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Special Edition | Seth Pozzi - Head of School
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I am thrilled to welcome everyone back to our tight-knit, inclusive, and diverse community for 2023-2024. We know that students learn best when they experience a genuine sense of belonging, and we strive to create a strong school community that values students for exactly who they are. Looking ahead, one of my hopes and goals for this year is to ensure that every member of the WHPS community, whether a student or an adult, enjoys the complete WHPS experience, where every member of this community ends the year feeling that we made the most of this precious time together.
Belonging - Beyond the Classroom
 For most families, WHPS is not just the place where you drop your child off every day; it’s your community too. It was heartening and rather inspiring to hear our commitment to diversity, belonging, and valuing individual strengths reflected back through the eyes of parents and fellow educators who were part of last spring’s accreditation visit. As we go into this new school year, we hope to foster even more belonging and connection for all students, families, and staff. You can read about some of the ways we have been working to promote belonging and cultural proficiency in school on our blog. Below are just a few of the opportunities coming up for belonging and engagement this school year.
Community Coffee - Friday, September 1 (8-9:30 am)
PAWS is sponsoring an informal coffee and nosh tomorrow morning with the school leadership team at the Oxnard Street campus. Please join us to let us know how things are going, share any feedback you may have, and ask any questions. We can also share more about the new WHPS Security Officer starting next week.
Private School Village (PSV) - Affinity Spaces for Black & Latinx Families
I am excited to announce that WHPS, with co-sponsorship by PAWS, has joined Private School Village, a unique community program designed to foster an equitable and healthy school experience for Black and Hispanic/Latinx families—who are often underrepresented—in Los Angeles independent schools. As part of PSV, our families will have access to a range of programming, and our school will participate in professional learning opportunities, encompassing subjects ranging from enhancing racial literacy to implementing equitable policies, exploring new research, and nurturing the mental health and well-being of both students and families.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) - Monthly Meeting
I hope even more families will join our monthly DEI Committee Meetings with members of PAWS and school leadership. Parent support and input help us continue to grow and expand this dynamic programming. The first meeting is September 6 and then every first Wednesday from 1-2 pm. Email info@whpspaws.com if you are interested in joining.
Family & Parent Education Series
We are putting together this year’s workshops and programming and would love your feedback so we can make these the most applicable and meaningful for our families.
I hope to see you at tomorrow's Community Coffee and next week's Back to School Night events, and I am excited for the year ahead! Thank you for choosing to make the investment in a WHPS education for your family.
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Dean of Students
Cynthia Baroudi
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The beginning of school is a fresh and exciting time! Students are making new friends, getting to know their teachers, and preparing for new adventures. It’s also a time for new routines and procedures, laying the foundation for the year ahead. “Maslow before Bloom” has become a popular catchphrase in the educational community. It recognizes that children can learn best and most meaningfully in an environment that first prioritizes belonging, respect, and self-esteem. This is why the first six weeks at WHPS include so much intentional focus on creating a warm, predictable, safe environment before we focus on Bloom’s Taxonomy, which is all about depth and quality of learning (over rote skill repetition), also a core WHPS value. Our teachers do so much in these first few weeks that set the stage for academic excellence in the year ahead.
Goals for the First Six Weeks
 Create a climate of warmth, inclusion, and safety
Teachers and students focus on getting to know one another, finding commonalities, and developing a cohesive classroom community. Students will take more risks and put in more effort when they feel comfortable.
Teach classroom rules and behavior expectations
Our teachers work with students to create classroom rules. Because students have an active part in the process, they understand why the rules and routines are there and are not just being told what to do.
 Help students get to know and care for the classroom and school environment
By setting up a student-centered environment, students have a sense of ownership and autonomy. Even for students who have been at WHPS for years, a new year comes with new materials, privileges, and responsibilities.
Unwavering high expectations for academic work
Students are introduced to what they will learn about all year long. They are also held to an unwavering high standard from the very beginning. Teachers spend this time completing assessments so they know where they can push each student to the next level.
How do we do this?
Setting Hopes & Dreams
Teachers start the year with great intentionality by having students share their hopes and dreams. Teachers also share their hopes and dreams for the year.
Rule Creation
 Starting with hopes and dreams gives a greater purpose to rule creation. Once everyone knows one another's hopes and dreams, teachers facilitate rule-creation by asking, "What rules would we need to have in our class so we can help each other achieve our hopes and dreams?" Typically, students will work in groups to come up with rules for how we will treat ourselves, each other, and the environment. Rules are always framed in the positive. "Don't leave people out" might be reframed as "Make sure to be inclusive." Finally, the teachers and students work together to consolidate the list into the final version, which teachers and students then sign and refer back to throughout the year.
Interactive Modeling
 Just as the students develop rules, teachers model and practice what the rules look like in all areas across campus. This includes the teacher modeling a routine, asking the students what they observed, and helping everyone practice. It's amazing how much precious learning time is preserved over the course of the year by having efficient and clear routines from the beginning.
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Collins Campus
Robin & Kat
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Oxnard Campus
Christine & Roxana
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Welcome to the start of the new school year! Our educators have refined and established the best ways to begin the school year to ensure a smooth transition from home to school.
7 Ways to Make Your Child's Day the Best It Can Be
- Schedule - List the tasks that need to happen and decide as a family on the order to be completed. It is important to involve your child so that they can begin to feel responsible for getting to school on time. Keep breakfast simple. Divide and conquer.
- Choose outfits the night before - It is better to have those battles the night before. It saves time in the morning. Follow through with their choices. This should include socks, underwear, and shoes.
- Consistent bedtime - Proper rest is crucial for their success at school. Establish a routine for bedtime such as dinner, bath, bedtime story, etc. Eliminate screen time. Spend time together with a good book or bedtime song.
- Prepare the night before - Have backpacks, lunches, and items needed ready to go. Don’t wait until the morning. You and your child will feel less stressed.
- Children should begin getting ready on their own - Allow time for them to dress themselves and brush their teeth. This is a great start to their independence skills.
- Music - Children love music and songs. Be creative. Music gets them motivated. Get them moving.
- Follow through on weekends - Try your best to keep the same routine for your child on weekends. Keep regular bedtimes, healthy eating, and exercise, and allow your child to practice self-help skills and participate in simple chores. It makes those Mondays easier in the long run.
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Drop Off & Pick Up
Preschool should be a place where children feel excited to return.
Having a positive start and end to your child’s day
makes for a better and easier tomorrow!
Drop Off
- Use Emotional Self-Control - Children naturally pick up on their parents’ emotions. Do your best to project calm and confidence. When your child senses the excitement from you, chances are they will look forward to the day.
- Goodbye Routine - Maybe a special handshake, hug, or gentle kiss, but whatever you choose make it a regular habit and commit to it.
Pick-Up
- Be Present - Put your phone down and focus on welcoming your child with open arms.
- Allow Autonomy - Allow them to help with carrying their belongings.
- Quick Exit - Be sure to exit quickly. Once you stay and allow your child to play it becomes difficult to leave (and the yards are reserved for children in extended care).
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"Our Barnyard" News | WHPS Science & Nature Center
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Animal & Nature Specialist
Mr. Matthew
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Animal Keeper
Mrs. Mackenzie
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Hello Barnyard friends!
All of the animals in Our Barnyard are excited to see everyone back from summer vacation. They want everyone to know that they survived the "hurriquake" with flying colors. The ducks even enjoyed the experience! Thanks to the generosity of our WHPS families, our reptile room has had a major overhaul, and while we still have to put together some finishing pieces, we would love for you to stop by and see it. You are welcome to visit, just remember to keep the door closed after you enter/exit. Mars, the cockatiel, hangs outside his cage most of the day and loves to greet visitors. He isn't a fan of hands, however, so let's keep those to ourselves. We also have some sad news to share. Over the summer, we lost our friend Pig-Pig. He was very old and passed peacefully after having a very long, happy life here at WHPS.
Elementary
 Elementary students are ready to start their year-long investigations in Annimal & Nature Studies. The first lessons preview what each area of study consists of and what we will be learning this year. Kindergarten focuses on Animal Care. We will learn the basics of taking care of any animal, from feeding and cleaning them to what kind of home they need. We will be very hands-on with the animals' everyday needs. First grade is learning Ecology 101, and fourth/fifth grade (following a two-year cycle) is learning Ecology 201. Ecology is the study of living things and how they interact with their environment. This can be something simple, such as how population sizes of predator and prey affect each other, or as complex as food webs and keystone species. Finally, second/third grade (also on a two-year curriculum cycle) will begin one of the most important scientific theories of the past 100 years, evolution. Why do animals change over time? What makes it possible for new adaptations to appear? Just how important is genetics? All of this and more will be answered this year.
Preschool
 With the start of a new school year comes a lot of new friends at Woodland Hills Private School. We took the first week getting used to Our Barnyard rules and learned how to behave with all the animals. Which animals are we allowed to pet? Where in the Barnyard do we need to be extra quiet? Ask your little one to find out. In September, we will be exploring the three major groups of animals: mammals, birds, and reptiles. We will spend two weeks on each group, first learning how to tell them apart, and then seeing how they interact with humans.
Ms. Mackenzie and Mr. Matthew are very excited about the year ahead!
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| Sept. |
Collins |
Oxnard |
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Community Coffee @ 8-9:30am, Sponsored by PAWS |
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Labor Day - WHPS CLOSED |
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Back to School Night
Parents ONLY, 3pm Early Closure
* 4-5pm - Rm. 1, 3, 4, 5 & 10
* 5-6pm - Rm. 2, 6, 7, 8 & 9 |
Elementary Tour @ 10am |
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Back to School Night
Parents ONLY, 3pm Early Closure
* 4-5pm Preschool & ETK
* 5-6:15pm Elementary |
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Fall Extracurriculars Begin |
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PAG Meeting (In Person) @ 5-6pm |
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PAWS Meeting (In Person w/Zoom Option) @ 6:30-7:30pm |
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Menchie's Fundraiser |
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Permanent Impressions - On Campus |
| 26-28 |
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School Pictures |
| 29 |
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Movie Night @6:15-8:30pm |
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