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Spirit Month at Winston came to a thrilling conclusion, highlighted by a fantastic Halloween Costume Parade and Contest! Throughout October, students and staff celebrated different music genres each week, amplifying school spirit with themed dress-up days, Minute-to-Win-It challenges, and a competitive Food Drive to support the San Diego Food Bank.

This year, we also featured a spirited T-Shirt Design Contest, where students put their creativity on display. The winning design by Hannah K. from the Green Team will be showcased on the official Spirit Month T-Shirt coming soon and will be proudly worn by students and staff throughout the school year. Second- and third-place finishers Fenix S. (Red Team) and Daniel M-S (Black Team) should also be commended for their artistic submissions. All the design finalists will be featured in the yearbook next spring.

To cap off the celebrations, we hosted an all-school Field Day last Friday, where teams faced off in exciting activities, bringing everyone together for a day of friendly competition and camaraderie.

At the end of it all, Spirit Month organizers Messrs. Weber and Jacobsen announced the winners at a school-wide assembly yesterday.

Congratulations to the Black Team for taking first place with their Disco theme, the Green Team for their close second-place finish with a Video Games theme, and the Purple Team for earning third with their strong Hip Hop vibes.

Thank you to everyone who joined the festivities, showed team spirit, and helped make this Spirit Month unforgettable!

In this issue: Highlights from an unforgettable Spirit Month at Winston, featuring weekly themes, spirited dress-up days, a T-shirt design contest, and a Halloween costume parade. We celebrated with an all-school Field Day and crowned the Black Team champions with their Disco theme!

In addition to Spirit Month, you’ll find reminders about Daylight Savings Time and Election Day tips on fostering constructive civic discussions. We also welcomed educators from Sweden for a knowledge-sharing visit, and our high schoolers explored grit and teamwork in the Career Exploration class.

Learn more about our community partnerships, upcoming events, and the Blue Envelope Program with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department.

Today, we also celebrated four outstanding students recognized by their teachers and honored by the Culinary Arts team with a gourmet lunch, acknowledging their dedication and achievements.

Finally, we invite you to support our Annual Fund and help shape the future of our Winston Heroes, including sixth-grader Harrison S., who loves Winston’s supportive environment and fun learning opportunities. 

• The 2024-2025 Winston Academic Calendar is on our website. Click here.

Saturday, November 2

~ Saturday School

Monday, November 4

~ Parent Association Meeting, 2:30 PM, Room 25, or via Zoom. Register here to let us know if you're coming!

Monday, November 4 - Wednesday, November 6

~ Student Council will be airing “Coco” during lunch in honor of Día de los Muertos

Tuesday, November 5

~ San Diego Community College District Information Presentation via Google Meet, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Wednesday, November 6

~ Parent-Teacher Conferences, 1:30 PM - 4:16 PM via Zoom

Saturday, November 9

~ No Saturday School

Monday, November 11

~ Veterans Day, No School

Wednesday, November 13

~ Courthouse Field Trip, 12th grade, 8:30 AM - 12:15 PM

~ Parent-Teacher Conferences, 1:30 PM - 4:16 PM via Zoom

Monday, November 25 - Friday, November 29

~ Thanksgiving Break, No School

Upcoming General Election



As we approach the upcoming general election, we encourage our Winston community to consider ways to model constructive responses to the results once they are announced. Engaging in open, respectful conversations at home about what the outcomes mean—sharing hopes and concerns and discussing how we can all contribute to a brighter future—can help our students understand that civic engagement is more than a single event. By fostering resilience, compassion, and thoughtful reflection, we show our students that our collective well-being is strengthened through ongoing dialogue and action, no matter our differences.

On Friday, October 25, The Winston School was honored to host three teachers from Polhems Anpassade Gymnasieskola–Elin Lönn, Lise-Lotte Nordström, and Jenny Lundkvist, a public upper secondary school in Stockholm, Sweden, that supports students with special needs. As part of their scholarship-supported visit to San Diego, the educators connected with Principal Kelsey Garrison and focused on exploring knowledge-sharing opportunities in specialized education. Their visit underscores a shared commitment to enhancing educational practices for students with diverse learning profiles and highlights an inspiring international collaboration.

In Winston School's Career Exploration class, high school students dive into the essential qualities of grit and teamwork, exploring why these traits are invaluable in the classroom and workplace. Through hands-on activities, group projects, and real-life scenarios, they learn that grit – the perseverance and passion to reach long-term goals – is critical to overcoming challenges and achieving success. Teamwork, on the other hand, teaches the power of collaboration, communication, and supporting each other's strengths. These qualities build a foundation for academic and professional success, personal growth, and resilience in any environment.

Today, four outstanding students—12th grader Hannah K. and 10th graders Tesla B., Sophia L., and Ryn W. were celebrated by their Culinary Arts peers with a gourmet lunch. The menu featured tortilla chips with tableside-made guacamole and cantina-style salsa, followed by made-to-order carne asada and chicken street tacos on corn tortillas topped with fresh cilantro and white onions. For dessert, students enjoyed cinnamon-sugar tortilla chips covered with mixed berries, Mexican chocolate, and homemade whipped cream, complemented by a refreshing strawberry guava drink.

If you want to support our Culinary Arts program, please click here to help offset the cost of ingredients and supplies.

As a reminder, The Winston School collaborates with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department to offer the Blue Envelope Program. This valuable initiative enhances communication between law enforcement and community members with conditions or disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, dementia, or anxiety, which may require extra awareness and accommodations during interactions.

The program enables individuals to present a Blue Envelope or display its logo when engaging with law enforcement or community service personnel. The envelope can hold essential items like identification, emergency contacts, and vehicle documents (registration, insurance), ensuring smoother communication and understanding.

Notably, the Blue Envelope Program is voluntary and does not require a registry, making it a flexible, self-directed resource.

Winston has a variety of Blue Envelope outreach materials available, including:



• Blue Envelopes
• Wallet Information Cards
• Lanyards
• Seat Belt Covers
• Button Pins
• Ribbons
• Key Chains
• Bracelets
• Stickers

If you’d like to access these materials or learn more, please contact Maureen Kendrick at maureen.kendrick@thewinstonschool.org or click here for additional information.

Register here for our upcoming Winston Admissions Open House on Tuesday, November 19, at 1:30 PM. Discover our unique approach with rolling admissions--apply anytime and start your journey when the time is right for your student.

Join us for a celebration of Winston Arts for friends and families!

Heroes Needed: Help Us Shape the Heroes of Tomorrow – Support Our Annual Fund

Winston Hero and proud 6th grader Harrison S. shares why Winston School makes a difference:

"I love Winston because we have small classrooms, and the classrooms are, for the most part, quiet. I also love Winston because the staff and workers are very supportive and nice.

Finally, I love Winston because we have so many educational

and fun opportunities!"

At Winston, we're dedicated to providing a nurturing environment where students like Harrison can thrive, finding both educational success and personal support. Your gift to our Annual Fund directly supports the individualized learning experiences, caring community, and unique opportunities that help our students reach their fullest potential. Together, let’s shape the heroes of tomorrow.

Please donate now and help us shape the future!

🎨✨ Our middle school students got creative with an awesome paint-pour pumpkin project! They experimented with colors, poured paint, and watched beautiful marbled patterns transform their pumpkins into one-of-a-kind masterpieces. 🎃

This project was not only fun but also a chance for students to express their unique styles and get into the fall spirit. Check out these vibrant works of art and give a big shoutout to our budding artists! 🍂

The Student Council Halloween Bake Sale was a spooky success! Students enjoyed deliciously ghoulish treats, served by our dedicated council members. Assistant Principal Mr. Weeden and Executive Assistant and Yearbook Coordinator Ms. Deidra, both festively dressed, helped bring the Halloween spirit to life. 👻🧁 Thank you to everyone for your support!

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