Welcome Winthrop Families!
2023-2024 Opening of School Information
Welcome to the 2023-2024 School Year!
Dear Winthrop Families,
Whether you are just beginning at Winthrop or are a returning family, we are thrilled to welcome you to our school community! Our Winthrop motto states, "We are a community of learners inspired to act with compassion, integrity, and joy." This year, we are expanding our motto to include the slogan, Care for YOU, Care for ME, Care for our COMMUNITY. Throughout the year, we will be working to teach students how we take care of people by using our actions and our words by considering:
How do I care for others?
How do I care for myself?
How do I care for the school, the town, and the world?
Our hope is to continue to build a joyful and strong culture within our classrooms and school where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. We believe that this will also help us grow our school/home partnership throughout the year.
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Included in this newsletter is a wealth of information to help you prepare for the upcoming school year including school hours, the opening schedule, the district calendar, arrival and dismissal procedures, bus routes, the school lunch and breakfast program, and the extended day (EDP) program. In addition, there is a link to a Student Dismissal Form that is required for all families to complete by Wednesday, August 23rd.
Please note that much of the information is hyperlinked for your convenience. There are also a few attached PDFs for your review. This newsletter may be found on the Winthrop School website homepage- scroll down and click on 2023-2024 Opening of School Information. Earlier this month, preschool and kindergarten families received hard-copy mailings with opening information specific to their grade levels. All of these documents may also be found on the website under the Families top tab. Please select from the following:
Bus Information- Please note that bus routes are still being finalized, please check back frequently for updates.
The Ipswich Public Schools requires that all students who ride the school bus carry a transportation pass. To register for the bus and obtain a pass, please go to the district website at www.ipsk12.net. On the top tab click Departments and select Transportation on the drop-down menu. Here you will find the Bus Registration Form as well as Frequently Asked Questions. Bus routes will be published on the district website and in the Ipswich Local News the week of August 22nd. Please see the enclosed flyer. For any questions regarding transportation or obtaining a bus pass, please contact Cindy Williams at cwilliams@ipsk12.net or at 978.356.2935 ext. 1126.
As we prepare for the arrival of your child, we would like to remind you that we require the following documentation in order for your child to start school: (1) Birth Certificate, (2) Immunization Record, and (3) Recent Physical Exam. Please see the enclosed flyer and contact our Elementary School Nurse Coordinator, Jon Stafford, at 978-356-2976, ext. 304, or jstafford@ipsk12.net with any questions.
Breakfast is available starting at 8:15 a.m. every morning. There is no sign-up necessary for breakfast. Students may bring lunch, or purchase lunch in the cafeteria. Per the latest guidelines from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, breakfast and lunch are served at no charge. However, if students wish to purchase other items, there may be a cost. Please see the enclosed flyer regarding “Nutrikids” and “My School Bucks”, the debit card method used to send money to school for your child.
Winthrop FRIES (Friends of the Ipswich Elementary Schools) is our parent-teacher group. Every parent is a member of FRIES. To stay connected, please join the Winthrop FRIES Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/152985654790358/ or the Winthrop FRIES Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/winthropfries/.
The Winthrop Weekly newsletter is published every Wednesday and is emailed home as well as posted on our website. Please be sure your email address is correct so that you receive these important updates.
Lastly, information about Summer Reading may be found on the library page of our school website. Please also find a copy of the 2023- 2024 Ipswich School Calendar.
Winthrop teachers and staff have been working throughout the summer to ensure a smooth opening. The Winthrop Office is open throughout the summer so please feel free to call with any questions at 978-356-2976. We can also be reached via email at asullivan@ipsk12.net and namisson@ipsk12.net. Enjoy the last few weeks of summer!
Warmly,
Amy B. Sullivan, Principal
Nicki Amisson, Assistant Principal
Meet Our New Assistant Principal - Mrs. Amisson
Dear Winthrop School Community,
It is an honor to introduce myself as the new Assistant Principal of Winthrop School. I am thrilled to be joining this extraordinary school and I can not wait to meet more of the staff, students, parents, and greater school community.
I arrived at Winthrop as a sixteen-year veteran teacher of the North Andover Public Schools where I taught fourth grade. I am a passionate teacher, leader, and lover of all things education. There is nothing that inspires me more than being a good teacher in front of a group of engaged students. And I have heard from many people that the teachers and students at Winthrop are some of the best around! I can't wait to see our students and staff in action in the fall. In addition to my role as an educator, I am first and foremost a mom. I live in Newburyport with my husband and our two children Sam, a rising third grader, and Sarah a rising first grader, who keep me busy when I’m away from school, shuffling from baseball to karate, to music lessons. I look forward to introducing my family to the Winthrop community over the coming year.
My conversations with the district and building staff over the last few weeks have inspired and informed me about the core beliefs and values that underlie the Winthrop School community. With my passion for teaching and learning and my goal of continuing the tradition of excellence here at Winthrop, I am committed to meeting the needs of all students and building relationships with parents, staff, and school community members. To that end, I’d love to invite anyone who wants to sit down and have a chance to do so before the school year starts. You can send me an email to set up a meeting time or you can swing by Winthrop and catch me in my office most days. I’d love to start the year already knowing a few friendly faces out at arrival/dismissal!
To our students, I cannot wait to meet you all! I hope that you are excited about this coming school year and that you are spending this summer playing, reading tons of books, and making memories with your family and friends. It is going to be a fun year learning together!
In closing, please know that my door is always open to you. I heartily welcome your conversation, constructive feedback, and positive input throughout this year. Let us always keep our Winthrop students the primary focus of our work. I look forward to celebrating our many collective successes together at Winthrop!
Enjoy the remaining days of summer!
Nicki Amisson
Meet Our New Program Manager - Mrs. Ganley
Dear Parents/Guardians,
My name is Meghan Ganley and I am the new Program Manager for Special Education at Winthrop School. Many of you may know me as an Ipswich resident, teacher, and mother to two girls, Eila & Emme. I have lived in Ipswich most of my life and I am thrilled to work in our valued community. In addition to being deeply rooted in the community, I am also a dedicated educator with a passion for special education.
I am entering my 14th year working in Massachusetts school systems, where I have gained valuable knowledge and perspective from both general education and special education positions. My previous experiences have provided me with the opportunity to work with students who have various disabilities and learning styles across a range of grade levels and settings.
My priorities have always been to meet the needs of diverse learners and to make decisions based on students' best interests. I hope this intention is conveyed through my work and interactions across the school community. I look forward to this next chapter of my career, where I am confident that meaningful work with students and families will bring a deep sense of fulfillment. As I transition into this role, I plan to connect with each of you prior to conducting our formal meetings. However, if something should arise, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions.
Sincerely,
Meghan Ganley
Special Education Program Manager
Winthrop School
(978) 356-2976 x 344
Additional New Winthrop Staff
Abby Baker- Registered Behavior Technician
Katie Carr- Special Education Teacher
Courtney Kent- Paraeducator
Bianca Kemmer- Special Education Teacher
Alexandra Kotowski- Speech and Language Pathologist
Shaun Lue- Head Custodian
Meline Markarian- Speech and Langauge Assistant
Samille Taylor- Paraeducator
Allison Vitale- Library and Media Specialist
Open Positions
We have had a very busy hiring season and are still looking to fill some support positions.
We are still looking to hire a special education paraeducator. The hours for this position are Monday-Friday from 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. This special education assistant position supports students in the classroom. If you are interested, please apply via School Spring using Job ID 4351548.
Paraeducators are a part of the Ipswich Educators Support Professional Union and more information about the contract pertaining to this position may be found here.
We are also looking to hire more lunch and recess monitors. This position is Monday-Friday from 11:00 AM -1:00 PM daily. If you are interested in applying to be a recess and lunch monitor please email Amy Sullivan at asullivan@ipsk12.net and Nicki Amisson at nammison@ipsk12.net.
School Hours
- 8:40 a.m. - 3:05 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays
- 8:40 a.m. - 1:50 p.m. Thursdays
Preschool
- 9:00 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays
- 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Thursdays
*PK Arrival is from 8:40 -9:00 a.m.