January WPS Family Newsletter

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Electricity student Caleb Ramirez shows Carmen Crawford, outgoing School Board member, what he's working on at the Emil & Grace Shihadeh Innovation Center.

No School Days

• December 23-January 3: Winter Break
• Students return on January 6
• January 20: No school - MLK Jr. Day (Administrative Offices Closed)
• February 14: No school - Teacher Professional Development Day
• February 17: No school - Presidents' Day (Administrative Offices Closed)

Daily Schedules:

• Elementary: 7:50 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
  
• Daniel Morgan Intermediate and Middle Schools: 8:25 a.m. - 3:20 p.m.
• DMIS and DMMS: All students should arrive by 8:15 a.m.

• John Handley High School: 8:25 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Have you ever wondered what it's like for students to pass through weapons detectors each day at Handley? Check out this short video to help Daniel Morgan students prepare for implementation this month.

The 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school year calendars are now available. Use them to schedule family vacations, medical appointments, college visits, and more while keeping your student in school!

🔗 Access them now: https://bit.ly/WPScalendars

We are excited to inform you that the Ready4K program is transitioning to a new service called Bright By Text. This free program sends helpful tips, activities, and resources directly to your phone to support your child’s learning and development. The messages are tailored to your child’s age and include topics such as child development, language and literacy, health and safety, and behavior tips.

Bright By Text is part of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading and is designed for children from birth through 3rd grade. It is FREE to WPS families through the Handley Regional Library and is part of the Winchester Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. If you have younger children who are not yet in school, you can sign them up using this direct link.

You can continue receiving these helpful messages by looking out for text updates from 274448. If at any time you wish to stop receiving the messages, simply text STOP to 274448. For additional help or questions, you can text HELP to 274448 or email admin@brightbytext.org.

To enhance the safety and security of students, staff, and visitors, John Handley High School and Daniel Morgan Middle School are implementing weapons detectors at winter sports events.

• For athletics events, small, purse-type bags will be permitted. Larger bags should remain in vehicles or at home.
• Spectators are encouraged to arrive early and avoid this list of common items that set off the detectors:
• Adult-size scissors, Aerosol cans, Cameras, Chromebooks and other laptops, Eyeglass cases, iPads and other tablets, Metal utensils such as forks, Three-ring binders larger than 1.5 inches, Umbrellas, Water bottles with metal components, Wheeled/rolling backpacks
• Keys and cell phones will not set off alarms.
• Please Note: This is not a comprehensive list of items that may set off the weapons detectors

The annual School Climate and Quality Survey will be open to parents and guardians January 6-17. There are 3 ways to access the survey beginning January 6:

-You will receive a direct email invitation.

-You can access the survey on the WPS and school websites.

-You can stop by any school's front office and take the survey online.

We appreciate your participation, and we look forward to hearing from you.

Applications for the I’M DETERMINED Youth and Parent Summit are now OPEN! Youth with disabilities (ages 14-18) from across the Commonwealth meet at James Madison University June 10–12, 2025 to network and discuss important issues together. 50 youth will be accepted to attend for FREE!

Apply by January 12 for this transformative event, where you’ll connect with peers, build leadership skills, and grow your determination. Visit www.imdetermined.org to apply today!

Has your family been impacted by an outstanding staff member? Nominate them for an Apple Award! This can include teachers, cafeteria staff, front office staff, custodians, or any other WPS employee you would like to nominate. January Nominations Are Due Friday, January 17!

Visit the Inclement Weather Website for more information.

From January 1 – March 31, you can round up at the register at MARTIN'S locations in Winchester and Frederick County to support the Feeding School Kids initiative! Your donations will directly help fight childhood hunger in our community through Bright Futures. Last year, your donations raised $44,918.92! This year, the need is greater than ever. Let’s work together to nourish the kids in our community!

There are so many great things happening in Winchester schools, and we don't want you to miss it!