Weekly Update 1/27

Dear Wines Families, 

Well, it finally feels like winter has actually arrived. Though, it is nice to see the bright sun today. Here is the news for the week: 

Back to School Information

Tonight, the AAPS school board will be reviewing the outline of the back to school plan for our students. Information on how to view the meeting can be found at https://www.a2schools.org/domain/275. Over the next couple of weeks, Dr. Swift will be hosting community meetings about the plan and I will follow with meetings for the Wines community specifically. 

Take Out Fundraiser #2 Feb. 10th 

On February 10th, we will again be participating in a restaurant fundraiser, this time with Vinology owned by a Wines family. The event will include a fried chicken dinner from Chef Alex Young. The meal serves four and the cost is $50. $10 will go directly to Wines. Below is a link to the pre-order information.

http://sevn.ly/xyL12kLh

February Science Olympiad Info

February is fast approaching and Science Olympiad is trucking right along! 

February's Theme is: ALL ABOUT YOU!

This theme combines GENEius, The Human Machine and Disease Detectives.

Week 1: 2/7 Where did you get those eyes?

Week 2: 2/14 How to build a body

Week 3: 2/21 Maintaining the Machine

Assessment 2/28

If your child would like to participate Please fill out the form below. If your child participated in January you do not need to fill out the above form.

https://forms.gle/1X6Y94uYERs3yHae7

Zoom Lunch with Youth Author

All Ann Arbor families are welcome to attend this special FREE Zoom lunch with author Josh Funk, author of It's Not Hansel and Gretel, How to Code a Sandcastle, and lots of other celebrated books for young readers! Click here for more information, including a link to order signed copies of Josh's books and a form where students may ask questions in advance. Other questions, contact librarian Maggi Rohde at rohdem@aaps.k12.mi.us.

That’s all for this week. 

David

Weekly Update 1/20

Dear Wines Families,

As I sit here witnessing President Biden be sworn in to office and walk up the steps into the White House just two weeks after the unprecedented and unfathomable events at the Capitol, I’m at a loss for the right words. I’m proud today that democracy has triumphed and I’m humbled to have been able to spend the day with my boys watching this transition. Regardless of your political leanings, I think we can all agree that the time has come to, as President Biden has said, lower the temperature in our country. I’m optimistic about the days ahead in our country and our world. 

I just have a couple of announcements today: 

Transition to In-Person Learning

As I said last week, we are optimistic that we will be able to return to hybrid in-person instruction by early March. It has been a busy week for us and we are working hard to make final preparations for this transition. I thank you for your understanding and patience as details are worked out and I encourage everyone to continue to follow updates from Dr. Swift and from me. 

International Night

As mentioned in last week's email, this year we will be hosting a socially distanced International Night in the Wines Parking Lot on Thursday, Feb 18 from 5-6:30 PM. Thank you to those who have already expressed interest in contributing to the boxes that will be put together and distributed. If you would like to participate, whether it's contributing to the boxes or even just picking one or more up, please complete this Google Form.

Please contact Celeste Kanpurwala with any questions at celestelsmith@gmail.com. 

Thank You.

David

 

Weekly Update 1/13

 Dear Wines Families,

By now you should have received a message from Dr. Swift outlining our transition to planning for a return to in person instruction in a hybrid form. I know this news brings varying types of responses and LOTS of questions. What I do know now is that I have tried on three pairs of my work pants and I’m happy to report that they all fit!! Beyond that, I do not have much more specific information to share with the community other than to let families know that you will have a choice to remain virtual or have your children participate in hybrid instruction. Please know that this planning began last spring and summer and we are now in the stage of fine tuning the plan based on current circumstances and updated safety protocols. As you might expect, we are busy thoughtfully planning details of this move. I will be in frequent contact with our community via email and likely Zoom question and answer session(s) over the coming days and weeks. I am most certainly available at any time to answer questions, address concerns, etc. but I do ask for your patience as details are finalized.

Noodles and Company Success!

Our first ever restaurant fundraiser was a success! Thank you for all who participated. Many of us who ordered faced delays in receiving our food, but that is a good sign as it meant we had high participation! Our next restaurant experience is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 10^th with Vinology where we will be ordering Chef Alex Young’s famous fried chicken dinner. More information will be forthcoming.

International Night

Each year Wines has an International Night where we celebrate our cultures.  This year International Night will look a bit different but we wanted to carry on the tradition! In lieu of an in-person evening we will be making International Boxes to be distributed (safely with masks) on Feb. 18th in the Wines Parking lot from 5:00-6:30 pm.  If you are interested in participating in this event please fill out this Google Form  indicating your interest and what you would like to contribute. It can be food and/or a small trinket from the country you wish to represent. If you would like to pick up a box (or 2 or 3) but don't wish to make anything, that is fine too. Please contact Celeste Kanpurwala with any questions at celestelsmith@gmail.com. 

Science Olympiad

Science Olympiad season is here! While it may look a little different, it has been set up in a way the kids can, in a sense, sample all the different subjects! This will provide the kids with the opportunity to experience all the subjects they want and skip the ones that maybe aren't their particular interest.  

Each month will be a different theme compiled of different events that are similar. There is no long-term commitment this year. It will be self-paced and self-guided with a bit of parental help. Everything will be virtual and hands on in your own home! While there will not be a huge competition this year, at the end of each month there will be an assessment on the information your child has learned throughout the month. 

January's theme is Trending today. Starting Jan.10th. You can check out  2021 Monthly Event Themes & Materials on the WESO website for all the info for this and the following months.

If you are interested in signing up for any of the months please contact Laura Nielsen at scienceowines@gmail.com or simply fill out this interest form and I will get back to you ASAP

https://forms.gle/GPzhv8m3vFNDnYoD6

That’s all for this week (or at least for today...). Please contact me with any questions.

David

Weekly Update 1/6

 

Dear Wines Families, 

With the events currently unfolding in our country today, I want you to know that we are monitoring the situation and our teachers will be prepared to answer questions and support our students tomorrow. We will seek to help students know that they are safe and that our country, while going through a challenging moment, is safe and secure as well. This is obviously a unique situation for all of us, but as with any situation, we will focus on the well being of your children. Here is the news for the week.

Noodles and Company Fundraiser Jan. 12

We have partnered with Noodles and Company next Tuesday from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. 25% of proceeds go directly to Wines. The offer is good for pick up or delivery! Online orders through the Noodles Rewards app or at www.noodles.com/Order. Enter the code Giving25 at checkout. 

Looking ahead, we will be partnering with two Wines family owned restaurants in February and March at Vinology and Godaiko. Stay tuned for details. This is an easy way to support our school!

Community Viewing and Conversation: Screenagers

In a typical year the Wines PTO offers a speaker at their January meeting. This year, the Wines PTO encourages you to watch the latest Screenagers movie and then join a live Facebook panel offered by AAPS on January 12th at 7pm. The opportunity is being offered through the support of the Miles Jeffrey Roberts Foundation. As many of you know, the Roberts family is a Wines family and we lost their son Miles to suicide nearly four years ago. Please see details below:

SCREENAGERS NEXT CHAPTER: Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience

With funding provided by the Miles Jeffrey Roberts Foundation, and with support from the Washtenaw ISD and Washtenaw County Community Mental Health, the AAPS is providing all families with the opportunity to view Screenagers Next Chapter: Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience. For more information, please see the district’s website, or CLICK HERE to register for on-demand access to the documentary.

Science Olympiad

Below is a not from our Science Olympiad Coach Laura Neilsen (thanks, Laura!!)

Science Olympiad season is here! While it may look a little different, it has been set up in a way the kids can, in a sense, sample all the different subjects! This will provide the kids with the opportunity to experience all the subjects they want and skip the ones that maybe aren't their particular interest.  

Each month will be a different theme compiled of different events that are similar. There is no long-term commitment this year. It will be self-paced and self-guided with a bit of parental help. Everything will be virtual and hands on in your own home! While there will not be a huge competition this year, at the end of each month there will be an assessment on the information your child has learned throughout the month. 

January's theme is Trending today. Starting Jan.10th. You can check out  2021 Monthly Event Themes & Materials on the WESO website for all the info for this and the following months.

If you are interested in signing up for any of the months please contact

Laura Nielsen at scienceowines@gmail.com

Or simply fill out this interest form and I will get back to you ASAP

https://forms.gle/GPzhv8m3vFNDnYoD6

I look forward to hearing from you!

Happy learning!

Laura Nielsen

That’s all for this week. Please contact me with any questions.

David

Weekly Update 12/16

 Dear Wines Families, 

Well, here we are with the final message of 2020. It’s certainly been a different and challenging year, but I’m happy to have you all part of my life during these times and I look forward to brighter days in 2021! 

Report Cards and Assessment Data

Tomorrow, every family will receive one or two emails from me. All families will receive an email with a secure link to your child’s report card. Grades 2-5 will receive a second email with a secure link to your child’s NWEA report. Grades K/1 will receive a second email with your child’s local math assessment data. Young 5’s will receive just the report card. I’ve done a lot of email gymnastics to get these all set up in our system and I’m crossing my fingers that I did everything right! 

Below are links to letters by grade level with some explanation of the assessment data and for grades K-2, directions for how you can access your child’s Lexia reading data that is part of the fall assessment reporting. 

Please let me know if you have any issues or questions about these items. 

K/1 Letter

2nd grade letter

3rd-5th grade letter

Go Nemo Go!!  

Tune in to the Food Network on December 28th at 9pm & 10pm to watch former Wines student and current Forsythe 6th grader, Nemo Tsai, premiere on the “Kids Baking Championship”. He will be on weekly until he is eliminated. If he’s eliminated!! Here’s a press release about the show. 

Restaurant Fundraisers

On January 12, Wines will be participating with Noodles and Company for a fundraiser. 25% of proceeds of takeout and delivery that evening will go to Wines. Below is a flyer with more information. 

And speaking of Nemo Tsai, we will be partnering with his family’s restaurant, Godaiko, later this winter! 

I hope everyone can find some time for rest and rejuvenation during the upcoming winter break. 

David

Weekly Update 12/9

 Dear Wines Families, 

Sorry for the late message today, it’s been a long day of Zoom!!! 

As always, I hope this finds you well. Having said that, I do know that “well” is a relative term right now. As I said last week, I do find myself with a level of optimism for 2021 but I also know that we are all living in extraordinarily challenging times right now and we are all impacted in myriad ways. While we are a virtual community, we are still a community and I want everyone to know that with Wines being a central part of our community, we are with you and here to support you and your family in any way we can. 

Report Cards

Soon you will be receiving information regarding how to access your child’s fall report card. Report cards will be available next Thursday, Dec. 17. While our traditional report card has undergone some minor revisions due to the virtual environment, in most ways it is nearly exactly like previous years’ reports. Though it isn’t exactly like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole, there are some limitations to our report cards this fall with virtual instruction. I say that only to let everyone know that our teachers are doing an extraordinary job of teaching each day and an equally extraordinary job of learning about and reporting on the strengths and growth areas for your child. As with any report card, this is just a snapshot in time for your child. It will provide valuable information, but only a partial picture. It is also just the first report card out of three for the school year and so it is just a beginning. As Shanna Middleton told me when my boys were in her Kindergarten classroom, this is a marathon and not a sprint and so I don’t want families to spend undo time worrying about your child’s report card or progress. Your child IS making progress and we will continue to support them in their learning as the year goes on and work with you in partnership to have a successful school year. 

That’s all for now. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions. 

David

Weekly Update 12/2

Dear Wines Families, 

I hope this finds everyone well. It is amazing that we find ourselves here in December. I know we ALL likely are looking forward to the end of 2020, though the struggles of this year will certainly continue into 2021. I do currently find myself with increased optimism that life will ultimately get back to normal for all of us at some point in 2021. 

Book Fair Continues

Just a reminder that our virtual Book Fair continues through Dec. 16. Click HERE for the fair’s website to browse. 

Sora

While the Book Fair will help get real books into our hands, did you know that our students have access to fiction eBooks through a platform called Sora?  Mrs. Evaldson has explored Sora with grades two through five during library class, and it is available for the younger children with some adult help. Sora is found on the Resource Portal on the Library Schoology page of your child’s home base.  Mrs. Evaldson will leave the slide deck with instructions up through December. It is easy to set up and will offer your child many wonderful choices for recreational reading. The AAPS collection was selected by AAPS librarians and the Midwest Collaborative collection comes for the AADL.  

Click here for An Introduction to Sora and Sora FAQs.  Please contact Mrs. Evaldson if you have any questions (evaldson@aaps.k12.mi.us) 

Wines Directory

Recently I’ve received a few inquiries about the Wines Directory. I did send it out a number of weeks ago, but I’m sure many of us have lost track of some of our emails!! In today's email, I again sent everyone the directory. 

Supply Distribution

There are still a handful of families who have not picked up art supplies and/or Math Journal 2 and/or 5th grade instruments. If you still need these items, please email me directly and I’ll arrange a touch-free pick up for you. 

That’s it for this week. Please stay safe and stay positive and let me know if you have any questions or concerns. 

David