The Panda Periodical

Melissa Maestle, Principal

Shane Campbell, Assistant Principal

100 W. Cedarmeade Ave.

Winchester, Va 22655

phone: 540-662-7656

November

Week of November 2nd - November 6th

10/30-11/06 - Red Ribbon Week!

11/03 - No School - Election Day/Teacher PD Day

There will be a fire drill this week.

Week of November 9th - November 13th

11/10 - McEducator Night 5-7pm

Week of November 23rd - November 27th

11/25 to 11/27 - No School - Thanksgiving Break

Get ready to show your school spirit! Red Ribbon Week kicks off on Friday, October 30th, and runs through Friday, November 6th. This year's theme is "Pawsitive Choices Matter!" (¡Las decisiones positivas importan!), reminding our Pandas that making healthy, kind decisions leaves a lasting mark on our futures.

We encourage all students to participate in our fun spirit days to celebrate making positive choices every day:

• Friday, 10/30 – Book Character Day: Dress as your favorite book character! Good choices help us write an awesome life story.

• Monday, 11/2 – Active & Healthy Body Day: Wear activewear, sneakers, or neon bright colors to show that healthy bodies power bright futures.

• Wednesday, 11/4 – Superhero Day: Wear a superhero shirt, cape, or hero costume because healthy choices make us everyday heroes!

• Thursday, 11/5 – Teamwork Day: Wear a sports jersey, a team shirt, or match your outfit with a friend.

• Friday, 11/6 – Red & Panda Pride Day: Wear red, paw prints, or your favorite Panda spirit wear!

Exciting news, Panda families! Our wonderful PTO has just launched a brand-new online School Store. You can now purchase official Frederick Douglass Elementary merchandise featuring our school name and logo whenever you want!

The store is open 24/7 and features top apparel brands like Nike and Under Armour, making it easier than ever to show off your Panda Pride in style. Whether you are looking for t-shirts, hoodies, or accessories, there is something for everyone.

🛒 Shop the new store and grab your gear here: FDES Sideline Store

Start the Day at 7:30 AM!

As we head into November, we want to gently remind our families that our school day officially kicks off at 7:30 AM! This is when our doors open, our teachers are ready, and our classrooms come alive.

Arriving right at 7:30 AM gives your student the gift of a "soft landing." They have plenty of time to walk to class at their own pace, unpack their backpack, greet their friends, and settle their minds before instruction begins. When cars roll up at 7:50 AM, that morning transition becomes incredibly rushed, and students often start their day feeling anxious or behind.

After 7:50 AM Arrivals

Please remember that our front doors promptly close at exactly 7:50 AM so our entire campus can focus on morning announcements and the Pledge of Allegiance without interruption. If you arrive after the doors close, you will need to wait with your student until the morning broadcast concludes. Once announcements are finished, a staff member will come to the door to let your child in, and you will be required to officially sign them in.

Skip the wait, avoid the morning rush, and give your student a confident, relaxed start by aiming for that bright and early 7:30 AM drop-off!

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, November 10th, for a special school fundraiser at our local McDonald's on Pleasant Valley Avenue from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM! Come see your favorite FDES teachers working behind the counter to help put your dinner orders together.

A percentage of all proceeds during this event will be directly donated to support Frederick Douglass Elementary. It will be a fun-filled evening for the whole family, featuring exciting activities and special prizes for the kids. We can't wait to see our Panda community there for a delicious night of fundraising!

We know your schedule is busy, so we’re making it easier to track WPS events. We have launched a live Division News page that captures school and community events in real-time.

Visit the WPS Division News Page

This link is your go-to for dates, deadlines, and division-wide announcements. Be on the lookout for the bi-weekly division newsletter for even deeper dives into community happenings!"

As a reminder, Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, which is a professional development day for our teachers, meaning there will be no school for students.

On this year's ballot, voters in the City of Winchester (and Frederick County) will be asked to vote on a referendum for an additional 1% general retail sales tax. Revenue from this proposed tax is designated specifically for qualifying capital projects involving the construction or major renovation of public schools. Please note that this tax would not apply to qualifying food purchased for home consumption or essential personal hygiene products.

Winchester Public Schools has approximately $135 million in identified capital needs over the next 10 years. The proposed sales tax revenue could help fund major projects, including:

• Garland R. Quarles Elementary & Early Learning Center: Constructing a new K–5 school, repurposing part of the building for a centralized preschool, and supporting division-wide realignment by returning 5th grade to elementary schools.

• Virginia Avenue Charlotte DeHart Elementary: Upgrading major building systems, including HVAC, lighting, fire/life safety, and bathrooms.

• John Handley High School: Improving athletic and performance facilities, including practice fields, ADA upgrades, and updates to the Patsy Cline Theatre.

• Emil & Grace Shihadeh Innovation Center: Constructing garage and classroom space to expand CTE programs in automotive service and cosmetology.

• Daniel Morgan Campus: Addressing aging infrastructure with needed boiler and roof replacements.

As a public school division, WPS does not advocate for or against ballot measures; our goal is simply to ensure our families are fully informed about the capital needs of our schools. To learn more about the referendum and how these projects impact our division, you can watch this short informational video: Ripple Effect Reel(English)/ Carrete de efecto onda ( Español ) . Additional details can also be found on the City of Winchester’s website under "One for Schools."