October WPS Family Newsletter

Need Translation? ¿Necesita traducción?

ENGLISH: Need translation? Just click "Translate" at the top of your screen!

ESPAÑOL: ¿Necesita traducción? Haga clic en "Translate" (traducir) en la parte superior de la pantalla.

Each of our four elementary schools won one week of the 5th Annual Kona Ice Attendance Challenge in September! They all ended the month with an average daily attendance rate of just over 96%!

Upcoming No School Days:

• Monday, October 12: Teacher Work Day (NO SCHOOL)
• Tuesday, November 3: Teacher Professional Developement Day (NO SCHOOL)
• Wednesday, November 25 - Friday, November 27: Administrative Offices Closes (NO SCHOOL)

📲Check out our school closings, delays, and early release website when you aren't sure about the schedule!

Parents & Families - how do you feel about school breaks, parent-teacher conference times, and when we start and end the school year? We want your feedback on the next two school calendars (2027-2028 and 2028-2029)! 🔗Please complete the survey by Wednesday, October 14: https://bit.ly/26CalendarSurvey.

Virginia requires 180 instructional days (990 hours). Every day off must be balanced elsewhere in the calendar. Your input will help the Calendar Committee plan a calendar that works for families.

There are only TWO opportunities left to learn more about the One for Schools sales tax referendum!

During the 2026 general election, voters in the City of Winchester will be asked if an additional general retail sales tax not to exceed 1% be levied in the City. Revenue from the tax could only be used for qualifying capital projects involving the construction or major renovation of public schools serving the City of Winchester. Join us to learn more:

📅 Informational Parent Meeting with Dr. Van Heukelum and the Winchester Education Foundation: Thursday, October 8 / 6:00–6:30 p.m / Douglas School/Central Administrative Office, 598 N. Kent Street.

📅 Town Hall with the City of Winchester: Thursday, October 15 / 6:00 p.m. / Daniel Morgan Middle School

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.

Get ready for an unforgettable evening! Join us this Friday, October 2, for the Fall Band Concert featuring the amazing Daniel Morgan Middle and John Handley High Symphonic Bands. Experience the musical talents of our WPS students!

Join the Handley Choral Boosters for Bag Bingo on Saturday, October 10 at 6:00 PM in the John Handley High School Cafeteria! Doors open at 5:00 PM, with chances to win designer bags from Coach, Vera Bradley, Kate Spade, and Michael Kors, plus basket raffles, door prizes, and food.

Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Scan the QR code or follow the link below to purchase your ticket and come enjoy a fun evening while supporting the Handley Choir program!

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/bag-bingo-5

Gather the family for a festive fall day at Whitacre Family Farms on October 10, 17, or 24, from 10 AM–4 PM! Enjoy pumpkin picking, hayrides, an apple slingshot, bounce house, pumpkin bowling, a straw pyramid, cornhole, and Touch-a-Tractor. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children under 18. The event is rain or shine, and families are encouraged to wear closed-toe shoes and dress for the weather. Stop by the Shawnee Springs Market for breakfast or lunch while you enjoy the beautiful fall scenery and country charm. 🍁🎃

Learn more here: https://shawneesprings.com/events/

📍 2411 Whitacre Road, Cross Junction, VA 22625

👻 Gather 'round all ghoulies and ghosties for Winchester Parks & Recreation's annual SPOOKY FUN event at Jim Barnett Park! Enjoy an evening filled with fun Halloween-themed activities, costumes, and family-friendly tricks and treats—FREE for ALL AGES!

🦇 Friday, Oct 16, 5:30 – 8:00 PM

🍬 Purchase a $5 Boo Bundle → https://loom.ly/Vv1rYZc

🕸️ More event details → https://loom.ly/r-nzpNo

Winchester Parks and Recreation’s Youth Basketball Leagues are back! We offer leagues for boys and girls, giving young athletes the opportunity to develop their basketball skills, build confidence, learn teamwork and sportsmanship, and have fun on the court.

🏀Ages 5 -14

🔗Registration ends November 1: https://loom.ly/eOo1KA0

💸Registration is FREE for City residents!

📆Season is 11/09/26 - 01/23/27

Parents - We are looking for volunteer coaches! No matter your coaching experience, we’d love to have you involved. Register today to volunteer as a coach: https://loom.ly/vABrl04

Nominate a WPS Employee for the Apple Award by Friday, October 16!

Has your family been impacted by an outstanding staff member who goes above and beyond? Nominate them for an Apple Award! This can include teachers, cafeteria staff, front office staff, custodians, bus drivers, or any other WPS employee you would like to nominate. Nominations are accepted from WPS staff, students, families, and community members.

Nominate here: https://bit.ly/WPSAppleAward

Join BikeWalk Winchester and WPD Chief Ronnie Lewis for a special Open Community Meeting addressing the issue of E-Motos.

Oct. 6 | 6:00PM | Handley Library

Share what you've seen, ask your questions, and help us define the problem. Submit your questions ahead of time: SUBMIT

Submit all questions by Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.

Navigating special education and disability services can often feel overwhelming, but the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) is here to help Virginia families every step of the way.

PEATC provides free, confidential tools and information designed to empower students with disabilities from birth through age 26, as well as their families. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs, PEATC serves as Virginia's Parent Training and Information Center, offering specialized support tailored to military families, Spanish-speaking families, early childhood care, transition to adulthood, and general family engagement. Through one-on-one consultations, workshops, webinars, trainings, and easy-to-understand fact sheets, they help families learn to navigate the special education system, build effective communication skills, foster collaborative partnerships, and encourage self-advocacy and self-determination in students.

To get in touch, you can email partners@peatc.org or call 703-923-0010, with assistance available in over 300 languages.

Red Ribbon Week takes place from October 23 through October 31, 2026. The Official 2026 Theme is “Make A Difference. Be A Hero. Stay Drug Free. The slogan emphasizes that choosing to live a healthy, drug-free life is an everyday act of courage and positive peer leadership. Stay tuned to your school's newsletter for more details!

New school entry procedures are being implemented in Winchester Public Schools. Please allow extra time when you visit a school building to adjust to the new procedures.

• Have your photo ID out and ready when you arrive.
  
• Press the intercom and follow the directions from the office staff.
  
• Know the name of the person you are meeting with.
  
• Call ahead if you need to pick up your child unexpectedly so they will be ready to go.
  

We appreciate your understanding and partnership as we work together to keep our school community safe.

Attendance Recovery is an opportunity for students in grades 5-12 to make up missed school time. It may take place before or after school or on Saturdays and is taught in person by a licensed teacher. Attendance Recovery helps students make up learning they may have missed while absent.

• We strongly encourage students to participate in Attendance Recovery opportunities.

• Attendance Recovery begins after 9 absences but may also begin earlier depending on the student’s attendance pattern.

• A student who misses 10% of the school year, or about 18 days, is considered chronically absent. This includes both excused and unexcused absences.

• 3 hours of Attendance Recovery = 1 recovered absence day for chronic absenteeism purposes.

You can review your student’s attendance percentage in the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Look under Attendance Monitor, Dashboard, and the ADA/ADM chart. The goal is to have every student’s attendance at 90% or above. Note: Attendance Recovery is not reflected in PowerSchool until the end of the school year.

If students do not take advantage of Attendance Recovery and are chronically absent, they may be unable to participate in culminating activities, extracurricular school events, dances, or senior graduation ceremonies.

If your school contacts you about Attendance Recovery, please take advantage of this opportunity to help your student stay on track!