JKES Cardinal Chronicle

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.

The JKES PTO will hold their first meeting on Wednesday, September 4th at 6:30 PM in the JKES cafeteria. We encourage all parents to attend. If you have any questions, please email the PTO at jkespto@@gmail.com.

Hello John Kerr Families,

Here at JKES we have the privilege of participating in the Ron Clark House System. This is a school-wide system that focuses on building community, personal, social, and collaborative skills. At John Kerr we have six houses that students (K-4th) and staff are put into. Your student will have the opportunity to participate in this school-wide program. Each month we get the students together in their houses and celebrate a school-wide topic. These topics have included: Teamwork, Self-Esteem, Kindness, and more.

An order form has been sent home if you would like to order a House T-Shirt for your child. Your child will be in the same House they were in last school year. If your child is new to JKES this school year or in kindergarten, a shirt will be provided for them, along with their reveal for their house assignment. This form is for if your child outgrew their previous shirt, or if you would like to have an extra. Please return this form and money to your child’s teacher. Shirt prices: XS - XL ~ $6.00; 2XL ~ $7.00; and 3XL ~ $8.00. If you have any questions about the House System, please contact the school counselors, Taylor Hawkins & Julie Davis.

John Kerr had their first fire drill of the year on Friday. It was orderly and students and staff exited the building quickly, quietly and safely. We will continue to have fire drills on a regular basis throughout the year.

Dear Families:

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 at https://www.rightatschool.com/register/?utm_source=principal-comms&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=fec-24

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: https://www.rightatschool.com/financial-assistance/?utm_source=principal-comms&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=summer24

Donations needed for the John Kerr clinic: boys and girls clothes small sizes, 2-5. Shorts, pants, t-shirts.

For all of our AM and PM Kiss ‘n’ Ride families, thank you for your patience as we unload and load our students safely every day and, we must respectfully ask that you stay in your vehicle in the Kiss ‘n’ Ride line, albeit long, and not park along the sides of the lot to escort your students to/from the door. We have had some near misses this week with parents and students walking between the cars in the Kiss ‘n’ Ride line and we do not want anyone injured or worse! We understand the line can move slowly and we do our best to facilitate a quick exit or entrance to vehicles.

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.

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.

More Information: Cell Phone Policy 2024-2025

Breakfast and lunch are provided for all WPS students at no charge through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Students may purchase additional a la carte items with cash or through myschoolbucks.com. Students PIN numbers are required to go through the cafeteria line. If you want to provide packed lunches for your student(s), they will need a lunch box.

Meals are free for all WPS students (https://bit.ly/WPSAnnual/formsGuide) in English and Spanish.

For questions regarding school meals, contact the Food Services Department at (540)-667-4258 ext. 16147 or curry.laurie@wps.k12.va.us.

Breakfast (7:25 AM-7:45 AM)

• At this time, all breakfasts provided will be a bagged option.

• Starting the first day of school, August 12, 2024, Grades 2-4 will go through the line and put in their PIN for a bagged breakfast. They will eat in the cafeteria. (* if a student does not know their PIN, please go to homeroom before the cafeteria, teachers will have that information)

• Pre-K-Grade 1 will have breakfast delivered to their classroom.

• Breakfast ends at 7:50 AM, for all grades, regardless of whether they are eating in the classroom or cafeteria

We want to see every Cardinal, every day! The bell rings at 7:50 AM. All John Kerr students should be in their homeroom and ready to learn when the bell rings!

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!