Middle School Division News: August 23, 2024

By Dr. Jenn Milam, Head of School & Interim Middle School Division Head

I am so delighted to have you all in Middle School this year! While we are a small group, we are mighty, and we’re going to have a lot of fun learning and growing together, and getting to know each other. 

I’m really pleased with how warm and welcoming your young people are not only to me, but to one another. A sense of belonging at school, especially in the middle grades, takes a commitment from all members of our community. I, along with our Middle School teachers, will continue to model, teach, and reinforce that it is important to be inclusive and kind, and to honor each person’s individual differences and dignity. We appreciate your partnership in this, as well. 

Finally, it has been absolutely heartwarming to have so many parents on campus, engaged, and sharing time and space with each other. As I shared during our New Family Orientation, your connection not just with the school, but with each other, helps us to ensure that our young people (especially middle schoolers) know that we work as a team to care for, nurture, and shepherd them in their learning and development at school and beyond. 

With fellowship and connection in mind, I hope you’ll plan to be a part of our PTO. This group, led by ninth grade dad, Byron Wier, will have its first general meeting on Wednesday, September 4, at 8:15 a.m. This is a time to hear about committees, upcoming events, and opportunities to stay involved on campus. We hope to see you there!

A LOOK AHEAD:

• Week of August 26, 2024 - First full week of classes.

We’ll have our first full five-day week of school and take that time to really settle in. Over the weekend I encourage you to make sure your Middle School student is feeling positively about the new year with their organization at home, moving between home and school with all materials, and troubleshooting any small challenges that may have popped up already.

Our electives follow an A/B rotation schedule. Monday, August 26, is an A-Day. On A-days, students have “art” focused electives (art, digital media, innovation) and on B-days, students have Choir/Band. Advisors will be helping them to note these in their planners and we will load these onto the Winston Calendar online, too.

• Monday, September 2 - Labor Day Holiday NO SCHOOL
• Wednesday, September 4 - PTO Meeting, 8:15 a.m.
• Tuesday, September 10 @ 5 p.m. - Winston Parent Open House
• Thursday, September 19 - North Texas Giving Day

GENERAL UPDATES:

A NOTE OF GRATITUDE
Lastly, I want to share a personal note of gratitude with you all, our Middle School families. In my role as your interim Division Head, we will have the opportunity to really get to know each other. It is my goal that you and your family find Winston a safe, supportive, and socially and academically enriching community. Working with young people at this age, as parents and educators, can be difficult at times and requires a great deal of open and honest communication. Please know that I am available to you should you need and can be reached by email and/or phone. I look forward to being a part of your student’s Learning Profile meetings with our diagnosticians and getting to know each other. Have a wonderful weekend! Be well and take care!

STOMPING GROUND IMPROV CLUB IS BACK
This is an after-school program open to 7th-12th graders on Mondays from 3:30 - 4:40 p.m. The club will meet Monday, September 9 - Monday, November 18. This class is for anyone interested in finding fun in a judgment-free zone. No theater experience is necessary! The therapeutic benefits that are naturally embedded in the learning and performing process of improvisational comedy parallel the needs of a person with autism and other neurodivergent students. Students will  be introduced to the world of improv comedy and will learn basic agreement, guidelines, and scene work. Learn more from the flyer below and register your student here. 

A NOTE FROM THE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE:

This year, we've added a new photo sharing tool called Flickr. This page and full albums are only accessible via links shared in THE NEST each week, so make sure to check them out!