Coach A....ugh...."working" |
Regularly updated blog by High School Principal Chris Gagnon on all things dealing with the Winston Redbirds.
Monday, August 31, 2015
BOYS CLAIM CROWN AT EAST HARRISON
Friday, August 28, 2015
TWICE AS NICE!
The Winston Redbirds pulled off the double dip on Thursday night sweeping both games of the girl's and boy's double-header from Tri-County. Both Redbird squads had dominating performances as our Lady Redbirds shut out Tri-County 9-0 and our Boys followed suit by defeating the Mustangs 14-0. The Lady Redbirds now stand at 1-1 on the year while our Boys are at 1-0. Both squads will compete in the East Harrison Tournament this Saturday in Cainsville. The Lady Redbirds take the field at 10:30 against host East Harrison. The Redbirds will also start with the Cougars and have a scheduled first pitch of 3:00pm. It's a Great Day to Be a Redbird!
Thursday, August 27, 2015
A Great Day To Be A REDBIRD!
It was quite an honor to sit in the conference meeting surrounded by all of the other Principals, Superintendents, Athletic Directors, and Coaches from all of our rival schools and get to watch them politely clap when our name was read. I think everyone associated with Winston sat a little taller in their chair that evening, knowing that all of those other school leaders were envious of what we have been able to accomplish.
Of course, our work is not done, the pursuit for a fourth consecutive title has already begun. Our students, staff, and administration are committed to achieving excellence in all we do. We are proud to be Redbirds, and to carry the banner for our teams, our school, and our community. It is a Great Day to be a Redbird!
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
LADY REDBIRDS COME UP SHORT IN OPENER
Things may not have ended the way the Winston fans and athletes would have liked but the Lady Redbirds played their hearts out Tuesday night in their season opener. The Lady Redbirds fell to the Stewartsville Lady Cardinals 0-6 to start the season. A large group of Winston fans came out to cheer the team on. I was proud to see so many fans and students at the field to root for our girls. The game didn't end the way everyone wanted, but our girls played hard and never quit. I am proud of the student-athletes in our school and I have no doubt that we will improve as the season goes on. It is a Great Day to be a Redbird!
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
EXCELLENCE IN ALL WE DO!
Winston High School had always been a name I was familiar with. When I was a boy in school myself, I don't recall playing Winston in anything. I am sure we crossed paths with them in the occasional basketball game or ran into them at a track meet from time to time. It was once I returned to my hometown as an educator that I really became aware of them. Once I joined the coaching ranks I was always impressed with their basketball and track teams. It always seemed that when they were good, they were VERY good and when they were bad, they were still pretty good. I always admired that. Competing against them in athletics was never easy.
Once I became an administrator, I became even more aware of them. I became aware that they were competitive not only in basketball but also softball and academic team. In many ways, Winston High School accomplished more than most thought a school this size should. I began to follow more closely and was regularly impressed with the way the students competed, they way the fans conducted themselves, and the way the community embraced and supported the school. I wanted those same things for my schools. In short, I was jealous.
These are the reasons I decided to come to work here at Winston High School, and these are also the reasons I am so excited for what this year will hold. As any student will tell you I am very proud to be a Redbird. But my excitement and my expectations do not begin and end on the basketball court or on the softball field. I am excited about the potential our school and community has. I want the name of Winston High School to be associated with greatness. I don't want us to be known as a school that is good at sports. I want us to be known as a school that is good at EVERYTHING! My motto for our school, and the focus of all I am trying to do here, is Excellence in All We Do!
It is that thought of excellence that guides my actions as the leader of our high school. I want anything and everything that is associated with Winston to strive for excellence. My goal is to do our best to win every game we play, have the highest test scores in the area, have the best organizations, and create the best citizens. This is surely a lofty goal, and one that cannot be accomplished overnight, but I have seen this school and community do great things. I hope you all will help me strive for Excellence in All We Do, because if we work hard towards excellence we will never be embarrassed by the results. I ask you all to join me in making our year, our school, and our community great. Get on the bus, let us see how far we can go. It is a Great Day to be a Redbird!
Once I became an administrator, I became even more aware of them. I became aware that they were competitive not only in basketball but also softball and academic team. In many ways, Winston High School accomplished more than most thought a school this size should. I began to follow more closely and was regularly impressed with the way the students competed, they way the fans conducted themselves, and the way the community embraced and supported the school. I wanted those same things for my schools. In short, I was jealous.
These are the reasons I decided to come to work here at Winston High School, and these are also the reasons I am so excited for what this year will hold. As any student will tell you I am very proud to be a Redbird. But my excitement and my expectations do not begin and end on the basketball court or on the softball field. I am excited about the potential our school and community has. I want the name of Winston High School to be associated with greatness. I don't want us to be known as a school that is good at sports. I want us to be known as a school that is good at EVERYTHING! My motto for our school, and the focus of all I am trying to do here, is Excellence in All We Do!
It is that thought of excellence that guides my actions as the leader of our high school. I want anything and everything that is associated with Winston to strive for excellence. My goal is to do our best to win every game we play, have the highest test scores in the area, have the best organizations, and create the best citizens. This is surely a lofty goal, and one that cannot be accomplished overnight, but I have seen this school and community do great things. I hope you all will help me strive for Excellence in All We Do, because if we work hard towards excellence we will never be embarrassed by the results. I ask you all to join me in making our year, our school, and our community great. Get on the bus, let us see how far we can go. It is a Great Day to be a Redbird!
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM
Mrs. Littrell leads her business class in a writing assignment that has students identifying their "funds of knowledge".
The
Winston R-VI School District is taking part in The Prairie Lands Writing
Project. This is a program offered by
the National Writing Project in conjunction with Missouri Western State
University through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
The
purpose of the program is to increase the writing skills of students of
participating schools by “writing across the curriculum”. That
is to say, writing will not only be taught in English classes. Other content areas will make use of writing
strategies and exercises to sharpen the writing skills of students. The Department of Education has identified
writing skills as one of the most important indicators of academic success.
Members
of both the High School and Elementary School at Winston underwent training
this summer in order to utilize the program properly. Students from Winston, Osborn, Trenton,
Braymer, Breckinridge, and Hamilton are all currently participating in the
program.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
7th GRADE, A YEAR OF TRANSITION.
Ah, the first day of school.
It is a day that is universally praised by parents and loathed by
students. It is the day that we say
goodbye to the freedom of summer and hello to the routine and structure that
dominates our lives for 9 months out of the year. The first day of high school can be a scary
day whether you are a 7th grader or a senior. All students start the year facing some
degree of the unknown. For the new 7th
grade students it is a transition year from the format of the Elementary
school. Gone are the days of spending
hour upon hour in one class with one teacher.
7th graders are now switching classes every hour and having
to keep track of their books, supplies, and assignments between several
classrooms and a locker. It can seem
overwhelming. Here is some simple advice
to help make the year a successful one:
1.
Use a
planner. The school provides
planners free of charge to our 7th grade students, use them. It can be difficult to keep track of
assignments and due dates across 7 different classes. The planner is designed to help you stay
organized.
2.
Get
involved in something. Research
shows that students who are involved in an extra-curricular activity have a
better high school experience. I know
not everyone is an athlete, but there are other activities such as student
council, class officer, band, and academic team that offer students a chance to
get involved in our school. Only by trying all of these things out can you find where you best fit.
3.
Don’t
be afraid to speak up. High
school can be intimidating; don’t let fear keep you from voicing any questions
or concerns. If you need help with
something, let a fellow student or a teacher know. If you need to know how something works, or
where something is located don’t hesitate to ask.
Of course, every student will face some ups and downs
throughout the school year, but by following the advice above we can try to
minimize some of the anxiety of new students.
Monday, August 17, 2015
NEW FACES IN OLD PLACES
The 2015-2016 school year is going to be one of change for Winston High School. In addition to welcoming a new principal, there will also be several new teachers at Winston High:
Ms. Yuille
Ms. Yuille will be the new FACS teacher at Winston High School this year. She comes to us after having taught the previous 2 years at Breckenridge High School. Ms. Yuille is originally from Braymer, Missouri. She attended college at Missouri State University in Springfield.
Ms. Yohn
9-12 English will be taught this year by Ms. Yohn. She is originally from Southwest Missouri and graduated with her English Degree from Southwest Baptist University. Ms. Yohn student taught at Buffalo, Missouri.
Mr. May
Mr. May will be teaching 7-12 science this year at Winston. He was born and raised in rural Humphreys, Missouri. He has a Bachelor's Degree from MWSU and a Master's Degree from William Woods University. He has spent the last 11 years teaching at Grundy R-V. He and his wife, Amy, have one son, Braden, who is 6. Mr. May will also be serving as a Junior High Basketball Coach and an Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach.
Ms. Yuille
Ms. Yuille will be the new FACS teacher at Winston High School this year. She comes to us after having taught the previous 2 years at Breckenridge High School. Ms. Yuille is originally from Braymer, Missouri. She attended college at Missouri State University in Springfield.
Ms. Yohn
9-12 English will be taught this year by Ms. Yohn. She is originally from Southwest Missouri and graduated with her English Degree from Southwest Baptist University. Ms. Yohn student taught at Buffalo, Missouri.
Mr. May
Mr. May will be teaching 7-12 science this year at Winston. He was born and raised in rural Humphreys, Missouri. He has a Bachelor's Degree from MWSU and a Master's Degree from William Woods University. He has spent the last 11 years teaching at Grundy R-V. He and his wife, Amy, have one son, Braden, who is 6. Mr. May will also be serving as a Junior High Basketball Coach and an Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach.
Friday, August 14, 2015
TEACHERS WIN ANNUAL "BATTLE OF THE CLASSES"
In what will surely be remembered as a contest for the ages, the Teacher's team took the crown at the 2015 "Battle of The Classes". This is an annual event that is put on by the PTO. It is a chance for our students and teachers to get out and interact with one another in a setting that is outside of the school or the classroom.
The event was held in conjunction with the district's annual open house. The open house was well attended and featured a chance for students and parents to meet new staff members, reconnect with returning staff and get ready for the upcoming school year. The night also featured a free cookout provided by the Board of Education. Board members were hard at work all evening grilling and wrapping hotdogs for the dinner that was offered free of charge to families who attended the open house.
Of course the highlight of the evening was the much anticipated battle of the classes. All teams had to run their best contestants through a gauntlet of challenges that tested the athletic ability and endurance of all. All participants did well and had a good time. It was a great evening of fellowship and socialization. If you did not attend I would strongly encourage you to do so next year. It's a Great Day to be a Redbird!
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Hello Winston
I just wanted to take a moment and introduce myself to all of the patrons of the Winston R-6 School District. My name is Chris Gagnon and I am happy to say that I am the new High School Principal here in Winston. I am married to a wonderful woman named Heather and we have two beautiful (just ask me) children. My wife and I are both graduates of local small schools and we have always enjoyed the feeling of pride and family that comes with being in small districts.
I am very excited to be taking over the High School here. We have many things to be exceptionally proud of in Winston. Our students are outstanding members of our community and they continue to shine academically, athletically, and socially. I hope that I can help to continue the tradition of excellence that Winston High School has become known for.
This blog is one way that I hope to increase communication with the community. I am planning on updating the blog at least weekly with some of the great things that are happening in our school. I hope you give it a follow. I look forward to meeting with you all soon. It is a Great day to be a Redbird!
I am very excited to be taking over the High School here. We have many things to be exceptionally proud of in Winston. Our students are outstanding members of our community and they continue to shine academically, athletically, and socially. I hope that I can help to continue the tradition of excellence that Winston High School has become known for.
This blog is one way that I hope to increase communication with the community. I am planning on updating the blog at least weekly with some of the great things that are happening in our school. I hope you give it a follow. I look forward to meeting with you all soon. It is a Great day to be a Redbird!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)