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The start of our school day is with Morning Opening. This is a time when the entire student body gathers together and starts the day by saying the Pledge of Allegiance. We also celebrate birthdays during Morning Opening which is a favorite of Winn students. The entire student body sings and each student is given their own birthday cake made by our many volunteers. Morning Opening is also used for announcements, updates on current events, upcoming activities, the weather or a special joke. This is a long tradition remembered by many Winn students. Several parents attend and we have found it is a wonderful way to start the day.

Describe the most successful activity your school has initiated to strengthen the ties to your community.

One of our biggest events throughout the school year is our annual Winn Fall Festival. This is our one and only fundraiser coordinated by our Parents’ Club. Our parents and community members incorporate fun activities for children as well as adults. The activities include a silent auction, classroom projects, carnival games, hayrides, and raffle etc. The entire community and surrounding area turn out for the event and is fun for the entire family. Instructional time is not lost due to fundraising and the event truly supports cultural events, author visits, assemblies, technology in the classroom (Smart Boards & IPads), Very Important Person Day, Informational Fair, Day with the Artists, Native American Culture Day, family nights etc. In addition, curriculum nights are held in the area of language arts and math for parents to learn new strategies to use at home. Our parent teacher conferences are held twice per year with 95 – 100% attendance.
The WinnFit Program is also held during the winter months to promote health and fitness for our students as well as their families. Our Parents’ Club coordinates the program and organizes competitions between classrooms. This program provides education about health, nutrition and healthy lifestyles. It includes after school activities for families and special events within the school.

What is the single most important factor in the success of your school that others could replicate?

School Beliefs: Winn Elementary in partnership with parents, and the community educate and challenge students to be STARS: Solvers of Problems, Thinkers, Achievers, Responsible Citizens and Self Motivated Learners. A critical element to student success is our strong partnership with parents and the community. There is a common belief that all students will succeed and are continuously working to improve and provide an environment of academic excellence. A true partnership exists and is held by all stakeholders.
The start of our school day is with Morning Opening. This is a time when the entire student body gathers together and starts the day by saying the Pledge of Allegiance. We also celebrate birthdays during Morning Opening which is a favorite of Winn students. The entire student body sings and each student is given their own birthday cake made by our many volunteers. Morning Opening is also used for announcements, updates on current events, upcoming activities, the weather or a special joke. This is a long tradition remembered by many Winn students. Several parents attend and we have found it is a wonderful way to start the day.
The Winn Area Activity Center provides a before and after school program on site for academic support and supervision. This program was created by community volunteers that saw the need for continued structure following the school day. The program continues to grow and now provides support during the summer months.

Explain how Title I funds have supported your improvement efforts.

Title I funds enables our school to provide academic support for educationally at risk students. These students fall within Tier II and III on our RTI model. With this additional support we are able to help close the gap for many of these students and help them feel academically successful. We have one part- time Title I teacher and two part-time educational assistants. Our Title I staff have an excellent working relationship with our teachers and communicate on a regular basis the interventions and strategies needed to help students improve academically. They also facilitate parent nights in both math and language arts. Our teaching staff is extremely dedicated to our school and attends all parent nights and the majority of after-school activities. We feel very fortunate to have the additional support. Title I funding is critical to the success of all students.

Identify the professional development activities you use to improve the teaching portion of the teaching and learning process.

Our professional development focus is in the area of math and language arts. Our teaching staff seeks professional development that is aligned to our school improvement goals. We are currently piloting a new math program aligned to the common core and teachers participate in both on and off-site professional development that includes math coaching. We have implemented Readers and Writers Workshop Kindergarten – 5th grade. New initiatives require good professional development. Our focus is higher order thinking and promoting peer to peer conversations. Everything we do has a purpose to improve student achievement. Professional development is key in supporting the learning of all staff.

Describe how data is used to improve student achievement and inform decision making.

Winn Elementary utilizes Response to Intervention (RTI) a 3 tiered approach in addressing the needs of all students. Intervention strategies have been identified and used in all areas to provide the necessary support to for at risk learners. Data is collected and analyzed on a regular basis by all teaching staff, educational assistants and administration in order to determine the appropriate interventions and supports needed to meet the needs of our students. We utilize multiple data sources and Data Director as our data warehouse. Students are given multiple benchmark assessments throughout the year as well as progress monitoring.
Data collected ; Early STAR (kindergarten) STAR Math & Reading (1st – 5th grades) Dibel’s Next and The Developmental Reading Assessment (kindergarten – 5th grade), Fountas & Pinnel Leveled Literacy Intervention (as needed), Perception data (survey parents, students and staff 1 – 2 times per year), Michigan Educational Assessment Program (3rd – 6th grades), and local assessments. A variety of strategies and interventions are used.
We use a combination of whole and small group instruction, before and after school support, computer programs, IPads, Successmaker, Study Island, all school reads and summer school, etc. Due to the scope of our school, we have created an environment that promotes learning and positive relationships.
Data days are built within the schedule for staff to analyze and disaggregate data as a TEAM. By working together a wraparound approach is used to determine the appropriate interventions needed to help a child. Our staff is divided into 2 groups by lower and upper elementary to work vertically. The entire staff works as a team and gives freely of their time. They have an excellent working relationship that fosters one of respect and collaboration.

Describe your school culture and explain changes you’ve taken to improve it.

Decisions are data driven and focus on what is in the best interest of students. The culture is one that focuses on a safe, secure, and respectful learning environment that promotes student and teacher leaders. Our school is very family oriented and welcomes parent and community volunteers. Parent involvement at home is critical to the success of our students. Continual effort is made to foster a positive partnership with all parents and the community. Our positive working relationship has created a culture where students, parents and staff treat each other as a family.

• Category 1

  Selected in 2012

• Grades: k - 5
  School Setting: rural
  Town Population: 154
  Student Enrollment: 149
  Student Demographics:
  

  Black/African American: 2%
  White/Caucasian: 95%
  Hispanic: 1%
  Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
  Asian: 1%
  Native American: 1%
  Other: 0%
  

  Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:25
  % Reduced Lunch: 38%
  % ELL Learners: 0%
  Founded: 1888
• PRINCIPAL:
  Mrs. Kim Stegman
• CONTACT:
  8190 Church St., PO Box 338
  Winn, MI 48896
  989 866-2250
  kstegman.sps@gmail.com