INFLIGHT NEWS
A NOTE FROM MRS. ROD
As you can see from the table of contents for this newsletter, November was a full month of activities and events. Middle schoolers have been practicing their leadership skills in grade-level buddies and family groups, as well as showcasing their innovative spirit at our Fall Entrepreneurial Day. With the holiday season quickly approaching, this is a wonderful opportunity to find ways to insert gratitude practices into your family routine - looking for small moments to highlight the good, special, and/or positive in our full and busy lives. Additionally, I highly encourage families to find ways to be of service to our larger Los Angeles community during this holiday season. These opportunities can be greatly impactful for students to see how they can help others during our time that can often get quickly centered around gifts.
7th/8th Grade Fall Dance - November 8
The seventh and eighth-grade dance was a hit! The dance committee worked hard to bring their Western theme to life, handling everything from the vision to the final touches in decorating and setup. Students had a great time seeing some of their teachers dance, taking fun photos, and making memories together without any disruptive shenanigans. Events like this are a highlight, creating a fun, supportive environment where even the shyest students can come out of their shells and enjoy the experience.
Robotics Team
The WNS robotics team, made up of 17 middle school students, designs and programs robots to complete timed missions while also tackling real-world challenges. This year, their innovation projects focused on aiding ocean researchers by addressing issues such as deep-sea pressure, water temperature, and declining coral reefs.
Proposed solutions included a heated wetsuit, a pressurized chamber for transporting deep-sea creatures to the surface, coral reef restoration using eggshells, and a deep-sea exploration robot modeled after a squid At a recent qualifying tournament at DaVinci School in El Segundo, three of the teams advanced to the regional championships, which will take place on December 15th. Good luck to all!
Fall Play: The One Act Play That Goes Wrong - November 15
The Fall show in the Black Box Theatre was a resounding success, showcasing the incredible hard work and dedication of our student ensemble. The actors delivered outstanding performances of The One Act Play That Goes Wrong, bringing humor and energy to each scene and captivating their audiences Meanwhile, the tech crew worked tirelessly behind the scenes, handling lighting, sound, stage direction, and much more! Together, the entire team created an unforgettable experience, and we couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments and the positive feedback they received.
Mock Trial Competition
The WNS Mock Trial team achieved their most successful season in nearly a decade, outlasting nearly 60 other middle school teams on their way to the semifinals of the LA County competition.
The team's exceptional performance this year was highlighted by several individual honors Blakeley Filliettaz, Luna Steudler, and Cameron Kelly each earned MVP of the Round awards during the team's journey to the semi-finals. Additionally, both Sabine Snyder and Blakeley Filliettaz received Outstanding Recognition awards from the competition organizers an honor bestowed upon only 24 students (two for each official role) out of more than 700 middle schoolers from across LA County.
This year's run to the Mock Trial competition semifinals represents not only the team's competitive success but also reflects the student's dedication to learning and adapting their strategies with each round, showcasing their commitment to excellence.
Buddies - December 4
This month, we had students focus on non-fiction books! Students engaged in a collaborative activity with their buddies, focusing on nonfiction books from their classroom libraries. Each buddy pair read a selected book together, discussed key ideas, and shared something they learned with another buddy pair. Additionally, they drew or wrote one thing they already knew about the topic and one new thing they learned, fostering both connection and curiosity in their learning journey.
Entrepreneurial Day - November 19
WNS had its 3rd Entrepreneurial Day celebrating student innovation. 6th and 8th grade student had the opportunity to create products to sell to their classmates. From handmade crafts to baked goods, the campus buzzed with excitement as students honed their entrepreneurial skills while engaging in buying, selling, and marketing Many 8th-grade students used this event as a platform to support their SWIM projects, with proceeds directed towards causes they are passionate about. Entrepreneurial Day not only fostered creativity and collaboration but encouraged students to think critically about business and philanthropy and share their passions and skills with their peers We look forward to another Entrepreneurial Day in April!
Grandparents & Special Friends Day - November 22
Grandparents and Special Friends Day is a cherished tradition at WNS, celebrating the bonds between students and the important people in their lives. This special day invites grandparents and close family friends to join the school community, creating meaningful connections through shared experiences. Guests have the opportunity to visit classrooms, participate in activities, and witness the vibrant learning environment firsthand. Students take pride in showing off their school, while grandparents and friends enjoy the chance to engage in their loved one’s educational journey.
Upcoming Dates
Our Performing Arts Showcase will feature students in kindergarten through 8th grade’s work in their music classes. This year’s theme is Pop Music! The shows are on Thursday, 12/19, for families with last names (K-Z) and Friday, 12/20 for families with last names (A-J) at 9:00am.
FRIDAY IS SPIRIT DAY!
Announcements
As a school that focuses heavily on inclusion and equity, we do not support the giving and receiving of gifts to individuals or small groups on campus, including in the form of a “secret Santa” or “secret snowflake.” In our experience, these situations rarely end well, and while they start innocently enough, lead to people feeling stress, shame, or exclusion.
To be clear, what students cannot do is:
Buy individual gifts and distribute to friends on campus (including bringing Starbucks drinks to some and not all of their friends)
Coordinate group gift giving/receiving of any kind to happen on campus
What students can do:
Bring in a treat or token of appreciation to a specific cohort (advisory, section, elective class) to share with all during our holiday recognition events or coordinate with that specific class teacher.
Please help us by removing your child’s devices at night and supporting our no chewing gum policy at school.