Weekly Update 4/28

Dear Wines Families, 

Here is the news for the week! 

Godaiko Fundraiser May 3

I want to remind everyone again that next Monday, May 3, we are partnering with Godaiko restaurant for our final restaurant fundraiser of the year. Wines parents Paul and Ying Tsai own Godaiko and they are donating 50% of all proceeds that evening to Wines. Tell your friends and family! Dine in or take out. As I said last week, Godaiko has the finest sushi in town but they also have an incredible menu of non sushi items. There is literally something for everyone. Please check out the menu at https://www.godaiko.com/menu. Hope you can participate. 

More 1st Days of School Next Week

We are excited to welcome our 4th and 5th graders back to school next week. We'll have two final first days of school on Monday and Thursday. 4th and 5th grade parents, please look for an email from me tomorrow with some reminders of our procedures, etc. so that everything will go off without a hitch next week. With our school now at "capacity", please everyone bare with us as we may have a few growing pains with more cars in the parking lot, etc. 

Teacher Appreciation Week

Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week. Like with all things this year, it will be different from years past. But our teachers and staff certainly deserve our appreciation this year more than ever! I will be sending out an end of the week email with ways that kids and families can show your appreciation. 

That's all for this week. As I said above, look for some follow up emails later this week on these items. 

David 

Weekly Update 4/22

 Dear Wines Families, 

I apologize for my weekly message coming out a bit late this week. My day kind of got away from me yesterday! And, fortunately, there isn’t a lot of important/timely information to share this week which means we’ve found our rhythm of school! I do have just a couple of items. 

4th and 5th Grade Start May 3rd

We are excited to welcome our final group of students back the week of May 3rd. I will be sending a few reminders to 4th and 5th grade families next week. With this staggered start, I realize that much of what I’ve sent out over the past month or so hasn’t been quite as important in the moment for 4th and 5th grade families so I’ll send some reminders over the next week or so. The addition of two more grades will make our parking lot a bit busier and, perhaps, a little slower. We ask for everyone’s patience as we experience another round of growing pains. 

Godaiko Fundraiser May 3rd

Well, we didn’t plan it this way, but what better way to celebrate everyone having the opportunity to be back in school with our final restaurant fundraiser on May 3rd. The incredible Tsai family from Wines own Godaiko restaurant and they are donating 50% of all proceeds on May 3rd to Wines. Dine in or take out. If you don’t know Godaiko, their menu is extraordinary. If you are a sushi fan, it is the best sushi in town. However, they have an extensive menu with something for everyone. Go to https://www.godaiko.com/menu and explore! 

That’s all for now. As always, let me know if you have any questions. 

David

Weekly Update 4/14

 Dear Wines Families, 

I have to say, it continues to be great to see the kids back in the building. Lots of joy on everyone’s faces! Tomorrow marks the sixth (of eight) “first days” of school as we welcome the second cohort of 3rd graders. We’ll welcome our 4th and 5th graders next week. As our school population grows over the next week and we reach our new capacity, we will continue to go through some growing pains, so we ask again for your patience and grace as we figure out how to be efficient and safe with our new procedures. 

Pick Up/Drop Off Update

As stated above, as we grow in population each week we are learning more and making tweaks to our system. Thank you to everyone who is using Driveline for pick up. It is working well. In both parking lots, you will see two signs. The first says “pull up” and the second says “stop here”. Please use these signs as markers and we ask that students be dropped off and picked up between the signs only. If you have not reached one of the signs yet, please wait until you are past the first sign before dropping off or retrieving your child. Please pull ahead as far as possible. 

One thing we have found is that the mirror hang tag is fairly difficult for us to see due to the size and glare (well, honestly, because of my aging eyesight!). We are also sending home a larger placard with your driveline number that you can hold up or tape to your passenger side window. If possible, please try to use that or a homemade version. 

Lunch Ordering 

As a reminder, school lunch is free for all students this year, but it must be ordered in advance. Information on ordering lunch can be found at https://www.a2schools.org/Page/621. The monthly menu can be found at https://a2schools.nutrislice.com. Each day there is a hot and a cold item available. If you can help us by reminding your child which item you ordered, that will be most helpful. 

From Mrs. Evaldson in the Library

Do you have school library books at home?

• Please bring those books to school to be returned to the library. If you have books from another building, those books can be returned to our building as well. Look for a bin outside the library.

• If you are remaining virtual for the remainder of the school year, hold on to AAPS library books until we can all return this school year or until next fall.  

What about late or lost fines?

• We understand many families have been impacted this past year and will be waiving costs related to school library books.

Are you not sure if you have school library books at home?

• Ms. Evaldson will be emailing library book notices (with book titles included) in the event you do not remember what books you have checked out.

Interested in Helping with Noon Hour? 

We are always looking for noon hour supervisors on our playground. In past years, we had many parent volunteers in addition to our paid staff. This year, all supervisors need to be officially hired. The process is fairly quick and easy and we’d love to have you with us! If you are interested, please let me know and I’ll get you the information. You do not need to work every day—just the days when you are available. 

As always, please let me know if you have any questions. 

David

Weekly Update 4/7

Dear Wines Families, 

We continue to be thrilled to have kids and staff back in the school building. Everyone—from kids to adults—are so happy to be back! While everyone is learning some new routines, I’m incredibly impressed by how quickly things seem to be normal in each classroom. It is quite amazing to see! 

Change in Return Dates

Yesterday Dr. Swift shared information with the entire AAPS community regarding a change in the return to school dates for students in grades 4-12 due to the increase in COVID infections in Washtenaw County. I followed up with our 4th and 5th grade families last evening, but for all of our information, our 3rd graders will return by cohort next Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday. Our 4th and 5th grade student are now scheduled to return on April 19th. 

Another 1st Day Tomorrow! 

Tomorrow we will celebrate our fourth “1st day” of school as we welcome our second cohort of 1st and 2nd graders. This week has gone quite smoothly as our student population increased and we are excited to see a new group of kids tomorrow and more on Monday! 

Thank you to everyone for following our arrival and dismissal procedures. Today I again emailed your family Driveline # (I know I’ve sent this many times, but I just want to make sure everyone has it!). Please have this number displayed prominently in your car for either Ms. Schemanske in the Cooley Lot or me at the main entrance lot to see. On students’ first day of school, they will be sent home with a car mirror tag with your number. Please have this number displayed on a hand- written piece of paper for the first pick up. In all honesty, both Sarah and I have found that a large hand-written piece of paper is actually a little easier to see than the car tag, so feel free to use either one or both! As a reminder, please use the lot associated with the youngest sibling in your family. 

Lunch 

Just a reminder that lunch is provided free for any student this year if you choose. However, lunch must be ordered in advance. Information on ordering can be found at https://www.a2schools.org/Page/621. It is helpful if you have a conversation with your child about which item you ordered. There is a hot and a cold choice each day and students don’t always know which they ordered. We will have extras, but any help in this area is appreciated. 

Report Cards

On Friday you will receive a secure email with your child’s report card. 

Mark Your Calendars: Godaiko Fundraiser

Our final dinner fundraiser at Godaiko is scheduled for May 3rd. Godaiko is owned by Paul and Ying Tsai, a wonderful Wines family. 50% of all proceeds will go to Wines for the evening. Dine in or take out. More information to come later. 

Looking forward to another first day of school tomorrow and more over the next couple of weeks. As always, please reach out with any questions. 

David

Weekly Update 3/24

 Dear Wines Families, 

For the first time in over a year, our school is buzzing with life! I can't tell you how good it feels to see our staff working in the building this week. Tomorrow, we begin the slow transition of welcoming students to our school!! 

By now, I've sent all I can send out so nothing new today, but a few reminders: 

• Young 5's. Tomorrow all in person Young 5's students will be at school. Friday, all Young 5's will be virtual. 

• Kindergarten: Tomorrow we will welcome our Monday/Tuesday cohort. Friday we will welcome our Thursday/Friday cohort

• Mrs. Gray: We will welcome all in person students tomorrow and Friday. 

• 1st and 2nd Grades: We will welcome students by cohort beginning April 5th. 

• 3rd-5th Grades: We will welcome students by cohort beginning April 12th.

 Arrival/Departure

All Y5 and Kindergarten families must use the Cooley entrance for arrival and pick up. For car pick up, I have sent your Driveline code twice. Please display this code when you arrive at pick up in the afternoon (you do not need a code in the morning). On your child's first day of school, we will send home a more permanent car mirror hanger with your family code. 

Mrs. Gray's class will utilize the main entrance off of Newport. Please use your driveline code in afternoon. 

Lunch

If your child is eating lunch provided by school, you must order ahead of time. Families can order one week in advance. Please go to https://www.a2schools.org/Page/621 for more information. Students, of course, can bring lunch from home as well. 

What to Bring to School? 

Students should bring their school issued devices to school daily. Please do not bring chargers. Please try to send the devices fully charged (we will have charging stations available if necessary). 

All students must wear a mask at all times, except while eating. An extra mask would be most helpful. We have extras available in each classroom. 

Each student should bring a water bottle. We will provide cups if necessary. 

Please refer to information from your child's teacher regarding other supplies. 

We are excited for this new beginning. Please let me know if you have any questions. 

David

Weekly Update 3/17

 Dear Wines Families, 

It is hard to believe that next week's Wednesday message will be in advance of students beginning to arrive in person at Wines the next day. I am certainly excited--and only slightly overwhelmed with preparations. But we will be ready! 

As has been the case recently, there will likely be additional messages this week and there will be messages next week to our families who are returning next Thursday and Friday as we prepare. Today I want to share a couple of important pieces of information: First, I want to share the Family Handbook to help everyone get the lay of the land as we approach our return to school. Second, I want to share the schedule of return and the various asynchronous days for in advance of the return. 

Family Handbook

In today's email I included a new Family Handbook. While it does not cover every detail, it is full of important information specific to the Wines return. Please check your email for it. 

Return Schedule and Asynchronous Days

Y5/Kindergarten/Mrs. Gray

Asynchronous Days: Monday-Wednesday March 22-24

Kindergarten Cohort 1: Return to School Thursday, March 25

Kindergarten Cohort 2: Return to School Friday, March 26

Y5: Return to School Thursday March 25 (All Y5 will be virtual on Friday, March 26)

Gray: Return to School Thursday and Friday March 25 and 26

1st and 2nd Grades

Asynchronous Days: Wednesday-Friday March 24-26

Cohort 1 Return to School: April 5, April 6

Cohort 2 Return to School: April 8, April 9

3rd-5th Grades

Asynchronous Days: Wednesday-Friday April 7-9

Cohort 1 Return to School: April 12, April 13

Cohort 2 Return to School: April 15, April 16

Other Info for the Week

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend the final grade level back to school meeting with 3rd-5th grades. Below are links to the recordings of each meeting. 

Gray/Y5/K Meeting

1st/2nd Grade Meeting

3rd/4th/5th Grade Meeting

Kindergarten  Round Up

We had a great first ever virtual Kindergarten/Y5 Round Up last evening. Below is a recording of that event if you missed it and need information about kindergarten or Young 5's for next year. 

Y5/Kindergarten Round Up

If you missed Round Up and have not filled out our information form, HERE is the link to the form. 

Thanks!

David

Weekly Update 3/10

 Dear Wines Families, 

While I have a lot of information for you today, what I really want to accomplish today is to tell everyone that over the next few days and weeks, please be prepared for more messages from me and from the school district as we approach our return to school. Here is a preview of what you should expect soon: 

1.     Class Cohort Placement. We are finalizing class cohort placements this week. I anticipate having this complete by Friday. Families will receive an email from your classroom teacher with which cohort your child is assigned. As I’ve said for some time, the A-L/M-Z split rarely works in our classrooms and each classroom will need to have students moved to a different cohort from the A-L/M-Z split. In some classrooms, there will be significant changes. We will keep siblings together on the days of the week the children attend. You should receive this information likely by Monday if not sooner. 

2. Lunch Ordering Process and Student Numbers. If you choose to have your child eat school provided lunch this year, lunches are free for all students. Families must order in advance. Look for a message from me tomorrow with specific information. This message will also include your child’s student number which you will need to order lunch. You will receive an email for each of your children.  

3. Driveline App information. Initial information about the new app to facilitate parent pick up will be provided via a district message either late this week or early next week. I will follow up with more specific information related to Wines. 

4. Hybrid Parent Handbook. Next week, I will be sending a family handbook with helpful information for a great start! 

Back to School Meetings 

Just a reminder that tonight I will be hosting a community meeting for our 1st and 2nd grade families about our return to school plans. Please see today's email with the Zoom link. 

Our 3rd-5th grade return to school meeting will take place on Monday, March 15th at 6:30 PM. Please see today's email with the Zoom link. 

Back to School Q & A

Thank you for adding your questions to the Q & A documents in advance of the community meetings. Even if your meeting has already taken place, I am still answering questions if they ar added. Below are the links to the documents. 

Y5/K Q&A

1st/2nd Q&A

3rd-5th Q&A

Mrs. Gray’s Class Q & A

Thank you and please do all you can to keep up with the messages you’ll receive in the coming days—I realize there is a lot of information and I’ll do all I can to not fill your inboxes too much. 

David