WINDWARD SCHOOL
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP REPORT
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A SHARED COMMUNITY
15 faculty and staff 223 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 40 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 to make our shared community even better. 1
343 Windward students, faculty, and alumni living in the 90066 zip code.
105 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 TDM 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. Windward has 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 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
We take a leadership role in sponsoring 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.
More than half of campers are 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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MATH ADVENTURES Math Adventures is a weekly, hour-long after-school program for 4th-5th graders that focuses on math enrichment topics not typically covered in the school curriculum. The program’s goal is to inspire kids to realize that math is fun and exciting and has uses beyond the mechanics of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. We have run the Math Adventures program with Richland Avenue Elementary School, Mar Vista Elementary School, and Walgrove Avenue Elementary School.
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. 11
JUNIOR SCIENTIST A 7-week Science program for students in 3rd-5th grade who love to explore! Junior Scientists is for students who are curious and wonder why the world works the way it does. Junior scientists investigate various aspects of science through hands-on lab activities and science projects, utilizing the resources of simple items at home and equipment to bring science to you! Topics include microbiology, forensics, chemistry, and aerodynamics. We have run Junior Scientist with Grand View Boulevard Elementary School, Walgrove Avenue Elementary School, and Mar Vista Elementary School.
ART EXPLORERS A 6- week program for students in 3rd-5th grade. Students learn in a fun way about many of the most influential artists of history while making their very own works of art. Each week we look at a new artist from a different period of time or place, then create projects using their techniques. Students will build a set of skills and knowledge that leave a broader understanding and appreciation of visual art through these activities. The students will take the projects in their own directions, stretching their creative capabilities and enjoying the satisfaction of producing something truly original. We have run Art Explorers with Grand View Boulevard Elementary School, Walgrove Avenue Elementary School, and Mar Vista Elementary School. 12
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LONG STANDING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
ALLIES FOR EVERY CHILD Allies for Every Child, 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 Allies for Every Child to provide support for their families and children.
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GIVING TUESDAY
THANKSGIVING DINNER
FAMILY PORTRAITS
Every year, Windward runs a toy drive on Giving Tuesday, a global movement that celebrates philanthropy, supporting Allies for Every Child as its main beneficiary for the day. Windward provides Allies for Every Child with hundreds of toys and gift cards to be distributed to the families.
Every November, Windward provides over 100 Thanksgiving Dinner baskets and turkeys for Allies for Every Child families. Parents and students purchase all non-perishable items, package, decorate the baskets, and even include a family recipe and a gift card to be placed inside. Our families then have the opportunity to hand out the baskets to Allies for Every Child families at an event before the holiday.
Every December, Windward hosts family portraits at Allies for Every Child. 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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PEOPLE ASSISTING THE HOMELESS (PATH) PATH is an organization that aims to end homelessness for individuals, families, and communities. They do this by building affordable housing and providing supportive services throughout California. Windward has partnered with PATH for the last three years. Guest speakers from different PATH sites located in Southern California come to speak to students and families to help us understand the issues affecting our community and the services they provide to help the populations that require their support. Windward has led a holiday gift drive that supports over 80 families living in PATH housing each year. We’ve provided treat bags and thank you notes for veterans residing at the PATH West LA location. We packed hygiene kits to be handed out by the PATH outreach team for individuals currently experiencing homelessness.
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BIG SUNDAY Every first Sunday in May, Windward families join forces with the local public schools 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 $3 million is budgeted for the 2021-22 school year. 40% of Windward’s incoming class 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 Security Operations Manager Uriel Aguirre at uaguirre@windwardschool.org if: -
You have any questions or feedback regarding parking, traffic, or noise at the School.
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You observe a Windward student or community member violating parking guidelines or engaging in disrespectful conduct.
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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 Lindsay Flacks Director of Infrastructure and Risk Management (310) 391-7127 x 1004 Uriel Aguirre Security Operations Manager Cell: (323) 434-6021 Office: (310) 391-7127 x 1171 Hiliana Gomez Neighbor Relations Coordinator (310) 391-7127 x 1000