
September WPS Family Newsletter
Division and Community Info for WPS Families
Need Translation? ¿Necesita traducción?
ENGLISH: Need translation? Just click "Translate" at the top of your screen!
ESPAÑOL: ¿Necesita traducción? Haga clic en "Translate" (traducir) en la parte superior de la pantalla.
Tune into the Today Show on NBC on Wednesday, September 4 during the 8:00 a.m. hour to see a special story featuring John Handley High School!
Upcoming School Events
No School Days
Monday, September 2: NO SCHOOL
- Labor Day - Admin Offices will be CLOSED
- Teacher Professional Development Day
Daily Schedules:
- Elementary: 7:50 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
- Daniel Morgan Intermediate and Middle Schools: 8:25 a.m. - 3:20 p.m.
- DMIS and DMMS: All students should arrive by 8:15 a.m.
- John Handley High School: 8:25 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
💬 In Case You Missed It
Check out these messages that went out to families during the month of July and August:
- Significant Performance Gains from the 2024 Standards of Learning (SOL) tests: https://bit.ly/3YOp8il (English and Spanish)
- Meals are Free for All WPS Students: https://bit.ly/WPSNutritionCEPNotice (English and Spanish)
- July 2024 Summer Updates: https://bit.ly/WPSJuly24LetterENG (English) / https://bit.ly/WPSJuly24LetterESP (Spanish
🎵 Scholarships in Dance, Music & Theatre: Vivian Christy Sansoni Award
**DEADLINE EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 6**
The Vivian Christy Sansoni Award provides scholarship during one academic year for extracurricular lessons in the performing arts held at the Shenandoah Conservatory Arts Academy (SCAA). SCAA offers class instruction in dance, music, theatre, and fencing.
- Funds are awarded to WPS students in grades K-12 who show promise/passion in the arts.
- The intent of this award is to provide assistance to students with financial need who otherwise would not have the opportunity for extracurricular study in the arts.
- Those selected will receive full or partial tuition assistance for arts instruction at SCAA.
🦺 Bright Futures Community Safety Fair
Saturday, September 7 / 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Free entry at James Wood Middle School
1313 Amherst St, Winchester, VA
Community Safety Fair
- Shelf-Stable Food Drive
- Touch-A-Truck & Live Demos
- Kid's Zone & Vendors
- Chance Auction and Giveaways
- Bike Safety Obstacle Course
- Student Bike Check-Ups
- Bike Helmet Giveaway
🍎 Nominate a WPS Employee for the Apple Award!
Has your family been impacted by an outstanding staff member? Nominate them for an Apple Award! This can include teachers, cafeteria staff, front office staff, custodians, or any other WPS employee you would like to nominate. September Nominations Are Due Friday, September 13!
⭐ Superintendent's 2024-2025 Equity Advisory Council
Dear Parents, Families, and Community Members:
You are cordially invited to serve on the Superintendent's Equity Advisory Council by registering here.
This year, we will use an equity audit tool each meeting to deeply examine our policies, programs, and practices. Thus, we want to ensure that we have representation from all areas of our stakeholders including staff, parents, families, and community members. More information will be provided at our first meeting scheduled for September 18, 2024. Additional meeting dates, times, and locations may be found on the following flyers: English Spanish
📚 SEAC: Special Education Advisory Committee
Tuesday, September 17 / 5:30-7:30 p.m. / 598 N. Kent Street
Winchester Public Schools will be hosting a family session that will focus on the new Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) and its implications for the education of students with disabilities.
Target Audience
- Families of students with disabilities K-8
Topic of Discussion
- Impact of the Virginia Literacy Act on students with disabilities
Contact us
- WPS Special Education Office 540-667-4253
Light refreshments will be served.
📆 Attendance Awareness Month
Did you know? Research indicates that students who miss 2 or more days in September are significantly more likely to be chronically absent for the year.
Our elementary schools will be competing against one another in an effort to achieve the best overall attendance which will earn them a visit from the Kona Ice truck.
- Challenge 1: 8/26-9/5
- Challenge 2: 9/6-9/12
- Challenge 3: 9/13-9/19
- Challenge 4: 9/20-9/26
The challenge will run August 26th through the last full week of September.
Many thanks to the J2W Foundation and the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading for their continued support of WPS Attendance Challenges.
- The Daniel Morgan and John Handley campuses will be hosting school-based attendance incentives during this month.
🏫 Right at School
We’re excited to have Right At School as Winchester Public School’s provider of After School Programs.
Right At School’s programs offer more than a typical childcare provider. Each day, your child can get homework help, play games and sports, engage in hands-on learning activities, and much more. Since programs are hosted on-site, you don’t have to worry about transportation, and you can pick up your child when it works for your schedule. Registration for Fall 2024 is open now. Register Here. You May Be Eligible for a Discount or Financial Assistance!
Right At School offers a range of discounts for families with siblings, military families, children receiving free or reduced lunch, and even district employees. RAS also accepts state subsidies— which means that families who qualify for financial assistance may be able to access programs at little to no cost.
Visit Right At School’s website to learn more and request a discount: For further information visit our website.
📵 Cell Phone Policy Reminder
Be sure to read communications from your student's school for more information about the updated cell phone policy. All personal electronic devices are OFF and AWAY all day at all WPS schools.
🎉Hispanic Heritage Month🎉
For Hispanic Heritage Month, there will be different events happening within our community spread throughout September and October.
Please join us at these events as a celebration of our Hispanic community!
📲 September is Suicide Prevention Month
Text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for anyone or yourself in need of crisis support. 988 offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress, including:
- Thoughts of suicide
- Mental health or substance use crises
- Emotional distress
- And other reasons to connect
Connect with someone in just 46 seconds.