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.
On Tuesday April 2nd, Belmont voters head to the polls. This Election Day there are a number municipal positions to fill as well as ballot questions to answer. We encourage the Winn Brook School community to stay informed of the impacts Question 1 (proposed override of Proposition 2½) has on our schools and our town. Superintendent Geiser has provided us with these informative links from her recent budget presentations around Belmont (including at Winn Brook last Thursday night) which present both scenarios, if the override does or does not pass, and how it impacts Belmont Public Schools (BPS) in the short and longterm:
Be informed and don't forget to vote!
Join us in the cafeteria Thursday March 27th from 6:30-8pm for STEM Night - a fun night of science-themed exploration free and open to all. Students of all ages will see (and participate in) many cool demonstrations in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Don't miss the special guest appearance from Lego Prime teams of FIRST Lego League Robotics. Be curious and be inspired! We'll see you there. See attached flyer.
Join us in the cafeteria next Thursday, April 4th at 7:30pm for our next PTA Meeting of the school year. All Winn Brook families are welcome to attend this general membership meeting. Hear from the PTA Executive Board and Winn Brook staff liaisons. We will present important information about open PTA positions for next school year like Vice President, Secretary, and Co-Chairs needed for Committees like Extracurriculars, Safe Routes to School, Book Fair, etc. Ask questions and get involved, we value your input and greatly appreciate all of our wonderful volunteers.
We'll also vote to approve the draft Meeting Minutes from our last PTA Meeting on January 18th.
Thursday, April 11th is 3rd Grade Bingo Night, 6:30-8pm in the cafeteria. Save the date and see attached flyer for more details on this fun-filled evening for our 3rd Grade students in their final year at Winn Brook.
Place your Make-A-Gift order by Friday, March 29th! Anyone is welcome to participate: Winn Brook students, siblings, staff and their kids, etc. Just return these three items to school by Friday: 1) a completed Order Form, 2) your original artwork, and 3) payment (check payable to Winn Brook PTA, PayPal, or Venmo). Please include "Make A Gift/Student Name" in the notes of any online payment. We expect Original Works to fulfill our orders by the last week of April. We can't wait to see what the students create and how they look on mugs, pillowcases, keychains, magnets, and more!
(Photo of items sent home with your student last week.)
Great job, Winn Brook! We have exceeded our sales goal for the 4th Grade Raffle. You can still buy raffle tickets for a chance to win your favorite baskets right up until the winners are drawn Sunday, March 31st at 9pm.
Stop by the 4th Grade Bake Sale on Election Day next Tuesday, April 2nd and purchase some yummy treats for a great cause. Enter the school through the Cross Street doors and head to the lobby outside the gym. Cash, Venmo, and PayPal will be accepted.
Want to donate to the Bake Sale? ANYONE can sign up here to donate baked goods.
Want to volunteer? 4th Grade Families, please sign up to work a Bake Sale slot here!
BPS School Calendar 2023-24
Winn Brook School and PTA Calendar
Mar 28: 3rd Grade Enrichment - Visit from Author David A. Kelly
Mar 28: STEM Night (formerly Math and Science Nights), 6:30-8pm in the cafeteria. Free and open to all!
Mar 29: Make-A-Gift Orders Due! (include completed Order Form, original artwork, and payment)
Mar 31: 4th Grade March Madness Basket Raffle - Drawing of Winners at 9pm
April 2: 4th Grade Bake Sale on Election Day, open 7am-8pm in the lobby outside the gym
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 - Google Meet, 7-8pm
April 11: 3rd Grade Bingo Night, 6:30-8pm in the cafeteria
April 12: 4th Grade Enrichment - Giles LaRoche Art Workshop, in school event
April 25: Monthly Staff Treats "Springtime Flowers" from the Staff Appreciation Committee
On March 21st, 4th Graders gathered in the cafeteria for Bingo Night and had a fantastic time! The 4th Grade teachers - Ms. Thayer, Ms. Kelleher, Mr. O'Neil, and Ms. Aviles - surprised and delighted the kids by showing up to be guest bingo callers. Special thanks to them for coming out. There were many winners and prizes won, and regardless everyone left with a smile. Thank you to all the 4th Grade Committee Bingo Night volunteers for making the event a success: Kathryn O'Connell; Trisha Kahn; Amanda Lubarsky; Andrea Bruno; Karleen Greene Fallon; Katy Yang; Rachel Hinchliffe; and Sarah Boyle. The PTA would also like to give a shoutout to the Bingo Night Chair, Michelle Miller, for making it a memorable event for our last 4th Grade class at Winn Brook to share together.
Last week the PTA held two free art making sessions after school which were open to all Winn Brook students. We had 34 different artists across all five grades attend. Thank you to our PTA volunteers for hosting the events and keeping our Winn Brook artists well supplied and encouraged: Rebecca Cadigan - Make-A-Gift Chair; Portia Thompson; Erika Roberts; and Winn Brook alumna Beatrice Cadigan. Don't forget to send any orders back to school by Friday, March 29th if you are interested in turning the artwork into memorable keepsakes through Original Works. See more photos in the Gallery.
Ms. Cindy was very touched by the flowers and all the thank you cards she received on March 20th for Crossing Guard Appreciation Day. We're grateful to our community for taking the time to recognize her and celebrate her. Thank you also to our Safe Routes to School (SRTS) volunteers who helped make the day extra special for her: Portia Thompson; Jen Demetropoulos; Erika Roberts; Meenal Bagla; Trish Kapur; and Georgina Lamont.
On March 15th, Mass Audubon visited Winn Brook's 2nd Graders for a “Wild Adaptations” presentation. Fully funded by the PTA, the children learned a lot through this interactive experience with wildlife experts. Special thanks to 2nd Grade Enrichment Coordinator Katy Yang for bringing them to us!
Were you able to attend one of the Superintendent presentations this month? Here are some helpful links to the key messages from Dr. Geiser's talks around Town depicting two scenarios - if the override (Question 1 on the ballot) passes or does not pass on April 2nd:
This information has been provided by the Superintendent's Office to all Belmont Public Schools for dissemination.
Ever consider being a Crossing Guard? Belmont is hiring! Please see the attached flyer from the Town and pass on to anyone who you think could be interested in this valuable part-time position. Job openings are available now.
Belmont's Recreation Department is hosting an Eclipse Watch Party 1:30-4pm on Monday, April 8th at the Beech Street Center and Town Fields. All ages are welcome and viewing glasses will be provided to watch the solar eclipse safely. There will be games, food, and crafts as well - see the attached flyer for details and don't miss this extraordinary once in a lifetime experience!
Calling all beginner lacrosse players! Belmont Youth Lacrosse is partnering with Scoops for the Spring. If are looking to try lacrosse for the first time, go here: https://www.scoopslax.com/register/springscoopsarlington24
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 - 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