RWHS: Vision, Voice, Community

In our first three issues, we pulled back the curtain on the adult systems powering our school—from our Capti reading data and Small Learning Teams to our classroom walk-throughs. But systems are only half the equation. The true heart of Red Wing High School is our students.

Educational research is clear: before students can engage in high-level learning, they must first feel connected, safe, and valued. When young people feel a strong sense of belonging at school, attendance rises, academic resilience deepens, and graduation rates climb.

When I was hired as your principal, establishing a culture rooted in belonging and safety was our top mandate. We set out to ensure that every student who walks through our doors knows they have a place, a voice, and an entire team of adults advocating for their success.

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  When a school culture shifts toward connection, the results show up in the data. Over the past three years, our focused effort to build a safe, welcoming environment has driven tangible progress:

  • Exceeding Enrollment Targets: High school enrollment has exceeded district targets by more than 20 students in each of the last three years.

  • Welcoming Students Home: We have seen a steady trend of students choosing to return to Red Wing High School from alternative options and online settings.

  • Open Enrollment: It also seems that are open enrollment from outside locations as also increased, but I would need to research this more. Some anecdotal data suggests this about students who are choosing our school over neighboring schools.

  • Proactive Support Networks: Through programs like BARR (Building Assets, Reducing Risks), our 8th and 9th-grade teams continuously monitor student well-being to catch challenges early and keep students connected.

  
  

  Families are choosing RWHS because our students feel safe to learn, grow, and take intellectual risks here.

While trends have an array of factors I think it is incredibly important to celebrate the ways our entire staff have continued to elevate student voice in what else they want to see in the school day. The social emotional well being of students is a priority if we want academic excellence from them all. We face an array of challenges as a school and while things do not always go the way we hope, I can say with confidence our staff respond and help elevate the moral development of our students in all the teachable moments.

School Partners:

• AmeriCorps Member (Rise Up): Alyvia Xiong, an RWHS graduate, is our AmeriCorps member. She provides regular check-ins for students on her caseload, helping them build strong school connections and foster a greater sense of belonging in the building.

• Math Corps Member: We are fortunate to have Kristin Freed providing math support to our 8th-grade students. Guided by data and working alongside our two 8th-grade math teachers, Kristin delivers targeted math assistance both inside and outside the classroom.

• Hispanic Outreach: Gloria Machado helps run after-school tutoring for students enrolled in the community partnership program.

• Fernbrook Mental Health Support (TBD): Fernbrook provides mental health services to our school. Staff will contact families directly if a potential need for referral is identified.

• Goodhue County Health and Human Services GRANT - We have a licensed alcohol and drug counselor through Common Ground and a Peer Health Educator.

• Prairie Island Liaisons: Mitch Skeen and Leah Ryan provide academic and social support to our Native American youth.

• Minnesota State College Southeast - Diane Jacobson provide college counseling on behalf of Southeast and works to support the Red Wing College Promise program

True belonging means students do not just attend school—they help shape it. Over the last couple of years, we have intentionally shifted how our school-wide events are created by placing the planning directly into the hands of our students.

Today, our assemblies and Homecoming pepfests are student-designed and student-led. This transparency allows our student leaders to craft experiences that achieve two vital goals:

1. Celebrating Our Rich Cultural Diversity: Elevating the diverse backgrounds, languages, and stories represented across our student body so every child sees themselves celebrated in our common spaces.

2. Honoring Winger Traditions: Preserving and strengthening the classic Red Wing High School traditions—from school spirit and athletics to fine arts—that bring generations of Wingers together.

When students lead, the energy in our gymnasium changes. It transforms school culture from something adults enforce into a vibrant community that students own and protect.

It made for a very busy start to the school years, but know when you hear and see events related to Homecoming our our most recent Hispanic Heritage Assembly, these events were designed and led by our students with the secondary support of adults. So big shout out to Student Council and Hispanic Students United for these two most recent events. You will see more throughout the year from our other Enrichment activities.

• Monday, November 2nd - Dental Clinic Here is the link
• Athletics Policy - Cashless Venues: RWHS no longer accepts cash for event tickets or concessions. Please purchase single-game tickets or season passes ($25 students / $75 adults) in advance on the BOUND app.
• November 5th - End of Quarter 1
• November 6th - No School
• November 9th - No School Parent Teacher Conferences
• November 13th - Veteran's Day Assembly

As we continue through this school year, our commitment remains firm: we will continue building robust academic systems while honoring the unique voices and identities of our students.

Thank you for trusting us with your children, for partnering with our staff, and for being an essential part of our Winger community!

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