Windward Magazine 2

01 ................................From the Head of School
02.....................................Planning for Progress
04.........................Innovations: CREATE Studio
05.............................Innovations: Design Studio
06..............................Pavilion & Dining Services
07.............................Gym/Auditorium and PPC
08...............A Balanced Approach: Kermit Cannon
12..............................................Athletics News
13..........................Meet the Athletic Department
14..................................................Fallen Fruit
16.............................................Arts Highlights
18..........................Student Work: The Visual Arts
20........................................Global Perspectives
22........................................2015 Homecoming
24.................................Windward Fund Update
26...............................Saluting the Class of 2015
28................Digital Connections,Tangible Results
30.............................................Alumni Events
32...........................................Service Learning
36............................................ Stay Connected
CONTRIBUTORS
DAWN BARRETT
Director of Advancement &
Operations
JAMES LUBIN
Director of Communications &
Public Relations
ALLISON KAUFMAN
Communications Coordinator/
Publications Teacher
WHITNEY BURKE
Digital Media Specialist/
Webmaster
LINDSAY KNAUB
Director of Development &
Special Events
STEPHANIE MIRKIN
MCDEVITT ’03
Director of Windward Fund and
Parent Relations
JEFFREY GILDER ’08
Director of Alumni Relations
SUSAN MARX
Director of Information
Management and Research
JENNA DICKMAN
Event Coordinator
MICHAEL MUNOZ ’08
PHOTOGRAPHY
Kambria Fischer Photography
Paul Antico/Creative Antics
Ultimate Exposures
Windward Communications
Windward Yearbook
DESIGN
Bacio Design & Marketing, Inc.

WINDWARD MAGAZINE - 01
t is always rewarding to watch
our students and faculty return
for another new school year and
enthusiastically embrace the latest
programs and facilities that have
been introduced into Windward’s
ever-growing scope of offerings. Of course,
every program and facility at Windward is
typically the product of extensive research,
collaboration, and synthesis of ideas and best
practices collected from around the world. So,
just as we celebrate our latest exciting facilities
and programs in the following pages of this
Windward Magazine, we also recognize that
they could not have come into being without
considerable planning and collaboration
among many very committed parties.
As we consider the impact and future
evolution of these newest innovations - and as
we prepare to embark upon another Strategic
Planning process that will eventually guide
the next major phase of Windward’s growth
– it’s worth reflecting for a moment on some
of the other additions that have made such
an indelible impact on our school in recent
years. While those newer members of our
community have never known a Windward
without them, consider for a moment some
of the significant innovations that have been
introduced thus far since the adoption of the
2011-2017 Strategic Plan:
I
Tom’s Top 10 List of Programs and Achievements
That Did Not Exist In 2010
10. The STEAM and STEAM Scholars Program, which has included university and
industry partnerships. This work has also lead to the opening of the C.R.E.A.T.E.
and Design Studios this Fall (pages 4-5), based upon the groundbreaking work of the
Stanford D School and other innovative institutions.
9. The Global Studies and Global Scholars Program, including partnering with 37
prominent schools from across the globe to offer shared course offerings with the
Global Online Academy.
8. Establishing a Peak Performance Program that supports exercise, nutrition,
mindfulness and life balance.
7. Growing our Entrepreneurship program, including partnerships with Hass and
Anderson Business Schools, internships at Boeing, and other opportunities to learn
business models of all types.
6. Initiatives in the visual and performing arts that have incorporated best practices
from around the world, helping to raise the ambitions of our programs and the caliber
of student work.
5. Establishing the Middle School Minimester and Challenge Based Learning Programs
to engage students in exciting and memorable hands-on learning experiences.
4. Partnering with the Hume Writing Center at Stanford to create Windward’s Studio
for Writing and Rhetoric.
3. Creating the Windward Network to support our students and alums.
2. Partnering with the Stanford Challenge Success Program to explore ways of
increasing student engagement in their studies while encouraging life balance and
minimizing unnecessary stress.
1. Receiving Your Support! Realizing big ideas requires teamwork, and each of these
advancements and would simply not be possible without the continued generous
support of our entire school community.
While this list is in no way comprehensive, it’s clear that our collective achievements over
such a relatively short period of time have impacted countless lives in significant ways.
As you enjoy the updates and stories about ongoing progress in this issue of Windward
Magazine, keep in mind that with the continued support from our community - and
thoughtful planning led by our Board of Trustees - our important work together will
continue to yield transformational results.
Tom Gilder
Head of School

02 - PLANNING FOR PROGRESS
n the more than four decades
since it was founded, Windward
School has experienced
tremendous growth and evolution
in every way, from programmatic
offerings to the creation of new
physical spaces that support numerous
modes of teaching and learning. During
that time, Windward’s core mission to
provide a dynamic education within
a nurturing community has remained
central to the character of the school.
The evolution of Windward has been
simultaneously driven by a parallel
dedication to constantly search for new
and better ideas - best practices and seeds
for further innovation that are carefully
selected to be consistent with the school’s
core identity and principles.
For that reason, planning is the key to
successful outcomes in our progress.
I
The new programs, facilities, and ideas
celebrated in the pages of this issue of
Windward Magazine had their genesis
in years worth of research, work with
partners, and collaborations among faculty.
What’s more, the evolution of spaces like
the C.R.E.A.T.E. Studio and ideas like
the further integration of design thinking
across the curriculum will continue long
after they are initially unveiled. Once a
new class or learning space is launched,

the feedback gleaned from real-world
experience naturally gives rise to
adjustments, refinements, and even entirely
new directions that may never have been
originally envisioned. By providing an
atmosphere conducive to embracing
this process, Windward has been able to
move constantly forward year after year,
supporting our faculty to develop and
maintain an ever-evolving environment
that strives to best serve the academic and
personal growth of our students.
Providing further guidance to this
evolutionary track is Windward’s Strategic
Plan, a crucial roadmap for identifying
big-picture goals and themes that
impacts nearly every facet of the school’s
future development. With the Strategic
Planning Committee of the Board of
Trustees preparing to soon launch a new
development process to create the next
Plan, every constituency in the school will
be again involved with helping to identify
comprehensive goals, themes, and priorities
that will prove key to Windward’s growth
in the future.
Windward is a school dedicated to
preparing students by providing them with
the real-world experiences and skills that
will allow them to realize their potential
- even if they will be pursuing careers in
fields that do not even exist today. To best
provide this preparation, Windward will
itself also prepare for the future - guided
in every innovation and step forward by
the goals of our Strategic Plan and the
concepts central to our founding mission.
Thanks to the contributions and support of
the entire Windward community, we have
accomplished so much. And with that
same unyielding commitment, together we
will do even more.
“Planning
is the key to
successful
outcomes in
our progress.”

04 - INNOVATIONS
ncorporating concepts synthesized
from research visits to schools,
businesses, and organizations
- ranging from the Stanford
Design School to MIT to Google
- the C.R.E.A.T.E. Studio is
Windward’s newest idea incubator. Aptly
named (for an acronym representing
Collaboration Resources for Engineers,
Artists, Technologists and Entrepreneurs),
this remodeled incarnation of the Room
810 Exploration Classroom continues
its long tradition of serving as a testing
ground for innovative teaching methods
and equipment.
The C.R.E.A.T.E. Studio is an open,
unscheduled space stocked with resources
including: 3D printers, a vinyl cutter, a laser
cutter, magnets, arduino microcontrollers,
and a wide variety of other craft tools.
Whether used for classwork, independent
projects, or developing entrepreneurial
prototypes, this space encourages students
and faculty across the school to physically
engage with new concepts and enjoy the
thrill of discovery.
Designed with a variety of workstations
and flexible seating arrangements suitable
for any need, the environment is ideal
for encouraging the development of
collaboration skills, spatial reasoning,
logical thinking and a deeper
understanding of vitally important design
thinking principles.
I
INNOVATIONS:
C.R.E.A.T.E.
STUDIOCollaboration Resources for Engineers, Artists, Technologists and Entrepreneurs

nother welcome addition
to the Windward campus
this year is the Mancuso
Family Design Studio,
located just off the busy
hub of Littlefield Plaza.
Passers-by can peruse display shelves of
student work and observe classes through
the large glass windows that now fill the
room with natural light – just one of many
dramatic improvements that helps create
ideal conditions for the work the Studio is
intended to facilitate.
As the realization of extensive plans
generated through research, visits to leading
spaces around the country, and discussions
with expert thinkers, the Design Studio
provides a robust and flexible facility for
teachers from any discipline to develop
and deliver new hands-on projects and
problem solving challenges.The Studio’s
broad footprint gives it a considerable sense
of space, with the welcoming work area
boasting high ceilings, an open floor plan,
configurable seating at communal work
stations, digital technologies (including
a mobile laptop/tablet cart), and custom
shelving stocked with an extensive array of
design supplies and tools.
The possibilities presented by this new space
reflect Windward’s drive to incorporate
opportunities for Design Thinking across
the curriculum. This paradigm – which
combines creative and analytical approaches
from the worlds of engineering , arts,
social sciences, and business – is a leading
approach meant to equip students with a
robust command of skills that will be critical
to success in any future pursuit, whether in
college or in the workplace of tomorrow.
In conjunction with the C.R.E.A.T.E.
Studio, it supplies an excellent environment
for students to learn from the failure and
feedback involved with prototyping ideas,
gain experience in problem solving as
part of a group, and better understand the
connections between disciplines.
A

06 - CAMPUS
he Meshulam Riklis and
Pia Zadora Pavilion has
always been the go-to spot
on campus to enjoy a nice
meal with friends or to grab
a quick bite on the run,and
both are now easier and more enjoyable than
ever thanks to a number of improvements
that were made over the summer.
On the first day of school, students were
treated to a noticeably more spacious
Pavilion, with the addition of 500 square
feet of dining space and a new, open
concept configuration for the hot food
area, making it easier for students to move
through the lines.
Six Odin point-of-sale systems were also
added to the Pavilion, which feature a new
barcode scanning system, allowing for
faster checkout and shorter lines. Odin also
integrates with Windward’s new OneCard
App, MyKidsSpending, and helps students
and parents track purchases. Students can
now download their OneCards to their
phones or iPads using the app.
A favorite among the students is the new set
of pizza ovens, which bake fresh gourmet-
style pizzas and calzones. In addition, the
Pavilion offers a larger variety of snacks,
soups and salad bar options this year.
Recent upgrades also include the addition
of three high-definition television screens,
which highlight the weekly CulinArt menu
and Windward’s student announcements.
A brand new set of furniture has been
ordered for the Pavilion and will be making
this social hub even more comfortable for
all to enjoy.
Windward is continually committed to
providing healthy, delicious food options
and the most enjoyable dining experience
possible for the entire community.
T

hase one of the Peak
Performance initiative goal
was completed near the close
of last school year as a series
of revamped spaces became
available to students and faculty
throughout the summer.The Strength and
Conditioning Center,Cardio Facility,expanded
Sports Medicine facilities,and remodeled offices
for the Training Staff continue to be a hub for
fitness activity on campus.
Building upon the success of these spaces,phase
two introduced a fully-renovated gym space
with a refurbished main court,central heating
and air,better ventilation,strong acoustics,LED
lighting,and a high-tech projection/sound
system.Not simply a gym,this pleasant space
can now host a variety of gatherings: robotics
tournaments/competitions,showcase events
(anything that requires a large group),guest
speakers,special dinners,school assemblies,
graduation,performances,movies,and
presentations.
In addition to the space changes, phase two
brought the new Peak Performance Center’s
Strength and Conditioning Coordinator to
campus, Kermit Cannon.These new facilities
and a strong focus on student and community
well-being combine with a curriculum
designed by Kermit to motivate, sustain, and
advise an already highly active and committed
community to maintain their peak performance
goals. Read more about the fitness craze now
underway at Windward on the following pages.
P
GYM/AUDITORIUM
AND PPC
Thank you to the generous donors who made our Peak Performance Center a
reality, including: Anonymous (9), Adam and Karen Berkowitz, Steve and Julie
Dolcemaschio, Armand and Maria Marciano, Andie and Mark Miller, Jason
Newman and Stephanie Simon, Tony and Linda Rubin, Evan Strauss, Sam Surloff
and Joanne Van Emburgh, Gregory and Danae Webster

he 2015 school year
began well before
September for many
Windward athletes
who were welcomed
to campus over the
summer by a new face
in the athletic department, Kermit
Cannon. At the inception of the Peak
Performance program, Kermit stood as
the Peak Performance Center Strength
and Conditioning Coordinator
responsible for leading the Windward
charge into a more focused wellness
program for both students and Faculty
and Staff.
“To me, ‘Peak Performance’ means
a combination of ‘clean eating’,
strength conditioning, cardiovascular
training, proper hydration, proper
sleep, physical rehabilitation, injury
prevention, recovery and the education
of proper training,” said Kermit who
has begun to implement personalized
programming on campus with a focus
on balance.
This total wellness approach to Peak
Performance is one Kermit has honed
during his over 30 years in the fitness
industry, 22 of which were spent as the
head of the strength and conditioning
program at Santa Monica High
School. His journey to Windward
began, in a way, during his experiences
as a track and field star at Culver City
High School where he developed a
passion for competition and ran his
way onto the San Diego track and
field team. Following his collegiate
success, Kermit landed at Santa
Monica High School in 1993 and
began to research fitness as it related
to high school students.
T
“Anytime I workout I have more
energy than ever before. I feel
stronger and healthier...”
Peak Performance
Center Strength
and Conditioning
Coordinator Kermit
Cannon awaits all
comers interested
in their overall
fitness education WINDWARD MAGAZINE - 09
VARSITY BASKETBALL PLAYER LINNEA RACHLIN ’16

“He has us
doing exercises
I wouldn’t have
done working with
a regular trainer
or by myself”
With the support of the administration
at Santa Monica High School, Kermit
put his wellness regime to test under the
moniker of “The Beast Factory.”In its pilot
semester,The Beast Factory (now also the
title of a book that Kermit published in
2011) hosted 10 students from all walks of
fitness for daily workouts and ‘clean eating’
nutrition guidelines.These students, none of
whom were athletes, left the program with
lean, functional muscle mass and a solid
understanding of how to partner nutrition
and working out for a healthy lifestyle.
Following the success of The Beast Factory,
Kermit was one of only 50 honored with
the 2011 President’s Council on Fitness,
Sports Nutrition’s Community Leadership
10 - A BALANCED APPROACH
Award and was granted many other mayoral,
state, and district awards for his successful
fitness “experiment.”He continued to work
with the 3200 students at Santa Monica
High school without any additional training
staff until Windward entered the picture in
the summer of 2015 eager to find the right
expert to serve as a catalyst for the success of
the ambitious new fitness program.
“[Joining Windward] was the best career
move I’ve made in my life so far...to go
from a large school into a smaller school
where everyone knows each other by first
name and I get to work with all of the
teams as opposed to just some of them
has been super so far,” said Kermit of the
transition. Having the ability to be hands
- VARSITY BASKETBALL PLAYER
PAYTON MOORE ’18
Making fitness fun is one
of the ways Kermit has
won quick converts of all
backgrounds; students
and faculty alike visit the
PPC frequently.

on with more students at Windward will
allow Kermit to provide the type of personal
attention and accountability that instills the
healthy lifestyle he aims to impress upon all
of his athletes.
So where does “The Beast Factory”
innovator get his inspiration? Kermit has
spent years traveling for both personal and
professional reasons around the country
and has always dedicated part of his trips
to visiting with, and getting advice from,
local collegiate strength and conditioning
coaches.The workouts Windward students
are being exposed to come part in partially
from a series of routines shared by some
of the foremost athletic programs in
the country. Kermit has in recent years
consulted with: University of Oregon,
University of Hawaii, University of
Southern California,Texas AM, Loyola
Marymount University, UCLA, and the
NBA’s strength and conditioning coaches
for the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma
City Thunder. By seeking out programs that
our scholar-athletes aspire to join, Kermit
gives his enthusiastic pupils a step up above
the competition.
“[Kermit’s arrival] was a really big change
to the program, but his coaching style is
beneficial because he pushes me, but does
not force it. He knows my limits. And his
personality makes it fun, as it’s not like
working out because he takes the chore
out of it. In general, it’s not something
that I dread, but rather look forward to the
opportunity,”said senior varsity basketball
player Linnea Rachlin ’16.“Anytime I
workout I have more energy than ever before.
I feel stronger and healthier.”
It was not just Windward scholar-athletes
who were impacted by Kermit’s arrival to
campus. A focus on the broader ideas of Peak
Performance within the community brought
CulinArt to campus in 2013 and encouraged
many faculty and staff members to begin to
focus on a healthier lifestyle.With Kermit’s
new programming, faculty and staff have
even more incentive to better their lives while
setting an example for students.There have
even been a number of wellness challenges
that allow for friendly competition while
using Fitbits to track steps.
In partnership with varying workout
routines in the weight room, strong support
from the athletic medicine department to
speed up recovery, and nutrition support
from CulinArt, Kermit is building a robust
program to aid community members in
reaching their wellness goals and shifting
the mindset of Windwardians.The program
is one that Kermit aims to continue to
innovate as the fitness industry evolves and
generates new routines and opportunities
for wellness. In each of the over 20 different
workout routines currently in rotation there
is a focus on sport-specific training as well
as real-world applicable movements.
“My body is more balanced and more
well rounded. He has us doing exercises I
wouldn’t have done working with a regular
trainer or by myself,”said sophomore and
varsity basketball player Payton Moore ’18.
“Being able to go in there at almost any
time of the day and Kerm always having a
different, very challenging, program ready
everyday is my favorite part of the Peak
Performance Program.”
To many in the community, Kermit is the
piece that pulls all of the Peak Performance
efforts of the community together. His
knowledge and approachability have already
given students and faculty and staff the
motivation to commit to healthy lifestyles
alongside one another.
Learn more about ongoing innovations at
www.windwardschool.org/athletics
Working in tandem
with scholar-athletes
on Windward’s sports
teams, Kermit partners
with coaches and staff
to develop personalized
training routines.

12 - ATHLETICS
all 2015 was full of many firsts
for Windward,including the
creation of a Girls Upper
School Golf Team.Windward’s
Golf team had been co-ed
in previous years,but the
opportunity to expand athletic opportunities
for Windward’s young women golfers arose
over the summer,making the team a reality.
Captain Sophie Altman ’17 was pleasantly
surprised when she received an email from
the Athletics Department letting her know of
Windward’s plans to start a team.
“Last year,I joined the boys for a few practices
to test things out on their team,”said Sophie,
who has been playing golf since the age of 6.
“I may have been a little hesitant to join all
these years because of the lack of girls so
I suppose I have been kind of waiting for
something like this for a while (though not
really thinking that it would actually happen)!”
Despite the team’s newly created status,and
the fact that half of the team had never played
9 holes before,the girls won their first two
matches against Marlborough.Sophie had the
low score for both matches.These wins came
as a huge surprise to the team.
“We have a lot of team spirit,especially
because we have been doing way better than
anyone anticipated.We have a lot of fun while
on the course and during practice,”said Chase
Kirshbaum ’17.
Chase credits her grandparents for getting her
F
ATHLETICS
NEWS
WINDWARD TAKES A SWING AT GIRLS GOLF
into golf at a young age.Over the years,Chase
and Sophie’s relationship as teammates on the
golf course has come full circle.
“Sophie and I actually played together on
the Curtis team in 6th grade,which is funny
because we are playing on the same team now
five years later,”said Chase.
As the season progressed,the team of seven
quickly grew close.While golf may be known
as an individual sport to most,the Windward
Girls Golf team is a tight-knit group,who
have really come to understand the meaning
of “togetherness.”
“The more experienced players can always
help our less experienced players,and our
coach Brenton has time to help everyone.You
typically golf in pairs or trios in matches,so
there is always someone there to encourage
you and keep you out of your head,which is
great,”said Sophie.
Head Coach Brenton Chan hopes to see the
numbers grow and to perhaps compete at the
Varsity level next year.
“I was lucky to have such a great group
of girls.They listened,worked hard,and
improved throughout the season,”said
Brenton.
“Being able to witness the first shot in
Windward Girls Golf history has been very
exciting.Being able to build a culture of
learning and enjoying the game has been very
rewarding.”

hese familiar, friendly,
and popular faces
comprise Windward’s
Athletics Leadership
team, newly structured
this year to provide
every part of the program with
designated support and helping to
unify the many teams and coaches
under the Windward Athletics
umbrella.
Each with impressive credentials,
expert athletic leadership, and an
uncanny ability to forge rapport with
students across campus, these members
directors lead and collaborate with
the ultimate goal of the department’s
mission in mind:
“Windward 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.”
The new areas overseen by the
Athletics team are listed below; more
informaton, including bios, can be
found at www.windwardschool.org/
athletics.
T
MEET THE
ATHLETICS
DEPARTMENT
TYRONE POWELL
Athletic Director for
Sports Administration
Baseball Program Lead
Compliance
Website
Budget Oversight
Human Resources
for Athletics
Athletic Medicine
Peak Performance Center
Football
Girls Volleyball
Boys Soccer
Girls Soccer
Boys Basketball
Girls Basketball
Baseball
Spirit and Dance
Vendor Contracts
VANESSA
NYGAARD
Senior Associate
Athletic Director
Girls Basketball
Program Lead
Scholar Athlete
Academic Support
Scholar Athlete
College Support
Peak Performance Center
Athletic Speaker Series
Boys Cross Country
Girls Cross Country
Softball
Boys Volleyball
Golf
Boys Track and Field
Girls Track and Field
Sailing
FRANCES JONES
Associate Athletic
Director
Boys Cross Country
Program Lead
Girls Cross Country
Program Lead
Boys Track and Field
Program Lead
Girls Track and Field
Program Lead
Middle School Athletics
Permits and Facilities
Upper Middle School
Contest Management
Playoff Contest
Management
Contest Confirmations
RICHARD
BRISACHER
Associate Athletic
Director
Transporation
Website
Program Handbooks
Human Resources for
Athletics
Officials Liaison
Middle School Flag
Football Coach
Middle School
Basketball Coach
Varsity Baseball Coach
Equestrian
Swimming
Boys Tennis
Girls Tennis
STEVE SMITH
Athletic Director for
External Affairs
Boys Basketball
Program Lead
External and
Community Relations
Promotion
College-Bound Players
Honored at Fall Scholar-
Athlete Celebration
In mid-November, the Windward community
gathered to celebrate its talented senior scholar-
athletes who are going on to play athletics at the
college level in a lunchtime ceremony in the gym.
Congratulations to each of these representatives of
the Windward Wildcat tradition.
Basketball Jayde Woods, University of Oregon
Golf Chuck Isgar, Emory University
Baseball Joaquin Murrieta, Kenyon
Baseball William Line, Swarthmore
FOLLOW WINDWARD
ATHLETICS ONLINE!
From scores to schedules, the history of
Windward excellence to real-time updates,
you can enjoy Wildcats action wherever
you are with the newest set of digital tools
easily found on the Windward website at
www.windwardschool.org/athletics.
Join hundreds of other fans for scores,
commentary, and links to media coverage on
Twitter at @WWAthletics
Plus, watch streaming home games throughout
the year, with play-by-play from the Broadcast
Journalism’s talented commentators in training.
Click on the link marked “Athletics UStream”
(From L-R: Vanessa Nygaard, Steve
Smith, Tyrone Powell, Frances Jones, and
Richard Brisacher)

14 - FALLEN FRUIT
FALLEN FRUIT
s part of an effort to
strengthen Windward’s
ties with the greater art
community, the Visual
Media Arts Department
launched its Curator in
Residence program this fall. Kicking off
the inaugural effort was the exhibition
Fruit Punch, curated by Los Angeles
artists David Burns and Austin Young
in conjunction with their much-lauded
Fallen Fruit series.
A

Fallen Fruit is a collaborative art project that
began in Los Angeles in 2004 with mapping
“public fruit” – fruit that grows on or over
public property. Their projects have included
diverse site-specific artworks that embrace
public participation and joy in shared spaces.
As the school year began, passers-by could
not miss the transformation of the Held and
Bordy Family Gallery, which was covered
with colorful fruit-laden wall-paper done in
a style that was instantly familiar to many.
This was intentional, according to Austin.
“We called it Fruit Punch, because it had
associations that reminded us of youth. And
so in the wallpaper, we included graphics
of fruit that had a look mimicking the
iconography and signifiers of youth culture
- games like Ms. PacMan or Fruit Ninja -
which are recognizable by any generation.
Fruit is one of the only things on the planet
that crosses boundaries and is universal - it is
instantly understandable in any culture.”
Fruit Punch also incorporated student work
from a wide range of Visual and Media
Arts classes. The artists from Fallen Fruit
worked with students throughout the month
to incorporate their art pieces into the
exhibition. A baby orange tree acted as the
focal point of the space, in addition to the
student art pieces, which were attached to
the walls and prominently displayed.
At the show’s conclusion, participants joined
in planting the orange tree on campus,
a permanent reminder of this flavorful
beginning to the Curator-in-Residence
tradition.
“We called it Fruit
Punch, because it
had associations
that reminded us
of youth.”

16 - THE ARTS
rom the range of talents
on display at this Fall’s
CoffeeHouse to the fast-
thinking application of
improvisational techniques
by the ComedySportz
troupe to the weekly online broadcasts
from the news crew at Windward TV,
student performers showed off their
ability to dazzle with stagecraft in a
variety of disciplines. Performance
opportunities abound throughout the year,
and Windward’s thespians, musicians,
and dancers mount productions both on
campus and at some of the most notable
F

venues in Los Angeles. Their formal
training supplemented by perspective
provided by guest artists - including
alumni currently working as professionals
- students look to continue a long
Performing Arts tradition of excellence in
the 2015-16 school year.
The fall play, Coney Island Christmas, kicks
off a series of productions around the
holdiay season; be sure to visit Windward’s
website for the latest performance updates
and ticket information.

18 - THE ARTS
STUDENT
WORKT H E V I S U A L A R T S

n array of styles, techniques,
and inspirations are evident
in this selection of works
by students inducted into
the National Art Honors
Society, a program designed
to inspire and recognize
students who have shown an outstanding ability
and interest in art.The NAHS strives to aid
members in attaining the highest standards
in art scholarship, character, and service, and
to bring art education to the attention of the
school and community.
To find out more about the NAHS, its newest
inductees, and to view high-resolultion
presentations of the works in this and other
shows from Windward visual artists, visit
www.windwardschool.org.
A

20 - GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
his June, a group of seventeen French students accompanied by
Carrie Creighton, Brittany Berriz and Jeff Gilder set off for a nearly
two week exploration of France. For the first 10 days, students lived
with host families from Lycée Duruy, who welcomed Windward
students into their Parisian homes with open arms. By day, the students toured
many of the iconic sites in Paris including the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the
Marais, Notre Dame, and many more. In the evenings,Windward students
would reunite with their French hosts to enjoy time together discovering
French culture and language firsthand.
After a wonderful stay in Paris, Windward said goodbye to their gracious
hosts and hopped on the TGV to Avignon in the south of France.The
group stayed in the heart of the city and made several day trips to see the
UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Papal Palace, Vincent Van Gough’s
former home, and Roman ruins dating back centuries, as well as spending
time discovering the beautiful, historic city of Avignon in the evenings.
They had delicious group dinners where they were able to discuss the day’s
discoveries in greater detail and bond over shared experiences.
It was clear that students left France with a greater appreciation of the many
beautiful and historic sites within France as well as French language and
culture through their time with their host families. Students were able to
establish relationships that will hopefully last a lifetime and to make memories
that will influence their understanding of the world for years to come.
T
GLOBALPERSPECTIVESFRENCH LANGUAGE IMMERSION IN PARIS
his summer, 18 students and three faculty members
traveled for the first time on a Windward Global
trip to Cambodia for a service learning and
educational trip to take a deep look at three
challenges that the Khmer people currently face: equitable
education, sustainable tourism, and reconciliation. The
group began the trip in Siem Reap where they marveled at
the Ankgor temples and experienced Buddhism through
the amazing art, people, and places. Windward partnered
with two local NGO’s: first, the Life and Hope Foundation
focused on access to education for underprivileged youth
and second, Beyond Responsible Tourism, an organization
that paired the students with Khmer families to learn about
their daily lives and assist them with a roof building project.
T
CAMBODIA: RECONCILIATION, EDUCATION, AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

SPANISH LANGUAGE IMMERSION IN PERU
Reported by Daniel Walker
t is not an exaggeration to say that exchange programs are some
of the richest intercultural experiences that at a school can offer to
its students; it is also not an exaggeration to say that developing
relationships with schools from around the world in order to start
these kinds of programs is a very difficult task.
Windward had the good fortune to begin a relationship with the
Colegio San José - La Salle Cusco in Peru back in 2012, and our
community was thrilled when their students visited us for the first
time in the fall of 2013.Their week at Windward was an incredible
experience for all involved, and we were happy to host them again the
fall of 2014. But it was not until this past summer that Windward
finally had the opportunity to travel to Peru.The wait was well worth
it, and the thirteen days that Global Studies Program Coordinator
and World Language Department Chair Dan Walker, former Science
teacher Julie Gunther, former World Language teacher Leah Hamilton,
and nineteen Windward students spent in Lima, Cusco, and the
I
The second part of the trip took the group to Phnom Phen where
they explored the beauty and opulence of the sites of the capital – the
Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, and the National Gallery. In dark
contrast, they also came face to face with the tragic past of Cambodia,
which led to the genocide of approximately one million people at
the hands of the repressive Khmer Rouge. The students heard first-
hand accounts from survivors, visited the Tuol Sleng Prison and the
Killing Fields and were both saddened by what they saw and learned
and amazed by the resilience, optimism, forgiveness, and kindness
demonstrated by the Cambodian people.
“It was an intense, magical, and unforgettable experience that has shaped
us and that will continue to shape who we are and how we engage with
others in the diverse world in which we live,”said trip leader and Upper
School Director, Peggy Procter.
Service and Language in Nicaragua
Exploring Sustainability in Reykjavik
Charting the Galapagos
Empowering Children in the Dominican Republic
History and Democracy in Prague and Berlin
Sacred Valley were culturally immersive, linguistically challenging, and
emotionally fulfilling.
Because this was not what those in the educational travel world refer
to pejoratively as a “teen tour,”our students’exposure to a range of
cultural experiences went much deeper than a cursory view of a wide
number of churches and ruins; instead,students were able to truly live in
community with their Peruvian host “siblings”at La Salle in Cusco,even
accompanying them during a day of intense community service in the
Andean community of Pampallacta.
Time spent with our Peruvian hosts allowed students to practice their
Spanish in a way that truly mattered. It is one thing to speak Spanish
in class; it is entirely another to use Spanish in order to go about one’s
daily routine.
The emotional bonds that Windward students formed with the
students at La Salle,however,were much important than even the most
spectacular views that they had of Machu Picchu.The only thing that
made our goodbyes tolerable was the fact that we knew we would be
hosting them in October 2015.

indward was “Wild
for Wildcats” at
Homecoming 2015
with a day full of
fun, food, games, and
spirit for guess of all
ages. Beginning with
visits from beloved guests at the morning’s
Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Brunch,
campus soon became a hub of activity as the
grills fired up, musical performances rang
out from all corners of campus, and a mini-
midway offered carnival-like fun.
Students,parents,faculty,alumni,and family
members of all ages took full advantage of the
offerings at this campus-wide party.Concluding
with sports action - including a spirit-
filled football game on Foley
Field,Homecoming 2015
was a day to remember for
the Windward community.
Special thanks to all
of the volunteers and
supporters who helped
put together such a fun
undertaking.
W

Energy
efficient LED
Lighting
3D
printers
Vinyl
cutter
Overhead
grid electrical
plug access
system
Custom
shelving
Laser
cutter with
ventilation
system
Nearly 2
dozen movable
Laptops and
charging stations
equipped
with design
software
HP Sprout
computer with
3D scanner
system
Facilites such as the
C.R.E.A.T.E. Studio have been
realized and supplied with the
equipment and space needed
to make programmatic goals
and innovations a reality.
Adjustable
chairs and desks
for flexible
collaboration.
24 - WINDWARD FUND
FINANCIAL AID:
Over $2.5 million is dedicated to Financial
Aid for the 2015/16 academic year.
• 15% of the student body receives $2.5 million
in financial aid awards this year.
• Since 2008, the average GPA of financial aid
recipients is 3.7. All have gone on to college.
RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT:
Professional workshops, conferences, and
partnerships with prominent universities.
• Supported the Design Colloquium hosting
100 faculty from around the country to share
ideas in design thinking curriculum.
The Windward Fund supports our community by providing substantial funding for
Research and Development, Program Enhancements, and Financial Aid. Here are just a
few ways Windward Fund dollars have impacted our community this year:

Soldering
irons and
holders
Interactive
projector
LittleBits
system and
Arduinos
for circuit
prototyping
Whiteboard
paint wall
Custom
sewing
station
Windward Fund Co-Chairs
Bob and Rachel Clifford
Basil and Natalie Iwanyk
7th Grade – Class of 2021
Jamie Angus
Darren Dworkin
Gaby Cosgrove
Jenny Gordon
Caroline Kunitz
Nancy Lurie
Brett and Carol Mayer
Monica Rice
Jocelyn Solomon
Brent and Maxine Stratton
Liz Tyler
Karyn Weber
Don Arnold and Emily Liman
Kerry Benderson
Beata and Jeff Daniels
Stacey Farish
Craig Farkas
Brad Pomerance
Scott Silver
Nadine Bell
Tony Bernardo
Hillary Hartman
Neal Koch
Wendy Leshgold
Todd Sherman
Cynthia Sikes
Alan Weil
Jenny Blum
Lisa Colacurcio-Cahierre
Dave Hodess
Monte Lemann
Vaughan Meyer
Joy Rothenberg
Sandy Becker and Ann Blanchard
Dan Brussell
Josh Elbaum
Steve Miller
Howard Perlow
Berit Kerner
Tidi Lambert
Ed Lin
Mary-Dorothy Line
Sharyn Nichols Levey
Sharon Novey
Linda Rachlin
Viviana Suaya
Leadership Committee Chairs
Perrie and Candice Weiner
Leadership Committee
Jon and Nancy Glaser
Richard Stone and Rita Tuzon
Stephen Grynberg and Susan Winfield
Marvin and Clare Suomi
Alex and Jenny Kwit
Adam and Trina Venit
Michael and Laura Richter
Neil and La Donna Wertlieb
Joseph Sliskovich and Jennifer Harris
Richard Stone and Rita Tuzon
Marvin and Clare Suomi
Adam and Trina Venit
Neil and La Donna Wertlieb
2 0 1 5 - 1 6
WINDWARD FUND
VOLUNTEERS
Support of the Windward Fund plays a vital role in ensuring that
Windward is able to fulfill its ambitious and important educational mission.
Special recognition is due to all of those Windward Fund Volunteers who
have dedicated their time and talents to helping the community realize our
important goals.Thanks to your help and leadership,we are making possible
programs and innovations that will have an immediate impact on the lives
of many - and secure the rapidly evolving legacy of Windward itself.
• Made possible visits to partners like Stanford University,
Harvard University’s Innovation Lab, MIT Engineering,
and Menlo School, all of which provided inspiration for
the eventual creation of programs and design of spaces like
the C.R.E.A.T.E. Studio.
PROGRAM ENHANCEMENTS:
From technology needs to training equipment, set pieces for
plays and musicals to bscholarly archive access.
• New iMacs in the Graphics Lab have provided students
with powerful new workstations to explore a range of
ambitious projects.
• Geometry and Middle School Science have incorporated
coding into the curriculum, providing students with early
experiences exploring programming.

Windward’s most recent
graduates embarked on the
next phase of their academic
journeys this fall at colleges and
universities across the country
and around the world. Remember,
Class of 2015 - wherever your
future explorations may take you,
your ties to Windward will always
be a part of your path.
SALUTINGTHE CLASS OF 2015
Jolie Sara Abrams
Bradley S. Baba
Tristan Alexander Baer
Dean Evan Berkowitz
Christopher Taylor Berman
Sophie Bernard
Sam Elliot Bernstein
Carly Sarah Blauner
Christopher Logan Branche
Emily Rose Brooks
Jessie Eleanor Bruce
Tae Leon Butler
Imani Louise Cheadle
Jorge Andrés Contreras-Aguirre
Christina Marie Cornelius
Walter Theodore Dado
Jennifer Rose Davis
Roman Edwin Davis
David Benjamin Deutschman
Olivia Leigh Edwards
Brooke Alexandria Edwards
Brooke Jayden Feldman
Libby Margaret Frankel
Mark Alan Freeman
Andrew Jake Friedman
Dylan Rachel Gee
Amelia Goldstein
Mason Gooding
Daniel James Green
Amelia Cattell Green
Matthew Charles Greenebaum
Louis Benjamin Greenwald
Arielle Elisabeth Haagen
Victoria Tamsin Haglund
Jackson Harris
Roy Ashton-Tate Hemsley
Zoe McKenzie Henry
Elizabeth Grace Herzog
Madelyn Ariel Holtzman
Daniel Dongjoon Hyun
Katherine Helen Ingersoll
Tyler JuRee Inn
Samson Earl Jeter
Max Henry Kaller
Mia Danielle Katz
Maddox Daniel Kay
Gabriella Claire Kessler
Ally Lauren Kleinberg
Jackson Kobe Kogan
Michael Sam Krepack
Abigail Elaine Kuhns
Katia Tamara Kupelian
Ariella Rose Leiter
Marie June Line
Emma Madison Lipstone
Charles Harry Lyttle
Dominique Helene Marciano
Luke Randall Martin-Resnick
Tyler Joseph McMorrow
Connor Stanford Moldo
Nicholas Adam Moreno
Timothy Joseph Morris
Gillian Heneghan Oberg Ondaatje
Tessa Belle Palter-Poston
Alejandro Antonio Paredes
John Hayward Parks
Jackson Davis Prindle
Sibi Ramesh
Brooke Gabrielle Rosenthal
Rebecca Eden Rosenzweig
Gena Mikaela Rubin
Alexandra Lauren Saghian
Julian Nicolas Sarrola
Joshua Henry Schnitman
Samantha Patrice Schriger
Mason Shepherd
Benjamin Seebohm Shirken
Eli Reed Silverman-Lloyd
Andrew Daniel Simmons
Shaolin Wonder Smith
Samantha Sofia Sneider
Devan Premnath Sood
Sasha Jacob Soofer
Ashton Caulfield Stephens
Emily Clare Surloff
Brandon Fesq Tai
Arielle Cooper Tooch
Thomas Alexander Turner
Georgia Chasin Velkes
Jamie Michele Wayne
Carly Heather Weiner
Ian Anderson White
Blaine Theophilus Williams
Mila Simone Wolpert
26 - GRADUATION

ALUMNIGUEST SPEAKERS
Continuing a tradition of Windward alumni returning to
share stories and wisdom with their younger counterparts,
several visits to classes this fall have helped bring a new
perspective for current students interested in the path
to certain professions or the experiences of being an
entrepreneur. A sampling of recent visits include:
Courtney Hoffman ’03, a costume designer who has worked on productions ranging
from Django Unchained to Magic Mike, provided Kiloh Fairchild’s film classes with
a range of insights about her design work, the behind-the-scenes aspects of film
production, and life in the entertainment industry.
Middle Left: Hayden Slater ‘02,
co-founder of Pressed Juicery with
fellow alum Carly Brien ‘02, hosted
a Case Study Competition for
Windward students interested in
entrepreneurship and marketing.
Students analyze data, research
innovative marketing strategies, and
ultimately give recommendations on
best ways to expand and engage
new consumers.
Middle Right: Windward graduate
Rachel Hirshee ’07, a professional
actress, came to visit theatre
students in advance of the Fall
production of Coney Island
Christmas. While Rachel’s experience
in a variety of performance settings
was informative, in this case, her
perspective was particularly relevant:
Coney Island Christmas was the very
same play that she performed in at
the Geffen Playhouse.
Bottom: Dancer and choreographer
Michelle Nagler ‘11 joined the ranks
of other guest instructors in arts
classes this fall by paying a visit to
her fellow Windwardians, sharing
techniques and expertise with
enthusiastic younger performers.

28 - ALUMNI
hile college is
supposed to prepare
its students for
the professional
world, nobody
really likes to talk
about just how rough the job market can
be for young graduates with little-to-no
formal workplace experience. Fortunately,
Windward alumni are part of a group that
can provide guidance and help in many
ways; a network made up of thousands
of fellow Windwardians, parents, and
other longtime members of the school
community who are eager to connect and
share knowledge.
Recent college graduate Morgan Maya
Shapiro (Windward ’11) experienced
this first-hand when her undergraduate
W
Reported by MICHAEL MUNOZ ’08
Fallon Bucklew ’06 with fellow
Windwardian Morgan Shapiro ’11

days came to an end this past spring and her
job search began in earnest. After earning her
degree in Communications and Psychology at
the University of Michigan, she began searching
for her first post-college job by sending out
her resume to as many companies as possible.
But with this bulk approach yielding few leads,
Morgan quickly discovered that getting a foot in
the door was a difficult task in itself.
In her quest to approach the job market from
another angle, she turned to Windward’s Alumni
Office to see if there were opportunities to
connect and network with fellow Windwardians
throughout the professional world. Indeed, there
were – and those potential connections were easy
to find via a powerful new software application
created to address this very need.The Windward
Network app, launched this year through the
industry-leading Evertrue social platform,
provides registered users with a gateway to access
potential connections that already exist within
the Windward community. Profiles of parents
and alumni who have volunteered to share their
expertise and experience as “Network Advisors”
can also be reviewed, providing leads for potential
connections that may be particularly well-suited
to a particular area of interest for recent grads or
job-seekers. Even in an age where social media
is growing in prevalence, the value of developing
interpersonal connections remains indisputable.
Digital platforms like Evertrue augment these
bonds, facilitating real-life introductions between
individuals across the wide span of the far-flung
Windward community.
For Morgan, this new tool proved to be a
life-changing catalyst. Once equipped with the
ability to seek out connections with Windward
alumni and parents in her geographic area and
field of interest, Morgan used the app’s filters to
yield leads for public relations firms located in
New York City. Serendipitously, this led Morgan
to Network Advisor Fallon Buckelew ’06, who
was working at the major public relations firm
FleishmanHillard. Once they connected, Fallon
counseled Morgan and helped provide her with
the critical jumpstart she was seeking. Not long
after, Morgan applied to FleishmanHillard’s
Graduate Development Program and was
accepted into a four-month course of training.
Thanks to the Network App and Windward’s
growing alumni network, Morgan immediately
started seeing positive results with her job search.
Not only was she easily able to connect with
her fellow Windward graduates, but she also
gained invaluable professional advice and even
earned her ideal job. When Morgan’s Graduate
Development Program experience concludes
in January 2016, she hopes to convert the
experience into a full-time position with the
company.
In the meanwhile, Morgan and Fallon now
work in the same building, brought together
thanks to a little help from the Windward
Network. Wherever their career paths might
take them in the future, they will remain linked
with each other – and with the countless others
that comprise the entirety of the Windward
community.
CONNECT.
INSPIRE.
SHARE.
Advisors are contacts for
Windward students and
alumni seeking professional
growth, networking, and
mentorship opportunities.
You can support a
Windwardian by: sharing
your career story, providing
industry advice, introducing
them to potential contacts,
and supporting them
in finding professioal
opportunities.
To find out more and submit
an interest form,visit
bit.ly/networkadvisor
Morgan’s experience
with the Windward
Network app opened
doors and provided
opportunities to
jumpstart her career.

30 - ALUMNI
CLASS REUNIONS
As the Class of 2015 prepared to don their graduation
robes, generations of fellow Windwardians made the
return trip to campus for Alumni Weekend in late May.
The classes of ’75,’85,’90 ’95,’00, and ’05 were celebrated
at Class Reunions with receptions and dinners, where
they were caught up with longtime friends as well as some
familiar faculty faces.
ALUMNI PICNIC
At the next day’s lively Alumni Picnic, grads from all years
brought their families for an afternoon of fun, food, and
conversation. While the bouncy house may have been an
attention-getter for the youngest guests, many returning
alums taking campus tours marveled at the ways in which
campus facilities had matured – even if just a few years
had gone by. Alumni of all ages enjoyed catching up with
Windward teachers and staff, reminiscing with old friends,
and connecting with new faces.

POST-HOMECOMING MIXER
With visitors from across the community turning out in
droves for October’s Homecoming festivities, it was a
perfect chance for alums of all ages to cap off an exciting
day with a post-event mixer at The Wood, trading stories
with fellow friends and former teachers.
Upcoming Events
Looking forward to catching up with your former
classmates in person? Mark your calendars for the
annual Young Alumni Luncheon just before the holiday
break, along with other fun and informative opportunities
already planned for this Winter:
Any questions? Contact Jeff Gilder at
jgilder@windwardschool.org or 424.289.1047 or visit
www.windwardschool.org/Page/Alumni
Dec. 18, 2015
12 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Young Alumni Luncheon
Jan. 2, 2016
10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Annual Alumni Soccer Match
Feb. 2, 2016
3 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Alumni Night: WW Soccer
Basketball vs. Crossroads
March 15, 2016
Alumni Networking Night
6:30 p.m.
April 8-15, 2016
Regional Events in NYC
Boston
June 4, 2016
5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Class Reunions for:
‘11, ‘06, ‘01, ‘96, ‘91, ‘86
June 5, 2016
12 p.m. - 2p.m.
Alumni Picnic
Recurring Every
Other Sunday
8 a.m.
Alumni BBall @WW

32 - SERVICE LEARNING
aurel Butler joined the
Windward community
in 2014 as the Service
Projects Coordinator.
In the fall of 2015 she
transitioned into teaching
elective classes for both the Middle
School and Upper School, in addition
to coordinating and facilitating the
after-school Service Learning Program,
connecting Windward students to the
broader community through direct
engagement and scholarship.
Before moving to Los Angeles, Laurel
lived and worked in the San Francisco
Bay Area as the Youth Arts Manager and
Education Engagement Specialist at
the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. She
has also served as an Adjunct Professor
in the Performing Arts and Social Justice
Department at the University of San
Francisco, Executive Director of Theater-
in-the-Making, and an educator for
Stanford University, the Unusual Suspects
Theater Company, the National Hispanic
Cultural Center, and numerous jails and
detention centers throughout the country.
In addition to being an educator,
facilitator, and activist, Laurel is also a
multidisciplinary performance artist. She
is a member of the Royal Frog Ballet
performance collective, the lead singer of
the feminist art-rock group Cassandra, and
the Dance Teacher at St. James Episcopal
School. She received her M.A. in Theater
Education and Community Outreach from
the University of New Mexico in 2010 and
has been working with students in every
grade from Pre-k to graduate school in the
years since.
Laurel brought to Windward a
reinvigorated focus on an assets based
model for engagements with our
community. She spent much time in her
studies and teaching writing and thinking
about the decolonization of service
learning and how students might gain
a better understanding of circumstance
through reflection instead of merely
providing solutions.
“Really engaging [students] in what it
means to do service learning with an
L

ethic of reciprocity and a fundamentally
anti-oppressive position [meaning] if we
aren’t critically reflective about privilege
and power and inequality then some
service learning projects can actually
replicate the dynamics of inequity that are
already in place and perpetuate this ‘status
quo’ that might have contributed to the
disenfranchisement of one group in the
first place.”
Throughout the fall, Laurel worked
with both Middle School and Upper
School 8th period classes (Service Survey
Community Changemakers and Social
Justice and Service Learning respectively)
in providing assets-based support to
our community partners. Middle school
students explored elements of history,
sociology, active listening, and compassion
while visiting with seniors at Epoch
Eldercare, while Upper School students
focused on taking highly academic social
justice theory and translating it for
Grandview Boulevard Elementary school
students in grades 5, 6, and 7.
These classes will vary their community
involvement based upon student
passions in the courses. For example, this
winter, the Social Justice and Service
Learning class will focus on women’s
service organizations and take a look
at the complexity of race and gender in
contemporary America in policing and
current social tension across the nation.
It is with the help of Laurel that the
“I wanted to make a
class that showed kids
these great works, got
them to interact with
them in a different way,
bringing them down
from the intellectual
into something they
could actually take
something from.”
- MATTHEW REINER ’16
service learning model at Windward will
continue to seek new community partners
and continue to impact Los Angeles while
providing experiential education and
leadership opportunities to Windward
students.

34 - SERVICE LEARNING
uilding opportunities for
students who wish to lead has
always been a motivation for
the service learning program
at Windward.The fall of
2015 allowed for a handful of
students to take ownership of programming
with our community outreach partners
and stretch their skills to begin seeking
new opportunities.The Student Service
Coordinators oversee interactions with
many partners, two of whom are Grandview
Boulevard Elementary school (GVB) and
the Westside Children’s Center (WCC).
As in past years,Windward’s relationship
with GVB has grown through an assets
B
based structure for service learning. Our
students are invested in the program as a
means to impact the lives of the children
they interact with regularly. Part of this
programming includes “Discovery Academy,”
an after school enrichment program that
takes place on the Windward campus
and offers classes to GVB students in
multiple disciplines.This fall, those courses
include Media Bytes (supervised by
Student Technology Integrationist Jennifer
Altounian) in which Windward students
share and teach technology skills to GVB
students; Bilingual Books and Games in
which Windward students mentor and read
to a GVB student; and Art Explorers in
which Windward student Matthew Reiner
’16 teaches art history to GVB students.
Matthew Reiner’s history with service began
with the co-founding of Windward’s “Art
in a Box”initiative in the fall of 2009.The
program educated and engaged kids living at
the Salvation Army Transitional Village on
art appreciation and comprehension.When
faced with the challenge of re-inventing the
program during the fall of 2015, Matthew
reflected on how he came to appreciate art
through exposure to classic paintings and
sculptures.
“I wanted to make a class that showed kids
these great works, got them to interact with
them in a different way, bringing them
down from the intellectual into something
they could actually take something from,”
Matthew said.
The ‘Art Explorers’class exposes GVB
students to art history and introduces the
3rd through 5th graders to many western
artists while challenging them to be creative
problem solvers.
“This work is so important to me because of
how much I know art-making can develop a

person’s intellectual and social character. As
an artist, I can say first-hand that not only
does art benefit my visual/creative problem-
solving skills, but also my ability to express
myself, see my own emotions and be able to
regulate them,”Matthew expressed.
In addition to Matthew’s work, Jennifer
Altounian headed up the Media Bytes class
with Windward student mentors Kevin
Altieri ’16,Thomas Ling ’18, Matthew
Rotchel ’18, and Ethan Block ’17 and spent
afternoons in the fall teaching technology
skills to engaged GVB students.
“The excitement in 101 on Wednesday
afternoons is infectious; just wait until we
bring out the iPads,”said Jennifer of the
class, in which students will grow into iPad
education this winter.
While service work on campus was bustling
this fall, work at the Westside Children’s
Center (WCC) also continued to grow in
scope. Sophomore Julia Cotsen spent her
fall working on an improved reincarnation
of the former Book in a Bag program at
WCC now dubbed Book Buddies. Instead of
solely providing access to books, the program
allows Windward students to interact with
and get to know the children impacted by
the books provided.
“The students remember us and the teachers
thank us and explain how excited they are. It
feels really meaningful that I actually make
a difference.That I am leading a difference
on others,”said Julia, who felt the program
has caused her to feel more strongly about
service learning in the community.
Windward Service Learning Coordinators
have worked hard throughout the fall to
bring new strength to the opportunities
given to students for outreach. In addition
to the programs in place with GVB and
WCC, students spent the fall volunteering
with seniors at Epoch elder care, teaching
performing arts to children living at the
Salvation Army Transitional Village, and
seeking out new outreach opportunities in
Los Angeles and hope to continue to offer
new services throughout the coming months.
INCLUSIVITY SPOTLIGHT:
EMPOWERMENT AND
ENGAGEMENT
COME TO WINDWARD
Windward School has always been dedicated to creating an inclusive environment
where diversity is both recognized and honored; just in the past year these endeavors
have seen exponential growth on campus thanks to the efforts of Windward’s newly
expanded Diversity and Inclusivity team.
One such example began as the result of a trip that Windward students Josh
Chambers ’16 and Howard Hobson ’16 took to a conference in the Bay Area along
with Upper School Counselor Roger Bridges. Inspired by a desire to take local action
by helping to harness the energy, vitality, and spirit of this generation of African
American males, Roger partnered with other educators in the LA area to co-found
the Empowerment and Engagement Coalition.
A year later, the ECC’s second conference was hosted at Windward, welcoming more
than 100 African American young men from 26 Los Angeles independent schools
for the purpose of uniting, connecting, and empowering African American males at
schools throughout Greater L.A. Windward parent Dwight Caines - the President
of Theatrical Marketing at Sony Pictures - provided a keynote presentation and
advice about finding and embracing one’s unique voice and abilities.The students
then attended five retreat-style workshops where they discussed issues surrounding
identity, connection, and leadership.The conference facilitators, a group of African
American male teachers from the LA area, stayed with the same cohort throughout
the day, and then plan to act as mentors to the students throughout the year.
“One thing we are really focusing on this year is how to inspire these young men to
stay connected and continue this work after the conference is over,”said Roger.“We’ve
created the facilitator role to meet kids where they are in terms of what they need and
what they want to engage in and match their reality with mentors’experience.”
A similiar conference for 7-12 African American young women is being planned to
take place in the spring.

36 - STAY CONNECTED
STAY CONNECTED
egardless of whether you visit Windward
regularly or reside a continent away,it’s easy to
keep connected with our school community
through a wide selection of customized digital
tools.If you’re carrying a smartphone or browsing
the web on your desktop,you have a powerful
gateway to access live streaming athletic and speaker events,
reconnect with classmates on social media,or download a dynamic
school calendar so you can get the latest on upcoming activities.
Interested in the latest on emerging programs or classroom
innovations? Start with a visit to our newly relaunched
website at www.windwardschool.org - a hub for news
stories, photo galleries, school information, ticket
purchasing, and additional content contributed by
students, faculty, and parents. Created with the latest
responsive design technology, there’s no need to
download any apps – the site will change itself to look its
best on whatever device you’re using.
While you’re there,be sure to visit Windward’s social media
hub – just a click away on the “SOCIAL”button atop any
of the site’s pages. Here you can quicly browse a steady
R
stream of incoming videos,images and comments.If you’re a user
of Facebook,Instagram,Twitter,Pintrest,Google+,LinkedIn,or
YouTube,you can also dive into a handy digital directory with
links to Windward’s accounts.
Wherever you are,be sure to come visit us online today!
www.windwardschool.org
Mark your calendars for next May’s Spring Event 2016 as we return to the
Conga Room for an unforgettable evening of entertainment and fun.

MAKE A
DIFFERENCE
in the lives of Windward students
through donating to the Windward
Fund, which supports Program
Enhancements, Financial Aid, and
Research Development. We hope
current Windward parents will contribute
by Winter Break to help us reach 100%
participation in 100 days. Please make
your gift or pledge to the 2015-16
Windward Fund by visiting us online
today at www.windwardschool.org/give.

11350 Palms Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90066
www.windwardschool.org

Windward Magazine 2

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