Weekly Update 12/21

 Dear Wines Families, 

It is hard to believe that tomorrow marks the last day of school for 2022. It has been a wonderful fall and as I’ve said many times, it continues to feel like we have returned to normal this year. At this point we are no longer returning to normal and instead, things are just “normal” again. Please accept my warm wishes this holiday season, safe travels if you are traveling, and hopefully everyone gets some time to be with family and friends. Thank you to everyone for all of your support and while I’m looking forward to some rest and rejuvenation, I am looking forward to what lies ahead in 2023!! Below are this week’s announcements. 

International Night Jan. 19

This school year, we are excited to bring back our annual International Night in person! We have set the date for Thursday, January 19 from 6:00-7:30 PM. Please join us for a fun evening of culture and mingling. Our students can represent a country they are from, have visited, or are merely interested in sharing with the school. If your student(s) is/are interested in representing a country, please register for the event at this link. Contact Celeste Kanpurwala at celesteLsmith@gmail.com if you have any questions. 

Extra Specials Volunteers Needed

We are excited that our lunchtime “Extra Specials” are yet another Wines tradition making its return in 2023! For one day a week across six weeks, students can choose a special activity to do indoors during their lunch recess. There are two sessions between February 1 - March 8, so students can try something new. Past activities range from Lego Building and Paper Airplanes to Logic Puzzles and Magic Tricks. But we need volunteers who are willing to spend about 90 minutes once per week over six weeks to lead these lunchtime activities for students. Interested? Please email Michael Newberry at mnewberry88@gmail.com with your preferred day of the week and activity you'd like to lead. Not sure what you'd like to do? Just sign up to volunteer and we can supply an activity for you.

MLK Children and Youth Program

The University of Michigan School of Education is resuming its annual in-person MLK Children and Youth Program on January 16, 2023.  It is the 25th Anniversary of the program, and Pre-K through 12th-grade students are invited to this special celebration and commemoration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Click HERE for more information. 

Lexia and Dreambox–Opportunities for Engagement During Break

Are you looking to keep your student engaged with academics during break? Please consider giving kids opportunities to log in to Lexia and Dreambox. Below is a note outlining these programs that we use daily here at school. 

Lexia & Dreambox Family Letter

David

Weekly Update 12/14

 Dear Wines Families, 

We are inching closer to our Winter Break and while there is excitement in the air, the students are focused and working hard. Here is the news for the week. 

 International Night Jan. 19

This school year, we are excited to bring back our annual International Night in person! We have set the date for Thursday, January 19 from 6:00-7:30 PM. Please join us for a fun evening of culture and mingling. Our students can represent a country they are from, have visited, or are merely interested in sharing with the school. If your student(s) is/are interested in representing a country, please register for the event at this link. Contact Celeste Kanpurwala at celesteLsmith@gmail.com if you have any questions. 

Extra Specials Volunteers Needed

We are excited that our lunchtime “Extra Specials” are yet another Wines tradition making its return in 2023! For one day a week across six weeks, students can choose a special activity to do indoors during their lunch recess. There are two sessions between February 1 - March 8, so students can try something new. Past activities range from Lego Building and Paper Airplanes to Logic Puzzles and Magic Tricks. But we need volunteers who are willing to spend about 90 minutes once per week over six weeks to lead these lunchtime activities for students. Interested? Please email Michael Newberry at mnewberry88@gmail.com with your preferred day of the week and activity you'd like to lead. Not sure what you'd like to do? Just sign up to volunteer and we can supply an activity for you.

Gracie Update

Finally, I wanted to pass along some exciting Gracie news. This week, we began introducing her to our school during the day with kids present. In a word, both Gracie and the kids are doing GREAT! Gracie is getting used to being around so much activity and the students have done a great job of maintaining their composure under exciting circumstances! Each classroom engaged in a morning meeting over the past week or so where we shared student expectations, reactions, etc. when they are around our Therapy Dog. I have been beyond impressed with how everyone has done! 

 

David

Weekly Update 12/7

 Dear Wines Families, 

It’s a great week here at Wines! Below is all the news that’s fit to print:. 

Book Fair

Our Book Fair has enjoyed a great start! Last evening’s Family Night was wonderfully busy and the Fair will continue this week. If you weren’t able to make it to Family Night, you are welcome to come and shop at the Fair during school regular school hours today and Thursday, or Friday until 10:30 am when the Fair closes..

There are still a couple of volunteer slots open to help at the Book Fair. Please go to: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0544aaa72ea57-book1

Email Lori Shirilla (Lori.Shirilla@gmail.com) with any questions. Speaking of Lori, I want to make sure I recognize her for organizing the Book Fair and all of her hard work! 

New Girl Scout Troop

Wines has a new Girls Scouts Troop! Troop 40927 is open to any interested 2nd or 3rd graders. If you'd like to join or are interested in learning more, consider attending our kick off meeting on Saturday, December 17th from 10am - 12pm. For details on the Troop or to sign-up to attend the kick-off/introductory meeting, please reach out to Stephanie Menon (stephanie.vitale@gmail.com) or Missy Stults (missy.stults@gmail.com). And to formally register to join the Troop, please go to: https://www.gshom.org/. 

AAPS Environmental Sustainability Framework: Feedback Requested

The Ann Arbor Public Schools presented their Environmental Sustainability Framework to the Board of Education on November 30, 2022. Currently, it is open for feedback from the entire community and will be voted on before the end of this calendar year. 

This is a unique opportunity for teachers, students, and community members to have a say in the environmental future of AAPS and our world. Please review the plan and participate in the ThoughtExchange conversation about the plan by December 11th. You can review the plan and get the link to share feedback here.

David