FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Lisa Ehrke

Winfree Academy Charter Schools
972 869 3250
lehrke@wacsd.com
www.winfreeacademy.com

Winfree Academy Charter Schools – Academic Excellence Indicator System Report
Irving, Texas, January 8, 2013

The Winfree Academy Charter Schools will be conducting a public meeting to discuss the 2011-2012 Academic Excellence Indicator System Report.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 15 at 5:00 at the Corporate office. The address is 6221 Riverside Drive, #110, Irving, Texas 75039.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT: DEIRDRE STAPLES
Winfree Academy Charter Schools
972 869 3250
972 869 3282
media@wacsd.com
www.winfreeacademy.com

WINFREE ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOLS ELIGIBLE FOR BROAD PRIZE FOR PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS
IRVING, TEXAS, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

For over 15 years, Winfree Academy Charter Schools has served the community with its nationally recognized high school academic program.  This week, it was announced that the school is once again eligible for the prestigious Broad Prize for Public Charter Schools.

The Broad Prize for Public Charter Schools, first awarded this year, was created to recognize charter schools for their outstanding overall academic performance and efforts to reduce achievement gaps among poor and minority students.  Schools cannot apply or be nominated for the award, instead eligibility is determined using established criteria.  Last year, Winfree Academy Charter Schools was one of twenty eligible charter schools across the nation.  Of the twenty-seven charter schools meeting eligibility criteria for 2013, eleven are from Texas including Winfree.

“Winfree Academy strives to provide a quality education for all students.  Emphasis has been placed on skill remediation while students excel in their studies.  Overall student success demonstrated through our rising test scores and student graduations”, stated Interim Superintendent Brandy Schott.  “To once again be eligible to receive the Broad Prize for Public Charter Schools validates the hard work and efforts put forth daily by our dedicated staff, talented students, and supportive community stakeholders.  We are extremely honored.”  The school’s founder, Melody Chalkley stated that she too was proud of the school’s accomplishment.  “Winfree Academy has always strived to provide a quality education for all students.  To be considered for the Broad Prize is an incredible testimony to the fulfillment of the school’s mission by leadership and staff. “

Winfree delivers a real alternative that meets the needs of today’s students.  The individualized program allows students to work at their own pace without being in competition with peers.  At the same time, highly qualified teams of educators help students at all levels and encourage them to work hard in an atmosphere of caring attention.  Students who wish to accelerate their graduation date are able to finish high school courses faster than they can in traditional public high schools.  Students also choose Winfree to recover lost credits and skills or to enroll in one of its college- or career-focused Prep Schools.

For more information regarding Winfree Academy Charter Schools, please call 214-WINFREE or visit our website at www.winfreeacademy.com.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT: DEIRDRE STAPLES
Winfree Academy Charter Schools
972 869 3250
972 869 3282
media@wacsd.com
www.winfreeacademy.com

WINFREE ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOLS GRAND PRAIRIE CAMPUS NOW OPEN
GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, AUGUST 29, 2012

Monday wasn’t just the first day of another school year for the students and staff at Winfree Academy Charter Schools.  On that very special day, it was the first time the charter school opened its doors in Grand Prairie.    As a charter school, Winfree provides a free, public education designed to meet both the needs of today’s youth and state academic requirements.

At 7:50 a. m. Monday morning, the first students crossed the threshold.  They were greeted by school Founder Melody Chalkley, Interim Superintendent Brandy Schott, and Campus Principal Eric Dillie.   Students began their day by crafting messages to be placed into a time capsule to be opened in 2022.  Afterwards, the inaugural students and staff posed for a picture outside of the campus and then returned inside to continue their First Day of School activities.  “We are extremely excited about bringing Winfree Academy Charter Schools to Grand Prairie and the surrounding communities” said Mr. Dillie.  “Winfree is proud to offer high school students a choice in their education, one that gives them increased opportunities, empowerment, and ownership of their high school education.”

For over fifteen years, Winfree Academy Charter Schools has served the Dallas/Fort Worth community with its nationally recognized, high school academic program, including hundreds of students from the Grand Prairie area.  The individualized program allows students to work at their own pace without being in competition with peers.  At the same time, highly qualified teams of educators help students at all levels and encourage them to work hard in an atmosphere of caring attention.  Students who wish to accelerate their graduation date are able to finish high school courses faster than they can in traditional public high schools.  Students also choose Winfree to recover lost credits and skills or to enroll in one of its college- or career-focused preparatory schools.   The Grand Prairie campus is home to several Winfree programs and services such as:

• Business Preparatory School
• Creative Arts Preparatory School
• Work Study Program
• Student Council
• Evening classes
• Courage – addiction recovery support
• PASS Program for adult students
• Linking Tree – Community Outreach Partnerships

There are still spaces available for this school year at the Grand Prairie campus.  High school students living in the surrounding areas are eligible for enrollment.    For more information, come by the school and visit at 2985 State Highway 360 #160, in Grand Prairie or call 214-WINFREE.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT: DEIRDRE STAPLES
Winfree Academy Charter Schools
972 869 3250
972 869 3282
media@wacsd.com
www.winfreeacademy.com

WINFREE ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOLS RECEIVES NEW LAPTOPS FOR THE 2012-2013 SCHOOL YEAR
IRVING, TEXAS, AUGUST 27, 2012

For over 15 years, Winfree Academy Charter Schools has served the community with its nationally recognized high school academic program.  This year, the school will “Turn It Up” by upgrading its technology to include laptop computers in all of its classrooms and updated policies regarding personal technology devices in the classroom.

Since early spring, Winfree’s Executive Director of Business, Jamie Deen, had been researching a plan to upgrade technology in the classrooms.  “It is crucial that we not only increase the quality but also quantity of the technology available to our students in order to make their experience the best here at Winfree.” She stated.

Over the past few weeks, the plan became reality as school personnel have been busily charging, imaging, and delivering the over 1,000 laptops to the campuses.

Thanks to the coordinated efforts between the Purchasing, Maintenance, and Technology Departments, each classroom is equipped with brand new laptops, at a 1:1 student to computer ratio, and connected to the school’s new wireless internet and print servers.   Additionally, this year’s Student Resource Guide outlines new policies regarding personal technology in the classroom.  For the first time, students will be able to use their personal cellular devices in the classroom for both instructional and music-listening purposes.  Also, any student wishing to bring their own technology device; i.e. laptop, tablet, etc; may do so and connect to the school’s wireless servers.

“Our students have grown up with technology at their fingertips and it has created a new learning style that needs to be addressed in our schools.  By implementing laptops in the classroom, the school has taken its next step in meeting the ever changing needs of our student population.” said Interim Superintendent, Brandy Schott.

Winfree delivers a real alternative that meets the needs of today’s students.  The individualized program allows students to work at their own pace without being in competition with peers.  At the same time, highly qualified teams of educators help students at all levels and encourage them to work hard in an atmosphere of caring attention.  Students who wish to accelerate their graduation date are able to finish high school courses faster than they can in traditional public high schools.  Students also choose Winfree to recover lost credits and skills or to enroll in one of its college- or career-focused Prep Schools.

There are still plenty of spaces available at each of the Winfree campuses located in Irving, Lewisville, Richardson, Grand Prairie, North Richland Hills, and Denton.  For more information regarding Winfree Academy Charter Schools, please call 214-WINFREE.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT: Lashunda Griffin
Winfree Schools Foundation
972 869 3272
972 869 3282
lgriffin@wacsd.com
www.winfreeacademy.com
http://www.winfreeacademy.com/

FIRST CHARTER SCHOOL TO RECEIVE EDUCATION FOUNDATION GRANT
IRVING, TEXAS, July 17, 2012

Lashunda Griffin, Executive Director of the Winfree Schools Foundation is pleased to announce the acceptance of a $12,500 grant awarded by the Texas Pioneer Foundation to support the establishment of an education foundation.   The Texas Pioneer Foundation is a private foundation based in San Marcos, Texas whose primary funding areas include public school foundations. The awarding of funds to the Winfree Schools Foundation marks the first time that the Texas Pioneer Foundation has awarded this “by invitation-only” grant to an organization designed to partner with a charter school and its students.

Winfree Academy Charter Schools has successfully provided a high school option for metroplex teens and their families. “Partnering with the newly founded Winfree School Foundation, will give us the opportunity to fill the gaps in the drastically reduced funding the State recently imposed on all public schools.  We are also excited to be working together with members of the traditional public school system to meet the needs of kids.” said Brandy Schott, the school’s superintendent.  The mission of the Winfree Schools Foundation is to partner with the community to provide resources that enrich teaching, inspire learning, and maximize innovative opportunities for all students of the Winfree Academy Charter Schools.

For information regarding volunteer opportunities or to make a tax-deductible donation, please contact the Winfree Schools Foundation at 972-869-3272.

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