Friday Communication from The Winston School, 12/5/2025

Winston Parents,

This December, our Advisory program is turning our campus into a winter wonderland of kindness, reflection, and fun as students create paper snowflakes decorated with a “winter wish” for themselves, our school, or the larger community—a goal, hope, act of kindness, or positive change they want to see. Students focus on positivity and gratitude while participating in community-building lessons to help them connect, laugh, and support one another. To add extra sparkle to the season, today we enjoyed Cozy Sweater/Hot Cocoa Day. Looking forward to the next two weeks, we will enjoy the fun vibes at our Winter Dance on Friday, December 12th, and wrap things up in festive comfort with PJ Day on Friday, December 19th, our last day of school before winter break.

Join us for an informative session to learn about the spring camping trip to Idyllwild! This is an incredible opportunity for your student to take a fun, educational, and supported camping trip to beautiful Idyllwild with their fellow Winston students and staff members. The outdoor experiences may include a ropes course, hiking, and exploration of diverse ecosystems such as riparian zones, chaparral, and Ponderosa Pine forests. The camp environment is comfortable and low-stress, allowing your student to enjoy and learn while engaging in a wide range of activities. Structured camp routines support personal growth, group cohesion, and outdoor skill development. Camp requires a minimum number of student signups. Anticipated cost $500-$1,000. Travel dates: Friday, May 22, 2026 - Sunday, May 24, 2026

Please join us in person or via Zoom on December 9th from 2:30-3:15pm to learn more!

Contact Joshua Weeden at joshua.weeden@thewinstonschool.org with any questions.

Today, our campus was buzzing with student-led activities! We enjoyed a cozy Sweater & Hot Cocoa Day sponsored by Student Affairs, and our Culinary class hosted another successful student-run Culinary Café. Students designed the menu, prepared each dish, and served a delicious lunch to their classmates.

Saturday, December 6

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

Monday - Friday, December 8 - December 12

~ STAR Reading Testing

Tuesday, December 9

~ 2:30 - 3:15 PM Parent Meeting in Auditorium or Zoom about Spring Camping Trip Opportunity

Thursday, December 11

~ 9:15 AM - 12:30 PM - Senior Field Trip to Federal Courthouse

Friday, December 12

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

~ Winter Dance

Saturday, December 13

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

Tuesday, December 16

~ 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM - Senior Field Trip to JA Finance Park

Thursday, December 18

~ 11:40 AM - 1:00 PM - Integrated Math 3 Walking Lunch Field Trip

Friday, December 19

~ Last day of Fall Semester

~ Pajama Day

Saturday, December 20

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

Monday - Friday, December 22 - January 2

~ No School: Winter Break (no Saturday school 12/27 & 1/3)

Monday, January 5, 2026

~ Return to school

~ First day of Spring Semester

This week, we joined #GivingTuesday — there’s still time to make a lasting impact. Your tax-deductible donation will benefit Winston students now and support our unique, strengths-based program.

Please consider giving what feels meaningful to you today.

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☕ Save the Date!
Join us for our Parent Coffee Social on Friday, December 12. Come connect, relax, and enjoy a warm cup of coffee with fellow Winston parents.

Many thanks to Occupational Doctoral Students Nina and JJ for their generous time and incredible support of our students and school community. Congratulations on completing your programs!

Important Information for Winston Seniors:

If you plan to attend college in Fall 2026, your FAFSA should be filed before the priority deadline of March 2, 2026—but the sooner, the better!
Click here to begin!

Helpful Tips:

FAFSA is Required for Free Tuition at Community Colleges:

Regardless of parental income, all students must complete the FAFSA to qualify for two years of free tuition at a community college.

You May Qualify for Additional Aid:

Filing the FAFSA takes as little as 20 minutes.
With the increased income threshold for California's Middle-Class Scholarship, more families than ever may qualify for financial assistance.

Parent and Student Accounts Are Required:

Both you and your student must create separate FAFSA accounts and link them using a PIN.

For additional guidance, check out the slideshow linked here with detailed information about the application process and financial aid opportunities.

Check out our profile to see the great work we do for our community. We want to make sure you have the progress updates you need to support our work with trust and confidence.

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