It’s a Great Day to be a TIGER!
Academic Programming This week, WMCSD began an Enhanced Hybrid Schedule which means we transitioned back to the length of our regular school day. Students at Winona Secondary are also gaining one extra day of face-to-face learning every two weeks. This week the Monday/Wednesday students will also attend on Friday (09/18) and next week the Tuesday/Thursday students will attend on Friday (09/25).
All of our teachers are working hard and learning more about intense instruction and virtual learning. Winona Elementary teachers will be participating in professional development this Saturday from 8:00-12:00 in their September Saturday Academy.
Operations Transportation is going well. The new car rider pick up system at Winona Elementary has proven to be a great tool for getting students to their rides quickly and safely. There are more bus riders now than there were at the beginning of the year. For everyone’s safety, students from the same households are sitting together, students are physically distancing as much as possible, and staff and students are wearing face coverings at all times.
This Friday, we will celebrate Senior Night at the football game against Yazoo County. We are looking forward to Homecoming October 9th versus Ethel. T-shirts are now on sale at WHS. In Cross Country news, the team did well last weekend at French Camp. As the season continues, the Volleyball team will be traveling next week. Please see the calendar at winonamontgomerycsd.com for dates and times of athletic events.
Family and Community Support WMCSD is blessed to have the support of our students’ families and communities. Nothing about this school year has been easy for students, families, or school employees. WMCSD Teachers, Coaches, Interventionists, Librarians, Nurses, CNAs, Counselors, Social Worker, Speech/Language Therapists, Technology Staff Members, SROs, Instructional Assistants, Cafeteria Workers, Bus Drivers, School or District Office Staff Members, ABM Custodians and Maintenance Workers, Assistant Principals, Principals, and District Administrators have been working extremely hard throughout the spring, summer, and fall to make this year successful. If it is starting to look normal and easy, but it’s not. It is difficult to plan for student learning with fewer face-to-face days, at-home learning days, and virtual learning days. Thank you to everyone who is making this year the best it can be!
Monday, September 21, the Superintendent’s P16 Advisory Council and the COVID Task Force will meet at 3:00pm in the Winona Secondary School auditorium. These groups of students, parents, community leaders,
Health and Safety Every Monday morning, the school nurses, the principals, and Dr. Jackson meet to discuss the numbers of students and employees who are quarantined and who have tested positive during the previous week. That information is reported to the MS State Department of Health each Monday by noon and to our community at 1:30pm. We strictly follow our protocols even in the face of criticism from lots of different folks.
Communications Information is released to parents via the district’s website and Facebook page every Wednesday at 6:00pm. Reminders, updates, etc. are also released throughout the week. Reports of employees and students who have been quarantined or who have tested positive are released on the website and Facebook every Monday at 1:30pm.
Employees are regularly asked to give input, make suggestions, ask questions, and report issues through surveys. They also have been meeting virtually every week with Dr. Jackson since April 20.
Technology/Learning Management Systems We are excited to be able to share that on Thursday, September 10th, we placed the order for 1,300 Chromebooks for our students. This has been a long, difficult process for school districts to complete all the required paperwork to secure the money for student devices. Our team under the guidance of Technology Director Wesley King, Business Manager Amanda Gray, and Academic Officer Peggy Jackson has done an excellent job.
Stay healthy and choose joy!