NEWSLETTER FOR PA
Fall View & 2016-17 Annual Report INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
RENTS, STUD
ENTS, ALU
MNI FAM
ILIES, G
RANDP ARENT
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Look Both Ways
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FALL 2017 CONTENTS
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F rom Farm to Table Model Citizen Grandparents and Special Friends Day Open Window Graduation 2017 Alumni Reunion and Spotlight In the Same Boat A Totally Awesome Auction Fund-A-Wish Planning for our Future Annual Report Donor Listings and Financial Report
A LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Dear Friends of Open Window School, As a young teacher, I led middle school student trips to Europe for about 10 years. These trips were among the most rewarding experiences of my career. Of course, I saw things that I would never have been able to afford visiting on my own, but more importantly, I learned to plan for unusual contingencies and prepare my students for a multitude of experiences very different from what they experienced at home. One important thing we practiced for London was to always look both ways before crossing the street.
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Staff Retreat 2017: Bicycles & Building Community This August, our staff retreat brought both new and returning staff together for team building — building bicycles to donate to the Eastside Baby Corner.
A great school must look both ways as well, and that is the focus of this Annual Report. We look back on 2016-2017 and forward into the school’s future. Looking backwards, a constant theme clearly resonates: Open Window students get to do amazing things! We challenge, support, and trust students to do real work that matters and has an impact beyond the classroom. This authenticity can be seen from kindergartners maintaining their own garden all the way through eighth graders using math skills to build kayaks and concrete bridges that float. One of my favorite events of every year is the Alumni Reunion because I get to hear firsthand how experiences as Open Window students have launched alumni toward success in high school and beyond. Looking forward is equally exciting. Open Window is laying the groundwork for our next cycle of strategic planning, which will take place in 2019-20. The formation of a strategic plan imagines the school of the future and defines the focus of the school leadership for the next 3-7 years. Past strategic plans have led to the development of the middle school; broadening of the school program in experiential learning, the arts, and social and emotional learning, and lifting a restrictive enrollment cap, allowing the opportunity to grow our middle school beyond 120 students. Both the successes of today and the promise of tomorrow depend upon the support of our community. Open Window is a diverse and welcoming community, united in supporting our children and families. Families support our school in so many ways, especially in volunteering their time, welcoming others, and generously making the school one of their philanthropic priorities. Every day, I am grateful that I have the resources to say “yes,” and provide our faculty what they need to create incredible student experiences. On behalf of 331 bright, eager to learn children, I thank all of you for your support.
Sincerely,
Jeff Stroebel, Head of School
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“ Both the successes of today and the promise of tomorrow depend upon the support of our community.”
FROM
Farm Table TO
BY ANGIE HURLOCK
This year, the youngest citizens of our Open Window community — our kindergartners — learned not only their alphabet, but the A-Zs of growing and planning their lunch.
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Dinner Parties It began with kindergarten teachers Trudy Tauscheck and Sarah Ridle as they considered their tried-and-true curriculum about the five food groups, also known as the food plate. They decided to mix it up this year. “We thought – why don’t we just have the kids plan a dinner party?” said Ms. Ridle. “We’d studied the food plate before, but this is something deeper.” In planning their dinner party, the kindergartners focused on all aspects of planning a smart, balanced meal. First, they learned about the food groups. Then the kindergartners went to work. Their job? Shopping. Dave Gifford, associate teacher for Ms. Tauscheck’s class, crafted life-sized pieces of ‘food’ and the kindergartners ‘shopped’ throughout the school. They visited the faculty shopkeepers, including Stroebel Bulk Grocery, Oswald Butchers, and Sheri’s Bakery. Then, each child was asked to plan a menu that included a special guest who might have some dietary challenges, such as a peanut allergy or mushroom aversion. The youngsters had to take those needs into account as they planned the meal. Then the event turned real.
Dream Gardens Later in the spring, the kindergartners dug deeper – and planned a Dream Garden. “The idea of dream garden originally came from our school’s outdoor garden,” said Ms. Tauscheck. We wanted to put more into the idea of how they could plan their own.”
“It was all so fun, and the kids got so into it, we decided we had to make the real thing happen,” said Ms. Ridle. “We chose a part from everyone’s menu and had a big lunch. The kindergartners’ families were invited, and it was a big party.”
“We have the kids focus on the plants that flourish in the Pacific Northwest, have them understand the space they need to grow the plants, how to plan for pests, etc.,” said Ms. Ridle. The benefit to the project has many facets, from figuring proper scale, learning about plants, and sparking creativity.
Ms. Tauscheck agreed, “We found that the kids encouraged their guests to ‘eat their veggies’ … to eat a balanced meal.“ So what’s on the menu for next year? We’ll have to see, because the dinner party is already on the calendar. “We definitely have to do it again,” said Ms. Ridle, who has handed off the party planning to Ms. Esther Magnotti as she joins the kindergarten team and Ms. Ridle moves into a first-grade role.
The amazing ideas for a Dream Garden? It included farm stands, libraries, playgrounds… and even a disco. “It always brings out something new,” said Ms. Ridle. “We even had a Statue of Liberty and a robotic scarecrow!”
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Model Citizen:
Second Graders Learn Civics through Community Design BY CAROLYN LUCAS
How do you introduce civics to second graders? Give them the opportunity to build and run their own town. This June, I was met at the door by self-named young Mayors Bell and Dance, who gave me town tours of their respective municipalities, emphasizing their areas of focus, explaining a few problems they had run into in the past year, and introducing me to the people who lived and worked there. Although both towns had no shortage of veterinarians, characters had been well thought-out from ages to personalities, and most importantly, to contributing roles in the towns. Second grade teachers use the Storypath curriculum Democracy in Action, Communities Make Decisions as a launching point for the community projects. After exploring the similarities and differences among suburban, urban, and rural communities, each of the two second grade classes voted on the type of town they would like to build, and started planning essentials and infrastructure, the natural environment of their town, and the roles and businesses needed to support their chosen locale. What better way to bring authenticity into the process than inviting a real-life mayor in to talk to students? Second graders for almost the last decade have had the great fortune to welcome the always smiling mayor of Snoqualmie, Matt Larson. The only year he did not visit was 2014-2015 when an uncle of a student and mayor of Pasco made the trek to Open Window. The mayors introduce the ideas behind councils and committees and discuss how leaders work together to solve problems with three primary areas of responsibility: health, safety, and welfare. The most exciting
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Open Window School Eighth Graders Participate in the State Legislative Process BY COREY PAULSON, EIGHTH GRADE HUMANITIES TEACHER
part of Mayor Larson’s visit is when he sets up a simulation and “drops” kids onto a deserted island to fend for themselves. After allowing the discomfort of chaos to ensue for several minutes, kids most often begin organizing themselves, which is quite incredible to witness. Once this takes place, the mayor moderates, guiding the castaways through a process of setting up committees and councils and selecting a leader. As the simulation progresses, predictable issues arise, for example, the mayor’s best buddies push for a private pool on the nice side of the island. Although the aha! moment is not far off, an enlightenment eventually sets in, and as Ms. Waddell explains, “Students learn to prioritize tasks and with an inherent piece of social emotional learning, they’re encouraged to make decisions based on community verses friendships.”
In order to develop an understanding of how the Washington State Legislature works, students participated in numerous activities, including a Mock Legislative Committee. The most interesting opportunity came from partnering with TVW Capitol Classroom, which covers all legislative and judicial actions in Olympia. TVW partnered students with a contract lobbyist in Olympia to help choose three different bills to follow focused on economic and environmental sustainability. Students participated in a mock committee on drone regulation —examining the government’s role with both environmental and economic sustainability. In a final session, students debated Senate Bill 5467, which proposed that nuclear energy should be considered a renewable energy source and thus eligible for tax deductions. To prepare for this debate, moderated by contract lobbyist Milt Doumit, students researched the political, economic, and social impacts the law could have on the citizens of Washington State. In the Senate, the bill did not reach the floor, having been killed in committee. A similar fate happened to the bill in the class; a clear majority of the eighth-grade representatives voted against the bill. It is exciting to see the level of engagement that the students demonstrate when they are presented with real world issues. I cannot wait to see what they do in government in the future.
The back walls of the two second grade classrooms are where the community begins to take form, but not before a mayor is elected to lead. Candidates prepare and deliver persuasive speeches from the perspective of the character they have embodied. Town members who do not run write about their wishes for a good leader. Once mayors are elected, townsfolk will encounter problems that need solving, like a polluted river or an area without any sidewalks and committees, and task forces are formed. The culmination of the community project is the town tour, where characters from both towns invite all members of the Open Window community to meet the people and learn about the towns. As Katie Roth put it, “As students build a facsimile, they become invested in the community they are building, which is apparent not only in the towns of Valleyville and Sunset Valley but in the second-grade classrooms.”
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Grandparents and Special Friends Day BY ANGIE HURLOCK
Quick! What do grandparents and special friends do when they visit Open Window’s lower school? A. Play a rousing game of foxtail B. Pretend to be birds and dig for seeds C. T our the school and see what’s new and cool D. Get a sneak peek at what their favorite Open Window student does all day E. A ll the above If you picked E, you win — and you might have been a guest at this year’s Grandparents and Special Friends Day on April 28. The Open Window tradition of inviting close family and treasured friends was revamped to show our visitors the best of our students’ experience: the many teachers whose passion and expertise make our school so wonderful. “I loved seeing the kids in action and being able to participate with them in their activities,” said Donna Brooks, grandmother to second grader Gabby and third grader Sammy. Mrs. Brooks worked hard to experience both grades’ events, switching with her daughter, Tiffany Bernal, to give equal time to both grandchildren.
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The record-breaking crowd of visitors started their day at 8:30 a.m. in Roper Gym and spent 30 minutes with two of the special-topic teachers’ classes, including music, technology, physical education, drama, science, or library. They also spent time in the students’ homerooms, doing fun crafts and activities as they met the homeroom teachers and experienced the happy, engaging environment and close-knit community. “It was so great to have our grandparents and special friends get a peek into the many facets of what an Open Window School education is for our students,” said Sheri Brown, Head of Lower School, who helped lead the special day. Mixed into the day was also time for snack and recess or a quick tour of other parts of the school. The half day was over too soon for many, but kisses and hugs from their students was a great way to end the day. To make sure you don’t miss the excitement, plan for next year’s lower school Grandparents and Special Friends Day on May 30, 2018. The next night, on May 31, 2018, we’ll also show off the students’ hard work in the lower school celebration and K-8 arts fair, which showcases the visual, musical and performing artwork of the students, from pottery to painting, rock band to writing, Shakespeare to sketches. Also planned that day, May 31, 2018, is the day in which middle schoolers show a sampling of the many different projects and work they’ve done throughout the year to friends and family.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE
Class of 2017
Outside, rain fell on the Open Window School campus. Inside Roper Gym on June 15, it was all sunshine as the families and friends of the graduating class celebrated the accomplishments and joys of the students — and looked to the future. Graduates — Stella Crowson, Griffin Day, Saihaj Khanuja, William Murray, Lindsay Rubin, and Sydney Vernon — gave speeches about their experiences in their years at Open Window, one in rhyme, many with humor, and all with a bittersweet mix of happiness and tears. Middle School Head Mike Montgomery spoke to the families and celebrated their many accomplishments inside and outside the classroom, including:
• Athletics that ranged from fencing to Ultimate Frisbee. • Music, arts, and kayak making • Their many awards, from the STEAM 3D Hackathon Best Invention to Verizon App Challenge regional winners, to National Spanish Exam honorees to Seattle Young Artist’s award for outstanding piano performance. • Community service that included school refurbishment in Costa Rica, local packing of food at Northwest Harvest and Food Lifeline, and serving hundreds of meals at Operation Sack Lunch. • And much, much more. Afterwards, Head of School Jeff Stroebel and alum Ashley Ka presented the Horizon Award. Open Window’s highest honor for the graduate who embodies the values and spirit of our school. The recipient is lauded for: excellence in supporting and living out the mission and philosophy of the school; valuing the enriching qualities of all members of the school community; engaging in meaningful leadership opportunities; and inspiring self and others to new levels of academic excellence, creativity, and personal accomplishment. The winner for 2017 was William Murray. Mr. Stroebel cited William’s unflagging positivity, hard work and academic excellence in giving the award, and Ms. Ka, the Horizon award winner for 2016, congratulated the winner as she cited memories of her time at Open Window. After receiving their well-deserved diplomas, the graduates went on to celebrating with friends and family, always to look back on this sparkling evening. Best of luck to the Open Window School Class of 2017!
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Alumni Reunion From the big rock to the playground, field to picnic table, each grade found ‘their’ spot to sit and share memories and laughs, all at the Alumni Event on June 21 on the Open Window campus. Former students came from far and wide to touch base with old friends and favorite teachers. Guests included alumni just graduated from Open Window a few days earlier, to those fresh from graduating from high school, college, and beyond. The consistent mood to everyone’s conversations? Excitement about the future.
What the future holds For the Open Window School class of 2013, graduates now look to college. Many shared their plans, which include: Harvey Mudd College, Santa Clara University, University of California Berkeley, Wellesley, and West Point. To see an extensive list, see the sidebar on page 14. For the class of 2017, graduates head to Bellevue High, Eastside Catholic, Eastside Preparatory School, International School, Issaquah High, Lakeside School, Newport High, the Overlake School, Sammamish High, Seattle School of Arts and Sciences, and Tesla STEM. Mark your calendar now for next year’s alumni event, set for 2:30-5 p.m. Tuesday, June 19, 2018. All alumni are invited for this fun afternoon, sharing friendship and memories.
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Rohan Aras on the Salish trip in 2010.
HOW MANY YEARS WERE YOU AT OPEN SCHOOL?
Three. Sixth through eighth grade, Class of 2011. For context, this was the second class of the new middle school (then known as Vista). My class had 14-18 students. Everything was still very experimental.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Rohan Aras The Open Window graduate of 2011 reminisces about sprained ankles, the joy of being cold and wet, and what his future holds.
WHERE DID YOU GO AFTER OPEN WINDOW?
University of Washington (Transition School and undergrad). WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU IN YOUR ACADEMIC CAREER?
I will pursue a PhD in Civil Engineering at Stanford. My focus will be in urban informatics, which is the study of urban environments through “big data” and “data science.” An example of this sort of work is my senior project from the University of Washington. I worked with 20 weeks of ORCA card data (this is a rechargeable card that can be used on all buses and trains in the Puget Sound region). This data contained details (e.g. stop, route, time, subsidy) on every boarding made on transit in the Puget Sound region with the ORCA electronic fare card. My goal was to figure out how transit pass subsidies provided by employers to their employees impact the number of transit trips that these employees take from their workplace, all while controlling for the structure of the transit network and parking availability.
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WHAT IS YOUR HAPPIEST MEMORY OF OPEN WINDOW? WHY?
Picking a happiest is pretty tough. I remember robotics quite fondly, especially the second two years. Salish and Costa Rica were fun as well, though I think I had a slight preference to Salish to the confusion of literally everyone else. I guess I like being cold and wet and miserable. I think in general, though, my happiest memories tend to have to do with one of two things. The first are the living out of childhood dreams seeded by the PBS kids show Zoom (ropes course, going on a boat, and First LEGO League robotics or FLL). The second category of happy memories are those in which I had a good time with my class. WHAT YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AT OWS?
I would try not to sprain my ankle two weeks before going on a trip to a foreign country where hiking and other athletic activities were required. Jokes aside, I’m not really sure. There were definitely points (large periods of time) where I should have been a better student, so maybe I’d try to change my own decisions at those points. But in general, most of the experiences I remember are fairly foundational to how I understand myself and it’s hard to see how anything counterfactual plays out. WHO IS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE TEACHER AT OPEN WINDOW? WHY?
This is a hard question because I had a number of memorable teachers. If I have to choose though, it’s probably Mr. M (Mike Montgomery, science teacher for 9 years and current Middle School Head of School). If I remember correctly he’s the only one that I got three full years of instruction from and he also guided all three of my FLL teams. HOW DID OPEN WINDOW HELP PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR FUTURE?
The amount of exposure to labs through the various partnerships and my weeklong internship guided me toward pursuing a research track. I guess that doesn’t answer the exact question posed. Vista kept my enthusiasm and curiosity for learning intact through puberty which absolutely helped me later on. The leadership opportunities I received through FLL and the like were also a plus.
A recent photo of Rohan Aras from the UW iSchool of Informatics, highlighting his recent work. Source: University of Washington
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2017 high school graduates
Alumni: Where are they now? Below, you’ll find the colleges and universities that Open Window School graduates tell us they’re going to this fall. Please let us know where your Open Window alum is going — to school, grad school or new role — by emailing us at development@ows.org. Claremont McKenna College Columbia University Cornell University Dartmouth College Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Gonzaga University Harvey Mudd College Miami University New York University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Santa Clara University Seattle University Stanford University The Colburn School University of California, Berkeley University of Massachusetts University of San Francisco University of Washington Washington State University Wellesley College West Point (United States Military Academy) Whitman College Worcester Polytechnic Institute Yale University
In the
Same Boat
Authentic learning is smooth sailing for math class
BY ANGIE HURLOCK
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What do you get with a bag of cement, cedar, and bulletproof nylon? With Open Window students, you get a semester of reallife engineering using geometry, trigonometry, and imagination.
Last January, middle-school math teacher Sean Patch went to California as part of a professional development project. There, at the Nueva School, his imagination was sparked. “I wondered what a larger project might look like for math,” Patch said. “We’ve done curriculum for geometry before, but how does it apply to the real world?” Eighth-grade students were about to find out.
The plan The students would build a boat. But it wouldn’t just be a boat; it would be a project that covered many aspects of navigation, flotation, buoyancy, ‘set and drift’, and more. The project covered three main areas of study: 1. What is a boat? 2. How do you know where you are going? 3. Make your own boat
What is a boat? Every preschooler knows what a boat is — a thing that floats on the water and takes you from one place to another. This project took that concept to a deeper, more sophisticated level. “This part of the project concentrated on buoyancy, Archimedes’ principle and more,” said Patch. “We did predictions with Ping pong balls, nuts, and washers.” For the finishing touch to this part of the plan, it got weighty. Really weighty. “I gave each pair of students a bag of cement from Home Depot,” he said. “They were only able to add water — and water only — and had to build some structure with it that would float on water.” The students called it “Floating Bridges” — and they did real-world tests on their structures in huge tanks outside the Farmhouse on the Open Window campus. Only one of the teams made a viable structure. But that limited success was perfect, according to Patch. “Failure, especially in situations like these, is where you learn the most,” he said. “It’s the most interesting part of the project, to figure out WHY it didn’t work.”
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‘Set and drift’ The second element of the project asked the students: How do you know where you’re going? Navigating the seas is more than just looking at a map. The students used tools such as charts of Puget Sound, dividers, parallel rules, etc., to plot a course for their boats. The big challenge? Working through “set and drift” problems by taking into account tides, currents, and wind speed. Students needed to determine the correct compass heading to travel, based on tidal fluctuations, and perform calculations involving the Law of sines and cosines.
Building the boat The first step in boatbuilding is research. The team took a field trip to Anacortes to consult with Corey Freedman, one of just a handful of specialists in the world who teach the nearly forgotten craft of building sea kayaks — in the tradition of the Aleutian Islanders. Two boats were created and were made of cedar frames covered, not in the traditional sealskin, but in bulletproof nylon coated with two layers of polyurethane. No nails. No screws. No bolts. Just the cedar lashed together with waxed twine and held with wooden pegs. And, of course, the boats were crafted through the eighth-graders’ brainpower, studying geometry’s parabolic curves, symmetry, and parallel lines to design something real and full-sized that they created. All by themselves. “This project embodies what we are as a school,” said Patch. “The kids and I were all learning together, through the project’s mistakes and frustrations. We come out on the other side with something to be proud of.” The eighth-graders, along with friends and family, joined Patch to launch the boat in mid-August. The boat was christened with a bottle of sparkling cider brought by a parent. Logan Cox, one of the boatbuilders, took the maiden voyage.
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“ This project embodies what we are as a school. The kids and I were all learning together through the project’s mistakes and frustrations. We came out on the other side with something to be proud of.” SEAN PATCH, MIDDLE-SCHOOL MATH TEACHER
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A Totally Awesome Auction Far too much hairspray. Far too many neon pants. And far more mullets than needed. But just the right amount of fun – for everyone who attended the Open Window Auction on March 25, 2017. Thanks to the leadership of Darcie Curley and Sarah Derstadt, chairs of the ‘80s Awesome Auction, the night was just that – awesome. From blue eyeshadow to Rubik’s Cubes to PacMan cakes, the delight and fun of the 1980s came alive. “It was exciting to bring our school community together for a night of fun and fundraising,” said Curley. “I was really impressed by the number of guests who wholeheartedly embraced the theme. It wouldn’t have been the same without them!” The day dawned sunny and mild, as 20-plus volunteers busily set up the ballroom and tent, complete with giant balloons at many tables, a Cabbage Patch doll and more at the BuyIt-Now table, and movie posters evoking the era of Maverick of “Top Gun,” the Ghostbusters and Michael Jackson. Just to name a few. Teacher experiences were back in the auction after a few years’ hiatus, prompting a frenzy of bidding through the silent auction. “The experiences were amazing this year, making this auction more successful than ever,” said Molly Rubin, director of development. “The generosity of our faculty and staff, in donating their time for these must-have experiences, has been overwhelming.” The live auction generated many laughs and many dollars for our students, with high bids going for a generous Open Window family’s lakefront-home party, an Amazon Kiva robot tour, and more. Open Window School auction classics, such as the Camp Seymour VIP cabin and Head of School for the Day, incited frenzied bidding and many happy smiles. Those smiles continued through the party afterwards, in which ‘80s snacks such as Bugles, FunDip and Pop Rocks fueled some white-hot dancing in the tent, as Open Window families celebrated yet another successful auction. Don’t miss the fun this year with the Open Window School Auction, Tropical Paradise, set for March 24, 2018, at the Golf Club at Newcastle. Tickets go on sale in February 2018. For more information, contact auction@ows.org.
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FUND-A-WISH:
Innovation and Collaboration OPEN WINDOW SCHOOL | THE VIEW | FALL 2017 | PAGE 21
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
It was a busy summer on campus as workers transformed central locations on the Open Window campus — the Bue Commons and the Library Learning Commons. The goal of this year’s projects was to convert two key common gathering areas into spots that encouraged both collaboration and innovation. The impact of these new spaces was immediate, and all members of our community benefit from these new, comfortable, and collaborative spaces.
“The renovations will create attractive and welcoming co-working spaces that reflect the innovative and collaborative nature of our school,” wrote Head of School Jeff Stroebel, announcing the effort in his weekly blog, The Quick Take. It all was made possible because of the generosity of our community. Families and friends of Open Window came together to donate more than $160,000 during our March 2017 Auction to renovate both Bue Commons and the Library Learning Commons. The generosity was truly inspiring and will serve Open Window students for many years to come. Now, if you visit the Bue Commons anytime during the school day, you will find middle middle schoolers collaborating on a humanities assignment, teachers having a quick planning session, or parents catching up. All members of our community can enjoy the space — and each other — in this new entryway to Robinson Hall. “Everyone likes just hanging out here, or doing homework. It’s so comfy,” said one sixth grader. Students are already enjoying the spaces, as well, in the Library Learning Commons. “A clear sunny day but the newly remodeled LLC is hopping during third and fourth lunch recess drop-in time!” tweeted Laura Simeon, LLC director and diversity coordinator, marveling at how the students are relaxing in the new, cozy school library.
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BY JEFF STROEBEL, HEAD OF SCHOOL
Everyone in a school has a primary role to play. A teacher tries to ensure that each of her/his students has a great day. A division head works to ensure that students have a great year. A head of school works to create a great K-8 experience. The focus of the Board of Trustees is even longer-range, holding the school in trust for future generations of students. The long-term work of the school leadership is driven by a 3-7 year strategic plan. Open Window’s next strategic plan will be formulated in 2019-20, but very important work is already underway to lay a great foundation for this process. Three important activities will provide the thoughtful, broad-based reflection and data gathering that is essential to effective planning—a campus master plan, self study, and accreditation visit. In 2004, Open Window School moved to its Cougar Mountain campus, which was thoughtfully designed by the Miller Hull Partnership architects. We pride ourselves on being an innovative school, and our program constantly evolves based upon our experiences and the best practices for educating gifted students. Compared with 15 years ago, today we are far more focused on collaborative and interdisciplinary activities. As Open Window has matured, the arts, technology, afterschool and summer programs all play an increasingly significant role. As our school program has evolved, we have moved far beyond the needs our facilities were originally designed to support. The most obvious example I can offer is that we need at least three more multi-purpose rooms! This past school year we engaged Miller Hull to guide us in a broad-based campus master planning exercise. We began with 14 focus group meetings, consisting of staff, students, trustees, and parents. We were encouraged to dream big and imagine what we want our school to offer 5-10 years from now. Many great ideas emerged from this process. Next, Miller Hull researched the environmental and regulatory limits of our campus, assessing our potential to expand and reconfigure our facilities to better serve our students. A campus master plan is not about building design, blueprints, or finishes, but rather an assessment of future needs and potentiality.
Three important activities will provide the thoughtful, broad-based reflection and data gathering that is essential to effective planning— a campus master plan, self study, and accreditation visit.
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We are accredited by the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS). A key requirement of the NWAIS accreditation process is that schools demonstrate an ongoing commitment to self-reflection and continual school improvement. As part of an eight-year cycle, this school year we will engage in a thorough self study of every aspect of our school. Through this self study, we will benchmark ourselves against NWAIS’s standards of membership, identifying our strengths and areas where we can improve. Upon the completion of our year-long self study, in the fall of 2018 we will host a visit by a team of educators from fellow NWAIS schools. They will validate that we have engaged in an honest and reflective self study, meet the association’s high standards of membership, and that our school program is congruent with our mission. Most importantly, they will provide an outside perspective and recommendations that can help guide our planning and continued improvement. The process of developing a campus master plan and self study will provide a comprehensive self-assessment of our needs and future aspirations. Guided by Miller Hull, we will have a better idea of the potential to improve our campus and facilities. Through the accreditation visit, we will add to this the perspective of experienced educators from other outstanding independent schools. Together, these three processes will form the basis for developing a strategic plan that will further enhance Open Window School’s position as a leader in nurturing and inspiring students of high intellectual potential for many years to come.
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ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017
THANK YOU
THANK YOU to the following 2016-2017 Open Window Fund donors who generously contributed $497,620 from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017. Their contributions were directed to the four areas within The Family of Funds: faculty and staff professional development, financial aid, technology and where needed most. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who participated in support of our school. OPEN WINDOW SCHOOL | THE VIEW | FALL 2017 | PAGE 25