Greetings Winn Families!

🚀 Reading is Out of This World at Winn Elementary! 🌟

Get ready, Winn Elementary families—Reading Month is launching into orbit with our space-themed celebration, "Reading is Out of This World!" Throughout the month, students will embark on an intergalactic reading adventure, exploring books that take them to the stars, planets, and beyond!

🚀 Mission: Read Every Day!

Our goal is to inspire a love for reading while encouraging students to reach for the stars with their reading goals. Each student will track their reading minutes, working toward exciting rewards and school-wide celebration where students will get to go to a portable plantarium right here at Winn on March 31st! Be on the lookout for special challenges and opportunities to blast off into a great book together at home!

🌌 Some Stellar Activities Ahead...

This month will be packed with space-themed fun, including:
🌟 Guest Readers – Special visitors will share their favorite stories from the cosmos.
📚 Space-Themed Book Challenges – Students can explore books about astronauts, planets, and galaxies.
🎭 Dress-Up Days – Celebrate with fun themes like "Planet Mix Up Day" or "Space Training Day!"
🔭 STEM and Literacy Activities – Hands-on projects connecting reading with science at home. Check out our Reading is Out of This World website for all kinds of ideas! http://winnelementaryreads.weebly.com/

🌠 Family Involvement

Parents, you play a vital role in our mission! Encourage your child to read at home, ask about the books they’re enjoying, and take time for family reading adventures. Visit the local library or check out space-themed books together to fuel their curiosity.

📅 Save the Date! March 13th Winn Elementary Booknic!

Keep an eye out for upcoming events, including a Family Booknic, March 13th where we’ll celebrate the joy of reading together—space-style! We will have our Scholastic book fair open with two registers open to make check out easy!

At Winn Elementary, we believe reading can take us anywhere—even beyond the stars! Thank you for helping us make Reading Month a stellar success. Let’s get reading, explorers! 🚀📖✨

Highlights this week:

3/3 Monday: Reading Month BLASTS off! We are sending the Reading Month calendar home today. Make sure to check it out. There are lots of ideas for you to try out at home!

3/4 Tuesday: Tucked in Tuesday

3/5 Wednesday: Planet Mix up Day - Dress Wacky for School!

3/5 Wednesday: Winn Parent Club Meeting at 5:30 (child care provided)

3/7 Friday: A little surprise for our explorers!

With Gratitude,

Laurie Richards

Winn Elementary Principal

This whole month we are learning to solve problems using our Second Step program. Each week, I am sharing where we are in the program so you are able to reinforce and use the same ideas at home.

What is the Second Step Problem-Solving Program?

The Second Step Problem-Solving Program teaches students a step-by-step approach to addressing and resolving conflicts effectively. The key steps students learn include:

• S – Say the Problem (Without Blame) – Clearly stating what the issue is.

• T – Think of Solutions – Brainstorming safe and respectful ways to solve the problem.

• E – Explore Consequences – Considering the possible outcomes of each solution.

• P – Pick the Best Solution – Choosing the solution that is fair and works for everyone.

This past week, we focused on "Thinking of a Solution. Here are some great ways you can help their children practice Thinking of a Solution at home:

1️⃣ Use the "Stop, Think, and Solve" Method

When your child faces a challenge, guide them through this simple process:
🔴 STOP – Take a deep breath and calm down.
🟡 THINK – What are some possible solutions?
🟢 SOLVE – Choose the best solution and try it out.

2️⃣ Ask Guiding Questions

Instead of giving your child the answer right away, help them think through their own solutions by asking:

• "What is the problem?"
• "How do you feel about it?"
• "What are some things you could do?"
• "What might happen if you try that?"

3️⃣ Role-Play Common Situations

Act out everyday problems with your child and brainstorm ways to solve them. Try scenarios like:
🤔 A sibling takes their toy – What could they do instead of grabbing it back?
🧩 They get stuck on a homework problem – What are some ways to find help?
🎭 A friend won’t let them play – How can they handle the situation kindly?

4️⃣ Read & Discuss Books About Problem-Solving

Choose books that show characters working through challenges, like:
📖 What Should Danny Do? (multiple-choice solutions)
📖 The Most Magnificent Thing (overcoming frustration)
📖 I Just Don’t Like the Sound of No! (learning to compromise)
Talk about the choices the characters make and what other solutions they could have tried.

5️⃣ Encourage a Growth Mindset

Remind your child that making mistakes is part of learning. Praise their effort in finding a solution rather than just getting it "right" the first time.

By practicing these strategies, kids will learn how to solve problems independently and confidently—a skill that will help them in school and beyond! 🚀🌟

Click the link below so you are in the loop about Reading Month. Bookmark it on your computer so you have all the links at your finger tips this month :)

This year, our amazing art teacher, Ms. Seger, took on a yearbook cover design class for our 2nd-5th graders. Students submitting drawings to be considered for the cover of our Winn Elementary yearbook 24-25. Ms. Seger selected a winning entry from each class. Students voted during lunch last week and a grand prize winner was selected! Congratulations to Annabelle and Ada from 4th grade. The girls each won a FREE YEARBOOK! All of the other "winners" from each class will be featured on the back cover. Thanks to Ms. Seger for helping our kids and taking this extra project on!

Have you been connecting with our Winn Elementary School website? Have you added the app yet? This new platform is designed to keep you informed, connected, and engaged with everything happening at our school.

Why Use Our Website?

Our website will serve as the go-to resource for all school-related information, including:

• School News & Announcements – Stay up to date on the latest school events, activities, and important reminders.

• Event Calendars – Never miss a school event, early dismissal, or special program.

• Lunch Menus – Easily access weekly breakfast and lunch menus.

• Teacher & Staff Contacts – Quickly find and connect with your child’s teacher or school staff.

• Parent Resources – Find helpful information about school policies, academic support, and more.

How to Access the Website

You can visit our Winn Elementary website at https://www.shepherdschools.net/o/winn-elementary-school. We encourage you to explore it, bookmark it for easy access, and check back regularly for updates!

Stay Connected on our Website & Download the App

To ensure you get the most out of the website, we will also be sending out reminders and updates via email and text. Be sure to check in frequently so you don’t miss important information. If you have the app, the most important/recent information will be right there at your finger tips!

If you have any questions or need assistance navigating the site, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are committed to making sure our families have the tools they need to know what is happening at Winn!

Take a minute to read the Winn Parents' Club newsletter for February. If you click the picture it will take you to the minutes for our past meeting.

The BlueJay Wellness Center, located at 238 S. Chippewa Street in Shepherd, is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Please note that the center is closed for lunch; it's advisable to call ahead if you need your child seen as a walk in. You can reach them at 989-567-9034.

cmdhd.org

The center provides primary and preventive health services for individuals aged 3 to 21 within the Shepherd School District. Services include comprehensive health assessments, vision and hearing screenings, immunizations, treatment of acute illnesses, health education, and mental health care. Services can be billed to health insurances if applicable, and no eligible person will be denied services based on insurance status or ability to pay. Staff can assist with Medicaid enrollment.

cmdhd.org

As of February 6, 2025, the BlueJay Wellness Center is open for business.

• 3/3 March is Reading Month Kick Off
• 3/5 WPC Meeting 5:30pm
• 3/10-3/14 Scholastic Book Fair
• 3/13 BookNic 11:45-12:45
• 3/20 Deadline for Winn Elementary Yearbook
• 3/22-3/30 Spring Break

Here is our Winn Elementary Parent and Student Handbook for 24-25. It is filled with lots of useful information about our school.

Thank you for sharing your child with our family here at Winn. Our motto at Winn is "Everything a Kid Needs." We focus on both academic excellence and creating good humans! I am here to serve you. If you have questions/concerns or need help in any way, please feel free to reach out to me.

Email: lrichards@shepherdschools.net
Location: 418 West Blanchard Road, Shepherd, MI, USA
Phone: (989) 866-2250
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/winnelementary