Winthrop Weekly
November 1, 2023
Principally Speaking
Dear Winthrop Families,
The 2023 Great Pumpkin Drop
We had an exhilarating 3rd annual Pumpkin Drop yesterday morning. The student body gathered outside to learn about pomology- the study of fruit- and watched in amazement as Mr. Falconieiri heaved pumpkins from the cafeteria roof onto a tarp where our lead pomologist. Lowell Murray gathered the pumpkins' insides to bring back to the classrooms to count the number of seeds in each pumpkin. The students have made predictions about the number of seeds each pumpkin contains in relation to the pumpkin's size.
Veteran's Day Wall of Honor- Due Friday, November 3rd
Please read below about the Veteran's Day Wall of Honor. This year, the Early Act and Video-Taping SLC groups will be in charge of creating, hanging, and filming the video of the wall. Please send in the hard copies of the form that was send home last week or you can download a copy here. Please also fill out this Google form if you would like to have your submission included in the video. Thank you!
Items from Home- Cell Phones and SMART watches
We have noticed an increase in students with cell phones and SMART watches at school. Per our school handbook policy about Items From Home, we ask that all electronic devices remain in student backpacks during the school day and are turned off.
Personal electronic devices are inappropriate for school as they distract learning and offer
unsupervised access to inappropriate resources. Parents who must communicate with their children
during the school day are asked to contact the Main Office. Cell phones, smartwatches, and other
personal, electronic devices of any kind must remain in backpacks and be turned off at all times.
The school cannot be responsible for money or valuable items that students bring to school. It is
suggested that such items be brought to school ONLY if necessary and only with parent and teacher
permission.
Thank you for your cooperation and help following this procedure.
November Weather
Just a reminder as the calendar has now turned to November, colder temps are creeping in. We are sure many families may have noticed the chill in the air last night. During this transitional month, please dress your child in layers and remember to send them to school with outdoor gear- sweatshirts, jackets, coats, and even hats and mittens on some chillier days. We rarely keep the children indoors during the cold months and most days they will be outside twice for recess.
Thank you!
Amy B. Sullivan, Principal
Nicki Amisson, Assistant Principal
Pictures from Grade 3 Field Trip to Shalin Liu
Important Upcoming Dates
- Wednesday, November 1st: 1st Day of American Indian Heritage Month
- Wednesday, November 1st: Grade 3 Field Trip to Shalin Liu
- Thursday, November 2nd: Kindergarten Field Trip to Willowdale Forest
- Thursday, November 2nd: Early Release- Preschool @ 1:30, K-5 PM @ 1:50 P
- Thursday, November 2nd: Open Door Mobile Mart at dismissal
- Thursday, November 2nd: Parent Conferences - individually scheduled time with your child's teacher
- Thursday, November 2nd: School Committee Meeting, 7 PM @ Ipswich MS/HS Ensemble Room
- Thursday, November 2nd: Kindergarten Field Trip to Willowdale
- Friday, November 3rd: 1st KinderSwim Lessons
- Tuesday, November 7th: School Picture Retake Day
- Wednesday, November 8th: Election Day
- Wednesday, November 8th: FRIES Meeting, 6:30 PM~ Winthrop Cafeteria
- Thursday, November 9th: Early Release, Pk @ 1:30, K-5 @ 1:50
- Thursday, November 9th: Open Door Mobile Mart at dismissal
- Thursday, November 9th: Grade 5 SLC, 2:00-2:30
- Friday, November 10th: No School Veteran's Day Observance
- Wednesday, November 15th: No School for KINDERGARTEN Only
- Wednesday, November 15th- Kindergarten Parent Teacher Conferences - individually scheduled times
- Wednesday, November 15th: Girls Inc., 3:00- 4:15
- Thursday, November 16th: Early Release, PK @ 1:30, K-5 @ 1:50
- Thursday, November 16th: Open Door Mobile Mart at dismissal
- Thursday, November 16th: Ipswich School Committee Meeting, 7 PM @ Ipswich MS/HS Ensemble Room
- Friday, November 17th: KinderSwim Lessons
- Tuesday, November 21st: Grade 4 Field Trip to Lowell Mills
- Wednesday, November 22nd: Half-Day Dismissal. PK @ 11:30, K-5 @ 11:55, No Lunch Served- Brown Bag To-Go Lunches available to order.
- Thursday, November 23rd: No School, Thanksgiving Holiday
- Friday, November 24th: No School, Thanksgiving Break
- Thursday, November 30th: Early Release, PK @ 1:30, K-5 @ 1:50
- Thursday, November 30th: Open Door Mobile Mart at dismissal
Ipswich Public Schools Calendar
Veteran's Day Wall of Honor
Please check your child's folder today for hard copies of this letter and form.
In recognition of Veterans Day, Winthrop School will be creating a Veterans Wall of Honor in our lobby outside the cafeteria. If your family would like to recognize a special Veteran, please fill out the form below with your Veteran’s name, title, and branch of service. You may also wish to draw a picture or include a photo of your special veteran. We will share pictures and a video of our Hero Wall in the November 9th Winthrop Weekly newsletter.
Please return the Wall of Honor form by Friday, November 3rd, in your child’s folder.
If you would also like to have your Veteran recognized in a Winthrop Veterans’ Day Video, please complete the form below.
Thank you for Signing Up for School Dismissal Manager!
We had 81 families enter our School Dismissal Manager Raffle and today we spun the wheel to choose the randomly selected winner.
And the winner is: Jessica Holmes! Please pick up your $40 Pomodori Gift Card at school on Friday.
Thank you to everyone for joining School Dismissal Manager. If you still need to sign up, please follow the instructions below.
Haven't signed up yet? Just check your inbox for a message from School Dismissal Manager with your parent credentials. The email was sent on 10/4 and is titled "Winthrop Elementary Parent Credentials & Login Instructions." Can't find the email in your inbox? Just contact the front office and we can get you your credentials!
School Picture Retake Day - November 7th
School Picture Retake Day is November 7th.
If your child was absent on the first school picture day OR you were not satisfied with your child's pictures that were sent home in today's folders, you may wish to have your child's picture taken/re-taken on November 7th.
If your child is having pictures RETAKEN please send back to school the complete picture package you wish to return on November 7th so you will not be charged for retakes.
FRIES News
Here is today's FRIES update for the weekly. Short and sweet!
Our next FRIES meeting is November 8th at 6:30pm in the Winthrop Cafeteria. If you have siblings or friends at IHS looking to fill volunteer services hours, please encourage them to reach out to us at winthropschoolfries@gmail.com if they would like to volunteer childcare services during the meeting!
Green Team News
Winthrop School
Email: winthrop@ipsk12.net
Website: https://www.ipsk12.net/Domain/185
Location: 65 Central Street, Ipswich, MA, USA
Phone: 9783562976