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Our hearts are with all those impacted by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles and surrounding areas. During times like these, the strength of our community is more important than ever. We stand in solidarity with our neighbors, offering our support, compassion, and prayers to those affected.

The week began with Winston's Professional Development Day on Monday, giving students an extra day off before returning from winter break. The day started with a warm welcome-back circle led by Principal Kelsey Garrison, fostering community and connection among staff.

Leah Deza, Director of Special Education, Assistant Principal Joshua Weeden, and Mrs. Garrison provided training and support for all staff, addressing goals, processes, and expectations towards further effectively supporting students.



By the end of the day, staff felt inspired, prepared, and aligned to start the new term with a shared sense of purpose and readiness.

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

Saturday, January 11

~ Saturday School

Tuesday, January 14

~ Parent Association Meeting, In-Person, Room 25, or via Zoom

Friday, January 17

~ Basketball Game, San Diego Center for Children Academy (SDCCA) vs Winston @ SDCCA, 10:30 AM

Saturday, January 18

~ Saturday School

Monday, January 20

~ Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, No School

Friday, January 24

~ Dungeons and Dragons with Messrs. Weber and Jacobsen and Mx. Roberts, 3:15 PM - 5:30 PM

Tuesday, January 28

~ Star Growth Assembly/Celebration

Thursday, January 30 - HOLD THE DATE

~ Mitchell College Executive Functioning Skill Building at Home Parent Workshop via Zoom, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM–details to follow.

Thursday, February 6

~ Admissions Open House, 1:30 PM

~ Ernie Hartt Day

Welcome to 2025: Building Success and Transforming Winston Together 

It was wonderful to see The Winston School staff and students returning this week refreshed and energized, ready for the exciting new year ahead. 

As I reflect on the successes and milestones of last year – the opening of the revitalized classroom building, the welcoming of returning and new students and staff, and the renewed focus on student success during and after Winton – I look ahead to 2025. 

Many important goals will significantly impact students now and far into the future.  Here are two of our primary goals and events for 2025 that I want to highlight for you today:

WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) Review

This year, we will complete our review and renewal of The Winston School’s accreditation by WASC.  This process ensures our program meets the increasing demands of a high-quality, college preparatory school.  A WASC-accredited diploma assures that the school’s program meets the requirements of colleges and universities nationwide.

The WASC team will visit the Winston campus in March for three days.  During this time, they will review our program, speak with parents, students, Board, and staff, and observe our program in real time.  Parent involvement is essential!  Please look for opportunities to provide input into this vital process.

Campus Revitalization Continues



The campus fundraising campaign and the first steps towards beginning construction for the remaining campus revitalization will begin.  I couldn’t be more excited to move this exciting project forward!  To be clear, this won’t be easy.  Much work must be done to raise $5.5 million and complete the construction.  We have worked with our architect, engineers, and builder for the past year to design a plan with the most impact for each dollar spent.  The new classroom building just completed in November is proof of concept, and applying what we learned to the rest of the campus will result in a campus that matches our student’s needs at a cost we can afford.  

There will be a lot of opportunities for the Winston community to get involved!  Every community member will play an essential role in making this transformation happen.  Keep an eye on this space for updates and ways to get involved.

I look forward to our continued partnership, which is always focused on student success!  Wishing you a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.  Please reach out to me anytime with questions or to say “hello.”

Kim Kanetis

Executive Director

On Thursday, our Leadership Team was hosted for lunch and an informal gathering with Scott Kalland of Mission Prep, an adolescent residential mental health treatment community. This visit provided an opportunity to learn more about their innovative approach to supporting teens with mental health challenges.



Building connections with organizations like Mission Prep is crucial for fostering partnerships that enhance the resources available to our students and their families. It allows us to understand the continuum of care better and identify ways to collaborate on providing holistic, strength-based support for adolescents navigating complex challenges. Click here to learn more.

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