Student Learning Programs/Schedules - Throughout the spring and summer, information was shared with parents through a variety of avenues including the district’s website, Facebook, telephone calls, and text messages. Parents were provided with options as they became available and were given the opportunity to choose the learning program that fit the needs of their students.
At this time, most of the district’s 1,210 students have chosen the Hybrid learning program which means students attend face-to-face classes 2 days a week and work from home the other 3 days. 14% of the district’s students have chosen to learn from home only coming to the school on Fridays to take assessments. This percentage reflects the participation of 53 of Winona Secondary’s 531 students, and 115 of Winona Elementary’s 679 students.
WMCSD leaders are gathering input and reviewing data weekly to make decisions about programs and schedules. The goal is to return to a traditional schedule as soon as possible while still being able to maintain the protocols needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Changing Learning Programs - School during a global pandemic is different than any of us could have ever expected. Physical distancing and masks are not something we have experienced in or outside of school, yet our students and employees are doing a fantastic job with all of the new protocols and procedures.
There have been some requests to change programs in the first couple of weeks. It may seem like a small thing for students to change, but it is not. We have a responsibility to put plans in place and schedule classes in a way that will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 to our students and employees. The following information is in regard to requests for students to change programs.
Winona Secondary students may not change programs after August 24, 2020. Secondary students are using a program called Edgenuity and must work in the program the entire semester in order to earn credits toward graduation.
Winona Elementary students may change from At-Home to Hybrid or from Hybrid to At-Home one time in the fall semester. Any change in programs will take place the day after a progress reporting period. The first progress report date is September 9. Students may begin a new program Thursday, September 10. The report card date is October 14. Students may begin a new program Thursday, October 15.
In order to request a change in programs, the parent/guardian must schedule an appointment with Winona Elementary Principal Tabitha McCrory or Assistant Principal Nikita Smith prior to the progress report date. Dates for parent meetings to request changing programs are: September 2, 3, 4, or 8 and October 7, 8, 9, 12, or 13
To schedule an appointment, call Winona Elementary at (662) 283-4129. School administrators may use their discretion in granting requests to change programs. If the parent/guardian and administrator do not meet, no changes will be made. If the district’s plan is amended and there are program choices for students, parents will be notified and given a deadline for making that decision.
Athletics Monday and Tuesday of this week, 22 young ladies participated in our first ever volleyball games at Grenada and at home respectively. Coaches Gunner Nichols and Weston Thompson are looking forward to a great inaugural season.
Our Winona Tigers Football Team will play a scrimmage game against Senatobia on Friday night at Senatobia. Each participant will have two tickets at the ticket booth. WMCSD submitted a list to Senatobia that contains the names of people who are coming to the game and what student they are coming to see play. ID’s will be checked to ensure the correct people are buying the tickets. Football Coach Joey Tompkins and Cheer Coach Deanna Lowery gathered names of spectators for each of their team members as to who is coming to the game.
Labor Day Week Schedule If WMCSD continues the Hybrid Schedule during the week of September 7-11, students will follow the schedule below. Tuesday - Thursday will follow the regular schedule and Monday classes will be moved to Friday, September 11. At-home learners will not attend on Friday.
The schedule will be as follows:
- Monday, September 7 - Labor Day Holiday- No School for Students or Employees
- Tuesday, September 8 - Tuesday/Thursday Students
- Wednesday, September 9 - Monday/Wednesday Students
- Thursday, September 10 - Tuesday/Thursday Students
- Friday, September 11 - Monday/Wednesday Students. No At-Home Learners.
Entegrity Project Update At a special-called meeting Tuesday night, the WMCSD Board approved an amendment to the Entegrity project that will include the removal and replacement of 43 heating/cooling units at Winona Secondary School. The cost of the projects is $329,555. After deleting the water scope project and using the LED rebate from Entergy, the cost is reduced to $218,351. Additionally, the new units have a SEER Rating of 17.5 which is significantly better than the current units which have a SEER Rating of 9.7 and will give the district approximately 44.5% savings per unit producing an estimated annual savings of $8,000.
The current units are 22-year-old and cost the district $20,000.00 per year in parts including compressors and heating elements. This does not include the labor cost for maintenance of the units. The heating elements are no longer readily available for purchase and have a 4-month production time. The energy savings of around $8,000 plus the savings in parts of approximately $20,000 for the current units will negate the annual payment of $18,000 for the project and actually save the district around $10,000 per year.
The next regular meeting of the WMCSD Board is Tuesday, September 8 at 6:00pm at Wolfe Lab.