Friday Communication from The Winston School, 11/8/2024 🇺🇸🎭🦸🏻

As we approach Veterans Day, we pause to honor the brave men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Their commitment and sacrifices have protected our freedoms and strengthened our nation. We are deeply grateful for their service and the example they set for dedication, courage, and selflessness.

In observance of Veterans Day, The Winston School will be closed on Monday, November 11. We hope you take this time to reflect, express gratitude, and enjoy moments with your loved ones.

Thank you to all the veterans within our community and beyond. Your service is appreciated and remembered.

In this issue:

Season of Gratitude and Reflection: A heartfelt message from the Principal as we celebrate community achievements and prepare for the upcoming winter months.
Marking Period 3 Begins. Important reminders as we approach the end of the semester.
Admissions Open House: Sign up now to register for our event on Tuesday, November 19, at 1:30 PM.
Upcoming Events: Details on the Winston Coffeehouse, our newest classroom building parent preview, and the Winter Dance.
Farewell to Coach Ian Macauley: Join us in honoring his contributions and wishing him well in his new journey.
Annual Fund Spotlight: Hear from 9th grader Aiden O. and learn how your support impacts our students.
Parent Association Updates: New lunch options, upcoming fundraisers, and calls for leadership roles. How can you participate in our holiday drive to support PATH and other initiatives?

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

Saturday, November 9

~ No Saturday School

Monday, November 11

~ Veterans Day, No School

Wednesday, November 13

~ San Diego County Superior Courthouse Field Trip, Vista, 12th grade Government class, 8:30 AM - 12:15 PM

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

Friday, November 15

~ Susan G. Komen 3-Day Del Mar Cheering, 8:30 AM, Camino del Mar; dress in pink and cheer on the walkers. Staff and students interested in participating will meet outside the front office and walk together to the front of the Best Western Hotel, 720 Camino Del Mar. Student Council will be serving orange juice to the walkers.

Tuesday, November 19

~ Admissions Open House, 1:30 PM, Click here to register.

Thursday, November 21

~ Parent Preview of our newest classroom building! 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM, 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM

~ The Winston School Coffee House, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Monday, November 25 - Friday, November 29

~ Thanksgiving Break, No School

Season of Gratitude and Reflection: Celebrating Our Community

As we move from a busy fall into the winter months, it’s important to reflect on our experiences and prepare for the changes ahead. This week marks the start of Marking Period 3, which will carry us to the end of the first semester before winter break. The year has been flying by, filled with wonderful events on campus.

Spirit Month brought joy and excitement with activities like dress-up days, academic Olympics, and field day. Our staff enjoyed supporting students in these events and building school spirit. We also celebrated Halloween and Día de los Muertos with our Winston Ofrenda—a beautiful tribute to loved ones we honor and remember. Thank you to everyone who participated, donated, and helped coordinate these special moments.

We appreciate all the parents who have attended or will attend our recent Parent-Teacher Conferences. Your engagement is vital to supporting your child’s education, and your commitment to their success is valued.

This time of year is perfect for expressing gratitude to our community—parents, teachers, volunteers, and students. Your dedication and support help create a nurturing environment where our children can thrive. As we approach the holiday season, let’s recognize the efforts of everyone involved in our educational journey.

In the spirit of gratitude and community, many upcoming campus events and community support drives are planned over the next two months. We are also looking forward to the exciting opening of our newest classroom building soon!

Wishing you all warmth and joy as we enter this season of reflection and celebration.

Thank you for your continued support!

Kelsey Garrison, Principal

This week, The Winston School Parent Association meeting was full of engaging updates and plans for upcoming events! Here are some of the highlights we discussed:

Parents were pleased with the addition of student council fundraisers and new lunch options.
The change in packaging for Free Pizza Fridays was met with positive feedback, enhancing convenience and sustainability.
Plans for more fundraising events were introduced, including partnerships with Oggi’s Pizza and Board and Brew.
There is a call for parents to step into leadership roles and focus on fine-tuning these roles to better support school activities.
Interest has grown in forming small committees to organize and manage events and donations.

Upcoming Events:

The Winston School Coffee House on Thursday, November 21st, from 4:00-5:30 PM

Parents are invited to help with setup and refreshments.
Logistics: Parent preview of the new classroom building from 3:00-4:00 PM or 5:30-6:00 PM.
On-site supervision will be available for students who need to stay between events.

Community Holiday Drive in support of PATH–People Assisting the Homeless

Led by Nicole Schere, the drive will include donations of new adult-sized fleece blankets and homemade cookie donations
The Student Council and Mentor Club will coordinate to maximize impact.

Winter Dance on Friday, December 6th

Middle School: 1:00-2:30 PM, High School: 2:30-4:00 PM.
Activities will include a photo booth and festival-style booths with games like Corn Hole, Connect 4, Giant Jenga, and Minute-to-Win-It challenges.
Students can win raffle tickets for participating, with prizes for completing 3 out of 4 activities.
Parent assistance for set-up before the event is needed.
Committee Members Leading Efforts: Edye Harding, Stacey Wallach, Nicole Schere, Christine Bachelor, and Desiree Sakow.

Parents interested in participating or helping can sign up for contributions and support through the Sign-Up Genius Link or the Give Now tab on our website. Thank you for your continued enthusiasm and support as we plan meaningful and memorable experiences for our students!

With mixed emotions, we announce the departure of Coach Ian Macauley, our dedicated and enthusiastic Physical Education Instructor at The Winston School. Coach Ian has been an integral part of our community for nearly two years, fostering students' physical fitness and promoting teamwork and resilience through his engaging programs. While we will miss his energy and positive spirit on campus, we wish him all the best as he embarks on an exciting new chapter in his career in San Luis Obispo.

His last days on campus will be Tuesday and Wednesday, November 12 and 13.

Please join us in expressing our gratitude for Ian's invaluable contributions and wishing him continued success in his future endeavors.

We also look forward to welcoming Raymond "Rusty" Dudley, who will take on Coach Ian's responsibilities starting next week.

Is your child struggling in school? At Winston, we understand and support students who learn differently with a nurturing, tailored environment to help them thrive academically and personally. With small class sizes and specialized programs, we empower students to overcome challenges and find strengths.

Are you worried about transitioning to high school? Winston provides a supportive, guided process to build confidence and resilience.

Discover the Winston difference. With rolling admissions, your child can start anytime. Join us on Tuesday, November 19, at 1:30 PM and see how Winston fosters growth and success in a caring community. Click here to register!

The Student Affairs Department is thrilled to announce the return of The Winston School Coffee House on Thursday, November 21, from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM! This beloved event invites students to showcase their artistic talents in many creative expressions, including visual art, poetry, music, dance, culinary delights, digital media, and more. In addition, we are offering a special parent preview of our newest classroom building from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM and again from 5:30 PM to 6:00 PM. Join us for an afternoon filled with art, talent, and community as we celebrate our students’ creativity and unveil an exciting new space at Winston!

Student supervision will be available from 3:15 PM - 4:00 PM. Please click here to reserve your student's spot.

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

Ninth grader Aiden O. perfectly captures the transformative spirit of The Winston School:

"I love Winston because of all the new opportunities it brings people. Winston is where I can collaborate with students, practice communications, build new and useful skills, get college-ready prep, and have the amazing opportunity to interact with other students, friends, and staff. Winston is a place of restart and an opportunity to become something better. Winston is the most positive school I ever went to."

At Winston, we provide an environment where students like Aiden find the support and inspiration they need to thrive academically and personally. By contributing to our Annual Fund, you help us continue to offer the enriching experiences, skills-building programs, and supportive community that define Winston. Join us in nurturing the next generation of heroes and empowering them to embrace bright futures.

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