JKES Cardinal Chronicle
Week of October 4, 2026
😀 Dear Cardinal Families,
What an exciting start to October at JKES! We wrapped up September's PBIS focus on manners with a fun celebration! Congratulations to Nukumori, our Purple House, for earning the most points! Our Nukumori students enjoyed Moon Pies and had the BEST reward of all—watching Mr. Pittsnogle get pied in the face! What a fun way to celebrate our students' hard work and positive choices!
As we begin October, our new PBIS focus is HONESTY. We will be encouraging our Cardinals to tell the truth, take responsibility for their actions, and do the right thing, even when no one is watching. We encourage you to continue these conversations at home!
It's hard to believe, but the first quarter ends on Friday, October 9th! We are so proud of the growth our students have shown and look forward to all the wonderful things ahead.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership in helping our Cardinals learn, grow, and SOAR!
Have a wonderful weekend! Go Cardinals! ❤️💙
Kevin Pittsnogle, Principal
Wendy Houser, Assistant Principal
Hispanic Heritage Month
This month we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by honoring the rich cultures, traditions, history, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities.
We celebrate the diversity but most importantly, we celebrate family, culture, pride, and unity.
Thank you to our families for sharing your traditions and making our school community stronger.
Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!
📆 Important Dates
First House Lunch & Hour: Friday, October 9 (remind your student to wear their house shirt)
End of First Quarter: Friday, October 9
Teacher Work Day: Monday, October 12 - No School for students
📣 Informational Meeting for Hispanic Parents
Reunión informativa para padres hispanos,
Les invitamos cordialmente a nuestra Noche de Padres para familias hispanas, que se llevará a cabo el miércoles 7 de octubre de 6:00 a 7:00 p.m. La charla será en español.
Durante el evento, compartiremos información importante sobre la escuela, las clases y los requisitos académicos. Además, tendrán la oportunidad de conocer a los maestros ESOL de sus hijos.
Ofreceremos refrigerios para todos los asistentes.
¡Contamos con su presencia, los esperamos!
📝 New Student Sign-In & Sign-Out Procedures
✅ Attendance
🎃 JKES Pumpkin Run
The Pumpkin Run is a student event held during school hours and serves as a flat-fee donation fundraiser for our PTO. Proceeds support teachers and classrooms, fund family fun events, and help offset student field trip costs. Thank you for helping us make a difference at our school!
🤝 Referendum Parent Meetings
Join Dr. Van Heukelum and the Winchester Education Foundation to learn about the capital needs of WPS and the Foundation's initiatives prior to the referendum vote in November.
Tuesday, September 29, 2026 / 12:30-1:00 p.m. / Douglas School, 598 N Kent St
Thursday, October 8, 2026 / 6-6:30 p.m. / Douglas School, 598 N Kent St
Winchester Public Schools does not advocate for or against ballot measures. Our role is to share clear, factual information so community members can understand the referendum and the capital needs of the school division.
🔎 Annual Verification Form
We are still waiting on several families to complete the Annual Verification Form. Students are unable to use their Chromebooks until this is complete. REMINDER: If your form says Approved when you log in, be sure it is approved for the CURRENT school year. It should be submitted and approved after June 30, 2026 for the 2026-2027 school year. Please utilize these step-by-step instructions: Annual Forms on Web Browser and Annual Forms on Mobile.
‼️How To Report an Absence
📰 WPS Division News
🔊 Important Links
Use this step-by-step guide for completing the online process: https://bit.ly/WPSAnnualFormGuide (English and Spanish)
Winchester Public Schools has provided parent resources to include the 2026-2027 Parent/Student Handbook, K-12 standards and instruction, the yearly calendar, discipline policies and more on the WPS website. We encourage you to access Quick Links and News and Communication regularly for updates.
🚌 WinReady
WinReady On Demand Transportation
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)
Opt-In to School Texts
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!