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Western Dress-Up Day! 🤠🐴

We had a yeehaw of a time during our Western Dress-Up Day today! From cowboy hats and boots to flannel shirts and bandanas, our halls were filled with school spirit and western flair.

Big thanks to everyone who joined in the fun. We saw some mighty fine outfits and lots of smiles. Can’t wait to do it again next time—until then, keep your hats on and your boots dusty!

WASC Feedback

In this week's newsletter, we will focus on WASC Feedback from Section C: Learning and Teaching. 

Here’s an excerpt from their report:

The Winston School has a renewed focus on creating rigor in each class and ensuring relevant work is provided in an equity-centered environment.

Winston Focus Groups found that all students are involved in challenging and relevant work in an equity-centered environment, which has been shown through teaching methodologies teachers employ to enrich and provide intervention for students. Teachers provide direct instruction, group work, and opportunities for discussion. Teachers also employ multimodal lessons to scaffold and differentiate instruction. Students are supported through accommodations and appropriate scaffolds as they complete challenging and relevant grade-level tasks. There is an opportunity to further develop shared understanding around evidence-based teaching methodologies that allow for consistency across classrooms, while also providing opportunities for responsive teaching.

The Winston School has also found through department and staff meetings that they need to develop a coherent and unified understanding of rigor and relevance. The goal is for all students to be able to access content on their own level, and be provided intervention or enrichment. In order to improve this area, Winston needs to develop more consistent standards-based rubrics across grade levels and content areas. With rubric moderation and calibration, teachers will be able to provide more challenging work for higher-achieving students, alongside intervention for students who need more support.

Most students experience an equity-centered learning environment. An area of growth identified in the Self-Study Report is to enhance and build consistency with standards-based rubrics for student performance across grade levels and content areas. Ensuring that this is not only consistent, but understood by all teachers, is key. It includes close examination of what challenging and relevant learning experiences are and how they are reflected in the school wide goals, academic standards, and college and career readiness indicators.

Most teachers use a variety of strategies to create an equity-centered learning environment, and student voice and agency are applicable to many students allowing them to be engaged in decision making about their own learning. Further, active engagement in learning by all students is evidenced throughout some of the courses. Identifying and clarifying what ‘meeting’ a standard is (and is not) will be an essential step in considering challenges for some students, and differentiated support for all students.

Areas of Strength 

● Student engagement is encouraged within an equity-centered environment. 

● Student voice and agency are evident throughout multiple and varied opportunities for students to engage in the classroom and beyond. 

● Most classrooms and teachers use digital learning resources and engage students in problem-solving opportunities. 

● Written curriculum is evident, and includes writing and revising scope, sequences, and syllabi yearly to outline learning objectives for each course. 

Areas of Growth 

● Student understanding of learning expectations and improving consistency with common and consistent rubrics across grade levels and content areas. 

● Taught and assessed curriculum, to include challenging higher-achieving students and continuing to develop differentiating for the students with the most skill gaps. 

● Student independence can be further promoted by providing students with more work/intern experience.

Kim Kanetis

Executive Director

Kelsey Garrison

Principal

Friday, April 25

~ 5:30 - 7:00 PM Beacon College Presentation on campus

Monday & Tuesday, April 28 & 29

~ Senior Shark Tank Presentations

Wednesday, April 30

~ 9:30 - 10:00 AM Middle School Awards Ceremony on campus or Zoom

~ 10:20 - 11:20 AM High School Awards Ceremony on campus or Zoom

~ 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM Shake Shack Fundraiser (see flyer below for details)

Thursday, May 1

~ ~ Art due to Ms. Carol to submit for the San Diego County Fair

~ 1:35 - 3:15 PM Career Fair

Friday, May 2

~ Bulldog Day - No School

Saturday, May 3

~ No Saturday School

Monday, May 5 - Friday, May 9

~ Staff Appreciation Week (Email from Parent Association coming on Monday, 4/28, on how to support)

Monday, May 5

~ 12:15 - 1:35 PM IM 2 Field Trip

Tuesday, May 6

~ 8:00 - 9:00 AM Parent Coffee Social

~ Star Growth Testing Celebration (ice cream truck)

Thursday, May 8

~ 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM Museum of Contemporary Art - 11th Grade Field Trip

Friday, May 9

~ School Spirit Day: Crazy Hair/Silly Hat Dress Up Day

~ 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Softball Game Winston vs. Sierra

~ 5:00 - 6:00 PM Autism Presentation Zoom

Saturday, May 10

~ 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Saturday School

Friday, May 16

~ 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Softball Game Winston vs. SDCCA

~ 6:00 - 9:30 PM Prom (Marina Village Conference Center)

Saturday, May 17

~ 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Saturday School

Monday, May 19

~ 12:15 - 1:35 PM IM 3 & Calculus Field Trip

Tuesday, May 20

~ 2:30 - 3:30 PM Parent Association Meeting, Room 25 or Zoom

Friday, May 23

~ 9:00 AM - 12:35 PM Senior Beach Day

Saturday, May 24

~ 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Saturday School (Final one of the year)

Monday, May 26

~ Memorial Day - No School

Tuesday, May 27

~ Senior Breakfast & Slide Show

Wednesday, May 28

~ Senior Movie Day / Last day of attendance for seniors

~ 10:30 - 11:30 AM Middle School Graduation

Thursday, May 29

~ Last Day of School - Early Dismissal (1:00 PM)

~ 4:00 - 5:30 PM High School Graduation

Tuesday, June 10

~ Summer School Begins

🎓 You're Invited! Discover Beacon College – An Evening of Insight & Inspiration

Join us this upcoming week for a special event featuring Beacon College, a unique institution dedicated to empowering students with learning differences to achieve academic and career success.

📅 Event Date: Friday, April 25

⏰ Time: 5:30 - 7:00 PM 

📍Location: The Winston School - Room 20

Whether you're a prospective student, parent, educator, or just curious to learn more, this is your chance to experience the Beacon difference.

✅ Space is limited! Be sure to RSVP and secure your spot today.

Our students are excited to take part in this second annual fair on campus! The College and Career Fair is happening next Thursday, on May 1. This event is a fantastic opportunity for students to explore a variety of college programs, connect with local professionals, and gain insights into future career pathways. Representatives from colleges and industries will be on campus to share information, answer questions, and inspire our students as they plan their next steps.

We encourage all students to come prepared with curiosity and questions.

📅 Event Date: Thursday, May 1

⏰ Time: 1:35 - 3:15 PM 

📍Location: The Winston School Quad

For more information, please reach out to Ms.Pallisco at ashley.pallisco@thewinstonschool.org.

Save the Date for Prom! May 16, 2025

Join us for an out-of-this-world experience as we launch into a cosmic night of fun, dancing, and dining with friends from Winston! Enjoy a stellar photo booth and explore the galaxy in our game truck. Tickets are $80 per person, but don't miss the launch window—prices will soar after May 1! You'll receive a transmission with event details closer to liftoff. Dive into your generosity and help us fuel this celestial celebration! Every contribution counts in propelling our space-themed extravaganza to new heights! Please consider donating here to help make this event memorable for all students. This event is for high school students only. Tickets may be purchased online or by cash/check in the front office. Next week is the final week of early bird pricing (May 2, the price increases to $90).

The Parent Association is committed to making prom fun and accessible for as many students as possible. To do this, we need your help! Please indicate here if you are able to support our students or if you are in need of support. Let's make this a night to remember for all.

2025 Summer School Program

Reserve your place now!  Early sign-ups ensure your enrollment.

For Private students, sign up here: Summer Enrollment Form 

For District-placed students, sign up here: Summer Enrollment Form  

Please reach out to Mr. Jacobsen with any questions.

✉️ russell.jacobsen@thewinstonschool.org

Join us for this year’s award ceremonies held in the auditorium and on Zoom. Celebrate the day by enjoying a great meal at The Shake Shack. The Winston School will receive 25% of the proceeds going towards programs for Winston! One day only! See the flyer below for more information.

Calling all artists: You are invited to represent Winston at this year’s San Diego County Fair. Please submit your art to Ms. Carol by May 1st.

After morning drop-off, we invite you to take a moment to connect with fellow parents over a warm cup of coffee. It's a relaxed opportunity to catch up, build community, and start the day with good conversation.

🗓 Date: Tuesday, May 6

🕗 Time: Immediately following drop-off (approx. 8:00 AM)

📍 Location: The Winston School - Room 23

Whether you have a few minutes or can stay a bit longer, we’d love to see you there!

Are you passionate about shaping the future of students with learning differences? The Winston School is seeking dedicated individuals to join our Board of Directors starting July 1, 2025, as we embark on an exciting new school year.

We’re looking for creative, committed leaders who can bring fresh ideas, diverse perspectives, and a shared vision to support our mission of providing quality education to every student. This is your chance to make a lasting impact in our community!

Does this sound like you?

‣ Passionate Advocate: Enthusiastic about education and The Winston School’s

mission.

‣ Collaborative Spirit: Works well with others to achieve shared goals.

‣ Innovative Thinker: Offers creative solutions and forward-thinking ideas.

‣ Community-Minded: Connected to and invested in our local community.

‣ Reliable Leader: Committed to attending meetings and fulfilling

responsibilities.

Whether you bring expertise in education, finance, marketing, law, healthcare, or entrepreneurship, your distinct perspective, skills, and insights, paired with a shared commitment to our mission, will help us build a stronger, more impactful school.

We encourage current or alumni parents to apply! One Board seat opening is reserved for a parent - no one understands the impact Winston has as much as a parent does. In fact, our current Board President is an alumni parent.

Interested? Click here.

Contact our Executive Director, Ms. Kim Kanetis, at kimk@thewinstonschool.org to learn more about this rewarding opportunity. 

Yearbooks can be purchased online or with cash or check (payable to The Winston School). The cost is $65.

Would you want to donate a yearbook to a student? Please contact deidra.wilkins@thewinstonschool.org.

If you're interested in visiting an art exhibit in Oceanside, the Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) is a great place to consider. For the next several months you may see their exhibit “The Art of Autism: A Different Lens.” The Exhibition Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM. Register online to attend.

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