Icy Weekly Update 2/22

 Dear Wines Families, 

Well, even in what can only be described as a very mild winter, we find ourselves at home for another snow/ice closure today. Like many kids at Wines, I’m generally pretty happy about the magical snow day. But with last week’s ice closure and the long weekend followed by a just single day of school before another day away, we all get off of our schedules, calendars get out of whack, and the general rhythm of school gets interrupted. I do hope to be back in school tomorrow and Friday so we can salvage this week. More importantly, I hope this ice storm is mild and everyone is able to be safe, keep their power on, etc. Here is the news for the week. 

Science Olympiad Registration - Final Call

Registration for the Wines Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad (WESO) team will be wrapping up this week. The competition day involves about 2,000 kids from our county competing across a wide variety of events. It's a great opportunity for kids to learn a ton, and also to feel connected to their larger community. Your family can attend the competition even if not competing (there are other activities on site), and see what the fuss is about.

Update: We had four new team spots open for Mystery Architecture in 4th and 5th grades! We have coaches for all events except the Read It / Build It event. 

There are only a few spaces left. As of Tuesday evening, 78 of 98 spaces on the Wines Team are now filled. Please register as soon as possible to ensure your student's opportunity to participate. Practices run weekly from Feb 25 until the competition on May 13.

See this page for more information, and to register your student for the Wines WESO team:

https://sites.google.com/view/wines-weso-2023/register

March is Reading Month - Celebrations Start Next Week!

Reading Month is almost here. See below for plans for students during the day (all month long!) and plans for family Literacy Night on Thursday, March 16, from 6-8pm. For fun ways to engage with Reading Month at home, check out this virtual calendar with links and ideas for every day in March.  

Thursday, March 2 (in school): Celebrate Read Across America Day by dressing up like your favorite book character! We’ll also have a school-wide reading time in the hallway where the whole school will pause to enjoy some quiet reading (in costume, of course). 

Friday, March 10 (in school): All school Zoom read aloud with UM student author, Makiah Shipp, and artists Hannah Anderson and Ebba Gurney. Inspired by Makiah’s childhood, Makiah’s Show and Tell is the story of an elementary-aged Black girl who passionately teaches others about the significance of Black natural hair and Black culture. Makiah Shipp is a civic engagement activist from Detroit. As a 20 year old student at the University of Michigan, she has become a published author of the children's book Makiah’s Show and Tell. The beautiful picture book’s art was created by Hannah Anderson and Wines Elementary alum, Ebba Gurney. 

Makiah will read the book to the whole school via Zoom and then, all three creators will be in person at Wines for Literacy Night activities on Thursday, March 16!

Thursday, March 16, 6-8pm (after school): Literacy Night! Come meet local author, Makiah Shipp, and illustrators, Hannah Anderson and Ebba Gurney. Join teachers and special guests for read alouds and literacy activities in classrooms. Listen to local legend, professional storyteller, and retired AADL librarian, Laura Pershin Raynor, who will end our evening with a performance. It’s going to be a wonderful night of community, stories, and sharing. More details soon.

Thursday, March 23 (in school): We’ll end our Reading Month festivities with an assembly featuring nationally acclaimed and multiple award-winning storyteller, La’Ron Williams. His energetic, music-spiced presentations are always fun, highly participatory, educational and entertaining. Every program is specifically designed to promote diversity, foster community building, encourage peaceful conflict resolution and teach a host of “pro-social” skills, including empathy, self-expression and attentive listening. 

Wines Auction

Save the date for this can’t miss community event. The auction will be held Friday, April 14th from 6-10PM at HOMES Campus. Join us for this casual, ADULT ONLY celebration in support of our school. This year we are focusing on raising money for outdoor improvements including new soccer goals for the Upper El playground and playground equipment for the Lower El. Want to help? Have a donation? Contact Jane.lardo@gmail.com.

Here's to some thawing temperatures! 

David