Pinewood School • All-School Newsletter • February + March 2022-23

A Note From Our President and Head of School

Director of Communications

Katy Wells

Associate Director of Communications

Kyle Riches Communications Associate

Emily Cardenas

Contributors to this Issue

Leila Beverleigh

Joy Blalock

Brynn Hambly

Sarah Haun

Haley Hemm

Sam Jezak

Gabriel Lemmon

Pinewood’s teachers are the heart of our community, and we recognize the incredible dedication and commitment they bring to our students every day. That's why we invest in our teachers through an unparalleled professional development program. We believe that by supporting our teachers' ongoing learning and growth, we can provide our students with the best possible education and prepare them for a successful future

Our teachers are truly special, and we are grateful for all that they do Thank you for entrusting us with your children's education.

Scott Riches President and Head of School

Jordan Maliksi

Ayesha Masud

Scott Riches

Samantha Zagha

Cover Photo

A moment of joy from our all-school Holi Celebration on March 18th. Photo

by Chen Wang, parent of Bryant (K).

During the February break, twenty junior high students headed to the land Down Under for the adventure of a lifetime. Over the course of ten days, our students volunteered their time at various environmental organizations, a homeless center, the Australia Zoo, and the Special Olympics! The trip was a valuable experience for our students, where they learned about teamwork, leadership, environmental stewardship, and service.

The Pinewood community gathered together on March 18th to celebrate the Festival of Holi with music, food, and lots of beautiful color!

Dedicated Panther fans filled the stands for our basketball teams at every opportunity.

Congratulations to our girls varsity team on an incredibly hard-fought season!

< Our PPA students engaged with all things theatre in NYC in February. Our young performers took a movement class, an improv class, and a hands-on stage combat class. They also enjoyed a Q&A with the lead of Moulin Rouge, toured Radio City Music Hall, observed art at the MOMA, and attended FIVE Broadway productions.

< Well done, Panthers! Our boys varsity basketball team made us proud with a fantastic season.

Led by Roni Habib of EQ School, Pinewood’s faculty and staff got up on their feet together while learning how to better model a growth mindset for the students we serve. >

Over the last several years, more than 30 teams from Pinewood have taken on The Tech Challenge–the signature program of The Tech Interactive–with many of them winning top awards in the event. This year, our Middle Campus teams are hard at work figuring out how to "Survive the Storm" by building a compact and lightweight structure that can protect against strong winds.

Valuing Our Teachers

The Key to Our Students' Success

At Pinewood School, the secret to cultivating exceptional educators lies in our commitment to saying “yes” to teachers’ ambitions, fostering their personal and professional growth, and embracing them as valued members of our community. Pinewood’s culture of trust, support, and unity helps nurture passionate teachers who are dedicated to their students.

When it comes to creating a positive environment for our teachers, Head of Middle Campus Brynn Hambly says, “It’s about creating a culture of saying ‘yes,’ a culture of valuing faculty as professional decision-makers, a culture of trusting teachers that they know what is going to be the best for every student.” Pinewood looks for ways to inspire teachers to grow–and gets passionate educators in return.

“Whether it’s instructional practices, learning about better ways to support students, keeping up to date with DEI work, or attending the latest AP trainings, our teachers never have to worry about the school being reluctant to support their ambitions and dreams to grow,” adds Head of Upper Campus Gabriel Lemmon.

"Pinewood is a place that says ‘yes’ to having experiences that are good for the teacher and for the student,” agrees Upper Campus English teacher Eric Schreiber. For him, that is taking advantage of Pinewood’s support of professional development opportunities. Over his past eight years at Pinewood, he’s taken a course on adolescent literature at Stanford, a compassion cultivation class at the Stanford School of Medicine, a trip to New York City’s Broadway Theater District, and a social-emotional learning workshop. All of these experiences increased not only his expertise, but his motivation to keep becoming a better teacher. “The compassion cultivation course was exceptionally useful. You have to be a patient and centered person to be a teacher. Helping myself become a more balanced and mindful person has had clear benefits in the classroom,” Schreiber reflected.

Others feel supported by Pinewood’s warm and welcoming community. Says Lower Campus art teacher

Jordan Maliski, “I’m so grateful and thankful to be a teacher here at Pinewood. It means a lot that I’m not just an art teacher; I’m part of the family here.” The community of

faculty and staff strives to support each other through ups and downs. All three campuses have a Sunshine Committee, a group of faculty and staff who look to celebrate not only birthdays, but important milestones and rally around members of the community who may be going through a tough time. Recently, the Sunshine Committee celebrated Assistant Head of Upper Campus Haley Hemm and Upper Campus social studies teacher Sam Jezek’s wedding with custom cookies from Bates Bakes. The communications team also puts out a monthly bulletin dedicated to celebrating the personal and professional achievements of Pinewood faculty and staff.

Adds Hambly: “I am a mom of two Pinewood students, I am a teacher, and I am an administrator. There is nowhere else I’d rather be than Pinewood School.” Surely a lot of us will say “yes” to that. •

"Pinewood is a place that says 'yes' to having experiences that are good for the teacher and for the student."

Eric Schreiber, High School English Teacher

Our Proudest Investment

Our faculty and staff set a powerful example by embracing lifelong learning. At Pinewood, we place a high priority on professional development because it directly influences the success and well-being of our students. We believe that by fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth among our faculty and staff, we can create an environment where our students can thrive and reach their full potential.

Teachersgrow theirskillsand expertisethrough professional development. Whentheyreturn

Yourstudentslearn throughbest-inclassteaching techniques.

100%

100% of Pinewood faculty and staff have participated in dedicated professional development sessions and workshops provided on-campus by Pinewood this year.

$2,500

ClassroomLearningTools

26.6%

The individualized professional development opportunities our faculty and staff have chosen to participate in this year fall into these categories.

SchoolAdministration 26.6%

One in three of our faculty and staff members has engaged in a specialized, off-campus professional development opportunity this year.

We provide $2,500 per full-time faculty/staff member per year for specialized, off-campus professional development opportunities.

Curriculum 46.8%

Graduate Studies Reimbursement Program

Pinewood offers the Graduate Studies Reimbursement Program to help fulltime faculty and staff advance their education and development. We value lifelong learning and are dedicated to supporting our employees' pursuit of knowledge and growth. The program provides financial support for eligible employees pursuing part-time or non-degree graduate study.

Eight of our faculty and staff members are pursuing or have completed a graduate program this year through the GSR program.

1. Laura Blotter – Master's in Curriculum and Instruction, Purdue University, Graduated December 2022 2. Katie Linza – Master's in Music Education, University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point 3. Haley Hemm – Crosscultural, Language, and Academic Development (CLAD) Certificate and English Language Learner (ELL) Authorization, UCLA Extension

4. Kim Wetzel – Master’s in Education, University of San Diego 5. Kyle Riches – Master’s in Educational Leadership and Administration, George Washington University, Graduated May 2022

6. Matt Stimson – Certificate in School Management and Leadership, Harvard University, earned June 2022 7. Ria Walker – Master’s in Education and Teaching Leadership, San Diego State University 8. Olivia Bradley – Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction, CSU Bakersfield

EXPERT TIPS FROM OUR TEACHERS

JULIE ANDRESEN

Whilewalkingtogether:countthesteps youtooktogetwhereyouaregoing Countby1s,2s,5s,10s

Letyourchildchooseabooktoreadto youforatleastfiveminutes,twotimes perweek Thiswillnotonlyallowthem tobuildtheirexpressivereadingskills, butalsoforyoutosharespecialtime together Happyreading!

JOHN SWIFT

Engageyourchildincurrentevents thatareageappropriateandthat youfindinteresting Helpthem engagewiththeworldtheyare livinginandlearnwiththemtoo

HEIDI RAVIZZA

Spendtimeexploringnatureoutside Eveniftheweatherisbad,bundleup andgoout Itgivesyouandyourfamily timetogetherwithoutelectronic distractionsandfostersinteresting conversations.

Includeyourchildindecisionmakingtobuildconfidence It doesn’thavetobeabigdecision Forexample;Whenchoosingapples atthestore,askiftheywouldlike redorgreenapples Startwithsmall decisionstogrowintoimportant decision-makingskills.

DEBBIE DITTON

Haveyourchildrenlistenandmoveto musiceveryday Itbuildstheirbrains, bodies,andconfidencelevels Itisalso agreatstressreliever

JORDAN MALIKSI

Topromotecreativity,Iliketo encourageyoungartiststothink thatanythingcanbeartaslongas theycanexplainwhyitwasdone. Thiscanbeassimpleasbeing abletosaywhytheychosea certaincolor,orwhatmakestheir favoriteanimalsoawesome The moretheycantalkaboutwhat theymake,themorecomfortable theyfeelmakingit

Havingadailycheck-inwithyourchild cangoalongwayandcanbehelpfulin stayingactivelyinvolvedintheirdaily livesandmakingthemknowtheir feelingsmatter Onefunwaytocheckin isbyaskingthemtodescribethe weatherforecastfortheirday.Wasit sunny,stormy,partlycloudy,hurricane, rainbows,etc?

NATALIE SALBERG

PENNY NOLAN

CASSIE STEWART

Panther Pride

Our families are well aware that the foundation of a Pinewood education is our exceptional teachers. To shed light on what makes our educators truly remarkable, we turned to our Campus Heads for their insights.

Sarah Haun Lower Campus Head

I am inspired daily by the Lower Campus faculty. Each teacher is so unique and talented in their own right but together, collectively as a group, not only do they get along well with each other, they truly enjoy being together and act more as a "family" than simply as colleagues. The support they show for each other is akin to the support family members show to one another, both in joyful times and in more trying times. We have a "Sunshine Committee" at all three campuses whose members' job it is to recognize and share with others the events in one another's lives that are worth noting - weddings, births, and graduations as well as the more trying times when we may need a bit of extra support such as caring for aging parents or deaths in the family. As one example, my mother passed away recently and of course, it was an extremely sad and emotional time for me. While I was away and spending time with family on the east coast, I never had to worry about things being taken care of at school — I knew my Pinewood family would happily and proactively fill in any gaps that may have occurred due to my absence. Upon my return after my mother's memorial services, the love, support, kindness, and true concern I felt from the Pinewood faculty made all the difference. Together, we celebrate the good times and are there for each other during the more difficult times as well. Working collaboratively in this type of environment makes coming to work each day such a joyful and uplifting experience. The love and care we feel for one another are obvious to the students. Having happy, supported, fulfilled teachers creates an environment conducive to developing happy, healthy, and fulfilled students. It really is a simple formula and at Lower Campus, we have it down pat.

Brynn Hambly Middle Campus Head

Pinewood's Middle Campus teachers are more than just experts in their fields; they are compassionate individuals who genuinely care about nurturing kind students that contribute positively to our community. Recently, I witnessed one of the most heartwarming acts of community love. I saw a teacher helping a distressed student search for a lost item. Soon after, another teacher joined in the search. To my surprise, on their own volition, a PE class stopped their game to lend a helping hand, which ultimately resulted in finding the lost item. Through their actions, Pinewood teachers model the values of kindness and compassion, showing students that their actions can have a positive impact on our community.

Gabriel Lemmon Upper Campus Head

I am most inspired by our teachers' willingness to prioritize the learning experience of our students. Our teachers work so tremendously hard to develop engaging and meaningful lessons for our students. Teachers must have mastery of the curricula, utilize best practices in pedagogy, and most importantly, develop caring and supportive relationships with their students. The ability to achieve all of this is both an art and a science—and luckily for us, it happens daily at Pinewood.

Pinewood is a place that cares deeply about individuals. Our teachers live that mission and vision every day. Students constantly talk about how approachable, understanding, and supportive their teachers are. Our teachers welcome new students with open arms, find specific ways to build each student's confidence, and devote themselves to their subject areas in a way that inspires. All of this transcends the classroom and creates a culture of deep caring.

Haley Hemm Upper Campus Asst. Head

Getting Serious About FUN AND HAPPINESS

Pinewood's Week of Happiness Celebration

Sometimes, students get overwhelmed and so concerned with academics that they carry too much stress with them. Pinewood’s Wellness Committee wants to help students remember to experience joy and have some fun! This past February, the entire school celebrated the Week of Happiness and helped students be in the moment and be more mindful.

Upper Campus kicked off the week with a visit from Animal Assisted Happiness during lunch to help students de-stress. Chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and a goat came to visit campus by the front office. Students were delighted and pleasantly surprised: “I had so much fun petting all the various animals–the rabbits were especially soft and furry. It was an amazing experience that added to the wonderful atmosphere of happiness week,” said sophomore Michael B. Other activities at Upper Campus included smile cookies courtesy of Epicurean, mindfulness coloring, bracelet making, and boba tea for all on Friday. Staff and

Lower Campus students enjoy outdoor fun with emoji balloons.

faculty also enjoyed a coffee cart and daily raffle to win a free lunch from DoorDash.

Lower and Middle Campuses joined in the fun as well. Lunch recess was full of crayons and bubbles on picnic tables, followed by smile cookies and lunch recess dog visits in the garden. And students got their wiggles out Thursday morning with a “Drop Everything and Dance” activity. Teachers joined in the fun, wearing jeans all week, sipping on Italian sodas, and being showered each day with quotes and thought reminders about happiness and positivity. “The goal of the week was to focus on helping teachers and students feel and experience happiness. We offered a variety of activities so that students not only had fun and experienced joy, but also discovered that doing something kind for someone else can bring happiness,” explained Marianne Griffiths, K-12 Learning Specialist and member of the Wellness Committee.

And as the end of the year comes into focus, it’s important to remember to be mindful, take breaks, and have some fun. •

Upper Campus students unwind as they cuddle up with some fluffy friends during a visit from Animal Assisted Happiness. >

In February, Pinewood students Myles Fox '23, Autumn Porter-Shulz '24, and Derrick Harris '27 collaborated with the Upper Campus DEI committee and administration to host an impactful and uplifting Black History Month assembly for our high school community. The event featured a remarkable performance by Oriki Arts, a visiting group that showcased the culture and historical movements of the African diaspora. Myles, Autumn, and Derrick also contributed to the performance by sharing insights on historical eras and their significance. The assembly provided a powerful reminder to everyone present of the remarkable resilience and contributions of Black people throughout history and in our world today.

Our junior and senior Pinewood Scholars Program (PSP) students recently presented their project ideas to their Upper Campus teachers and administrators. Over a catered lunch, students introduced their oneminute “elevator pitches” detailing their project focus and their “ask” to the community. The students did a beautiful job summarizing their passion projects! Bravo!

Artistic Expressions

1. Naavya M. 2nd Grade 2. Jacob J. Kindergarten 3. Orion L. 1st Grade 4. Peyton M. 12th Grade 5. Isabel L. 4th Grade 6. Harry Y. 3rd Grade 7. Emma H. 11th Grade 8. Caroline B. 10th Grade 9. James C. 10th Grade