Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Weekly Update 3/20

Dear Wines Families, 

I know the news that was shared last week regarding the AAPS budget was a quite a surprise for our families and our entire community. The Wines staff and I share in that surprise. Unfortunately, this situation leaves us all in a state of uncertainty and, perhaps, worry. Please know that my focus as the leader at Wines is to protect our staff, students, and parents from budget adjustments as much as possible and I am committed to continuing the high level of teaching and learning (and fun!) that our community has come to expect at our school. I make the same promise to you that I made to our staff: I will be completely transparent and share information as soon as I have it. I will be honest throughout this process and I am here for anyone at any time who would like to discuss anything. While our district financial situation will present some challenges and difficult decisions, I am certain that Wines will continue to be the place that we all know and love.  

Report Cards
Report cards will be sent home via secure email on Friday. 5th grade families will receive a second email with your child’s Instrumental Music report. 

Lunches with Love Success!
I’m pleased to report that last week, Wines students donated 554 pounds of food for Lunches with Love. Spearheaded by parent Megan Hastie, every student participated in this community service project where kids learned about food insecurity in our community and they packed lunches for those in need. Thank you, Megan, for bringing this important opportunity to our kids. 

In addition to Lunches with Love, our school did a great job with the Rotary Club/Food Gatherers Food Drive. We filled three bins! 

Wines Auction Event Tickets are LIVE
Join the Wines community for this ADULT ONLY evening event featuring live and silent auctions, great food and good company on Saturday, April 13th at Zingerman’s Greyline in Downtown Ann Arbor. Tickets are limited at the venue and will sell out. Don't delay, buy tickets today

The auction is the PTO’s largest fundraiser of the year with proceeds funding projects that make our school exceptional including field trips, specials classrooms, teacher’s discretionary funds and Curriculum support. In addition to the silent auction there will be a live auction of classroom art projects, a 50/50 raffle, wine toss and everyone's favorite game of heads or tails.
We need your help with silent auction items to help keep Wines amazing! Do you have talents you’d like to donate to the community? Have connections with local businesses or vacation sites? Please email winesptoauction@gmail.com if you can help.

Please consider supporting Wines with an auction sponsorship. New this year, all sponsorship levels include tickets to the event! Please email winesptoauction@gmail.com with any sponsorship questions. Thank you to the following sponsors for their support: Gold Wildcat Sponsor Papajcik Brothers Tax, Silver Wildcat Sponsors McNamara Orthodontics and Metzger's German Restaurant, Bronze Wildcat Sponsor Zingerman's Greyline, and VIP Wildcat Sponsors Ann Arbor Music Therapy and Newview Therapy.

Library News
Do you love our school libraries? Join the Friends of the AAPS Libraries!
We meet in person from 5:30-6:300pm at Huron High School. Sign up here to be added to the Friends email list to receive updates and reminders. No need to RSVP. Please come if you are able. There is no Zoom option.

The schedule for the rest of this year's meetings is as follows:
Tues, Apr 9
Tues, May 14
Tues, Jun 11

Our focus for the April meeting will be on good news from the AAPS Libraries. 

The mission of the "Friends of the AAPS School Libraries" is to support and advocate for our district school libraries as we strive for equity across all AAPS school libraries.

Art Night
Art Night won’t be happening until May, but we are looking for a volunteer to help coordinate this year’s event. Duties include organizing a team to hang artwork and publicity. If you are interested in helping, please contact Mr. Wyse at wyse@aaps.k12.mi.us.

Request From Neighbor on Newport Road
Our neighbor across the street from the Newport Road entrance has asked that during afternoon Driveline pickup, cars that are waiting along Newport please not block their driveway. Most days, our cars do this. However, there have been times when parents have stopped in front of the driveway blocking access to their home. Thank you! 

If you are traveling next week, please have safe travels. When we return from Spring Break, we have what I always describe as the sprint to the finish as spring is the busiest time of year here at school. It’s also the most fun time of year! 

David



Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Weekly Update 3/13

Dear Wines Families, 

There is lots to share today in my weekly communication. I hope you can all take a few minutes to read through this message. 

Literacy Night Tomorrow 6:30-8:00

Wea are looking forward to hosting families tomorrow night for Literacy Night. We have lots of great literacy activities planned and a visit and reading by author Kelly J. Baptist. We hope to see you there. 











Rotary Club/Food Gatherers Food Drive

Our collection has been a little slow for our food drive. However, we have another week left and a great opportunity at Literacy Night. We would love it if everyone who attends Literacy Night can bring a donation.  











Wines Auction Event Tickets are LIVE

Join the Wines community for this ADULT ONLY evening event featuring live and silent auctions, great food and good company on Saturday, April 13th at Zingerman’s Greyline in Downtown Ann Arbor. Tickets are limited at the venue and will sell out. Don't delay, buy tickets today! 

The auction is the PTO’s largest fundraiser of the year with proceeds funding projects that make our school exceptional including field trips, specials classrooms, teacher’s discretionary funds and Curriculum support. In addition to the silent auction there will be a live auction of classroom art projects, a 50/50 raffle, wine toss and everyone's favorite game of heads or tails.

We need your help with silent auction items to help keep Wines amazing! Do you have talents you’d like to donate to the community? Have connections with local businesses or vacation sites? Please email winesptoauction@gmail.com if you can help.

Please consider supporting Wines with an auction sponsorship. New this year, all sponsorship levels include tickets to the event! Please email winesptoauction@gmail.com with any sponsorship questions. Thank you to the following sponsors for their support: Gold Wildcat Sponsor Papajcik Brothers Tax, Silver Wildcat Sponsors McNamara Orthodontics and Metzger's German Restaurant, Bronze Wildcat Sponsor Zingerman's Greyline, and VIP Wildcat Sponsors Ann Arbor Music Therapy and Newview Therapy.

Art Night

Art Night won’t be happening until May, but we are looking for a volunteer to help coordinate this year’s event. Duties include organizing a team to hang artwork and publicity. If you are interested in helping, please contact Mr. Wyse at wyse@aaps.k12.mi.us.

2024 LaFontaine Teacher of the Year

Nominations are being accepted for the 2024 LaFontaine Teacher of the Year through Thursday, March 21st. The Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber and LaFontaine Automotive Group are looking to identify from among many outstanding teachers from across Washtenaw County to serve as a visible and vocal representative of what is best in the profession. Click here for more information and to nominate a teacher.

My Future Fund - Time to Jump Start College Savings

If your student is in 1st through 6th grade, be sure to complete the My Future Fund Release of Information Form by March 19th to be included in the next round of deposits. This is a free program for our students to get a jump start on saving for college and career training. Most students will be automatically enrolled unless they opt out. Some students may be eligible for an additional $475 based on family income. Please visit www.myfuturefund.org for more information.

Spring After-School Classes @ WINES

AAPS Rec & Ed is excited to offer several after-school classes focused on fun, learning, movement, and discovery. Registration is NOW OPEN! Visit www.aarecedonline.com. Scholarships are available! Please call (734) 994-2300 ext. 0 for assistance.

 


David


Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Weekly Update 3/6

Dear Wines Families, 

It is incredible that we are quickly heading into the middle of March! That means that we are inching closer to the “real” spring (though it already feels like spring outside these days) and it means that we are inching closer to all the wonderful things that happen at Wines as the year begins to come to a close. Speaking of which, there are a few of those items discussed below! 

Reminder: Early Release Today

Dismissal is at 1:00 today. 

PTO Meeting Tomorrow

Please join us for our next PTO meeting tomorrow at 7:00 PM. 

If you aren’t able to attend in person, Zoom information was in today's email.

Girl Scout Cookie Sale Saturday

Troop 40927 will be selling Girl Scout Cookies on Saturday, March 9th from 11:30 to 1:30 at the front of the school.

Happy Literacy Month!

Literacy is all around us, from the way we read stories, to the way we understand and create music and art (visual and music literacy), to the way we learn how to engage in different physical activities (physical literacy). This month, we are celebrating literacy in all its forms in our classrooms, in our special area classes, and as a school community.

Dates for your calendar: 

Family Literacy Night on March 14, 6:30-8pm (see flyer below)

Dress Like Your Favorite Book Character on March 22


Rotary Club/Food Gatherers Food Drive: March 4-15

We are again participating in the annual Rotary Club/Food Gatherers Food Drive. In conjunction with this, our students will all participate in our annual PTO sponsored community service project “Lunches with Love” along with Food Gathers next week. Students will pack lunches for those in need in our community. 


Help Needed: Classroom Art Projects Coordinators for Wines Auction

The highlight of the Wines Auction is always the live portion of the auction when projects created by each classroom are auctioned off. We need parents to help organize these in the following classrooms: We are looking for volunteers for the following classrooms: Lynch, Puente, and Mosher. We have other parents who can help with ideas, etc. If you are interested or would like to learn a bit more, please contact Lauren Cunnane at lmbrooks27@gmail.com. 

Auction Save the Date!

Join the Wines community for this ADULT ONLY evening event featuring live and silent auctions, great food and good company. Saturday, April 13th at Zingerman’s Greyline in Downtown Ann Arbor. 

The auction is the PTO’s largest fundraiser of the year with proceeds funding projects that make our school exceptional including field trips, specials classrooms, teacher’s discretionary funds and Curriculum support.

We need your help with silent auction items to help keep Wines amazing! Do you have talents you’d like to donate to the community? Have connections with local businesses or vacation sites? Please email winesptoauction@gmail.com.

We are also looking for people to help with classroom art projects and donations amongst other tasks. Email Jane.Lardo@gmail.com to get involved. We are looking for volunteers for the following classrooms: Lynch, Puente, and Mosher

Art Night

Art Night won’t be happening until May, but we are looking for a volunteer to help coordinate this year’s event. Duties include organizing a team to hang artwork and publicity. If you are interested in helping, please contact Mr. Wyse at wyse@aaps.k12.mi.us.

David