Windward Manhattan's Lower School currently comprises grades 1-5 and provides a supportive atmosphere that enables students to explore new horizons and enhance their self-esteem. Their confidence and pride increase as they develop their core academic skills alongside their essential social and emotional skills as young learners and community members full of the most amazing potential.

The students’ day starts in homeroom where they meet with friends, organize their work before classes begin, and receive individual study help from their teachers. Lower School students have three periods a day devoted to language arts, including oral language, reading, spelling, handwriting, and expository writing. In addition, students have a daily period of mathematics and regularly scheduled periods of social studies, science, physical education, library, computers, art, and music. While class sizes are generally 12-13 students with two teachers instructing the class, both language arts and math classes are conducted with even smaller groups of students, also with the team teaching model. Computer classes for keyboarding and basic word processing skills begin in the fourth grade.

At midday there is a lunch and recess break, giving students time to play with friends or participate in extra-curricular activities. Each afternoon during "Read Aloud," students have the opportunity to listen to and discuss literature on a higher level than their independent reading levels may permit.

Since study and organizational skills are critical parts of Windward's program, students return to their homerooms before dismissal where, under careful supervision, they organize their books and materials and clarify their homework assignments. We follow a policy of using homework to reinforce skills already taught and practiced in class, so assignments are carefully designed to be manageable by students without significant parental support.

Students in grades 1 - 5 participate in a comprehensive physical education program where they are introduced to age appropriate physical fitness concepts and activities as well as locomotor skills to enhance coordination, balance and agility, and the acquisition of sports skills. In every class, the physical education teachers seek to instill important life skills such as teamwork, good sportsmanship, fair play, personal achievement and a cognitive ability to strategize for competition. In class, the students work on developing basic skills that they will then use in age appropriate lead-up games, cooperative play and scrimmages, where they will be challenged to achieve their personal best. Students are encouraged to join the After School programs where these skills are reinforced through games, intramural and interscholastic sports. The physical education department culminates the year with one of the great Windward traditions – Field Day.

At the Manhattan Campus, the Athletics program allows students to build sports skills as well as participate with friends in a variety of clinics, intramural and interscholastic sports. Students in grades 1-5 have the opportunity to participate in the after-school sports program which introduces them to a variety of sports where skills are reinforced through enjoyable drills, fun lead-up games and team play. Additionally, instructional tennis is available to our 2nd through 5th graders on Friday afternoons.

The Manhattan Lower School Clubs & Activities Program provides a broad range of clubs, activities and trips for our diverse student population. These experiences afford students the opportunities to socialize in a less formal academic setting.

During the school day, various clubs meet at recess under the supervision of highly-trained Windward faculty members. Clubs gather one or more times per week for an 8 -week session, with some spanning the school year. Students are encouraged to propose new clubs based on their interests. To date, our clubs have included:

• Chorus: 3rd and 4th graders learn to sing in beautiful harmony.
• The Yoga Club: Students are introduced to age-appropriate yoga poses as well as breathing and mindfulness techniques.

More traditional after-school activities are also an essential part of the Activities Program. The school year is divided into trimesters – the fall session commencing in September, the winter session kicking off in December, and the spring session getting underway in March. The overarching goal of the program is to appeal to as many students as possible by incorporating varied activities and season-specific sports that pique our students’ interests and promote their abilities. Instructors are trained Windward faculty members and outside professionals that provide expert instruction.

Please contact Elly Steiker-Pearl, Coordinator of Activities, Manhattan Lower School, for further information.  

 

 

The Manhattan Middle School (grades 6-8) provides a strong instructional program where students acquire academic proficiency, learn self-advocacy skills and build self confidence in an environment that nurtures each child’s personal and social development.

Since all Windward students have difficulties in the areas of reading and writing, the language arts program is the core of the School’s curriculum. Through direct instruction in small, homogenously grouped settings, children are explicitly taught the rules of language necessary for comprehending, remembering and communicating information. Students receive 3 periods of language arts daily which includes reading, expository writing, vocabulary development, study skills and phonics-based reading instruction based on PAF by Phyllis Bertin and Eileen Perlman. The Windward School writing program uses The Windward Expository Writing Program. Lessons for writing linguistically complex sentences and paragraphs, outlining, note taking, paraphrasing, and summarizing are integrated across the curriculum. Students then use these writing techniques to develop research papers in conjunction with assignments in other subject areas, and they become proficient in using the library and the Internet for research. In addition, all students have one period of math, science and social studies daily.

Math lessons at Windward are created to teach computational and application skills, enhance conceptual understanding and develop each child’s ability to communicate using the language of math. Homogenously grouped classes enable teachers to build a solid foundation of basic math concepts, computation and number sense. Classes range from remedial to advanced and instructional techniques are adapted to support individual learning differences.

The Science and Social Studies programs at the Middle School are guided by New York State curriculum standards and strive to integrate content, concepts, and skill learning while reinforcing the student’s reading and writing competency.

Our Physical Education Program helps promote the student’s mental, physical and emotional well-being while the Arts provide an arena for children to develop poise and confidence and the opportunity for creativity and self-expression.

Windward’s Middle school group guidance curriculum discusses developmentally appropriate topics to promote social, academic, and personal growth. Students receive bi-monthly lessons taught by the guidance counselor.

The Windward School provides an educational experience that emphasizes skills and develops the independence, initiative, and academic and social confidence that each student needs to successfully return to the mainstream setting.

Students in grades 6 - 8 participate in a comprehensive physical education program where they are introduced to age appropriate physical fitness concepts and activities as well as locomotor skills to enhance coordination, balance and agility, and the acquisition of sports skills. In every class, the physical education teachers seek to instill important life skills such as teamwork, good sportsmanship, fair play, personal achievement and a cognitive ability to strategize for competition. In class, the students work on developing basic skills that they will then use in age appropriate lead-up games, cooperative play and scrimmages, where they will be challenged to achieve their personal best. Students are encouraged to join the After School programs where these skills are reinforced through games, intramural and interscholastic sports. The physical education department culminates the year with one of the great Windward traditions – Field Day.

The Manhattan Middle School Activities Program provides a broad range of clubs, activities and trips for our diverse student population. These experiences afford students the opportunities to socialize in a less formal academic setting.

During the school day, various clubs meet at recess under the supervision of highly-trained Windward faculty members. Clubs gather one or more times per week for an 8-week session, with some spanning the school year. Students are encouraged to propose new clubs based on their interests. To date, our clubs have included:

• Student Council: Middle school students have the opportunity to represent their classmates and lead various community service projects.
• Drama: All participating students will perform in various Windward Manhattan productions.

More traditional after-school activities are also an essential part of the Activities Program. The school year is divided into trimesters – the fall session commencing in September, the winter session kicking off in December, and the spring session getting underway in March. The overarching goal of the program is to appeal to as many students as possible by incorporating varied activities and season-specific sports that pique our students’ interests and promote their abilities. Instructors are trained Windward faculty members and outside professionals that provide expert instruction.

This year, several new programs will be introduced while many of our more popular programs will again be offered. These include: Communications Club, Arts & Crafts, Sports & Games and Instructional Tennis.

In addition to curriculum-driven field trips, students can also take advantage of numerous “social field trips,” which take place throughout the school year. Students have the opportunity to visit cultural institutions, museums and sporting venues to enjoy a variety of experiences while developing and practicing essential social skills. All excursions take place on Friday evenings and are open to middle school students only. Trips are chaperoned by multiple Windward faculty members and most include dinner, during which time students can socialize with their peers. The cost associated with each trip varies.

Please contact Ms. Steiker-Pearl, Coordinator of Activities, Manhattan Middle School, for further information. 

 

 

At the Manhattan Campus, the Athletics program allows students to build sports skills as well as participate with friends in a variety of clinics, intramural and interscholastic sports.

Our 6th through 8th graders have the opportunity to join their classmates in a variety of clinics and interscholastic sports based on the season. Students of varying athletic ability can opt to join in-season clinics that teach and enhance sports skills, promote teamwork and sportsmanship, and help to develop strong basic fundamental skills in specific sports. The fall season kicks off with interscholastic coed soccer for 6th and 7th graders as well as an interscholastic cross country team. The winter season includes intramural and interscholastic basketball, cheerleading and tennis.

Windward's Westchester Lower School comprises grades 1-5 and provides a supportive atmosphere that enables students to explore new horizons and enhance their self-esteem. Their confidence and pride increase as they develop their core academic skills alongside their essential social and emotional skills as young learners and community members full of the most amazing potential.

The students’ day starts in homeroom where they meet with friends, organize their work before classes begin, and receive individual study help from their teachers. Lower School students have three periods a day devoted to language arts, including oral language, reading, spelling, handwriting, and expository writing. In addition, students have a daily period of mathematics and regularly scheduled periods of social studies, science, physical education, library, computers, art, and music. While class sizes are generally 12-13 students with two teachers instructing the class, both language arts and math classes are conducted with even smaller groups of students, also with the team teaching model. Computer classes for keyboarding and basic word processing skills begin in the fourth grade.

At midday there is a lunch and recess break, giving students time to play with friends or participate in extra-curricular activities. Each afternoon during "Read Aloud," students have the opportunity to listen to and discuss literature on a higher level than their independent reading levels may permit.

Since study and organizational skills are critical parts of Windward's program, students return to their homerooms before dismissal where, under careful supervision, they organize their books and materials and clarify their homework assignments. We follow a policy of using homework to reinforce skills already taught and practiced in class, so assignments are carefully designed to be manageable by students without significant parental support.

The Westchester Lower School art department builds the foundation to understanding the basic principles and elements of art and design through different media such as drawing, painting, and mixed media. The primary elements of line, color, shape, space, and form are emphasized, and symmetry, contrast, and pattern are introduced. Lessons are delivered in an explicit, step by step method in which teachers focus on the literal mechanics of using art tools as well as manipulating the art medium.

For example, through direct instruction children learn where to grip a drawing pencil, how to hold and clean a brush for best results, how to hold scissors for more accuracy, etc. In our multisensory approach, students first see a finished version of the project, watch a demonstration of each step, listen to verbal explanations, and then create an original work themselves. We draw inspiration from the materials we use, famous artists, seasons of the years, and cultures from around the world. Each year several projects per grade are created in conjunction with the social studies, science, literature, or math curricula. Especially for our visual learners, this interdisciplinary work further reinforces and clarifies concepts they will see in other subjects. The Lower School community enjoys student artwork on display on bulletin boards and in display cases throughout the school building.

Lower School students receive music instruction one day per week, during which they learn foundational music skills including beat and rhythm. Third and fourth graders study the recorder and have the opportunity to join grade-level choruses for further music enrichment. In the fourth grade, students attend classes in music appreciation, which highlight musical styles, instruments, and composers. The Winter and Spring Concerts, as well as additional events, afford students the opportunity to showcase the musical compositions and skills they have learned. During the month of March, music is infused throughout the school day in celebration of Music in the Schools Month.

At Westchester Lower School (WLS), students have physical education class every day. Teachers introduce students in grades 1-5 to basic physical fitness concepts, cooperative group games, dance, locomotor skills, spatial awareness, and sports development activities. Throughout the year, physical education teachers provide activities that instill in students important life skills such as teamwork, game strategies, and good sportsmanship. In class, students work on developing strong basic skills and then use them in age appropriate lead-up and creative games, cooperative play, and scrimmages. Students are encouraged to join the after-school program, where these skills are reinforced through fun games and team play. The structure of WLS’s physical education program provides Windward’s younger students with a smooth transition into the program at both middle schools.

The After-School Program at Windward’s Westchester Lower School serves a dual purpose for the children in grades 1-5. First and foremost, the program provides students with an opportunity to participate in an activity that they enjoy in a relaxed atmosphere once the school day has ended. Secondly, the After-School Program gives students the opportunity to develop and practice essential social and emotional skills.

The After-School program has three sessions: fall, winter and spring. The fall session begins in September, shortly after the opening of school; the winter session commences in December, prior to the holiday recess; and the spring session generally starts in March. The program aims to attract as many students as possible by offering numerous activities as well as season-specific sports that meet their many interests. Activities vary depending on the particular program session. Past programs have included Sports and Games, ceramics, digital storytelling, papier maché, chess club, soccer, “Wacky Baseball,” and “Mad Science.” Instructors are members of Windward’s faculty and professionals from outside organizations that have provided instruction in such offerings as tennis and fencing.

Since Windward’s student body is drawn from towns and counties across three states, the After-School Program gives students the opportunity to participate in activities with school friends whom they might not easily see outside of the academic day. The program’s goal is to bring students together via structured activities that allow them to enjoy themselves and socialize.

Please contact Kristin Galvin, Assistant Director of Athletics and Coordinator of the After School Program, if you have any questions.

Windward's Westchester Middle School (grades 6-9) provides a strong instructional program where students acquire academic proficiency, learn self-advocacy skills, and build self confidence in an environment that nurtures each child’s personal and social development.

Since all Windward students have difficulties in the areas of reading and writing, the language arts program is the core of the School’s curriculum. Through direct instruction in small, homogeneously grouped settings, children are explicitly taught the rules of language necessary for comprehending, remembering and communicating information. Students receive 3 periods of language arts daily which includes reading, expository writing, vocabulary development, study skills and phonics-based reading instruction based on The PAF Reading Program by Phyllis Bertin and Eileen Perlman. Lessons for writing linguistically complex sentences and paragraphs, outlining, note-taking, paraphrasing, and summarizing are integrated across the curriculum. Students then use these writing techniques to develop research papers in conjunction with assignments in other subject areas, and they become proficient in using the library and the Internet for research. In addition, all students have one period of math, science, and social studies daily.

Math lessons at Windward are created to teach computational and application skills, enhance conceptual understanding, and develop each child’s ability to communicate using the language of math. Homogeneously grouped classes enable teachers to build a solid foundation of basic math concepts, computation and number sense. Classes range from remedial to advanced and instructional techniques are adapted to support individual learning differences.

The science and social studies programs at the middle schools are guided by New York State curriculum standards and strive to integrate content, concepts, and skill learning while reinforcing the student’s reading and writing competency.

Our physical education program helps promote the student’s mental, physical and emotional well-being while the Arts provide an arena for children to develop poise and confidence and the opportunity for creativity and self-expression.

Windward's middle schools have a developmentally appropriate group guidance curriculum. Sixth and seventh graders receive bi-weekly lessons taught by guidance counselors in a group setting. Eighth-grade students take part in a weekly GAINS program (Getting Ahead In School). The purpose of GAINS is to provide students with accurate information about learning differences, help them to gain insight into their strengths and weaknesses, become better self-advocates, and be better prepared for their transition to high school. In the ninth grade, students participate in a weekly advisory period where they discuss relevant teenage issues, practice public speaking skills and participate in community service projects.

The Windward School provides an educational experience that emphasizes skills and develops the independence, initiative, and academic and social confidence that each student needs to successfully return to the mainstream setting.

Building on the lower-school curriculum, the Westchester Middle School's art department continues to hone the Windward student’s familiarity with art tools and media at increasingly complex levels. Additionally, new media are introduced such as ceramics, printmaking, metal work, woodworking, color theory, and portraiture. Principles of art and design such as unity, balance, contrast, and proportion are defined and applied as are the additional art elements of value, texture, and form. Through visual, aesthetic, and auditory models, students continue to develop their language skills.

While middle-school art teachers continue to use direct and explicit multisensory teaching methods, students are given more responsibility in the art room. They are asked to think and do for themselves at developmentally appropriate levels. This greater emphasis on student autonomy yields more diversity in artwork and produces more independent artists who are preparing for eventual entry into mainstream school environments. Students continue to experience interdisciplinary projects at Westchester Middle School, and they have the opportunity to showcase their accomplishments at our annual Westchester Middle School Art Exhibition as well as in the gallery and halls throughout the school year.

The mission of the Windward Drama Program is to offer challenging creative opportunities in a supportive environment. Taught in the Middle School as part of the 6th grade curriculum, it is also offered as an elective club to Middle School students at all grade levels.

The program provides an outlet for self-expression, instills confidence, increases self-esteem and engages the imagination. Involvement in drama club productions teaches responsitibility and commitment while also fostering a sense of community and developing new friendships. The Windward Drama Program encourages students to take risks and discover new talents.

The Windward drama class is a multi-sensory, language-based experience. Through acting exercises and scene work, students improve their ability to read with expression, expand their vocabulary, improve their public speaking, and sharpen their memorization skills. Through collaborative playwriting, students utilize skills taught in the Windward reading and writing programs. They learn the vocabulary of dramatic literature and develop skills for creative problem solving. The elective Windward Drama Club meets for rehearsals after-school and during lunch. The Drama Club produces two shows annually; recent shows have included, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Oliver,” and “Guys and Dolls.” Students may participate as performers or tech and backstage crew.

Students may also elect to participate in the Westchester Middle School Chorus. In chorus, students learn to sing musical selections in three-part harmony while building teamwork skills and cooperation. Participation in chorus helps refine listening skills and improve focus. There are one or two chorus concerts annually. Musical selections consist of Broadway show tunes and popular music from different eras. Music is chosen to introduce students to varying tempo, style, and articulation.

The program for students in the sixth grade builds upon the lower school curriculum and is based on skill acquisition, creative drills combined with lead-up games and game play. Seventh and eighth grade students review the fundamentals of sport specific skills and engage in team scrimmages. They also have the opportunity to enroll in elective activities, which include Zumba, yoga, fitness, rollerblading, and dance. The ninth-grade curriculum is unique in that it is aimed at fostering an interest in lifetime sports such as tennis, bowling, golf, and skating. The middle school's physical education curriculum places a strong emphasis on fitness, teamwork, sportsmanship and activities that foster an appreciation for a healthy lifestyle. In all classes, students are introduced to age appropriate skills, concepts, rules, and strategies, and are given opportunities to practice those skills via drills, cooperative activities, creative games, and scrimmages.

The Westchester Middle School Athletics Program is designed to enhance students’ personal development and athletic abilities through the teaching of sound skills, sportsmanship, and teamwork. The School boasts a variety of interscholastic and intramural teams and clubs, allowing students to excel in an area of their choice while representing the Windward community. Students of varying athletic abilities participate together on teams whose primary goals are to model and promote self-esteem, school spirit, fundamental skills, and love of the game. The coaches successfully incorporate many of the same teaching strategies used in the classroom to instruct our students on the field. All students are encouraged to participate in after school athletics through which they can enjoy competing with friends while building character and developing life skills.

Windward athletes compete against neighboring schools in the Fairchester League, a consortium of independent schools in Westchester County, NY and Fairfield County, CT. In keeping with Windward’s philosophy, the league emphasizes fair play, teamwork, and participation over winning. Interscholastic sports offered at Windward include fall and spring cross-country, soccer, basketball, squash, lacrosse, and softball.

Intramural and instructional sports include volleyball, cheerleading, basketball, tennis, and fencing.

The Westchester Middle School Activities Program is primarily an after school program designed to bring students in grades six through nine together in less structured, informal settings. Trips are usually conducted on Fridays following dismissal, and our destinations are varied. Trips are occasionally restricted to one particular grade, but most are open to all interested Middle School students. The first trip of the year is usually to an area entertainment center where students can play mini-golf, ride go-carts, and enjoy laser tag games with friends. The School takes advantage of its proximity to New York City by offering students the opportunity to take trips to Broadway shows, professional sporting events, cultural institutions, and museums. Each trip usually includes a dinner at which students can socialize with their peers, and all trips are chaperoned by Windward faculty members. The costs of the trips vary, and stipends are available to subsidize families in need.  

Trips that take place during the school day have an educational component and generally reflect the students’ social studies or science curricula. In past years, sixth grade students traveled to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to view the Museum’s vast Egyptian collection. The Museum of the Moving Image is usually the destination for a seventh grade trip, while eighth graders might visit the Tenement Museum, 9/11 Museum, or Museum of Natural History in New York City. The ninth grade often takes an overnight trip that relates to a particular theme the grade studies during the year. The School also reserves time for each grade to take a year-end trip in June; these trips aim to be both educational and fun. Past destinations have included the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum; Medieval Times; and a tour of an anthracite coal mine museum in Pennsylvania, among others.

Windward also offers a variety of clubs. The offerings are usually generated by student interest and meet either during recess or after school. Recess clubs meet one to five times each week while after-school clubs typically meet from 3 P.M. to 4:30 PM one day per week. Past clubs have included a meteorology club, art club, ping-pong club, chess club, duct tape club, history club, and cooking club. These clubs may meet for the entire year or for a three month period. Other clubs are established by the Guidance Department from time to time in order to address issues pertinent to particular groups of Windward students. 

Students are encouraged to speak with Mr. Steiker, Director of Activities, if they wish to start a new club.