Winona Drive Senior Public School

We Feature

French Programs

At Winona, our French Immersion program offers students 50% of their subject classes in French and the remainder in English subject classes.

Core French is offered to students in the regular English stream. In Grades 7 and 8, Ontario’s Core French program transitions students from basic, isolated vocabulary toward functional communication and critical thinking. The goal is to build enough competence and confidence for students to navigate real-world scenarios and meet the entry requirements for Grade 9 high school French.

Winona Drive Senior Public School's Mission Statement

Winona Drive Senior PS is located south of St.Clair Ave W. between Bathurst and Dufferin streets. The building was constructed in 1959 as a fourth addition to McMurrich Junior Public School. Although McMurrich and Winona are physically joined, they are separate in terms of administration, teaching staff, and grades/programs offered.

Winona Drive Senior PS strives to provide excellence in education for the young adolescent. Through partnership with the home, our staff provide opportunities for our students to learn and grow intellectually, socially and emotionally. Students have clearly outlined responsibilities which accompany their rights. We have expectations of them, and for them, both in the classroom and beyond.

We are fortunate to have a large gym, a pool, a library resource centre, two specialized music classrooms, a Design and Technology program, a guidance office and a cafeteria.
We have approximately 400 students, representing many cultures and socio-economic groups. The diversity of our community is one of our many strengths.

Teachers who specialize in Math, Science, Design & Technology, Music, Literacy, French and Physical Education provide intensive instruction in those subjects on a rotary timetable.

Health & Physical Education

We are proud to be able to provide a strong Physical Education program directed by full-time experienced Health & Physical Education teachers. Whether it be in the gym, the swimming pool, field space or community facilities, Winona students participate in varied physical education learning opportunities.

The Ontario Health and Physical Education (HPE) Curriculum for Grades 7 and 8 focuses on helping intermediate students build physical literacy, mental health literacy, personal safety awareness, and healthy decision-making skills during a period of major physical, emotional, and social change.

More Information About Winona Drive Senior Public School

School Council

Our active School Council meets regularly throughout the year to support our school through fundraising, volunteering, and community outreach.

Special Education

We have a number of Special Education programs, including 2 types of Intensive Support Programs, as well as Resource support programs suited to meet the needs of each individual learner. TDSB emphasizes an inclusive model, aiming to support students in their local neighborhood schools whenever possible, backed by individualized frameworks.

The ISP programs offered at Winona are:
1) Learning Disabilities class

2) Gifted Learner class

Students enter these programs through an Identification, Placement and Review Committee process.

Special Education teachers at Winona focus on supporting both the academic and social growth of our students. Resource teachers provide tailored assistance within regular classrooms as well as in focused, small-group settings. Educational Assistants work alongside teachers to support students who require supports.

Specialized Programs

Design and Technology, Rock Band, Strings, Science lab work and Coding are a sample of the specialized programming that Winona offers students. Teachers provides experiential learning opportunities for all of our students.

Music

Winona’s Music program offers a variety of different choices for our student body. We offer a rich strings program, band program, and steel pan programs. Our students play regularly throughout the year at several evening presentations.

Additional Features

Swimming Pool
Library
Interactive Digital Boards
Design and Technology Program
Cafeteria
Snack Program

Student Life - Where You Belong

GO TEAM

"Winona is a second home to many of us. We have a number of extracurricular music programs, such as the Concert, Jazz and Tour Bands and Festival Strings. If you love to sing the choir is open to all students as well as the musical that is held every year!

Winona has many teams and clubs. We have so many teams, from volleyball to swim to ultimate Frisbee and everything in between. For those who aren’t interested in competing there are intramurals, a great way to stay fit and have fun! Clubs here include the Scrabble Club, Dance club, Me2We, to name just a few. No matter what type of sport or club you’re into there is definitely something for you here.

We have many trips that we go on. Grade 7 students go to Quebec for a week and grade 8 students have a chance to do an exchange program with a family in Quebec. At the end of grade 8 we go to Camp Arrowhon for an end of the year trip. We also have an extremely fun Winter Activity Day, where we get to pick what we want to do for the day. I chose skiing!

Winona was my choice because all the wonderful programs, sports and opportunities that are offered. I hope that you get to enjoy Winona as much as I do! - student testimonial-

WHAT SETS US APART

Winona is not just a place for students to come and learn. It is a place where learning is an experience that surrounds you.

We offer students the opportunities and experiences that may have not been afforded to them in the past. The variety of subjects that are offered, from Design & Technology, Family Studies, Strings and Band music programs, Drama, plus a triple track French program, makes our school truly unique. As a result, our students are provided with the opportunity to participate in sports, clubs, visual arts, drama and music, and to journey outside the school to enhance their learning.

At Winona we offer a safe, welcoming, environment that provides for the specific needs of the middle school student. We work hard to facilitate these transitional years by allowing students to discover who they are in a safe and caring environment.

PARENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Winona students collaborate with a variety of community/social agencies, including the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Covenant House, Central Toronto Youth Services, Kids Help Phone, and Toronto Police Services, to name a few organizations.

Our students, with the help of local businesses actively support the Canadian Cancer Society through participation in the Terry Fox Run and the CN tower climb in support of the United Way.

Winona students participate in cross-age connections with Junior School students and transition programs with feeder schools and local high schools. Our student body enthusiastically supports community food banks with student council food drives. The student council works with the Evergreen Foundation and TDSB Eco Schools on initiatives to encourage ecological responsibility and to help "green" our school.

Winona is a proud community member!