September 2023

Dear Winston Families, Colleagues and Friends,

We would like to welcome those who are new to our community and introduce you to the Winston Innovation Lab (WIL), the foundation of all the work we do here at WPS. The Winston Innovation Lab is at the heart of WPS. It is in every classroom, Focus space, and every professional learning opportunity. The work of the Innovation Lab allows our community to be on the cutting edge of the science of learning and learning disorders. The WIL supports the growth of an exceptional faculty who have a deep understanding of each student. This ongoing support allows WPS teachers to cultivate an individual learning program to meet the unique needs of each individual student.

One particular element of our work that is at the forefront of our research and programming efforts is social emotional learning, its importance, and its presence in all facets of the student experience. For over a decade, we have been conducting ongoing longitudinal research through our Lives Over Time study , as well as various related research initiatives, to analyze what factors promote post-graduate independence and success. What emerged is that specific social emotional skills clearly contribute to long term independence and life satisfaction for our students. Through this research, we have developed the Qualities of a Sustainable and Independent Learner (QSIL), a social emotional learning framework that explicitly guides our understanding and development of these vital skills. The QSIL skills of Resilience, Self-Advocacy, Self-Regulation, Self-Reflection, Management and Organization, Social Communication, Problem Solving, and Social Responsibility drive not only life satisfaction and independence, but also academic growth. By illuminating the social emotional skills that are inherent in each social and academic experience while strengthening these skills through explicit instruction, we are providing students with the tools and preparedness to succeed well into adulthood.

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Winston Preparatory School is a leading school for students with learning disabilities, including dyslexia, executive functioning difficulties (ADHD), and non-verbal learning disorders (NVLD).

WPS does not discriminate against applicants and students on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin. The Winston Preparatory School provides programs and services and equal opportunity in the administration of its educational and admissions policies, financial aid programs, employment, and the selection of its governing board without regard to gender, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability status, or any status recognized by federal, state and local civil rights and non-discrimination laws.