Here are a few pictures of learning & playing at Winn Elementary this week!

What is Second Step?

Second Step is a program rooted in social-emotional learning (SEL) that helps transform schools into supportive, successful learning environments uniquely equipped to encourage children to thrive. Second Step is more than just a classroom curriculum, Second Step’s holistic approach helps create a positive school climate and empathetic society by providing education professionals, families, and the community with tools to enable them to take an active role in the social-emotional growth and safety of today’s children.

What are the benefits of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)?

In classrooms from early learning through 8th grade, students are learning valuable social skills, emotions, and problem-solving strategies. Building a foundation of social skills is important for classroom management and independence. SEL provides the students with tools to engage in emotion management, situational awareness, and academic achievement. These skills are impactful for students lives because it goes beyond the classroom, in fact it helps students navigate through their community.

Why Second Step?

Second Step Social Emotional curriculum has been successfully implemented by over 26,000 schools worldwide. This curriculum is designed to align with district standards. Educators, counselors, and parents find the lesson plans easy to use. They have the opportunity to engage students in activities that promote problem solving, empathy, and social skills. Finally, Second Step has been endorsed by numerous organizations, including the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) and the Department of Education, for the quality of research, training, and teacher and family support.

Did you know that your child can receive a FREE breakfast AND lunch every day through our school cafeteria? The State of Michigan has given us additional funding to feed all of our students every day! Please have your child order each day to assure they can be fed through this program.

We need your help! Even though breakfast and lunch is FREE, have you filled out an application for FREE/REDUCED lunch program online? We want every family in the district to fill out the paperwork for this program. Did you know that the more people we have qualify, the more Federal dollars we get to help kids. Our Title I program that helps kids catch up with reading and math is an example of our Federal dollars at work. Even if you think you may not qualify or you may never use it, please fill out this application anyway. Thanks for helping our kids at Winn!

Here is the link to apply: https://shepherd.familyportal.cloud/

If your child wants to have breakfast in the morning, please drop them off at 7:30am. After 7:50 am, we are not serving breakfast because students are returning to their classrooms for Morning Opening.

"Guys and Dolls" from Mt. Pleasant are back for our "picture day" again this year! The process may be a little different than what you are used to.

There is no form to fill out or money exchanged on picture day. You will get to see your student’s picture online with background choices before you order it-YAY!!

Approx.1-2 weeks AFTER picture day you will receive an email from

orderschoolpix.com with a link to your student’s picture

*Please note ordering works best on a desktop or laptop computer*

If you do not receive an email:

1. check your spam and your promotions tab within your email

2. If it is not there go to www.guysanddolls.orderschoolpix.com

a) Select your school or organization

b) Enter your special number for the password

c) Enter your email address

To order pictures select BUY PRINTS. Please note there are separate tabs at the top of the screen for packages, single prints and photo products. If you order by the stated deadline you will not pay shipping unless you choose to have the package shipped to your home. If you order after the deadline prices increase, you will be charged shipping and the package will be shipped to your home address. After the picture order deadline all packages will be printed and delivered to your school or organization.

Any other questions contact Guys and Dolls Photography of Mt. Pleasant 989-772-2167 or guysdollsphotography@gmail.com

The Winn Parent Club is up and running this year! The flyer below lets you know about all the upcoming dates this year. They also plan on sending out a newsletter to our families each month. Click this link to fill out the form Filling out this form will get the Winn Parent Club Newsletter sent directly to your in box each month.

Our first WPC meeting is Wednesday, September 4th at 5:30pm. We will have FREE pizza for our families. Feel free to bring your kids too. We have child care for the kids during the meeting. The classroom that has the most parents there will win $10 for their classroom! See you Wednesday!

• 7:30 Doors Open
• 7:30-7:45 Breakfast Served
• 7:50 Celebrate Birthdays!
• 7:55 Students Return to Classrooms
• 8:00 School Begins (Morning Opening)
• 10:00 Lower El Recess
• 11:30 K-2 Lunch
• 12:00 3-5 Lunch
• 2:25 Upper El Recess
• 2:50 Load Buses & Start Pick Up Line Dismissal

1. Get into line for pick up. We begin the line in the Flex Tech parking lot. Please make TWO lines. Someone will be out in the lot helping for the first couple of weeks.

2. At 2:50 PM, we will open our lot. Cars will pull forward and fill in the pick up loop.

3. Take your GREEN car tag out and put it in the DRIVER's SIDE DASH BOARD. (changed from last year)

4. Pull up to the STOP. A staff member will look at your tag and call your child's name. They will tell you what color spot you should move forward to.

5. A staff member will help your child into the car. You do not need to get out of your car. We will help them get in and get set to go home.

6. Once your child is in the car, pull slowly through the rest of the lot. Be cautious! Drive slowly and look around for other people and cars.

This is our 24-25 Student Handbook. Please make sure to read this document. All of the changes for this year are summarized on the first page after the table of contents.

We are so happy to welcome you to the 2024-2025 school year! Thank you for sharing your child with our family here at Winn. If your family needs help in any way please reach out. My door is always open for our families.

Email: LRichards@shepherdschools.net
Website: https://www.shepherdschools.net/o/winn-elementary-school
Location: 418 W. Blanchard Rd, Shepherd, Mi 48883
Phone: (989)866-2250
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/winnelementary
Twitter: @WinnElementary