Greetings Winn Families!

I sit here today smiling from ear to ear. I just got done watching my Spartans play a great game of basketball! Go Green! I also was reflecting on how proud I am of our little school. This past week, the students/staff at Flex Tech combined to do some amazing things for our kids.

On Friday, Flex Tech's staff & science students invited our fifth graders to participate in some super cool experiments. The Flex Tech students raised all of the funds to do this with our kids. Our students thought it was pretty neat to be in a real science lab too. They learned lots and got to take a lava lamp and crystals home. Thank you Flex Tech!

Also on Friday, Flex Tech's principal, Phil Janis, and a few students came to work with our BlueJay Buddy program we have in first grade. The first grade buddies were working on developing their soccer skills and it was awesome to have some experts with us! Thank you to Mrs. Ballard and Mrs. Sellers for designing the BlueJay buddy program this year and planning all of these opportunities for kids to practice getting along with each other.

This partnership between Winn Elementary and Flex Tech high school is a "one of a kind" experience. We are a traditional public school collaborating with a Michigan charter school in the same building which is pretty special. Phil and I continue to work together to bring unique experiences to both of our schools. We are proud of our collaboration and our students working together!

Another highlight of last week was our Winn Parent Club meeting. As a group, we were able to narrow our choices down for our new big toy for the playground at Winn. This toy will allow our older students to have some more options to play on outside. We want to say thank you to our WPC and all of the families that have helped raised funds for this through our Winn Fall Fest. The funds for this playground toy have been being raised for many years. Our next steps will be to share our ideas with the Shepherd School Board and to have a fun campaign with the kids. We will be letting our kids and staff have a voice in the final choice of this big toy!

The last highlight of last week was our 2nd graders learning to skate! This is a tradition at Winn Elementary. Our 2nd graders participate in a special program over several weeks where they learn to skate. Thank you to Mrs. Walters and Ms. Fox for doing this with our kiddos.

Here is the scoop for this week! Don't forget to check out the rest of the Winn Word where you can learn and enjoy hearing about our special school!

Highlights this week:

3/10-3/14 Scholastic Book Fair 8:30-11:30 (Booknic day we will be open until 12:45!)

3/12 Space Training Day- Wear your workout clothes to school today!

3/13 Booknic 11:45-12:45

With Gratitude,

Laurie Richards

Winn Elementary Principal

This whole month we are learning to solve problems using our Second Step program. Each week, I am sharing where we are in the program so you are able to reinforce and use the same ideas at home.

What is the Second Step Problem-Solving Program?

The Second Step Problem-Solving Program teaches students a step-by-step approach to addressing and resolving conflicts effectively. The key steps students learn include:

• S – Say the Problem (Without Blame) – Clearly stating what the issue is.

• T – Think of Solutions – Brainstorming safe and respectful ways to solve the problem.

• E – Explore Consequences – Considering the possible outcomes of each solution.

• P – Pick the Best Solution – Choosing the solution that is fair and works for everyone.

Exploring Consequences with Second Step

At Winn Elementary, we strive to help students develop not only their academic skills but also their social-emotional growth. One important part of this is understanding consequences—the outcomes of the choices we make. As part of our Second Step curriculum, students are learning how to consider the potential consequences of their actions before making decisions.

In our recent lessons, students have been exploring:
🔹 Positive vs. Negative Consequences – How their choices impact themselves and others.
🔹 Thinking Ahead – Predicting what might happen based on their actions.
🔹 Making Responsible Choices – Using problem-solving skills to make decisions they can feel good about.

At home, you can reinforce these lessons by:
✔️ Encouraging your child to pause and think before acting. Ask, “What do you think might happen if you do that?”
✔️ Helping them reflect on past choices. “What went well? What would you do differently next time?”
✔️ Modeling decision-making by talking through your own choices out loud.

By working together, we can help our students become thoughtful, responsible decision-makers—both in school and in life! Thank you for your support in fostering these essential skills.

Click the link below so you are in the loop about Reading Month. Bookmark it on your computer so you have all the links at your finger tips this month :)

This year, our amazing art teacher, Ms. Seger, took on a yearbook cover design class for our 2nd-5th graders. Students submitting drawings to be considered for the cover of our Winn Elementary yearbook 24-25. Ms. Seger selected a winning entry from each class. Students voted during lunch last week and a grand prize winner was selected! Congratulations to Annabelle and Ada from 4th grade. The girls each won a FREE YEARBOOK! All of the other "winners" from each class will be featured on the back cover. Thanks to Ms. Seger for helping our kids and taking this extra project on!

Take a minute to read the Winn Parents' Club newsletter for March.

• 3/10-3/14 Scholastic Book Fair (8:30am-11:30am M-F)
• 3/13 BookNic 11:45-12:45
• 3/18 Kindergarten Registration
• 3/20 Deadline for Winn Elementary Yearbook
• 3/22-3/30 Spring Break

Here is our Winn Elementary Parent and Student Handbook for 24-25. It is filled with lots of useful information about our school.

Thank you for sharing your child with our family here at Winn. Our motto at Winn is "Everything a Kid Needs." We focus on both academic excellence and creating good humans! I am here to serve you. If you have questions/concerns or need help in any way, please feel free to reach out to me.

Email: lrichards@shepherdschools.net
Location: 418 West Blanchard Road, Shepherd, MI, USA
Phone: (989) 866-2250
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/winnelementary