Celebrating Jane Stewart

Celebrating Jane Stewart

A Look Back at Founder's Day

Each October, The Westview School celebrates our founder Jane Stewart with Founder's Day. This annual tradition began in October 2011 following the death of Ms. Jane. Here is an excerpt from Donna Marshall's speech given in October 2011 for the celebration of the first Founder's Day. Donna's speech was the basis for the History of The Westview School video that is shown to our students each year in remembrance of Jane Stewart.

To all our brilliant students, to our wonderful teachers and staff, to our faithful parents, and to our visitors.

Ms. Jane started The Westview School over 30 years ago. That is quite a long time ago.

When Ms. Jane started our school, your moms and dads were still just kids, about as old as you are today. Some of your teachers were just babies. There were no video games yet, no cell phones, no home computers, and there were no special schools for children with autism.

Ms. Jane started her school with just three little children in her kitchen.

She helped our school grow and grow, and now we have a beautiful school with so many wonderful things like this auditorium and gym, our soccer field, the track, the OT lab and Speech rooms, two libraries, and so much more. She also planned for so many fun times for you, like Camp for All, Lock- Ins, Parties, Playgrounds, Summer Camps, and many, many more. Today, we are here on Ms. Jane’s birthday to thank her for giving us this wonderful school.

- Donna Marshall Message to Westview students. Founder's Day 2011

The first Founder's Day, originally named Jane Stewart Day, was held in October 2011. Blue ribbons were hung on trees around campus in remembrance of Ms. Jane. (2011)

Students express their creativity by creating a unique handprint to celebrate Ms. Jane and the Westview community - Joining Hands, Touching Lives. (2015)

Pre-COVID years our students dressed in their Westview blue polos and would gather in Largent Hall for a short assembly to remember our Westview founder. (2016)

Donna Marshall, Westview Head of School 2011-2020 and long-time friend of Ms. Jane, addresses the Westview student assembly on Founder's Day. (2016)

We are thankful to Westview parent Jackie Howell for donating her time and photography skills to capture class photos on Founder's Day. (2021)