Weekly Blog 3/25

Dear Wines Families, 

I have a couple of new announcements today and a couple of reminders from my email I sent Monday. 

Disability Awareness Workshop

We are in need of volunteers for our annual Disability Awareness Workshop scheduled for April 23. The workshop is for 4th graders, but you need not be a 4th grade parent to volunteer. This is a great event where our students learn the challenges and opportunities faced by persons with various disabilities. If you can join us, please click on the link below to volunteer. If you have any questions, please contact Jessi Averill at jessi.averill@gmail.com or267-495-6208. 

Click HERE to volunteer. 

Wahoo Thanks! 

I want to thank all of our volunteers that made last Friday's Wines Wahoo such a success. We couldn't have done it without you! A big thank you to our coordinator, Denise Duffy, for all of your hard work!

Climate Survey Reminder

Thank you to everyone who has already filled out their parent climate survey. If you haven't had a chance, please look for an email from Dr. Swift that came out Monday with the subject "please share your voice." There is a link to your survey in that email. This is very important information for us. 

Next Year's Plans

Finally, just a reminder to fill out the brief form if you are not coming back to Wines next year or you may not be coming back to Wines. We are busy preparing for next year and we need accurate projections. Below is a link. 

STUDENTS NOT RETURNING

David

Weekly Blog 3/18

Dear Wines Families,

I have a number of important announcements this week.

Wines Wahoo

Friday evening is the annual Wines Wahoo at Forsythe beginning at 6:30 PM. This luau-themed event is among the most popular Wines traditions. We are still in need of a few volunteers to make the Wahoo a success. If you can help out, please follow the link below.

http://vols.pt/ooYKEz

Climate Surveys

The annual school climate survey window opens next Monday. We are hopeful that all Wines families fill out the short survey as it gives us great feedback on the areas where we are having success and areas where we need to focus our improvement efforts. Please look for an email from “K-12 Insight” on Monday which will give you a personalized link to the survey. We do use this information to inform how we work with our community and so I hope you will participate.

Report Cards

Please look for your child’s report card in today’s Wednesday Folder. If you have any questions regarding the information contained in the report card, do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher. Please return the envelope so we can use them again in the spring.

Disability Awareness Workshop

Our annual 4^th Grade Disability Awareness Workshop takes place on April 23^rd. This is a wonderful event exposing our students to the challenges and opportunities faced by persons with disabilities. We will be in need of volunteers for the event. You certainly do not need to be a 4^th grade parent to help. Please contact our coordinator, Jessi Averill at jessi.averill@gmail.com or 267-495-6208.

Lost and Found

Our Lost and Found is again very full. We will be donating all remaining items before Spring Break. Please have a look and encourage your kids to look for lost belongings.

Food Drive

Our Rotary/Food Gatherers Food Drive is off to a slow start. Please bring in your non-perishable food items!

Art Room News

The latest Art Room news from Mrs. Hendrick was attached to today's email.

That’s all for now.

David

Weekly Blog 3/11

Dear Wines Families,

Dare I say spring is in the air? Hopefully it will last. Just remember to continue to send your kids to school with boots and even snow pants for the foreseeable future as the snow gives way to many weeks of mud…

I have a few important announcements this week:

Wines Wahoo Friday, March 20^th 6:30-8:30 @ Forsythe Middle School

Speaking of spring…Are you tired of the snow and cold?  Ready for a tropical escape?  The Wines Wahoo is the perfect opportunity to shake off the winter blues!
The Wines Wahoo is a luau-themed, fun, family event for all Wines students, their parents and younger siblings. The Wahoo includes music provided by a kid friendly DJ, fun activities in the gym, face painting, and tattoos. There will be pizza, snacks and beverages for sale.  A parent or other adult over the age of 18 must accompany each Wines student. Children over 5th grade will not be admitted to the event but can volunteer. Younger siblings are invited to participate.

There is a suggested donation of $5 per family that helps to cover the cost of the DJ and decorations. There is also a nominal fee for the food. In order to make the Wahoo a success, we need many volunteers to help with set-up, admissions, refreshments, gym monitoring and clean-up.  There will be several shifts, so you will have time to socialize and have fun with your kids.  Please use the link below to sign up!
Please sign up for Wines Wahoo - here's how it works in 3 easy steps:

   1. Click this link to go to our invitation page on VolunteerSpot: http://vols.pt/ooYKEz
   2. Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account on VolunteerSpot)
   3. Sign up! Choose your spots - VolunteerSpot will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Easy!
Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.

Report Cards

As you know, our teachers are busy putting the finishing touches on their report cards. All AAPS elementary schools are sending home report cards next Tuesday, March 17. Since Wines has a weekly Wednesday Folder that goes home, we have decided that we will send our reports home on Wednesday instead. If you would prefer to have your report card sent on Tuesday, please let your child’s teacher know.

Vote for Parker!

One of our second grade students, Parker Carpenter is one of ten finalists for the Comerica Cares Penguin Art Contest to welcome the Gentoo penguins to the Detroit Zoo. The winning artist receives a class field trip to the zoo as well as a $1000 grant for the school. You can vote for Parker’s art via Facebook and Twitter. Below are links to the sites. He is listed as “Parker C” on the page. Congratulations to Parker!

 https://www.facebook.com/ComericaCares

https://twitter.com/ComericaCares

Friday Floor Hockey

Our first floor hockey game of the season will take place this Friday morning beginning at 8:00. Any student can join us (and parents too!) We hope to see you there! I’ve had a few parents volunteer to help get the game going, etc. but if you are able to help out, please come Friday (or any Friday).

Rotary Club/Food Gatherers Food Drive

We will again be participating in the annual Rotary Club/Food Gatherers Food Drive beginning next week. Bins will be at our entrances. Please help out!

That’s all for this week. Please consider volunteering for the Wahoo—we are in need of many more volunteers than we currently have.

David

Weekly Blog 3/4

Dear Wines Families, 

Well, here I sit at home recovering from successful shoulder surgery last Friday. Everything went perfectly and I'm recovering well. Although I fell a bit like I'm in exile! But I'm progressing well and today marks the first time I've been able to go without pain medication. So that is progress! I do not know precisely when I will return to Wines but I do plan on making an appearance or two over the next couple of days, however, and will certainly be back full time next week. Everything at Wines seems to be going well in my absence. 

Below is a link to the March Wines Times newsletter. It is a fairly large file so give it some time to load. It has lots of important information regarding March is Reading Month, the Wines Wahoo, the upcoming end of the student art sale, and lots more. So please have a look! I hope to see everyone very soon. 

WINES TIMES NEWSLETTER

David

Weekly Blog 2/25

Dear Wines Parents,

I hope this message finds you well during this cold snap. As I type this, I see that the windchill has gone above zero and we will finally have outdoor recess today!

I just have a couple of announcements today. First, one final reminder that Kindergarten Round Up is tonight. If you have a child who will be eligible for kindergarten next year or if you have friends and neighbors who do, please spread the word. If you (or your neighbors) can't make it tonight, please contact our office so we can get you the information you need.

My Absence Next Week
I want to remind everyone that I will be undergoing shoulder surgery on Friday. I anticipate being out of the building for most or all of next week recovering. Our building leadership team is prepared to ensure that everything goes well next week during my absence.

Art Room News
Our new format of Art Night was a great success!! A huge thank you to Janice Hendrick and her army of volunteers who made the event so special. Attached to today's email was a message from Mrs. Hendrick about Art Night and all things related to the Art Room. Please have a look.

Floor Hockey
I have been asked A LOT lately by both kids and families about when we are going to start Friday morning Floor Hockey again. So let's get started! We will plan on starting hockey at 8:00 AM on Friday, March 13. This year more than ever, I'll need parents to help out each Friday. It does not take much other than to be here a bit before 8:00 to help get the equipment ready and to organize the rotation of players during the game. I will be around as much as possible, but I won't be able to help out with any of the set up due to my shoulder recovery. We will plan on hosting hockey each Friday until later in the spring. If you can commit to any of the Friday's over the next couple of months, please send me an email with which date(s) you are available and I'll put together a schedule of sorts. Please email me directly if you can help out!

There is no school on Monday, March 9.

That's all for now. I'll miss Wines next week.

David

Weekly Blog 2/3

Dear Wines Families,

I hope everyone is warm and not too overly put out by a second snow day. I know it is very challenging for families to coordinate childcare and work schedules on these days. It will be nice to get back to school tomorrow. Since we are off a second day and my schedule tomorrow will be quite full with made up appointments, etc., I figured I would post this week's blog a day early. Next week we have both Parent Involvement Day and Art Night so please read on about both events.

Parent Involvement Day

Our annual Parent Involvement Day is next Monday, February 9^th. We hope you can spend some or all of your day with us. Many teachers have specific times when their activities are best suited for lots of adult visitors. Other teachers have a more open schedule that day. Please refer to any communications from your child’s teacher regarding specifics. As always, we will be serving lunch to adult guests. Thank you to the many parents who have already filled out the lunch RSVP. We are going to finalize our lunch order on Thursday evening this week, so please RSVP by no later than Thursday afternoon. Below is a link to the RSVP.

Parent Involvement Day RSVP

Wines Winter Walk Art Night

Janice Hendrick and her army of parent volunteers are busy putting the finishing touches on Art Night, which takes place next Wednesday evening. The evening highlight is an outdoor walk with luminaries created by every Wines student. Attached to today's email was a flyer regarding the event and as with any large event like this, there is still room for volunteers. Information regarding the evening and volunteering are on the flyer. Please have a look!

Snow Day Hot Lunch Menu Changes

Due to the two snow days, our lunch menu for Wednesday and Thursday has changed. The menu is as follows:

Wednesday: Macaroni & Cheese or Cereal Fun Lunch

Thursday: Chicken Tenders or Triple Dipper Fun Lunch.

Friday we will return to the regular menu with Pizza.

News from the Media Center

I forgot to attach Mrs. Evladson’s Media Center news last week. It was attached to today's email. Please have a read of all the exciting things happening in ILT!

Thanks and we’ll (hopefully) see you all tomorrow.

David

Weekly Blog 1/28

Dear Wines Families,

I mentioned to a parent yesterday who wanted an item included in today’s message that I didn’t have much to share this week. Since that time, a number of items have come up that I’d like to share! So here goes:

International Night is tomorrow Thursday, January 29 from 6:30 until 8:00 pm

The night is shaping up to be a great celebration of the heritage and culture of the Wines community.  We will have a gymnasium full of student-created projects, crafts, delicious food, cultural performances and an international fashion show featuring our Wines students.  This event is a fascinating showcase of the international roots of the families that make up Wines, and you can participate in the following ways:

* We still need volunteers to run the evening!  If you have 45 minutes or an hour to give, please visit http://vols.pt/TeToGh and sign up where you can.

* Come experience the event!  You do not need to be a registered participant to enjoy the evening.  Bring your family and learn about countries and cultures from around the globe.

*  For an added learning experience, fill out the “Where is my family from?” form attached to today's email with your kids and bring it to the event.  While there, find your family’s roots on the world map and look to see if your family’s country of origin is represented at one of the student presentation tables.

Parent Involvement Day: February 9^th

In your child’s take home folder today, you will see a yellow invitation to join us for our annual Parent Involvement Day on Monday, February 9^th. This has historically been a very well attended day in our community and we hope you can join us. For new parents, there is a lot of information contained in the invitation. Later this week, I will send out a digital RSVP for parents. You do not necessarily need to RSVP to join us. However, it does give us a sense of how many people we will expect. Additionally, we will be serving lunch to parents so if you are going to join us for lunch, we do ask that you RSVP so we can be sure to have enough food. Look for the RSVP later this week.

Notes from the Office

Parents, please call the main office if your child is going to be late or absent to school. Many parents do contact teachers—which is nice—but that message does not always reach the main office.

Students must stop for a pass and check in the front office when they come in after the bell. Teachers take attendance right away in the morning and then begin their instructional day. The pass is an important communication tool between the office and the teacher that we know children have arrived and tells the teacher that the office staff knows the student is present. And as always, please do all you can to have your child arrive to school on time.

David