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LetterfromLeadership

To our WHIN Community:

Last year, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges that tested the strength and integrity of our students, families, and staff. As we navigated another year of hybrid and remote learning these trying times presented us with unique opportunities to support our students and families more than ever. These opportunities took the form of innovative ways of teaching and learning for our students, mental health and wellness seminars for all of our staff, students, and families, distribution of technology to help provide an equitable education to our students, and networking with other nonprofits to provide families with the food and supplies they needed to make it through this time. I am proud to say that the WHIN community thrived through such a difficult time and again proved the resilience of our community. There is truly no limit to what we can achieve.

With the 2020-2021 school year marking WHIN’s fourth year in operation, I am proud of each and every one of our staff, families, and community who brought themselves together in ways we could have never imagined Being the year before our charter renewal, this was an incredibly important time for WHIN as we focused on how to best support our student’s academic growth, opened a second location and begin building our future new permanent home

None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of people like you Although COVID-19 has affected us all, it has been truly inspiring that our community never stopped believing in our work In fact, many of you stepped up and recognized that the children and families of WHIN Music Community Charter School would require more. You did not lose sight of the potential of our students. You applauded them from afar. Thanks to you, we did not skip a beat. Our musicians never quieted. Our children's learning never stopped. Everyone continued to strive to be agents of social change and we thank you for investing in our student's future.

Charlie Ortiz EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mission/Vision

Mission:

The Washington Heights and Inwood Music Community Charter School (“WHIN Music Charter School” or “WHIN”) will provide our diverse student population with rigorous academic instruction, intensive music education and a positive learning environment so that every student can thrive academically and personally

EmpoweringChildren

ThroughMusic

Vision:

With a uniquely challenging educational program that incorporates intensive daily music instruction, WHIN fosters innovative teaching methods, imbues students with a love of learning, and facilitates the development of our community through music, academic, and social inclusion.

“Thisisatremendousschoolmakingalastingimpact ontheirstudentsandthelocalcommunity!” - Robin, WHIN Donor

OurTeam

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

PRINCIPAL

DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC

DIRECTOR OF STUDENT CULTURE

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Charlie Ortiz

Annie Huynh

Christina Thomas

Meryl Cullum

Dioffre Cruceta

Ivelisse Sosa

CHAIR

TREASURER

SECRETARY MEMBER MEMBER

MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER

Gregory David

Heidi Morales B

Josh Bederman

Ivonne Norman

Arnold Adlin

Kenneth Grover

Cynthia Ivanick

Bob Green

Shewar Khan

Lee Ann Norman

Future WHIN Nucleo

Currently housed in two locations, 401 and Lima,WHIN has acquired a new site at 528 W. 162nd Street to be our new home, or as El Sistema calls it, our Nucleo.

With great support from our families, community leaders, and local stakeholders, WHIN is also seeking an expansion to Middle School in our current charter renewal. This future home will be able to house our entire program (K-8) under one roof and will allow us to keep our community, families, and students more connected than ever. We anticipate breaking ground on this project in 2022.

I m p a c t f u l P r o g r a m s

EnglishLanguageArts

WHIN takes a balanced literacy approach engaging teachers and students through compelling, real-world content.

Mathematics

Science

WHINoffersadedicatedScienceclassforall studentswherestudentslearnbydoinghands-on experimentsbasedonfosteringstudents’ curiosityofthenaturalworld.

At WHIN, students experience math through a lens of fun, exciting discovery with a focus on deep conceptual understanding through concrete and hands-on experiences.

Music

WHIN offers two periods of music a day for all students with a focus on vocal and instrumental music

SocialStudies

Social Studies at WHIN includes case studies where students explore rich topics while using the outside world as their classroom and laboratory

IndividualizedEducationPlans(IEPs)

Students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) receive high-quality instruction in inclusion classrooms through special interventions such as: Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) classrooms, SETSS, Speech, OT, PT, Counseling, and Hearing Services.

PhysicalEducationandHealthyLiving

WHINseesregularphysicalactivityaswellas learningaboutourbodies,wellness,andhealth asawaytoliveahealthyandbalancedlife

CounselingServices

Schoolcounselingservicesareavailableto studentsneedingindividualorsocialskillsgroup supportinpartnershipwithNY-Presbyterian.

SocialandEmotionalLearning

Social-EmotionalLearningisbuiltintoevery students’schooldayanddeliveredbyclassroom teachers.WHINimplementstheSecondStep curriculumwhichprovideslessonsandactivities aimedatbuildingstudent'ssocial-emotional skills

EnglishLanguageLearners(ELL)

EnglishLanguageLearners(ELLs)receiveELL servicesininclusionclassroomsproviding meaningfulopportunitiesforlistening, speaking,reading,andwritingtosupport learners’Englishlanguageacquisition

OurCommunity StudentDemographics

25% Students with Disabilities

97% Economically Disadvantaged

25% English Language Learner

StudentSpotlight

Meet Everlynn- Everlynn is a WHINner who consistently comes into class prepared and ready to learn. As a school committed to deep character development, Everlynn exemplifies one of our WHIN Ways of Being, "WHINners are Lifelong and Lifewide Effective Learner." With our WHIN Ways of Being being a core part of our program, students are reminded daily what it means to be a Lifelong and Lifewide Effective Learner through responsibility, self control, perseverance, growth mindset, and collaboration. Throughout last year, Everlynn consistently showed us her understanding of this concept through taking responsibility for her own education. We have seen this through her growth in writing out complete paragraph responses in Close Reading and by showcasing multiple strategies in Math. She has done some great work in 2nd grade this year thus far and cannot wait to see how much you achieve next

Meet Emelia- Emelia is one of WHIN’s fifth-grade students. As a cheerful and positive person, Emelia consistently displays the WHIN Way of Being, "WHINners are Empathetic and Compassionate Community Members." Emelia does this through anonymously leaving positive notes on each of her classmate's desks in hopes to spread that positive cheer she has become known for in our community Through these consistent efforts, Emelia has demonstrated empathy, respect, gratitude, and kindness inside her classroom. I guess you could say she is one of WHIN’s “Cheer”-leaders. Thank you Emelia for positively effecting our community.

OurCommunity

TeacherandSchoolDemographics

75% Staff that identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color 50% Native Spanish Speakers 47% Live where their students reside

13:1 Student to teacher ratio

CommunitySpotlight

Mr Solanoisournewestchoirteacher Being bornandraisedinCostaRica,Mr.Solano's passionformusicwasdevelopedfromsinging alongtovariousLatinAmericanmusic.Having struggledwithhowtoreceivehisownmusic education,Mr Solano'sbackgroundhas directlyalignedwithElSistemaprinciples Thisledhimtodedicatehislifetoproviding equitablemusiceducationtothoseinneed.

Havingtaughtinmanyruralschools throughoutCostaRicaMr.Solanobringsa breadthofknowledgeofElSistematoour musicstaffthisyear

MeetDavidandStephanie.Davidand Stephaniehavebeenthecoordinators ofWHIN'sHomeSchoolAssociation since2017.DavidandStephaniehave workedtirelesslytoofferWHINthe supportweneedbyhelpingus organizeclassrooms,advocatingfor theschoolatspecialevents,and hostingWHINeventssuchasour PopsiclesintheParkmeetandgreet eventtowelcomeournewWHIN families.

ElSistemaatWHIN

Founded in Venezuela in 1975 by Dr. José Antonio Abreu, El Sistema is a model of intensive music training and social development that engenders social change for economically disadvantaged communities. Having reached over 500,000 of Venezuela’s most vulnerable children, El Sistema is now being emulated all around the globe, with the goal of nurturing the development of children over their lives so they and their community can escape the effects of intergenerational poverty.

El Sistema at WHIN seeks to create citizen artists who have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to impact their world in a positive way. Through using the ensemble as a laboratory, students develop a love of achievement and excellence while experiencing what it means to be a valued member of their musical community. These learnings are then extended beyond the classroom and into the larger WHIN community, or nucleo on a daily basis. As students experience the impact they have on themselves and their community they apply what is learned in school to their whole self and grow into talented, thoughtful, and caring individuals, citizen artists, ready to tackle the challenges of the 21st Century

ElSistemaPrinciples

1 ) Embrace radical inclusion

2.) Practice relentless positivity.

3.) Be in the intrinsic motivation business.

4.) Nurture peer support

5.) Radiate high energy and ambitiousness.

6.) "We never forget fun"...

7 ) Connect to families and the wider community

ElSistemaatWHIN

WHIN is aligned with El Sistema’s understanding that “the experience of immersive, ambitious and joyful musicmaking together can help young people develop not only musical mastery but also self-esteem, mutual respect, and cooperative skills, qualities that can change their lives and the lives of their families and communities ”

At WHIN, we are able to accomplish this through:

Students developing a love of achievement and excellence through the choir and orchestral ensembles

Students experience what it means to be a valued and empowered member of their musical community which extends into the classroom and into the larger WHIN community or nucleo

Using carefully selected repertoire, WHIN students are challenged to develop more and more complex music skills by the repertoire they learn throughout a school year and from K-5th grade.

Our music standards are scaffolded for the greatest effect using backward design and our students participate in authentic learning situations as each class is designed as a rehearsal.

Citizen Artists are “individuals who contribute to society either through the transformative power of their artistic abilities, or through proactive social engagement with the arts in realms including education, community building, diplomacy and healthcare.” (aspeninstitute.org)

AYearofResilience

In the wake of COVID-19, WHIN transitioned to virtual learning almost overnight to ensure that we continued to provide our students with the rigorous education they needed.

Remaining committed to being an important social, educational, and cultural resource for our communities WHIN pushed on with live and asynchronous instruction, concerts, events, and discussions held safely online via Zoom

Mygrandsonisonthespectrumandfinally,heisenrolledina schoolthatunderstandstheissuesandknowshowtodealwith him.AtWHINhehasmadesubstantialprogressandisdoing thingsneitherhisparentsorus(hisgrandparents)thoughthe coulddo.IsupporttheexpansionofWHINschool100% - Grandparent of a WHINner.

Diversity,Equity,andInclusion

At WHIN, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are at the core of who we are. We stand committed to working for a more just world. To live out our core values, and to further commit ourselves to diversity, anti-racism, and music as a vehicle to enact social change so our students will grow into citizen artists with a firm ability to understand their history and world, the critical thinking necessary to envision a better world, and the skills to make that world our future reality.

WHIN’s DEI Committee is working on a variety of student-facing instructional initiatives, schoolwide DEI projects, and community-building activities that empower the staff to continue the great foundation that was laid in the previous years These initiatives will be conducted across the school and may include such things as:

Instructional Activities for Heritage and Pride Months

Human Library Storytelling initiative

Developing and norming Common Inclusive Language

Norming staff communication and conflict resolution expectations

Plan staff social events celebrating Heritage and Pride Months

Coordinate diversity training in gender, racial identity, and language diversity

ExtraordinaryExperiences

Scan here for the WHIN Juilliard Documentary Virtual Experience

StartinginDecember,WHINandJuilliardpartneredtogetherinaquest forconnectionduringCOVID-19.Rehearsingweekly,ourstudentswere abletohaveanincredibleexperienceremotelyandin-personculminating inaprofessionallyrecordedandfilmedmusicalperformance.Weare incrediblythankfultoJuilliardforthisopportunityandlookforwardto workingwiththemmorethisyear.

Scan here for the WHIN Juilliard Virtual Performance

This year WHIN was approached by the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz to participate in their annual International Jazz Day 2021. Being a featured school in partnership with Dee Dee Bridgewater, and being a featured performer in the International Jazz Day our students presented themselves with the upmost honor and we are happy to continue this partnership for many years to come.