Weekly Blog 1/29

Dear Wines Families,

It may be cold, but I’m certainly happy that we are in school today! Below is a link to the January Wines Times newsletter. Please have a look!

http://winespto.org/docs/wtJan-2014.pdf

Since we have the Wines Times this week, I’ll try to keep my announcements brief. However, there are a couple of important items that are not in the newsletter.

International Night

International Night is this Friday from 6:00 to 8. Please see my email from Monday for volunteer opportunities. I hope to see you there!

Parent Involvement Day

In today’s Wednesday Folder you will receive a paper invitation to our annual Parent Involvement Day on Monday, February 10^th. Our staff looks forward to hosting our families that day. Please feel free to stay for the whole day or whatever part of your day you can spare. Below is a link to an RSVP for Parent Involvement Day. If you are planning on attending, please let us know with the RSVP. We will provide lunch to adult guests. If you are planning on staying for lunch, please be sure to RSVP so we can have a fairly accurate count.

Parent Involvement Day RSVP

Disability Awareness Workshop

On Thursday, March 20, 2014, Wines 4^th grade students will again participate in the Disability Awareness Workshop.  This hands-on, activity-based workshop helps students understand how challenging and complex daily life can be for individuals living with a variety of disabilities.  The goal is for students to experience—through this hands-on event –that each of us should be respected and included in daily community life no matter how we may look, act, walk or talk.  Please consider volunteering to help with this workshop.  For more information and to sign up contact Jessi Averill at jessi.averill@gmail.com or 267-495-6208.

Floor Hockey Friday

Our second Friday Floor Hockey will take place starting at 8:00 AM this Friday. All kids and parents are welcome! We will see how many folks show up this week and if we again have a large group, we will start a rotation or sign up for subsequent weeks. And a quick note from Mr. Mosher about floor hockey: “If parents want to come great. BUT THEY HAVE TO PLAY!”

Listen and Learn Follow Up

Finally, just a reminder that tomorrow evening, Thursday, Dr. Swift will be at Forsythe Middle School to hold a follow up discussion about her Listen and Learn tour of all AAPS schools and other meetings. The meeting starts at 6:30. If you can’t make it, there are meetings at other middle schools next week. More information can be found in the Wines Times.

Stay warm!

David

Weekly Blog 1/22

Dear Wines Families,

I hope you are staying warm today. Looks like winter is here to stay for a while. Although on days like today, we do not send students outside for recess, it is important to note that we do have outdoor recess daily if the temperature or wind chill is 0 degrees or above. So please be sure kids are sent to school with appropriate clothing. Students cannot be held out of recess unless we have a doctor’s orders.

I have lots of information this week.

•Newport Public Meeting

Tonight at 7:00 there is a public meeting at Forsythe regarding the proposed sidewalk construction from Wines to Riverwood.

No School Tuesday, January 28^th

This is a professional development day for our staff.

Kindergarten Round Up Feb 5^th

If you have a child who will be eligible for kindergarten next year or if you have friends or neighbors with kindergarten aged children, please come to Round Up (with children) on February 5^th at 6:30 PM.

Parent Involvement Day Feb. 10^th

We will be sending home formal invitations next week along with an electronic RSVP. We hope every parent can spend at least a portion of your day at Wines on February 10^th.

Floor Hockey Success!

Our first Friday morning floor hockey game was a tremendous success last week. We had nearly 60 students and many parents show up. Having so many participants is wonderful, but left us with a small problem (but a good one): too many kids! We will host floor hockey again this week and everyone is again invited to play—parents too. If we continue to have such a positive response, we will likely work out a rotating schedule with certain grades/classrooms taking turns each week. I will keep you posted. If your child is interested in playing, please come this Friday!

Coaches Needed for Science Olympiad

Again this year, we will have a full Science Olympiad team here at Wines. As always, to have a successful experience, we need coaches and we are still in need of a few coaches. Below is a list of events that still need coaches. If you can coach one of these teams, please contact Rhonda McCammon at rmccamm@umich.edu or David Creen at David.creen@benefitfocus.com.

Barge Building (2nd grade only)
Feathered Friends (all grades)
To Infinity and Beyond (all grades)
On Target (all grades)
Reflections (4th and 5th grades)
Straw Towers (3rd, 4th and 5th grades)
What Went By (2nd and 3rd)
Write It/Build It (4th and 5th grades)

International Night

International Night is Friday, January 31^st from 6:00-8:00 pm. It isn’t too late to sign up to participate! Fill out the sign up form attached to today's email and turn it in to the office. We are also in need of volunteers to run the evening—please go to http://vols.pt/SAa9id to sign up. For questions, please contact Annemarie Dolan mailto:akilburndolan@comcast.net) or Shireen Syed (shisy786@yahoo.com).

Great Ideas Grants

Do you or your child have a GREAT IDEA?  The deadline for the Wines Great Idea Grants program is fast approaching!  Please submit your GREAT IDEA to Sarah Ball (sjcball@yahoo.com) by February 1.  Blank applications are located in the office or you can download one from the Wines website.

Girls on the Run

Registration for Girls on the Run at Wines is open for girls in grades 3-5 from now until February 10. The Girls on the Run curriculum based program is MUCH more than a running program. Learn more at the GOTR website (http://www.girlsontherunsemi.org/) or by contacting Suzanne Admiraal (admiraal@umich.edu or (734) 327-0695). The spring season runs from March 11 until May 22, and the Wines team will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school until 5:15 PM. Come join the fun! 

Technology Committee

Interested in working with our PTO on improving technology at Wines?  The Wines Technology Committee will hold its first meeting Monday, January 27 at 4:00 in the Media Center.  Please join us!

That’s it for this week!

David

Weekly Blog 1/15

Dear Wines Families,

Now that we are finally back with a full week of school, there is a lot of information to share this week. Mainly I want to share a number of important dates coming up over the next few days and weeks.

Tomorrow, 4:00 PM
Art Night Committee Meeting
Art Night is April 25. If you are interested in helping with this fun event, join us at the Art Night Committee meeting on Thursday, January 16th, at 4:00 in the Art Room. Come by and enjoy a cup of tea while we lay out the game plan. If you have questions, please contact our co-chairs Margaret Compton bagladycompton@yahoo.com or Linda Peppin qpep@comcast.net.

Friday, 1:15 PM
Martin Luther King Jr. Assembly
All students will be performing. Parents are welcome to attend. Please note that this is an all school assembly so there will be very limited seating for parents.

Monday, January 20th
No school—Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

Wednesday, Jan. 22nd 
Newport Public Meeting
It appears that the long awaited sidewalk from Wines to Riverwood is becoming a reality. There is a public meeting about the proposed project next Wednesday at Forsythe Middle School at 7:00 PM. For more information please visit: http://www.a2gov.org/government/publicservices/project_management/Pages/newport.aspx

Tuesday, Jan. 28th
No school—Professional Development Day

Thursday, Jan. 30th 6:30 PM
“Listen and Learn” feedback meeting at Forsythe Middle School 
Our Superintendent, Dr. Jeanice Swift, has finished facilitating nearly 90 public meetings this fall. At the feedback meeting, Dr. Swift will be sharing the findings from these meetings. I encourage our community to attend.

Jan. 31st
International Night. (Please note that this is a date change)
The original date was January 30th, but we did not want to conflict with Dr. Swift’s meeting at Forsythe. There is a paper form coming home today in the Wednesday Folder. That form has the former date on it. We need volunteers for International Night. If you are able to help, please visit http://vols.pt/SAa9id. If you have any questions, please contact Annemarie Dolan akilburndolan@comcast.net or Shireen Syed shisy786@yahoo.com.

Feb. 5th 
Kindergarten Round Up
If you have a child who will be 5 by October 1, 2014 please bring your child to Round Up at 6:30 on February 5th. If you have friends and neighbors who have children eligible for kindergarten, please help us get the word out to families.

Feb. 10th
Parent Involvement Day
We hope you can find time to spend some or all of your day with your child here at Wines. A formal invitation will be coming home very soon.

Finally, just another reminder about the parking lot. I’ve had a number of parents come to me recently with significant concerns recently about folks in the lot engaging in dangerous behavior. Please use extreme caution at pick up and drop off, as there are lots of cars and kids walking. The Cooley lot should only be used by Kindergarten families and siblings. Do not drop kids off and allow them to cross the parking lot. Kids need to be dropped at the sidewalk or accompanied by an adult if crossing. If you are at either the front lot or the Cooley lot, be sure to remain in your car and pull forward as far as possible. Nearly everyone does a perfect job. However, it only takes one mistake for something regrettable to happen.

Please also remember that our first bell rings at 8:45 and school officially starts at 8:48. Please make sure you are doing everything you can to have your children arrive to school on time. Also, school is dismissed at 3:45. Please be in the pick up line no later than 3:50. We have far too many students waiting for their rides at the end of the day. At 4:00 we will begin placing children in childcare and you will be charged the drop in fee.

David

Weekly Blog 1/10

Hello Wines Families,

Now that we are back in the swing of things, I have a couple of announcements as we head into the weekend. First, due to the snow days, the hot lunch menu has been revised for the month of January. I attached the menu to today's email. You can also find it at http://www.a2schools.org/aaps/foodsvcs.menus/elementary_

We are finalizing the Science Olympiad rosters right now. If you have not registered your child, Monday is the absolute last day to sign up. You can register online at http://winespto.org/ScienceOlympiad/index.html or turn your form in to the office. If you have questions, please contact David Creen at David.creen@benefitfocus.com or Rhonda McCammon at rmccamm@umich.edu.

Below is a message from the Skyline Athletic Booster Club. Have a great weekend.

David

Tickets are now available for the 2014 Skyline Athletic Booster Club's Winter Gala on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at Barton Hills Country Club.  This fabulous, adult only, evening includes a seated dinner, dancing, silent auction, games with fabulous prizes and a chance to spend some quality time with coaches, teachers, administrators and other Skyline parents. It is an evening you don’t want to miss!!

Saturday, February 1, 2014

6:30 PM

Barton Hills Country Club

730 Country Club Road, Ann Arbor

Tickets are $50 per person and are now available to purchase online. Seated dinner included, with cash bar available.  Purchase your tickets early because after January 15, prices increase to $55 per person. Simply go to: 

http://webstores.activenetwork.com/school-software/skyline_hs_athletic/index.php?l=product_detail&p=330#.UrBGCdiA3IU

We are also looking for items and services to be included in our silent auction.  If you have something you would like to donate, please contact Susan Allison at susanallison1231@att.net

Weekly Blog 12/18

Dear Wines Families,

Attached to today's email was the December Wines Times with lots of information. Below is some additional information as well.

International Night
International Night is Thursday, January 30th!  It isn’t too early to start thinking about what country, culture or international interest you'd like to represent this year.  Projects, displays, food and fashion are just a few ways you can participate.  A sign up sheet was attached to today's email.  If you have questions, contact Shireen Syed (shisy786@yahoo.com) or Annemarie Dolan (akilburndolan@comcast.net) (More information about International Night can be found in the Wines Times).

Technology Committee
Are you interested in working with our PTO on improving our technology at Wines?  We are putting together a committee of staff members and parents to discuss the need for increased instructional technology in our classrooms.  As a team we will explore our needs and comfort with various technologies, while making sure we keep our eye on the future of what learners will need in the 21st Century.  If you are interested in being involved, contact Annemarie Dolan (akilburndolan@comcast.net).

That’s all for 2013!

David

Weekly Blog 12/11

Dear Wines Families.

As usual for this time of year, there are lots of important announcements today:

Still Looking for Used (or new…) Playground Balls
We are still collecting any used (or new) playground balls. If you have extra basketballs, soccer balls, or other playground type balls at home that your children don’t use anymore, there is a collection bin in the front hallway near the display case.

Science Olympiad 2014 Registration
It is time to register for Science Olympiad 2014!!! Please register by January 6th at: http://winespto.org/ScienceOlympiad/index.html. Attached to today's email was an informational document about Olympiad.

Do you have questions about Science Olympiad? Do you want to learn more? What does a coach do? Who can participate?  Get all your questions answered at an informational meeting on Thursday, Dec 12 from 6:00-7:30 PM in the Wines Multi-Purpose Room.

If you have any question, please contact David Creen  David.creen@benefitfocus.com or Rhonda McCammon rmccamm@umich.edu.

Coat Drive
Our Coat Drive continues to be a great success. As of last week we had collected 17 girls coats, 11 boys coats, 12 women’s coats, 3 men’s coats, 3 pairs of boots, and 3 pairs of snow pants. Since then, the bin has filled up again so the numbers have increased! Thank you Wines and Reinhart! The drive will run through next week. If possible, please wash your used coats.

Food Drive
Our Student Council/Food Gatherers Food Drive continues through next week as well. There are bins located at all of our entrances.

Winter Break ThinkStretch Opportunity
Again this winter break, we have teamed with ThinkStretch to give kids a bit of academic work during vacation to prevent the winter “Brain Freeze.” For most of us, the next few weeks are incredibly busy! But there are often times when the kids just need something to do! Please visit THINKSTRETCH to download a packet.

Wines Needs Coaches for the Spring Season of Girls on the Run!
The spring season of GOTR doesn't begin until March 10, but GOTR is already gearing up to get the season started!  All 3rd through 5th grade girls are eligible to participate.  Wines needs at least 2 volunteer coaches to get our site registered for this spring season.  We've had a great team for the last couple of years and we'd like to keep the site going! If you are interested in coaching, please email Jennifer Hall at a2halls@gmail.com for more information (FYI ... you don't have to be a runner to coach.)

Media Center Newsletter
Mrs. Evaldson’s Media Center Newsletter was attached to today's email. Enjoy!

Interested in Cub Scouts?
There is an informational meeting next Wednesday, Dec. 18th at 7:00 PM in the Multi-Purpose Room at Wines. An informational flyer was attached to today's email.

That’s all the news for today!

David

Weekly Blog 12/4

Dear Wines Families,
There is a lot to report this week! Here goes:

Book Fair
Our Book Fair is off to a great start! Family Night was very well attended last night and I want to thank Amy Unsworth for being quick on her feet and solving a small (well, large) scheduling/space issue last evening after we realized our school was double booked and she had to quickly move a portion of the Fair to the hallway. But everything went very well and it was a great night. The Book Fair will be open until 4:30 today and tomorrow and until noon on Friday.

Report Card Envelopes
Last week your child was sent home with his/her report card. The report card was in a small manila envelope. Please return the envelope to your child’s teacher so we can re-use them later in the year. As always, if you have any questions about your child’s report card (or if you didn’t receive one) please contact your child’s teacher.

Extra Playground Balls/Equipment??
In last week’s Wines Times, there was a blurb about our efforts to increase the number of balls and other playground equipment our kids have at lunch and other recess times. Before we go ahead and purchase more items, we figured we would ask families if you have any extra items at home—I know I do!! Basketballs, soccer balls, four square balls, jump ropes, and sturdy sand box toys will all find a good home here! There is a collection bin in the front hallway.

Science Olympiad
Have questions about Science Olympiad? Want to learn more?  What does a coach do? Who can participate?  Get all your questions answered at an informational meeting on Thursday, Dec 12 from 6:00-7:30 PM in the Wines Multi-Purpose room.

Stay tuned as Science Olympiad registration will start next week!!!
If you have any question, please contact David Creen at David.creen@benefitfocus.com or Rhonda McCammon at rmccamm@umich.edu.

Student Council/Food Gatherers Food Drive
Our Student Council in conjunction with Food Gatherers is again sponsoring a food drive for the next two weeks. There will be blue barrels stationed at three points throughout the school where you can put your donations. The drive will run through Thursday, December 19.

Coat Drive
Our Coat Drive will continue until December 20th. We’ve already filled the box once. Thank You! The box is in the front hallway of our school.

No Dumping Please!
When we arrived back from Thanksgiving break, we were greeted by our recycling dumpster being completely full. It was empty when we left!! Obviously, we don’t know who added their home items to our dumpster, but if you get the urge, please refrain from adding your items to our dumpsters (trash or recycling). We had a full house of friends and family over Thanksgiving and the thought briefly crossed my mind to take a load of overflow trash/recycling to Wines. So I know the temptation!

Introducing Friday Floor Hockey at Wines
I’m excited to announce a new fun and healthy opportunity for all kids and parents at Wines. Beginning after Winter Break, we will be hosting a weekly Friday Floor Hockey game in the gym for all students. Parents are also more than welcome to join us—we have 12 adult sticks. We will begin at 8:00 AM. Participants need to have proper gym footwear—no boots or snowy/wet shoes. Students will place their coats and book bags neatly in the hallway and pick up a stick and protective eyewear as they enter the gym. I’d like to thank our wonderful PTO for supporting parent Michael Fainter’s Great Ideas grant that was used to purchase the adult sticks, eyewear, and some other floor hockey materials.

Wines needs Coaches for the Spring Season of Girls on the Run!
The spring season of GOTR doesn't begin until March 10 but GOTR is already gearing up to get the season started! Wines needs at least 2 volunteer coaches to get our site registered for this spring season. We've had a great team for the last couple of years and we'd like to keep the site going! If you are interested in coaching, please email Jennifer Hall at a2halls@gmail.com for more information.

Thanks!
David