Hoot Off The Press

• Arrival begins at 8:20am K~2nd; 9:00am Pre K
• Tardy bell rings at 8:45am K~2nd
• Dismissal begins at 3:00pm Pre K; 3:20pm K~2nd
• ALL students enter through the rear of the building on Faulkner Avenue

🛑🚸SAFETY FIRST 🚸🛑

"For the safety of our students and staff, please do not park in the yellow zone. This area is designated for buses and BCS transports. Thank you for keeping our school community safe!"

January

Monday Jan 5th

staff returns

NO students

Tuesday Jan 6th

STUDENTS return to school

Wednesday Jan 7th ~ Thursday Jan 8th

nothing at this time

Friday Jan 9th

Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

Report Cards and Awards Assembly at 2:00pm

Dear Families,

Happy New Year! I hope your holiday break was filled with rest, relaxation, and wonderful memories with your loved ones. The school has been much too quiet without our students, and we are so excited to see their smiling faces back in the classroom.

As we transition back into our school-year rhythm and dive into a fantastic second half of the year, here are a few quick reminders to help the first week back go smoothly:

• Winter Ready: We will head outside for recess whenever possible. Please send students with warm layers (and be sure to label coats, hats, and gloves!).

• Morning Routine: Doors open at 8:20am (K~2nd) and 8:55am (pre K). Arriving a few minutes early can help your child feel settled and ready for the day.

• Health Check: To keep our classrooms healthy, please keep your child home to rest if they are feeling under the weather.

• Check Folders: Look for updates from the school in your child's folder to stay informed.

We can’t wait to hear all about the students' adventures and finish the school year strong. Let’s make it a great start to 2026!

We are pleased to share that the i-Ready Midyear Diagnostic data is heading home. Staff will have meetings on January 8, 2026. Information will be sent home following the meetings. These results provide a valuable "check-in" on your child’s progress in Reading and Math, helping us celebrate their growth and identify areas where they may need extra support for the remainder of the school year.

Along with the diagnostic report, some families may receive a notification regarding Tier 2 or Tier 3 instruction. If your child is placed in one of these tiers, please know that this is a proactive step we take to ensure every student has the tools they need to succeed.

Understanding Instructional Tiers

Our school uses a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) to match instruction to each student’s individual needs. Here is a breakdown of what that specialized instruction looks like:

• Tier 1 (Core Instruction): This is the high-quality instruction every student receives in their general classroom every day.
• Tier 2 (Targeted Support):
• What it is: Small group sessions (usually 3–5 students) held a few times a week.
• The Focus: These sessions target specific skills that the diagnostic showed your child hasn't quite mastered yet (e.g., phonics patterns or multi-digit subtraction).
• The Goal: To provide a "boost" so the student can keep pace with grade-level material.
• Tier 3 (Intensive Support):
• What it is: More frequent, smaller, or longer intervention sessions (often daily).
• The Focus: This is for students who need more individualized attention or are working on foundational skills that are significantly below their current grade level.
• The Goal: To close learning gaps quickly through highly focused, repetitive, and specialized practice.

Why This Matters

The goal of Tier 2 and Tier 3 support is not to label a student, but to provide them with the right "prescription" for learning. By intervening now, we can help build the confidence and skills they need to finish the year strong.

Regular school attendance matters, but if your student misses school, you can submit your student's absence online using the Parent Absence Note Form

We understand that older siblings may need to walk our kiddos home. Please be sure your child's teacher is aware of this arrangement. We have a new form to be completed by parents/guardians of students that are walked home by siblings that are under 18 years of age. Once the teacher is made aware, we will send home the form.

If your student is not an every day parent pick up, please have your ID when you come to pick up your child from the school. It is BCS policy that we check IDs of every person that request to pick up a student. Please keep this in mind and be paitent with staff when your ID is requested.

If you need to contact Ms. Ballard

Email: cballard@k12.wv.us
School Website : https://www.berkeleycountyschools.org/o/winchesteravenue
Location: 650 WInchester Avenue, Martinsburg, WV 25401
Phone: (304) 267-3570