GRATEFUL: The Power of Community

Head's Message by Dr. Jenn Milam

There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about. - Margaret J. Wheatley

Last Thursday, on North Texas Giving Day, we officially kicked off Winston's annual season of giving. I witnessed the beauty and power of a community united by enthusiasm, passion, and an unwavering commitment to caring for, educating, and loving not only their children but also the children of other community members. As I wrote to you about the transformational power of giving, there is also immense power in uniting to serve our young people well. There is power in the community. 

When you choose an independent school, you don’t choose it because it’s close to home like your neighborhood school, you choose it because you share the values and commitments of the school that are important to your family. We are a school that cares deeply about providing a high-challenge, high-support environment for our bright kids who learn differently. And while that is unifying in and of itself, we also share other values that enrich the power of our community that are worth noting.  

We care about the individual development of young people. 

The power of a small school is that your child, small or big, is truly seen for who they are and what they need. They are not just a name on a roster - they are feeling, thinking, wondering, social human trying to find their way and discover who they want to be. I love the things I learn about your young people - I know their favorite video games, their dog's name, and what kind of cologne they love! A focus on the individual is empowering and reassuring for young people - to be seen and known is to be loved. 

We care about teaching and learning excellence.

As you’ve heard me say before, we know more - at this current moment - about the brain and learning than we have ever before. Advances in medicine, therapeutic fields, imaging, and cognitive science are literally helping us to work smarter in education. We know about sensory processing, we know about developing automaticity in reading, and we know how to build conceptual understanding in mathematics and advanced subject areas. At Winston, we work to be innovative in our teaching, responsive in our instruction, and reflective of the most current research in the field of teaching bright students who learn differently! 

We care about YOU! 

As human animals, we are biologically and inherently social creatures. We need each other to feel safe, to be successful, and to build connections that in turn support neurodevelopment in all areas of growth. When you share time, talent, interests, values, and yourself, you are demonstrating your care for the community at Winston. We invite you to be present and participate as much as you are able - join a PTO meeting, come to athletic events, volunteer on a committee, or in the library. We care about our community, and we care about your connection to it. We are a great space for young people, and we can be a great source of connection for you, as parents and families, too. 

Our community has been serving children and families for almost fifty years; and as we turn the corner into 2025 and look toward that anniversary, I am excited to note that our community is strong, engaged, and energized by what comes next. 

Thank you, sincerely and wholeheartedly, for your gift to our beautiful school. Your generosity last week was remarkable and it is truly reflective of the extraordinary and powerful community we share at Winston. I am grateful for you and for our collective values.