Dear Winthrop Families:

Every year, each public school and school district in Massachusetts receives a report card. Just as your child’s report card shows how they are doing in different subjects, the school’s report card is designed to show families how our school is doing in different areas. A link to Winthrop’s report card is available at: 2023 Winthrop School Report Card.

The report card includes multiple measures of a school’s performance – more than just MCAS scores. It represents a new way of looking at school performance, by providing information on student achievement, teacher qualifications, student learning opportunities, and more.

Report cards are designed to be useful tools for everyone connected to our school. Families can use the information to have meaningful conversations with us about what the school is doing well and where there is room for improvement. Community and education leaders can use the information to better understand how to support students and our school.

You will notice on our report card that we are making substantial progress toward improvement targets. To improve student performance in our school, we will be adopting a new English Language Arts curriculum at the elementary level that is aligned with the Science of Reading. We continue to develop multi-tiered levels of support and intervention plans for students who are progressing below expected benchmarks. We encourage you to become involved in helping us improve our school. We see parents as critical partners in the success of our students and school, and we are grateful for your continued support.

Finally, if your child attends a school that receives federal Title I funds, you also have the right to request the following information about the qualifications of your child’s classroom teachers:

· Whether your child’s teacher is licensed in the grade levels and subject areas they teach,

· Whether your child’s teacher is teaching under an emergency license or waiver,

· The college degree and major of your child’s teacher, and

· Whether your child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.

If you have questions about our school’s report card, would like to become involved in school improvement activities, or would like to request information about the qualifications of your child’s classroom teacher, please contact Amy Sullivan at asullivan@ipsk12.net. The link to our district’s report card is available at: 2023 Ipswich Public Schools District Report Card. To search for other schools’ report cards, visit reportcards.doe.mass.edu.

Sincerely,

Amy B. Sullivan, Principal

• We will conduct PK screenings for next year's new/incoming students on:
  

Thursday, March 7th @ Doyon and Friday, March 15th @ Winthrop.

Watch for more information to come next week.

For planning purposes, we are alerting all current PK families that there will be NO SCHOOL for all current preschool students on Friday, March 15th at Winthrop.

• Wednesday, January 31st: Budget Presentation to School Committee, 7 PM Ipswich MS/HS Ensemble Room
• Thursday, February 1st: Grade 5 Workout, 8 AM
• Thursday, February 1st: Mrs. Zybert's 2nd Grade Class Walking Trip to the Library
• Thursday, February 1st: Early Release, PK @ 1:30, K-5 @ 1:50
• Thursday, February 1st: Green Team Seed Saving and Sewing Workshop, 2 PM
• Thursday, February 1st: Grade 5 SLC Meeting, 2 PM
• Saturday, February 3rd: FRIES-Sponsored Event- Ice Cream For Breakfast, 9:00-10:30 AM, Winthrop Cafeteria
• Tuesday, February 6th: Early Act Meeting, 8 AM Library
• Tuesday, February 6th: Grade 5 SLC Green Team Meeting, 8 AM
• Thursday, February 8th: Grade 5 Workout, 8 AM
• Thursday, February 8th: Early Release, PK @ 1:30. K-5 @ 1:50
• Thursday, February 8th: Public Hearing Budget, 7 PM
• Friday, February 9th: Green Team Harvest of the Month

'

Winthrop School offers free breakfast every morning from 8:15-8:30.

Students participating in Breakfast Club should arrive no earlier than 8:15 AM. Some students have been arriving too early. Please note that doors do not open to Breakfast Club until 8:15 AM.

All students attending the Breakfast Club should be here to eat breakfast and not arriving at school early for childcare purposes.

We are sharing the dates of this year's spring MCAS testing for grades 3, 4, and 5. We strive for 100% attendance on the days of testing to avoid the need for many make-up sessions which pull teachers away from their regular schedules. Please mark your calendars.

Grade 3 ELA - April 3rd and 5th

Grade 4 ELA - April 9th and 11th

Grade 5 ELA - April 8th and 10th

Grade 3 Math - April 30th and May 2nd

Grade 4 Math - May 10th and14th

Grade 5 Math - May 1st and 3rd

Grade 5 STE - May 15 and 17th

Save the Date for Upcoming Performances

• Tuesday, February 13, Grade 3 Show, GO FISH! 7 p.m.
• Monday, March 4, Grade 2 Show, COOKIES the MUSICAL 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 6, CHORALFEST (Grade 5-12) PAC 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 20- STRINGFEST (grades 4-12) PAC
• Wednesday, March 27- ALL TOWN BAND (grades 5-12) HS Gymnasium

Calling all families of incoming kindergarten students! Kindergarten Roundup is the first step in the kindergarten registration process. Each year at this time we try to determine the names of children who will enter kindergarten in the Ipswich Public Schools in September. It is essential that we have these names now so that we can begin the school registration process and plan for classes.

Families of students who are eligible to attend kindergarten in September 2024 should take a moment to complete a Kindergarten Roundup Form.

Please click on the link below for more information and access to the Kindergarten Roundup Form:
https://www.ipsk12.net/Page/1113

Plastic Audit at the Cafeteria

Last Friday, Green Team parent and student volunteers conducted an audit to determine how much single-use plastic trash is produced at the Winthrop cafeteria in a single day. Here is what we found:

Bright Spots:

• Very few single-use plastic water bottles - students are bringing reusable ones!
• The custodian has trained students well, and most kids were familiar with the process of sorting their waste into compost, recycling, and trash.
• The cafeteria offers utensils individually, so students are not getting a plastic-wrapped fork-spoon-knife-napkin combo - less waste!
• The serving dishes and trays from the school are compostable - awesome!

Here's how you can help our community produce less plastic waste:

• Switch from single-use Ziploc bags and plastic cling wrap to reusable containers
• Consider buying snacks in bulk and packing food in reusable containers to reduce the production of single-use food wrappers
• Let us know if you're interested in helping our school/district explore how we can shift to more sustainable cafeteria practices and policies (compostable utensils, less individually packaged food, etc). Email Molly Dugdale - mduffy345@gmail.com - to learn more.

Seed Saving, Sorting, and Sowing - Join us after school this Thursday, February 1, 2:00-3:00 pm for a workshop on how to save, sort, and sow seeds. Clean, empty milk jugs and yogurt containers are needed. We'll save and sort seeds, then plant them in mini-greenhouses. We'll watch them grow over the winter months, and share seedlings with the Winthrop community this spring. All are welcome to join the workshop. Caregivers - please provide a driver's license or passport at the front office when checking in for the event.

No Idling

Thank you for not idling at drop-off and pick-up. Engines off at every stop!

January Staff Appreciation Event

Thanks to all of the families who donated books so our teachers and staff could choose two books each to take home at this month's Staff Appreciation Event, The Little Winthrop Bookshop! Thanks also to Kimberly Mavroides, Jess Poirier, Alyssa Gibbs, Lauren Gawlik and Ilse Guarino for helping to set up the event.

Winthrop Science Festival

The Science Festival is back - Tuesday, March 12, from 6:30-7:30! All students are welcome to share a science or engineering project they have worked on. Fill out the Sign-Up Genius online by Feb 15th to participate.

Winthrop Special Programming

DYK Winthrop FRIES brings special programs into our school, including author visits, visiting artists, workshops, yoga and mindful movement sessions? We are so lucky to welcome High Street Studios and Elephant Tree Yoga into our classrooms on a regular basis! Come to one of our FRIES meetings to be a part of these efforts!

February 20

Curious Creatures is New England’s original ​interactive and educational ​live animal program.

Their staff of experienced and professional exhibitors teach respect and appreciation for exotic and unusual animals. The presentation is hands-on and interactive. We include interesting facts and stories about our creatures in an educational and entertaining environment.

Recommended for children in Kindergarten and older school age children. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult caregiver. Choose from 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. Space is limited. Registration is required at www.ipswichlibrary.org/events

February 21 from 1 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

“Disney and Pixar’s “Elemental” is an all-new, original feature film set in Element City, where fire-, water-, land- and air residents live together. The story introduces Ember, a tough, quick-witted and fiery young woman, whose friendship with a fun, sappy, go-with-the-flow guy named Wade challenges her beliefs about the world they live in.” from Disney press release.

Rated PG. Common Sense Media recommends for ages 6 and up.

Popcorn and bottled water will be provided. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult caregiver.

February 22 from 10 a.m. to noon

Drop-In Craft for school-age children. Woven hearts!

This paper-weaving craft is intended for school-age children due to the degree of difficulty. Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by a (patient) adult caregiver to actively assist with the project. No registration is required.

February 23 from 10 a.m. to noon

STEM Building

Drop in to build with blocks, KINEX, marble race courses, and other building materials (some retro). Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult caregiver. No registration is required.

Email: winthrop@ipsk12.net
Website: https://www.ipsk12.net/Domain/185
Location: 65 Central Street, Ipswich, MA, USA
Phone: 9783562976