A dynamic, engaging education. A nurturing, inclusive community.
MAR VISTA COMMUNITY COUNCIL AT WINDWARD (ROOM 410)
Windward is proud to host the Mar Vista Community Council Meetings. Providing accessible spaces is just one of the many ways we can benefit our local community, and we enjoy having the committees utilize our facilities.
OUTREACH COMMITTEE
1st Tuesday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
ELECTIONS AND BYLAWS COMMITTEE
1st Tuesday from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE
1st Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITMENT
AWELCOME, HEAD OF SCHOOL SARAH BECK!
In July, Windward proudly welcomed Sarah Beck as its new Head of School. A dynamic and compassionate leader, Sarah brings a wealth of experience in both independent and public education. She most recently served as Interim Head of Upper School and Assistant Head of School for Academics at The Potomac School in McLean, Virginia.
Now a proud member of the Mar Vista community, Sarah is excited to get to know Windward’s neighbors and looks forward to opportunities for connection in the months ahead. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Sarah and her family!
MONDAY, AUGUST 4: SCHEDULED ANNUAL FIRE ALARM TESTING
s a school operating in a residential neighborhood, we strive to do our part in remaining a good neighbor.
We hope this ongoing commitment to road safety and campus etiquette will further the positive relationship we have with our neighbors. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns regarding traffic, parking, or security.
Please contact us with any questions:
Dawn Barrett, Associate Head of School for Advancement, Finance, & Operations
dbarrett@windwardschool.org
Direct Line (424) 289-1015
Lindsay Gonzales, Director of Infrastructure and Risk Management
lgonzales@windwardschool.org
Direct Line (424) 289-1004
Stay Involved!
Raul Villa, Facilities Manager
rvilla@windwardschool.org
Direct Line (424) 289-1018
Uriel Aguirre, Plant and Vendor Manager
uaguirre@windwardschool.org
Direct Line (424) 289-1171
Greg Moreno, Security Manager
Interested in staying up to date with all of Windward’s events? Follow us on Instagram for all Windward news and updates!
gmoreno@windwardschool.org
Direct Line (424) 289-1171
Hiliana Gomez, Community Engagement and Advancement Liaison
hgomez@windwardschool.org
Direct Line (424) 289-1000
WPLUM COMMITTEE
1st Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
EDUCATION ART & CULTURE COMMITTEE
2nd Tuesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY & HOMELESS COMMITTEE
2nd Wednesday from 6 - 8:30 p.m.
EXECUTIVE & FINANCE COMMITTEE
2nd Thursday from 6:30 - 8 p.m.
MAR VISTA BOARD MEETING (Zoom)
3rd Thursday from 6:30 - 9 p.m.
For questions please contact Hiliana Gomez at hgomez@windwardschool.org.
AUGUST 2025
18: 9th Grade Parent/Guardian Meeting, 6 p.m.
19: 7th Grade Parent/Guardian Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
20: 10th Grade Parent/Guardian Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
CALENDAR
21: 8th Grade Parent/Guardian Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
25: First Day of School
26: 12th Grade Parent/Guardian Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
28: 11th Grade Parent/Guardian Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
Please be advised that our required, campus-wide Regulation 4 Annual Fire Alarm Testing is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 4. Testing will begin at 7:30 a.m. and is expected to conclude by no later than 4 p.m.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
• Alarms will be activated intermittently across campus throughout the day.
• There is no emergency during these activities; they are part of the routine inspection process.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we complete this important safety requirement. If there are any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Lindsay Gonzales, Director of Infrastructure and Risk Management.
SEPTEMBER 2025
1 Labor Day (No School)
23 Rosh Hashanah (No School)
30 Back to School Night, 5:30 p.m.
OCTOBER 2025
2 Yom Kippur (No School)
7 Prospective Parent Open House #1
20 No School
21 Parent Guild Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
23 Fall Coffeehouse Show #1
24 Fall Coffeehouse Show #2
NOVEMBER 2025
4: Prospective Parent Open House #2
7: Faculty In-Service (No School)
8: Grandparent Brunch, 10
10: Tales at the Table, 6 p.m. 24-28: Thanksgiving Break (No School)
DECEMBER 2025
2: Prospective Parent Open House #3
12: Fall Theatre Performance, 7 p.m. 13: Fall Theatre Performance, 7 p.m.
18: Neighborhood Meeting, 6 p.m. via Zoom
19: Young Alumni Lunch 22-31: Winter Break (No School)
2025–2026 ADMISSIONS APPLICATIONS
The 2025–26 Admissions season is officially open! Windward School is proud to serve the local community and welcomes applications for entry into Grades 7 through 9, beginning mid-July.
Our dedicated Admissions Team is here to support you throughout the process and answer any questions along the way. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at admissions@windwardschool. org—we’re happy to help.
We look forward to connecting with you and sharing what makes the Windward community so special!
To learn more and get started, visit: www.windwardschool.org/ admissions/how-to-apply
INNOVATION & ARTS CENTER UPDATE
We are pleased to share that the project is now entering its final stages of completion—a significant milestone that reflects the tremendous progress made to date. We’re deeply grateful for the continued support and collaboration of our neighbors throughout this process. We know the journey hasn’t always been seamless, and we truly appreciate your patience and understanding along the way.
We’re hoping to schedule tours of the new building later this Fall for those interested, and we’ll be sure to share opportunities to attend events in the new space as they become available.
If you have any questions or would like additional information about the project, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Dawn Barrett or Lindsay Gonzales.
LOOKING AHEAD: STRENGTHENING TRAFFIC MITIGATION FOR 2025–26
As we prepare for the 2025-2026 school year, we feel optimistic that we are positively building upon our traffic mitigation strategies from recent years. Not only is our bus program expanding to better serve the School’s community needs (especially in light of housing transitions after the Palisades Fire), but also, our carpool requirements for all parent/guardian-driven and Senior student-driven vehicles are more robust than ever.
Both our bus program and carpool requirements are designed to reduce daily traffic to and from campus, ease congestion during drop-off and pick-up, and support smoother traffic flow in the surrounding neighborhood.
In addition, our Security Team will continue to monitor the local area to ensure community safety and adherence to school parking protocols. Not to mention, with the School’s latest construction project nearing completion, parking will be a much smoother go-around this school year.
We are deeply grateful for the continued support of the Mar Vista community. For questions or concerns, please contact Lindsay Gonzales.
MAR VISTA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL PICNIC
On June 14, Windward School hosted the Mar Vista Neighborhood Association’s Annual Picnic on Foley Field. The picnic was a tremendous success!
The afternoon was filled with fun, laughter, and community spirit. Our friends and neighbors came together to enjoy delicious food, sweet treats, creative craft activities for the kids, lively music, and classic games. We are proud to continue this annual tradition and look forward to welcoming everyone back next year!
SERVICE LEARNING AT WINDWARD IN THE FALL
Looking ahead to the 25-26 school year, we remain committed to deepening our work and supporting our community by partnering in hands-on work in the local community, addressing real needs through student-led projects, and helping students grow as learners and active citizens.
CAMP
SUMMER
CAMP SUCCESS!
This Summer, Windward welcomed neighborhood students back to campus for a wide range of public summer camp offerings in Athletics, Academics, and the Arts.
Athletic camps included basketball, baseball, football, soccer, volleyball at the beach, and tennis at Mar Vista Park—providing opportunities for students at all levels to build skills and stay active.
Academic and arts programs featured camps in Visual and Media Arts, Dance, Debate, Improv, Video Game Design, and Broadway Production, giving students space to explore new interests and deepen existing ones.
Thank you to everyone who helped make the experience meaningful for our campers!
WINDWARD SERVICE PROJECTS
This Summer, we were thrilled to welcome the first of three groups of incoming 7th Grade students to campus for Camp Windward—a weeklong program designed to help new students build connections and settle into the Windward community through fun, team-based activities.
On the final day of camp, students took part in a meaningful service project that introduced them to Windward’s values around community engagement and giving back. Representatives from PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) visited campus to share more about the organization’s mission and the challenges facing unhoused individuals in Los Angeles. Inspired by the conversation, students assembled 100 snack bags, which will be distributed by PATH’s street outreach team to individuals in need across the city.
UPCOMING
EVENTS
• Free After-School Enrichment Classes for 3rd-5th Graders
• 9th and 10th Grade experiential Service Learning trips with Surfrider, PATH, Bread and Roses
• Fall Festival Baskets and Family Portraits with Allies for Every Child
• Giving Tuesday Service Drive