JKES Cardinal Chronicle

Scholastic Book Fair: September 21 - 29

PTO Meeting: Tuesday, September 22

Picture Day: Friday, September 25

First House Lunch & Hour: Friday, October 9 (remind your student to wear their house shirt)

The John Kerr Spirit Wear Store is officially OPEN! Grab some new Cardinal gear and show your JKES school spirit!

SHOP HERE:
https://americanscreenprinting.square.site/john-kerr-elementary

15% of all proceeds support the John Kerr Elementary PTO, and every purchase also supports a local vendor!

ORDER DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 25, 2026

DELIVERY OPTIONS

Parents will be notified when merchandise is ready. Orders can either be picked up or sent home with your student. Want your order sent home with your student?

At checkout, enter your student's first and last name AND teacher's name in the "Add a note to seller" box so we can properly organize school delivery.

Get your Cardinal gear before the store closes September 25!

📍John Kerr Playground

Join us for a fun evening for the kids to come play, enjoy FREE ice cream provided by the PTO, and for families to learn more about the PTO!

📚First PTO Meeting of the Year
🗓️ Tuesday, September 22
⏰ 5:30 PM
📍 John Kerr Cafeteria

Come learn more about what PTO has planned for the year, hear what’s coming up, and find ways to get involved. Everyone is welcome!

We hope to see you there!

📔The JKES Book Fair is coming soon, and we need volunteers to help make it a great week for our students!

📚Book Fair Dates: September 21-29 during school hours
🌛Evening Book Fair: September 24, 3:00-6:00 p.m.
📍Location: JKES Library- all volunteers check-in at office first

Students will shop during their assigned Library Special, and we are looking for volunteers to help during morning and afternoon shifts throughout the fair, as well as during our evening event.

Can't stay for the entire shift? No problem! Sign up for the morning, afternoon, or evening slot that works best and simply leave a comment with the times you are available. Even an hour or two is a big help!

Please note: All volunteers must be an approved volunteer through Winchester Public Schools (WPS) before volunteering at JKES. If you have not completed the volunteer application, please do so here: Volunteering at Winchester Public Schools (if you complete the volunteer application, please email Mrs. Houser at houserw@wps.k12.va.us so she is able to pull your application for processing).

Sign Up to Volunteer for the Book Fair : JKES Book Fair Volunteers

Thank you for giving your time to help make the Book Fair a fun experience for our students!

Location: JKES Library

Book Fair Dates: September 21–29 (7 school days). Students will purchase their books during their assigned Library Special.

Book Fair Evening Event: September 24, 3:00–6:00 p.m.

ExCEL - Fall Gifted Referral Window

Winchester Public Schools offers a referral window during the month of September for families who would like to refer their child for evaluation for gifted services. We've included a document below that explains some of the characteristics commonly demonstrated by gifted learners. If you believe your child demonstrates gifted characteristics, you may wish to consider referring them for evaluation.

Bertie Kingore. High Achiever.Gifted .Creative.pdf

Referral forms can be found on the WPS website under Departments → Gifted.

If you have questions about the evaluation process or gifted services offered by WPS, please contact our school's gifted chair, Sabrina Ramey rameys@wps.k12.va.us.

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.

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.

WPS Division News

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.

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)

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!