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

We no longer have third grade at Winchester Avenue.

Third was moved to Orchard View Intermediate.

Testing Window for iReady

Kindergarten -> Sept 15th ~19th

Monday Sept 1st

NO SCHOOL

Tuesday Sept 2nd

4:00pm LSIC conference room

Wednesday Sept 3rd

8am Principal’s Meeting

Thursday, Sept 4th

8:20~8:45AM 1st & 2nd SOAR Store

Friday, Sept 5th

8:20~8:45AM Kindergarten SOAR store

Dear Parents/Guardians

As we finish our second week of school, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you for your continued support and partnership. It has been a joy to welcome your children back into our classrooms and see them settling into routines, making new friends, and engaging in learning with enthusiasm.

Our teachers and staff have worked hard to create a warm and structured environment where every child feels safe, valued, and excited to learn. From morning greetings to classroom activities, we’ve seen so many moments of kindness, curiosity, and growth already.

We know the beginning of the school year can be a big transition, and we appreciate your patience and communication as we work together to support each student. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here for you.

Thank you for being such an important part of our school community. We’re looking forward to a fantastic year ahead!

Important Information:

• ALL students enter through the rear of the building on Faulkner Avenue

• School Hours: 8:20am ~ 3:20pm (K~2nd) 9:00am~3:00pm (Pre K )

• Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures: ALL students enter through the rear of the building on Faulkner Ave. Please follow staff directives. Use the crosswalk to cross the street safely.

Warm regards,

Charity Ballard
Principal
Winchester Avenue Elementary School

• Connect to Seesaw- If you are not connected to Seesaw please be sure to connect ASAP. Seesaw is an awesome resource. Parents and teachers can communicate easily through messaging. Families will also stay informed of events and important information from the school. Use the provided link to connect today!!

• Please complete the Annual Emergency Information Update- Use the provided link -> https://bcswv.jotform.com/251564788986985 Students will not receive an iPad until this process is complete.

• As students are still learning routines and procedures, take the time to check in with your child. Review rules and expectations of the school building.
• Be sure your child knows how they will get home each day. Practice bus numbers to ensure students are prepare for the first day.
• To ensure the safety and proper dismissal of all students, we kindly ask that any changes to your child's regular dismissal plan—such as riding a different bus, being picked up instead of riding the bus, or going home with another student—be communicated to the school in writing. Message may also be sent via Seesaw.
• Join our PTO. Our awesome PTO has many engaging events. We would love to have you join. There is only a $5 member fee.
• Please communicate with your child’s teacher if there are issues within the classroom. Administration will support and communicate as needed.

Anyone wishing to become a Berkeley County Schools volunteer must watch the Meghan's Law Training Video from the West Virginia Department of Education followed by completion of a quiz before a background check can be completed.

1. Watch Meghan's Law video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jwb-Z9luNVU
2. Complete the quiz here https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=S7AZ4AwzekaLrgn7FzdNahi9Si5xbgBFnyoqPY4QJaRUNTQxMEVaNFdWTzBRN1RFRDZFNVpVNEFRWi4u
3. Use this link https://www.berkeleycountyschools.org/page/volunteers-chaperones to read more

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.

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 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