Wingate Elementary News

Friday, November 7th - Thanksgiving lunch RSVPs and money due

Friday, November 7th - No school for students - Teacher workday

Monday, November 10th - Canned Food Drive begins

Monday, November 17th - PTO Meeting 9-10am All are welcome!

Tuesday, November 11th - Veterans' Day - Wear red, white and blue

Thursday, November 13th - Picture retake day

Thursday, November 20th - Annual Thanksgiving Lunch

Thursday, November 20th - Ornament Painting Event 4:30-7:00pm

Friday, November 21st - Canned Food Drive ends

Friday, November 21st - Fun Friday and Wingate Spirit Wear Day

Monday, November 24th - Friday, November 28th - No School - Thanksgiving Break

November Staff Birthdays

November 7th - Miss McCaskill (Kindergarten teacher)

November 12th - Ms. Pewters (2nd grade teacher)

November 20th - Mrs. Anderson (3rd grade teacher)

November 30th - Mrs. Dailey (5th grade teacher)

As we enter November, it’s a wonderful time to pause and reflect on all that we are grateful for. Here at Wingate, I am constantly inspired by the curiosity of our students, the dedication of our staff, and the incredible support of our families. Each day, I see countless small acts of kindness—students helping each other, teachers going the extra mile, and families showing up in meaningful ways—that remind me how strong and caring our community truly is.

Gratitude isn’t just about saying “thank you”; it’s about noticing and celebrating these moments of connection, growth, and generosity. This month, I encourage everyone to take a little time each day to reflect on the people and experiences that bring joy and meaning to your life, and to share that appreciation with those around you. Together, these moments create a culture of warmth, respect, and belonging that makes Wingate such a special place to learn and grow.

We are thrilled to welcome families and special guests back for our annual Wingate Thanksgiving Lunch on Thursday, November 20th. Our cafeteria will be serving turkey gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing, rolls and dessert to our students and special guests. No money will be collected at the event. We are asking all families to prepay using cash or check. Due to food ordering deadlines, we cannot provide additional lunches for guests who have not pre ordered. However, you are still welcome to attend even if you don't purchase a lunch from the cafeteria. Lunch for Wingate students is free. Child lunches for non-Wingate students are $4.75 and adult lunches are $5.75. Please RSVP by November 7th using the form that was sent home with your child . You can drop off cash or check at the front office. Due to the size of the event, lunch times have been adjusted to accommodate the number of people who attend. Lunch times are as follows:

Kindergarten 11:00-11:25

1st grade 11:15-11:40

2nd grade 11:30-11:55

3rd grade 12:15-12:45

4th grade 12:45-1:15

5th grade 1:15-1:45

Thank you to all who donated to this year's Explorer 100% Donation Drive! This year's drive was a new record for money raised - $38,546.18 A portion of the funds will be spent this year on immediate needs and a portion will go towards the long term project to build an updated and inclusive playground.

All of the students had a chance to "slime" Ms. Schraeder and Mr. Hoskin to celebrate. Two classes had 100% participation and got to celebrate with an ice cream party! The class that raised the most money also celebrated with an ice cream party! The classes with 100% participation were:

Anderson (3rd)

Harrison (3rd)

Ms. McKinley's 4th grade raised the most money!

Don’t miss out on the 5th Annual Ornament Event. This is a favorite holiday activity for many of our families, so sign-up today to reserve your spot today and avoid long wait times!

During this event you are able to choose from several Angelo’s Ornaments for a special discounted price of $14 per ornament. This includes the ornament, paint, brushes, firing, and calligraphy. Also enjoy free hot cocoa, treats, and a festive atmosphere too!

The Wingate Ornament Event is a fun way to celebrate the holiday season and a great opportunity for a handmade keepsake or gift! Friends and family are also invited to attend. We will have two paint spaces this year - the gym and cafeteria - to accommodate as many painters as possible. Please sign-up using the links below to reserve your spot.

All proceeds benefit the Wingate Angel Tree which supports Wingate Families in need during the holiday season. Additional donations will also be accepted at the event.

Reserve your spot today! Follow this link to select your room and time and avoid long wait times.

Want to help make this event great? It takes a small team of volunteers to pull this off and we would love your help. Click here to volunteer.

Dates

11/17 PTO Meeting 9am-10am

11/20 Ornament Painting 4:30pm-7pm

PTO Updates

Here are a few highlights from your PTO:

• We've created a new Facebook page (Wingate Elementary PTO | Facebook). Please follow to stay connected! You can also always see our calendar and info about upcoming events at the PTO website (Wingate PTO - Wingate Elementary).
• In September, the PTO approved $591.99 in teacher requests, covering classroom supplies, a whiteboard warm-up subscription, and student council t-shirts. So far this year, we’ve contributed over $8,600 to support our teachers and immediate school needs!
• October's restaurant night at Red Robin raised over $100. Stay tuned for communication about our next restaurant night!

Our students have been learning about food banks and the important role they play in supporting families in our community, with guidance from our school counselor. To put their learning into action, the Wingate Student Council will be leading our annual Canned Food Drive from November 10th through November 21st.

Be on the lookout for more information coming home with your child soon, including ways your family can contribute. Together, we can make a meaningful difference for those in need and show our Wingate spirit of kindness and generosity!