Windward Magazine Winter/Spring 2023

WINDWARD MAGAZINE

W I N T E R / S P R I N G 2023

(UN)COMMON THREADS Designing for the Future

HOT OFF THE DRESS— FROM NEWS RACK TO RUNWAY Visual and Media Art student Lorelei Toley ‘25 is taking wearable art to the next level with a dress she designed entirely from newspapper clippings for Windward's Interdisciplinary Studio 1 Art class. Turn to Page 24 to learn more about how she executed her vision from start to finish.

Cover Story Photography: Hannah Northenor '99, Windward Photography Teacher

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TABLE OF

CONTENTS

WINTER/SPRING 2023

49 6 From the Head of School 5 A Letter from Tom Gilder

Community

Special Friends Brunch

12

Spring Awakening

14 W!T Faculty Match 15 Bringing Down The House:

Fall Coffee House

17 Where She Belongs: Estée Brooks ’27 18 A World of Difference:

Jaden Anselmo ’23

19 History in Action:

Brooke Ruttenberg ’23

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Well-Being

36

Retreats

36

22 World Language Program

38 Club spotlight: Fashion Club-

Guest Speaker: Natasha Bluth

23

Shark Tank Visual & Media Arts

24 Hot Off the Dress: Lorelei Toley ‘25 25 The Gold Standard:

The Scholastic Art Awards

Sam Snow ‘24 / Cece Terpening ‘25 39 Mathlete Club- Charlie Van Hook ‘23

40 Committing to Athletic Excellence 42 Upper School Athletics 44 Middle School Athletics

Service Learning

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging 28 Community Conversations 30

Tales at the Table

32 Hispanic Heritage Month 33 Hanukkah Celebration

Windward Fund 54 Windward Fund Donor Roll 59 Volunteer Spotlight

Innovation Campaign 60 Innovation Campaign Update 63 Innovation Campaign Donor Roll

Windward Network 64

46 Allies for Every Child

Kicks and Cocoa

Shoe Drive

Mixing it Up

Windward Network’s Second Annual Holiday Mixer

Thanksgiving Basket

48

Alumni 66 Back on Campus:

Young Alumni Lunch

Care Packaging

49 Toy Drive Connecting: PATH Families to Windward families

67

50 Rustic Pathways: Jack Luirette '25

68 Alumni Spotlight - Barry Turbow '89

51 Building Community

70 Alumni Spotlight - Willow Karfiol ’14

Through Books

46

52 Faculty and Staff Milestones

45 Middle School Cross Country

Film Festival

27 Podcasts in the Classroom

Faculty and Staff

Athletics

26 All American High School

Student Spotlights 16 Finding Her Match: Meiyi Wang '23

Academics and Economics

10 Founders’ Day

Performing Arts

12

20 A Joint Lesson in History

6 Wildcats Connect During Spirit Week 8 Grandparents and

10

and Hayden Rosenthal ’14

Advancement Office Contributions Dawn Barrett

Associate Head of School for Advancement, Finance, and Operations

Michael Bognanno

66 Jamey McElvain-Whitman

Graphic Designer; Brand Strategist

Robin Pickett

Director of Advancement Services

Director of Windward Network; Associate Director of Admissions

Whitney Burke

Jacqueline Varney

Director of Communications and Public Relations

Jeff Gilder ’08

Director of Alumni Development and Engagement; Associate Director of Admissions

Ashley Goodman

Director of Service Learning; Associate Director of Admissions, DEIB

Jeff Lake

Assistant Director of Communications

Lindsay Knaub

Director of Development and Engagement

Director of Development and Major Gifts

La Donna Wertlieb

Director of Development & Donor Services

Design & Layout Akiko Nimura Multimedia Specialist

Photography Brandon Kirk Photography Hudson Janow ‘23 Leonardo Viola '25 Corey Marquetti Akiko Nimura

W I N D W A R D M A G A Z I N E - 03

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

A LETTER FROM

Tom Gilder A

s I look at the 2022-23 school year, it’s been wonderful to see our campus return to the bustling community we know and love, one made up of vibrant on-campus interactions and rich educational opportunities. From updates to familiar favorites like Tales at the Table to the reintroduction of longstanding staples such as Back to School Night, we have finally been able to focus on what matters most—fostering a sense of growth and belonging amongst all members of our community.

04 - C O M M U N I T Y

Building long standing relationships through connection has always been a key tenet of the Windward experience, and this year began with a number of opportunities to connect. Spirit Week had the whole community energized, the week-long festivities culminating with our first Homecoming Football game since 2019 (page 6). We also held our first Grandparents and Special Friends Brunch in over three years, and the incredible turnout proved that this treasured Windward event was well worth the wait (page 8).

Along with our Founders’ Day celebration (page 10) and DEIB events celebrating Lunar New Year, Black History Month, and more (page 32), the sense of shared experience and belonging across our community has never felt stronger thanks to the tireless efforts of our parent committee members and Windward volunteers.

This year has been marked with excitement as we continue to work together to provide an innovative learning environment that allows students to feel inspired by their surroundings and supported in their pursuit of knowledge. I’m proud of where we’ve come from, and I’m beyond thrilled to see where we’re going. From group milestones to individual successes, this year we have seen our students take charge in ways that have been nothing less than inspiring. In the classroom, students went from teaming up for lessons to leading them. That sense of collaboration also extended to our Performing Arts and Visual & Media Arts programs, which came together to find unique ways to push their respective mediums (page 24).

If our students have taught us anything, it’s that the way forward is always up. We have made incredible progress in the next phase of our Innovation Campaign, raising 75% of the total needed for funding (page 60). Through the tremendous support of our talented Steering Committee and our Windward com-

munity, this massive milestone has provided us the opportunity to begin construction on the Milken Family Community Gathering Plaza and the Innovation & Arts Center later this year.

As our Innovation Campaign comes full circle, and we prepare to embark on a new and exciting chapter, we will continue to uphold our educational promise of providing students a dynamic environment that encourages critical thinking and sparks curiosity and exploration. We remain profoundly grateful for those who have supported our community. Our return to normalcy has served as a welcome reminder as to why we do what we do each and every day. I look forward to continuing to partner with you every step of the way.

Tom Gilder

HEAD OF SCHOOL

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COMMUNITY

Wildcats Connect During Spirit Week

Wildcats showed off their school pride during Spirit Week October 25-28 with daily competition between classes

By Lani Farar, Windward Parent to Bella ‘26 and Evan ‘24

N

o October chill here—Windward’s 2022 Spirit Week turned up the heat! From October 25-28, students dressed up each day in themed garb to earn points for their class and competed in games and activities throughout the week to earn raffle tickets and prizes. The week ended with a lively Pep Rally, culminating in the first Homecoming Football game since 2019. Although the Class of 2023 ultimately prevailed in the Class Competition, with so many “winners” throughout the week, students, faculty and parents alike all got into the spirit—pun intended!

“The whole idea of Spirit Week is to create connections!” said Frances Jones, Windward’s Senior Associate Director of Athletics. Frances is integral to the success of this week-long event, where a Spirit Committee of dedicated parents and faculty, including Amanda Troughton, Lindsay Knaub, and Windward’s Facilities team, spent nearly six months organizing the fun.

Raina Rosenblum, Parent Guild VP and parent leader of the Spirit Committee, agrees this community-building event is “a fun respite from the daily routine in an environment conducive 06 - C O M M U N I T Y

to building meaningful connections.” Raina’s team of devoted parent volunteers included Lisa Alpern, Lani Farar, Portia Furst, Jen Gordon, Samantha Remeny, Jaime Schwartzberg and Robyn Sidoti, along with countless day-of parents who came to support the activities all week long.

Tuesday kicked off the festivities with Pajama/Anything But a Backpack Day. Wildcats came with their rolling in suitcases, shopping carts, strollers, giant trash cans and even a pet carrier! With cozy lounge furniture, blankets, and pillows on Foley Field, everyone got into the spirit, enjoying a waffle bar provided by CulinArt and a lunchtime contest for Most Creative.

Jersey/Carnival Day barrelled in on Wednesday where Wildcats wore their favorite team jerseys and enjoyed carnival games staffed by parents. The campus was truly alive, as parents, faculty and students gathered on the Bridge for a chance to win raffle tickets and stuffed animal prizes. Students built balloon animals in the CREATE Studio, and a Middle School Service Learning event ended the day.

Wildcats brought the sun and fun on Thursday with Tropical Beach Day, wearing their beach gear and lounging tropical style. There were limbo games, pie and watermelon eating contests and beach-worthy activities in the CREATE Studio. The day ended with a Girls Volleyball game and MAFL Halloween Movie Night 40th anniversary screening of E.T. The heat was on for Friday’s Class Colors and Competition & Pep Rally in support of our Football team and game against Sage Hill. With 7th Grade in the lead all week long, the Seniors put their game hats on and ended with the win.

Although suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of Sage Hill, every Wildcat came out on top, enjoying a spirit sale with personalized gear and delicious food trucks. The raffle pull brought everyone out on the field for gift certificates to Pizzana, Sugarfish, Uovo and more, as well as the chance to get amazing seats to a Lakers game. The grand prize? Tickets to see Post Malone!

“The week helps create a sense of camaraderie and a sense of school pride and provides an opportunity for our students to feel creative and bring a sense of joy to the campus,” says Frances. Raina concurs that Spirit Week “is an opportunity for Windward students, faculty and parents to experience firsthand what makes Windward so special, and why we all belong here.”

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COMMUNITY

Young at Heart

Windward Celebrates Grandparents and Special Friends Brunch

A

fter a three-year hiatus, Windward was thrilled to welcome back its Grandparents and Special Friends Brunch in the Lewis Jackson Memorial Sports Complex. Guests traveled from as far as Michigan, New York, and Canada for the chance to visit Windward and join their grandchildren for breakfast. They were welcomed

by Head of School Tom Gilder and heard from Juniors Max Trilling and Yaya Toubassy, who shared their Windward experiences.

Guests were also treated to spectacular music performances by Windward’s Chamber Orchestra and Advanced Jazz Ensemble.

Following the brunch, Grandparents and Special Friends enjoyed touring the Windward campus with their grandchildren. It was delightful to see the two generations enjoying spending time together!

08 - C O M M U N I T Y

W I N D W A R D M A G A Z I N E - 09

COMMUNITY

Celebrating Our Past, Inspiring Our Future Founders’ Day 2023

O

n January 27, Windward celebrated the ongoing legacy of the School with a special Founders' Day extravaganza. Founders’ Day takes place during an extended Lunch period every January and looks to connect students and faculty with the rich history and core principles of the School over the past 50+ years.

It also serves as a way to honor one of the founders of Windward School, Shirley Windward, and her love for poetry and the arts.

Parent Guild volunteers served cake pops and Shirley Temples, and service learning and arts projects took place on the Bridge. All the while, students, teachers, and alumni expressed their creativity through song, poetry, and spoken word.

10 - C O M M U N I T Y

A job well done to all of the Founders' Day performers: Speed Limit - Everybody Talks Sunday Kelly '28 Eden Adams '27 Lily Richardson '28 Kaleo Knight '26 & Mollie Garner '26 Wyatt Peers '23 Elliot Bobrow '23 Daisy Harkin-Goodrich '26 Ellliot Yun '27 Amanda Solomon '23 Ashley Renselaer '23 Drew Beerman '24, Leo Ross '24 & Evan Farar '24 Hudson Brown '23 Low Orbit - Leila

Founders’ Day would not be possible without the tireless efforts of our Founders’ Day Parent Guild Committee and countless community members. A special thank you to the following: Lisa Lewin Juliet Oh (Executive Committee) Jennifer Wallace Michelle Watkins Liz Waters Windward Deans Windward Events Windward Facilities

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PERFORMING ARTS

G N I SPR ENING K A W A Directors' Note -

w

orking on Spring Awakening has been our greatest honor and privilege. It is such a unique piece, which manages to encapsulate the breadth of the adolescent experience: curiosity, anxiety, sexuality, loneliness, love, and confusion. For us, Spring Awakening is the embodiment of prioritizing a place of belonging for our students in order to nurture their authentic selves.

This is a show that we have both loved ever since we saw the original cast on Broadway. Spring Awakening is one of the few shows that speaks truthfully about the teenage experience of awakening.

We’ve approached this show with the idea that awakenings are periods of growth that if nurtured can bring each of us closer to our most honest selves. If an awakening is hampered, that growth is stunted which can have a profound negative effect. Our hope is that this production of Spring Awakening serves as a conversation starter as each of us can examine our own responsibility in being a nurturing and supportive community.

As our own students grapple with so many transitions during this period of time in high school, they have been able to bring their own unique perspectives to the characters and circumstances of this show. We have been so inspired by their vulnerability and commitment to telling this story right now. Our youth have been through so much over the past couple of years.

Working on Spring Awakening has propelled us to continue to create theatre that takes risks, is reflective of the human experience, and is inclusive of a variety of voices.

12 - P E R F O R M I N G A R T S

We feel so lucky to have been able to work with each other as directors of Spring Awakening. In this partnership, we have such deep respect for each other’s artistic vision and are grateful to be able to give our student artists even more care, attention, and guidance. We are grateful to work with so many talented theatrical professionals which elevates our work and gives our students the opportunity to learn from experts in each area of focus.

As we prepared to introduce this material to our community, we prioritized having an intimacy director guide our students and ourselves through the difficult material. This work highlighted and supported the ideas of consent, boundaries, and freedom of expression in a nurturing and safe environment.

This show is dedicated to our brave and honest cast and crew that have dedicated so much of themselves in order to bring this important story to our community. As directors, we had expectations of what this production could be and this particular group of student artists has wholly exceeded this for us. They consistently contributed their genuine voices, held space for each other and celebrated each other’s growth and vulnerability. When striving to foster a place of belonging at Windward, these individuals have shown us that theatre is not just about putting on beautiful productions; rather, it can serve the higher purpose of creating a safe and dynamic space of openness, trust, and friendship.

With gratitude, Jordan Fox and James Patric Moran

W I N D W A R D M A G A Z I N E - 13

PERFORMING ARTS

, T !

W K C A B !

T I AT

By Natasha Arnold, W!T Director

T

his year W!T jumped back into improv as if all the Covid restrictions and adjustments from the past couldn’t stop us. With high expectations and hopes for our very large Senior class, which is 14 strong, we kicked off our first show in September with our favorite faculty in the Faculty Match.

Guesting us for the first time was Zach Neufeld who accompanied us on piano and allowed us to explore musical improvisation again. In addition to bringing back our joyful short form competition style show, we reintroduced the students to long form improv. With special guest artists Brian Breiter and Jesse Mackey, nine Seniors rehearsed and performed a fully improvised 1940’s Murder Mystery Radio Play in full costumes and with live foley on stage. W!T has a total of three longform shows slated for the year, including the fan favorite Timebomb at the New Works Festival in February. We also have our annual Family Match in March, where students get to improvise with their family members. Fair warning, the Family Match is known for some parental Scum Box fouls and intense non-stop laughter!

We are happy to share that our Improv programming has grown, which led to the hiring of Tirosh Schneider who is charged with teaching our Intro to Improv class. They have been a wonderful addition to our Performing Arts Department and community. Fun fact, Natasha taught Tirosh improv in high school and now gets to call them a colleague!

BRINGI DOWN NG THE HOUSE

By Lisa Weinstein, Performing Arts Faculty

T

his year’s annual Fall Coffee House marked a return to normalcy for the Performing Arts department. After years of modifying the event from online platforms to outdoor venues, we were able to hold our performance live and in-person as we had previously in the CTL. We heard a variety of student performing artists that played and sang both original works as well as covers of previously composed songs. Our Tri-M Honors Society ran the event with seamless precision and raised money for the charity Music Mends Minds.

Both shows included a variety of performers and ensembles from both Middle and Upper School. The second floor of the CTL was packed with an audience of parents, friends, and families who were all beaming with admiration. As we look towards the Spring, we are excited to hopefully expand Coffee House into two different days in order to showcase our graduating student artists as well as to open up the evening to a larger audience.

W!T has $5 shows monthly with 100% of the proceeds going to a different charity. We hope to see you at one of our remaining shows this year and next!

P.S. - You won’t want to miss the Senior Match on May 25, 2023 at 5pm. It’s always torturous fun!

14 - P E R F O R M I N G A R T S

Scan the QR Code to view the Fall Coffee House setlist.

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS

Where She Belongs Estée Brooks ’27

Finding Her Match Meiyi Wang '23

The 2023 QuestBridge National College Match connects high-achieving high school Seniors from diverse socio-economic backgrounds with full four-year scholarships to 48 of the nation’s best colleges. In January, Meiyi Wang ’23 was awarded a full scholarship to UPenn as part of the program.

Over the past four years, Meiyi Wang ’23 has made a name for herself on the Windward campus. As one of Windward’s top debaters (she reached nationals last year) she’s a force to be reckoned with in the classroom and at the lectern.

As a first generation college student, starting the college search process wasn’t easy.

Not exactly sure what to look for in a college experience or how to decide on a major, Meiyi bounced back and forth between law and computer science, feeling as though neither really fit her interests well. It wasn’t until she attended a program at UPenn and was introduced to Wharton School of Business that she gained clarity regarding her future college experience.

“As someone who is first generation and low income, I hadn't even ever thought of the possibility that someone like me could do business. I had such a preconceived idea of who could do business, until I was introduced to Wharton. UPenn's Wharton School is the best business school in the country for a reason, and I think it genuinely largely contributes to how the school is constantly evolving alongside its students, to strive to be the most inclusive. I will be able to get a Bachelor of Science in Economics, as my 16 - S T U D E N T S P O T L I G H T S

baseline degree for all students, while being able to concentrate in a practical business field,” said Meiyi.

After learning about Wharton and its offerings, Meiyi took to social media to research different ways to afford college tuition.

That’s when she stumbled upon information for the QuestBridge Match program.

“I initially thought it sounded too good to be true,” said Meiyi. But it was, in fact, a very real opportunity, and one that Meiyi jumped at. Out of 18,000 nationwide applicants, Meiyi was one of just 1,755 high school Seniors to receive a scholarship. When she received her scholarship notification, she felt both elated and relieved.

“The days leading up to Match Day were definitely nerve-wracking. I think there is a lot of misconception that this process is easy, when in reality, it’s the opposite. I had to put together a full college application by early September, hedging my bets on being able to make it as a Finalist, much less a matched student. The chances had just seemed slim so when I opened my portal on December 1, I stood there in complete shock before bursting into tears of happiness. Paying for college was always my big-

gest concern throughout high school, and to be able to say that I am the first in my family to go to college here with a full-ride scholarship, is a feeling indescribable. I'm so grateful to be given the opportunity.”

Meiyi credits her involvement in Windward Speech and Debate for giving her the confidence to participate in leadership opportunities, carry herself professionally in interviews, and apply as an economics and business major.

“Speech and debate allowed me to develop a critical view of the world that I'm living in, to constantly question the status quo, and the surrounding institutions. It gave me the skill that I value the most, which is the verbal ability to stand up for what I believe in, and allowed me to find a passion in social justice work.”

While the process has been a challenging one, the end result has been extremely rewarding for Meiyi. She encourages others like her to apply. “Never say it's impossible, never stop at rejection. I've had more rejections than I have acceptances and successes. Be proud of how far you've come, and stay confident.”

Most people don’t have character-defining moments at a mere five years old. Then again, most people aren’t Estée Brooks ’27. At that young age, and with the encouragement of her older sister, Sophie ‘22, Estée auditioned to join a local dance studio. The rest is history. “Initially, I resisted her efforts and was forced to attend the classes,” Estée remembers fondly. “Despite my initial reluctance, and some moments of tears, I immediately knew that dancing was where I belonged, and it would become my passion.”

Since that moment, dance has become a cornerstone in Estée’s life, something that has not gone unnoticed by her mentors at Windward. "Estée is so passionate about Dance; she has immersed herself fully in the Windward Dance program, along with continuing rigorous study at her outside study,” said Julie Friedrich, Performing Arts Teacher (Dance). “She is a true student of the craft, working daily to refine her skills and artistry, and through her participation in the Middle School Repertory Ensemble, it has been such a pleasure to watch her grow."

When not dancing at The Company, a studio that specializes in styles including ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, and lyrical, Estée spends her time in her “second home,” the Windward Dance studio. Working with her peers on the recent Winter and Spring shows was a particularly rewarding experience, and Estée credits her instructors for creating a space where artists can thrive. “The Windward Dance faculty empower me and the other dancers to explore our own unique paths within the dance world and are not judgemental or limiting in their approach.” She continued, “In the Winter show, we were able to showcase the work of so many talented and inspiring choreographers whom I look up to. It is an incredible experience, and has been invaluable to my growth as a dancer.

Being able to work so intimately with these choreographers in such a beautiful studio is a really incredible experience. In the Spring show, we are able to choreograph our own pieces, and express our creative side in dance, which is really important and enjoyable.”

As both a performer and a scholar, Estée understands all too well the challenges of maintaining balance in an active school environment. “If you use your time wisely and manage it well, the workload will not be too bad,” she shared. “If you can see you are really struggling with maintaining your academics, I would suggest meeting with your teacher and explaining your situation. They only want you to succeed. Taking a break from dancing, even if it’s just one day, is completely normal and healthy.”

As she enters the next chapter of her dance journey, Estée hopes that more young dancers put their fears aside and take a chance on the programs Windward has to offer. “Always remember that taking risks and stepping out of your comfort-zone is necessary for growth. And stay true to yourself regardless of others’ perceptions.”

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS

History in Action

Brooke Ruttenberg ’23

A World of Difference Jaden Anselmo ’23 In the Summer of 2022, Jaden Anselmo ’23 was one of roughly 100 students from around the world selected to join the organization Global Encounters for a service learning project in Mombasa, Kenya. For three weeks, these students would be tasked with working at various schools around the region, working together to come up with sustainable ideas to benefit the younger students in their charge. With little to go on, Jaden arrived in Mombasa with zero expectations and a willingness to immerse himself in the experience.

Once acclimated, Jaden and 10-15 other volunteers from around the world spent their time at Unity Primary School, working with students from kindergarten to 8th Grade.

With a campus half the size of Windward’s own Foley Field, and with facilities lacking some of the modern conveniences those in the West have become accustomed to, Jaden wasn’t sure what kind of reception he should expect. What he found was a group of people proud of the community they had built, a group who wanted nothing more than to invite Jaden and his fellow volunteers to be a part of it.

It wasn’t long before Jaden realized that he had to set aside all preconceived notions 18 - S T U D E N T S P O T L I G H T S

in regards to his service learning role. The school wasn’t looking for immediate gratification, such as general donations and quick fixes, but rather in working together to provide lasting change, the kind that would live on well past Jaden’s three-week sojourn. Jaden soon came to realize that what was easy wasn’t necessarily what was needed, and he and his group set aside their own personal talents and interests in order to better understand what would actually generate a measurable impact.

Jaden and his group came up with two sustainable ideas. The first was to set up a cataloging system as a way to track textbooks lent out by the school. With more students than books, the lack of tracking made it difficult to ensure that all students had an equal opportunity to use their textbooks for their schoolwork. The implementation of the system coincided with the accrual and donation of 500 additional textbooks, allowing for a more manageable distribution system for the school going forward.

The second was to create a “safe space” for students to air personal thoughts and feelings in a welcoming environment. This space, outfitted with new paint, furniture, and student artwork, allowed students to

open up in new ways, and the election of the students’ favorite teacher as an advisor, Madame Mary, ensured that the space would remain available going forward.

For Jaden, the dive into the deep end proved as insightful as it was rewarding. “When we first got there, I thought we'd be able to create this insane amount of change in one week,” he shared. “I realized, while we did accomplish a lot, there was so much more we could have done. Actual change takes such a long time and so much dedication and commitment. You have to be selfless in those situations and not just enforce your own expertise and what you do well, but rather what is needed.”

As Jaden closes out his final year at Windward, he’s reflective of the role service learning played in his ongoing development.

Says Jaden, “I think it's really valuable for students to experience how other people live, because I found it so defining for my character and my values just in terms of cultural exploration, in terms of connecting with kids from all over the world, and the importance of learning about the way that they live and empathizing with them.”

At Windward, we expect students to learn what it means to be a good global citizen. We don’t always expect them to teach us.

That’s exactly what Senior Brooke Ruttenberg did this past Fall, leading Windward 8th Graders through a lesson plan she created entitled “History into Action.” Noticing a need for a more robust curriculum in regards to antisemitism education, Brooke, with the blessing of her division coordinators and advice from the Holocaust Museum of Los Angeles, at which she volunteers, decided to make her own. To Brooke, there’s nothing more important than teaching students about discrimination at a young age. “I think so many aspects of antisemitism education can be translated to other types of discrimination like propaganda literacy, scapegoating and stereotypes,” she shared. “Learning about these things in one's early life and understanding how these concepts manifest, will help one take action later in their life.”

The initial returns of her lesson were immediately apparent, as Brooke noticed an increased awareness and pursuit for knowledge from her younger classmates. “After leading 8th Graders through my curriculum, many of them gained a new understanding about antisemitism and its place in our contemporary society, but also the importance of learning about the past in order to create a better present and future.”

As she prepares for college, Brooke also knows that the work to increase awareness is far from over. It’s that reality that drives her to encourage that educational institutions be proactive, not reactive, in their focus on discrimination. “I believe in combating antisemitism or any type of discrimination preemptively rather than waiting for an incident to occur.” She continued, “Education is a major aspect of this and with the right education people will learn about the manifestation of hateful ideology and also people feel more empowered to take action. There are so many resources and amazing organizations out there for people to get involved with if they are interested in making a difference.”

For more on Brooke and her advocacy for antisemitism education, scan the QR code to view her article in the Los Angeles Times— “What’s Missing in Education.”

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ACADEMICS

Connecting

Past to Present

A Joint Lesson in History and Economics

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While Kevin Newman’s Honors Global Economics was studying a unit on Supply and Demand, Inflation, and Recession, Eric Mandel’s 7th Grade History course was studying the different economic indicators and the economic impacts of decisions governments make.

To kick off the collaboration, Middle Schoolers were instructed to answer the following questions: What are supply and demand and how do they impact prices?

2 What are some of the reasons that inflation has become problematic during 2022?

3 Why is inflation problematic? For whom does it cause the most problems? Why? 4 How might the government use taxes, government spending, and interest rates to try to address inflation?

5 What problems might the government create by taking steps to address inflation?

Following the 7th Graders' presentations, the class then broke into groups of four with two 7th Graders and two Seniors. The Seniors were then responsible for adding to the 7th Graders' understanding of inflation and clarifying any misconceptions they might have. The lesson concluded with a discussion on the different ways that Essential Goods and Non-Essential Goods might be impacted by inflation and what recommendations students would make to the US Government with the information they had at hand.

“The lesson went very well,” said Eric. “Our 7th Graders impressed the Seniors with their command of the topic and enjoyed the opportunity to enhance their understanding of inflation. The opportunity to present to an audience beyond the classroom helped motivate them to develop their knowledge. All in all, it was a big success!”

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Sales Pitch to Final Mile

Student Entrepreneurs Sell Homemade Items on the Bridge

ne of the great aspects of having grades 7-12 on one campus is the opportunity for Middle School students to have mentors and role models in the Upper School.

On October 28, 7th Grade students in Introduction to United States Government teamed up with Seniors in Honors Global Economics for a special joint lesson.

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From

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ach year, Windward students look forward to Buy It On The Bridge (BIOTB), a student-run marketplace on the Leichtman-Levine Family Foundation Bridge, where 7th Graders and Seniors alike sell homemade products to students and faculty.

The popular event fosters an entrepreneurial spirit among current Windward students by providing a forum for student businesses. Student entrepreneurs sell their original creations, learning about marketing, brand development, inventory, sales strategies, and product design along the way.

Six vendors from the December 14 event hailed from Windward’s Advanced Algebra with Financial Applications class. The course incorporates topics from Algebra, PreCalculus, Probability and Statistics, and Calculus to solve financial problems that occur in everyday life and includes extensive use of research, spreadsheets, and small group work to solve real world problems. After the groups were done selling their products, they headed off to class to count their money and reflect on the project.

Eve Tarpey and Zoe Neiman ‘23 chose to bake and sell holiday-flavored loaves of bread. “We went to the market and were baking all night. It was very fun. We made a chocolate peppermint loaf as well as ginger bread and banana bread. The banana bread sold out immediately. We even received an email from a faculty member detailing how delicious our bread was!”

Kira Powell, Carly Platt, and Vivy Mehta ‘23 chose to make and sell holiday rice krispie treats. Their reasoning for choosing the treats was simple: work smarter not harder.

“We wanted something that you didn’t have to bake so that you could make more of it at one time. We decorated the treats with holiday decorations and worked well together as a team by supporting one another through each step of the process.”

The opportunity to receive extra credit in class motivated the group to sell their product. Through the experience, the students have already learned some important lessons in marketing.

“I think one of the reasons we were so successful is that we are really good at convincing people to buy our product!”

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ACADEMICS

Second Language Acquisition and its Unexpected

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indward’s World Language program exposes students to a variety of experiences designed to bring language outside the classroom and into the world, and as a result, students graduate as participating citizens of the global community.

Paths

Middle School Students Perfect Their Pitches in Shark Tank Lesson

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n October 28, students in the Middle School Entrepreneurship class jumped into the deep end by participating in a special Shark Tank project. As part of the project, students were challenged to invent a toy that taught a math or science concept for children. To prepare, Middle School Math and Science teachers shared ideas involving concepts that are trickier for some students to master. From there, students came up with ideas, created prototypes, and got feedback from others about their toys.

On Friday, December 9, students from Windward’s French, Mandarin, Spanish, and History classes were treated to a special guest speaker presentation from Natasha Bluth, who is a doctoral student in the department of sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she studies the intersection of gender, nationalism, and civil society in Russia and the former Soviet Union.

The Middle School project teaches students an array of skills, which align strongly with Windward’s set of core competencies.

Her talk detailed the unexpected avenues that second language acquisition has taken her, culminating in interviewing Ukrainian refugees this past Summer in Poland. In today’s increasingly interconnected world, proficiency in multiple languages is a vital skill that gives people the opportunity to engage with the world in a more meaningful way. Natasha spoke to students about how learning a second language has deeply impacted her life, both professionally and personally. Special thanks to French teacher Brian Bernhards for connecting Windward with Natasha.

Excerpt from Natasha’s talk: Perhaps the greatest upheaval in the tentative path I had laid out for myself since college took place last February 24 when Russia initiated a mass-scale invasion of Ukraine. Not only did this put friends I had made in Ukraine in grave danger, but it also suggested that life for those I knew in Russia was about to become much more difficult as their government cracked down on dissent and the country was further sanctioned by the world system—an acknowledgement missing from much early coverage of the escalation.

At the same time, knowing people on both sides led to significant dissonance. On the one hand, I was checking in over WhatsApp with people I knew in Ukraine, but felt immobilized in my inability to provide any meaningful assistance. What does one say to people who are spending their time building bomb shelters in the basement of apartment buildings?

On the other, I wasn’t sure if I should broach the subject of the war with my Russian friends—or if I was prepared to hear their thoughts on it. As the humanitarian crisis ballooned, many celebrated how neighboring East European nations were opening their borders to Ukrainians seeking refuge at the same time that others criticized these same countries for their uneven treatment of refugees, and especially refugees of color. Although I agree that these discriminatory immigration policies are problematic, I was also troubled by the ways that these conversations seemed to invite the comparability of suffering.

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Once their concepts were finalized, it was time for students to enter The Shark Tank. Presenting to a group of Windward and non-Windward adults, the culmination of the project allowed students the chance to present to a real world audience.

Even though our Sharks did not invest any actual money in the ideas, they gave specific feedback about each toy and presentation to the group.

“I definitely enjoyed the project and found that I had learned a lot from it. I learned design thinking skills, public speaking skills, and how to present a product efficiently to investors. My favorite part was making my product. I was making a board game about math, and spent a lot of time in the CREATE Studio designing and creating it. I really enjoyed getting to use my imagination to make a board game, and learned a lot from it also,” said Hadley Makurath ‘28.

Hadley’s classmate Ella Brill ‘28 came up with her idea for a logic game by seeking inspiration and feedback from the Windward community including science teachers, math teachers, and her fellow peers.

She then used this guidance to curate her toy by combining several existing ideas into one unique and new concept. Ella particularly enjoyed this creative and flexible structure of the Shark Tank project.

“I believe that the out-of-the-box and creatively free nature of this project was what truly carried my interest and eagerness to play my best hand. It made for such a unique experience, allowing my peers and myself to express the ideas that we kind of keep locked away most of the time, stretching out my leadership as well as public speaking skills. Ultimately, the Shark Tank really allowed my confidence in myself and my ideas to grow greatly and the idea of a bunch of students pitching baby toys for even younger children to a panel of adults is one that made me realize that I don’t need to belittle my entrepreneurial thoughts, as they really are valid,” said Ella.

Students involved in the project were tasked with pitching their product in front of members of the Windward community, some of whom the students had never met before.

“I really loved the actual pitching of our ideas to the panel of 'sharks,' mainly because it felt like all our hard work was actually going somewhere instead of fading out like it usually does with all my past school projects. The fact that I could get up in front of six adults, some of which I had never met before, shows how much the Windward community and entrepreneurship class in general, has nurtured me into a more confident and well-spoken girl.

Not to mention it made me feel really legit, which was a super cool and new experience for me,” said Ella.

Emily Dawe, instructor and Associate Director of Middle School, was proud of the complex ideas and follow-through of our Middle School students. “Shark Tank gives budding entrepreneurs a real audience to pitch their ideas,” she shared. “Our students did an excellent job and our Sharks came away quite impressed!”

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VISUAL AND MEDIA ARTS

The Gold Standard Hot Off the Dress From News Rack to Runway

By Lorelei Toley ‘25

T

he first time I thought of making a newspaper dress was over the Summer. My dad had just brought in the paper, and I saw a very striking picture of Simone Biles on the front page. I thought to myself, “I could collect these.” The idea started formulating, and as soon as I walked into Interdisciplinary Studio 1 art class on the first day of school, I had an idea formed. I wanted to collect headlines and pictures from newspapers and create a collage in the form of a dress. My idea changed a lot throughout the entire process. I had my first thought and throughout the entire process, I was still getting new ideas on how to improve it. There were a lot of stages when I never thought it would look how I wanted but when I saw the pictures, I felt like I was seeing what everyone else was.

The only newspaper my Dad subscribed to was the Wall Street Journal, and we got one per day. I knew I would need a lot if I was going to go through each page and select the things I wanted. I checked everywhere for places I could buy newspapers and eventually decided that I would just have to wait every day and collect them. When I first introduced the idea to my art teacher, 24 - V I S U A L A N D M E D I A A R T S

Tony de los Reyes, he was super supportive.

He helped me throughout the entire process and made it easier by enabling me to execute my ideas. I knew from the beginning that I wanted this dress to be wearable and not a sculpture you could look at. I wanted the sleeves to have a see-through fabric that I could put small strips of newspaper on top in a criss-cross format and have it look like they were wrapped around my arm. The challenging part would be that I would have to sew them inside out so the seam wouldn’t show. This meant that I would have to put the strips on first and turn them inside out after. Many practice sleeves later, I was able to successfully make two. After that, I had to sort through all the newspapers I had collected after all those weeks. There were so many pages and I was able to get so many great pictures and headlines. When the project was finished I was so proud of how far I had gotten.

When I got back to school after the Summer, the dress had just been sitting around. Tony de los Reyes was the first one to introduce the idea of a photoshoot. I really wanted to see my dress in an environment, and I thought it was a great idea. I was really ner-

vous when we landed on a date for the shoot because I had never fully tried on the dress before. This would be the first time I would be seeing the dress on myself and I was so scared it wouldn’t look good. When we got to Union Station in Downtown LA, I put the dress on and walked out of the bathroom.

When everyone saw it they said it looked great, but I didn’t really believe them until I saw the first photo. I saw how cool it looked, and I think I was seeing it through someone else's eyes. Hannah Northenor, the photographer shooting the dress, kept smiling every time she looked at the pictures and it made me feel so much better. She was very encouraging and kept getting so many ideas for what to do and how to make the dress look the best it could be. I had spent so many months on it that I had started to become sick of it. I was so surprised to see how much it was brought to life. Everyone at the station was so supportive and made me feel great about what I had done. I was so excited to see the final photos, and when I did, I was so happy with how they turned out. This experience was so amazing and I will always look back on it with kind eyes.

C

ongratulations to this year's Gold Key Scholastic Art Award Winners. The Scholastic Art Awards (SAA) competition, a prestigious nationwide contest championed by the Alliance of Young Artists and Writers, shines a spotlight on burgeoning artists in grades 7-12 with an emphasis on graduating Seniors. This year, Windward students took home 12 Gold Key awards.

The Scholastic Art Awards are the longest running, most prestigious competition and largest source of scholarships for creative teenagers in the United States. Congratulations to all students who received awards!

Scan the QR Code to view all Scholastic Art Award winners.

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VISUAL AND MEDIA ARTS

Bright Futures Ahead for Windward Film Students

Podcasts in the Classroom Performing Arts and Visual and Media Arts Departments Collaborate on Student Podcast Series

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he Windward Media Arts and Film Lab program has seen some exciting developments in the past year. In 2022, five Seniors were accepted into several highly competitive film programs such as Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, the School of Cinematic Arts at University of Southern California, and University of California Berkeley's Department of Film & Media. Many of these students' films were accepted to the All American Film Festival, the largest high school film festival in the United States. The largely celebrated festival took place in New York City in October 2022 where film teacher Regina Hoffman met up with Windward alumni who are currently attending Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. Screenings took place at the AMC Theater in Time Square and an awards ceremony wrapped up the weekend at the Kings Theater in Brooklyn. In total, an unprecedented 11 Windward films were selected for the All American High School Film festival.

The MAFL Film program continues to grow with new initiatives happening this year. The Film 3-4 class has two on-location film shoots scheduled for the 2022-23 school year. Each student gets to experience a real-world set with specific crew jobs and a tight deadline.

Film students are also collaborating with advanced theater actors in the performing arts program at Windward. In a special cross-department collaboration, students were divided into three crews to film scenes from The Breakfast Club with the Acting Techniques & Scene Study class. Jordan Fox, Drue Metz, and Regina Hoffman oversaw a group of film students and actors who filmed scenes on campus.

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indward’s 2021-22 Intro to Acting course had a vocal unit that led to the creation of five original student-produced podcasts. The class conceptualized, wrote, recorded, and audio edited the original podcasts. After recording, the class collaborated with Windward’s Graphic Design 1 & 2 class to create original cover artwork to go with each podcast. The Acting students became clients to the Graphic Design students and pitched their podcasts. The end result was an incredible collaborative project across both Performing Arts and Visual and Media Arts. You can see the artwork and hear the podcasts on Spotify.

The students involved were very appreciative to receive support from mentor Drue Metz and teachers Natasha Arnold and Jeff Miller.

The project encouraged the students to produce content that was a little outside their comfort zones as they tackled topics such as music, sports, and teen mental health. Carter Mitchell ‘25 particularly enjoyed working on the project, which was near and dear to her heart for several reasons.

"At first I was really scared of sharing my life experiences and stories because I was afraid it was going to make other people uncomfortable, but the thing is all of these experiences were making ME uncomfortable. By not talking about it I was allowing it to fester, but during this project I realized I owe it to myself and to every other person struggling with these same issues to be the truest and most authentic person I can be,” said Carter.

The MAFL Showcase at the AERO Theater on May 21, 2023, will highlight many of the projects that are being worked on this year by the film and animation students. Student work is eligible for film/animation category awards as well as the coveted Shirley Spirit Award. Shirley Windward, a forward-thinking poet, artist, teacher, and activist, encouraged the community to “Shake The World.” Every year, the MAFL faculty honor students who have demonstrated dedication to the craft of storytelling, filmmaking, and collaboration.

BEATS AND LYRICS Podcast Hosts - Cole Kaller and Abby Ribokoff / Graphic Design - Andy Yu, Charlie Van Hook, Santiago Del Rio TWISTED CHILDHOOD Podcast Hosts - Luke Hanna, Dani Benudiz and Gavin Hightower / Graphic Design - Jet Jadeja, Chloé Andrieux-Amadeï I DISAGREE Podcast Hosts - Jace Kaplan, Dori Farkas, Zac Silletti / Graphic Design - Kai Musk, Max Bridwell HIS GAME HER GAME Podcast Hosts - Zach Goldstein and Nina Antoni / Graphic Design - Annie Swiller, Misha Sharif KINDA LOSING IT Podcast Hosts - Carter Mitchell, Tabby Green and Natalie Behrendt / Graphic Design - Alex Pearl, Max Cohen

Scan the QR Code to listen to all five student podcasts.

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D I V E R S I T Y, E Q U I T Y, I N C L U S I O N , A N D B E L O N G I N G

SHARING THEIR VOICE

Windward’s Community Conversations Series

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ast Spring, Windward made the important decision to add another pillar to its ongoing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiative—Belonging. As a way of creating and cultivating that shared space, Windward’s DEIB team kicked off the 2022-23 school year with a five-part speaker series titled “Community Conversations.” These special sessions invited guests from all walks of life—Windward parents, faculty and staff, and community members—to speak candidly to Prep and Collegiate Division students on their own unique experiences and what it means to belong.

The series is part of the DEIB department’s mission to ensure that every community member on campus feels seen, heard, valued, and possesses a true sense of belonging. The conversation series is a way of nurturing a sense of belonging amongst students and others by listening to and learning from all perspectives in the community.

From discussing the links that bind in our Hispanic Heritage and Black History month conversations, to opening up regarding the increased struggle of antisemitism, antiblackness, and the rise of hate, these community conversations allowed for a safe space to discuss topics challenging, meaningful, and enlightening.

“I’ve had so many people share with me how moved they were by stories of our community members,” said Roger Bridges, Assistant Head of School for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. “The feelings of connection and a sense of what it means to belong were so present in every room and grew exponentially over the course of the series.”

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“Adding the concept of Belonging this year has been an important touchpoint for increased collaboration not only amongst faculty, staff, and students, but families as well,” Roger continued. “Parent and guardian engagement and participation in school life has really ballooned this year.

My partners and I in the DEIB department have been inspired and encouraged by

how many of our community members— students, faculty, staff, and parents alike— have reached out to us to share positive feedback and constructive feedback on new and ongoing initiatives, as well as new ideas for connection and community building. A common refrain has been ‘... what can I do to help?’”

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OUR STORIES, OUR COMMUNITY

D I V E R S I T Y, E Q U I T Y, I N C L U S I O N , A N D B E L O N G I N G

Students, faculty, parents, and alumni shared their stories of identity, culture, and belonging as part of Windward’s keystone DEIB event

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n October 18, Windward witnessed the return of a favorite community gathering—Tales at the Table. Part of our ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, Tales at the Table is an all-ages, all community family affair centered around community, acceptance, and shared fellowship.

spective about the challenges we face addressing hate speech and discrimination in all its forms.

The evening featured amazing personal stories from students, parents, alumni, and faculty—breaking bread and sharing stories with the intent of further fostering a sense of belonging among the community.

Following a delicious meal of assorted multi-cultural dishes courtesy of the CulinArt team, the speakers spoke freely of their own personal experiences with culture, identity, perception, and their place in the Windward community.

It was also a tremendous honor to hear from keynote speaker, Rabbi Jaclyn Cohen of Temple Isaiah in West Los Angeles. A proud alumna of Windward School (Class of 2002), Jaclyn was active in theater and music, participating in multiple singing groups and musical theater productions throughout high school. She graduated from UC Davis with a degree in Religious Studies and Music and continued on to seminary, where she was ordained by the Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion in 2014. She shared her per-

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The night served as both a tribute to individuality and a reminder of shared responsibility, deepening the incredible sense of togetherness Windwardians feel on campus every day.

As always, an event like this wouldn’t be possible without the amazing Windward community. A special thanks to the many individuals who helped to make this year’s event the best yet and to the guest speakers for sharing their poignant stories with the community.

Tales at the Table Guest Speakers Rabbi Jaclyn Cohen (Class of 2002) Hudson Brown ‘23 Truman Pauley ‘23 Jun Oh (Windward Parent) Asha Franciso (Windward Faculty) James Sainz (Windward Faculty) Jasmine Blevins ‘17

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D I V E R S I T Y, E Q U I T Y, I N C L U S I O N , A N D B E L O N G I N G

THE TIES THAT BIND HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH From September 15-October 15, Windward celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month, a national celebration to honor the history, culture and influence of past and present generations whose ancestry is tied to Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The School honored Hispanic and Latino/Latinx community members and the contributions of their ancestors through Windward's new community conversations series. Special thanks also goes out to the Latino/Latinx Student affinity group and Windward’s amazing parent volunteers for hosting several lunchtime events throughout the month on the Bridge.

“It was a great experience to play a role in bringing multiple members of the Windward community together, to contribute in highlighting and recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month,” said Collegiate Coordinator Jocelyn Castillo.

Roger Bridges, Assistant Head of School for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), added, "In terms of our observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, our (DEIB Team) goal was multilayered. First and foremost, we wanted to amplify the voices of our Hispanic/Latino/Latinx community—students, faculty/ staff, and parents alike. Secondly, we wanted to provide times and spaces wherein our entire community, through the simple acts of storytelling and sharing of food, learn more about the lived experiences of people they share space with every day. Last but not least, we wanted to empower our Hispanic/Latino/Latinx community members to show off their cultures and commemorate the month in a way that felt authentic to them. The feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive and inspirational!”

As part of Windward's commitment to providing an open, nurturing campus for all students, parents, and faculty, the School regularly hosts events to showcase and honor all members of our community. On-campus events are an integral part of Windard’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiative as they are a way to unite the entire Windward community and celebrate different cultures, lived experiences, and perspectives. In the Fall, Windward students, faculty, and parents hosted several lunchtime celebrations on the Bridge as part of the ongoing work of the School’s DEIB initiative to ensure that all community members feel seen, heard, valued, and possess a true sense of belonging.

NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY On October 11, the Windward community came together to commemorate National Coming Out Day by taking part in a lunchtime celebration on the Bridge. Participants in the day shared stories, perused educational resources, added pronoun/identity stickers and labels to the identity board, and crafted identity bracelets.

Windward is proud to support our LGBTQIA+ students as well as nurture students to grow in their allyship. There are currently three forums that directly advance this effort: SAGA Club (Sexuality and Gender Alliance) is open to all members of the community, including cisgender and straight allies to gather and actively support the LGBTQIA+ community. This club is a safe space to discuss LGBTQIA+ history, activism, and plan community events.

SPECTRUM is a casual hang out space for students to gather and make connections among other students who identify within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, asexual, aromantic, agender, nonbinary, or other identities within the LGBTQIA+ community.

Affinity Groups Unlike clubs, affinity groups meet during a scheduled part of the school day. Students self-identify to join a group to explore identity issues related to their gender and sexuality.

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DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a time to remember and honor those who have departed. Celebrated on November 1 ( for children) and November 2 ( for adults) throughout Mexico and much of Latin America, it is said that on the holiday, the spirits of the dead return home for the night to visit their loved ones and are welcomed with their favorite food, drinks, music or activities they loved.

Many people celebrate this day by visiting the graves of deceased loved ones and setting up altars with their favorite foods, drinks, and photos.

HANUKKAH CELEBRATION Hanukkah (also spelled “Chanukah”) is an eight-day winter “festival of lights,” which begins each year on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev. On December 12, Windward parents and faculty collaborated with the School’s DEIB team to host a celebration on the Bridge in honor of Hanukkah, which served as an excellent opportunity for students to gain cultural awareness and celebrate diversity at Windward and the wider community.

In honor of Día de los Muertos, Windward's Hispanic Heritage affinity group set up an altar by the Bright Commons area. Also featuring student-designed skulls created in Tony de los Reyes' Studio Art class, students and all members of the community were invited to bring photos of deceased loved ones (including pets!) to place on the altar, as well as reflections about their loved ones who have passed. The celebration also included delicious Pan de Muerto and Sweet Corn Tamales!

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W E L L- B E I N G

BETTER TOGETHER

RESTORING YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH

2022 Leadership Conferences Make Welcome Return In keeping with tradition, Windward sent a cohort of representatives to the National Association of Independent Schools’ 2022 People of Color Conference (PoCC) and Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC), both of which took place November 30-December 3 in San Antonio, TX. These were the first largescale, in-person conferences since the pandemic began three years ago.

P

oCC and SDLC are separate conferences that are held simultaneously with a joint opening session and joint closing assembly. The conferences serve as opportunities for independent school community members to learn about the importance of equity and inclusion in school communities, explore and celebrate their own identities, and learn about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging practices that could support their respective communities in creating and nurturing more welcoming and inclusive school environments. This year’s SDLC conference themed, We The People: Leveraging Our Community to Preserve Our Humanity, served as a multiracial, multicultural gathering of Upper School student leaders from across the U.S. focused on self-reflecting, forming allies, and building community.

The NAIS PoCC is the flagship of the National Association of Independent Schools’ commitment to equity and justice in teaching, learning, and sustainability for independent schools. This annual con-

ference is designed to give BIPOC faculty, staff, and administrators who historically have found themselves in the minority in independent schools a rare and muchneeded opportunity to learn and fellowship in a majority environment.

Over the past five years, PoCC has grown enormously. More than 7,800 adults and students from independent schools across the country gathered to learn, collaborate, and support one another. This year’s PoCC was themed Reunited in Purpose: Elevating Our Worth, Our Agency, and Our Excellence.

Windward’s faculty and students had a positive response to their experience at the conferences. A group of nine Windward faculty and students participated in the conference, which was designed to create a "safe space for leadership and professional development and networking for people of color and allies of all backgrounds in independent schools.”

Said Collegiate Coordinator Jocelyn Castillo of her first PoCC conference, “As a first

STRATEGIES FOR CONNECTION AND CARE

time POCC attendee, I learned a lot about what it means to be a person of color navigating spaces that aren't always built for us. Being first generation, I have often found myself in environments that have led me to feel conflicted with my identity.

While I thought I was the only one facing these struggles, I quickly learned that was not the case. One of the workshops I attended specifically focused on identity through the lenses of Latino/x folks. At the end of the workshop I was able to take away just how complex identity is. In conversation with the students who attended POCC, it was noticeable that they too were inspired by the conversations they heard surrounding identity."

Scan the QR Code to view a video recap of this year’s conference.

Students and faculty attend in-person Challenge Success Conference for the first time in three years

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ne of the core elements of the Windward experience its our nurturing, supportive community. For a decade, Windward has worked with Stanford University’s Challenge Success program, implementing its strategies that promote well-being and engagement so that all members of the Windward community can lead healthy and balanced lives.

Each year, schools from across the country bring a team to the Challenge Success Conference with the idea that the work they’ve completed at the conference will continue when the cohort returns to school. This year’s conference, titled Restoring Youth Mental Health: Strategies for Connection and Care, took place on September 16 at Stanford University. Attendees included Windward administrators, faculty, and students: Erin Borgstrom, Emily Dawe, Emily Miner, Sarah Musich, Justine Ludden ‘23, Audrey Ku ‘25, and Zoe Marcus ‘25.

The group returned feeling inspired with lots of ideas they might implement under the challenge success umbrella. A highlight for the group was the conference’s keynote and session talk by Lynn Lyons, who writes and speaks about anxiety, especially for teens.

“We hope to find a way to connect this work with the college admissions process and how we talk with parents about that anxiety-provoking process,” said Emily Dawe, Associate Director of Middle School.

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Challenge Success Reflections Justine Ludden ‘23 What was it like attending the conference this year in-person?

The conference was so exciting especially as we are slowly leaving the pandemic. I had previously attended two virtual conferences and heard many informative speakers lead seminars, but having in-person lectures and workshops was incredibly insightful!

Why is this type of work important for the students and community of Windward?

A lot of people don't realize this, but Challenge Success helped motivate a lot of the changes within the School regarding mental wellness including adding Wednesday late start, seminar, and a block schedule. All of these initiatives are ones that the Windward community relies upon on a daily basis, and I think they have helped students get the most out of their learning environment.

Are there any key takeaways from the conference that you hope to implement at Windward?

I have learned so much from the conference that I am looking forward to implementing in not only Windward but my own life since returning.

Creating a space for students to decompress and equipping students to be able to identify and handle anxiety with tactics brought up at the conference I think are especially important to share with the rest of the community, including the predictable ways in which stress affects people. I believe understanding the ways in which anxiety manifests can help students' abilities to manage it with concrete tools.

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W E L L- B E I N G

RETURN TO RETREATS AND TRIPS W

indward Retreats enable students, administrators, and faculty to engage in activities and conversations that connect to Windward’s development as a community. Through exposure to a wide range of activities and experiences, students are engaged in physical, intellectual, and emotional challenges aimed at expanding their potential as lifelong learners and as global citizens.

The 2022-23 school year kicked off with off-campus retreats for the 7th, 9th, and 12th Grades. As part of their back-to-school Senior week, the Class of 2023 was treated to a two-day retreat in Los Angeles that included a trip to the LA River, during which they engaged in environmental impact research, and a visit to 36 - W E L L - B E I N G

the Santa Monica Pier. The retreat was a great opportunity for students to further deepen their bonds with one another as they entered their last year of high school.

Taking place at the Bruin Woods UCLA Conference Center at scenic Lake Arrowhead, the Class of 2028 September retreat featured a number of fun, team-building activities for our 7th Grade students to enjoy. From group sports like swimming, basketball, tennis, volleyball, and the 7th Grade Class Olympics to afterhours events such as a class talent show and traditional campfire gathering, our students were up for everything thrown at them.

Of course, no obstacle proved as challenging as the fan-favorite UCLA Conference Center Ropes Course. Suspended high in

the air, the ropes course offers a series of supervised outdoor problem-solving activities that promote a combination of teamwork skills and individual commitment. Our students showed elements of trust, support, and communication in completing the course, and it was again a highlight for all involved!

Windward’s retreat for the 9th Grade offers a unique experience for students to connect, grow, and develop individually and within their peer groups as they move through their high school careers. The 9th Grade kicked off the 2022-23 school year with a three-day September retreat at Camp Ramah in beautiful Ojai, CA. All activities were co-designed by the Prep Division administrators and Fulcrum Adventures. Activities ranged from reflec-

tion to team building with scaffolded challenges and new opportunities for students, including ropes courses, archery, hiking, and swimming. This two-night retreat is part of a larger picture of inclusion at Windward as these off-campus activities allow for more time for students to learn to support and trust each other.

This year also marked the return of Windward's East Coast College Trip, a favorite among Windward students. For an entire week, Juniors toured several East Coast college campuses such as Columbia, NYU, Dartmouth, and Yale and were able to connect with Windward alums at respective campuses.

Our 8th Graders are eagerly awaiting the return of Minimester in April.

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W E L L- B E I N G

CLUB SPOTLIGHT FASHION CLUB

MATHLETES

Club Co-Presidents: Sam Snow ‘24 and Cece Terpening ‘25 Faculty Adviser: Hannah Northenor, Photography Teacher

Club President: Charlie Van Hook ‘23 Faculty Adviser: Patrick Friel, Math Teacher

Fashion Club Members:

Mathlete Members:

Caroline Alber Sofia Armon Olivia Atterberry Jemma Beardmore Maddie Bridge Ella Brill Tammy Clem Noe Cohen Charlotte Cope Cayden Dickstein Jacob Essey

Lily Feld Hudson Firestone Natalia Fishkin Pearl Furst Samantha Gardner Lilly Gottlieb Sutton Greenberg Lucy Gutkin Haley Hansen Emma Harris Daley Hartnack

Malia Heenan Laurel Hinds Josie Hoeber Maya Hsu Elizabeth Hurwitz Naomi Ignacio Sunday Kelly Jordan Kim Kaleo Knight Tamar Koren Pinto Téa Koudsi

Sophia Lehmann Marielle Lerner Lola Lugash Ava Marashi Lucy Matuszak Georgia Miller Emmy Morton Miguel Muniz Lexi Neiman Kayla Nickerson Ione Pappas

Channing Pauley Ansel Perrette Anna Perttula Celine Peyka Alyse Pitts Kathleen Powell Josephine Reitman Shylee Ravid Jordan Roth Soraya Sabine Julianna Samarge

Sophia Schuman Ava Schwartzberg Sammy Silver Phoebe Slatkin Ava Sokol Marianna Stasinos Phoebe Swartz Lily Tyler Maya Zipkin

Natalie Behrendt Max Cohen Austin Kim Tilly LaPaglia Connor Molinski

Henry Nieves Jude St. John Kilian Taylor Charlie Van Hook Stanley Zhou

Q & A with the Co-Presidents of Fashion Club, Sam Snow ‘24 and Cece Terpening ‘25 How did you come up with the idea for a Fashion Club at Windward?

Fashion Club was originally started in 2021 by alums Mia Ricanati '22 and Abbie O'Connor '22. This year, we wanted to combine our love for all things fashion with the ability to educate our community and inspire individual expression. Although this club is administered by us, Sam and Cece, it is truly the members that make this club so successful and fun to run.

What is the goal and purpose of your club?

Our purpose of the Fashion Club is to create a safe, welcoming environment for students and faculty (who are among our members!) to come together and partake in all things fashion.

Our main goals for the club this year is to integrate guest speakers, community service, and projects for our members to participate in! So far, Mary Alice Haney, a celebrity stylist and fashion enthusiast, has already come to speak to our club to discuss her career! We plan to host a student-run, on-campus thrift store to raise money for two nonprofits based in Los Angeles that support unprivileged communities!

Can you tell us more about what it was like having celebrity stylist Mary Alice Haney come speak to your club?

Having Mary come and speak to our club was such an awesome experience that we will never forget! One of the most inspiring parts about her visit was the interactions she had with students after her presentation, many of whom were interested in pursuing a career in fashion.

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What is your favorite part about leading this club?

Our favorite part of this club is definitely seeing the individual expression of all of our members and being able to be a part of their comfortability and confidence!

Any tips for other students who want to start a club at Windward?

Cece: Find your people! There will always be someone who shares your interests and all you have to do is reach out, inspire others, and have fun!

Sam: Be bold, get the community involved, and have fun!

Q & A with Club President, Charlie Van Hook ‘23 What led you to initially get involved with the Mathletes?

How has the club changed since then?

I was initially interested in joining Mathletes in Middle School.

Mr. How was my teacher, and he introduced me to the team and signed me up. I then joined the high school team because I had enjoyed the competitions.

What does the club entail? Is it more study based, or is there a competition element?

The club hasn’t changed too much except for the competitions we compete in and the skills we work on.

How has being a part of the program shaped your Windward experience?

The club is a great place to sit down and just focus on math.

There have been several times when I had a stressful test the following period, and the high energy meetings helped to distract me. I also found many friends in older grades that I have been able to talk to and get college advice from.

For you specifically, do you see math as an interest, a college major/career path, or all of the above?

I plan on using math in my professional career; I want to go into mechanical engineering. I also plan on continuing my calculus journey into experimenting with vectors and multiple dimensions.

What would you say to students looking to get more out of math, either at Windward or beyond?

Beyond the formulas and the algorithms, math teaches you to problem solve, more so than any class we offer. As such I would give the advice that someone who doesn’t feel they are gaining anything from math or feels stuck behind the numbers and variables, just know that you are learning by failing, and the skills of problem solving will help in every subject and industry.

W I N D W A R D M A G A Z I N E - 39

ATHLETICS

LEARNING TO LEAD How did your partnership with Windward come to be?

I met Tyrone Powell, Director of Athletics, in the Summer of 2016 when he came to Philadelphia to attend a National Coaches Leadership Institute that I was running with a friend. On the last day of the Institute, Tyrone said, “I will be bringing you to California soon.” He did the following August, and every August since.

What types of culture building exercises do you engage in with Windward Athletics to ensure culture is thriving by intention and not just existing by default?

The process has been a long and evolving one, which started with the Athletic Leadership team going through a process of deciding “what matters most?” The process of establishing core values, or what matters most, has been front and center. It takes a while to really solidify and land with these values. From here, I use a model of four questions—Tyrone now calls them Pam’s BFQ’s.

First, they ask members of the department to look at these values and ask

“what do they look like in action?”

Second, how will we know if a student or teacher is living these values?

The third question is: what makes it challenging? This is the part that is real life and where many people stop the work.

We want to be “collaborative” because it is a value, and it is hard to collaborate with my peers because I want it done my way, or there just isn’t time, or a myriad of other reasons. I like to say that a core value doesn’t become less important because it is challenging—this all leads to the fourth question, which is: “What are the tools and strategies needed to address the challenge?”

ters most. One of my go-to lines is that “leadership requires skills, and those skills need to be identified, taught, and practiced like any other skill!” Some of the important skills are: self-awareness, empathy, communication, and motivation. Good leaders are also good readers.

Leaders read body language, rooms, positions of power, etc.

From here, you begin to build routines, rituals, and traditions to reinforce these values. It is an ongoing process, or it should be. A default culture vs an intentional culture will take over pretty quickly unless this work is consistent and becomes sticky.

Why Does How You Lead Matter?

Like successful cultures, successful leaders are intentional. They understand why they do what they do and what mat-

COMMITTING TO ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE Hard work pays off ! On November 9, Windward’s Senior scholar-athletes signed on the dotted line at the Fall Athletic Commitment Ceremony. The event allowed the School, as well as parents, coaches, and peers, to honor the achievements of our scholar-athletes as they prepare to take the next step in their athletic and educational careers.

40 - A T H L E T I C S

Pam Herath is a skilled facilitator with a rich career in coaching and teaching. She has led hundreds of dynamic workshops, seminars, and keynote addresses in sports and academic arenas, with special expertise in leadership, culture, diversity, and wellness. We sat down with Pam to learn more about her longstanding partnership with Windward’s Athletic department.

What is discussed at each of your four scholar-athlete workshops?

Intentional Culture Building: What matters most, what does it look like,

what makes it hard to do, and what are the

strategies necessary to address challenges.

Communication Strategies: Active listening, communication styles (direct

vs indirect), difficult conversations. Always

asking the Big Four Questions.

My Role As A Leader: Do you know your job if you are a titled leader?

What are the leadership opportunities if you are

a non-titled leader? What are your strengths

and areas for growth? How can you grow the

necessary skills?

Being A Great TEAMmate: Very similar to “what does effective leadership

look like,” they decide and discuss what a great

teammate looks like. I then have them assess

the qualities and characteristics they possess

and those they would like to improve upon.

How have you seen Windward’s Athletic Department grow and evolve throughout your years working with us?

The primary area where Windward has grown is in alignment. The majority of coaches understand what matters most to the department and are able to live those values and espouse them with their scholar-athletes. I have also seen less veteran

coaches stepping into formal and informal positions of leadership due to the consistency of messaging and ownership.

Is there anything else you’d like to share regarding your partnership with Windward over the years?

I am so appreciative of the trust that Tyrone has placed in me and my work.

Windward is like a family, and I truly feel

like a valued member of the community (this has been intentional on Tyrone’s part!). His commitment to this most valuable work is seen in his actions and the consistent nature of growing himself and the department. Finally, his commitment to the entire Windward community is obvious, and he has provided me as a resource for folks in tech, the arts, and the Dean’s office. He is a true servant leader.

Great job Wildcats— We look forward to following your college athletic careers at the following institutions:

Skye Belker Princeton - Basketball Truman Pauley Harvard - Baseball Kamran Naficy Bard- Baseball Will Matuszak UCSB - Baseball W I N D W A R D M A G A Z I N E - 41

ATHLETICS

UPPER

SCHOOL

By Windward Athletics

indward Girls Tennis had another successful season with a 6-5 record, qualifying for the CIF Playoffs. Unfortunately, we lost the first round to Archer in a close battle, 8-10. Senior Skye Belker went 29-0 in season matches and 31-1 overall record after making it to the third round of CIF Individual Playoffs while managing her basketball season. Elodie Milchan’25 and Maggie Goldsmith ‘25 finished 4th in the Gold Coast League Doubles Playoff Tournament after a 13-4 record for the season.

The Windward Girls Golf team was proud to be a part of the inaugural season for the sport in the Gold Coast League. Led by five Seniors, the squad brought great spirit to the course each match. Their love of the game is sure to continue beyond graduation!

T

he Windward Cheer team had a fantastic season and brought all things spirit to campus! Both the JV and Varsity teams came together on the field to support our Football team. We had a very exciting Homecoming performance with all 30 team members performing a routine choreographed by Senior Hugo Miller at the Pep Rally. The Cheer program also welcomed professional cheerleader Mia Robertson onto our coaching staff. Mia is a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Rams and we are very lucky to have her!

T

he Windward Girls Volleyball team had a great season with our primary focus on building team camaraderie and culture. We battled against all Gold Coast league opponents while sweeping Brentwood at home. Shout out to our Seniors Jasie Belden and Anna Jones for earning All-League. The growth this team had on and off the court was tremendous, and we are looking forward to getting back into the gym this Summer!

Windward Football had a successful and rewarding season. Although we endured many unusual challenges early in the season, we fought to a 2-3 record and a #19 ranking in California Southern Section, according to Max Preps. Athletes Nicky Ketcham ‘23, Max Bridwell ‘24, and Cooper Feldstein ‘24 all received All-Prep League honors.

42 - A T H L E T I C S

W

W

indward Boys Beach Volleyball had a fabulous season; the squad’s skills, knowledge and love of the game has grown exponentially!

We finished 3rd in league and the Varsity pairs took a tough, but hard fought loss to Redondo Union in the 1st round of playoffs.

W I N D W A R D M A G A Z I N E - 43

ATHLETICS

W

MIDDLE W

indward’s 7th Grade Royal Girls Volleyball team had an awesome season full of growth! We began with a lot of scholar-athletes brand new to the sport, and by the end of the season they really came together as a team to play some great volleyball. Not only that, but a number of players have now decided to play club volleyball and continue to learn and grow in the sport which is very exciting! We had a pretty good showing during league play and ended up making the playoffs. Unfortunately, we had to face a pretty tough team in the first round and ended up losing.

However, they put up a great fight and took it to an exciting 3 sets with Marlowe Kline ‘28 leading the way in aces from the service line.

Windward’s 8th Grade Girls Volleyball team was quite impressive with an undefeated record while only dropping two sets all season, and capped off a championship 2022 campaign! The growth, dedication, and joy for the game empowered these young people to shine! Highlights include a comeback victory on the road against St. Paul the Apostle. Shout out to 7th Grade scholar athlete, Lucy Matuszak’28 in her debut match from injury, helped serve us on a 5-pt run to a 15-13, 3-set victory! And in the finals with leadership setting by 8th Grade scholar-athlete Cora Seabold ’27, we collectively stayed composed to beat St Paul again, 15-8 to complete the season on a high note!

44 - A T H L E T I C S

SCHOOL

indward Middle School Cross Country had a wonderful fall season with lots of improvement from all the scholar athletes. With only four returning 8th Graders and many first time runners, the theme of the season was growth and development which culminated with nine of the 13 runners achieving their PRs in the Pacific Basin League Finals! One of those nine, Kaj Kosinski ’28, finished 8th out of nearly 100 runners with a 12:48 race time! The 8th Graders are looking forward to stepping into the High School XC program and the 7th Graders are eager to build on the growth from this past season!

I

t was another banner year for both Windward's Boys and Girls Cross Country teams, with sustained group and individual success. The Girls team finished 3rd at Gold Coast League Finals, qualifying for CIF Prelims where they finished 8th in their heat. Monica Kusserow '25 earned a spot on the GCL All-League 2nd Team with her 11th place finish at Gold Coast League Finals.

The Boys team had another historic season finishing 2nd at Gold Coast League Finals, 3rd at CIF-SS Finals, and 11th at CIF State Championships in Fresno. Van Lindelof ‘25 and Kyler Zanuck ‘25 earned spots on the Gold Coast League All-League First team finishing 2nd and 5th respectively, while David Estrada ‘25 earned a spot on the Gold Coast Leagure All-League 2nd Team with his 9th Place finish.

Windward Middle School Girls Tennis had a successful season finishing with a 4-1 regular season record and reaching the semifinals of the Gold Coast Playoffs before losing a tough fought battle with Geffen Academy by game total. The team sent Ranya Toubassy ‘27 and Lenya Naraghi ‘27 to the individual tournament for singles and Harper Kilstein ‘27/Zoe Richman ‘27 and Mikaella Kawahito ‘28/Sylvie Bright ‘28 for doubles. Everyone won at least one match with Ranya losing a heartbreaker in the semifinals and Zoe and Harper also losing in the semifinals.

Windward’s Middle School Flag Football teams also enjoyed great success this Fall. The 7th Grade Royal team advanced to the playoff semifinals where it faced Crossroads, the eventual league champion. Windward held this offensive power to only six points, but was unable to crack the end zone despite multiple times making it into the red zone. This talented group of players will be tough to beat next year.

The 8th Grade Royal team showed a lot of grit and determination this season. They avenged a regular season loss against Crossroads in the semifinals of the playoffs, and advanced to the championship game. They dropped a hard-fought game to St. Matthews in the championship, 14-12.

Congratulations ‘Cats on an amazing season!

W I N D W A R D M A G A Z I N E - 45

SERVICE LEARNING

'T

is the season for giving back! This past November, Windward had the opportunity and pleasure to once again partner with Allies for Every Child. This year, the Windward community came together to provide families in need with Thanksgiving meals that they could enjoy from the comfort and safety of their own homes.

90 Windward families contributed to this amazing cause by way of creating gift baskets filled with non-perishables for Thanksgiving Dinner and/or donating gift cards to help support Allies families. Windward's Baseball team then helped load up the baskets for our incredible parent volunteers to deliver. It was a true team effort!

Food for Thanks

Ashley Goodman, Director of Service Learning, said “This annual tradition is one of my favorites at Windward.

We are told every year how much of an impact that this makes on families in the Allies community, and they are very grateful for the continued support of the Windward community.”

Windward Partners With Allies for Every Child For Thanksgiving Meals

46 - S E R V I C E L E A R N I N G

W I N D W A R D M A G A Z I N E - 47

SERVICE LEARNING

Kicks and Cocoa G

iving Tuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical generosity created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, it has grown into a yearround global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.

Windward Supports Giving Tuesday movement with Shoe Drive supporting local charities To show support for Giving Tuesday, Windward’s Service Learning department teamed up with McLain Larson ‘27 and Michael Cohen ‘27 for a “Kicks and Cocoa” shoe donation event. The shoe drive took place on November 30 and December 1 on the Bridge, and the Windward community was asked to bring in one pair of new or slightly used sneakers in exchange for enjoying cookies and cocoa. The shoes were later donated to local partner organizations Headstart, Upward Bound, and Holly Grove.

“I was so proud of all the hard work that the students put into this event. From the creation of the idea, the leg work of finding and picking charities, to packing all of the items and delivering the shoes. They did a great job, and as always, the community showed up strong and brought hundreds of shoes that will be put to good use,” said Director of Service Learning Ashley Goodman.

Spreading Holiday Cheer I

t was an honor to once again partner with PATH for Windward’s 2022 Holiday Toy Event. Windward families were matched up with PATH families and in turn were able to provide gifts for 75 PATH families to make their holidays brighter.

On December 14, Windward families came together to wrap their gifts and assemble holiday treats on the Bridge. The treat bags included a handwritten card of support and holiday cheer.

PATH created a Holiday Wish List Help to families and individuals celebrate the holidays. Essential items such as shampoo, razors, and body wash and toys and clothing were the most requested items from PATH families.

PATH’s mission is to end homelessness for individuals, families, and communities throughout California.

48 - S E R V I C E L E A R N I N G

W I N D W A R D M A G A Z I N E - 49

SERVICE LEARNING

Building Community Through Books

From Surf and Service to Combating Climate Change This past Fall, Jack Luirette ‘25 had the opportunity to participate in a Rustic Pathways Fellowship through Stanford University, which focuses on climate change and environmental sustainability. The fellowship was a transformative experience for Jack, one in which he acquired a wide range of skills which can in turn be used inside and outside the classroom.

We sat down with Jack to learn more about his experience and his ongoing efforts to keep local beaches clean.

How did you first become interested in climate change and environmental sustainability?

I took up surfing about three years ago, and I noticed how much pollution and trash there was in the water and on the sand.

How did you learn about this opportunity?

I went on a surf and service trip to Costa Rica last Summer with Rustic Pathways, and in the Fall was invited to apply for a Climate Leaders Fellowship they were hosting with Stanford University.

What was your favorite part about your experience?

My favorite part was hearing creative ideas and different methods of improving the environment and making the world a better place.

What was it like learning beside like-minded high school students from across the world working on the same project?

Part of the fellowship was weekly Zoom meetings with students all over the world who had a similar goal. It was great to connect and realize that we were in totally different physical environments, living different lives, and still had a lot in common.

50 - S E R V I C E L E A R N I N G

This project was designed to help the climate and change the environment for the better, and something that was important to me was the pollution on the beaches. It became clear to me while doing the fellowship that I wanted to focus on the beach for my final project because it’s a place I spend a lot of time and it’s really relevant to our lives in Southern California.

When I surf, I always see how much trash there is in the water and on the beach, so I felt like I could make a difference by organizing this cleanup. The mentors guided me on how to promote and organize my project. They helped us make our ideas better and more precise and helped make them appealing to the audience we were promoting our projects to.

Why is the work surrounding climate change so important?

This work is important because if we don’t make changes now, it will impact us negatively for an indefinite amount of time in the future.

Any tips for other students who want to get involved in an experience like this?

Don’t be overwhelmed by the time commitment or how big it sounds on paper. It’s really much easier to get involved and find the time than you think.

W

indward Athletics creates opportunities for scholar-athletes to compete at the highest level while focusing on personal growth through character development, commitment to teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence. This year, the Athletic Department has been partnering with Windward’s Service Learning program to further scholar-athletes’ character development through community-driven service experiences.

On Saturday, February 4, Windward’s Baseball and Volleyball teams came together to partner with Access Books, a California-based non-profit that provides quality books to public school and community libraries, to refurbish a library at Lillian Street Elementary in South Los Angeles. The teams collected over 3,000 books for the library. The scholar-athletes had the opportunity to not only help their local community but also strengthen

their team bonds by completing a project together.

“We were first introduced to Access Books through Windward parent Kavita Amar, who is on the Board. We started this conversation three years ago, but the pandemic delayed us getting involved, hands-on with the project. I'm so glad that we continued the conversation and our scholar-athletes were able to take part. We are looking forward to bringing this opportunity to our entire Windward community and being able to support this amazing organization,” said Director of Service Learning Ashley Goodman.

Access Books has transformed over 300 public school libraries and donated over two million new, quality books to kids in historically underserved communities.

“Our scholar-athletes expressed an interest in Service Learning, and Ashley rec-

ommended Access Books, which connected us with Lillian Elementary School.

The project asked for 3,000 books to be donated to the school, and in partnership with Boys Volleyball, our families could exceed that number by a few thousand. It was great to see the collaboration between our two programs, Access Books and Lillian Elementary School. Watching the Saturday school children come and pick books to take home was priceless. Their school library had books from the 70s and 80s, and their local LA County Library has been closed since just before the pandemic and has not communicated a date when they will open,” said Director of Athletics Tyrone Powell. “I could not be more proud of our scholar-athletes and families' work to help increase access to books and promote reading for Lillian Elementary School.”

W I N D W A R D M A G A Z I N E - 51

F A C U LT Y A N D S TA F F

15

FACULTY AND STAFF

M I LE S T O N E S 2022

YEARS

2007 HIGHLIGHTS

– The Board of Trustees sets a campaign goal of $18 million and approves construction of the Science and Math Center and the Center for Teaching and Learning.

– The Annual Fund raises over $750,000.

5

Richard Bailey

YEARS

World Language Teacher, Global Scholars Mentor

Roger Bridges

Assistant Head of School for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Candice Chiang World Language Teacher

Julia Coley

Assistant Head of School, Director of Prep Division

Edgar Gonzalez Athletic Medicine

– Schedule is revamped to focus on student well-being.

Josh Holt

Tiffaney Hughes Math Teacher

Director of Counseling Services: Collegiate Division

Max Nishimura

Resident Tinkerer

Robin Pickett

Director of Windward Network, Assoc.

Director of Admissions

Michelle Richman

Associate Director of the CTL: Academic and Learning Support

2002 HIGHLIGHTS

– Windward successfully completes its first capital campaign for $6 million.

– Arts Center and Meshulam Riklis and Pia Zadora Dining Pavilion opens.

Jill Velazquez

World Language Teacher

History Teacher

Rebecca Carter

Science & Technology Teacher, Chair

Drue Metz

Director of Media Arts & Film Lab

25

Frances Jones

Senior Associate Athletic Director, Track and Field Program Lead

Tyrone Powell

Director of Athletics; Dean of Students, Collegiate Division

YEARS

1997 HIGHLIGHTS Sarah Musich

7

Ashley Goodman

Director of Service Learning Student Technology and Assoc. Director of Support Specialist Admissions, DEIB

YEARS

JP DeGuzman

2017 HIGHLIGHTS – Three Division structure is created for more personalized student attention.

20

Whitney Wood English Teacher

– Windward purchases the apartment building next door for future expansion.

30

YEARS

1992 HIGHLIGHTS

– Irene Kleinberg named Board Chair.

– Irene Kleinberg Theater is constructed and debuts with “The Long Christmas Dinner” and “Little Shop of Horrors.”

Damon Van Leeuwen

Lisa Walker

English Teacher

Director of Admissions

YEARS

2015 HIGHLIGHTS – Lewis Jackson Memorial Sports Center undergoes an extensive remodel.

Michael Bognanno

Director of Advancement Services

Kermit Cannon

Paola DeCastro

Katie Thoma

Donata Takahashi

Director of Peak Performance

World Language Teacher, Chair

Kevin Kloeker

Science & Technology Teacher

Emily Miner

English Teacher

40

– The Weight Room undergoes an extensive remodel and is renamed the Peak Performance Center.

– Meshulam Riklis and Pia Zadora Dining Pavilion remodel and Foley Field renovation.

10

Tri Nguyen

Laboratory Technician, Laboratory Safety Coordinator

Visual and Media Arts Teacher, Chair

Senior Finance Associate

YEARS

1982 HIGHLIGHTS

– Windward moves to its present site, a 9.5 acre, multi-building campus at 11350 Palms Blvd. in Los Angeles.

– Avram Salkin named Board Chair.

YEARS

2012 HIGHLIGHTS – Alumni Council started.

– Windward’s 40th Anniversary celebration takes place.

52 - F A C U L T Y A N D S T A F F

Natasha Arnold

Performing Arts Teacher (Theater), Performing Arts Internal Community Partnerships Coordinator

Carrie Creighton

World Language Teacher, Coordinator of Global Trips & Activities

Christina Hendershaw Visual and Media Arts Teacher

Tom Gilder

Head of School

W I N D W A R D M A G A Z I N E - 53

WINDWARD FUND

Founder $50,000+

DONOR

UPDATE

It’s not too late to show your support and add your name to this impressive list.

Thank you!

More information can be found online by scanning the QR code.

List reflects donors having made a gift or pledge on or before February 1, 2023

54 - W I N D W A R D F U N D

Anonymous (1) William Lauder Lorraine & Damien McCann EJ & Gregory Milken Dennis Miller Christine Moran Miller Viveca Paulin-Ferrell & Will Ferrell Taylor Stein

Head of School $25,000+

Anonymous (2) 1P Foundation The Ahmanson Foundation American Endowment Foundation Sarah & John Bonello Wendy & Gary Broad '77 Shanna & Jonathan Brooks Shainaz Donnelly Burg & Mark Burg Valerie & Faraz Daneshgar The Elbaz Family Foundation Jennifer Garner Ann & Jim Gianopulos Nancy & Jon Glaser Jennifer Winer-Gordon & Rafi Gordon The Klos Family The Kwit Family Heidi & Damon Lindelof Joanne Gappy & Navid Mahmoodzadegan The Simms/Mann Family Foundation Staci & Adam Miller Musk Foundation Dana & Richard Pachulski The Loni & Jeff Rush Family Foundation Jessica & Stephen Samuel Schwab Charitable Fund The Schwartzberg Family Lia & Jeffrey Seabold Hillary & Brett Thomas Elisabeth & Rich Welch Kate Phillips-Wiczyk & Modi Wiczyk

Visionary $15,000+

Anonymous (1) Sue & John Antoni Amy & Paul Arenson Michelle & Gareth Asten California Community Foundation Ashley & Scott Cohen

Kate & Arthur Coppola Maggie & Matthew Cwiertnia Janel Ablon & Matthew Davis Cara Di Bona The Walt Disney Company Foundation Daniell & Daniel Elperin The Kent-Feldman Family Sabina & Gregory Gault Risa Gertner Valerie Karno & Eric Glaser Whitney & Bill Glass Stacey & Stephen Henning Lisa & David Hernand Emma Watts & Jonathan Krauss Kendra & Michael LaSalle Mai & James Lassiter Curtis Macnguyen & Sandy Le Candace & Charles Nelson II The Newkirk Family The O'Connor Family Joanne & Matt Pauley Marlien Rentmeester & John Phelps Zaheeda & Nav Rahemtulla Anna & Jeffrey Reyna Laura & Kenny Rogers Gretchen & Dan Rush Jennifer Rush Pippa Bond & Stan Savage Jr Dana & Evan Schlessinger Pamela & Matt Schwab The Seton Family Jennifer & Noah Shore The Shourie Family Mark Siegel Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust, Inc. Robin & Jeffrey Strug Kate Petrosky & Julien Thuan The Trilling Family Sharon De Mayo & Luca Viola Liz & Andy Waters Patricia & Paul Weitz

Leadership $10,000+

Anonymous (2) Lisa & David Alpern Sheri & Steve Altieri Lori & Howard Altman Nicole & Brad Brooks Hsiu-Yen & Sean Brosmith Jo Champa The Crotty Family Choiwan & David Essey Samantha & Jonathan Firestone Evanne & Edward Gargiulo

Suzanne & Michael Ginestro Sarah Hennelly & Adam Goldberg Cathy & Josh Goldsmith Andrea & Donald Goodman Lisa Goodman Nathalie & Michael Huddleston Christy Morcomb & Laurie Hudson Alexandra Winston & Bo Hyde Laura & Andre James Kristina James Alison Kaplan '96 & Jason Kaplan Christine & Jordan Kaplan Lindsey & Matt Karatz Olivia & Brian Kelly Kymber & Ted Kim Nancy Corshen & Richard Klubeck Wendy & Gary Leshgold Morina & Zander Lichstein The Lugash Family The Mass Family Michelle & Yariv Milchan Heather & Kenny Mitchell Jr Yunnie & Greg Morena Rachael & Bob Platt Genevieve Reitman Michelle & Jason Reitman Tristan Bickman & David Ribakoff Michelle & Glenn Robson Aimee & Mark Rosenbaum Raina & David Rosenblum The Roth Family The Russo Family Diana & Andrew Sachs Renata & Dean Salo The Richard Salomon Family Foundation Lisa Nishimura & Gregory Seese Ann & Eric Silverman Chiara & Greg Slewett Kelly & Matt Sloan Jessica & Mark Sokol The St. John Family Jody & Jacques Stambouli Arika Mittman & Cynthia Stegner Georgeann Carras & Adam Stotsky Tina Holmes & John Tripp Amy & Jon Turteltaub Jennifer & Spencer Tyler Renee & Stephen Weiss

Benefactor $5,000+

Anonymous (3) Jennifer & Chris Andrews John Andrews Apple Inc. Dawn Barrett Jennifer & Michael Beerman Kristin & Aaron Bendikson Alexandra & Mickey Berman

Margaret Yuspa & David Blackman Cicek & Paul Bricault Catherine Bridge Teresa & Paul Bridwell The Broumand Family Soma Samanta-Buck & Stephen Buck Jennifer & Mercel Chambers Michelle & Tyrone Chang Allison & Adam Checchi Cristina Wong & Conly Chi Alice & Thomas Davidov Nicole Deddens & Ronn Davids Julie Pan & Jeffrey de Chausse The Edelman Family Rachel & John Edwards Kerry O'Neill & Martin Estrada The Farar Family Jennifer & Todd Feldman Debbie & Mark Feldstein Angela Asher & Ted Fikre Meredith Milton & Jonathan Frank Andrea Wallace & Jonathan Friedman Caroline Wittcoff & Douglas Fuchs Alison Garb Natalie & Leo Gestetner Ellen & Gregg Goldfarb Amy Harkin & Steven Goodrich Carol Schwartz & Elliot Gordon '74 Kim Gordon Laura & David Gottlieb Melissa Papp Green & Jeff Green Sheri & Michael Green Myra & Brian Greenspun Jolie & Rick Greenwald Tamara & Andrew Gross '92 Randi & Jared Grusd Lizette Sanchez-Hayutin & Matthew Hayutin Jennifer & Adam Herschman Letitia Bridges & William Hill Amy Friedlander Hoffman & Todd Hoffman Kara & Jamie Horowitz Randy & Jon Hurwitz Lizna & Abdul Ismail Roopal & Dylan Jadeja Victoria Hong & Wei Jiang The Kane Family Jennifer & Eric Kaufman Eryn & Ryan Kilstein Ashley & Matt Kline Charice & Ko Kobayashi Vivian & Samuel Ku Jovana Lara-Brooks Mina & Peter Lefevre Eleanor Suhr & Michael Lerner Wendy & Eric Levine Lisa & Kevin Lewin Stefan Litt Diana Longarzo Tony Low Julie Sandor & Jack Ludden Stephanie & Larry Lugash

Shoreen Maghame Todd Makurath Erin & Mike Mand Elizabeth & Jon Marashi The McKenzie Family Dorothy & David Measer Idina Menzel & Aaron Lohr Honor Fraser & Stavros Merjos Laura & Chris Miller Cathy & Chris Milton Allison & Jeffrey Mirkin Danielle & Kevin Misher The Mohn Family Elizabeth & Bill Molinski Allison & Peter Morrison Sam Naficy Roberta & Richard Nathanson Megan & Eric Needleman Cheryl & David Nelson Amy Weimer & Kevin Newman Christine & Richard Newman Juliet & Jun Oh Mindy & Mark Owens Philip Paccione Jess Meyer & Tim Pappas Chelsea & Saladin Patterson Kelly & Darren Peers Kimberly & Joshua Perttula '88 Orit & Nadav Ravid Michaela & Mischa Reis Molly & Erick Richardson Michelle & Keith Richman Lisa Shannon & Peter Rieveschl Ann Singhakowinta & Jeremy Rogers Jessica & Cory Rosenberg Jane Hwangbo & Craig Rosenblatt Melissa Karz & Thomas Rubinson Samantha & Bejan Rufeh Nancy & Kenneth Ruttenberg Jessica & Scott Samet Lauren & Kevin Scher Chana & Justin Schuman Jennifer Howard & Robert Schwentke Naz & Zad Shooshani Shawn & Jason Silletti Linda & Glenn Solomon Eleni Mavromati & John Stasinos Jennifer & Sean Sullivan Martha & Ari Swiller Lilian Jensen & Sam Tabibian Michelle & David Taub Colleen Terpening Karen & Jeremy Umland Denise Contis-Walter & Christopher Walter Michelle & Robert Watkins Amy & Brian Weitman Nicole & Jeffrey Westheimer Renee & David Yang

W I N D W A R D M A G A Z I N E - 55

WINDWARD FUND

Partner Cont.

Partner $2,500+

Anonymous (4) Rachel & Jayson Adams Laura Cohen & Arik Ahitov Marnie & Paul Altman Bank of America Christen Carter & Simon Beardmore Thanda & Harald Belker Abby & Reuben Berman Kelly & Stephen Bickle Angela Armitage & David Blau Kathy & Andrew Bobrow Nonny & Brian Breiter Courtney & Noel Bright Ruthanna & Steven Brill Graydon Brittan Tracy Brittan Ali & Marc Campbell Kathy & Al Checchi Junko & Jason Choy Tatsinda & Jonathan Cohen Roya & Peter Cohen Tobi Molenaar & Stanley Cohen Alexandra Conrad Kara & David Corwin Gina Di Bona Erica Gerard Di Bona & Vincent Di Bona Amy & Joseph Dickstein Caskey & Mick Ebeling Sharon & Kovi Elkus Melanie Murakami & Timothy Eng Stacey & Tim Farish Carin & Scott Farkas The Faye/Asher Family Leah Corselli-Felisan & Stephen Felisan Beth Osisek & Ken Fink Amy Call & Adam Finkel Erica & James Fishkin Yasmin Cader & Kevin Frazier Portia & Sean Furst '88 Jennifer Ouchi & David Gallon Jonathan Gardner Shana & Todd Garner Roxanne Davis & James Gavsie Caryl Golden & James Gerson Lori & Tom Gilder Goldman Sachs Matching Gift Program Lori & Kirk Goldstein 56 - W I N D W A R D F U N D

Rosanne Cunningham & Karsten Gopinath Lori Gottlieb Micah Green Vardit Green Shazi & Kambiz Hakimi Jacqueline & Ray Hanna Ruth & Tom Harkin Wendy & Brett Hauser Nery & Dave Heenan Jennifer & Marc Heenan Rose & Peter Helm Lauren & David Howard Ing Lee & Todd Jerry Peggy Procter & John Johnston Dana & Adam Kaller Jenny Park & James Kim Carly & Jonathan Kimmel Amanda & Jeffrey Kolodny Yifat Dahan & Shahar Koren-Pinto Dalit Toledano & Daniel Krivoy Suzan & Matthew Lamishaw Mags & Trevor Lavin Jennifer Price-Letscher & Matthew Letscher Jana & Scott Luirette Jamie & Douglas Lynn Eric Mandel Alisa Becket & Leo Marmol Julie Marsh & Steve Mayer Adie & Brian McPartland Samantha McGarry & Sean Meehan Lorena Barrientos & Mark Merritt Ashley & Chris Morrow Jennifer Chasalow-Neiman & David Neiman Michelle & Roger Nieves Erica & Jason Powell Eva & Jason Rapp Jessica & Eric Reid Samantha & Chris Robichaud Allison Bloom & Gabriel Rutman Dorothy & Avram Salkin Michal Amir Salkin & Ken Salkin '86 Jennifer & Fred Savage Linda & Richard Schaps Allison & Adam Scotch Sharon & Boris Shimanovsky Chelsea & Greg Shukov Robyn & Marc Sidoti Karen & Scott Silver Sara & Lawrence Sloan Lisa & Mitch Smelkinson Cheryl & David Snow Pam & Stephen Soller Sony Pictures Deborah Lipsztein Spector & Marcelo Spector Jenny & Michael Tatum Nina Kogan Tepper '86 & Yaniv Tepper Linda & Thomas Tierney Jr Ambereen & Ramez Toubassy Jill & Nicolas van Dyk Karyn & Rob Weber

Candice & Perrie Weiner Evelyn & Manuel Weiskopf Kristen & Dean Wong Patricia & Harrison Zanuck Cathy He & Jianjun Zhou Kate Adler & Marcelo Ziperovich Julian & Jeff Zolkin

Donor

Up to $2,499 Anonymous (22)

21st Century Fox Elvia Abdullah Robert Abdullah Gayla Aspinall & John Agoglia Uriel Aguirre Zamora Delores & Bruno Alia Shenondoah Alonso Shelley & Stephan Altman Kavita Amar Sabine Dreher & Robert Amin Estela Zarate & Tait Anderson Dean Anselmo Adelaine Antonino '96 Barbi Appelquist Roz & John Arenson Melanie Arias Gabriela Venegas & Jren Armon Natasha Arnold Frieda & Ceth Ashendouek '85 Ken Asher Cynthia Atterberry Barbara Avilez Gabe Baez Betty & George Baffa Richard Bailey Mayr & Dave Balasa Crystal Balthrop '96 Naader Banki '07 Shlomit & David Bard Katrina & Jordan Barron '05 Eugenie & Joseph Baumann Marty Behrendt Ana & Trevor Belden Annick Bellordre Keli Kastrup & Mike Bennett Tisha & Andrew Berman Karen Van Nuys & Antonio Bernardo Brian Bernhards Brittany Berriz Alma Castellanos & Dirk Binkley Phyllis & Robert Blaunstein Sharnell & Clifton Blevins Jasmine Blevins '17 The Blum Family Foundation Cathleen McGrath & James Blythe Boeing Corporation Michael Bognanno Susan & Jim Bologna

Michele & Louis Bond Erin Borgstrom Cielo Botello-Williams & Michael Williams Molly & Peter Branch Karol Watson & Christopher Branche Roger Bridges Kathy & Richard Brisacher Erika Johnson-Brooks & William Brooks Whitney Burke Maya Burrell Marrero Gunilla Byfield Nikki & Kermit Cannon Becky & Troy Carter Mya Caruso Maynor Castellanos Jocelyn Castillo Marilyn & Christian Cazun Polina & Sam Chapiro Judy Chasalow Brenda Chavez '95 Jerica Chest-Williams Candice Chiang Samantha Chinn '86 Julie & Nicholas Ciriello Sarah Clark Tammy Clem Tanika & Hwesu Cobb-Phillips Jessica Murphy & Adam Cohen Tamy & Marc Cohen '91 Joan & Ken Cohn Pamela Conrad Bryan Cook Deb Cook Melissa & Stephen Cope Carrie Creighton Jennifer Dao Emily Dawe Erica Broido & Greg Dawley Michael Day Tony de los Reyes Paola DeCastro Jean-Paul deGuzman Veronica Nales & Vicente Del Rio Marisol Delahoussaye Benjamin Delwiche Wendy Dembo '84 Christina Dempsey Dionne Washington-Denny & John Denny Alden Derr Deborah & Eric Diamond Eva & Sabino Diaz Jahmal Durham Alice & Phillip Eng Johnny Enriquez Sharon & Chad Eshaghoff Patricia & Bruce Eskovitz Stacy & Scott Ezra Anita Famili Phoebe Fan Aaron Farkas '14 Alia Faubert Ayn Faubert

Joy & Alan Feld Lindsay Flacks Gulden & Craig Fox Jordan Fox Michael Fox-Boyd Asha Francisco Adena & Bill Frank Cheryl Freitag Julie & Garth Friedrich Patrick Friel Jill & Leonard Fromer Jennifer & Robert Galperson '90 Margarito Garcia Kate Briscoe & Ivan Garel-Jones DJ Gay Carol & Kevin Gelbard Lakisha & Mo Gelin Andrea & Christopher Gialanella Tiffanie & Jeff Gilder '08 Julian Goldstein Hiliana Gomez Edgar Gonzalez Gigi & Jay Goodfader '88 Ashley Goodman Gabe Gordon '98 Jennifer & Scott Gordon '84 Julia Coley & Jerry Goren Rosyln Gottlieb Ronen Grace Jyoti Puvvula & Gilberto Granados Greater Kansas City Community Foundation Kimberly Green Beatriz Acevedo-Greiff & Douglas Greiff Stephanie Grissom Marlene & Marshall Grossman Ethel Gullette Janyee Gutierrez Rachel & Gary Gutkin Brandon Hakim '08 Jasmine Parker-Hampton & Jeramy Hampton Colleen Hargaden Danielle & Burt Harris Jr Corey & Eric Hartnack Stacie & Bryan Hausner Eveneshia Hedgeman Christina Hendershaw Susan Herrera Robert Heyl Karriann Farrell Hinds & Elliot Hinds Ann-Marie & Nicholas Hobbs Kristen & David Hodess Jennifer Leitzes & Jon Hoeber Schuyler Ha & Richard Hoff Erika Hoffman Lauren Hoffman '05 Regina Hoffman Gail & Robert Holmes Jennifer McDonnell & Jeff Holsey Josh Holt Andrea & Scott Holtzman Swagata Mandal & Andy Hsu Fran & Dennis Huddleston

Tiffaney Hughes Peggy & Francis Hung Simon Huss Michelle Nilsson & Ronaldo Ignacio Monica & David Isaacs Robin Jacobson Sipkins Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles Sudha Joga Frances & Josh Jones Kimberly Jones Francie Calfo & Trent Jones Andrea Kahn '02 Wendy & Buzz Kersman Leah & John Ketcham Jasmin Danesch & Kourosh Khajavi Farrah Khaleghi Aizenman '07 Kevin Kloeker Lindsay Knaub Lauren Kawasaki-Knight & Derek Knight Britt Johansson & Jeremiah Knight Daniel Koh Stephanie & Gregory Konkoff '88 Kristin & Joseph Kosinski Emily Kovner '91 Michael Kraus Suzanne Kraus Rose & David Kuhn Jr Natalie Kyriakoudis Cori & Max Lagao Jeff Lake Ursula Brooks & Jonathan LaPaglia Becca Larson Aryelle & Ryan Lawrence '00 Vanessa Sorenson & Derek Leavitt '95 Peter Leeb '00 Aaron Leff '01 Michelle & Daniel Lehmann CC Pulitzer-Lemann & Monte Lemann Daisha & Emilio Leon Kameron Hightower & Donte Lewis Sarah Lidschin '87 Julie & Harley Liker Sheila Darcey & Micah Linton Lauren & Josh Lippman '95 Lany & Sy Lippman Kyliah & Jared Lloyd Sr Gage & Laura Loveless Laura Luna & Reinaldo Luna Jennifer & Charles Malaret Dillon Malaret '18 Jacqueline Malaret '16 Sophia Malaret '21 Hatim Malek Nora Malone Shelly & Martin Mand Joan Marantz Leslie & James Margolis Corey Marquetti Stefano Marrero Susana & David Martin Susan & Josh Marx

W I N D W A R D M A G A Z I N E - 57

WINDWARD FUND

Partner Cont.

Jennifer Benedisuk & Mark Mascolo Christopher Matthews Kristie Mattsson Linda McCormack Jamey McElvain-Whitman Tanya McLaughlin Marcela Meirelles & Aleksandar Stanojevic Drue Metz Alexa Micek Jeff Miller Emily Miner Amy & Eric Mirich Suzie Moldavon Nicole Monk Chad Monk James Patric Moran Cori & Landon Morris Fanisha & Larry Muepo Sarah & Chris Musich Virginia Musich Deborah Myman Kara Nebel Zachary Neufeld Tri Nguyen Julia & Joel Nickerson Akiko Nimura Max Nishimura Hannah Freed Northenor '99 Wayne Northrup Terence O'Day Tiffany O'Day Jennifer Van Hook & Micah Officer Eva Baker & Harold O'Neil Lydia & Charles Oppenheim Roxana Opris Stephanie Osimiri Samantha Pack Christopher Padilla Femke Wolting & Tommy Pallotta Parkside Foundation The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation Christina & Matthew Paul '98 Khanh Truong & Mark Paz Irene Perez Kerry & Howard Perlow Guilda & Jacob Peykar June & Carl Phelps Julia Phillips Robin & Jeff Pickett Drew Pion '14 Jenna & Joseph Pitson Simone McKitty & Martin Pitts Bunny Pollack & Stan Korenman 58 - W I N D W A R D F U N D

Maureen & Noah Pollack Barbara Polland Mark Polland '81 Nora Portillo Susan & Tyrone Powell Aaron Presser '18 Mary & Mark Presser You Sun & Brian Ra Karalyn Ramon Chantal Randolph Max Rappaport '09 Heather Regnier '04 Jennifer Regnier '02 Mahi Lashgari Renselaer & Edward Renselaer James Resin Elizabeth & David Ricanati Lauren Rice Sophia Lord-Richard & Joe Richard Kelly Rivers Dawn Robinson Amy Romine Emily & Colin Rose Ani Rosen '19 The Holly & Eric Rosen Family Sydney Rosen '16 Joan & Robert Rosenbaum Shoshana & Mark Ross Joy & Jason Rothenberg James Rothstein Regina Rubio Heidi Rufeh Deonna Betts-Martin & Darnell Russell Jr Christina & Kenneth Russo Marc Sabine Amber & Warren Saft '91 James Sainz Betty & Tom Saliba Jessica & Steven Samarge Karinn & Todd Sammann Benjamin Sanders '02 Maryann & Michael Sanders Jiyoung Moon & Pawal Sasik Ramona Robinson & Edward Saunders Tirosh Schneider Bernice Serpico Dahlia Setiyawan Jackie & Stephen Shapiro Joan Shayne Ryan Shelven Michael Shephard '13 Kyle Shimoda Barbara & Herb Siderman Loretta Siciliano & Scott Silverman Kathleen & Charles Sipkins Clara & Yudesh Sohan Jennifer & Rob Solomon '87 Zakaria Solotoff Adam Spira '92 Maja Starcevic & Kresimir Petrinec Jessica & Jonathan Steier '91 Susie Romano & Randy Steinberg

Eva & Jeffrey Stodel Carolyn & Norman Straker Lori Zukerman & Thomas Strouse Joanne Van Emburgh & Sam Surloff Donata Takahashi Katie Thoma Ben Thomas Sandra Thomas Nicole Pearl & Cindy Tobisman Austin Totty Adrienne Tourtelot Mark Tronson Amanda Troughton Erica Tukiainen '06 Leena Tukiainen Lori & Barry Turbow '89 Garret Tyau George Ulmer '90 Azita Ashofteh & Farhad Vafaee Keon Vafaee '22 Seena Vafaee '16 Jacob Van der Wilk Alison Forbes & Andrew Van Hook Damon Van Leeuwen Katherine & Joel VanderKloot Sarunas Varanauskas Jacqueline & Adam Varney Vanessa Vazquez Jill & Salvador Velazquez Raul Villa Will Vincent Lisa & Dennis Walker Barbara Wallace The Wallace Family Maia & Matt Wapnick '02 Karen & Alan Weil Lisa Weinstein Julie & Eric Weissman Cole Wertlieb '17 La Donna & Neil Wertlieb Michael West Jon Westerman Curtistine Spates White '84 & Tom White Monique Washington-White & Robert White Pamela & Herbert Williams Leslie & David Wimmer Deborah & Richard Winn Nicholas Winnie Whitney Wood Kerry & Adam Wright Amy Xiong Jane & TT Yang Alesia Young & David Lowe Yourcause, LLC Emily & Peter Yu Sherif Zakaria Sharon Pearline & Henry Zangwill Jenn Zanoria Jenny & Ronen Zipkin Bonnie Zolkin Alejandro Zuniga

FUND

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHTS

2022-23

Naz Shoo

Sabina G

shani

As a previous educator, I cannot think of any place more worthy of my time and energy as my children’s school.

It really does take a village to raise amazing children, and I’m beyond grateful to call Windward my village.

ault

I’ve always been a big believer in the saying “what you put in, is what you get out.” This can be applicable to everything—especially when it comes to donating your time to something that matters and benefits others. Spending time getting to know the Windward families, sharing why The Windward Fund is important, and showcasing what it does for our kids, was an amazing experience that made me better understand the school and what it stands for.

WHY I VOLUNTEER WITH THE WINDWARD FUND

The mission behind the Windward Fund resonates very deeply with our family, so I jumped at the opportunity to help ensure its relevance and sustainability, family by family. The Windward model of transparently deploying the dollars raised in the same year gives everyone a chance to contribute in a very elegant and direct way to our big three initiatives. I'm very proud to continue serving in a community where all the constituents collectively value this vital cause. All of the warm feedback I consistently receive from fellow families about their commitment and positive experiences at Windward reminds me that I’m making a difference.

Matthew

Hayutin

FUND Volunteers & Steering Committee Steering Committee Co-Chairs Jordan Kaplan Alex Kwit Rich Pachulski

WF Co-Chairs

Ann Gianopulos - Co-Chair Viveca Paulin-Ferrell - Co-Chair

WF Volunteers

Rachel Adams Gareth Asten - SC Letitia Bridges Erica Broido Shainaz & Mark Burg Yasmin Cader Amy Call Jo Champa

Alexandra Conrad Phyllis Crotty - SC Sabine Dreher Lani & Justin Farar Scott Farkas Jonathan Firestone - SC Caroline Wittcoff & Douglas Fuchs Ed Gargiulo - SC Shana & Todd Garner Sabina Gault Ellen & Gregg Goldfarb Lori Goldstein Jennifer Winer-Gordon & Rafi Gordon Matthew Hayutin Cathy He Halima Holmes Bo Hyde

Britt Johansson Matthew Karatz Mitchell Kraus Wendy Levine Todd Makurath Maria Mancusco Gersh - SC Dorothy & David Measer Meredith Milton Allison & Peter Morrison Megan & Eric Needlemen David Nelson Beth Osisek Matt Pauley - SC Rachael & Bob Platt - SC Maureen & Noah Pollack Jessica Reid Jeff Reyna

Jessica Rosenberg Jessica Samuel Jiyoung Moon & Pawal Sasik Kevin Scher Pamela Schwab - SC Kate Seton Naz Shooshani Josh Simms Ann Singhakowinta Kelly Sloan Jessica Sokol Linda Solomon Maie St. John SC Michelle Taub - SC Julian Zolkin

W I N D W A R D M A G A Z I N E - 59

INNOVATION CAMPAIGN

T

he Innovation Campaign began in 2016 and its impact on the Windward community has already made a lasting impression in so many ways. With the first phase of the campaign, the School’s fundraising efforts made it possible for the completion of the Academic Hub. The Hub has become a cornerstone of the campus, bringing new opportunities for our students and faculty to connect.

I N N O VAT I O N C AMPAIGN

As the School continues fundraising for the last phase of the Innovation Campaign, Windward has made incrdible progress, raising 75% of the total needed for funding. Through the tremendous support of he School's talented Steering Committee and the wonderful Windward Community, this massive milestone has provided us the opportunity to begin construction on the Milken Family Community Gathering Plaza and the Innovation & Arts Center in 2023.

The 10,000 square foot Milken Family Community Gathering Plaza will bring additional greenspace to campus, providing new opportunities for music and dance performances, poetry readings, creative presentations, and outdoor classroom learning. The Plaza will bring the campus together, merging the north and south sides, and will allow for more connection amongst the entire community.

The Innovation & Arts Center will be a space unlike any other currently on campus. This new 33,500 square foot building will house two theaters, art galleries, an IDEA Incubator Floor, a Roof Deck Event Space, and so much more. The spaces will impact the daily lives of all students, providing a safe environment to create, explore, learn, question, and develop their own perspective towards excellence.

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W I N D W A R D M A G A Z I N E - 61

INNOVATION CAMPAIGN

INNOVATION C A M PA I G N It’s with appreciation and gratitude that we thank the following families for their commitment to progress and their investment in the Innovation Campaign and the future of Windward.

What captures my imagination the most is the promise of the space.

I'm excited about all that can and will happen: student installations in the gallery, Senior Capstone Colloquium panel presentations, dance performances on the terrace. This will be a building for all members of our community to use and enjoy, where all will be welcome to iterate, create, and exhibit their work. The academic possibilities feel endless!

- Dahlia Setiyawan Associate Director of the Collegiate Division

As of February 10, 2023

$2MM+

Anonymous (1) The Milken Family Allison & Bennett Rosenthal

$1MM+

Anonymous (3) Christine & Jordan Kaplan The Schwartzberg Family

$500,000+

$30,036,595 $40million GOAL Raised to date with a

Raised to date as of February 10, 2023

62 - I N N O V A T I O N C A M P A I G N

Anonymous (1) Valerie & Faraz Daneshgar Shannon & Dean Factor Caroline & Michael Hackman Lorraine & Damien McCann Dana & Richard Pachulski The Shourie Family

$250,000+ Anonymous (2) Shainaz Donnelly Burg & Mark Burg Andrea & Barry Cayton The Cwiertnia Family The Crotty Family The Elbaz Family Foundation Quinn & Bryan Ezralow The Karno Glaser Family

Jon & Nancy Glaser The Kwit Family Allison & Jeffrey Mirkin Sam Naficy The O'Connor Family The Rosenthal Family Amy Klimek & Joshua Roth Pamela & Matt Schwab Lia & Jeffrey Seabold The Tuzon Stone Family The Yi Family

$100,000+ Anonymous (11) The Albert Family Lori & Howard Altman Michelle & Gareth Asten The Benudiz Family Nicole & Brad Brooks Jo Champa Julia & Jonathan Eng Angela Asher & Ted Fikre The Finger Family Samantha & Jonathan Firestone The Foster Family Evanne & Edward Gargiulo Maria Mancuso Gersh & Gary Gersh The Glass Family Carol Schwartz & Elliot Gordon '74 Susan Winfield & Stephen Grynberg Shiva & Cyrus Hadavi Wendy & Gary Leshgold Lisa & Kevin Lewin The Lugash Family The Mass Family Michelle & Yariv Milchan Staci & Adam Miller Angela & Mark Milstein The Newkirk Family Christine & Richard Newman The Ouchi Tsai Gallon Families The Pauley Foundation Kelly & Darren Peers The Phelps Family Rachael & Bob Platt

Tristan Bickman & David Ribakoff Laura & Kenny Rogers The Sachs Family Dana & Evan Schlessinger Paulina & Carlos Smith The St. John Family The Stratton Family The Trilling Family Adam Venit Trina Venit Candice & Perrie Weiner Amy & Brian Weitman Elisabeth & Rich Welch La Donna & Neil Wertlieb

$50,000+ Anonymous (1) John Andrews Nadine Bell Lorraine & Joe Berchtold Alex & Jason Brent Alison Garb Risa Gertner Cathy & Josh Goldsmith Roopal & Dylan Jadeja Lindsey & Matt Karatz Lisa & Brian Kessler Leah & John Ketcham The Corshen Klubeck Family Serena & Shawn Levy Laura & Chris Miller Judith Hayward & Michael Parks Kimberly & Joshua Perttula '88 Aimee & Mark Rosenbaum Sharon & Shawn Sani Bart Williams

up to $49,999 Anonymous (1) Randye Soref & Michael Abrams Jennifer & Chris Andrews Jamie & Michael Angus Kamila & Dilip Bhavnani Karol Watson & Christopher Branche

Rachel & John Edwards Katherine & Sean Eskovitz The Farar Family Ryan & Tucker Gates Lori & Tom Gilder Sheri & Michael Green Jamie & Joshua Gutfreund The Gutman Family Stacie & Bryan Hausner The Kallman Family The Kane Family Blaire & Aaron Kaplan Family Emily Kovner '91 Cathy & Matt Leaf Heidi & Damon Lindelof Debbie & Jonathan Markiles Dana Sano & James Meyers The Nichols Levey Family Lydia & Charles Oppenheim I-Shyh & Paul Ortiz Patricia Duncan & Winston Peters Jessica & Eric Reid Michelle & David Taub Courtney & Jared Wolff Malea & Reza Zafari Gina Deutsch-Zakarin & Mark Zakarin

STEERING COMMITTEE 2022-2023

Gareth Asten Phyllis Crotty Ann Gianopulos Maria Mancuso Gersh Jonathan Firestone Jordan Kaplan Alex Kwit Rich Pachulski Matt Pauley Bob Platt Pamela Schwab Maie St. John Michelle Taub Committee Co-Chair

W I N D W A R D M A G A Z I N E - 63

WINDWARD NETWORK

Mixing it Up

Windward Network’s Second Annual Holiday Mixer

O

n Monday, November 28, the Windward Network held its second annual holiday mixer at the Canopy Club Rooftop Bar at the Shay Hotel in Downtown Culver City. Over 60 Windward alumni gathered on a beautiful Fall evening to catch up with old friends and also meet new Windwardians.

The evening, also an opportunity for career growth, featured seven amazing recruiters from Hire Options, including our very own alumni parent, Christy Kreisberg (Parent of Lily ’18). Hire Options is a Los Angeles based recruiting and staffing agency which has successfully worked with Windward alumni over the past few years. Many of our alumni connected with recruiters at the event to ask questions about their resumes or career advice, and alumni also followed up afterwards to make appointments to explore career options. Christy said of the evening “Thank you again for hosting and inviting us to another wonderful Windward event. We are all still buzzing about here in our office and have already been contacted by some wonderful Windward alums today!”

Robin Pickett, Director of Windward Network, said of the evening, “Since its inception, the goal of the Windward Network has been to provide students and alumni with access to career guidance

64 - W I N D W A R D N E T W O R K

and support while leveraging connections within the entire Windward community. This support has proven to be especially important over the past couple years, and Hire Options has been such a wonderful resource to us. This is our second Holiday Mixer, and I’m already looking forward to our third, as it’s such a fun way to ring in the holiday season, and also rewarding to see our alumni make meaningful connections.

Thank you so much to Christy and Hire Options, and also to our more experienced Windward alumni who came out to give career advice to our younger alumni!”

The Windward Network looks forward to continuing to support our students and alumni with our upcoming Summer internship season. Internships offered through the Windward Network (many offered by Windward parents and alumni!) provide meaningful experiences for current students (rising Juniors and Seniors) and college-age alumni in a variety of different fields beyond the classroom. Participants have the opportunity to gain valuable insights into their industries of interest, develop skills, cultivate professional connections, and strengthen their resumes, all while receiving academic credit.

W I N D W A R D M A G A Z I N E - 65

ALUMNI

To: Class of 2022 From: Windward, With Love

BACK on CAMPUS

On October 26, Parents of Alumni created care packages for the Class of 2022, which were mailed to our graduates at their respective colleges and universities around the country. Packages included Windward alumni beanies, drawstring backpacks, battery chargers, rice krispies, and other college essentials. After assembling the packages, a cocktail and appetizer reception was held, providing an opportunity for the parent of alumni community to reconnect, reminisce, and enjoy each other's company.

On Friday, December 16, Windward welcomed back alumni who graduated in the last five years for the annual Young Alumni Lunch. The event featured In-N-Out, sweet treats from The Crispery, and provided alumni with the opportunity to reconnect with their former teachers, classmates, and teammates. It was also the first time In-N-Out was offered to the entire student body, making it a memorable and enjoyable event for all before Winter Break.

We hope to see all of our alumni back on campus on Saturday, June 3, 2023 for the Windward Alumni Festival & Reunion Night!

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W I N D W A R D M A G A Z I N E - 67

ALUMNI

Now serving as a member of Windward’s Alumni Council, Barry encourages all Windwardians—past, present and future—to try and get the most out of their Windward experience. “I really, really appreciated what I got out of Windward, what I experienced relative to what my kids are going through and what they've had. It's truly a special place.” Discussing the role of the Windward Fund and the networking opportunities available to alumni, Barry continued, “I think there's a lot of opportunity at Windward that people should take advantage of. Everybody has a different path and story. I think if they're not taking advantage of it, they're missing out.”

PAYING it FORWARD F

or Barry Turbow ’89, going to Windward always felt like a when, not if. Growing up a breezy five minutes from campus, Barry knew the neighborhood, the community, and the close-knit nature that has defined Windward so readily since its inception. When he finally joined the School in 7th Grade, Barry quickly realized that he was right at home. “Windward was such a special place because it was so small and intimate,” he shared of his time on campus. “We were such a small class and we all came from such different backgrounds. We all got along almost because we had to, because we were so different. But that's all we had and I think that's what made it very special.”

Also meaningful were Barry’s relationships with his teachers. From learning to make paella with Spanish teacher Paula Hirsch to talking sports with History teacher Neil Kramer, Barry’s Windward experience was marked by the bonds he formed with the educators around him. “Everybody was so kind,” Barry remembers. “It was more of a collaboration. Kids learn at a different pace and are stimulated in different ways.

There were a number of very unique things that I think only a place like Windward can provide relative to a lot of other schools out there. Windward teaches more than just the X’s and O’s. It teaches people to interact, collaborate, talk, and have a voice, being in a safe environment where you can ask questions and have people actually care about your education.”

68 - A L U M N I

An avid sports fan, that ability to put things into perspective stayed with Barry as he moved on to Cal State Northridge and eventually landed his dream job working in sports marketing for FOX Sports and Spectrum Reach. “Windward gave me a foundation to realize that even if you're not going to be an athlete, there are other avenues that you can still go to follow your passion and find a career in it, even if you're not going to be the starting pitcher for the Dodgers or the Center for the Lakers.” That lesson came full circle when Barry invited a collection of Windward students to the Spectrum set, allowing them to tour the studio and get insight from the analysts and Lakers legends in attendance. “It was great to see everybody just light up when they walked into our studio. For them to learn and see the control room and every aspect of what it takes to produce a live game or a pregame show and a postgame show, I think it was pretty cool.”

W I N D W A R D M A G A Z I N E - 69

FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE!

| CAMPS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

80’s Prom 2023 CAMP REGISTRATION OPEN! Students Grades 2-12

S AV E T H E D AT E

SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 2O23 ALUMNI FESTIVAL Noon - 4 PM

Craft Beers, Wine Tasting, Food Trucks, Alumni Classes, Activities for Kids

CLASS REUNIONS 4-6 PM

Class of: 2018, 2013, 2003, 1998, 1993, 1983, & 1973

ACADEMICS

ARTS

ATHLETICS

Beginning Debate Camp Advanced Debate Camp Camp Windward CREATE Camp Game Design with Snap!

VEX Robotics Camp Explore and Learn with STEM (3rd & 4th) Explore and Learn with STEM (5th & 6th)

Comedy: Improv, Stand-Up, and Sketch

Baseball Camp Advanced Baseball (6th-8th) Boys Basketball Camp Girls Basketball Camp Football Camp Soccer Camp Advanced Soccer (6th-8th) Tennis Camp Boys Volleyball Camp Girls Volleyball Camp

Music Visualization + Play Play Writing and Performance VMA Camp Wicked at Windward: Parts I & II

For more information and to register visit: 72 - S A V E T H E D A T E S

HTTPS://WWW.WINDWARDSCHOOL.ORG/SUMMER-CAMP

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID LOS

11350 Palms Boulevard Los Angeles, California 90066

ANGELES, CA PERMIT NO.32365

www.windwardschool.org

W