Hoot Off The Press

Monday, April 6th ~ April 10th

SPRING BREAK

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Upcoming April Events

15th-Kindergarten Registration

20th~24th Military Child Support Week

21st - McTeacher Night 5~7pm

23rd-Purple Up Day

END OF THE YEAR

testing window

20th~24th

24th-Career Day

30th-Spring Concert

• Arrival begins at 8:20am K~2nd; 9:00am Pre K
• Tardy bell rings at 8:45am K~2nd
• Dismissal begins at 3:00pm Pre K; 3:20pm K~2nd
• ALL students enter through the rear of the building on Faulkner Avenue

🛑🚸SAFETY FIRST 🚸🛑

"For the safety of our students and staff, please do not park in the yellow zone. This area is designated for buses and BCS transports. Thank you for keeping our school community safe!"

Dear Families,

As the doors close and the hallways grow quiet, I want to wish each and every one of you a joyful and rejuvenating Spring Break.

This time of year is a vital milestone in our school calendar. Our students and staff have worked incredibly hard throughout the winter months, and now it is time to pause, breathe, and shift our focus from "doing" to "being."

🍃 Our Hope for Our Students

Whether you are traveling afar or enjoying a "staycation" right here at home, my hope for our students is simple:

• Unplug: Take a break from the screens and schedules.

• Explore: Spend time outdoors, dive into a book for pleasure, or rediscover a hobby.

• Rest: Allow the brain and body to recharge so we can finish the final stretch of the school year with energy and enthusiasm.

🗓️ A Quick Reminder

Just a reminder that school will be closed from Monday, April 6th through Friday, April 10th. We look forward to seeing all of our students back on campus, refreshed and ready to learn, on Monday, April 13th.

To our parents and guardians: thank you for your continued partnership and support. May your week be filled with more laughter than laundry, and more relaxation than routine.

Safe travels and a very happy Spring Break to all!

Warmly,

Principal Ballard

Go Owls!!

NTouch Text and Email Alerts:

Download the BCS App . Learn more: berkeleycountyschools.org

On the Web:

Sign Up: WV Dept of Ed alerts: https://wvde.state.wv.us/closings

Social Media

Follow Us @Berkeley County Schools

McTeacher’s Night

Join Us at

McDonald's

14634 Apple Harvest Dr

Tuesday, April 21st

5:00~7:00 pm

See the flyer below.

At Winchester Avenue Elementary, we believe in recognizing students who consistently go above and beyond to make our school a great place to learn. We are thrilled to announce the upcoming 4th Nine Weeks PBIS Reward Celebration!

Congratulations to our S.O.A.R.ing Owls!

This celebration is for students who have consistently chosen to:

• Safety First

• Own Your Actions

• Always Achieve

• Respect Yourself and Others

To those students who have shown kindness, leadership, and school pride every day: You have officially earned your invitation! We are so proud of the environment you are helping to build. Get ready to celebrate—you earned it!

📋 Understanding Participation Criteria

Our PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) program relies on "Consistent Excellence." To maintain the high standards of our school community, we use specific data to determine eligibility for this final reward of the year.

Students will attend if they have:

• Demonstrated S.O.A.R. values daily.

• Maintained fewer than 9 "Red Owl" write-ups for the entire year.

• Maintained a clean record with zero Major or Minor office referrals.

Students will NOT be eligible to attend if they have:

• Accumulated 9 or More "Red Owl" Write-Ups: These represent repeated behaviors throughout the year that fall outside our S.O.A.R. expectations.

• Received 1 or More Major Office Referrals: Any major infraction requiring administrative intervention automatically disqualifies a student from this specific reward.

• Received 1 or More Minor Office Referrals: Even a single minor referral indicates a need for further practice in our school-wide behavioral routines.

• Persistent Struggles with S.O.A.R. Expectations: Frequent difficulty demonstrating Safety, Ownership, Achievement, or Respect as outlined in our school-wide rubric.

  
  

A Message of Encouragement

We understand that missing a reward can be disappointing. However, we view this as a vital "teachable moment." If your child did not qualify this time, we encourage you to speak with them about a "Fresh Start." We believe in every student’s ability to grow. Use these final weeks of school to reflect, reset, and show that they can S.O.A.R. to success! We are here to support every student in making better choices every single day.

See flyer below.

High Impact Instructional Practices focus on ensuring all instruction is purposeful, rigorous, and student-centered. Lessons are aligned to grade-level standards and include clear, visible objectives that identify both what students must know and how they will apply that knowledge. Instruction intentionally builds academic vocabulary through curriculum-based opportunities for exploration and understanding.Teachers support students in moving from teacher-led instruction to independent learning through inquiry and gradual release. Finally, students are provided opportunities to integrate learning and produce original work by synthesizing information from multiple sources—building purpose, power, and practice in every classroom.

Available daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Through TutorWV, every West Virginian gains no-cost access to personalized tutoring and drop-off review services, test prep and self-paced resources, and job search assistance. Click the link below from any device, and you’ll get connected to a live expert tutor and resources! Tutors are rigorously vetted subject-matter experts. They ask questions, they encourage, and they empower. They’re available every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. so that learners of all ages and stages can get help anytime, anywhere, from any internet-connected device.

Poject Learn offers after school programming:

• homework help
• health and wellness programs, nutritious meals, physical activity
• fun and safe environment with caring staff
• flexible schedules, affordable prices

Visit: https://www.bgcepwv.net or call 304-263-2696

Please see the flyer below.

Spring break with the family is often a paradox: you want to make memories, but you also desperately need to recover from the school-year grind. The key to actually relaxing is lowering the stakes. Here is a guide to decompressing this spring break, categorized by how much energy you have left in the tank.

🏖️ The "Low-Stakes" Outings

If staying home makes you restless but a theme park sounds overwhelming, try these middle-ground activities:

• Local Nature "Slow" Walks: Forget hiking for distance. Go to a local botanical garden or nature preserve with the sole intent of finding a nice bench or a spot for a picnic.

• Matinee Movies: High-quality AC, comfortable seats, and two hours where no one is asking you for a snack (because they already have popcorn).

• The "Tourist in Your Own Town" Day: Visit that one local museum or quirky landmark you always drive past but never enter. No flights required.

  
  

🏠 The "Maximum Chill" Home Strategy

You don't have to leave the house to feel like you’ve had a vacation.

• The "Yes" Morning: Pick one morning where, within reason, you say "yes" to the kids' requests (Pancakes for breakfast? Cartoons in pajamas all morning? Yes). It removes the friction of constant negotiating.

• Backyard Camping: Set up the tent, grab the sleeping bags, and make s'mores. You get the "adventure" vibe, but with the luxury of a clean bathroom ten feet away.

• Family Reading/Quiet Hour: Set a timer for 60 minutes. Everyone—parents included—must engage in a quiet activity (reading, coloring, puzzles). It’s a collective nervous system reset.

Regular school attendance matters, but if your student misses school, you can submit your student's absence online using the Parent Absence Note Form

Play on pieces of equipment

Jump off high equipment

Push, shove, or wrestle with classmates

Throw mulch

Draw with chalk on the building

Go down the slide headfirst or on their stomach

Walk up the slide

We understand that older siblings may need to walk our kiddos home. Please be sure your child's teacher is aware of this arrangement. We have a new form to be completed by parents/guardians of students that are walked home by siblings that are under 18 years of age. Once the teacher is made aware, we will send home the form.

If your student is not an every day parent pick up, please have your ID when you come to pick up your child from the school. It is BCS policy that we check IDs of every person that request to pick up a student. Please keep this in mind and be paitent with staff when your ID is requested.

If you need to contact Ms. Ballard

Email: cballard@k12.wv.us
School Website : https://www.berkeleycountyschools.org/o/winchesteravenue
Location: 650 WInchester Avenue, Martinsburg, WV 25401
Phone: (304) 267-3570