Windermere Weekly Parent Update
5.1.22
Above is a small token of our appreciation we presented to our amazing Explorations Team on Friday. These five professionals who have been working with your children every other week during exploration time, are such an asset to your child’s time at Windermere. Our classroom teachers created this Wordle last week when they were able to see the magic in action during Exploration time. A huge thank you to these Windermere staff.
A very special thank you to YOU, our parents. Your kind notes, emails, waves in the morning, breakfast for staff on Monday and lunch for staff today….filled our bucket. I hope you can see the bond our staff has when you enter our building. We love what we do, care deeply for each child, family and each other. Thank you so very much for the outpouring of support and for sending us love and the goodies. It truly made our week. We are forever grateful for our Windermere community. Thank you Windermere families and PTO.
I hope you all enjoyed this wonderful weekend!
Julie
Upcoming Dates
5.3.22 - Voting Day: No School for Students
5.19.22 - 5th Grade Musical - 7:00
5.27.22 - Field Day
5.29.22 - UAHS Commencement 9:30 am
5.30.22 - NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day
6.1.22 - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - 1:00 Dismissal
LEVELS OF LOCKDOWNS: this graphic depicts the levels of lockdowns we practice with our students on a regular basis throughout the school year at Windermere (and all UA buildings) so that students know exactly what to do in the event of an emergency. I wanted to reshare this with parents, so that you are aware too. We work in conjunction with the Upper Arlington Police and Fire Departments to help our students and staff know what to do. As you are aware, we practice a level three lockdown each year, and use a “gas leak” as a scenario to practice evacuating our building to our safe space. Additionally, we practice fire drills six times a year and tornado drills three times a year.
Listen, Learn Lead engagement process
During the month of March, the Board of Education launched a community engagement process to listen, learn and lead in an effort to help our schools and our community be the best they can be.
The next step in the Listen Learn Lead community engagement process is an online survey based on the themes that emerged from roundtable discussions in March on five topic areas stemming from the district’s strategic plan: our district’s strengths; whole learning (academics); student and staff well-being; finances; and communications.
The survey is open to parents, community members, staff members and students through Wednesday, May 11. The survey will take approximately five minutes to complete.
You can click here to begin the Listen Learn Lead online survey.
For more information on the process, please visit our Listen, Learn, Lead webpage.
Lost and Found: Once again, our lost and found tables are overflowing with coats, sweatshirts, etc. Please remind your students to check for lost items. All items will be donated at the end of the year.
PTO Update
Get ready for next week, Hawks and families! PTO has lots of fun planned every day next week! We kick off the week with Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week beginning on Monday and we round out the week with KidFest on Friday, May 6th. Rest up, Hawks, you’ll need it!
Our Teacher & Staff Appreciation Committee has been hard at work planning lots of fun ways for our Hawks to show their gratitude to Windermere teachers and staff. Check out the calendar below to see how your Hawk can participate each day! PTO will also be providing lunch and gifts to our teachers and staff to thank them for all that they do each day.
Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2nd- 6th)
Monday: Bring a flower in for your teacher
Tuesday: No School
Wednesday- Thank You Day: find a way to say thank you to all your teachers (note, hug, saying thank you)
Thursday- Dress Like your Teacher Day
Friday: “Hawk Day”- dress in your favorite spirit wear
KidFest is less than a week away!
It’s the last call to pitch in before Kidsfest on May 6th from 5:00 - 8:00. Here are the top 3 ways you can help us make 2022 the best fest yet!
1) Please advance order your unlimited wristbands or tickets online KidFest Ticket & Wristband Order Form – Windermere Elementary PTO (uawindermerepto.org) to avoid lines at the fest.
The new "Unlimited fun" wristbands have been a popular addition this year. For $25 kids can have unlimited game play all night and 10 tickets that can be used for raffle baskets.
Individual tickets are still available if you'd prefer that option. Wristbands and tickets will be delivered to classrooms before the event. The last day to preorder is May 1st
2) Please sign-up for a shift volunteering the day of KidsFest. It takes over 100 volunteers to make this event - the biggest school fundraiser of the year - happen. If someone in your family could please take a 30 minute game shift or help with clean up it would be truly appreciated Windermere KidFest 2022 Volunteers: KidsFest 2022 (signupgenius.com)
Middle school and highschool volunteers are also key to making the fest fun happen. If you have any older kiddos or neighbors you can recruit please ask them to help out. Students can earn volunteer service hours Windermere KidFest 2022 Volunteers: Windermere KidFest 2022 Student Volunteers (signupgenius.com)
3) Thanks to the generosity of Windermere parents the class raffle baskets are Ah-mazing! Each student will receive one free raffle ticket for a chance to win. Additional tickets will be on sale during lunch period at the price of x3 for $1 starting Monday. Raffle tickets will be sold the night of KidsFest and the drawing for winners will be held at 7:30. Every year these baskets are a kid favorite and one of the "funnest" parts of our fundraiser. Winners do not have to be present to claim their baskets.
Thank you to our generous sponsors and dedicated volunteer committee for helping us plan a great night. Please plan to join the KidFest fun this year!
Walking Wednesday starts this Wednesday, May 1st through the end of the school year! The weathers warm and we can’t wait to see our Hawks walking and rolling on the sidewalks to school!
Go Hawks!
Jen Mascho & Stephanie Tozbikian
PTO Co-Presidents