Wesley Spring 2024 Newsletter

a message from the head of school

Wesley did, indeed, have a lot to celebrate this year.

From our truly noteworthy 25th Anniversary Gala blowout to the warm reception Greg has received as incoming Head, I am confident that good days are ahead.

We thoroughly enjoyed an international adventure with our 8th grade students, traveling "across the pond" for eight days in and around London. Our busy itinerary included visits to St. Paul's Cathedral, The British Museum, and the Globe Theatre, excursions to Oxford, Stratford, Bath, and Salisbury, and three theater performances, including taking in a show at The Globe. Not only did the students have a fantastic time, the chaperones were impressed by their collective interest, their stamina, and their spirit of adventure.

This year, our 41 8th graders applied to over 30 different schools and will be matriculating to 17 high schools, and we are beyond excited for each and every one of them.

A Message from the Head of School

Julie Galles, Head of School

The Deans’ Den

Wesley’s Spring Art Expo

Trisha Singletary, K-8 Art Teacher

Board of Trustees News

Dave Monahan, Wesley Board Chair

Jenny Hollier, Wesley Board Vice Chair

DEIJ at Wesley: Wesley Connections Wrap-Up

Amy Stewart DiBianca, Wesley Connections Coordinator & Families with Learning Differences Co-Chair

Coach’s Corner

Louie Rodriguez, Athletic Director

Parents’ Association Update

Marie Natividad & Angie Niemeyer, PA Co-Chairs

Development Office Update

Tammy Rodriguez, Director of Development

Kevin Elbo, Development Associate

Admissions News

Verena Denove, Director of Admissions

Alumni Corner

Campus Kudos

15-16

A Message from the head of school 2

Dear Wesley Family and Friends,

We’ve made it to the end of another year! Our recent Palooza and the amazing Parent Appreciation Community demonstrated and reinforced this year’s theme of Celebration. Seeing all the children on stage, cheered on by supportive parents, peers, and teachers, exemplified our values of safe spaces and appropriate risk-taking. The many, many hours from dedicated parent volunteers that were appreciated and applauded in Community affirm that Wesley runs on the energy of commitment and generosity from our parent body.

Wesley students continually practice public speaking, sharing their learning journeys, and celebrating the successes of others. From cheering on the Kindergarteners leading Community, to showing rousing support for all participants in the multi-grade Mythology Bee, to the enthusiastic accolades awarded our champion athletes, our students enjoy celebrating each other. These are among the many experiences that craft our 5th graders to be ready for their Celebration Ceremony and our 8th graders to be ready for their Graduation. We are once again so proud of our graduates as they move from the Wesley nest to many LA area schools, ready to make their mark on the wider world.

As I conclude my final year at the helm of The Wesley School, I will miss all my Wesley Lions; their smiles, greetings, and waves have brought me joy even on the most challenging days. Wesley did, indeed, have a lot to celebrate this year. From our truly noteworthy 25th Anniversary Gala blowout to the warm reception Greg has received as incoming Head, I am confident that good days are ahead.

Wishing you many continued moments of Celebration this summer!!

Julie Galles Head of School

the deans’ den

DearWesleyFamilies,

For this last Dean’s Den entry for 2024, I’d like to take a moment to recognize the contributions that our deans have made over the past several years. Sharing the student experiences at Wesleyviathemonthlynewsletterkeepsusconnectedtothevibrantlifeoftheschool,andour deans have compiled these accounts and breathed them into life for us. This tangible example of what they do, however, pales in comparison to the comprehensive pastoral care that our deans have provided for our students and families. This is harder to assess and to qualify, but theimpacthasbeendemonstrablyprofound.

Michelle Allegra, Elizabeth Heneveld, LeLoni Bass, Marla Simon, George Eleftheriades and Melinda Vazquez have adroitly balanced what are effectively full-time teaching loads with the additional responsibilities of planning activities for students, communicating with families, managing behavioral strategies, coordinating grade reports, mentoring colleagues, and many other vital tasks that have made our day-to-day school life run. It has been a pleasure to work with them in this endeavor for the past two years, and I have personally learned a great deal fromthemabouttheWesleyculture,history,andpotentialforgrowth.Distributedleadershipis a noble pursuit and an excellent way to build a strong commitment to shared responsibility, and our deans have tirelessly devoted themselves to strengthening our school. While we are transitioning from this model to a divisional structure for next year, that decision does not have anything to do with the deans themselves, or the efforts that they have made, and I hope that ourcommunitywilljoinmeinsalutingtheirpassionatedevotiontoWesley.Cheerstothem!

Thank you all for your support, and we all look forward very much to a spectacular 2024/2025 schoolyearahead!

Yours,

GregArmbrister AssistantHeadofSchoolforAcademics Head-Elect

Band1,Kindergarten-2ndGrade

The Kinder kiddos had a great time on their field trips to the Petersen Automotive Museumand the Burbank Public Library this Spring. We learned about the history and science of the automobile, saw some really cool cars, joined in storytime at the library, and we got to travel in the “coolest bus ever”!! We also had the chance to participate in the first ever Lower School Science Fair. With so many kindergarten participants, we learned about the eclipse, the difference between venomous and poisonous, how to create a tornado in a jar and so many otherfascinatingprojects.Thisyear,weinvitedallourkinderfamiliestosignuptospeaktoour classes about their families. We were so excited to have these opportunities to see what we all have in common and what makes us unique. This demonstrates the essence of our Wesley Community,wherebelongingistrulycherishedandfostered.

2-4-6-8 March-April and May are Really Great! In the Spring, we do our Magical MARP Thing! First grade worked very hard becoming animal experts. MARP (My Animal Research Project) is a cross curricular project that ties together everything that 1st grade learns academically and socially. The students spend time learning about their animal’s habitat, diet, location in the world, and many fun facts. Our Wesley Lions also learn about being an ally to the Earth and an activist for animals. Their research has spanned the last few months of school and culminated inalivepresentationbyeachMARPexpert.

Our 2nd grade students made great strides in all of their subjects with consistent effort and productivity. In Reading and Writing, they utilized their research and organization skills to create wonderful presentations of different countries. They also sharpened their mapping skills to identify their locations in the world. In Math, our students began developing their geometry skills and began to learn to measure in standard and metric units. They also began to identify and differentiate shapes in 2D and 3D, giving them a deeper understanding of their properties. In Social Studies, we continued fostering cultural research and honoring different heritages around the world and in our country. We honored and celebrated some students from our AANHPI community and learned about their different traditions and customs. Exploring diverse cultures, students embarked on a journey through history, unearthing the stories of heroes dedicatedtochampioningsocialjusticeandegalitarianism.

Band 2, 3rd & 4th Grades

The 3rd graders were busy wrapping up another amazing school year! In reading and writing, we explored and wrote different types of poetry using figurative language such as similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, idioms, etc. In addition, 3rd grade students read different fairy tales and wrote their own fractured tales. In math, students learned to identify and represent fractions on a number line as well as order and compare fractions. In social studies, students made baskets, sang Chumash songs, learned about the tomol (a Chumash canoe), made a hand-eye coordination game with a ring, stick, and string, and made beaded bracelets. In creating these materials, we learned the importance of how the Chumash used their environment to help them in their daily lives as well as what life is like for them today! We’re so proud of all the hard work the 3rd graders have done this year! We will miss them and look forward to seeing their growth in 4th grade

Fourth grade wrapped up some exciting projects! In math, students explored a recipe, worked with its fractions, and then shared the food at school in our Cooking With Fractions unit. In social studies, our students successfully researched a California mission that was assigned to them and created a brochure and presentation for their mission. Students also learned about the Gold Rush in preparation for their Field Trip to VT Ranch. They had the opportunity to get hands-on with California history as they made candles, used a washboard, and panned for gold! Lastly, students enjoyed our fantasy writing unit, as they created their own world and characters. We’re so proud of their hard work and progress and look forward to seeing their growth in 5th grade!

Band 3, 5th & 6th Grades

The 5th grade rehearsed for their Celebration Day honoring their years in elementary school They were excited to enter middle school a bit older and wiser They have been wonderful class leaders who will enjoy new adventures in Wesley's upper school In humanities, we wrapped up our lessons on the fifty great states of the United States. On June 5th the students came to school dressed in a way that represented one of their favorite states.

We also continued to explore the history related to the creation of the US. Students put the finishing touches on their end of the year fiction stories. They have proven to be wonderful creative writers and artists. Stories ranged from the genres of realistic fiction, sci-fi, and fantasy, to historical fiction and more!

For 6th grade, this trimester was all about Ancient Greece and preparing for our culminating Greek Festival! In literature, students have read The Adventures of Ulysses as they followed Ulysses’ journey home to Penelope. We were excited to delve into Greek mythology with D’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths. After analyzing the traits of the gods and goddesses, students created masks matching the traits of a mythological figure with a modern day person Students embarked on a study of Shakespeare by reading selected scenes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream We used a beanie baby to “toss” lines and had fun stomping around the classroom to iambic pentameter We ended our study with a thrilling day of Shakespeare immersion; Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum came to Wesley and treated the 6th graders to a full performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This was followed by two hours of interactive workshops on Character Analysis, Speech and Text, Period Dancing, and Stage Fighting!

To prepare for our festival, we examined Greek art, key designs, and red on black pottery designs. We created original designs on fabric to use on our chitons (our costumes for the Greek Festival), as well as on our own Greek vase creations. Many of us have watched Greek themed movies and analyzed what Hollywood got right… or in some cases…not so right!

Leading up to our Greek Festival, 6th grade students, Mrs. Simon, Ms. Julie, and Mrs. McGregor worked hard on our projects, plays, and musical numbers

Finally, 6th graders had an amazing time on their outdoor ed overnight trip to Fulcrum in Pacific Palisades Students practiced trusting and supporting each other as they attempted various ropes course activities and physical problem solving challenges at this beautiful venue We do believe the dance party, campfire, and challenging hike to the waterfall were especially the favorite parts of our stay. Mr. A, Coach Louie, Ms. Julie, and Mrs. Simon even managed to get a decent night’s rest, once the giggles subsided! Great trimester 6th graders…you are poised and ready for 7th grade!

Band 4, 7th & 8th Grades

Seventh grade Introduction to the Legal System learned about the U.S Constitution and more specifically about the Bill of Rights and how the first ten amendments to the Constitution provide a foundation for our legal system. We examined the difference between a tort and a crime and what process occurs before a case goes to trial. We discussed police procedure, due process of law, trial procedure and important legal concepts such as "burden of proof" and "reasonable doubt "

In History, as the year came to a close, the 7th graders focused on the Far East, namely China and Japan, during the Middle Ages From paper money and gunpowder to Zen gardens and samurai, they discovered the marvelous aspects and achievements of these amazing cultures. All along they chronicled how each culture adds to and exchanges with others (cultural diffusion!), eventually creating the amazing world that we have today.

In 7th grade English we completed our year with Shakespeare's most recognized tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. We started with a discussion as to why Romeo and Juliet is still the most commonly taught text in classrooms around the country and why we subject our students to the archaic language of Shakespeare. Is it only because we were subjected to it when we were in school? The goal was to make the student experience less awful than the experiences that we had with Shakespeare in middle school by making the play interesting and fun We had Shakespearean rap battles, wrote lovely sonnets, and brought the play to life in our classroom Throughout the unit, we examined who we are and what makes us that way, what role our family plays in our development, and the extent to which

Shakespeare’s plays interrogate or critique the value of romantic love as a social construct. We ended with an expository paper and watched a modernized version of the play

In math, the 7th and 8th graders did a great job, and we are very pleased with their progress In particular, 8th grade South is mathematically very talented, and Mr Baharvand had the opportunity to work with them on some of the concepts that they will also learn in high school. They really love the idea of learning these new concepts, and the level of enthusiasm and participation was excellent.

For 8th grade History, all year the focus was on the development, trials, and tribulations of our home, the USA. In the culminating weeks of the school year, students traveled west in the California Gold Rush (some didn’t make it, a few struck it rich) and looked into the events that led to the greatest tragedy in our country’s history: the Civil War. With the great cultural and political divide that developed primarily over the issue of slavery during the 1800s, the country finally came apart with the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. In learning this, we drew parallels into our own society and explored ways of healing the divides of today

From March 15 through March 23, Mr Campy, Ms Singletary and Mrs Rodriguez and Mr E thoroughly enjoyed an international adventure with our 8th grade students, traveling "across the pond" for eight days in and around London. Our busy itinerary included visits to St. Paul's Cathedral, The British Museum, and the Globe Theatre, excursions to Oxford, Stratford, Bath, and Salisbury, and three theater performances, including taking in a show at The Globe. Not only did the students have a fantastic time, the chaperones were impressed by their collective interest, their stamina, and their spirit of adventure.

All School Spring Art Expo

What a great year in Art! Our students are creative, enthusiastic learners I am grateful that they allow me to take them on various journeys through art making.

Each year I start the year off with different goals in mind. Building techniques using materials, exploring art history as it relates, and touching on art subject matter, is always implemented I’m always thinking about how I can do that while helping students understand themselves and the world we live in

Wesley was able to send me to an Art As Therapy course over the summer at Europass Teacher Academy in Florence, Italy. The experience was amazing and had an impact on the subject matter I brought to students this school year. The combination of DEI work I am continually doing through co-facilitating the SEED Seminar and workshops, along with the study over the summer helped me help students go a little deeper. I tap into identity with students every year but this year felt different. I asked students to reflect and write more, sharing various aspects of their identity, their opinion, and feelings..

Students were able to spend time looking at diversity through making art. Whether learning about different cultures, genders, or a way in which someone ’ s ability is different, the goal is to build knowledge and appreciation. The hope is that through these experiences students may develop an understanding and normalcy around difference In this article by Yale News, studies have proven that infants notice difference of skin tone by 6 months, by age 2 ½ children prefer others of the same race and gender to play with, and by 3 some make judgements about different races. As educators, we have an opportunity to help children appreciate the diverse world they are seeing and counter the biases that come up.

Lastly, this year was also about teaching the kids how artists use their art to address social issues. These types of projects weren’t tackled in every class due to time constraints but discussions were had where it related. I want the students to know that their voice and opinions matter. Some art has the capacity to make people think and promote positive change.

I want to extend a huge thanks to all those people, students and parents, who helped me set up the Art Expo. I am truly grateful. Special thanks to the Art Chair, Anna Fudacz and the Facilities team.

I look forward to summer break to rest, enjoy, and gear up for the next school year. I am wishing everyone a wonderful summer break!

- Trisha Singletary

K-8 Art Teacher

13 bOARD OF TRUSTEES NEWS

We did it!

This past year has been filled with a lot of new beginnings and excitement for what’s on the horizon. At the beginning of 2024, the Board of Trustees was thrilled to announce that our own Mr. Greg Armbrister, will be our next Head of School! Throughout his two years with us, Greg has helped to bring our community together while also collaborating to chart a course for the future. Thank you to our amazing community for your support and input as we navigated through this leadership transition.

One of the most important jobs of the board is to find members of our community to become new trustees. The board can have up to 23 individuals and our goal is to have as diverse a board as possible. Each trustee can serve up to three, 3 year terms. This year, we had only one trustee termed out – so we’d like to give a very special thank you to Gary Kirkpatrick. Not only has he served on the board for 9 years, but he also led the task force that purchased Wesley’s first property adjacent to the campus. He is an example of an individual that has selflessly dedicated his time to the betterment of our school. We are also bidding a fond farewell to Norman Kelsey, our church delegate. Through the years, he has brought insight to our meetings and we can not thank him enough for being an ally and supporter of Wesley.

Although we are saying goodbye to our outgoing board members Gary and Norman, we are very excited to welcome our newest trustees! Toi Bridges (Marlo - 4th grade and Tyson - 3rd grade), will be joining us in the fall, not only as a new trustee, but she’ll also be serving on the Executive Committee as the CODI Chair. Toi has spent endless hours volunteering as part of Wesley Connections, helping with admissions, and being on the Head of School search committee. In addition to Toi, Kathleen Lawton-Trask (Jane - 5th grade and Will - 3rd grade) will also be joining the board. Kathleen is currently the English Department Chair at Campbell Hall. She’s kindly offered to bring her educational expertise as well as her deep knowledge of independent schools to our meetings. Thank you, Toi and Kathleen!

One of the board’s major responsibilities is to ensure the long term health of the school through strategic planning. The Strategic Planning Task Force has been diligently working with our consultants Anne-Marie Balzano and Barb Rosston from Mission & Data to articulate our existing strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and opportunities. This deep dive that includes feedback and input from all constituencies helps focus our future efforts, both strategically and operationally, aligning everything we do with our new mission for the benefit of the student experience. That work will continue over the summer with the goal of rolling out the plan to the community this fall.

At our last meeting on May 21st, the board voted on the Executive Committee for 2024-2025. We are pleased to announce that David Monahan will be returning as Board Chair, as well as Jenny Hollier as Vice Chair, and Marissa Seeman as Secretary. We’d like to extend a very special thank you to our outgoing Executive Committee members Thordis Howard, CODI Chair, and Mike Natividad, Treasurer. You both have gone above and beyond to help shape the school and improve campus life for all of its students. Next year, we will welcome Alan Waldman as Treasurer and Toi Brides as CODI chair and look forward with optimism and excitement to what 2024-2025 holds.

As another school year comes to a close, we’d like to thank each and every board member that has served this year for their volunteerism and commitment to Wesley:

David Monahan Jenny Hollier Marissa Seeman

Mike Nativdad Thordis Howard Alan Waldman

Melanie Elliott Janett Meyer Jason Friedman

Eddie O’Flaherty Gary Kirkpatrick Lisa Lange

Dale Pinnock Michelle Albert Conrad Sison

Amy DiBianca Hillary Turner Samantha Hampar

Norman Kelsey Cheryl Ting Heemanshu Bhagat

As we wrap up this school year, we also want to acknowledge outgoing Head of School Julie Galles for her dedication to the Wesley community. She came to Wesley in the midst of the pandemic, weeks after we tragically lost our new Head of School. She not only guided us through an extremely difficult and unprecedented time, eventually getting us back on campus, but she also initiated and supervised our comprehensive curricular overhaul, helped bring Greg Armbrister to us, and always led with professionalism and integrity. Thank you, Julie, for your commitment to Wesley and being a constant champion of our school. We wish you all the best in your next endeavor and know you will continue to inspire lives!

Warmly,

The Wesley Board of Trustees

deij at wesley

Wesley Connections Wrap-Up

One of the things I’ve loved most about Wesley has been the authentic, meaningful exchanges I’ve watched develop through Wesley Connections Since the program started, I’ve participated in meet-ups at restaurants, homes, parks, and happy hours, virtually and on campus No matter where or how we get together, having a community of fellow parents and guardians navigating the same joys and challenges can be really comforting

Over the past six years, Wesley Connections has grown into eleven different resource groups throughout the community:

Single Parent Families Gen X and Beyond Families

Adoptive Families Families with Learning Differences

LGBTQIA+ Families Families Raising Tweens and Teens

LatinX Families

Black/African American Families

Jewish Families One and Fun Single Child Families

APIDA Families

Each group has offered an opportunity to listen, celebrate, or even swap info about a new book, cuisine, pediatrician, or podcast However, more than anything, they have created a space where stories, triumphs, and fears are shared without judgement This environment of acceptance and understanding is what truly fosters a sense of belonging, transforming acquaintances into trusted allies and shared struggles into opportunities for growth and solidarity

This year, we were thrilled to welcome two new groups: the Jewish Families group and the Raising Tweens and Teens group I got to attend the first gatherings of both groups and was incredibly moved by the camaraderie and support evident among Wesley families. They demonstrated that empathy is truly the heartbeat of thriving communities. After all, it is not a simple time to be a parent or even a human being in this world. As we cultivate empathy and understanding within these circles of connection, we help foster a community rooted in compassion and kindness.

Amy Stewart DiBianca

Wesley Connections Coordinator & Families with Learning Differences Co-Chair

“We really enjoyed the opportunity to deepen our connections with other families in the community who share the joys and challenges of raising an only child The Wesley community is strengthened when we have a chance to celebrate our commonality and Wesley Connections is a great way to do that!”

-Alicyn Packard & Jason Friedman, One and Fun Families Co-Chairs

"We are so extremely grateful and gratified by The Jewish Families first year with Wesley Connections From our gatherings to our Hanukkah celebration, we feel we were able to provide joy and comfort to our community"

-Matthew Leavitt & Heather Boyd, Jewish Families and Allies Co-Chairs

"Co-leading the LGBTQIA+ Wesley Connections group has been such a gift for me as a parent new to Wesley. It was a welcoming door that led to new friendships, and it has been a space where I could enjoy representing families like ours within a diverse community."

-Naomi Zipperman, LGBTQIA+ Families Co-Chair

“Wesley Connections has been such an incredible way to interact with, relate to, and bond with families across all grade levels who share similar intersections of identity with my family. I am honored to step into the role of co-lead and help make sure our community continues to build these connections!”

-Hillary Turner, CODI Co-Chair

“Having this group has built a stronger sense of community and camaraderie A place to go where we have shared values and experiences and learned about others’ experiences”

-Chris Lim, APIDA Families Co-Chair

“With six successful events already completed and one more summer BBQ on the horizon, the Wesley Connections Black and African American Families group embarked on an exciting journey this year to ENGAGE! From fostering fellowship during PSV events to educating our community through a captivating black history scavenger hunt and vibrant West African dancing, families and allies came together to celebrate and uplift one another. We look forward to welcoming our new families and planning for an amazing 2024-25 school year!”

-Alexandria Chapman & Toi Bridges-Smith, Black/African American Families Co-Chairs

17 coach’s corner

The Olympic motto Citius, Altius, Fortius (faster, higher, stronger) was well represented by our athletes Add resilience, hard work and focus, and that represents this seasoninWesleyAthletics.GOLIONS!!!

Our 4th graders improved so much The volleyball team willbeaforceiftheystaytogether The4thgradesoccer teamendedupwitharecordof6-1 The5thgradeteams also ended with positive seasons They improved very muchandhadgreatteamwork Ourcombination4thand 6th grade boys volleyball team also improved very much Mostgameswereplayedagainst6thgradeteamsandwe werecompetitiveineverygameandtheboyshadlotsof fun.

Both6thgradegirlsvolleyballteamsplayedwellandthe chemistry of each team was great to see Look out for these teams next year The 6th grade soccer team overcame many obstacles this season They lost some membersoftheteamandneededsomehelpfromother teams just to field a squad. They played hard and had great attitudes throughout. In their last game they came back from a 5-1 goal deficit to put pressure on the other teambytyingthegame.Theycameupjustabitshortbut hadoneofthemostexcitinggamesever.

Two extra teams this season were the 7th & 8th grade track team and 7th and 8th grade golf team. The track teamhadgreatsuccessesrightaway.Evenbeingasmall school,weshowedwellineverymeet.ChinyaandMJled the way and both placed in the championshipmeet. The golf team started off the season against a tough Revere team.Therewasmuchdebateabouthowtoproceedand some did not want to compete. After the second meet everyonerealizedthatitwasoktocompeteandweeven wonacoupleofmeets

JakeK.andJamesC.bothhadgreatshowingsatthegolf championship.

The 7th grade JV volleyball teams showed great heart andimprovedfromdayone.Theboyscametogetherand I’m sure they were surprised at the improvement they had. The girls played well and made the playoffs. Unfortunatelytheylosttoatoughmatchagainstagood Buckley team. This team will be back next year with higheraspirations.

The8thgradeVarsityteamsalsodidwellandimproved verymuch.Theboyshadgreatchemistryandimproved their skills this season. They had some great rallies and playedtoughateverymatch.

Thegirlsvarsityteamhadanotherwonderfulseason This is the third year these girls ended the season as undefeatedchampions Theirlastgame,achampionship game against Buckley, was a barn burner Wesley won thefirstgameprettyhandedly,thankstotoughplayand incredible serves from Avery and Maisy. The second gamewastoughinabackandforthbattle,withBuckley going to their strongest hitter often. The third and final game Wesley got their mojo back, rattling Buckley’s hitterandattackingwiththeirserves.Congratulationson yourthreepeatgirls.

Onapersonalnote,Iwanttosayithasbeenapleasureto serveasWesley’sAthleticDirectorforthelasttwoyears I am confident that I was able to steer the program in a positive direction, and I’m hopeful that our Wesley athleteswillcontinuetogrowanddevelop.GoLions!

BestWishes,

LouieRodriguez AthleticDirector

HOLIDAY ISSUE:

After a very wet February, we were ready for Spring! We kept ourselves busy in March and brought back our Women of Wesley (WOW) Moments with an ode to 25 years of nostalgia by honoring the founding Women of Wesley. We asked them for some Words Of Wisdom and reflection, and honored them with a light reception after the Kinder’s Women’s History Month Community. Then, together with Toi Bridges (3rd, 4th), we were very excited to bring Wesley’s March Into Literacy Month campaign - a collection of learning events aimed to reignite a love of reading and writing across our community this spring! We met and collaborated with the Deans to develop custom curated book lists by grade level We secured four authors to visit our various grade levels, held the book fair, and created the thing we are most proud of.. our outdoor Literacy Lounge! (aka the Lit Lounge). We transformed the quad into a bright and welcoming place where kids were encouraged to browse books and find a comfy spot to read. Our book fair was a success! We managed to raise over $1500 (in conjunction with the leftover funds the PA had raised from the past two years, over $5k in total), allowing us to donate $125 to each classroom and $180 to the Library, to purchase books for next year!

After Spring Break, Luz Herrera-Olaya (3rd) led our Wesley families through another beach cleanup with Heal the Bay - just in time for Earth Week! Mimi Narducci (1st, 5th) led all of our Earth Week events by setting up responsible-recycling collections events. We ended the month with a spring dance for our 6th-8th graders Maryn Russell (8th) Yoli Poropat (7th) and Jackie Lay (6th) created a Vegas Glam themed party, complete with a magician!

INSIDE THIS OUR HOLIDAY ISSUE:

Kicking off May, Lauren Brandenstein (2nd, 4th, 5th) and Sam Thompson (5th, 8th) once again planned our Faculty and Staff Appreciation Luncheon, this year held at the beautiful home of the Cripps family. Anna Fudacz worked closely with Ms. Singletary as she and a team of volunteers helped set up the Art Expo. We were in awe of the amazing artwork made by our kids, as they showed us around during the Spring Showcase. The amazing duo of Lindsey Drasin (2nd) and Jessica Stewart (7th) put together yet another amazing Palooza! The event was full of student performances, student entrepreneur booths, activity booths, delicious food and snack offerings, and overall fun! May also brought us two party books: a Mother’s Day pampering of yoga & massages, hosted by the Makarem, Chalfin, Allen/Widjaja and Friedman/Packard Families; and the infamous, kid-favorite Live Your Fantasy Ball, hosted by the Campanella, Lindsay, O'Connor, Stempel, Young, Strauss, and Vanderyacht Families + Mr. Greene and Ms JoAnna

June brought us to a close and we thanked all of our families at our 4th annual Family Movie Night! Thanks to all the funds raised this year, this event was free to our Wesley families. We were happy to host the end of the year grade-level celebrations to help our kids celebrate all they’ve accomplished this year!

We are so honored to have been your PA chairs this past year Thank you for all of your support. We hope you have a wonderful summer!

Marie Natividad & Angie Niemeyer

Your

PA Co-Chairs

21 Development office update

Time really does fly fast when you’re having fun!

We kicked off spring with our biennial Gala on March 2nd, 2024 at Castaway in Burbank It was nothing short of a magical night as we celebrated Wesley’s 25th Anniversary and dressed to impress with our Wesley in Wonderland theme. Our Raise-the-Paddle was the highest we’ve ever had at $72,800 which will go towards the STEAM program and initiatives. Our Live Auction hit new highs as well bringing in over $32,000! And to top it off our silent auction added another $39,140! Thank you so much to everyone that participated, celebrated and partied with us at this event as we commemorated this special milestone, raised funds for our beloved school and created everlasting memories together. Your support will ensure that both current and future generations of Lions will continue to experience the magic of Wesley for years to come. Special shoutout to our Auction chairs, Lauren Brandenstein, Ginifer King Ruge, and Ethan Applen, as well as our Gala chairs, Brooke O’Connor, Lauren Stempel, Angie Neimeyer, and Jenny Hollier We could not have done it without you In case you missed it or partied a little too hard that night, please enjoy this highlight reel and photo album from this event

On Friday, April 26th, our students as well as our faculty and staff participated in our annual Run-for-aCause event This year we’ve chosen a cause that is particularly aimed at kids helping kids We partnered with Make-A-Wish in their Kids for Wish Kids program Half of all funds raised directly supported Make-A-Wish’s amazing effort in granting wishes for children that have been diagnosed with critical illnesses, with the remaining half supporting important service learning initiatives at Wesley That means, for every $10,000 raised during this event, we were able to grant a wish for a child We are happy to report that we were able to grant 2 wishes! Thank you to all who sponsored our students as they crossed the finish line of this event.

going Wesley Brick Campaign By participating, you have the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy at The Wesley School Your personalized brick(s) will become a permanent part of our campus, symbolizing your commitment to the school’s future. Leave your legacy today by clicking here!

As we bring this year to a close, we would like to send our sincere thanks and appreciation to the entire Wesley Community. Your support, both philanthropically and through your volunteerism, is what makes Wesley such a special place. You continually show up for our students and our school and we are beyond grateful to have each and every one of you! Have an incredible summer!

The Wesley Development Team

Tammy Rodriguez Kevin Elbo Director of Development Development Associate

Parent to Penny (6th grade)

Parent to Gavin (Incoming Kinder)

Admissions update

At The We e a feeder school for ping each individual student find the right best next step for them and that means our students land at a high numberofdifferentschools Thisyear,our418thgradersappliedtoover30differentschoolsandwillbe matriculatingto17highschoolsandwearebeyondexcitedforeachandeveryoneofthem

As our students make their way through the application process, it might be that they are seeking a much larger school than they have experienced at Wesley or that they would like to continue in a smallerenvironment Theymaybeinterestedinexploringanallboysorallgirlsschool,invisitingthose schoolswhichhaveverycompetitiveathleticsprograms,orthosewithtravelingroboticsteams,awide range of performing arts electives, or any other number of areas of interest. The opportunities are endlessandareasvariedasourstudents.Myjobistohelpourstudentsandtheirparentsmanageand stay on top of the process and feel supported all the way through to the point of making their final decisions.

By the numbers . . . 36 of this year’s 41 students were offered admissions to their first choice school. Mostofourstudentshadmultipleoffers,manymakinga“cleansweep”-gettingintoeveryschoolthey applied to. 19 students will be attending independent schools (two out of state), and 22 will be attendingCatholicschools.Theschoolstheyhavechosentoattendare:

Buckley, Campbell Hall, Crespi, De Toledo, Harvard-Westlake, Immaculate Heart, Kent Denver (in Colorado), Loomis Chaffee (in Connecticut), Louisville, Loyola, Marymount, Notre Dame, Oakwood, Providence,Sequoyah,SierraCanyon,andViewpoint

We couldn’t be more proud of the Class of 2024 and wish them an amazing transition to high school andcan’twaittohavethemreturninfutureyearsasalumniofTheWesleySchool!

Additionally,theWesleygraduatingclassof2020isheadingtothefollowingcollegesthisfall: Olin College of Engineering, Northeastern, USC, Drexel, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Oregon, UCLA, UC Davis, Pepperdine, Pratt, University of Arizona, Cal Poly Slo, CSULB, University of Redlands,CSUN,Hamilton,UCSC,Fordham,BostonUniversity,SyracuseUniversity,GonzagaUniversity, UTAustin,UniversityofMichigan,TrinityUniversity,SDSU,andNYU

VerenaDenove

AssociateHeadofSchool

DirectorofAdmissions,FinancialAid,&HighSchoolPlacement

Alumni corner

Paisley Grutter, Wesley class of 2020, was Valedictorian at Notre Dame High School!

George Alcantar, Wesley class of 2020, was awarded the 4year POSSE Scholarship to Pepperdine University! Check out more details here.

Jude Holling, Wesley class of 2020, was salutatorian and earned the Scholar Athlete Award at The Viewpoint School!

Rina Berardinelli, Wesley class of 2023, and her band The Lemonfrogs was 1 of 5 winners of KCRW’s Young Creator’s Contest! They were chosen as a “top tune” and played at the Young Creator’s Showcase in April Check out more details here

Audrey Thomas and Henry Nielsen, Wesley class of 2023, were awarded the Outstanding Newcomer Award in Providence Performing Arts!

Andrew Saltman, Wesley class of 2008, rose to Vice President of Marketing & Digital Strategies at RECORDS! Check out more details here.

campus kudos

On Thursday, May 23rd, Tammy Rodriguez’ oldest son Andrew Jacob graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications! “After missing his Class of 2020 high school graduation due to the pandemic, we were so happy to be able to see him walk across the stage in person with his classmates. A few days after graduation, he headed to Massachusetts to participate in a month-long Shakespeare Acting Intensive program with Shakespeare and Company! I am so incredibly proud of him and can’t wait to see what he pursues next!”

Michelle Allegra experienced NYC in the Springtime! “What a great time I had with my sister in NYC over Spring Break. We ate, we walked, we shopped, we walked some more I experienced my first NY Rangers game at the Garden. I can’t wait to go back!”