Philanthropy Report
2023-24
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Together, We Grew. Innovated. Created. Ideated. Soared.
The 2023-24 school year was a year like no other at WNS. I am in awe of our students and all that they have accomplished. Whether it was their first year of school or their graduating year, our students stretched themselves, formed close bonds with friends, questioned the world around them, and inspired us to keep doing what we do best, for them. It has been a joy to witness our students grow both academically and socially.
Everything our students did last year was supported by you through another successful fundraising year. We were able to hit our million-dollar Annual Fund goal again with the help of our entire community, including faculty & staff, alumni, grandparents, and foundations and corporations. The dollars raised for the Annual Fund provided more financial assistance for our families in need than ever before while also providing for all of our students, PS-8th grade, the tools they needed to succeed.
This year marked a significant milestone for our school as we proudly purchased our very own building, cementing the future of WNS forever. This ‘forever home’ will allow us to create an even more vibrant learning environment tailored to the needs and aspirations of our community. It is a magnificent space where our students will thrive, innovate, and feel a sense of belonging for many years to come. None of this would have been possible without the dedication and support of our community through the Four Pillars Legacy Endowment. This is what opened this door for us and I am forever grateful to our supporters. While we have solidified our roots we must continue on the path of growing the endowment to protect our home away from home.
Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to our mission. Together, we are building not just a school, but a community where every student can flourish.
Looking forward to another remarkable year ahead!
Brad Zacuto
Academic Excellence
Read about our current and alumni Jets' outstanding academic achievements last school year.
Character
Instilling in our students a strong moral compass and a deep respect for others is a key pillar at WNS. See how our Jets thrived last school year.
DEIJ
Creating a community where all are welcome and celebrated is something we are fiercely committed to. Learn what that looked like last school year.
Community
Community is a central tenet to life at WNS. One where we support and champion one another and set an example for generations to come.
Academic
Excellence
Academic Excellence
Faculty & Staff Professional Development
It is of utmost importance that our faculty and staff are at the forefront of their field. Professional development (PD) is key to promoting the effective integration of curricular innovation throughout the whole school, helping teachers and staff gain new perspectives and knowledge. Take a look at what our faculty and staff engaged in last year:
34 Faculty Professional development opportunities
From off-site conferences to on-site workshops, webinars, and more. When faculty return from these experiences, they reflect and share their key takeaways with the rest of the WNS faculty in informal or formal ways, such as the WNS annual PD symposium.
Partnering with top educational institutions and forums
Conferences and partnerships included: the Museum of Tolerance, Multicultural Leadership Institute, National Association of Independent Schools' People of Color Conference, Conference for the National Council of Social Studies, North American Reggio Emilia Alliance Conference, National Science Teaching Association Conference, California Music Educators Conference, Computer Using Educators Conference, and more.
18 Professional Development Days
Comprising 6 PD days throughout the year and 12 pre-service and post-service days at the beginning and end of the school year.
Faculty & Staff Members presenting at National conferences
Tasha Jackson-Jones, Director of Grades 1-4, presented at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) People of Color Conference alongside her husband, Damian Jones, Head of School of the Center for Early Education (CEE) on the subject of Black joy and a healthy Black presence in independent school communities.
Nikea Johnson, Director of Development, presented at the NAIS People of Color Conference on "The Isolation Antidote: Increasing Belonging Among Black and Brown Families in Private Schools."
Brad Wright, Director of Technology, presented at the Benchmark Education Professional Learning Consortium on engaging diverse readers.
Michael Rothbart, Middle School Music Teacher, presented at the California Music Educators Conference.
Olivia Howard, Lower School Dance Teacher, presented at the California Dance Education Association Conference.
Academic Excellence
How Social Justice Standards Enhance Learning
In October 2023, the entire WNS faculty attended professional development at the Museum of Tolerance to learn more about Learning for Justice Anti-Bias Framework Social Justice Standards. Later, grade-level faculty reviewed the curriculum to highlight the areas where the Social Justice Standards could complement and enhance student learning. Identity, Diversity, Justice, and Action are the four anchor standards that serve as our lens. This work translated to project-based learning experiences across curriculums and grade levels.
Kindergarten students explored their identity through The Food Project, a month-long opportunity. Learners were able to discern similarities and differences through observations of what their peers ate as well as develop pride and confidence while recognizing the value and dignity of others. Jenny Liao, visiting author of Everyone Loves Lunchtime but Zia shared her book and answered questions. Students made artful representations of their favorite foods with clay, felt, cardboard, and paint. The WNS community was invited to their presentation to celebrate and learn about each person’s home culture.
Theater Arts was a way to explore justice and action for 8th graders. As students learned to write scenes with strong characters for their performance, they drew on a variety of experiences. Visiting playwright, actor, and director Paris Crayton lll engaged students in a writing workshop. Later, 8th graders explored issues of justice through museum visits on their trip to Washington D.C. Locally, students went on a field trip to the Grammy Museum to learn about protest music. Finally, using their understanding of social justice issues, our budding playwrights worked with KJ Wade, a dancer and choreographer, to learn a stepping routine as one way to relay their message to the WNS community on stage.
Academic Excellence
Windward School (6)
Vistamar School(4)
Venice High School (2)
Thacher School
Santa Monica High School (3)
Redondo Union High School (2)
Palisades Charter High School (2)
Pacifica Christian High School (5)
New Roads School
Mira Costa High School
Marymount High School (9)
Marlborough High School
Loyola High School (2)
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
Harvard-Westlake High School (3)
Hamilton High School
El Segundo High School
Da Vinci Design School
Chaminade College Preparatory High School
Chadwick School (3)
Bishop Montgomery High School
Archer School for Girls (2)
Class of 2024
High School Matriculation
Class of 2020
College Matriculation
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott
Emerson University
Fordham University
George Washington University
High Point University
Howard University
Kalamazoo College
Loyola Marymount University
Morehouse College
New York University (2)
Northeastern University
Northern Arizona University
Pepperdine University
Reed College
Saint Mary’s College of California
St. Olaf College
Stevens Institute of Technology
Syracuse University
The University of Edinburgh
Tufts University
Tulane University
University of California, Berkley
University of California, Irvine
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Central Oklahoma
University of Colorado, Boulder
University of Miami
University of St. Andrews, Scotland
University of Wisconsin, Madison (2)
University of Southern California
Vassar College
San Luis Obispo
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott
Emerson University
Fordham University
George Washington University
High Point University
Howard University
Kalamazoo College
Loyola Marymount University
Morehouse College
New York University (2)
Northeastern University
Northern Arizona University
Pepperdine University
Reed College
Saint Mary’s College of California
St. Olaf College
Stevens Institute of Technology
Syracuse University
The University of Edinburgh
Tufts University
Tulane University
University of California, Berkley
University of California, Irvine
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Central Oklahoma
University of Colorado, Boulder
University of Miami
University of St. Andrews, Scotland
University of Wisconsin, Madison (2)
University of Southern California
Vassar College
Character
Character
Building Character Through Mock Trial
The WNS Middle School Mock Trial team once again rose to the challenge to compete in the annual Los Angeles County competition, showcasing not only their knowledge of our judicial system but also embodying one of our school’s pillars, character.
The Mock Trial competition, organized by Teach Democracy, involves 700+ middle school students across LA County. Students take on roles of attorneys, witnesses, and court officials in a hypothetical criminal case, competing at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse downtown. This experience hones critical thinking and communication skills while demanding perseverance and teamwork.
The 2023-24 WNS team faced a unique challenge with no returning 8th graders. Our 7th grade veterans, including Gia (who won a Best Witness Award as a 6th grader), stepped up to lead their peers through the rigorous preparation process. Their leadership exemplified the accountability we strive to instill in all our students.
Throughout the competition, our students cultivated essential traits central to their personal growth. They developed a strong sense of responsibility by taking ownership of their roles as attorneys or witnesses. The courtroom setting fostered respect and fairness, teaching students to engage in civil disagreements and appreciate equitable judicial processes. By portraying various roles, they nurtured empathy, gaining insights into diverse perspectives. The rigorous preparation and intense competition challenged our young learners to persevere, pushing through difficulties and learning from setbacks. Perhaps most notably, the act of standing up in a real courtroom to present arguments demanded significant courage, particularly from our younger participants.
These traits, strengthened through the Mock Trial experience, beautifully embody WNS’s pillar of character. While competition results are important, we’re most proud of how our students supported each other, and the personal growth they demonstrated throughout the competition. As we look forward to the 2024-25 competition, we’re excited to see how our students will continue to grow, reinforcing our commitment to nurturing well-rounded, ethically grounded individuals with strong character.
Character
Go Jets! - WNS Athletics
Athletics at a glance
In 2023-24, we had 24 teams with 360 student athletes participating in a sport. Congrats Jets!
Two Championship banners
Middle School Girls Track & Field
Middle School Boys Track & Field
Finalists
Flag Football C team
Boys A Basketball
Girls A Basketball
Highlights
Both Boys and Girls A Basketball teams made it to the finals
Girls A Basketball Team FIYA Beach Division Champions
Track and Field Boys 3 Consecutive years winning PBL Meet (championship)
Track and Field Girls won PBL (Pacific Basin League) Meet (championship)
Character
Lights! Camera! Performing Arts at WNS
Performing Arts at a glance
The "Arts" are the heart of WNS! Our graduates have the skill set, confidence, creativity and commitment to be leaders on stage and behind the scenes. Our students learn how to collaborate, empathize, stretch their imagination and creatively problem solve, all while building their confidence, public speaking skills, and presence. Our students thrive by devising student-created work through theatre, music, and dance programming. Students create, perform, respond, and connect to the work and build upon their knowledge and transfer this to their lives and others beyond our school. They rehearse and create powerful art pieces and performances, all while being in a supportive and loving environment. All students are seen, heard, nutrued, and cherished. Our students are the next movers and shakers in the arts!
5 musical performances
Winter Showcase, Lower School Spring Concert, Middle School Spring Concert, 5th Grade Cultural Fair, Middle School Festival Choir Disney Showcase
4 theatre performances
Middle School Fall Play CLUE, 8th Grade Play 'Westside Radio', 5th Grade Short Plays 'Play The Fifth', Middle School Musical 'NEWSIES'
4 dance performances
2nd Grade Community Dance, 3rd Grade Everyone Can Dance, Middle School Dance PE, Lower School Dance Elective
By the Numbers
80 students involved in performing arts electives
20 student participating in dance electives
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice
DEIJ at WNS: By the Numbers
At WNS, we are proud to be a school rich with diversity; from racial and ethnic diversity, to geographic diversity, to socio-economic diversity, and more. We believe it is this beautiful tapestry that gives our school the special culture that we work so hard to nurture.
Race & Ethnicity of WNS Students (%) - 2023-24
DEIJ
Self-Portraits and Identity at the ECC
The ECC Herons class dove into identity work and DEIJ with a lesson on self-portraits. Self-portraits serve as a unique window into each child’s perception of themselves.
On this particular day, students focused on very different aspects of their physical selves. One student delved into the skin tone spectrum by analyzing sheets of colored paper to make connections between his peers, himself, and the colors before him. He went as far as naming his color match “Chocolate Brown,” which added an additional layer to his self-reflection. Meanwhile, the other student focused on his individual features, breaking down each part into its different shapes, making lines and marks that clearly brought him pride.
Whatever their focus, the smiles on each child’s face upon completion of their portrait were evidence of why we do this kind of identity work–to instill a positive sense of self, while also practicing an appreciation for the diverse identities of others around us.
DEIJ
Affinity Groups
Affinity groups are “brave” spaces where individuals who share an identity can gather to discuss issues related to that identity in a safe and supportive environment. These groups also provide an opportunity to learn about the diverse experiences within that identity and create meaningful connections with others. Affinity groups strengthen our community by fostering connections, support, and amplifying voices, making them a crucial element of the WNS community experience.
Student affinity groups
All WNS, students from kindergarten through 8th grade participate in affinity groups. For students in kindergarten through 2nd grade, affinity groups are interest-based, while identity-based groups are introduced starting in 3rd grade. By middle school, student affinity groups engage in deeper discussions about their identities and those of others, using various methods such as music and art to explore these topics. This year, our middle school affinity groups will focus on discussion topics guided by Learning for Justice’s Social Justice Learning Standards (Identity, Diversity, Justice, Action).
Parent/Caregiver Affinity Groups
Parent/Caregiver affinity groups are an important aspect of the caregiver experience at WNS. This year, these groups have thrived, organizing meetings, presentations, playdates, and happy hours. The Parent Board DEIJ Committee manages the family affinity groups, providing a parent-centered approach to supporting this important initiative. The following parent/caregiver affinity groups are currently active, but any parent/caregiver can work with the Parent Board DEIJ Committee to start a group that isn't yet represented: Parents of African American Students (PAAS), Parents/Caregivers of AAPI Students, Parents/Caregivers of Neurodivergent Students, Parents/Caregivers of Latinx Students, Parents/Caregivers of Jewish Students, Parents/Caregivers of LGBTQ+ Students, Single Parents
Faculty and staff affinity groups
We believe it is vital for faculty and staff to participate in affinity groups to build connections with colleagues of similar identities, foster a sense of belonging, strengthen community voice and advocacy, and prepare to guide students in their own identity development work. Our faculty and staff affinity groups meet formally during professional development days and informally as desired. This year, we are introducing Faculty and Staff Learning Groups to complement our affinity groups. These Learning Groups are diverse across identities and grade-level divisions, coming together to discuss relevant issues or topics related to their work as educators. These critical conversations allow faculty and staff to learn from colleagues they may not regularly interact with.
DEIJ
Student Support & Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
At WNS, our Student Support Services are designed to integrate seamlessly with our core pillars, particularly Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ), and Academic Excellence. Our team’s approach to Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and academic differentiation ensures that we meet the diverse needs of our students, helping each one to thrive both academically and emotionally.
What sets WNS apart from other independent schools is the deep integration of our Student Support Services with the rest of the school community. Our six-member team—comprised of a Head Counselor, School Counselor, MFT Trainee, Educational Therapist, Assessing School Psychologist, Lower School Reading Specialist, and Middle School Learning Specialist—works collaboratively under the guidance of our Director of Student Support. Unlike many schools where support teams operate in isolation, the WNS team is fully embedded in the life of the school. We are present in classrooms, meetings, and campus life, ensuring that we know our students well and that they, in turn, know us.
Our hands-on, all-encompassing approach ensures that every student feels supported, understood, and empowered to be their best self. At WNS, we believe that helping students to learn, love themselves, and thrive is not just a goal—it is our mission..
Classroom lessons on:
Kind words, self-regulation, brain filter, mindfulness, size of the problem, tattling vs. reporting, including others, kindness, honesty
School Wide Events:
Kindness Week, Craft Corner, Halloween Positive Affirmation Coloring with the Counselors, Mental Health Awareness Month
Student support services by the numbers
51 ongoing counseling students during the 23-24 school year
131 drop ins during the school year.
36 conflict mediations
82 resources and referrals
24 support groups with 81 students
Community
From our inter-grade buddy program to the annual WNS Gala and Auction, building community for students and adults alike is essential in driving our school forwards. Take a look at what that looked like last year:
Community
Building Community Through Family Groups
Family Groups are monthly inter-grade level (K-8) “meetings” led by 8th grade students designed to build bonds and foster deeper relationships between students, faculty & staff. The idea being that a WNS student remains in the same family group as they matriculate through grades from kindergarten through 8th grade.
When it is time to meet, the “big kids” of the group pick up the youngest from their classrooms and walk them to their designated meeting space to make these young students feel safe and welcome. Every meeting then begins with introductions and a share so everyone can get to know one another.
In a typical year, the groups meet about once a month to do different kinds of activities, including community-building within the group, working on schoolwide projects, and recognizing and celebrating special days, e.g., Drop Everything and Read.
WNS has been doing Family Groups for over 25 years and now includes 24 groups. Family Groups really are a highlight for our students and are a wonderful way for the students of different grade levels to connect and bond.
When it is time to meet, the “big kids” of the group pick up the youngest from their classrooms and walk them to their designated meeting space to make these young students feel safe and welcome. Every meeting then begins with introductions and a share so everyone can get to know one another.
In a typical year, the groups meet about once a month to do different kinds of activities, including community-building within the group, working on schoolwide projects, and recognizing and celebrating special days, e.g., Drop Everything and Read.
WNS has been doing Family Groups for over 25 years and now includes 24 groups. Family Groups really are a highlight for our students and are a wonderful way for the students of different grade levels to connect and bond.
Community in 2023-24: By the Numbers
43
Community Gatherings
32
ECC Sings
21
Party Book events
9
Days of the WNS Book Fair
8
Parent/Caregiver Community Coffees
1
Incredible WNS Gala at the iconic Ebell of Los Angeles
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