We ended the week on a fun note with the Windsor PTA Wildcat Dance. Many thanks to all our volunteers and parents/guardians who supported this event. A good time was had by everyone! Junior Great Books also began last week. Students were excited to meet with their groups for the first time, and we appreciate our many parent/guardian volunteers for bringing them this experience.

The Windsor PTA is again sponsoring a school-wide reading challenge (click link) prior to our upcoming Scholastic Book Fair on February 6th. Interested students can log reading minutes that occur during the 7-day challenge (Monday, Jan 27th through Sunday, Feb 2nd) and return the form to school on Monday, February 3rd. The Book Fair is in conjunction with our Windsor PTA Science and Engineering Fair, in which all families are invited. We appreciate all that the PTA does to support our students and school!

This coming Friday, our Wildcat Student Council is planning a kick off assembly for a fundraiser that is close to their hearts! They will be introducing the KIDS HEART CHALLENGE. This service-learning program from the American Heart Association (formerly Jump Rope for Heart) teaches children how to care for their hearts both physically and emotionally. While optional, before we kick off the Kids Heart Challenge at school on JANUARY 31, we encourage you to check out and register with your child to take a challenge to stay healthy this year. The three challenges are: "Move More", "Be Kind", and "Be Ready!" There is also a fundraising component. You can check out and register for the Kids Heart Challenge using this link: http://www2.heart.org/goto/windsor25. We will also send home more information and permission slips on Friday for interested students and families.

Below is a link to all District 25 Flyers, which we include each week. We encourage you to continually check it out for different district/area events and opportunities.

We have lots happening in the days and weeks ahead here at Windsor. (We hope that includes more glimpses of the sun this coming week!) Additional reminders and highlights are featured below.

Enjoy the remainder of your weekend!

Sincerely,

Piper Boston, Principal @PrincipalBoston

Lindsay Anastacio, Assistant Principal @lindzana

Mark your calendars for the Get Burbed Run/Walk on April 25th!

SD25 students submitted their designs and we now need your help to decide on the design for this year’s race t-shirt! Vote now for your favorite t-shirt design. Voting will be open until February 2nd.

Many of our families are members of ABC/25. As a reminder, ABC/25 supports our school and community different ways. The ABC/25 Foundation’s mission is “Fostering innovation, creativity, and excellence for the children of District 25.” Participating in the Get Burbed Run/Walk is another fun way for families to support the Foundation.

We like to go outside for recess as much as possible. Recess is so much more fun for children when they have the option to stay on the blacktop OR play in the snow. When you hear a forecast or see snow on the ground, please send your children to school with their snow pants, boots, hats, gloves, etc.

Superintendent Dr. Bein regularly hosts Open Door times for parents and community members. Dr. Bein is taking her “Open Door” on the road this year visiting all District 25 schools. She will be at Windsor School on February 4th from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Feel free to stop by to ask questions, share concerns, or just say "Hello!" No appointments are necessary.

We emailed this letter (click on link) earlier this month with all teachers' conference sign up links.

• Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for Thursday 2/13 and Friday 2/14. The conference times on Thursday include morning, day, and evening 20-minute appointments. The conference times on Friday only include morning appointments.
• If you are unable to make an in person time on our two conference days, you may sign up for a phone conference or email teachers to schedule a phone conference during their regular school days/hours of 8:15 AM to 3:45 PM.
• Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate additional 20-minute fourth or fifth grade math teacher time slots on our conference days. However, if you already know you have specific math questions or concerns, please feel free to contact your child's math teacher via email. Teachers will then follow up with you accordingly.

• YEARBOOK ORDERING COMING in February (online only)
  
• FEB 6 – Science Fair – download info here, https://windsorpta.org/programs/science-fair/.
• FEB 6 – Scholastic Book Fair
• FEB 10 - Green Team Meeting, LMC, during lunch recess.
  
• FEB 12 - Classroom Valentine Parties
• FEB 13 & 14 - Spring Conferences (PTA provides Teacher Dinner)

Erin's Law presentations will start the week of January 27th. Erin’s Law is an Illinois Public Act that requires us to provide child sexual abuse prevention education for children in pre­kindergarten through 8th grades. Similar to previous years, we will be teaching about Erin's Law in January and February to all K-5 classes. All Erin’s Law information can be found on the District’s website (link). The site also has the opt-out form for interested parents/guardians.

We will share more regarding Valentine's Day parties taking place at school on Wednesday 2/12. We will be planning with our Windsor PTA and various Room Reps. As a reminder, if your child is planning to pass out Valentine's Day cards to other students, they cannot have any candy or food attached or accompanying them.

Our District 25 Parent-Student Handbook is always shared as part of each year's online registration process. Typically, we will highlight sections throughout the school year. Here is a link for families to reference anytime. https://www.sd25.org/cms/lib/IL01904427/Centricity/Domain/24/2019-2020%20-%20UPDATED%207-23%20936am.pdf

We value our Windsor community that is strengthened by diversity, inclusion, and a growth mindset.

• We believe in a kind, safe and responsible community because our students are important.
• We believe in designing lessons that promote inquiry, academic risk taking, and flexible thinking.
• We believe in supporting cultural, emotional, social, and academic diversity.
• We believe in working collaboratively as a school community for continuous improvement in a trusting environment.