JKES Cardinal Chronicle

September 12, 2024

Dear Winchester Public Schools Families,

At Winchester Public Schools, the safety of our students and staff is our top priority. We want to assure you that we have thorough protocols in place to assess any potential threats to our schools and make informed decisions to ensure the safety of everyone on our campuses.

On Tuesday evening, an online threat surfaced that originated in another area of the country and was determined to be not credible to the Winchester Public Schools. We want to remind our community that sharing unverified threats on social media can create unnecessary panic and confusion. Instead of spreading such information, students and families should immediately report any concerns to school officials so that proper investigations can be conducted promptly. Your cooperation is essential in maintaining a safe and calm environment for our schools. This ensures that we can respond quickly and appropriately.

Additionally, I would like to address the threats in Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS). We are fortunate to have a close working relationship with our neighbors. Throughout the past 48 hours, we have maintained consistent communication with FCPS. At no time was a WPS school in danger, however, we did use the SECURE and HOLD protocol at various times at both the Daniel Morgan Campus and Virginia Avenue Charlotte DeHart Elementary School. This was done out of precaution in order to appropriately assess the threat and make sound decisions about resuming normal school business.

In the event of a potential emergency, we follow strict procedures to evaluate the severity of the threat. Our decisions are always made with the safety of your children in mind, and we work closely with local law enforcement and other safety experts to determine the appropriate course of action. For more detailed information about our emergency preparedness plans, including our Standard Response Protocol (SRP), please visit our website: Emergency Preparedness - Standard Response Protocol. Below, you will find explanations of our safety protocol language, along with information regarding how students and staff in our buildings are trained to respond to these protocols. Should you have any additional questions, please be sure to contact a school administrator.

SRP Family Handout English

SRP Family Handout Spanish

Finally, please note that when our schools are open, we have determined that any reported threat is not credible, and it is safe for students to attend school. If students are absent during such times, they will be marked with an unexcused absence. While parents always have the right to keep their child home for personal reasons, the absence will be coded as unexcused if school is open.

We greatly appreciate your partnership in maintaining the safety and security of our schools. Thank you for your continued trust and support.

Jason Van Heukelum

Superintendent

Winchester Public Schools

Families, it is the season of sickness. we respectful ask if your child is sick and has a fever, throwing up, or anything sickness related - please do not send them to school until they have been fever and medication free for 24 hours. We miss our students when they are not here but we want them to be well and able to engage in learning when they are here.

John Kerr is looking to win the Kona Ice Truck for best overall school attendance in the month of September and, to add something extra, John Kerr is going to hold an ATTEN’DANCE’ for the team with the best overall attendance for the month of September. Students will have an opportunity to socialize, listen to music, play games and dance. We want to see our Cardinals in class and learning every day!!! Homeroom starts at 7:50 AM.

Calling all 3rd and 4th grade girls! Girls on the Run is a dynamic program empowering girls to build confidence, resilience, and a sense of achievement through running. Participants engage in fun, interactive lessons that foster self-esteem and teamwork, culminating in a celebratory 5K race. By joining, girls not only enhance their physical fitness but also gain valuable life skills and form lasting friendships. Discover the joy of running and personal growth with Girls on the Run!

The program will take place this fall season at JKES every Tuesday and Thursday 3:00-4:30 PM. To register, please visit the following link: https://www.pinwheel.us/register/index/FALL-24-Prog-Reg

Families, please continue to encourage your student(s) to stay seated throughout the bus ride to/from school. Getting up and moving or crawling on the floor/under the seat is extremely dangerous and we do not want anyone injured.

The Winchester Public Schools report card was updated with new Standards of Learning for the 2024-2025 school year. Standards-based report cards communicate student progress in grades K-4.

What is Standards-Based Grading? Students’ most recent work is used to determine the level on their report card. This level reflects what they know or are able to do rather than an average of their performance throughout the quarter. Students’ performance can be measured in many ways such as assessments, student writings, and teacher observations. Student work that is sent home may be only a portion of the evidence that teachers use to determine students’ performance levels.

What are the Benefits of Standards-Based Grading? Subject areas are broken down by skills/standards providing a more detailed and complete representation of what students can do at the time of reporting. The report card levels focus on individual student progress within the standards and assist the teachers with adjusting instruction for all students based on individual progress.

How are standards-based report cards different from traditional report cards?

Standards-based report cards:

• One mark for each standard within a subject area, providing specific indicators of student performance within a standard.

Traditional report cards:

• One mark for all standards within a subject area, providing general indicators of student performance.

How will behavior be measured? Behavior will be measured through Profile of a Graduate Skills. The term Profile of a Graduate refers to a broad set of knowledge, skills, work habits, and character traits that are critically important to success in today’s world. Generally speaking, Skills can be applied in all academic subject areas, and in all educational, career, and civic settings throughout a student’s life.

How will academic progress be measured? Student progress will be reported in relation to the grade level expectations for the standard at that quarter. The following key will be used to report progress:

1 - Developing Proficiency - Student demonstrates progress toward initial foundational skills of the standard.

2 - Approaching Proficiency - Student demonstrates proficiency on foundational skills of the standard.

3 - Meets Grade Level Standards - Student demonstrates proficiency on all grade level skills of the standard.

4 - Exceeds Grade Level Standards - Student demonstrates understanding and performance beyond proficiency and has exceeded the standard.

A key component of standards- based reporting is that students have the opportunity to demonstrate mastery through re-teaching.

K-4 Standards-Based Grading Family Guide (English)

K-4 Standards-Based Grading Family Guide (Spanish)

The Winchester Public Schools 2024-2025 PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK is a valuable resource to know and understand all things Winchester Public Schools, to include K-12 standards and instruction, the yearly calendar, discipline policies and more.

Hello Cardinal families,

This year our Friday Food Bags will begin during the week of September 16th-20th. Food Bag forms were sent home on Tuesday (August 13th). If you are in need of another form, please let your students' classroom teacher know. If you are in need of emergency food assistance, please contact one of our school counselors. Listed below is a link that is available for volunteers to help with Friday Food Bags. This includes coming into JKES on Fridays and delivering Food Bags to classrooms. Dates and times are included in the link below. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Davis, JKES School Counselor.

Sign-Up Genius

John Kerr is always looking for volunteers. There are opportunities throughout the building to include support in lunch, at recess, in the library and other areas of the school. If interested, please reach out to our principal, Kim Pryor, at pryork@wps.k12.va.us and she can provide information on next steps.

Ice Cream Social on Friday, September 20th from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. It will on the playground blacktop. Come enjoy a sweet treat and play with friends.

Friday Food Bags: Share the link to volunteer to help with Friday Food Bags: JKES: Friday Food Bags 2024-2025 Sign Up Sheet (signupgenius.com)

If you have any questions, please email the PTO at jkespto@@gmail.com.

Annual Verification Forms MUST be completed for each WPS student using the PowerSchool Parent Portal prior to the first day of school.

Use this step-by-step guide for completing the online process: https://bit.ly/WPSAnnualFormGuide (English and Spanish)

Any change in a student's regular means of transportation in the afternoon must be by a written note from a parent/guardian or by email to mcnamara@wps.k12.va.us AND armistead@wps.k12.va.us by 1:30 PM Monday through Friday if there is a last minute change. We ask that you call the school to notify the office of your incoming email. Student safety is very important to us!

Between 2:15 PM and 2:40 PM, the office is open only to school personnel and volunteers. Students who are picked up by car will be dismissed to the car pick up line ONLY during dismissal.

Any questions, please call the school office.

No more waiting for a bus, transferring routes, or long walks to bus stops. WinReady is a point-to-point service that will pick you up when you need to be picked up and take you where you need to go within the City of Winchester within 30 minutes. You can request or schedule a ride directly from your phone, and WinReady will get you there. (click the link for additional information)

Not receiving school-related text messages? You must OPT-IN to receive messages. Text "Subscribe" to 67587. You should receive confirmation that you are registered. Don't forget to ensure all of your contact information is correct at your student's school, too!