The guiding belief of Washington Heights and Inwood Music Community Charter School (known by its radio station-like acronym “WHIN”) is that students learn best within a cross-curricular, rigorous, inquiry-driven, and data-driven experience directly connected to Common Core State Standards. This is a curriculum differentiated for each learner’s unique needs, and which develops the learner’s social-emotional and character skills. WHIN also believes that students learn best when content is connected to real-world issues and needs, and it thereby espouses a student-centered interdisciplinary teaching philosophy based on Expeditionary Learning and Learning Through Music (LTM). WHIN’s educational programs ensure that its diverse student population meets New York State curriculum standards.
Founded over forty years ago in Venezuela by José Antonia Abreu, El Sistema is a unique social program whose goal is to effect social change through intensive daily ensemble music education. Its philosophy engenders an ambitious pursuit of musical, academic, and life success through core values upholding what Dr. Abreu called “an affluence of the spirit,” which cultivates excellence and beauty through music.
In addition to its strong music program, WHIN’s other courses, such as Science, Social Studies, and Physical Education and Healthy Living, align with New York State Learning Standards for cultivating a balanced life of healthy minds within healthy bodies.
We are grateful to the Vestry for its approval of a grant to Washington Heights and Inwood Music Community Charter School, whose rich and fulfilling programs develop “lifelong and life-wide” learners, who will become empathetic and compassionate members of our communities.
