=true&return=/Activities%23!/1419077/jobs/edit

Wines Silent Auction

For the first time, the Wines Silent Auction has moved off site this year. The date is April 30^th and the event will be held at Null Taphouse in Dexter beginning at 6:00 PM. In addition to a wide assortment of auction itesm, the wonderful classroom projects created by students that were such a hit last year will also be available for bid that evening. For more information, please check out the flyer that was sent with today's email as well as the information in last week's Wines Times newsletter. 

After two days away, I’m looking forward to being back at school tomorrow.

Best,

David

Weekly Blog 3/9

Dear Wines Families,

We are having a couple of technical difficulties with this month’s Wines Times newsletter so it isn’t ready for today. I will be sending that out either Thursday or Friday. But since I have your attention, I have two important announcements/call for volunteers below:

Disability Awareness Workshop - Last Call For Volunteers!!

Our annual Disability Awareness Workshop takes place next Wednesday, March 16. We still need a few more parent volunteers to help out with this wonderful event for our 4th grade students. You do not need to be a 4th grade parent to help!

To volunteer, please use the sign up link http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080c48afaf28a31-disability. Any questions, please contact Jessi Averill 267-495-6208 or jessi.averill@gmail.com

Wines Wahoo: Next Friday!

The Wines Wahoo is right around the corner and we need volunteers (see link below)! Come get out of the cold and have the family join us for this Hawaiian-themed event with a DJ, dancing, open gym, movie, tattoos, face painting, board games, pizza, snacks and more! As a reminder, this event is for elementary school age kids and younger. Older siblings are welcome to volunteer at the face painting and tattoo table. Don't miss out on this favorite Wines tradition! Friday March 18th from 6:30-8:30 at Forsythe Middle School. $5.00 suggested donation per family. Concessions available for purchase. Questions, please contact Jill Greene (jill.greene@gmail.com) or Melissa McVicker mcvicker.meg@gmail.com). Please volunteer using the link below.

https://www.volunteerspot.com/client/invitation/90a053ba6d4b3825071b751987d4a51435292835/1419077/false?popup=true&preview=true&return=/Activities%23!/1419077/jobs/edit

David

Weekly Blog 3/2

Dear Wines Families,

I have a number of important announcements today. Please take a moment to read through them.

Kindergarten Round Up: Tonight!

Due to last week’s snow day, our Kindergarten Round Up was moved to tonight (thankfully we avoided another snow day today!). If you have a child who is Kindergarten age or have friends or neighbors who do, please come with your child tonight at 6:00.

March is Reading Month

As we do every year, we have begun our month long celebration of reading. Students will be coming home tonight with Reading Logs and there are events all month long. Check today's email for Ms. Evaldson’s newsletter with all the highlights for the month!

Wines Wahoo: March 18

The Wines Wahoo is right around the corner and we need volunteers (see link below)! Come get out of the cold and have the family join us for this Hawaiian-themed event with a DJ, dancing, open gym, movie, tattoos, face painting, board games, pizza, snacks and more! As a reminder, this event is for elementary school age kids and younger. Older siblings are welcome to volunteer at the face painting and tattoo table. Don't miss out on this favorite Wines tradition! Friday March 18th from 6:30-8:30 at Forsythe Middle School. $5.00 suggested donation per family. Concessions available for purchase. Questions, please contact Jill Greene (jill.greene@gmail.com) or Melissa McVicker mcvicker.meg@gmail.com). Please volunteer using the link below.

https://www.volunteerspot.com/client/invitation/90a053ba6d4b3825071b751987d4a51435292835/1419077/false?popup=true&preview=true&return=/Activities%23!/1419077/jobs/edit

Wines Times Newsletter Items

If you have items for the next Wines Times newsletter, please email them to newsletter@winespto.org. We’d like to have items turned in by Friday if possible s we can publish next week. Any questions can be directed to that same email address.

Primary Election Next Tuesday

Next Tuesday, March 8 is Michigan’s Presidential Primary Election Day. Twenty-two of the Ann Arbor Public Schools serve as voting locations. Wines is not a polling location but I want to share with you that our district is prepared for the anticipated heavy voter turnout. If your child attends another school for afterschool activities that is a polling location, these schools are prepared with a plan to ensure student safety and a welcoming atmosphere for the voters.

If you have any questions about Election Day or any of the polling locations in our district please contact the AAPS administrative office at 994-2200.

That’s all for this week.

David