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