Winchester Public Schools

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WELCOME TO
WINCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS!
Winchester's public schools are vitally important to the success of the city. The Winchester Public Schools system upholds a heritage of commitment to education dating back over 250 years. Our progressive educational program is comprehensive and based on a continuing commitment to low student-teacher ratios that meet or exceed state requirements and hiring and retaining an outstanding staff of educators.

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In the News @ WPS

JLARC Survey of Virginia Parents About School Calendars

The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC), the staff research agency for the Virginia General Assembly, is surveying parents about school calendars, with a focus on year-round calendars. This survey presents an opportunity for parents to share their views on school calendars with the General Assembly. The survey should require less than 5 minutes to complete and will be a valuable part of JLARC's study of year-round schools. Click HERE to access the survey.

If you have problems completing the survey, please contact JLARC staff at schools@jlarc.virginia.gov.

Stewart Bell “Excellence in Teaching” Award Nominations Now Being Sought

Nominations are now being sought for the annual Stewart Bell “Excellence in Teaching” Award. The award includes a cash honorarium given to an educator in the Winchester Public Schools. This year's award recipient will be selected from Daniel Morgan Middle School (DMMS).

The award was established by former Winchester Mayor Stewart Bell, Jr. in 1985 with a $20,000 endowment intended to reward exceptional performance in classroom teaching. In 1997, enough interest had accrued to grant the first award, which has since been given annually based on a rotation of the city schools.

Nominations for the Stewart Bell “Excellence in Teaching” Award are open to the public. Click here for a nomination form: | English | Español | Forms may also be secured at the Winchester School Board Office or at the Daniel Morgan Middle School office. The deadline for receipt of nominations is June 7, 2012. The recipient will be announced at the WPS Convocation on August 27 at the start of the 2012-2013 school year.
MORE INFO: | English | Español |

Opportunities for Parents from the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities

The Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD) announces opportunities for parents of young children with developmental disabilities and self-advocates. Click HERE for more information.

Preschool Testing for the 2012-13 School Year

Winchester Public Schools will be conducting preschool testing on May 31-June 1 and June 4-5, 2012 at Quarles Elementary School and Virginia Avenue Charlotte DeHart Elementary School. On the day your child is tested, you will need to provide the child's name, address, date of birth, parent(s) name, and phone number. For test times, information on scheduling a test time, and eligibility requirements, click here: | English | Español |

WPS Comprehensive Plan

The Winchester Public Schools Comprehensive Plan is built on a foundation for continuous improvement, guided by Correlates of the Effective Schools Research. The correlates are the means to achieving quality and equity with the expectation that all children will learn. The goals, priorities, and strategic initiatives guide the school division’s plans of action for the next six years.

One of the first steps in developing the Comprehensive Plan was to conduct an Environmental Scan. The Environmental Scan – a process of data collection on external/internal factors that may influence the school division's mission, vision, goals and strategies in the immediate future – focused upon research best practices and trends in the educational environment. Key school division leaders collected or compiled research and summarized their findings.

For more information on our Comprehensive Plan, Environmental Scan, and Technology Plan, click HERE or click on the Comprehensive Plan link under either the School Board or System Information section.

2011-2012 Special Education Parent Involvement Survey

All parents of school-aged children and youth who receive special education services in Virginia’s schools are encouraged to complete the Department of Education’s annual Parent Involvement Survey. This is a great opportunity for you as parents to provide input to help guide efforts to improve services and outcomes for your children. Your responses will be kept anonymous and never be personally linked to your child. The results of this important survey will be made available to the public. | SURVEY |

Internet Safety for Parents

Winchester Public Schools would like to thank U.S. Attorney Tim Heaphy and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy Healey for an excellent presentation on keeping kids safe online. Below is a list of helpful resources on internet safety from Ms. Healey's presentation.

For more information, tips, and resources on protecting your kids online, click HERE.

AlertNow Parent Access Portal

Parents and staff wishing to customize how they are contacted may do so through the AlertNow Parent Access Portal. The portal allows users to create an account then log on and configure their profiles. Parents must have a current email address on file with the school where their child attends in order to be able to access this portal. WPS employees may access the portal using their WPS email address.

Please note that this system should not be used to change contact information. Any changes in contact information should be reported directly to your child's school. Employees should contact the personnel department to report any changes in their contact information.

For more information and directions on setting up an account, click on the AlertNow button at left.

Last Updated May 17, 2012