Lower School Division News: Oct. 17, 2024

By Dr. Debra Sass, Lower School Division Head

October has been designated as Dyslexia Awareness Month, to foster a greater understanding and support for those with dyslexia. Many are familiar with the complexities of dyslexia, so having a child diagnosed with dyslexia can be a traumatic experience. While dyslexia can make reading more difficult, with the right instruction, almost all individuals with dyslexia can learn to read. Many people with dyslexia have gone on to accomplish great things. Among the many dyslexia success stories are Thomas Edison, Stephen Spielberg, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Whoopi Goldberg, Muhammad Ali, and Charles Schwab.

Dyslexia is a neurological condition caused by a different wiring of the brain. There is no cure for dyslexia and individuals with this condition must learn coping strategies. Research indicates that dyslexia has no relationship to intelligence. Individuals with dyslexia are neither more nor less intelligent than the general population. Some say that the way individuals with dyslexia think can actually be a valuable asset in achieving success. Dyslexics are often extremely good at interconnected reasoning - and tend to be highly creative, perceptive, interdisciplinary, and innovative in how they make connections and seemingly put disparate things together.

The Winston Language Lab provides evidence-based reading instruction for students that are identified as dyslexic using a Scottish Rite program called Take Flight. The Take Flight program utilizes multisensory and structured literacy instruction. It is explicit, systematic and intentional in its approach.  However, Take Flight must be taught by appropriately trained instructors and implemented with fidelity. 

Moreover, recognizing that language skills are critical for successful reading development prior to formal reading instruction, we have expanded our classroom reading instruction to include Take Flight strategies in grades K-2. Foundational pre-literacy or emergent skills include aspects of oral language such as vocabulary, phonological awareness, and language comprehension, as well as early concepts related to print conventions. There must also be a heavy emphasis on alphabet knowledge initially. As each of these types of knowledge and skills develop, the stronger the foundation for reading instruction in later years. Not only are these skills crucial for successful reading and writing development, they are robust predictors of future reading difficulties and are frequently the target of early language intervention.

Dyslexia can result in frustration, embarrassment, avoidance and low self-esteem as a result of difficulties performing tasks that seem to come naturally to others. Demystifying this learning difference with your child can motivate him/her to more fully utilize the specific reading tools that are available at Winston.  The support dyslexics receive from home as well as at school can help them develop the resilience that is necessary to better manage their dyslexia.  Perhaps in analyzing the dyslexic way of thinking we will be better equipped to help humanity solve some of the most perplexing challenges we will face in the years ahead.

Knowledge is power,

Dr. Debra Sass

A LOOK AHEAD 

Friday, October 18 - Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences

We look forward to welcoming you to campus to share with you insight into your student’s journey this year at Winston. These conferences are for parents and teachers only. 

Tuesday, October 22 - Yearbook Picture Retakes and Senior Portraits

Legacy Studios will also take portraits of students absent on the first picture day and those who have been approved for a retake. Ms. Giovas will call the involved students grades K-11 from their class when it's time for their photo, which should only take a few minutes. Students will be sent home with a QR code that grants access to the portrait purchase site. If the QR Code is misplaced, you can find your student's code here. 

Tuesday, October 22 - Donation Day with Shake Shack on Preston/Royal, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Support the Winston Athletics program while enjoying delicious burgers, fries, and shakes next week! Shake Shack will donate 25% of all sales made on Tuesday, October 22 between 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. to the Winston Athletics program. Follow the below instructions for in-store and in-app purchases to make sure your meal benefits The Winston School. Email [email protected] with any questions!

IN-STORE
Dine-in at the Shack- just show your flyer at the register or input code DONATECHICKEN in kiosk at checkout!

IN-APP
Order ahead for pick-up or delivery through our mobile Shack App- simply enter DONATECHICKEN in the promo code section before submitting your order!

Thursday, October 31: Halloween at Winston

As we look forward to celebrating Halloween at Winston together, we must adhere to our Winston community expectations and guidelines regarding costumes, discourse, and representation. Halloween can be a magical time for imagination, playfulness, and connection. All students are invited to wear their Halloween costumes to school on Thursday, October 31. 

The following are guidelines for Halloween costumes at TWS: 

Weapons or items that are made in the likeness to represent weapons, are not allowed. These can include, but are not limited to: guns, swords, pitchforks, knives, pocket knives, and/or spears. 

Masks that completely cover a student’s face and head are not allowed. A student needs to be able to be recognized at school, participate in classes throughout the day, and not have their identity obscured by their costume. 

Symbols, words, or other representations that are currently, or have been historically used to trigger and/or discount others’ identities are not allowed. These can include, but are not limited to symbols of white supremacy, gang affiliation, racial or ethnic tokenism, homophobia or transphobia, and ableism. 

All costumes must also adhere to the dress code expectations that all “personal body parts” are covered, regardless of a student’s gender identity or gender presentation. 

If your student does not wish to wear a costume, they may have a “dress down” day and be out of uniform. 

Friday, November 1: EARLY DISMISSAL - Teacher Professional Development

GENERAL UPDATES

TEACHER PROFESSIONAL LEARNING is important! 
Lower School teachers received further training on the Lexia Core 5 reading program on Friday, October 12. This was especially valuable instruction as every student in the Lower School now has access to Lexia on their personal Chromebook. The new training gives our teachers a clear plan of action in reading instruction and confidence in its implementation on Lexia. They are better equipped to monitor student progress and analyze individual growth in the months ahead. Lexia Core 5 is grounded in the science of reading and affords our students the opportunity to work on individualized targeted skills. The research on Lexia speaks for itself. During the 2022-2023 school year, students working on skills at or above their grade level increased from 41% to 85%. Lexia is also closing the gap for students starting the program two or more grade levels behind. 41% ended the year on grade level or reached their grade-level benchmark. 54% gained two or more grade levels in one year.

On Thursday, October 31, Winston will celebrate Halloween!
All students are welcome to wear their costumes to school (see note above about costume etiquette) and share in the fun! 

Lower School schedule for Halloween is as follows:

8:15-10:35 am        Regular Morning Schedule

10:35 am                Lower School Halloween Parade in US/Trick-or-Treat

10:50 am                Lunch/Recess begins

2:00 pm                 Class Parties (Parents are Welcome!)

3:00 pm                 Clean Up and Dismissal

#IAmNotACostume: A Note about Cultural Appropriation
As our young people begin selecting costumes, it is important that we are sensitive to issues of cultural appropriation. “Cultural Appropriation is the act of taking significant elements (symbols, dress, words, practices, etc.) from a culture that is not your own and removing all original context or meaning, usually with the goal of using these elements for entertainment, marketing, or exploitation.” (http://www.lspirg.org/costumes) When selecting a costume for Halloween, I would ask that you engage your student in a conversation about the purpose of their costume (Is it just for fun? Or is there an underlying message behind it?), ask them to consider if anyone may take offense to their costume and the representation it suggests (Is it possible that others may view the costume as a mockery of a particular culture? Does the costume seek to make a token of traditional cultural symbols not held by your family culture?) and encourage them to reflect upon the way that their costume may be experienced by those around them, thus seeking to build empathy and critical thinking – two values we hold dear here at Winston.

We want Halloween to be a fun, imaginative, and magical celebration of the fall season in a way that not only values the childhood experience but, so too, those cultures, (re)presentations, symbols, and traditions deeply held and honored by each of us in our unique lived experiences. 

For more information on cultural appropriation and Halloween costumes, you might find some of these links helpful:

Laurier Students’ Public Interest Research Group: http://www.lspirg.org/costumes

NPR/MPR News: https://www.npr.org/2019/10/29/773615928/cultural-appropriation-a-perennial-issue-on-halloween

National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/family/article/can-kids-wear-that-what-to-know-about-culturally-insensitive-costumes

NOTE: TWS faculty, staff, and administration reserve the right to ask a student to remove items/costumes if it is disruptive to the learning environment.