Williams-Cone School Newsletter

Williams-Cone School is a safe and kind school community that inspires every student to succeed.

-Compassionate, Curious, Confident Learners-

Thanks to all of you, the amazing WCS community, we did indeed win the Gold Medal Award for the 2024 WinterKids Winter Games! The WinterKids Winter Games Awards Ceremony was held this past Wednesday, February 14th in the WCS gymnasium. With a large community based audience attending the event, participants were treated to a program filled with fantastic highlights from the 2024 WinterKids Winter Games experience. The program began and ended with video footage created by Mrs. Stackhouse, WCS PreK Paraprofessional and Mrs. Martin, WCS Physical Education teacher. The videos featured the many activities and programs that took place during the Winter Games. Special remarks were given by Mr. Dan Chuhta, Maine Deputy Commissioner of Education as well as Mrs. Heidi O'Leary, MSAD #75 Superintendent. Several students shared "haiku poems" that were created through the Winter Games activities and the 4th and 5th grade Tiger Choir performed the song "Firefly", by Owl City under the direction of Mrs. Appel, WCS music teacher.

One could feel the excitement and pride when the WinterKids Team presented our school with the Gold Medal Award which includes a $5,000.00 cash prize and a special trophy. WCS staff were outfitted with metallic gold pompons and paper cannons were launched when the award was announced. It was a very special day for the WCS community and a culmination of the hard work, focus, creativity, flexibility and positive energy that makes WCS a great place to learn and be a part of!

Third grade students recently participated in an afternoon Kids Academy that gave them an opportunity to create with perlers There were so many cool creations! Students made 3D airplanes, hearts, a football & goal, lizards, owls, etc. Parent volunteers for this club were: Jenn Cass, Heather Rogers, Kate Green & Matt Siegel.

4th grade students recently had a great time participating in a Nature Club led by Shana Stewart Deeds. The club started off talking about our favorite Maine animals and learned about types of prints/tracks and other ways to track animals (scat, scent, sounds, etc.). Then the group ventured outside to find and identify tracks on the WCS playground. The club found squirrel and possibly cat prints! Students finished the club by reading a story where they could guess the animal by different clues in the book.

Students who participated in the recent "Card Creations" Kids Academy made wonderful cards and gifts using stickers, gems, markers, pipe cleaners, ribbon, foam, paper, stampers, etc. They also had the option to make a necklace with lanyard and beads and straws. Volunteers were Heather Rogers, Kate Green & Amanda Lovejoy.

The past few weeks have brought a lot of energy and joy to WCS. In spite of the many WinterKids Winter Games activities, instruction has continued and students have still been accountable for their learning and high expectations abound. When we return from Winter Break 2, we will continue maintain high expectations and accountability for all. March is right around the corner which means that Trimester 2 will come to a conclusion and report cards will be issued. This combined with Parent/Teacher conferences will provide students and parents/caregivers an opportunity to set goals for the remainder of the year so that everyone can finish the year strong.

I am very proud to report that WCS raised $606.90 through the coin drive that will benefit the Maine Coast Fisherman's Association! Thank-you WCS for your generosity!! The coin drive was part of the WinterKids Winter Games "Friendship Friday" activities. Special thanks to FOWC for collecting and consolidating the change jars which resulted in this fabulous donation!

A Winter Break 2 Principal's Reading Challenge will be sent home with all K-5 students to complete if they choose over the break. I ask that all parents/caregivers strongly encourage your student(s) to participate in this challenge that is designed to maintain current reading progress as well as promote the love of reading. Students who completed the Winter Break 1 Principal's Reading Challenge will receive their reward when we return from break. The reward was delayed due to the many activities taking place through Winter Kids over the past few weeks. As I often say, "Good things happen to those who wait", and I guarantee students will enjoy the reward! Students can also stay tuned for the Winter Break 2 Principal's Reading Challenge Reward!

As always, if you are in need of support for your student(s), please do not hesitate to reach out to myself and/or any other WCS staff member.

Enjoy Winter Break 2!

Your Principal,

Randa

Mrs. Randa C. Rineer, WCS Principal

rineerr@link75.org

(207)725-4391

2/19-2/23 Winter Break 2

2/25 Wild Oats Cupcake Sale for 5th Grade Field Trip, 8:00-3:00 P.M., Wild Oats, Brunswick

2/27 5th Grade Fundraising Meeting, 6:00 P.M., MAMS

3/1 Family Reading Night , 5:00-7:00 P.M., WCS Gym

3/8. Trimester 2 Ends

3/11-3/14 Parent/Teacher Conferences

3/12 FOWC Meeting, 5:30 P.M., LC

3/14 Early Dismissal, 10:45 PreK, 12:10 K-5

3/15 No School, Teacher Compensation Day

3/19 5th Grade Gelato Fiasco Celebrity Scoops Night, 3:30-8:00 P.M., Brunswick

3/22. Trimester 2 Report Cards Issued

4/12 In-Service Day, No School for Students

4/15-4/19 Spring Break

*The tremendous support from the WCS community, FOWC, town of Topsham and local businesses for the WinterKids Winter Games Awards Ceremony.

*WCS Staff-Planning and implementing a fantastic WinterKids Winter Awards Ceremony.

*Sam's Pizza & Jersey Mike's-sandwich donations for the WCS staff & WinterKids Winter Games volunteer lunch.

*Anna Siegel-assisting with many last minute details for the WinterKids Winter Games Staff & Volunteer lunch.

*FOWC-supporting the WinterKids Winter Games Awards Ceremony from start to finish.

*Haley Kulas -the beautiful and delicious WinterKids Winter Games celebration cake and cupcakes (see photo below) for staff and WinterKids Winter Games volunteers.

*Dan Chuhta, Maine Deputy Commissioner of Education-Supporting the WK WG Awards Ceremony.

*Superintendent Heidi O'Leary-Supporting the WK WG Awards Ceremony.

*The generous support for the coin drive benefitting the Maine Coast Fisherman's Association.

*Our fabulous bus drivers, van drivers, bus aides, and crossing guard!

*The fabulous Family Game Night-Thank-you FOWC!

*Support for the FOWC fudge fundraiser.

*Winter Break 2!

*Thank you to our Bus Drivers, Van Drivers, Bus Helpers, and Crossing Guard - we celebrate you ahead of the National Bus Driver Day. Your support to get our students safely to and from school is essential and we appreciate all that you do!

*Much love to Haley K for her assembly of this year’s Bus/Van/Crossing Guard Appreciation gifts. They turned out amazing - her helpers and our sign makers included Jenn C, Anna, Christie, Heather, Melissa, Megan, Kelsey, and of course our office staff Mrs. Anderson & Mrs. Morneau for their help on distribution.

*Many thanks to all involved in our WinterKids Winter Games as well as the WK Representatives that came for our Award Ceremony this week. What an amazing 4 weeks - we are so proud for bringing home the GOLD!

*Shout out to our Family Game Night Crew - Mrs. Rineer, Ms. Pam, Mr. Randy, Mrs. Anderson, Megan, Anna, DJ Jazzy Jenn, Kevin & Kim Gray, along with several people helping with clean-up - Haley, Heather, Jonathan, Jeffrey, & several youth helpers. A GAME-tastic evening!

*Thank you to our fudge distribution crew - Melissa, Heather, Megan & our youth helpers. We find ours to be quite tasty! Much love to the Seigel Family for being our top sellers with 13 boxes sold!

*Your generosity for our annual Food Drive is AMAZING! In a week and a half, we hit our goal to fill 5 boxes. Thank you so much for supporting W.I.N.G. the Food Pantry here in MSAD 75. Thank you all for also helping us reach 100 toothbrushes donated in time for the 100th Day of School.

*Thank you to all of our 5th Grade families supporting the Cupcake for a Cause event! We are looking forward to getting our tiger and wolf cupcakes on 2/25 at Wild Oats!

WOW - GOLD!!! We DID it! We have tremendous gratitude for our school community for their dedication and the many hours that went into planning for the WinterKids Winter Games. It was spectacular and we are so glad we could be a part of what made this year special at WCS. Of course, our PTO planning hasn’t paused either! Another amazing meeting and Game Night is in the books, ongoing Food Drive for W.I.N.G., planning is underway for a Family Reading Night, a School Wear Sale, and our annual Race for Education is just around the corner. Join us for our March Meeting!

Yearbooks are on sale! Get them before our deadline ends! Order forms and information will be coming home again in March!

Cost: $22.00 (with tax) All checks should be payable to FOWC or Friends of Williams-Cone

You can order online! Visit: https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1015059372991326

!! 5th Grade Families !! FOWC purchases a softcover yearbook for every 5th grader as part of the Farewell Celebration. Please only order a yearbook if you wish to have a hardcover version.

Email us with any questions - WCSYearbook@yahoo.com

This community is amazing!! 2 weeks in and we’ve already filled all 5 boxes!!! Thank you for helping us support W.I.N.G. and their amazing mission to serve families here in our district. We will continue to have our donation boxes in the school lobby until 3/1 - maybe we can make it 6!