Winter Hill Wildcat Weekly
May 3, 2024
Principal's Message
Please join me in thanking our amazing educators as we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week next week. All of our staff at Winter Hill share in educating our Wildcat Learners--this includes our teachers, paraprofessionals, RBTs, counselors, deans, family liaisons, utility aides, coaches, volunteers, library aides, custodians, and our secretary. Our entire administrative team wants to thank each and everyone of them for their relentless support of our students and perseverance through this year.
Aside from taking MCAS math and all of their usual activities, our 7th and 8th graders have had a very busy week!
On Thursday, our Wildcat student researchers traveled to Harvard Graduate School of Education to present as part of the Community Participatory Action Research. This group of students has dedicated every Friday lunch and recess to learning about the research process and carrying out their own research study to better understand how students experience safety, stability and empowerment at school!
On Friday, our 8th graders continued their work on their civic action project by hosting State Representative Christine Barber. Students presented their work to her and she met with students to answer their questions and hear their ideas about what an ideal Winter Hill School would be. The 8th graders are now asking all families to take the community survey (link). The survey closes on Wednesday, May 8th. Please share widely!
Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage & Jewish American Heritage Month
May is an incredible month - not just because it is Spring, but because it is Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage month as well as Jewish American Heritage Month! This is a wonderful time to center, honor, talk and teach about the struggles, contributions and achievements of AAPI and Jewish Americans.
Read: Two New Years (Inspired by his own Chinese and Jewish backgrounds, Richard Ho presents different ways the new year is celebrated in two traditions to highlight many of the similarities. This is a great way to begin talking about intersectionality, the idea that different parts of our identity can overlap or intersect with one another. You can also check out these lists for more books: Books Celebrating Jewish Life and Culture and AAPI Heritage Books for Kids)
Listen: Listen to the FREE Jewish American Heritage Concert at the Nation's Capital on Wednesday, May 15 at 6:00 (Register Here)
Watch: Arizona Arts Presents AAPI Heritage Concert
Eat: Support local AAPI and Jewish businesses! Check out Himalayan Kitchen (a recent supporter of PTA) and Lehraus a "Jewish Tavern and House of Learning"
PTA Update
WINTER HILL STAFF APPRECIATION. All students are invited to show their love!
• Muffin Monday, May 6th: PTA will deliver muffins for all staff.
Idea for students: Say thank to your teachers in your home language.
Extra challenge: Make a card to show how "Thank You" is written in your script.
• Toffee Tuesday, May 7th: PTA will deliver sweet treats for all staff.
Idea for students: Ask your teachers what they love most about teaching.
Extra challenge: This is National Teachers Appreciation Day! Send a joke, song or dance to someone they don't see every day can email home videos to ty-winterhill@winterhillpta.org - We will not view your videos! Please put the teacher’s name in the subject line, so that we can compile and forward to the teacher for a Giant Surprise!
• Pizza Wednesday, May 8th: PTA will deliver real food for PD that day.
Idea for students: Give a compliment to teachers you meet.
• Thematic Thursday, May 9th: PTA will deliver a journal for all staff.
Idea for students: Wear your Wildcat gear and ROAR a little stronger.
• Fried Food Friday, May 10th: PTA will deliver yummy fried foods for all staff.
Idea for students: Wear your homeroom teacher's favorite color.
Become a Member! We continue to take members throughout the school year. If you haven’t yet signed up to become a member, you can sign up as a member online, and pay your dues online too! Unless we have the vast majority of parents, caregivers and teachers signed up as members, our PTA will not have the legitimate ability to speak for the whole school community. At a time when our community is so fractured and dislocated from our beloved location on Sycamore Street, we cannot amplify your voices until you join us! Please contact winterhillpta@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Coffee Hours
Join us at our last coffee hour!
May 17, 2024 1:45 - 2:30 --> Supporting Healthy Lifestyles & Good Nutrition: Come learn about activities and supports for students to choose healthy activities and foods
All are welcome! Interpretation will be provided.
Thank you to the PTA for sponsoring these coffee hours and your generous donations of coffee and snacks!
Information from Coffee Hours:
Wildcat Blog
We feature a different class on our Winter Hill Wildcat Blog each week.
This Week: Ms. Berkowitz (PK)
Next Week: Ms. Dodd (Resource Room Teacher, Equity Specialist)
Important End-of-Year Dates
Somerville Public Schools Calendar can be found here.
Wednesday, May 15th - Kindergarten Math Night @ Capuano 5 - 6:30 - Come enjoy pizza from 5 - 5:30 and then engage with your child in math games from 5:30 - 6:30.
Thursday, May 23rd - PK - 8 Showcase of Learning @ Edgerly - More details to follow
Friday, May 24th - Spring Concerts: 4th - 8th grade 9:15 @ East, K - 3rd grade 1:15 @ East
Monday, May 27th - No School in Honor of Memorial Day
Friday, May 30th - Field Day: 4th - 8th grade in morning, 1st - 3rd grade in afternoon, all @ Foss Park
Friday, May 31st - Field Day: PK & K @ Capuano
Wednesday, June 12th - 8th Grade Moving On Ceremony
Thursday, June 13th - Step-Up Day
Friday, June 14th - Last Day of School
MCAS 2024
We will begin our annual MCAS testing at the end of March. Our students have been working very hard this year to grow emotionally, socially, and academically. This is their opportunity to show what our 3rd - 8th graders know and their growth in English Language Arts and math and for our 5th and 8th graders in science.
Please see the dates below for when each grade will be testing. We ask that caregivers avoid absences as much as possible on these dates so that students can take the assessments with their planned group, which supports students to do their best. Thank you for your support.
Math
- Grades 3, 6 ,7 - May 6 and 9
- Grades 4, 5, 8 - April 29 and May 2
Science
- Grades 5, 8 - May 13 and May 16
Information for the 2024 - 2025 School Year
2024–2025 School Year Calendar. Available now. Find the new calendar in English on the SPS website. Translated versions will be available soon. The first day of the 2024–2025 school year for grades 1–12 is August 28, 2024. The first day of school for students in grades PK and K is September 3, 2024. Beginning in the fall of 2024, PK–8 students will be released early every Wednesday. Learn more.
Please see here for important dates on the Enrollment Calendar for SY25 school registration
Winter Hill Community Innovation School
@ 8 Bonair Street
Somerville, MA 02145
School: 617-629-5680
Cell: 781-227-7861