Learning & Teaching

The goal of Ríos Spanish Immersion program is to provide educational experiences, beginning in kindergarten and sustained through Grade 12, that support academic and linguistic development in two languages and that develop students’ appreciation of their own and other cultures.

Features of the Program

• 90% of the K-2 student’s academic time will include learning subject matter in Spanish

• Students will become proficient Spanish listeners, speakers, writers, and readers

• Students will master content in the same subject areas as their counterparts who do not attend the program

• Students will participate in art, music, and physical education taught in English

• When students enter 3rd grade, Language Arts is taught in English

Jefferson School Model

Jefferson Elementary houses the Ríos Spanish Immersion program for Winona Area Public Schools. A minimum of 20 students will participate at each grade level. The program will accept a maximum of 24 students in kindergarten. Each school year WAPS will add an additional grade level of immersion. In 2018- 2019, program has expanded to include 5th grade.

Interested parties must apply for entrance into the program. If the number of applications exceeds maximum enrollment, the district will hold a lottery to determine which students are accepted.

All WAPS elementary schools offer the same rigorous core curriculum in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. Immersion students will study the same core curriculum and Minnesota academic standards which connects subject areas.

Rios Spanish Immersion Flyer

According to a statement released by the Minnesota Department of Education and embraced by Winona Area Public Schools, “Literacy is the cornerstone of all learning. In each subject area, the ability to read and produce written material is the highest importance. Supporting the development of capable readers at every level is our goal as educators, parents and as a community.”

With this philosophy, the state of Minnesota passed legislation that seeks to have all of Minnesota’s children reading well by third grade. The bill requires local school districts to adhere to certain expectations, including:

• All students are provided reading instruction that is scientifically based.

• Parents are notified of student progress at least annually for all students and must give parents of students not reading at or above grade level (in K-3) timely information. This timely information includes reading assessments administered, services available and strategies parents can use at home to support their child(ren).
• Students not reading at or above grade level are given intervention evidence based practices to accelerate their growth toward grade level expectations.
• Assessment methods and data points used to determine grade level proficiency are reported to the Minnesota Department of Education annually.
• Sufficient training is provided for all licensed staff to improve reading instruction
• A Local Literacy Plan is developed and posted to the official district web site.

Full Literacy Plan

• School Board Policy 612.1 - Development of Parent and Family Engagement Policies for Title I Programs
• District Title I Parent Engagement Plan

• Family School Compact for Achievement
• Parent Involvement Plan

Kindergarten and First Grade Enrichment Program:

Kindergarten and first grade students will be introduced to Literature Circles, Reader’s Theatre, and will participate in many hands on activities to reinforce and enrich their reading skills.

Second Grade Reading/Math Enrichment Program:

We will read about several different countries around the world.  They will learn the geographical locations, cultures, and customs.  There is fictional literature to support the learning of each country as well.

Students will complete a project called Mr. Shapey that combines work with geometry, measurement, and problem solving.  Students will also use tangrams and solve multi-step problems.

Third Grade Reading/Math Enrichment Program:

We will start the year with a Fractured Fairy Tales Unit.  We will read the real fairytale and compare and contrast it with the “fractured” fairy tale.  Literature circle groups, figurative language, word puzzles, and numerous research opportunities using the chromebooks, will be some of the ways we will enrich our third grade curriculum.  

The third graders will take part in STEM engineering and math challenges.  They will also play math games, complete projects, and solve problems.

Fourth Grade Reading/Math Enrichment Program:

Literature will be used to journal, summarize, question, and predict.  “The One and Only Ivan” will be read together and numerous engineering challenges will come about from the novel.  Teamwork and partnership comes into play!  Poetry, solving logic puzzles, and mysteries will also be part of the learning.

The fourth graders will take part in STEM engineering and math challenges.  They will also play math games, complete projects, and solve problems.

Project Fair: (Grades 2-4)

In April we will be having a district Project Fair for all students in grades 2-4.  You are able to research a topic of interest, create a report, and a visual display board.  Finished products will be displayed at the WMS for the families and community to enjoy.  All are encouraged to participate.  

Advancement Via Individual Determination

AVID’s mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society.

AVID is not just another program… at its heart, AVID is a philosophy...
Hold students accountable to the highest standards, provide academic and social support, and they will rise to the challenge.

AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the achievement gap by preparing all students for college and other post secondary opportunities. Established more than 35 years ago with one teacher in one classroom, AVID today impacts nearly 1.5 million students in 46 states and 16 other countries/territories.

AVID:
Teaches skills and behaviors for academic success
Provides intensive support with tutorials and strong student/teacher relationships
Creates a positive peer group for students
Develops a sense of hope for personal achievement gained through hard work and determination

How AVID Works
AVID provide professional development for educators in research-based, proven practices and curriculum in order to prepare students for success in high school, college, and a career, especially students traditionally underrepresented in higher education. The AVID System annually provides 60,000+ educators with training and methodologies that develop students’ critical thinking, literacy, and math skills across all content areas throughout the entire campus, in what we call Schoolwide AVID.

• WAPS Language Instruction Educational Program (LIEP) Plan

The focus of Title III, a component of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), is to help school district's ensure that English learners (ELs) and immigrant students attain English proficiency and meet the same challenging state standards required of all other students.

Winona Area Public Schools licensed EL teachers provide direct English language instruction to students in four domains of instruction: Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing.
In addition, EL licensed teachers provide consultation support to classroom teachers and student support staff, based on each student’s English language learning needs.
The WAPS EL curriculum and program are aligned with the district's curricula in English literacy, WIDA national standards, and Minnesota state content standards.

Winona Area Public Schools offers the following EL program models:

• Intensive Newcomer Instruction
• Pullout English Instruction
• Collaborative Teaching Model
• Sheltered Content Classes
• Dual Language Immersion

Learn More:

• MIDDLE SCHOOL Continuum of Services
• Home Language Questionnaire

The goal of Rios Spanish Immersion program is to provide educational experiences, beginning in kindergarten and sustained through Grade 12, that support academic and linguistic development in two languages and that develop students’ appreciation of their own and other cultures.

Features of the Program

• Students will become proficient Spanish listeners, speakers, writers, and readers

• Students will master content in the same subject areas as their counterparts who do not attend the program

• Students will participate in art, music, and physical education taught in English

Interested parties must apply for entrance into the program.

All Winona Area Public Schools offer the same rigorous core curriculum in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. Immersion students will study the same core curriculum and Minnesota academic standards which connects subject areas.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program® enables students to pursue
college-level studies while still in high school. Based on their performance on
rigorous, national AP Examinations, students can earn credit, advanced placement, or
both, for college. The Advanced Placement Program is best known for giving high
school students the opportunity to earn college credit, to save on college tuition, and
even to graduate early from college.

Winona Senior High offers the following AP courses:

• AP American Government
• AP Biology
• AP Calculus
• AP Chemistry
• AP Environmental Science
• AP Lang. & Composition
• AP Lit. & Composition
• AP Physics
• AP Statistics
• AP Sr. Studio & Portfolio
• AP Spanish
• AP U.S. History
• AP World History

Advancement Via Individual Determination

AVID’s mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society.

AVID is not just another program… at its heart, AVID is a philosophy...
Hold students accountable to the highest standards, provide academic and social support, and they will rise to the challenge.

AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the achievement gap by preparing all students for college and other post secondary opportunities. Established more than 35 years ago with one teacher in one classroom, AVID today impacts nearly 1.5 million students in 46 states and 16 other countries/territories.

AVID:
Teaches skills and behaviors for academic success
Provides intensive support with tutorials and strong student/teacher relationships
Creates a positive peer group for students
Develops a sense of hope for personal achievement gained through hard work and determination

How AVID Works
AVID provide professional development for educators in research-based, proven practices and curriculum in order to prepare students for success in high school, college, and a career, especially students traditionally underrepresented in higher education. The AVID System annually provides 60,000+ educators with training and methodologies that develop students’ critical thinking, literacy, and math skills across all content areas throughout the entire campus, in what we call Schoolwide AVID.

Our goal at Winona Senior High School is to ensure all students develop the 21^st Century Skills that are needed to become career and college ready after high school. As student enter WSHS as 9^th graders, they have already begun to develop a pathway of sequencing courses that will prepare them for a specific career area that meet the mandatory requirements for graduation. While students develop and grow in their pathways, we encourage the development and implementation of their individual student plans that focus on rigorous coursework that will ensure all students career and college readiness as global citizens.

Career Pathway

Concurrent Enrollment offers students the option of staying on the WSHS campus to
receive college credit. Students who enroll in concurrent enrollment must complete
college enrollment requirements and perform at a designated level in the class. Upon
completion, the student is awarded high school AND college credit. The U of M’s
nationally accredited College in the Schools™ (CIS) program brings U of M faculty
together with WSHS teachers to offer U courses.

WSHS Offers the following CIS and Concurrent Enrollment classes:

• College in the Schools™ German
• General Organic & Biochemistry
• Nutrition
• Medical Terminology
• Intro to Precision Machining
• Precision Machining
• Human Anatomy & Physiology I
• Human Anatomy & Physiology II

In Minnesota, students are required to complete two kinds of requirements by the time they graduate. Students must:

• Satisfactorily complete all state academic standards or local academic standards where state standards do not apply.
• Satisfactorily complete the state course credit requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.024.

Course Credits

Students complete the academic standards by taking a core course of study that equips them with the knowledge and skills they need for success in post secondary education, highly skilled work, and civic life. In order to graduate, your child’s high school coursework must include at least the minimum state course credit requirements. A course credit is equivalent to a student successfully completing an academic year of study or mastering the subject matter, as determined by the local school district. Students must complete a minimum of 21.5 course credits as follows:

• 9 credits of language arts
• 6 credits of mathematics, including algebra, geometry, statistics and probability sufficient to satisfy the standards. Students in the graduating class of 2015 and beyond must complete an algebra II credit or its equivalent as part of the 3-credit requirement. In addition to the high school credits, students in the graduating class of 2015 and beyond must also complete an algebra credit by the end of eighth grade.
• 6 credits of science, including a biology credit. In addition, students in the graduating class of 2015 and beyond must complete a chemistry, physics, or Career and Technical Education
• 1 credit in CTE 
• 8 credits of social studies, including U.S. history, geography, government and citizenship, world history and economics.
• 2 credits in the arts
• 3 credits in health and physical education

An agriculture course may fulfill a general science credit requirement. A CTE course may fulfill a general science, mathematics, or arts credit requirement. School districts may require additional course credits or other requirements for graduation beyond the minimum required by the state.