Windward School Community Partnership Report 2019

WINDWARD SCHOOL

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP REPORT

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A SHARED COMMUNITY

19 faculty and staff 146 alums and parents of alums

Windward School is an independent, not-for-profit, college preparatory school for students Grades 7-12. Founded in 1971, the School provides a dynamic, engaging education in a nurturing, inclusive community that offers the highest quality of instruction to every student. Windward teachers, parents, and administrators work together to inspire our students to be responsible, caring, well informed, ethical, prepared, and well balanced young adults.

Windward has been a neighbor in the close-knit Mar Vista community of Los Angeles for more than 35 years. We’re proud to partner with so many long-term residents who make the area a welcoming place for our students and fellow neighbors. Windward seeks to foster the special qualities of Mar Vista that make it feel like a small town in a large city. We look forward to partnering with you in this next phase of our development to make our shared community even better.

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265 Windward students, faculty, and alumni living in the 90066 zip code.

100 students and parents Head of School Tom Gilder and his family have lived in Mar Vista since 1989.

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COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY

TRANSPORTATION Windward School is committed to a transportation management program, which encompasses bus ridership, carpool incentives, vehicle caps, and bicycling promotions to reduce the number of cars coming to campus.

Windward has contracted with the highly reputable firm of Hirsch Green Transportation Consulting Inc. to routinely conduct an independent assessment of the School’s traffic flow and make suggestions on how to reduce traffic in the surrounding neighborhood.

WINDWARD TRAFFIC MITIGATION PLAN -------

Enhance the existing School bus service Limit the number of student driver vehicle occupants Increase the efficiency of parent/adult-driven carpools Assist with and encourage the formation of carpools for School faculty and staff Encourage bicycle usage Establish a monitoring program to assure compliance with the Traffic Demand Management Plan 2

PARKING MANAGEMENT Windward implements enhanced parking management during the school day and at School events to help prevent street congestion and improve parking lot traffic flow.

Over the past two years, Windward has added increased signage in and around campus to remind our community of the parking regulations put in place and holds additional morning patrols on surrounding streets to monitor parking and maintain efficient drop-off procedures.

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NEIGHBOR PATROLS Windward holds additional patrols on surrounding streets before and after school to supervise traffic, monitor for jaywalking, assist with pedestrian crossing, and control parking and noise.

Windward employs crossing guards at major intersections in the mornings and afternoons to support safe street crossing for both students and the neighboring community.

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DOING OUR PART Windward actively seeks out voices from our neighbors. We listen to neighbor concerns and implement these suggestions as best we can when and where appropriate.

In the Summer of 2018, Windward completed a reconstruction of our Palms parking lot to better manage traffic flow, and minimize morning and afternoon congestion. The updated format has one entrance and exit on the easternmost side of the parking lot, furthest away from neighboring residences, reducing noise for homes closest to Windward’s campus.

At the suggestion of a neighbor, we recently added two pet waste stations along Westminster Ave. In doing so, we hope to create an easy and convenient way for you to enjoy our beautiful community with your pups!

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COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS Since 1982, Windward School has been an active member of the Mar Vista community. The School’s collaboration with the local community is the epitome of a mutually beneficial partnership.

Windward contributes to the neighboring community in a variety of ways. We lend our campus facilities to politicians hosting constituent forums, as well to Mar Vista Community Council (MVCC) groups, including: - ---

Transportation and Health Infrastructure (T & I) Public Health and Safety Committee Elections & ByLaws Committee

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Bike/Mobility Mar Vista Committee Aging in Place Committee Planning & Land Use Management Committee

Windward also lends its facilities to the following Santa Monica organizations: -- Special Olympics

-- Santa Monica Basketball

Windward provides sponsorship to local activities such as: -- Mar Vista Community Fall Festival -- NWNA Block Party

-- Mar Vista Neighborhood Association Potluck 6

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HOW DOES WINDWARD WELCOME THE COMMUNITY?

CULTURAL & EDUCATIONAL EVENTS We also welcome our Mar Vista neighbors to cultural and educational events that we hold on campus throughout the year, including:

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Art Exhibits

Performing Arts Performances

Guest Speaker Lectures

Homecoming

Annual Neighborhood Meeting

Quarterly Neighborhood Newsletter

SUMMER CAMPS Each year after the school year ends, Windward Summer Camps open its door to all students from across the community.

In the Summer of 2018, more than half of campers were from over 100 other schools, demonstrating the breadth of the Summer program’s reach.

Windward Summer academic camps are designed to enhance campers’ confidence and curiosity as they pursue a wide range of subjects, such as robotics and debate.

Windward Summer Performing and Visual Arts camps provide a fun and creative atmosphere for campers to explore their artistic potential.

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Windward Summer sports camps focus on the total studentathlete by improving performance, encouraging good sportsmanship, teaching leadership, and fostering camaraderie.

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MAR VISTA PARK Windward families donate $25,000 a year earmarked for Mar Vista Park. Members of the Windward community also donate their time to the park by volunteering for festivals and beautification projects.

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Windward has continued to focus on building strong local partnership with schools, organizations and community leaders so that we have a direct and positive impact on our immediate community and the people who live there.

Windward students are passionate and involved with service and are committed to making a difference.

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STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH SERVICE

- Ashley Goodman, Director of Service Learning

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“KID CREATE” PROGRAM This program is a 7-week partnership with Mar Vista Elementary School located on the Windward campus.

In this program, Mar Vista students have access to the CREATE Studio’s unique materials and machines to help in their learning of art and science. Throughout the class, students are challenged with logic puzzles to get their brains thinking. Students conduct real-life chemical reactions, make their own Picasso paintings, mold some magnetic slime and learn how to create their own contour self-portraits.

GIRLS IN STEM PROGRAM This 7-week program is run in partnership with five Mar Vista elementary schools: Richland Avenue Elementary School, Mar Vista Elementary School, Walgrove Avenue Elementary School, Palms Elementary, and Beethoven Street Elementary School.

The main goal of Girls in STEM is to empower girls to foster their passion and self-confidence in STEM fields. Each week, girls work individually or in groups to perform a hands-on, interactive experiment. At each of the partner schools, more than 25 girls participate in the program.

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YOUNG MAESTROS PROGRAM A brand-new program held on the Windward campus in partnership with Richland Avenue Elementary School, this program is run by Windward student mentors who have been playing violin for several years and want to share the instrument and the music they love with young students. The Young Maestros Program is for students in Grades 3-5 and gives students the opportunity to learn the violin and provides an introduction to the world of classical music. Playing a musical instrument has been shown to help students mature and grow, as well as teach valuable life lessons. All instruments are provided

by Windward.

W!T IMPROVISATION STATION This brand-new program was launched in Fall 2018 by Windward students who are members of the on campus group Windward Improv Troupe (W!T). This program is hosted on the Windward campus in partnership with Mar Vista Elementary School.

Improv is unscripted and made up on the spot. Students in this class experience playing games, running around and talking in funny voices and accents. Best of all, silliness is encouraged, so students have the opportunity to be themselves without judgement. Improv is more than just fun; it teaches kids to accept and learn from failure, eases symptoms of social anxiety, and teaches listening and collaboration skills.

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LONG STANDING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

WESTSIDE CHILDREN’S CENTER Westside Children’s Center, located a short distance from Windward, provides thousands of at-risk-children and their families with early education and family intervention programs as well as important services such as disability advocacy, nutrition, parenting class and dental and vision screenings. Windward continues to partner with the Center to provide support for their families and children.

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GIVING TUESDAY Every year, Windward runs a toy drive on Giving Tuesday, a global movement that celebrates philanthropy, supporting the Center as its main beneficiary for the day. Windward provides the Center with hundreds of toys and gift cards to be distributed to the families.

THANKSGIVING DINNER

FAMILY PORTRAITS

Every November, Windward hosts a Thanksgiving Dinner at the Center. This annual event is the cornerstone of Parent Service Learning at Windward. Parent volunteers donate and prepare ingredients to make a full turkey dinner for over 300 people each year. Students help prepare the meals and also put on a Arts and Crafts Fair for WCC members.

Every December, Windward hosts family portraits at the Center. Families come dressed in their finest and most festive holiday outfits. Windward students take each family photo and direct the photoshoot.

Families receive two 8x10 portraits to keep. The students create photo packages for more than 30 families annually.

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WINDWARD TEACHES TECH Now in its fourth year, and in concert with the Mar Vista Community Council, Windward Teaches Tech connects the senior citizens of the Mar Vista community with our Windward students.

The program was started in 2016 based on a conversation at the Aging In Place Committee, in which members expressed a need for technology assistance through the senior community of Mar Vista. The program began as a way to meet this need, with Windward students pairing up with Mar Vista seniors for free, quarterly technology workshops in which they learn how to operate their devices such as smartphones, laptops, and iPads. Before the class begins, a survey is sent out to the senior citizens to gauge their specific needs regarding their technological devices. Windward student leaders are then matched up one-on-one with a senior citizen based on their expertise and provide a one-hour tutoring session covering various topics such as social media, apps, rideshare services, Netflix, Hulu and Amazon.

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BIG SUNDAY Every first Sunday in May, Windward families join forces with the Mar Vista Elementary School community as part of Big Sunday. The volunteers from both schools work all day gardening, planting, and mulching to beautify the selected neighborhood school. Windward students also serve on the Big Sunday Board as Youth Members. The day features good food, good music, and most of all, goodwill! Big Sunday wouldn’t be successful without the partnership of our Mar Vista neighbors.

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HOW DOES WINDWARD MINIMIZE ITS ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT? Windward prides itself on being a green campus and neighbor. We teach environmental responsibility to our students and live out those teachings by employing various ways to reduce our carbon footprint. The School has: Hosted quarterly e-waste management programs on campus to collect electronic waste from the community Achieved LEED for Schools 2.0 Gold Certification for our campus, making Windward one of the first schools in California to attain this level of environmental excellence Installed water-efficient landscaping and bathroom fixtures to reduce water use on campus Installed solar panels on campus to offset energy use

This booklet is printed on recycled paper 17

FUNDING Windward’s operating expenses are solely covered by tuition and school fundraising.

Windward does not accept state or federal taxpayer funding of any kind.

92% of Windward’s operating expenses is covered by tuition, and the other 8% is obtained through fundraising, which provides critical support of the operating budget to grow the School’s Program Enhancements, Research and Development, and Financial Aid.

A COMMITMENT TO FINANCIAL AID Windward’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity is an integral part of its educational fabric. The School’s Financial Aid budget has tripled over the past ten years, and more than $2.3 million is budgeted for the 2019-20 school year. 40% of Windward’s incoming Class of 2025 are students of color.

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WE ARE HERE FOR YOU Windward strives at all times to be a respectful and considerate neighbor. Your feedback is always welcome, and we are committed to working with you and responding quickly to any question or concern you may have.

We provide 24/7 phone access to security for neighbor comments or inquiries.

Please feel free to contact Associate Director of Operations Jacqueline Varney at jvarney@windwardschool.org if: --

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You have any questions or feedback regarding parking, traffic, or noise at the School.

You observe a Windward student or community member violating parking guidelines or engaging in disrespectful conduct.

You have any feedback pertaining to campus events of School operating hours.

Learn more and sign up for our email list at www.windwardschool.org/community.

CONTACTS Dawn Barrett Chief Operating Officer (310) 391-7127 x 1015 Jacqueline Varney Associate Director of Operations (310) 391-7127 x 1003 Tyrone Powell Director of Operations (310) 391-7127 x 1064 Uriel Aguirre Head of Security, Chief Security (323) 434-6021 Hiliana Gomez Neighbor Relations Coordinator (310) 391-7127 x 1000