Words of Windom January 26

Happy New Year!

We hope you and your family enjoyed a peaceful and joyful break and are feeling refreshed as we begin 2026 together. January is a wonderful time to reflect on the growth we’ve seen in our students and to look ahead with renewed energy and purpose.

This month, we would like to share how incredibly important reading aloud is for children of all ages and how families can support this meaningful practice at home. Children learn so much from being read to: new vocabulary, how stories work, how characters face challenges, and how nonfiction helps us understand the world. Most importantly, because children love spending time with you, reading together helps them develop a lifelong love of reading.

Reading aloud can include any kind of text - picture books, nonfiction, magazines, comic books, or graphic novels. You might revisit familiar favorites, explore new and challenging books together, or even take turns reading aloud and talking about the story. Being a reading partner shows your child that reading is enjoyable, valuable, and something to look forward to.

Here are a few tips to make reading aloud fun and meaningful:

• Read any kind of book or magazine - there’s no wrong choice.

• Be silly or serious! Children love when adults bring characters to life with voices or actions.

• Choose books that spark conversation or connect to topics your child enjoys.

• If your child moves around while listening, that’s okay - keep reading.

We have many books and magazines available at school for families to borrow, and our local library is another fantastic resource. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like help finding or choosing books to read aloud at home.

Thank you, as always, for your continued partnership and support. We look forward to a joyful and successful January for our entire school community.

Our Band and Orchestra Concert was a fantastic showcase of our students’ musical growth and dedication. The audience enjoyed an evening of impressive performances that highlighted teamwork, focus, and musicianship. We are incredibly proud of our band and orchestra students and thankful to Mrs. Feldman and Mrs. Greetham for their hard work in preparing such a wonderful concert. Thank you to our families for supporting our young musicians!

We were thrilled to welcome members of the Buffalo Bandits Lacrosse Team to our school! Students enjoyed an exciting visit filled with energy, inspiration, and important messages about teamwork, perseverance, and staying active. A huge thank you to our Physical Education team for organizing this awesome opportunity and creating a memorable experience for our students. It was a day full of smiles, learning, and Bandits pride!

We were treated to a special and festive send-off on the last day before break as the Middle School Select Choir (7th and 8th grade) filled the halls with holiday cheer while students exited the building. Their caroling created a joyful atmosphere and was a wonderful way to end the day and begin the break. A sincere thank you to Mr. Carson for coordinating this meaningful experience and to our talented singers for sharing their voices with our school community.

Our Chorus Concert was a wonderful celebration of music and student talent! Students filled the room with beautiful voices, confidence, and enthusiasm, showcasing all the hard work they’ve put in throughout the year. We are so proud of our chorus members and grateful to Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Glasgow for preparing such a memorable performance. Thank you to our families for your continued support and for joining us to enjoy an evening of music and community.

Our kindergarten classes were filled with joy as families joined students for a gingerbread house making celebration! Thank you to our kindergarten team for organizing such a warm and welcoming experience, and to our families for sharing in the fun!

The Orchard Park Special Education Parent Teacher Student Association (SEPTSA) would like to share their upcoming meeting schedule. If you are a parent who is interested in learning more please click this link for more information: opseptsa.org.

• January 13th - Board of Education Meeting 7:00 PM, OPMS
• January 19th - Martin Luther King Jr. Day : NO SCHOOL
• January 23rd - PreK Progress Reports Go Live @ 3:00 PM

Looking for new Windom apparel??? Please see the link below to purchase all of your Windom gear!

Please see the list below for this years PTO meeting dates. All PTO meetings will start at 7:00 PM in the Windom Library:

It is essential that anyone who feels they may be eligible for free and reduced meals to fill out the 2025-2026 Free and Reduced lunch application that is available above. Procedures are in place to protect the privacy of students participating in the free and reduced program. Receiving Free and Reduced meals does not solely benefit the student receiving the meal, it also benefits the district community; depending on the amount of need within our district, we will receive/be eligible for additional funding. Completed applications should be sent to J. Schwarz at 4040 Baker Road, Orchard Park, NY 14127.

If you need an application printed and sent to you, please call Jody Schwarz at (716) 209-6244.