September WPS Family Newsletter

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We loved seeing everyone looking their best and ready to start the school year on the first day of school! We are so glad you're here!

Upcoming No School Days:

• Friday, September 4: Teacher Professional Development Day (NO SCHOOL)
• Monday, September 7: Labor Day (NO SCHOOL & ADMIN OFFICES CLOSED)

Daily Schedule:

• Elementary: 7:50 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
• Daniel Morgan Intermediate and Middle Schools: 8:25 a.m. - 3:20 p.m. All students should arrive by 8:15 a.m.
• John Handley High School: 8:25 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.

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

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!

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.

A note from your school nurses: If possible, we are asking our families to please send some type of athletic shoe with their children for recess and gym. Although slides and flip-flops are popular footwear for our students, we are seeing an increase in serious injuries, including broken bones and severe sprains during physical activity. We appreciate your support as we strive to protect our students’ health and safety.

Take advantage of endless oppurtunities offered by Winchester Parks and Recreation this fall! Throughout the fall your kids can participate in athletic clinics, creative classes, swim lessons and music classes. Plus there are many special events such as:

🏠NEIGHBORHOOD NIGHTS @ Harvest Ridge Park on August 28, 2026

🍂NATURE WALK @ Abrams Creek Wetlands Preserve on August 29, 2026

🎃SPOOKY FUN HALLOWEEN @ Jim Barnett Park on October 16, 2026

View the flyer for more details: Elementary Grades and Grades 5-8. Go to winchesterva.gov/parks to explore programs and activities offered in your local Parks divisions.

Laurel Ridge Community College is offering in person GED and ESL classes for any adults. Use the QR code on the poster below or go to www.laurelridge.edu/adulted to get more information and register via their portal!

GED Class Schedule

• WPS School Board Office (598 N. Kent Street, Winchester, VA): Monday / Wednesday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

• Millbrook High School (Door #2) (251 First Woods Drive, Winchester, VA): Tuesday / Thursday, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Serves Winchester/Frederick County & Clarke County)

• Laurel Ridge Community College (Corron 108) (173 Skirmisher Ln, Middletown, VA):

  • Tuesday / Thursday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

  • Tuesday / Thursday, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

• Laurel Ridge Luray-Page County Center (200 College Drive, Luray, VA): Tuesday / Thursday, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

• Central High School (1147 Susan Avenue, Woodstock, VA): Monday / Wednesday, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

• Blue Ridge Technical Center (280 Luray Avenue, Front Royal, VA): Monday / Wednesday, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

ESL Class Schedule

• Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church (26 West Boscawen Street, Winchester, VA): Tuesday / Thursday, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM

• Daniel Morgan Intermediate School (48 South Purcell Avenue, Winchester, VA): Monday / Wednesday, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

• Millbrook High School (Door #2) (251 First Woods Drive, Winchester, VA): Tuesday / Thursday, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

• Laurel Ridge Community College (173 Skirmisher Ln, Middletown, VA): Monday / Wednesday, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

• Laurel Ridge Luray-Page County Center (200 College Drive, Luray, VA): Tuesday / Thursday, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

• Central High School (1147 Susan Avenue, Woodstock, VA): Monday / Wednesday, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

• Woodstock Presbyterian Church (142 E. Court Street, Woodstock, VA): Tuesday / Thursday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

• Blue Ridge Technical Center (280 Luray Avenue, Front Royal, VA): Monday / Wednesday, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

• Clarke County Schools Office (Door C) (317 W. Main Street, Berryville, VA): Tuesday / Thursday, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

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 during a town hall co-hosted by the City of Winchester and Winchester Public Schools!

Winchester Public Schools is continuing its partnership with the City of Winchester to provide students with access to WinReady for school-related transportation.

• Students ages 12 and older need a voucher from their school to ride WinReady for free for school-related activities. Students under 12 do not need a voucher.

• Students at Daniel Morgan, Rhodes, or the Innovation Center can get a voucher in the front office.

• Students at Handley can get a voucher from any administrator.

• Vouchers are for school-related transportation only. Students ages 12 and older using WinReady for personal trips will pay the standard $1.50 per-ride fee.

• Students who occasionally miss their school bus in the morning may ride WinReady to school without a voucher. The school destination will serve as verification; repeated or excessive use may require students/families to pay the $1.50 per-ride fee.

• Students and families are encouraged to use the WinReady app to create an account and schedule rides. Students can use their voucher within the app and will also provide the physical voucher to the driver when boarding.

• WinReady is intended primarily for individual student transportation needs, including school-related programs, internships and jobs. It is not intended to replace school bus transportation for field trips or other large-group travel.

Read full details in this document: https://bit.ly/WinReadyStudentVouchers

It's time for the Annual 🍦𝐊𝐎𝐍𝐀 𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄!🍦

𝑾𝒉𝒐? Elementary School Students

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕? Schools will compete to see who has the BEST student attendance!

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏? Attendance is calculated Thursday-Wednesday through the end of September. The school with the highest attendance percentage wins a visit from the Kona Ice Truck on Fridays: Aug. 28, Sept. 11, Sept. 18, and Sept. 25

𝑾𝒉𝒚? Because #EveryDayCounts! Our students cannot learn if they aren't in school, on time, every day.

🩺Excused absences, like illness, will not count against the school’s attendance for this incentive. For more information about excused absences, visit https://www.wps.k12.va.us/Page/10601.

🌟Thank you to our generous sponsors, The John & Janice Wyatt Foundation and the Winchester, VA Campaign for Grade-Level Reading!

Nominate a WPS Employee for the Apple Award by Friday, September 18!

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

The Shenandoah Conservatory Arts Academy (SCAA) and the Sansoni family are offering full and partial tuition scholarships to Winchester City Public School students (Grades K–12) who show a passion for the arts and have financial need.

• Covers: Tuition for music, dance, theatre, visual arts, or fencing classes at SCAA.

• Eligibility: K–12 Winchester City Public School students with financial need. New applicants receive top priority (one applicant per family).

• Classes: October 2026 – May 2027.

• How to Apply: Submit the application along with a recommendation letter by September 30, 2026.

Learn more and download the application at https://scartsacademy.org/community/vivian-christy-sansoni-award.

Blue Ridge Habitat for Humanity has opened applications for a 1 bedroom/1 bath home (approx. 580 square feet) home in the North End of Winchester. Please apply or share the attached flyers with any one you think may be interested. They will also be hosting several informational sessions about the Homeownership Program and applications process (flyer attached) for anyone interested. Deadline for applications will be September 30, 2026.

Please contact Brittany Day if you have any questions: bday@blueridgehabitat.org.

To find out more information view the flyers below or visit: www.blueridgehabitat.org.

Is your high schooler unsure of their plans after graduating? Don't stress! Shenandoah University is hosting a College Night on Sep 23, 2026 6-8 pm. This night offers you and your child the chance meet college representatives from over 100 different schools to explore admissions, programs, and campus life information.

We're excited to share that Winchester Public Schools has partnered with Daybreak Health to bring virtual therapy to our students and families.

Care is low to no cost, fully virtual, and available Monday through Saturday 8am to 8pm — so support fits your family's schedule without disrupting the school day.

Watch this short video to learn how Daybreak works and how to get started:

English: https://youtu.be/Y2No90_Sl_g

Spanish: https://youtu.be/2Rnx1DnBEDM

Ready to request care for your child?
→https://care.daybreakhealth.com/patient/login

Questions? Reach out to your school counselor.

Apply Here: https://winchesterva.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5170392