Middle School News

During the school year, the Ríos Spanish Immersion program at Jefferson Elementary and the Winona Middle School plays host to cultural interns from Spanish speaking countries. 

Congratulations to the Winona Middle School students who were named to the honor roll.

At the time, we chose Winona Area Public Schools because we fundamentally believed in the power of the public school system. We believed in the idea that a school system that is inclusive of all kids — from all walks of life, including those that need additional support — was a powerful asset to a community. We believed in the idea of inclusivity and the power it has in creating a vibrant, strong community. Why do we stay at Winona Area Public Schools? The reality of inclusivity.

Congratulations to the Winona Middle School students who were named to the honor roll.

With snow in the forecast tonight and tomorrow morning, we want to make sure you know where to go for school closing information and how we make those decisions. 

The Miller Mentoring program gathered for its annual Family Dinner on Wednesday, April 19. Approximately 270 people — including students, families, mentors, district staff and school board members and others dedicated to supporting Miller Mentoring — attended the event.

Graduation rates continue to soar at Winona Area Public Schools.

In response to continued interest in enrolling in the program, WAPS plans to add a second Rios kindergarten section for the 2023-24 school year. A second kindergarten section was added for the first time in the 2022-23 school year.

Students in the Winona Middle School AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program donated more than $1,000 to the Winona Community Warming Center on Wednesday.

A community vision to invest in students through improving educational and activity spaces to inspire lifelong learning will go before voters in the Winona Area Public Schools district in April.

The ceremony honored the 2022-23 WEA Teacher of the Year — Jefferson third-grade teacher Kirstin Schultz — as well as Marianne Texley and John Casper as Education Advocates and the Winona State University Education Department as a Community Partner. 

There are three opportunities to attend concerts featuring talented student musicians at Winona Senior High School and Winona Middle School in December. 

It’s only a matter of time before winter will be here in all of its frigid glory. Before it does, we want to make sure you know where to go for school closing information and how we make those decisions.

The student councils at Winona Senior High School and Winona Middle School served more than 600 community members — 622 to be exact — at the annual Herky Turkey Community Dinner on Nov. 10. 

The Winona Senior High School and Winona Middle School student councils will hold their annual Herky Turkey Thanksgiving Community Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 10.

Every Monday for the last 15 years, the Winona Middle School math teacher reserves 20 minutes or so of her class period for a welcoming activity called the Circle of Power and Respect — or CPR, for short. 

The WAPS school board on Sept. 1 approved the district’s strategic plan, which will cover the 2022-27 school years. The plan is the result of a collaborative process led by the Minnesota School Board Association that included input from district leaders, staff, students, families and community members.

The Winona Middle School staff welcomed students and families to the middle school on Thursday, Sept. 1 for WMS Rally Day. It was a time for students to get their school picture taken, take a tour of the school, meet staff members, learn about after school activities and more. 

Several Winona Area Public Schools employees were honored for their years of service at the all-staff celebration on Tuesday at Winona Middle School. 

On Tuesday morning at Winona Middle School, the entire staff of Winona Area Public Schools gathered to kick off the 2022-23 school year. The all-staff gathering is the centerpiece of a week full of meetings, professional development, parent-teacher conferences, orientation events and more. 

The school board on Thursday night approved a two-question referendum to be held in April of 2023. If the community supports both questions, the district can begin work on a list of projects included in a recommendation by the WAPS Community Task Force, a group of staff members and community members which met 10 times over a span of four months to vet numerous facilities options. Earlier in Thursday’s meeting, the board accepted the recommendation as the base of a master facilities plan.

Dave Anderson, who served as the assistant principal at Winona Senior High School from 2011-2015, has returned to the district as the next principal of Winona Middle School. His hiring was unanimously approved by the school board on Thursday night.

The majority of district residents believe in Winona Area Public Schools and approve the recommendation of the Community Task Force to invest in and improve the current fleet of school buildings, according to a scientific survey conducted by one of Minnesota’s leading marketing and research firms. 

Winona Middle School 4th Quarter Honor Roll 2021-22

The WSHS Theatre Group is hard at work getting ready to present the play “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” based on the book by C.S. Lewis and dramatized by Joseph Robinette 

The community task force recommended the district continue to invest and improve the six current WAPS buildings. The task force vetted 12 different options — new construction, consolidating buildings, changing grade-level configurations and various combinations — before coming back to Option A. 

Teachers and students at Winona Area Public Schools aren’t waiting for the history books to be written before using current events to increase their understanding of the world. 

Winona Area Public Schools is join thousands of other school districts across the country in celebrating Youth Art Month this March. 

The 2022-23 school calendar has been posted.

Each year Winona Area Public Schools and the Special Education Advisory Council hosts a Parent Network Night for the parents/guardians of students with disabilities. 

We are making several changes to our health and safety protocols. These changes were made in order to have sustainable, realistic practices and to align our requirements to the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).

The Winona Middle School Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program donated more than $720 to the Winona Community Warming Center on Wednesday. 

Sixteen Winona Area Public Schools students participated in the 58th Winona Model Legislature on Nov. 18-19. 

According to the National Association of School Psychologists, school psychologists are uniquely qualified members of school teams that support students' ability to learn and teachers' ability to teach.

Tim Gleason was named the 2021-22 WEA Teacher of the Year in a surprise ceremony on Thursday.

The WSHS Theatre Group will perform 42nd Street on Friday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 20 at 1 and 7 p.m. in the WSHS Auditorium at Winona Senior High School, 901 Gilmore Ave. 

Applications are now being accepted for the Winona Area Public Schools Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. 

Living off the Land is one of several new electives offered at Winona Middle School thanks to the creativity and collaboration of the teaching staff. The class is all about exposing students to the abundance of possibilities for securing food from their own backyards and public land near them. 

Lauren Cowell, a school custodian at Winona Middle School, was recently awarded the Facilities Manager Certification from the Minnesota Educational Facilities Management Professionals Association. 

The WAPS Online Academy is serving a total of 66 students — 15 in Grades K-5 and 51 in Grades 6-12. The numbers have fluctuated slightly since the beginning of the school year, as students and families found their comfort level with the program.

Craig Scott, a motivational speaker and survivor of the Columbine High School shooting, will spend a day with Winona Area Public Schools students and teachers before hosting an event open to families in the community. 

Applications are now being accepted for the WAPS Community Task force, a group that will be charged with reviewing and analyzing data related to the district’s operations and its capacity for 21st century learning.

Jolene Danca recently was named the principal of the Winona Area Learning Center in an administrative reorganization that affects two Winona Area Public Schools buildings. She replaces Emily Cassellius, who will remain as the full-time principal at Goodview Elementary. 

We are excited to welcome our students back into our buildings for the 2021-22 school year. Before we do, we want to make you aware of our health and safety protocols for the upcoming school year. 

The WAPS Online Academy is a free comprehensive online learning program offered through Winona Area Public Schools. The WAPS Online Academy will provide a personalized online learning environment that values student engagement and offers rigorous learning experiences that lead to high levels of student success.

The Winona Area Public Schools board took the first steps toward a possible referendum Tuesday night, at times tossing off the hard hats of a construction crew focusing only on maintenance projects and instead discussing how to create spaces where students want to be.

Beginning Thursday, July 1, 2021, Winona Area Public Schools will not require students, staff and visitors to wear masks while in school buildings. 

The Winona Middle School 4th Quarter Honor Roll 2020-21

The Summer Lunch Bus is back — although it will have a new parking spot for 2021. And the free meals? Those will continue as well.

Masks will still be required for all students, staff and visitors to Winona Area Public Schools for the remainder of the school year. 

Parents, understandably, have many questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and whether they should have their children vaccinated. I hope this information, centered around the questions we’re hearing from parents, is helpful to you.

Congratulations to the students named to the honor roll at Winona Middle School for the third quarter.

Becky Kouba was and always will epitomize Miller Mentoring.

The WSHS Theatre Group will present "Clue on Stage: High School edition" based on the screen play by Jonathan Lynn and the Hasbro board game Clue.

Looking back on the past 20 years, there’s a rich and vibrant history behind the Miller Mentoring Program.

On this week's Winhawk Q and A, Superintendent Dr. Annette K. Freiheit is joined by Miller Mentoring program director Drew Althoff to talk about the importance of volunteers and what they mean to the Miller Mentoring program.

Tim Gleason, a music teacher and band director in Winona Area Public Schools, has been selected to be a member of the American School Band Directors Association. 

On this week's Winhawk Q and A, Winona Middle School principal Mark Winter joins Superintendent Dr. Annette K. Freiheit to discuss Grades 6-8 returning in-person on Thursday, April 8. This video was recorded on Wednesday, March 24.

Over the last year, the WAPS School Nutrition staff handed out 402,971 free meals to all students aged 18 and under in Winona, regardless if they attend a WAPS school or not. That number continues to rise each week, as all meals are free to students in school and also available to the community through a weekly pickup at Winona Senior High School on Wednesdays. 

Winona Middle School honor roll for the second quarter.

Students at Winona Middle School and Winona Senior High School will have dozens of new courses to choose from beginning next year. 

Winona State University Spanish students will virtually tutor students in the Ríos Spanish Immersion program at Winona Area Public Schools during the upcoming semester.

We are delighted to announce our gradual return to hybrid or in-person learning. This timeline was developed in accordance with the Minnesota Department of Education Safe Learning Plan, as well as Executive Order 20-103.
 

Here is the newsletter for December 2020.

The School Nutrition staff at Winona Area Public Schools is now able to offer daily delivery of meals to families who reside within the district boundaries.

Winona Middle School honor roll for the first quarter.

On Wednesday, Superintendent Dr. Annette K. Freiheit shared with communications coordinator John Casper about why the decision was made and what the district looks for when making decisions related to COVID-19. 

To celebrate a school year in which teachers were asked to do more than ever, the Winona Education Association decided to expand its teacher of the year program to honor not just one — but three teachers in Winona Area Public Schools. 

Check out all that is happening in Winona Area Public Schools with the latest edition of Winhawks in the Know.

To help celebrate Principals Week in Winona Area Public Schools, we asked some of our outstanding principals to share a little bit about themselves and why they like being a principal. Here is what they said: 

Winona Middle School October 2020 Newsletter

The federal program that allows Winona Area Public Schools to provide free meals for all students in the community has received additional funding. All students in Winona — not just those who attend a WAPS school — will have access to free meals for the remainder of the school year and next summer. 

On Monday, Sept. 28, students in Grades 7-8 will shift to the hybrid learning model. Students in Grades 5-6 will remain in the hybrid model.

We are happy to announce that we will shift to Winhawk Learning Model No. 3, which means that Grades 7-12 will move to a hybrid model, beginning Monday, Sept. 28. 

Early childhood and elementary (Grades K-6) will remain in a hybrid model as well.

Also, athletics for Grades 7-12 will resume beginning Tuesday, Sept. 22, while athletics for Grades 5-6 and activities for Grades 5-8 will begin on Monday, Oct. 5.

We recently received some fantastic news! Our School Nutrition department has received additional funding and will be able to provide free meals to students for at least a portion of the school year — including students who are in distance learning.

Do you want to be in the know? The Winhawks in the Know newsletter features the latest district news, plus a recap of the previous board meeting. Check it out now!

Due to the rising number of positive COVID-19 cases in Winona County, Winona Area Public Schools will shift to Winhawk Learning Model No. 4, which moves Grades 7-12 into distance learning to start the 2020-21 school year.

Winona Area Public Schools will offer a distance learning model option for all students in the 2020-21 school year. Please fill this form linked here if you wish to choose distance learning for the student(s) in your family.

The Winona Area Public Schools Board of Education on Wednesday night gave approval to preliminary plans to welcome some students back into school buildings this fall by approving Winhawk Learning Model No. 3 — which is a hybrid model for all students.

Earlier today, Gov. Tim Walz, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Department of Health, unveiled “Minnesota’s Safe Learning Plan,” the roadmap for districts across the state to follow for the 2020-21 school year. 

Winona Area Public Schools families are encouraged to apply for free or reduced-price school meals through the Application for Educational Benefits. A new application must be submitted each year. WAPS encourages all families to submit applications.

Although COVID-19 prevented the Special Athletic Competition from taking place at Paul Giel Field as usual, athletes still took to their driveways, sidewalks and local parks for Backyard SAC 2020. Check out these highlights submitted by our families and cheer on these amazing athletes!

Winona Area Public Schools, acting on guidance from the Minnesota Department of Education and feedback from staff, students and families, has altered its grading policies during distance learning.

Winona Area Public Schools will continue to offer free nutritious meals to all children ages 18 and under throughout the summer.

Winona Area Public Schools Community Education is now accepting registrations for its Summer Key Kids program, which begins Tuesday, June 9. 

To help families navigate this step, Winona Area Public Schools teachers and principals will film a series of video conferencing calls geared toward parents and guardians of incoming kindergartners called "Zooming into Kindergarten."

Emelia Schindeldecker is turning her graduation party into a fundraiser for Feed the Kids, a fund that helps guarantee all students at Winona Area Public Schools continue to receive access to nutritious school meals. 

Here is the Winona Middle School newsletter for May/June 2020.

J&J Rubbish has joined us in our fight to clean up lunch debt in Winona. The family owned business has pledged to match all donations (up to $3,000) to Feed the Kids through the rest of our #GiveAtHomeMN fundraising campaign. 

WAPS teachers and staff threw a "reverse" parade for students at the high school on Friday, May 1.

Earlier today, Gov. Tim Walz announced that all public and charter schools in Minnesota will remain in distance learning for the remainder of the school year. Students will not be returning to the school buildings until next fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

One issue that has been brought up by both our families and our staff is grading. During distance learning, we remain steadfast in our commitment to the social and emotional health of our students, families and staff. We also realize that there are unavoidable inequities for our students and families that impact our ability to expect academic work to continue as if they were in our school buildings.

On Thursday, Winona County is participating in the 2020 Minnesota Statewide Tornado Drill as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week. We would like to encourage our families to participate as well. 

The transition to distance learning will require patience, understanding and teamwork for all involved. We understand there were some questions and concerns from our families on the first day of distance learning. We hope these resources can address some of those issues.

We are hoping to spotlight the heroes who have risen to the occasion to help their friends, family and community combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Winona Area Public Schools will be implementing our distance learning plan beginning Tuesday, March 31. Find out what's in it here.

Earlier today, Gov. Tim Walz announced that all schools in Minnesota, including Winona Area Public Schools, will remain closed through Monday, May 4 as part of the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. However, daily instruction will resume. For the past two weeks, teachers and staff have been preparing to institute distance learning plans at each grade level, and those lessons will begin Tuesday, March 31. Monday, March 30 will remain a staff workshop day.

Winona Area Public Schools will provide breakfast and lunch to all students 18 and under during the length of the school closure.

The Foundation for WAPS awarded several grants in February and March for field trips, sensory paths, a Herky Cart and more.

Dr. Annette K. Freiheit, Superintendent of Winona Area Public Schools, recorded a message for all families in our community as we begin preparing as an entire staff for the possibility of distance learning.

Due to the ordered school closure, all district events through March 27 have been postponed or canceled. Included is the Kindergarten Open House, previously scheduled for Thursday, March 26 at elementary school sites. 

Beginning Wednesday, March 18, we will be providing student meals at locations around Winona and the surrounding areas. We will also be providing free child care for the children of emergency workers. 

In light of the governor’s order this morning and our decision Friday, Winona Area Public Schools will be closed from Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 27. During this time, all after-school activities, athletic team practices and events, Community Education programming and building rentals are canceled. 

As we head into spring break next week, we wanted to update you with new information we learned regarding the novel coronavirus called COVID-19. 

To celebrate National School Social Work Week, we asked the social workers in Winona Area Public Schools about the most important part of their job. Here is what they shared with us.

We want to assure the WAPS community that multiple district staff members are in regular contact with the Minnesota Department of Health and we are reviewing district policies regarding highly contagious illnesses to make sure we are prepared in case of a local outbreak.

Thanks to the support of several businesses and organizations — and the creativity of talented students under the guidance of dedicated teachers — Winona Area Public Schools will join thousands of others across the country in celebrating Youth Art Month in March. 

On Thursday, Feb. 20, education students from Winona State University paid a visit to Lisa Palkoswki's sixth-grade language arts students at Winona Middle School, continuing a relationship that has been ongoing for the past five years.

This week’s Miller Mentoring #MentorMonday spotlight shines on Courtney Brom, a secondary math teaching major who has been a mentor for three years.

The Ríos Spanish Immersion students will be holding their annual Ríos Cultural Program Night performance on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at Winona Middle School beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Winona Area Public Schools will join school districts throughout the state to salute their local education leaders during Minnesota’s annual School Board Recognition Week Feb. 17-21.

Creative, collaborative negotiations between the Winona Education Association and Winona Area Public Schools have resulted in a tentative agreement on a contract that both sides say will help keep dedicated and passionate educators in district classrooms for years to come.

What year was this photo taken? Unlike last week, we're certain this was a Winona photo, and we're pretty sure the year is 1947, 1952, 1958 or 1969. 

Hadyn Brown, a sixth-grade student at Winona Middle School, finished second in the Southeast Minnesota Regional Spelling Bee on Tuesday, Feb. 11 in Rochester. The second-place finish means Brown will advance to the Southeast Minnesota Final Spelling Bee on Tuesday, Feb. 25. 

We need some help for this week’s #WinhawkTBT. Do you what year this photo was taken?

Winona Middle School newsletter for February 2020

Dr. Annette K. Freiheit, Superintendent of Winona Area Public Schools, is asking district parents and community members to offer their feedback on a new dress code policy. Parents and community members can take the survey at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/38F75M5. The survey will be open until 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11.

This week’s Miller Mentoring #MentorMonday spotlight shines on Sadie Spaeth, a student at Winona State University, who says mentoring is a great experience for education majors.

The Foundation for WAPS awarded a grant that will help students with cognitive disabilities at Washington-Kosciusko Elementary.

Debbie Berhow, the WSHS Theatre Group adviser, helps students become starts and shine bright, writes parent Jen Slinkman.

Amber Mlynczak, today's honoree for Thank a Coach/Adviser Week "empowers and strengthens" her volleyball players as "athletes, scholars and young women," a parent says.

Tim Gleason coaches girls basketball, track and field and is a band director. He is being thanked for "supporting our team even when we aren't at our best" and how he helped a former student-turned-teacher to unlock her confidence. "I believe that it is because of him that I am now a teacher."

Our Tech Nest students will be streaming the combined Winona Senior High School and Winona Middle School orchestra pops concert from the middle school beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. 

Registration is now open for the 2020-21 school year. Go to winonaschools.org/kindergarten to learn more about the programs and resources available, or for help on registering your student. An enrollment brochure will be sent to families later this week, so keep an eye on your mailbox.

The Winona Area Public Schools Calendar Committee has proposed two calendars for the 2020-21 school year. We want to hear from you on which one you prefer.

Thank a Coach/Adviser Week continues with a note from a parent on football coach John Cassellius, whose dedication to the sport and kids "are beyond what a normal person would do."