Winship Family News

Winship Wildcat Family,

As we gear up to start the 2026-2027 school year, we want you to know that our entire staff is eager to work with you as a partner in your child's education. To our returning Winship families, Welcome Back! To our new Winship families, Welcome! We're so glad you're here.

Please join us at the Winship Open House on Monday, August 24th from 4:00 pm-6:00 pm. This is a great opportunity to meet your child's teacher, drop off supplies, visit the PTO table, put money in your child's lunch account, and ask questions prior to the first day of school on Wednesday, August 26th. We look forward to seeing you! Save the date for our Welcoming Winship family event on Wednesday, September 23rd from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm. More details to come.

This year's school-wide theme is: Every Ripple Counts. Small waves. Big impact. A wave doesn't start as a tidal surge—it starts with a single movement. This year, Every Ripple Counts means every mistake you lean from, every time you try again, every door held, every high five, every word of encouragement, every smile passed down the hall, every helping hand offered, and every positive choice you make adds up to transform our entire school environment.

This newsletter contains a lot of important information to review prior to the start of school. As always, please reach out to the office if you have any questions.

Lori Skattum

Principal

You may view this information within your Infinite Campus App. You may also call the office. We will have the lists available during back to school night.

Infinite Campus Video

Download the APP: Campus Parent

District Name: GRAND FORKS 1

REMINDER: This is mandatory to submit every school year. Please submit ASAP to make sure your billing is correct before the first day of school.

Child Nutrition Information

• 2026 - 2027 Online Application
• Paper Application
• Spanish F&R Application

Door 1 (N 15th St) is the main entrance to Winship Elementary. Please use during:

• Drop off after 8:20am
• Pick up during school hours

Door 3 (6th Ave N) is used for:

• Drop off for breakfast and start of the day 7:40am - 8:20am
• Pick up after school
• NO ENTRANCE AFTER 8:25am - use door 1 only

In order to keep our school secure, all visitors must enter through door 1 and sign in at the office. Thank you for understanding!

Click here to fill out the Encore waitlist application

Registration Period:
July 27, 2026, at 8:00 AM through August 3, 2026, at 8:00 AM.

Families will be notified by 5:00 PM on August 12, 2026, whether their child(ren) have been accepted into Encore or placed on the waitlist.

The Early Release program is offered free of charge on Wednesdays from 1:30–3:00 p.m. when school is dismissed early at 1:30 p.m.

Registration is required each school year, including for students who have participated previously. Families may register online by visiting the Grand Forks Public Schools website, selecting Departments, then Encore. The Early Release registration link is located toward the bottom of the Encore page.

Students enrolled in Encore are automatically enrolled in the Early Release program and do not need to complete a separate registration.

At 3:00 p.m., students who are enrolled in Encore will transition directly to their Encore program. Students who are not enrolled in Encore must be picked up by 3:00 p.m.

This is taken from the school board policy regarding snacks in school

1. The District does not allow snacks such as cupcakes, etc. to be brought into the classroom for birthdays or classroom parties.

2. The District does not allow fast foods such as McDonalds, etc. as lunch from home.

3. All snacks that may be brought into the school buildings or classrooms should be in accordance with the nutrition standards outlined herein.

a. Snacks should include a nutrition label

b. Sugar* is not the first ingredient

c. Candy is not allowed

d. All snacks must be peanut and nut free

e. Any fruit or vegetable is allowed

f. Yogurt and cheese are allowable

g. Plain water in any size is allowable

h. Individual snacks requested by your child’s teacher must come to school in the original

packaging that includes a nutrition label. Snacks that contain or may contain peanuts or other

nuts and/or do not have a nutrition label do not fall within the nutrition standards listed above,

and will be sent home with your child.

*Different names for sugar include such names as brown sugar, corn sweetener, corn syrup,

dextrose, fructose, glucose, honey, fruit juice concentrate, high fructose corn syrup, invert sugar,

lactose maltose, malt syrup, molasses, raw sugar, sucrose, or syrup, to name a few.

Gum

Pop

Energy Drinks

Outside Food/Drinks from Retailers - Starbucks, McDonalds, etc.

Large bag of chips for snacks (must be broken down to individual servings)

All North Dakota public schools are required to follow a "bell-to-bell" policy that limits student access to personal electronic communication devices—including cell phones, smartwatches, and similar devices—during the instructional day. The purpose of this law is to reduce distractions, increase student engagement, and create learning environments where students can focus on academics and meaningful interactions with their teachers and classmates.

Under this policy, students may bring personal devices to school; however, they must be turned off or silenced, securely stored, and inaccessible from the beginning of the school day until dismissal, unless an approved exception applies under state law or a student's educational or medical plan. Each teacher at Winship has a lock box to safely secure devices during the school day.

We understand that cell phones and smartwatches have become a regular part of everyday life. If parents or guardians need to reach their child during the school day, they may contact the school office, and we will ensure the message is delivered promptly. Likewise, if a student needs to contact a parent or guardian, the school office will assist them.

August 24 - Winship Back to School Open House, 4:00pm - 6:00pm

August 24 - PTO selling Carwash Coupons at Open House

August 26 - First Day of School

September 1 - PTO Meeting, Door 3, 7:00pm

September 7 - Monday - NO SCHOOL

September 16 - Early Release, 1:30pm

September 18 - Flu Shots in school, 1:00pm - 2:45pm (Mandatory Preregistration)

September 21 - Winship Gardening and Clean Up Night, 3:30pm - 5:30pm

September 30 - Early Release 1:30pm

October 1 - Parent Teacher Conferences, 4:00pm - 7:00pm

October 2 - Parent Teacher Conferences, 8:00am - 4:00pm

October 2 - 15 - Candy Bar Sales begin, 3rd - 5th grades

October 6 - Parent Teacher Conferences, 4:00 - 7:00pm

October 12 - School Picture Day, 8:30am - 11:00am

October 21 - Early Release, 1:30pm

October 22 - 23 - Thursday and Friday - NO SCHOOL

Activity passes will no longer be paper copies, they will now be fully online via GoFan.

ALL medications need to have parent permission. Prescribed medications need a doctor and a parent signature. Cough drops/cough medicine is not allowed unless there is parent signature. Teachers will not administer any medication. This is done through the nurse or medically trained office staff.

The purpose of PTO:

• Enhance and support the educational experience at Winship Elementary School
• Develop a closer connection between school and home by encouraging parental involvement
• Improve the environment at school through volunteer and financial support

Everyone is welcome to attend PTO meetings! We encourage participation and sharing your talents! You do not have to attend every meeting, but would appreciate your suggestions and assistance! For questions, please contact winshippto1@gmail.com

Upcoming PTO Meetings, Door 3, Winship Library, 7:00pm:

September 1

Live Well Grand Cities is going to be providing items to put in a flower garden by the office windows. We would love for families to help if possible with mulch, flowers, watering, and weeding (large flower bed). We will also try to clean up the playground and the sidewalk, (shovels, buckets, wheelbarrows) by getting all the wood chips back under the swings. Please bring gloves, buckets for this extra fun!

• Bring in your labels, and the office will do the work for you!
• By buying Our Family brand products – and saving the UPC barcodes from those cans, bags, boxes and bottles you can help purchase school supplies. 500 bar codes = $25.

On your Casey's App, you can donate your points to Winship Elementary.

Under your Account, Select School Donations, add Winship Elementary.

Medical forms have to be submitted for all over the counter and prescription medicines.

Winship Elementary School

1412 5th Ave N

Grand Forks ND 58203

Lori Skattum, Principal

Laurie Nelson, Administrative Secretary

Attendance Line: 701-746-2321

Fax: 701-746-2374