The Winn Word

February 16, 2025

Hello Families,

The week ahead is a big one! We are getting ready to say goodbye to JoAnn Sharrar, our amazing day custodian. JoAnn has been with Shepherd Public Schools for 26 years. Here are the events we are doing this week:

Tuesday- Card Shower! All of the students are making special cards for JoAnn. If you would like to send in a card from home, please feel free. We want to shower her with love that day!

Wednesday- JoAnn Video! I have been recording special messages from the kids this past week. On Wednesday we are debuting a special JoAnn video thank you from the kids!

Friday- Red Carpet Goodbye. We will be rolling out the red carpet for JoAnn on Friday. She will be strolling through the hallways at 2:00 to say goodbye to all of us.

Don't forget In March, we are BLASTING off to a fun space themed reading month. "Reading is Out of This World," is going to have lots of cool STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) things for you to do at home. Get ready for lots of reading and learning as we explore our space! Save the Date for the Booknic on Thursday, March 13th. You can come to school for lunch and reading! Bonus the Bookfair will be open with TWO registers this year!

Highlights for this week include:

• Tuesday: JoAnn's card shower
• Wednesday: JoAnn's special video
• Friday: JoAnn's red carpet goodbye
• Friday night: Winn Fit

With Gratitude,

Laurie Richards

Winn Elementary Principal

What is the Second Step Problem-Solving Program?

The Second Step Problem-Solving Program teaches students a step-by-step approach to addressing and resolving conflicts effectively. The key steps students learn include:

• S – Say the Problem (Without Blame) – Clearly stating what the issue is.

• T – Think of Solutions – Brainstorming safe and respectful ways to solve the problem.

• E – Explore Consequences – Considering the possible outcomes of each solution.

• P – Pick the Best Solution – Choosing the solution that is fair and works for everyone.

Why is Problem-Solving Important?

Developing strong problem-solving skills helps students:

• Manage conflicts independently and respectfully.

• Build positive relationships with peers and adults.

• Strengthen their decision-making and critical-thinking abilities.

How Can Parents Support This at Home?

You can reinforce these skills by:

• Encouraging your child to talk about problems and brainstorm solutions together.

• Modeling problem-solving in everyday situations.

• Praising their efforts when they handle conflicts in a positive way.

By working together, we can help students develop essential life skills that will benefit them inside and outside the classroom. If you have any questions about the Second Step Problem-Solving Program, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Make sure to check out my new video (2 min) explaining week one of Problem Solving: Say the Problem.

Have you been connecting with our Winn Elementary School website? Have you added the app yet? This new platform is designed to keep you informed, connected, and engaged with everything happening at our school.

Why Use Our Website?

Our website will serve as the go-to resource for all school-related information, including:

• School News & Announcements – Stay up to date on the latest school events, activities, and important reminders.

• Event Calendars – Never miss a school event, early dismissal, or special program.

• Lunch Menus – Easily access weekly breakfast and lunch menus.

• Teacher & Staff Contacts – Quickly find and connect with your child’s teacher or school staff.

• Parent Resources – Find helpful information about school policies, academic support, and more.

How to Access the Website

You can visit our Winn Elementary website at https://www.shepherdschools.net/o/winn-elementary-school. We encourage you to explore it, bookmark it for easy access, and check back regularly for updates!

Stay Connected on our Website & Download the App

To ensure you get the most out of the website, we will also be sending out reminders and updates via email and text. Be sure to check in frequently so you don’t miss important information. If you have the app, the most important/recent information will be right there at your finger tips!

If you have any questions or need assistance navigating the site, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are committed to making sure our families have the tools they need to know what is happening at Winn!

Thank you so much to the Winn Parent Club for hosting our "Giddy up Gala" this past Friday. A special thank you to Melissa Jenkins and Alana Fields who organized this event. I had so many parents tell me how much fun it was to watch all of the kids this year. Everyone was dancing together and having such a good time. It was very noticeable that we were "one" school. It was a special moment for sure. The kids had so much fun with the DJ and learning to line dance. We also would like to say thank you to the families that helped with set up and clean up! We can't wait to dance the night away again next year!

Take a minute to read the Winn Parents' Club newsletter for February. If you click the picture it will take you to the minutes for our past meeting.

The BlueJay Wellness Center, located at 238 S. Chippewa Street in Shepherd, is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Please note that the center is closed for lunch; it's advisable to call ahead if you need your child seen as a walk in. You can reach them at 989-567-9034.

cmdhd.org

The center provides primary and preventive health services for individuals aged 3 to 21 within the Shepherd School District. Services include comprehensive health assessments, vision and hearing screenings, immunizations, treatment of acute illnesses, health education, and mental health care. Services can be billed to health insurances if applicable, and no eligible person will be denied services based on insurance status or ability to pay. Staff can assist with Medicaid enrollment.

cmdhd.org

As of February 6, 2025, the BlueJay Wellness Center is open for business.

• 2/24-2/28 Week of JoAnn! Celebrate Ms. JoAnn with us this week. Her last day is Friday! Happy Retirement Ms. JoAnn!
• 3/3 March is Reading Month Kick Off
• 3/5 WPC Meeting 5:30pm
• 3/13 BookNic 11:45-12:45
• 3/22-3/30 Spring Break

Here is our Winn Elementary Parent and Student Handbook for 24-25. It is filled with lots of useful information about our school.

Thank you for sharing your child with our family here at Winn. Our motto at Winn is "Everything a Kid Needs." We focus on both academic excellence and creating good humans! I am here to serve you. If you have questions/concerns or need help in any way, please feel free to reach out to me.

Email: lrichards@shepherdschools.net
Location: 418 West Blanchard Road, Shepherd, MI, USA
Phone: (989) 866-2250
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/winnelementary