Dear Wines Families,
Before we get into this week’s news, I want to thank everyone who participated in Movie Night last week. The event was VERY well attended and the kids had a great time. I want to extend a BIG thank you to Amy Miles who brought Movie Night out of a few year hiatus last year and made everything really special for the kids!
Halloween 2024
Halloween is one of our favorite days here at Wines! This year, Halloween falls on an Early Release Day so our schedule is somewhat modified from years past. If students plan on wearing costumes next Thursday, they should come to school in costume. This includes all last minute arrangements. Our parade will take place beginning at 9:15AM. The parade route takes us out Cooley Ave., where we then go left onto Saunders Crescent. We will then go left onto Hillridge until we reach the cut through into the Forsythe ballfields. We will then proceed down that long sidewalk back to Wines. If parents would like to watch the parade, the best place is along that long sidewalk from Hillridge to Wines. If you live in the Crescents, please feel free to share our route with your neighbors in case they want to watch us walk by. Please alert neighbors to please refrain from handing out candy, etc.
Costumes: We ask that costumes be friendly in nature. This means no fake weapons, fake blood, etc. Our general rule of thumb is that if you aren’t sure if a costume or a prop is appropriate for school, then it probably isn’t.
If your child would prefer not to participate in Halloween activities, please let me know and we will have an alternate activity for them.
Science and Builders Fair Nov. 7th
Here is the link to the registration page!
The Final Walktober is Friday, October 25th
Our final morning Walktober celebration is this Friday, October 25th! By popular demand, the Bike Bus returns for our last Walktober event of the year! (see flyer) And, after the kids are dropped off at school, parents and caretakers are invited to the picnic tables for coffee and donuts where we will be sharing information about family biking. Come ask your questions or share what you know!
What is Walktober? It's an event that encourages Wines families to explore greener ways to get to school and to move away from commuting alone by car. Its aim is to bring awareness to the benefits of travel options such as bicycling, walking, and scooting, and to inspire families to give them a try! This can also include parking a little further away from campus than usual and walking, biking or scooting from there. There will be volunteers at the four entrances to the school grounds (see flyer) giving out stamps to the kids and cheering them on.
Parent volunteers are needed ***** Check out the Sign Up Genius to join our parent morning cheer squad to hand out stamps to the kids from 8:15-8:45. We’ll have music and noise makers while we enjoy our Michigan fall and a little less car congestion.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084DA9AF23A4FCC25-51464434-wines
What's a "bike bus"?
A bike bus is a group bike ride where kids and adults join together on a route to school for the morning commute. Skates, scooters, and all other riders are welcome to join!
How can I join?
Meet at the locations on the flyer at the time stated. Someone will be there waiting and the group will come pick you up!
It's time to submit that GREAT IDEA you have been thinking about all summer!
Do you have a great idea to support and benefit the Wines Community? The Great Ideas Grant program is an opportunity for Wines students, parents, and staff to turn a great idea into a funded program. Examples of past funded grants include birdfeeders, grade-level sensory items, grade-level curriculum materials, technology for listening centers, playground balls, yoga calm supplies, ukuleles, and more!
Grant submissions are accepted using the Google Form linked here:
Great Idea Grant Application Link
It's the same application whether you are submitting an idea as a student or teacher/parent. You will see that you will have the option to select who you are in the form. Students may submit a grant for up to $250 and parents and teachers may submit a grant for up to $500. Grants will be selected by a Wines committee of parents and the number of grants awarded will depend on the cost of projects submitted. The deadline for applications is November 15, 2024 with grant recipients announced before the winter break. Don’t let a great idea go to waste! Submit now! Submit several! We look forward to hearing from you.
Student submissions are highly encouraged! Teachers, kindly share this with your classrooms! We know there are a lot of creative ideas out there.
For questions or more information contact: Anu Huntley at anu.agrawal.huntley@gmail.com
Easy Ways to Support Wines
You don’t have to wait for the Auction to help support the Wines PTO! Here are some great ways for them to earn funds from everyday purchases.
Boxtops
No more tops to clip, Boxtop educational savings is now digital! Download the iOS or Android app and sign up to support Wines Elementary. All you have to do is scan your receipt, savings are automatically sent to the PTO!
Grocery Store Rewards Programs
The Wines PTO has signed up with Busch’s, Kroger, and Ann Arbor Farms for community awards. Once you link your account you are giving back to Wines students everytime you shop!! Just log into your rewards programs and add Wines PTO. Links and instructions here.
Curious what the PTO spends money on?
Check out our ‘About us’ page at ptowines.org or drop by for our next PTO meeting!
Support Forsythe Tomorrow Night!
Forsythe Middle School is running a Dine out Night fundraiser tomorrow, Thursday, at Panera on Zeeb road from 4-8pm. 25% of all purchases during this timeframe that mention "FUND4U" will go back to the Forsythe PTSO to fund field trips, scholarships, and support teachers. Treat yourself to dinner out all while raising money for our neighbors (and former students!) at Forsythe.
David
