Weekly Update 2/24

 Dear Wines Families, 

For the first time in over 11 years at Wines, I almost forgot to send today's community message!! It's been a little busy today...

By now you may have heard that our plan to return to in-person, hybrid instruction has been approved by our Board of Education. While there are questions to be answered and details to be shared, tonight I just want to say that I am absolutely thrilled that we will be able to see our kids again in person in the coming weeks. 

Speaking of questions and details: I will be holding a community meeting via Zoom on Tuesday, March 2nd at 7:00 PM to begin our conversation about our return. I will send out a Zoom invite later this week and I hope you can join us. The meeting will be recorded and shared with our community. 

For me personally, I feel like today is finally a turning point in this pandemic year. While the world is still not back to normal, this is an important first step and I'm overwhelmed with enthusiasm for the days ahead!  

David

Weekly Update 2/17

Dear Wines Families, 

I hope this message finds you well and I hope you’ve successfully dug out from Monday Night’s snowstorm. Here is the news for the week: 

Back to School

If you have not had the opportunity to view the district return to school information from last week, the two videos can be found at https://www.a2schools.org/elementaryhybridoption. I will be hosting a community meeting with information on our return to school plan with the Wines community on March 2nd at 7:00 PM. This meeting will be held via Zoom. I will send out the Zoom link next week. Prior to our community meeting, I encourage everyone to watch the district videos linked above as they will provide important context for the more Wines focused meeting on March 2nd. 

International Night Tomorrow! 

Thank you to everyone who volunteered to donate items for our first “Parking Lot International Night” taking place this Thursday, February 18 from 5-6:30 PM. For anyone who registered to participate, you can meet Celeste by her black Pacifica wearing a mask and she will give you your box. She will have a list of names so please make sure you already registered on the Google form. If you have any questions, please contact Celeste at celestelsmith@gmail.com.

I am Jazz Reading

The Wines community embraces and cherishes the rich diversity that is at the core of who we are and what we believe in.  We are fortunate to be part of a school district and larger community that values and honors diversity in all its forms, whether that be religious views, ethnicity, physical or mental abilities, socio-economic status, or gender identities. Ann Arbor Public Schools even has policy to support our shared values of acceptance and inclusion for ALL. As many of you know, Wines has partnered with the Human Rights Campaign’s Welcoming Schools program for a number of years. We have taught schoolwide lessons about inclusion produced by Welcoming Schools, held teacher in-services, and presented parent workshops. In our continued partnership, this year we will be participating in the annual National Jazz and Friends Day of School and Community Readings on February 25th. I will be recording a reading of I am Jazz which is a picture book by a transgender student named Jazz Jennings written when she was 13 years old. This award-winning book is part of the Wines library and is an accessible, kid friendly, book addressing gender identity. 

Girl Scout Cookie Drive Thru Booth 

Wines 4th and 5th grade Girl Scouts

Wines Elementary School Parking Lot

Saturday 2/20 12:00-2:00

Saturday 2/27 12:00-2:00

Come support our troops and get your cookie fix!  Contact Carly Campbell at carlylc@gmail.com with any questions or if you can’t make it to the booth and still want to buy cookies! 

That’s all for this week. Please let me know if you have any questions. 

David

 

Weekly Update 2/10

 Dear Wines Families, 

I have just a couple of updates today. 

Return to School Planning

If you didn’t have the opportunity to view the district presentation on our return to school plans, you can view last night’s video on demand at https://www.a2schools.org/elementaryhybridoption. There will be a second district meeting tomorrow at 4:00 PM and that will be viewable on demand afterword as well. I understand that many in our community have important questions about the plan. I encourage you to please view the district meetings that may answer many of your questions. I will soon be hosting meeting(s) for just the Wines community as well. In the meantime, I am also happy to answer any questions I am able to at any time so please don’t hesitate contact me. I currently, however, do not have much information beyond that which has been shared other than my assurance that we will be ready at Wines when the time comes to open safely. 

International Night Feb. 18th

International Night, taking place in the Wines Parking lot next Thursday evening, 2/18, from 5-6:30 PM is coming up fast! If you are interested in picking up a box and/or contributing, please complete the Google Form ASAP! The deadline to RSVP is this Friday, and we are really hoping to have more participants! Please keep in mind that everyone must wear a mask and follow COVID regulations. Please contact Celeste Kanpurwala with any questions at celestelsmith@gmail.com. 

No School Friday or Monday

Just a reminder that there is no school this coming Friday, Feb. 12th or Monday, Feb. 15th as we pause for mid-winter break. 

That’s all for this week. 

David

Weekly Update 2/3

 Dear Wines Families, 

I have just a couple of updates today. 

NAAPID

As most of our families know, Wines hosts a very large celebration of National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID) on the second Monday of February each year. Each year we extend an invitation to all of our families and we usually host over 300 parents at school that day. Obviously, this year we cannot replicate this special day. However, we will be celebrating NAAPID on Monday and there will be opportunities for parents to participate in class during the day. Please look for a note from your child’s teacher later this week with more information about how you can participate in class on Monday. 

Vinology Fried Chicken Dinner Feb. 10

I want to remind everyone that next Wednesday evening we are partnering with Vinology for our second take out fundraiser of the year. Vinology is offering a fried chicken dinner for four from esteemed chef Alex Young. Cost is $50 and $10 of each order goes directly to Wines. Below is a link to the pre-order form and more information about the dinner. 

http://sevn.ly/xyL12kLh

Snow Art

There has now been enough snow (and more to come!) to build forts, bricks, snow people, and the like. Send in a snapshot of your best snow art creation to snowartfromwines@gmail.com and we will include the photo in the next Wines Times. Please only send in .jpeg or .png files. Thank you! 

International Night Feb. 18th

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. 

David

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