From Our Head of School Jeremy Antar

Located in the heart of New York City, Winston Transitions is a unique program for a community of diverse learners ages 17-21, all of whom need additional work to be prepared for the next step. 

The essence of Winston Transitions NYC is the flexibility, individualization, and understanding around designing a program and experience that supports each student's unique needs. We have a myriad of programmatic tools at our disposal that allow us to design individualized experiences for students who need to focus on developing the skills that enable independence after high school. This experience includes components that deepen academic, workplace, social-emotional, and life skills. The ultimate goal for any student going through this process is to better understand themselves and leave with a greater sense of self-awareness. 

Our​ NYC Transitions Team works closely with students in an in-depth way through our core components which include comprehensive academic coursework, internship experiences, and social-emotional development. This occurs through our small class groupings and through Winston Prep’s unique one-to-one Focus Program. Each student’s Focus curriculum is created to strengthen their development of the Qualities of a Sustainable and Independent Learner (QSIL) while working towards highly individualized goals. In the small group classes, a strong emphasis is placed on a practical application approach and project-based learning. This is achieved through course opportunities such as Language Arts, Math, Health and Wellness, Professional Studies, Independent Living Skills, Creative Projects, and Contemporary Issues. All of these courses work in concert and are utilized as a platform through which the essential skills needed for success as an emerging young adult are taught and practiced. 

For many of our students, college will be the next step in their journey. For those students, our partnership with Landmark College provides students with the opportunity to participate in a college course while enrolled at Winston Transitions. The Landmark College Dual Enrollment Program supports the students' development of executive functioning skills that are essential to successfully managing college-level coursework and also serves as a meaningful assessment tool. Participation in this program can greatly help students and their families understand readiness for college and aid in the decision-making regarding future higher education opportunities that make the most sense for each individual student. Each student’s Focus instructor provides assistance to students with navigating a digital learning environment and teaches strategies to support the executive functioning skills needed to succeed in the course. Students learn about the accessibility of the Learning Management System (LMS) (in this case, Canvas), as well as “netiquette” and online accommodations. Students learn how to participate in synchronous and asynchronous discussions and learn about the multiple affordances of online learning such as frequent communication with instructors via digital means, interacting with an online learning community of peers, add-on tech-based applications, and other supports for time management, organization, and self-regulation. Each course is credit-bearing and fully supported by feedback and the utilization of the Qualities of a Sustainable and Independent Learner.

Winston Transitions NYC was created to address the need for a gap year or two and offer those young adults and others like them outside of the Winston Prep community, the alternative program they have been looking for. To determine whether this program is appropriate for any one student, we make assessments in line with Winston Prep’s Continuous Feedback System and The Qualities of a Sustainable and Independent Learner. The Winston Transitions Team is committed to developing a true understanding of each individual through challenging our students’ abilities and raising the bar for excellence. We want our students to leave this gap year(s) program with a greater sense of who they are and what next steps make the most sense for their futures. Not only does the Winston Transitions Team focus on our students’ well-being, but a strong emphasis is also placed on the well-being of our student's families. We strive to help families feel confident that there will be a viable outcome at program completion and that they will have the tools to support their child as they move towards independence.

Come see us in action as we work to build a solid foundation by supporting and challenging young adults to meaningfully participate in life.

Jeremy Antar

Head of School

Winston Transitions NYC