Address: Winn Brook Elementary School 97 Waterhouse Rd, Belmont, MA 02478
Contribute to the Winn Brook PTA online by using the Pay Pal Button below. Donations are tax deductible.
The Winn Brook PTA is once again teaming up with Original Works to provide families with the opportunity to buy high-quality keepsake products that showcase their children’s original artwork. Please look out for the packets that will be sent home with students this week for product offerings, instructions, and order forms.
Students (and siblings) can create their artwork at home, or students can attend one of the FREE after school art sessions being held at Winn Brook next week. Please click here to sign up for one of the after school art sessions either Tuesday March 19th or Friday March 22nd from 2:50pm-3:50pm. There is no cost to participate in an art session and no requirement to submit an order, all art making supplies will be provided. Space is limited at the art sessions, but anyone can participate in Make-A-Gift from home (follow all directions!) - just send a completed Order Form, check payable to Winn Brook PTA, and your original artwork back school before Friday March 29th!
Join the Winn Brook Chess Team this weekend for the exciting Hurvitz Cup, a Massachusetts State Team Chess Championship for schools. Get the details and complete this form ASAP if your K-4th grader player is interested. Once a team is assembled, Oguz Kurt (coordinator and Winn Brook parent) will register the team by this Friday March 15th just in time for the competition this weekend on Sunday March 17th!
In honor of the statewide Crossing Guard Appreciation Day next Wednesday March 20th, please consider printing out one of the two thank you card templates (v1 and v2) attached to this newsletter to sign, color, and give to our very own Crossing Guard Ms. Cindy! Don't have a printer handy? On Monday, look for our Safe Routes to School (SRTS) volunteers at arrival and dismissal who will be handing out these blank thank you card sheets. Original cards, notes, and artwork are also welcome and appreciated. Please bring them to her in person on Wednesday at her post - the crosswalk at Middlecot St. and Cross St.
After 4 long years, STEM Night (formerly Math Night and Science Night) is finally returning to Winn Brook on Thursday, March 28, at 6:30pm! To make this night hands-on and fun for the family, we need your help. We’re seeking volunteers to help run demo tables and teach kids basic science concepts. All demo materials will be provided, so all you need to do is read the instructions/watch the video for your demo beforehand, and come to STEM Night ready to have fun!
If you’d like to help, please use the sign-up link by Monday, March 18. If you have questions, please contact STEM Committee Chair Katy Yang. Thanks for your support to make this night fun!
Thank you to all who have bought tickets for the 4th Grade Raffle already, we are nearly 80% of the way to our goal with 2 weeks left. Buy your tickets for a chance to win your favorite baskets today!
We still need a lot of photos of our 3rd Grade class over their years at Winn Brook. Please submit your photos for the 3rd Grade Yearbook by this Friday March 15th! Questions or need an extra day or two? Please write our co-chairs Li-Wei and Helen.
On Thursday, March 21st from 6:30pm-8:00pm, 4th Graders are invited to join their classmates and friends for Bingo Night in the Winn Brook Cafeteria. Please see the attached flier for additional information. There will be prizes, snacks and mystery Bingo callers!
In order to make this event a success, we need 4th Grade families to volunteer! We are also in need of snacks, decorations, and prizes that can be purchased directly from our Amazon Wishlist to support the event. Please select default address (Trisha Kahn) for shipping so the items will be directly delivered to one location and donations will be collected and transported all to the event. Please reach out to Michelle Miller with any questions.
David A. Kelly, author of the Ballpark Mysteries series, will be visiting Winn Brook on Thursday, March 28th to speak with our 3rd Graders about his approach to writing children's books. There is NO OBLIGATION to purchase a book from this author, however IF you would like to purchase one to have him sign/autograph for your student then please check out the attached flyer for information on ordering a book from David Kelly's website (which he will then bring to Winn Brook to give to your child). If your child already owns one of David Kelly's books or if you prefer to order one from a different site, please have your child bring ONE of his books to school with them by Wednesday, March 27th. Please include a sheet or sticky note in or on the book that includes your child's name and your child's teacher's name. Please note that you will need to purchase a book for your child on your own ahead of time if you want one; no books will be available for sale at the event. Thank you to our 3rd Grade Enrichment Coordinators for organizing this event!
BPS School Calendar 2023-24
Winn Brook School and PTA Calendar
Mar 14: Monthly Staff Treats "So Lucky to Have You" from the Staff Appreciation Committee
Mar 15: 2nd Grade Enrichment - "Wild Adaptations" School Visit from Mass Audubon
Mar 19 & 22: Make-A-Gift Art Session Days - Stay after school for an hour to make some original art with friends. Signup here!
Mar 19: Extracurriculars - Spring Session Preview Available
Mar 20: Crossing Guard Appreciation Day organized by the SRTS Committee
Mar 21: 4th Grade Bingo Night - Winn Brook Cafeteria, 6:30-8pm
Mar 21: Presentation by Superintendent Geiser - Winn Brook Library, 6:30-8pm
Mar 21-25: Extracurriculars - Spring Session Registration Opens 9pm 3/21
Mar 28: 3rd Grade Enrichment - Visit from Author David A. Kelly
Mar 28: STEM Night (formerly Math and Science Nights)
Mar 29: Make-A-Gift Orders Due! (include completed Order Form, check, and original artwork)
Mar 31: 4th Grade March Madness Basket Raffle - Drawing of Winners
April 2: 4th Grade Bake Sale on Election Day
April 2 & 4: 2nd Grade Enrichment - Field Trip to Discover Museum
April 4: PTA Meeting - 7:30pm in the cafeteria
April 8: Winn Brook Bedtime Stories - Zoom Link to Come, 7-8pm
April 11: 3rd Grade Bingo Night
April 12: 4th Grade Enrichment - Giles LaRoche Art Workshop, in school event
April 25: Monthly Staff Treats "Springtime Flowers" from the Staff Appreciation Committee
Well it finally came to pass, but not without a few more hiccups! The cafeteria was positively overflowing with the Winn Brook turnout. Families including Winn Brook alum and future students alike packed in to see the show. All in all it was a crazy fun evening for our community, and most importantly the kids had a blast. By keeping admission free and concessions to $1 a piece, the PTA tried to make this event as accessible as possible and not use it specifically for fundraising. We just about broke even with >$1,300 in concession sales. Thank you for your patience as we worked through a fire alarm, pizza delivery delays, and some tech issues. We can't wait to do it all again next year, and with all our lessons learned it will be better than ever! A huge thank you to Michal Feldman and Libby Fallon, our dedicated Movie Night Committee Co-Chairs, and all the volunteers who helped with concessions, set up, and clean up - and a special shoutout to Prashant Jeloka for stepping up that night and fixing the projection issues. Enjoy more photos available in our gallery.
Registration is open for Belmont Summer Enrichment for Pre-K through 7th Graders! Early drop-off is available. Classes are led by enthusiastic and experienced educators and area. blend of academics and social skill development. Enrichment classes ease transitions from school to summer and back to school for all learners. Check out their amazing course descriptions which include coding, crocheting, gardening, sports, theater, chess, Model UN, and graphic design! Contact us with any questions.
Join the conversation with the Superintendent to talk about where we are in the budget process and what is on the horizon this spring. Included will be the themes that came out of the Superintendent's Report of Entry Findings as related to the FY25 budget. If a date works better for you at a different location than Winn Brook - feel free to attend!
Date
Host Organization
Time
Location
Feb 29, 2024
Burbank PTA
6:00 PM
Burbank School Cafeteria
March 7, 2024
BMS PTO
6:30 PM
Belmont Middle School
March 13, 2024
Beech Street Center
10:00 AM
BHS PTSO
7:00 PM
Belmont High School Auditorium
March 14, 2024
Chenery PTO
Chenery Upper Elementary (CUE)
Large Community Room
March 21, 2024
Winn Brook PTA
Winn Brook School Library
March 26, 2024
Butler PTA
Remote - Zoom
Passcode: 213517
FBE Spelling Bee: Registration for the FBE Spelling Bee closes on March 15th!
Spread a Little Sunshine Campaign: Looking for a way to thank a teacher, grandparent, caretaker, or carpool parent for all they do? Look no further than the FBE's Spread a Little Sunshine campaign! A beautiful pot of daffodils is $15 each or purchase (5) for $70. The first deadline for orders is Wed, March 13th (but orders will be delivered every Wednesday through April 10th). Don't delay - spread a little sunshine today! Also, we are looking for volunteers for this event! If you are interested, please sign up here. All proceeds from this event benefit Belmont Public Schools.
Outstanding Teacher Award: Who is the most outstanding teacher at Winn Brook this year? Please use this form to nominate them for the Outstanding Teacher Award! The FBE’s Outstanding Teacher Awards are given annually to one teacher at each Belmont public school based on nominations from parents, students (including high school and middle school students), and community members. There isn’t much time left before the nomination period closes on March 20th, so please submit your nomination today.
The PTA runs on an amazing engine of volunteers like you, and we have many opportunities throughout the year for families and guardians to participate and support our students. If you haven’t already, the best place to start is by completing our Parent Volunteer Interest Form.
Here are some ways you can get involved today:
Donate to the PTA - Each fall we hold an Annual Appeal, but donations are welcome any time of year and directly support our students, staff, and school. Checks, PayPal, and Venmo are all accepted. Learn how to contribute to the PTA and the ways your donation makes a difference at Winn Brook here.
Donate to the Backup Clothing Closet - Keeping our backup clothing closet well stocked is especially important for Nurse Carbeck who needs changes of clothes for students every day due to spills and accidents that happen at school. To help, first sign-up to donate backup clothing here then launder and package the item in a Ziploc bag, label the size on the outside, and deliver it to the front office.
Purchase and Wear Winn Brook Swag - Head to our Winn Brook Swag Square Site and get outfitted today with long-sleeve t-shirts, flannel pants, hoodies, and beanies to show your Winn Brook pride all year. All purchases support the PTA's 3rd Grade Committee, order now while supplies last!
Volunteer in the Lunchroom - **NEW DATES ADDED** The cafeteria needs up to 3 lunchroom volunteers per lunch period. This is a fun way to visit with the kids in the middle of the school day and help provide much needed (and appreciated) coverage for our staff.
Volunteer in the Library - there are two ways to help in the Winn Brook library:
Sign up to volunteer during your child’s weekly library class. You'll help your child and their classmates check books in and out at the circulation desk plus shelve returns to help our librarian.
Friends of the Library - This separate group of volunteers work on special projects as requested and as needed by the librarian. Some tasks can be done at home while others will be completed in the library itself. Email our librarian Doreen Cameron if you are interested in being a part of the new "Friends of the Library."
Volunteer with the Welcome Committee - Would you like to help welcome and orient families new to Winn Brook, to Belmont, maybe even new to the country? Please fill in this Companion to New Winn Brook Family form and we’ll be in touch if there is a match that could use your support and companionship!
Volunteer with the Staff Appreciation Committee - Help keep our staff nourished, pampered, and cared for while they support our kids by signing up to bring in Monthly Teacher Treats.
Volunteer with 3rd or 4th Grade Committees - Have a third or fourth grader and it is their final year at Winn Brook? It’s not too late to get in on the fun and event planning for our "graduating" students! Check out all the ways you can pitch in on the 3rd Grade Committee or 4th Grade Committee to make their last year here special and memorable.
Visit our Lost and Found online! Check our regularly updated photos of Lost and Found items then stop by the school to collect your things before they are donated to charity. Anything clearly labeled will be returned to the student's classroom by our Lost and Found Committee volunteers.
The students' safety must be our priority. Every day we see dangerous and illegal driving and parking practices at Winn Brook by drivers in our own school community. Our Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Committee reminds us all to please:
Follow the Winn Brook Arrival & Dismissal Plan and associated map
Use the Student Drop-Off Zone on Sherman Street properly
Never obstruct crosswalks, driveways, intersections, disability spaces, or fire hydrants
Never enter or obstruct any Winn Brook parking lot or driveway
Never idle at school, it’s against MA law. Always turn off your vehicle as soon as you are in park.
Never make U-Turns/reverse direction in the school zone
Obey signage, there are one way streets and No Parking/Stopping areas during Arrival and Dismissal times
Never double-park
Never allow your child to enter or exit your vehicle while in the street
With your cooperation and effort we can ensure a much safer and healthier experience for our walkers, bikers, busers, and drivers alike while maintaining critical access for emergency and first responder vehicles at all times.
Weekly Winnies (the PTA weekly newsletter you are currently reading!) will be emailed to you every Wednesday with updates on events, volunteer opportunities, school happenings and more.
Winn Brook Listserv - sign up for the Winn Brook Listserv to receive important correspondence from both the school and your PTA.
PTA Website & Calendar - The PTA Events Calendar and PTA News & Announcements on our website are current! Check regularly.
Room Parents - each classroom has 1-2 volunteer Room Parents who act as liaisons between the classroom teacher, PTA, and parents/guardians. Look for emails from them! Check here if you aren’t sure who your Room Parents are this year.
Erika Roberts & Sarah Boyle
Winn Brook PTA Co-Presidents
winnbrookptapresidents@gmail.com