Weekly Update 4/8

Dear Wines Families, 

I hope everyone had a nice spring break whether you traveled or just had a little time away from the day to day! After returning from chaperoning 15 high school seniors on spring break, Trish and I had the opportunity to attend the national championship game Monday evening which—as we had hoped—turned into one of the most memorable events of our lives (sporting events anyway). We bumped into a few Wines families in Indianapolis and while I think I was far too nervous to truly “enjoy” the game, it was an amazing evening and it was worth the very little sleep we had Monday! 

Please take a moment to read through today’s message. Note that the Wines Auction is next Friday evening and ticket sales are low. This is a fantastic community event that you don’t want to miss!! 

Wines Parents — we need your help!

Ticket sales for our April 17th Parent Night Out + Auction are currently low, and we’re at risk of not having the strong event our school is counting on. This is one of our biggest and most fun fundraisers — and we’d love to see Wines families there.

Join us at Venue by 4M for a relaxed, fun night just for parents:

• Outdoor space with heat lamps & fire pits

• Cornhole + lawn games

• Appetizers, a taco bar, and dessert included with a ticket

• Free and easy parking

• Fun auction items to support Wines

Grab a friend, plan a date night, or make it a spontaneous night out — but please don’t wait. We truly need more families to purchase tickets this week to make this event a success. Let’s show up for Wines and make it a great night together. Get your tickets today!

We'll also be printing the sponsorship banner this weekend so if you or your business wants to add a sponsorship, please do so before Friday. 

For tickets or sponsorship visit our site https://www.ptowines.org/wines-night-out 

If you're already planning to attend and are able to help at the event, please see the sign up genius. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C44AEAA22A2F8CE9-63390504-parents

Wines Bike Bus is Back!

First Bike Bus + Meet and Greet - Wednesday, April 15 

We'll have coffee and donuts for our first bike bus of the spring, April 15th, after drop off. 

What's a Bike Bus?

A bike bus is a group of kids and caretakers who meet up and ride bikes (or skate or scoot, etc) together to school. It’s fun and festive and encourages kids and adults to stay active and use more sustainable transportation whenever possible.

Bike Buses are now weekly on Wednesdays!

Every wonder if a bike bus will be happening? Wonder no more! Bike buses will

be taking part weekly, on Wednesday mornings, starting from our three locations.

Bike buses may be canceled due to inclement weather.

Meet-ups: Garden Homes Park (8:15 a.m.), Creal Park (8:25 a.m.), Hunt Park (8:25 a.m.)

Mat Heagerty Author Visit and Books for Sale

On Tuesday, graphic novelist Mat Heagerty spent the day with students at Wines. Mat talked with students about creating art, telling stories, collaborating with others, being open to others' ideas, being kind, and celebrating neurodiversity. If your student is interested in purchasing Mat's books, you can buy them from Booksweet and they will be delivered to school next week. Here are the links to purchase online: Lumberjackula (all grades) and Indoor Kid (upper elementary). 

Reminder: Miller Construction Returns…

Just a reminder that starting today, Miller Rd. will be closed to westbound traffic from Seventh St. to Maple. Newport Rd. and side streets to access Cooley will remain open to eastbound traffic. We currently do not have plans to change our arrival/dismissal procedures or timing unless we find the need. 

David

 

Weekly Update 3/25

 Dear Wines Families, 

I say this every year around this time as we head into Spring Break: Wow how time has flown by! Spring Break marks a quick pause before the final part of the school year begins. It is a busy time of year in and out of the classroom and I’m really looking forward to the next ten weeks or so. As with every year, I expect these final weeks to feel like we are in fast forward as we race to June!

Book Character Dress Up Day Friday

Celebrate the end of another wonderful Wines Literacy Month by dressing up as a favorite character from a book. Fiction and non-fiction characters are welcome!

Parents’ Night Out/Wines Auction April 17

This year's Parents' Night Out & Silent Auction is less than one month away!! It will be held at Venue by 4M on April 17th from 6-10pm. This is always a really fun (and casual) evening to connect with other parents, enjoy some time out, and support the Wines community. 

Have an item you'd like to donate for the auction? Please reach out to ptowinesauction@gmail.com. If you don't have an item but have a business that would like to be a sponsor, or just want to purchase tickets, you can use the link here. Getting your tickets sooner than later can really help the planning part of the auction and is so appreciated! 

Support the Wines Girl Scouts!

Today after Driveline is complete, our Girl Scout Troop 40927 will be selling cookies until 6:00 PM. This is your chance to help out our charismatic 4th Grade Girl Scouts as they raise money for their troop, for charity, and for their number-one goal: a trip to Cedar Point! This is also a great opportunity to learn more about Girl Scouts, if you are interested. We hope to see you there!

David

Weekly Update 3/18

 Dear Wines Families, 

Have we reached the point of the winter when we are just plain tired of the cold? I know I have. But it could be worse. My dad in Northport received over 36 inches of snow in 15 hours over the weekend and they are still effectively shut out from the rest of the world or as my dad calls it, “plugged”. But brighter and warmer days are right around the corner (I’ll try to remember that tonight as I watch my boys’ first lacrosse game of the season with a game time temperature forecasted for 33 degrees…). Here is the news for the week:

Report Cards 

Our second term report cards will be sent home electronically this Friday, March 20th. Fifth grade families will receive a second email with your child’s instrumental music report. 

Support the Wines Girl Scouts!

On Wednesday, March 25th, Girl Scout Troop 40927 will be selling cookies between 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, right after school pick-up. This is your chance to help out our charismatic 4th Grade Girl Scouts as they raise money for their troop, for charity, and for their number-one goal: a trip to Cedar Point! This is also a great opportunity to learn more about Girl Scouts, if you are interested. We hope to see you there!

Wines PTO Needs You: Yes You!! 

Our PTO needs a few Executive Board Positions filled for next year. No experience necessary! Please click on see the flyer below for more information. 

Save the Date: Wines Auction April 17

Speaking of the Auction our Parents Night Out & the Silent Auction at Venue by 4M (6-10pm April 17th) is less than two months away so book your babysitters now! This is always a really fun (and casual!) evening to connect with other parents, enjoy some time out, and support the Wines community. We’ll have a great selection of silent auction items, and all proceeds go directly toward enriching programs and experiences for our students. 

You can use the event website to purchase tickets or sponsorships here. Tickets include admission and heavy appetizers. We also need your help to make this event a success. If you’re interested in helping organize, solicit donations, provide a donation, or be part of the planning team, please reach out to Robbie at ptowinesauction@gmail.com.

David

PTO THRIFT FLYER

Weekly Update 3/11

 Dear Wines Families, 

March is in full swing here at Wines with warmer (though wetter) weather for the moment. Our teachers have been engaged in finishing up their second trimester assessments with students and yesterday’s half day was an opportunity for teachers to work on writing report cards. Report cards will be coming home electronically next Friday, March 20th. Here is the news for the week!

PTO Meeting Tomorrow

Our next PTO meeting is tomorrow, Thursday, at 9:00 AM in the Wines office conference room. Please join us in person or via Zoom. The Zoom link was sent in today's weekly email. 

Wines PTO Needs You: Yes You!! 

Speaking of PTO, our PTO needs a few Executive Board Positions filled for next year. No experience necessary! Please click on see the flyer below for more information or join us tomorrow at the PTO meeting to learn more.  

Save the Date: Wines Auction April 17

Speaking of the Auction our Parents Night Out & the Silent Auction at Venue by 4M (6-10pm April 17th) is less than two months away so book your babysitters now! This is always a really fun (and casual!) evening to connect with other parents, enjoy some time out, and support the Wines community. We’ll have a great selection of silent auction items, and all proceeds go directly toward enriching programs and experiences for our students. 

You can use the event website to purchase tickets or sponsorships here. Tickets include admission and heavy appetizers. We also need your help to make this event a success. If you’re interested in helping organize, solicit donations, provide a donation, or be part of the planning team, please reach out to Robbie at ptowinesauction@gmail.com.

New Wines Construction Update

As you may have read in the news, AAPS is reevaluating and delaying new construction projects. Please click HERE for information from AAPS regarding our next steps at Wines. 

David

Weekly Update 3/4

 Dear Wines Families, 

Welcome to March! Spring is right around the corner and the next few months will seem like a sprint. But this is an exciting time at Wines as we all emerge from the winter months. Here is the news for the week. 

Half Day of School Tuesday, March 10

Next Tuesday is a half day of school. Dismissal is at 11:50. There is no PM childcare that day. 

Wines PTO Needs You: Yes You!! 

Our PTO needs a few Executive Board Positions filled for next year. No experience necessary! 

Volunteers Needed: Classroom Artwork for our Live Auction!

Volunteers are needed to assist classrooms with creating auction items for the Wines Auction on April 17th.  Each year students at Wines help raise funds for the PTO by creating a unique classroom art piece. The art is then live auctioned off during the event.  Over the years students have produced some amazing pieces of art.  This year we are looking for parent volunteers from each classroom to help plan and create projects. No art experience is needed.  Anyone interested please email Lauren Cunnane at lmbrooks27@gmail.com. We still need volunteers for the following classrooms: Middleton, Williamson, Toohey, Shanteau, Kim, Eikey, Varga, Milanowski, Parsons, Rodriguez, Detering, Mable

Save the Date: Wines Auction April 17

Speaking of the Auction our Parents Night Out & the Silent Auction at Venue by 4M (6-10pm April 17th) is less than two months away so book your babysitters now! This is always a really fun (and casual!) evening to connect with other parents, enjoy some time out, and support the Wines community. We’ll have a great selection of silent auction items, and all proceeds go directly toward enriching programs and experiences for our students. 

You can use the event website to purchase tickets or sponsorships here Tickets include admission and heavy appetizers. We also need your help to make this event a success. If you’re interested in helping organize, solicit donations, provide a donation, or be part of the planning team, please reach out to Robbie at ptowinesauction@gmail.com.

New Wines Construction Update

As you may have read in the news, AAPS is reevaluating and delaying new construction projects. Please click HERE for information from AAPS regarding our next steps at Wines. 

David

Weekly Update 2/25

 Dear Wines Families, 

We are enjoying our first full week in a bit here at Wines. The kids are busy and winter has decided to hang on for a little while. I guess this means we’ll appreciate spring that much more this year when it returns! Here is the news for the week: 

International Night Tonight!

Come join us as we celebrate International Night tonight. The event starts at 6:30 and our students will participate in the “Parade of Nations” at approximately 7:30. There will be lots of food and opportunities to learn about the diverse backgrounds and interests in the Wines community. 

Floor Hockey Season Has Concluded

Big thank you to Darcy Knoll for organizing our weekly floor hockey games this winter. This tradition started over 30 years ago at Northside Elementary (now A2Steam) by my old friend and longtime PE Teacher at Northside, the late Rick Dekeon. Darcy admirably honors Rick each week with our game. See you all next year! 

Lunchtime Extra Specials Session II Begins Next Week

If your child is interested in a lunchtime extra special, our next round of activities starts next week. This session includes an opportunity for our Y5 and Kindergarten students. Click on the link below for information and sign up. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScFC2mud_4BgRKUQDHhFl1VpekOP2TDB4bIRlQBhZEUZtby8Q/viewform

Volunteers Needed: Classroom Artwork for our Live Auction!

Volunteers are needed to assist classrooms with creating auction items for the Wines Auction on April 17th.  Each year students at Wines help raise funds for the PTO by creating a unique classroom art piece. The art is then live auctioned off during the event.  Over the years students have produced some amazing pieces of art.  This year we are looking for parent volunteers from each classroom to help plan and create projects. No art experience is needed.  Anyone interested please email Lauren Cunnane at lmbrooks27@gmail.com.

Save the Date: Wines Auction April 17

Speaking of the Auction our Parents Night Out & the Silent Auction at Venue by 4M (6-10pm April 17th) is less than two months away so book your babysitters now! This is always a really fun (and casual!) evening to connect with other parents, enjoy some time out, and support the Wines community. We’ll have a great selection of silent auction items, and all proceeds go directly toward enriching programs and experiences for our students. 

You can use the event website to purchase tickets or sponsorships here. Tickets include admission and heavy appetizers. We also need your help to make this event a success. If you’re interested in helping organize, solicit donations, provide a donation, or be part of the planning team, please reach out to Robbie at ptowinesauction@gmail.com.

David

PTO THRIFT FLYER

Weekly Update 2/18

 Dear Wines Families, 

I hope everyone had a nice long weekend. With the long weekend comes a short week and not a lot of new news to report! Just a couple of items: 

Young 5’s and Kindergarten Round Up

Last week we hosted our annual Young 5’s/Kindergarten Round Up. We are excited about next year! For kindergarten, neighborhood residents can begin the pre-enrollment process right now. For those interested in an In-District-Transfer (including siblings of current students), the application window opens on March 3rd. Pre-enrollment and information on In-District Transfers can be found at https://www.a2schools.org/about-aaps/new-enrollment. We currently have a waitlist for Young 5’s classroom but are taking applications from neighborhood families for the waitlist in the event that, possibly, we are able to open a second classroom. We will also take applications for Young 5’s from In-District-Transfers beginning Mach 3rd as well. 

In addition to filling out the information online, if you have a child coming to Wines next year for Kindergarten or Young 5’s, please contact Robin Moore at moorero@aaps.k12.mi.us so we can add them to our internal list of incoming students. Robin can also help with any questions you may have. Please also feel free to contact me. Pass the word on to friends and neighbors. 

Save the Date: Wines Auction April 17

Our annual adult Wines Auction will take place on April 17 at Venue by 4M. Much more information to follow, but book the babysitter now for this fantastic evening! 

David