Weekly Blog 9/26

Dear Wines Families,

There is a lot of information this week, sorry for the long message!

Reminder: Early Release Today

We dismiss at 1:29 this afternoon. There is no PM childcare.

Run-a-Thon Oct. 12

Our annual Run-a-Thon takes place on Friday, Oct. 12^th. All students participate in this great community building day and we also encourage all families to participate in the fundraising part of the event. We also need volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please click on the link below. This is a VERY easy event to volunteer at, as long as you are available the morning of Oct. 12^th.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050b4caaae2c7-2018

Great News!

Speaking of fundraising, proceeds from last year’s Run-a-Thon are being put to good use. On Monday we received a cart of 40 additional iPads and a cart with 32 more Chromebooks. Thank you to our PTO for supporting our school and to our families for participating in our fundraising efforts!

Picture Day Oct. 2^nd

Picture Day is next week on Tuesday, October 2^nd. All students will their picture taken whether you order a picture package or not and all Wines students receive a yearbook whether you receive a package or not. We also have a number of scholarships available for picture packages. Please contact me directly if you are interested in a scholarship package.

Order Pictures Online

Picture packets have been sent home. You can also order you pictures online. Go to www.inter-state.com/order and our unique code is 32186SF.

Walktober

October is also known as WALKTOBER! This is when we encourage every child to walk to school come rain or shine.  Even those on the bus get to take part!!  However, to make this work I am looking for a few volunteers to help at the stations that are on the way to school.  Volunteers simply stamp a child’s hand or give them a sticker. The 3 locations are: 

•Creal Park/Argyle Crescent,

•Newport Rd/Riverwood

•Newport Rd/Sunset 

Times – 8:35 – 9:00 AM

Further information will be sent to volunteers.

Many Thanks,

Tracie Clarke

Below is a link to sign up to volunteer.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0e49a8a722aa8-walktober

Warm the Children

We are now accepting applications for Warm the Children.  Warm the Children is a program sponsored by Kiwanis Club and the Ann Arbor Foundation.   This program provides assistance to children in need in Washtenaw County annually. The program buys warm winter clothing for school aged children (up to age 16) in need ($90.00 per child). A volunteer shopper is assigned to the family to help shop, and handle paperwork.  The family must provide their own transportation to the store where shopping will take place. If you are interested, please email Heather Herrick, Wines School Social Worker at herrick@aaps.k12.mi.us . Families are served on a first come basis so please get your application in ASAP as funds are limited. If you were served from this program last year, unfortunately, you will not be eligible to apply this year.

Magic of Christmas

We are now accepting applications for the Magic of Christmas program. The Magic of Christmas program provides gifts (wants & needs) to children who otherwise would not experience a Christmas (or other winter holiday) because of family difficulties. The program was started in 1996 by former University of Michigan All-American track athlete and former LPGA Tour Player Debbie Williams-Hoak. Growing up, Debbie experienced some difficult holiday seasons and had a lifelong dream to help children avoid similar experiences at Christmas. Debbie originally partnered with the Ann Arbor Police Department, which has expanded to include the police from Chelsea, Saline, Washtenaw County Sheriff and U of M. The hope is to help change the perception of the police in the eyes of the children and what better way than to have the police officers become Santa! If you are interested, please email Heather Herrick, Wines School Social Worker at herrick@aaps.k12.mi.us . Families are served on a first come basis so please get your application in ASAP as funds are limited and specific eligibility guidelines need to be met.

David

Weekly Blog 9/19

Dear Wines Families,

There is a lot of important news this week from Wines. Please take a moment to read through.

Curriculum Night

Our annual Curriculum Night takes place tomorrow evening, Thursday, from 6:30-8:00. Teachers will present in their classrooms beginning at 6:30. At 7:00, I will meet with our entire community in the multipurpose room. At 7:30, teachers will repeat their presentations for any families who cannot make the 6:30 presentation.

Modular Open House

Interested in seeing inside our new building? Drop in for an informal open house before Curriculum Night tomorrow beginning at 5:30. We are still a bit of a work in progress, but we are excited to show off our beautiful new space.

PTO Meeting next week

Our first PTO meeting of the year takes place next Tuesday, Sept. 25^th at 6:30 PM in the Library. If you are a family at Wines, then you are automatically a member of the PTO. At the first meeting, a major agenda item is to go through the PTO calendar. This is a great opportunity for new parents to better understand what is coming up at Wines. As always, we will have free childcare on site.

Early Release next Wednesday, Sept. 26

Our first Early Release of the year is next Wednesday, Sept. 26. Students will be dismissed at 1:29 PM. There is no PM childcare. Lunch will be scheduled as normal. 

Directory

In the coming days, we will begin to finalize our directory. The directory will be sent digitally to all families. Included in the directory are parent(s) name, email address, home phone, cell phone. This information comes from your registration. We cannot make specific changes or include some information or not some information. If you do not want to be included at all, please email Robin in the office at moorero@aaps.k12.mi.us. Again, Robin cannot make individual changes, but she can keep your entire information out if you choose.

Great Ideas Grants

Do you have a great idea? The Great ideas Grant program is an opportunity for Wines students, parents, and staff to turn a great idea into a funded program to benefit the Wines community! The grant approval committee meets twice a year to vote on applications. Submissions are now accepted online only.  The first deadline is November 1st.

The links for the Adult and Child application can be found on the Wines PTO website: www.winespto.org Don’t let a great idea go to waste! Submit now! Submit several! Contact: Sumi Sood – sumi.sood1@gmail.com

Scouting News
Cub Scout Pack 78 Reminder - meetings soon!

There are two upcoming opportunities to learn more about Scouting. First, you can join us for our first pack meeting of the year on Wednesday, September 19 at 7pm at Wines. Second, there will be an informational table set up at Wines the evening of September 27 for interested parents and youth to come, meet leaders, and ask questions. You can always contact either Seth Guikema (seth.guikema@gmail.com) or Bryan Broulette (wolvlute@aol.com) with questions as well.

Please join us for our Girl Scout Round Up on Monday 9/24/18 from 6:30-7:30pm in the Wines cafeteria. This is for any new girls interested in joining the wonderful world of Girl Scouting at Wines (Daisy K-1, Brownie 2-3 & Junior 4-5). We are also looking for leaders, co-leaders & adult help for several  of our Troops! It takes a village & we need more villagers. Please contact Michelle Chien at mknezek@hotmail.com or 248-250-2512 if you have any questions or are interested in a leadership role.

Welcome Back to After School! 

Once again, AAPS Rec & Ed is offering several after school classes focused on fun, learning, movement, and discovery. Registration is still open, but spots are filling fast! Please see class options below, and visit Rec & Ed after school classes for details. For scholarship information, click here.

Wines
The Power of Drawing: Early Fall
The Power of Drawing: Late Fall
Build a Play
G-Powers Little Hoopers 
Spanish
Let's Dance
Radical Robotics with Nutty Scientists
-- 

David

Weekly Blog 9/12

Dear Wines Families,

The first full week of school is going great!! I always say the second day of school is really the first “official” day and the second week of school is similar and is kind of like the first “official” week. At this point, we are in our seventh day of school and it seems like we’ve been here much longer! Here is the news for the week:

Modular Opening: Monday!!!

I’m pleased to announce that our Modular building will be officially open on Monday. Our 5^th grade teachers have been working all week to move in and right after school on Friday, we will be moving the student furniture and all remaining items so that classes can start in the new space on Monday. Ms. Glaser and Mr. Wyse will also get their rooms and furniture back and our Resource Room will move to a new space as well. While there will be some lingering work to be done on the building, it is ready for our students and staff!

Modular Grand Opening Open House

I know many people are interested in seeing the inside of the new building. We will be hosting an informal Open House next Thursday, Sept. 20^th from 5:30-6:15 prior to Curriculum Night. Please feel free to come by and see our space. We are still awaiting furniture for some of the spaces so it won’t be “perfect” but we’d love to show off our new space!

Library Volunteers Needed

Are you looking for a rewarding volunteer experience? Our library needs you! Check today's email for a link to volunteer information. No experience necessary.

Scouting News

Please join us for our Girl Scout Round Up on Monday 9/24/18 from 6:30-7:30pm in the Wines cafeteria. This is for any new girls interested in joining the wonderful world of Girl Scouting at Wines (Daisy K-1, Brownie 2-3 & Junior 4-5). We are also looking for leaders, co-leaders & adult help for several  of our Troops! It takes a village & we need more villagers.

Please contact Michelle Chien at mknezek@hotmail.com or 248-250-2512 if you have any questions or are interested in a leadership role. Looking forward to seeing you & your girls there! Also look for a flyer in your girls Wednesday folder.

Cub Scout Pack 78 Welcomes All Wines Students!

Exciting changes are happening in Scouting! We now welcome all youth, grades K through 5, both boys and girls. There are two upcoming opportunities to learn more about Scouting. First, you can join us for our first pack meeting of the year on Wednesday, September 19 at 7pm at Wines. Come for games, fun, and to learn about Scouting. Second, there will be an informational table set up at Wines the evening of September 27 for interested parents and youth to come, meet leaders, and ask questions. You can always contact either Seth Guikema (seth.guikema@gmail.com) or Bryan Broulette (wolvlute@aol.com) with questions as well.

That’s it for this week.

David

Weekly Blog 9/5

Dear Wines Families, 
As most of you know, please expect to receive a weekly "Wednesday Email" from me each Wednesday all year long. In addition to email, the text of my message (without attachments) can also be found at www.winesprincipal.blogspot.com and I also post it to my twitter feed (@winesprincipal) and the Wines Facebook page (www.facebook.com/wineselementary). 

Great First Day!
We had a fantastic first day at Wines yesterday. The kids were excited to be back to school, and we hit the ground running right away. At our opening assembly, we discussed our school rules which have changed this year. We've streamlined our rules into just two simple ones: Be Kind and Be Safe. Our teachers and staff are working with kids all week on defining what it means to be kind and safe at school. Today really marks the true first day of school in my mind. We've gotten through our initial entry and now school is "in session" and the kids and staff are hard at work! 

Welcome Back Picnic: Tomorrow Night 6:30-8:00
Our annual Welcome Back Picnic will take place tomorrow evening on the back playground beginning at 6:30. Bring a blanket and food for your family and join us for this informal opportunity to connect and reconnect with Wines families. We've had, I believe, three straight picnics rained out so hopefully tomorrow will be clear! 

Reminder: Fruits and Vegetable Snacks
Just a reminder that our school policy is for fruits and vegetables only for student snacks. For this first week of school, we will provide fresh fruit for students who forget to bring a snack, but beginning next week we will not be able to provide snacks. Snacks are an optional item for students, but if your child needs a snack, please make sure they have a fruit or vegetable. Kindergarten and Young 5's families, please refer to the "Community Snack" guidelines from your child's teacher. As always, if your child has specific dietary restrictions or needs, we will certainly be able to accommodate those. 

Modular Update:
Our Modular building is VERY close to completion. In fact, we can actually move in as early as tomorrow. However, we are still waiting for some technology to be installed (projectors, sound fields, and document cameras) which we hope will happen over the next couple days. Since our teachers are currently in quality teaching spaces, we will wait to move in until the rooms are completely functional. There will be some ongoing external work taking place over the next few weeks including installation of a covered canopy connecting the unit to the main building. However, we are just about ready to move our 5th grade. This will allow Mr. Wyse and Ms. Glaser to be able to return to their rooms for Art and Music. We will begin moving items into the building tomorrow and our teachers will begin setting up their classrooms. Once we have our technology in place, we'll pick a date and have one final move of student furniture, etc. While we don't have an exact date yet, we don't think it will be too much longer. 

Thats' all for today. It's shaping up to be a great year. 
David