Friday Communication from the Winston School, 6/14/2024👩🏼‍🎓🧑🏾‍🎓👨🏻‍🍳

Last Friday, the Winston School celebrated its 31st graduating class with cherished traditions and heartfelt moments. The ceremony began with the graduates being escorted by Robert Burns, an accomplished performer on the Great Highland Bagpipe, setting a tone of solemnity and pride. The lantern's lighting, which originated from a misunderstood directive to a Winston staff member years ago when asked to procure a lectern for the graduation ceremony and instead returned to campus with the purchase of a lantern, has come to symbolize an important Winston principle–it's not what you don't have that matters; it's what you do have and the passing of knowledge and hope from one class to the next.

During the ceremony, our incoming Executive Director, Kim Kanetis, honored our retiring Head of School, Mary Sterling-Torretti, for her 35 years of dedicated service. Mary, affectionately known as Mrs. S-T, has been a cornerstone of our community, mentoring countless students and educators and playing a pivotal role in developing our school curriculum and securing accreditations. Her legacy of commitment and excellence will continue to inspire us as we move forward.

Our seniors delivered moving speeches, sharing their journeys and aspirations. Teachers and school professionals also took the stage, offering personal anecdotes and celebrating the unique achievements of each graduate. A highlight of the ceremony was honoring our Winston Heroes—Aydan Collaton Scott from the Class of 2014 and David Rivera from the Class of 2019, who have made significant contributions since their time at Winston and were both awarded the Winston S. Churchill Hero Award.

Reflecting on the challenges our seniors have faced, including the onset of a global pandemic and the loss of a beloved teacher, we were reminded of their resilience and determination. Despite these obstacles, our students persevered, and we are confident they will continue to accomplish great things. As they embark on their next journey, we look forward to seeing their positive impact on the world and remembering to never, never, never give up.

In this issue...The Winston School celebrates milestones: Middle and high school graduations shine with achievement and hope; Tanner W. triumphs in a thrilling Iron Chef showdown. Join us at City Hall in Del Mar on Monday, June 17, at 4:30 PM as the City Council honors Head of School Mary Sterling-Torretti with a proclamation celebrating her 35 years of educational excellence and leadership at the Winston School. Winston partners with Top Notch Lunches for its free school lunch program! Upcoming Club Beacons event on June 22! San Diego Youth Leadership Forum at San Diego City College, June 24-26. Discount deadline approaching to reserve your student’s spot for the 2025 Spring High School trip to Boston.

The 2024-2025 Winston Academic Calendar is on our website. Click here.
The first day of the 2024/25 School Year is Monday, August 12.

Now through Sunday, July 17

~ San Diego County Fair (closed Mondays and Tuesdays), gates open at 11:00 AM. Please plan your drive times to Winston accordingly.

Monday, June 17

~ Del Mar City Council honors Mary Sterling-Torretti for her 35 years of educational excellence and leadership at the Winston School, City of Del Mar, Town Hall, 1050 Camino del Mar, at 4:30 PM or via the link here.

Wednesday, June 19

~ Juneteenth - No School

Friday, June 21

~ Dungeons and Dragons with Messrs. Jacobsen and Weber and Mx. Roberts, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Saturday, June 22

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

Friday, June 28

~ Dungeons and Dragons with Messrs. Jacobsen and Weber and Mx. Roberts, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Saturday, June 29

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

Thursday, July 4

~ 4th of July Holiday - No School

Friday, July 5

~ 4th of July Holiday - No School

Friday, July 12

~ Dungeons and Dragons with Messrs. Jacobsen and Weber and Mx. Roberts, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Saturday, July 13

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

Friday, July 19

~ Dungeons and Dragons with Messrs. Jacobsen and Weber and Mx. Roberts, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Saturday, July 20

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

Friday, July 26

~ Summer School Ends

On Thursday, June 6, the Winston School celebrated as our middle school students graduated, marking the culmination of their hard work and dedication. The ceremony was filled with joy and pride as students, families, and staff gathered to honor the achievements and growth of our young graduates. The event featured inspiring speeches from staff members, heartfelt memories, and a sense of hope for the bright futures ahead. As these students transition to the next phase of their educational journey, we are confident they are well-prepared to continue their pursuit of knowledge and personal growth, embodying the spirit and values of the Winston School.

Mr. Jacobsen's Culinary Arts students Maddie N. and Tanner W. faced off in the year's final showdown. The Iron Chef competition challenges Culinary II students to master not only their preferred cooking methods but also their understanding of flavor, culinary flow, and vision. Students planned a series of three dishes (appetizer, entrée, and dessert) and served as head chefs while their Culinary I peers prepared these dishes for the hungry Winston judges. Adding to the excitement, a secret ingredient was revealed one week before the competition: rice, which needed to be included in each dish and take on a central role. With Maddie edging out Tanner by only one point in last week's Master Chef competition, the stakes couldn't have been higher.

The Competition

Maddie:

Vegan California Roll
Roasted Chicken with White Rice and Sautéed Green Beans
Rice Pudding

Tanner:

Chicken and Rice Soup
Beef and Rice Noodle Stir Fry
Mochi

Veteran Culinary Arts judges Mr. Nunley and Ms. Thomas were tasked with determining the ultimate victor. After a heated debate, they awarded the win to Tanner. While all six dishes had their strengths and weaknesses, Tanner's sense of flavor, the overall cohesion of his dishes, and culinary themes allowed him to pull ahead and take the title.

Congratulations to both contestants! It was a hard-fought battle, and with the students demonstrating such high-quality cooking, we know the real winners were Mr. Nunley and Ms. Thomas!

Check out the unforgettable moments from our softball season! 🥎 We're thrilled to share these fantastic photos, capturing the spirit and excitement of our games. Thank you to Tanner W.'s dad for his incredible photography skills and for capturing these memorable highlights. Click here to see the album. Go Bulldogs!

As a reminder and as we celebrate Mary Sterling-Torretti’s remarkable career as her upcoming retirement approaches, we invite you to share your warm wishes, accolades, and congratulations. Your messages will be compiled into a special tribute to honor Mary's legacy and dedication to the Winston School community. Click here to share your remembrances.

In addition, we invite you to join us at City Hall on Monday, June 17, at 4:30 PM as the Del Mar City Council presents Mrs. Sterling-Torretti with a proclamation honoring her 35 years of service.

Free Lunch Program!

We are thrilled to announce that the Winston School has partnered with Top Notch Lunches to bring delicious and nutritious meals to our students—all for free! Top Notch Lunches is renowned for its high-quality ingredients and student-approved recipes, making our meal program a hit among our learners.

This new collaboration ensures every student can access wholesome and tasty meals, supporting their health and well-being. Join us in celebrating this exciting addition to our school community. A copy of the June menu is available by clicking here. Bon appétit!

The rehabilitation of our largest classroom building has begun with completion aimed for September! We are looking forward to enjoying 10 new beautiful classrooms in the coming school year!

Experience the best of Boston on our Winston School Spring High School Trip scheduled for Thursday, May 1 - Monday, May 5, 2025! Begin with a warm welcome and a city walk, exploring Back Bay, Beacon Hill, and the Boston Public Garden. Venture beyond Boston to Concord, Lexington, and Salem, delving into American history and Salem's haunting past. Enjoy Plimoth for a taste of Thanksgiving history, followed by Fenway Park and the Harvard Museum tours. Wrap up your journey with visits to iconic sites like the New England Aquarium and the USS Constitution. Don't miss out--reserve your spot now for an unforgettable experience!

Please email Lizette Cardenas at lizette.cardenas@thewinstonschool.org if you have any questions.

Click the image above or the link here to register!

BEACONS, Inc. is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation founded in 2018 to provide vocational, recreational, and social activities as well as services to adults with developmental disabilities and their support teams to create pathways and outcomes to improve access to employment, the community and social connections.

Click the image above or the link here to register!

Mary Sterling-Torretti, M.Ed, M.A.

Head of School

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