WINTHROP WEEKLY

Dear Winthrop Families and Caregivers,

We are so excited to have everyone back and settled into the rhythm of a new school year! It has been wonderful to see our students focused, engaged, and excited about learning. Thank you for helping your child arrive on time and ready for the day, it makes a big difference!

I’m happy to report that all bus routes are now running smoothly and on time. Student safety remains our top priority, and we appreciate your patience as we worked through the initial logistics.

As we begin the year, our staff is focused on building strong routines and reinforcing positive behavior. Mr. Clark and I, along with our teachers, continue to highlight our school values of Respect, Responsibility, and Safety. These core principles guide everything we do here at Winthrop.

One highlight so far has been my visits to classrooms for our Read-Aloud with the Principal sessions. These moments allow me to connect with students, see the exciting learning taking place, and emphasize the importance of reading and literacy. It has been a joy getting to know our learners in this way.

In addition, Mr. Clark and I will begin holding bi-monthly assemblies that align with our school-wide theme for the year: Adaptability. We introduced this theme during our first assembly by reading The Most Magnificent Team, a story that sparked meaningful conversations about working together and navigating change. We’re looking forward to continuing this work throughout the year.

Each morning, we also share daily announcements, including a weekly message focused on social-emotional learning. So far, we've talked about kindness and the importance of asking for help when needed. It has been inspiring to see these values come to life as students show empathy and support for one another across the school.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to our cafeteria staff, lunch monitors, and custodians. Their hard work ensures a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for our students. We’ve seen students taking responsibility in the cafeteria by using indoor voices, cleaning up after themselves, and showing respect for all adults in the space—well done!

Looking ahead, we are preparing for our Curriculum Nights, which will take place on:

· Tuesday, September 16th: GRADES 3-5, 6 00P.M. -7:30P.M.

· Wednesday, September 17th: GRADES PREK-2, 6:00P.M.-7:30P.M.

We will begin each evening at 6:00 p.m. in the cafeteria with a welcome from Mr. Clark and me. From there, you’ll visit your child’s classroom and meet their teacher. Our Literacy and Math Coaches, along with many members of our staff, will be available to help you gain a clear picture of your child’s learning experience.

I am also in the process of finalizing this year’s Winthrop School Council. Thank you to all who expressed interest! I will be reaching out to those selected very soon. While we have limited spots on the Council, there will be many other opportunities to get involved throughout the year.

We’re also excited to launch Coffee with the Principal—a monthly opportunity to connect, share ideas, and learn more about what’s happening at Winthrop.

Our first session will be:

·Wednesday, October 1, 2025 @ 9:15A.M.

Each month, I’ll share a short message and invite members of our staff to join and speak on a variety of topics. I hope to see many of you there! We will also be incorporating some evening programs with key topics to help support families.

Finally, thank you for all you do to support your child and our school community. Your partnership means so much, and it plays a vital role in the success of our students. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need support—we’re here to help.

Thank You,

Dr. Maureen Lueke
Principal
Winthrop School

A.C.E. FALL 2025 Offerings

After-School Community Enrichment

FALL Session Dates: Weeks of October 27th - November 17th

We’re gearing up for another great session of ACE!

• Please consider volunteering.

• We’ll help you to make your program ideas come to life.

• If you are interested in leading a program by yourself or with a friend this fall, please fill out the form HERE by Friday, September 26th.

If you have any questions contact:

Theresa Keenan, tkeenan@ipsk12.net

Katie Norris, knorris@ipsk12.net

Winthrop Families and Care Givers,

Just a reminder all are welcome to join the F.R.I.E.S. meeting this Thursday, September 11th @ 6:30p.m. in the Winthrop School cafeteria. All are welcome.

Just a reminder to please join us this evening, Wednesday, September 10th for our F.R.I.E.S. Marini Farm Event!

Thank You to the F.R.I.E.S. group for all they do for our Winthrop School Community!

Third graders are invited to register for Book Buddies, a monthly after-school book club at the Ipswich Public Library. Book Buddies meets one Thursday a month, October through May, from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. Children read an assigned, age-appropriate novel in advance of each meeting and then join their peers to discuss the book and enjoy a snack.

https://ipswichlibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/book-buddies-a-53/

First graders are invited to register for First Grade Junior Great Books, which meets one Wednesday a month, October through May, from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. Based on the acclaimed Junior Great Books curriculum, children are exposed to high quality stories, which they talk about with their peers, followed by a simple craft project. Snacks are provided.

https://ipswichlibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/first-grade-junior-great-books-40/

Who are we? All students (pre-K - 5), parents, friends, family, and fans of Winthrop School who help make our community cleaner and greener. While the Student Leadership Council (SLC) Green Team includes a group of student leaders who work hard on initiatives during the school day, the Winthrop Green Team provides an opportunity for all Winthrop families to get involved with events and initiatives in our community, often after school hours.

What do we do? Host annual events, seasonal programming, and year-long initiatives to help our community make sustainable choices that support our environment.

What are some examples of Winthrop Green Team events and initiatives?

• Harvest of the Month - bringing local produce to our school cafeteria

• Green Team ACE programs (4 weeks in fall and 4 weeks in spring)

• Holiday Toy and Clothing Swap (late fall/winter)

• Gardening Clubs

• Earth Day - Community Clean-up (spring)

• Waste Reduction Awareness/Composting

• Eco-bin for recycled clothing

• Ipswich No Idling Campaign

Are there any upcoming events? Yes!

• Harvest of the Month - meets one Friday per month from about 9am - 2pm in the Winthrop cafe to serve local, healthy, farm fresh fruits and veggies to students and staff. Next Friday, September 19 is the first HOTM this year, and we’ll be serving pico de gallo with fresh tomatoes from a local Beverly farm. Parent volunteers are welcome! Let us know if you can help.
• New Garden Beds - HUGE shoutout to Winthrop parent Grace Garrison for an epic effort leading the way to get new garden beds ordered, delivered, and built at Winthrop School! Teachers will be able to take advantage of the new space by weaving gardening into their classroom curriculum. There will also likely be some extra space to plant some fun fall seeds and flowers - stay tuned for more!
• Halloween Costumes - Doyon is collecting gently-used, elementary-aged costumes for their annual Spooky Walk Costume Swap on Oct 4th. There is a bin outside the front office at Doyon for all donations. The Costume Swap is FREE with the purchase of Spooky Walk tickets.
• Zumi’s Board Refresh - We are partnering with Zumi’s to give their sustainability board (area with clipboards by the back entrance) a refresh. This month, kids will create artwork on 8x11 sized paper to capture the theme, “What can I do to take care of the earth?" Be creative! Kids can return their artwork to the Winthrop front offices by September 17. Each month will feature a different theme - stay tuned for more opportunities!

If you are interested in helping with any of these events, or interested in joining the Green Team mailing list, please reach out to Molly Dugdale at mduffy345@gmail.com. Looking forward to a fun year ahead!