Windermere Weekly Parent Update
1.14.22
Today, our fourth and fifth graders had the opportunity to listen and learn from three of our very own Upper Arlington High School seniors. Alyssa Greene, Sam Cannon, David Brooks & Jake Badgely visited Windermere to share about their Capstone project called “Give Me Rocks.” (Carson Gresock is also an important part of this initiative, but could not be here today.) “Give Me Rocks” is their senior Capstone project and the mission is to work to include all students in a multitude of activities, including athletics. If you want to learn more, HERE is a segment from the news that highlighted this Capstone project. We are so grateful these role models took time to talk to our fourth and fifth graders today. Our students were great listeners, and also asked powerful questions. Thank you to this team of students who embody what it means to serve, lead and succeed. GO BEARS!
Speaking of GOLDEN BEARS, have you ever wondered how and why Upper Arlington are the Golden Bears? READ THIS excerpt from The Upper Arlington History Trail. I learned something new!
I wish each of you a great long weekend. Stay warm!
Julie
Upcoming Dates:
1.17.22 - NO SCHOOL - MLK, Jr. Day
1.27.22 - Early Release 11:05
2.3.22 - Kindergarten Parent Information Night 6:30
2.16.22 - Early Release - 1:00
2.21.22 - NO SCHOOL - Presidents Day
3.11.22 - End of 2nd Trimester
3.13.22 - Daylight Savings Begins - “Spring Ahead”
3.14-3.18.22 - SPRING BREAK
3.21.22 - NO SCHOOL STUDENTS
New Group Opportunity for Students of Color: Does your student identify as a student of color? Are they looking for ways to connect with other students of color? Former Windermere Students and current sophomores at UAHS, Meghan Calloway and Tarissa Suchecki, will be leading this group, supervised by Katie O’Keefe. You can find more details about this group and sign up your student using this linked form. Please RSVP by January 21st. If you have any questions, please reach out to Katie O’Keefe ([email protected])
Family Cultures and Traditions Night Rescheduled! We have our new date! Please save the date and plan on joining us Tuesday, April 5 from 6:30-7:30.
Art Contest Opportunity at COSI:
Create an original superhero artwork! We all have our favorite superheroes from comics and the big screen, now here is your chance to invent and design your own superhero. What is their name? What do they look like? What are their superpowers? Send an original artwork featuring your original superhero creation, and you will have a chance to win fabulous prizes and be featured in an art exhibition at COSI next spring 2022. Superhero Art Contest
Submission Deadline is February 28, 2022 at midnight. No late entries will be accepted.
Tell your neighbors and friends about our Kindergarten Information Night at Windermere:
We are looking forward to introducing families to our all-day kindergarten program at WINDERMERE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL at our upcoming kindergarten information night. Due to the current COVID situation, we will now be holding these information nights virtually, and we look forward to offering families an opportunity to get to know our kindergarten program, our school and our staff.
Our kindergarten information night will be held on Thursday, February 3 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. via a Zoom webinar. You can join the webinar using the link below: https://zoom.us/j/94736925383
A recording will be made available on our district YouTube account for anyone who is unable to attend the meeting.
If you have additional questions about our school before you register your child, please contact Julie Nolan, Principal at [email protected]
For incoming HMS sixth graders:
Hello future middle school families,
The time for scheduling for the 22-23 school year is upon us!
The Jones and Hastings administrative team will be hosting a zoom webinar on February 15th to go over information regarding course offerings and the scheduling process for next year's middle schoolers. Parents of current 5th, 6th, and 7th graders are encouraged to attend. We will host two separate sessions that evening, a session for current 5th grade families from 6:30-7:15 and a session for current 6th and 7th grade families from 7:30 to 8:15.
The information shared in both webinars will be very similar so if your designated time does not work, feel free to tune in for the other. If you are unable to attend either session, both will be recorded and posted to our youtube page for your reference. Later that week we will send out a message to all families with links to those videos, schedule request forms, and due dates.
Sincerely,
The Middle School Administrative Team
Aimee White, Principal, JMS - [email protected]
Heather Markward, Assistant Principal JMS - [email protected]
Mike Robertson, Principal HMS - [email protected]
Megan Lippert, Assistant Principal HMS - [email protected]
Food Rescue Program Volunteers Needed: We are currently looking for volunteers to help out with Windermere's food rescue program. If you are interested please sign up below. Once you sign up we will send you more details via email. We are looking for 1 volunteer each Wednesday to pick the donated food up from Windermere and deliver it to the YMCA shelter located at: 1111 Mediterranean Avenue, Columbus Oh, 43229.
In all it takes about an hour to pick up and return back to Windermere. If you are interested in helping and the day or time don't work let me know. The shelter is very flexible and very appreciative of donations.
Thank you!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C48ABAF2BA0FF2-windermere
Food Rescue Update
The food rescue project in the lunchroom is off to a great start! So far, kids have collected 150 gallons worth of excess food that would have gone to landfills. Please continue to encourage kids to donate any wrapped, unopened food they have not eaten at the orange Food Rescue station to donate to YMCA community housing. Thank you!
COVID vaccinations: Please make sure your child’s vaccination records are on file with our nurses. You can email those to [email protected]
UACA Golden Apple Award: We are delighted to announce the start of Golden Apple season in Upper Arlington! As you are likely aware, there is a dedicated Golden Apple award for a special teacher, staff, or administrator for each school in Upper Arlington!
The nominations window opens this Friday, January 7th, and continues through March 1st. We hope to have presentations in late March/early April but will be in touch later about that aspect. Don't forget nominations can be submitted by students, colleagues, parents, community members, etc. Please go to UACA.org to vote.
School Counselor January Update: Find parenting tips, resources and group opportunities in the January Counselor Connection Newsletter.
PTO UPDATE
Spirit Week is always fun at Windermere! It was great seeing all of our Hawks get creative and we all loved the extra pep in everyone’s step every day this week! Thanks to student council for planning it.
After School Enrichment Enrollment begins TODAY! Signups will be open through 9pm next Thursday, January 20th. The winter session of classes begins the week of January 24th and ends the week of March 11th. The full catalog of classes being offered can be found here on our PTO website and click here to register. Confirmation notices will be sent via email immediately after registration. Please contact Rachel Ely at [email protected] with any questions.
Financial assistance is available to those in need: Please contact Katie O’Keefe at (614) 487-5060 ext. 7022 or email at [email protected] to make confidential arrangements.
Family Culture and Traditions Night - Our new date for the annual Windermere Family Culture and Traditions Night is Tuesday, April 5th from 6:30-7:30 in the Eyrie. This event is hosted by the Windermere DEI committee and we look forward to highlighting the different cultures and traditions in our Windermere community. We are also excited to have a booth by local bookstore Cover to Cover which will have various selections of books about culture and diversity to view and purchase. We hope you consider signing up and participating to highlight your family's unique culture and traditions or just add this date to your calendar and come ready to learn. We will have more details as the date moves closer!
Go Hawks!
Stephanie Tozbikian & Jen Mascho
PTO Co-Presidents