WHAT’S INSIDE
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The Pinewood Promise Fostering Growth for a Bright Future
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Leading with Joy What Our Educators Love Most About Teaching at Pinewood
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The Path of the Panther Celebrating the Unique Stories of Our Alumni
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Education Unboxed How Pinewood Encourages Well-Roundedness
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Inside/Out How Our Students Develop and Exhibit Self-Motivation
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Parents Speak How Families See the Pinewood Experience
Pinewood School 327 Fremont Avenue, Los Altos, California 94024 www.pinewood.edu
WELCOME TO SHINE
KATY WELLS
Pinewood is proud to launch Shine, a seasonal school magazine focused on celebrating the people, programs, and moments that make our small school a hugely special place.
Associate Director of Communications
Director of Communications
ELIZABETH KEARNS KYLE RICHES Communications Special Projects
SPECIAL THANKS TO Cami Haber • Graphic Design Elements Sam Jezak • Photography Heidi Ravizza • Photography
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Since joining Pinewood’s staff, Scott has seen 27 classes graduate from Pinewood. The class of 2024 will be his 28th.
A NOTE OF WELCOME FROM SCOTT RICHES
“Witnessing transformations at Pinewood in myself, my children, and in our students over the years has been a privilege beyond measure.”
For my entire life, Pinewood's story has been intertwined with my own. It all began with my grandmother's pioneering vision, setting up an afterschool arts program that eventually blossomed into the school we're so proud of today. My personal chapter at Pinewood opened as a kindergartner, and it culminated in that defining moment of graduation – on the very stage where our students still celebrate their achievements today. After returning home from college in 1996, I became the school’s business and operations manager, and then president in 2002. My three children, all proud Evergreens and Pinewood 3
alums, further added to our family's Pinewood story, flourishing from their initial days in kindergarten to their proud moments as graduates. I’m so proud to see the way Pinewood prepared them for life in college and beyond. Witnessing transformations at Pinewood in myself, my children, and in our students over the years has been a privilege beyond measure. Pinewood's heart lies in its tight-knit community. We are a small but mighty school, our strength residing in the fact that every student’s journey matters and each student has opportunities to grow and shine. Just as my own journey was shaped and enriched by
Pinewood, it is a joy to see that tradition continue in every student's unique story. I invite you to dive into this first issue of Shine, Pinewood’s seasonal magazine, to discover the people, programs, and moments that make our school a truly special place.
Scott Riches President and Head of School
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1996-PRESENT
2005-2023
2023 + BEYOND
Pinewood School is founded by Gwen Riches, Scott’s grandmother
Scott serves as Pinewood’s Business & Operations Manager (1996-2002), then President and Head of School (2002-present)
Scott begins kindergarten at Pinewood and attends K-12
Scott’s three children, Connor '18, Tyler '20, and Ashton '23, attend and graduate from Pinewood as Evergreens
Scott graduates as a Pinewood Evergreen and heads to BYU
Connor, Tyler, and Ashton are forging their own paths as they carry the Pinewood legacy forward
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THE PINEWOOD PROMISE Fostering Growth for a Bright Future Pinewood is a place where holistic growth and vibrant community spirit prepare students for a world awaiting their impact.
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Today, Gwen's belief—that communication, confidence, and growth go hand in hand—remains the heart of Pinewood's educational philosophy.
Since its inception in the 1950s, Pinewood School has consistently prioritized our students’ all-around development. While we take pride in our academic strength, our promise is much broader: fostering a culture of learning that nurtures both intellectual curiosity and emotional intelligence. This unique balance, rooted in our school’s historical vision, creates a learning environment where students are not just names on a roster, but vibrant and valued individuals poised for a bright and fulfilling future. In 1955, when Gwen Riches started an after-school arts program in Los Altos for her
children and their neighborhood friends, she didn't realize the ripple effect it would create. Her homegrown program wasn’t just about the arts; it was about how the arts sparked confidence. As children found their voice through drama, painting, and singing, something remarkable happened. Their confidence extended into their academic performance, athletic engagement, and social courage. Recognizing this profound impact the arts had on overall confidence and growth, Gwen, backed by supportive parents, laid the foundation for what would soon become Pinewood School. Today, Gwen's belief—that
communication, confidence, and growth go hand in hand— remains the heart of Pinewood's educational philosophy. Gwen Riches’s founding belief in the relationship between communication, confidence, and achievement within a supportive community is deeply embedded in who we are today. Drawing from her original vision, we infuse our curriculum with opportunities for students to articulate, understand, and connect. This not only prepares them for academic challenges but also equips them for realworld interactions and experiences. By fostering their ability to express and 6
comprehend, students are equipped to lead, inspire, and collaborate in the broader world. Social-emotional learning (SEL) is paramount to our process of preparing students for the future. By incorporating SEL into our curriculum, our goal is to equip students with the skills necessary to tackle challenges both within and outside school walls. Our methods rely heavily on two primary programs: Kimochis and Wayfinder. The former introduces younger students to the vast spectrum of emotions, instilling empathy and resilience, while the latter aids older students in introspection, decision-making, and community engagement.
Pinewood’s value extends beyond education and programming; our communitycentric approach is often what families treasure most. Developing community is a continuous process, filled with its own set of challenges, bumps, and curves along the way. Through it all, our commitment is to guide our students on the path to belonging. This means fostering their ability to build respectful, inclusive, meaningful relationships, not only within our school but also with their families and the broader community. With the goal of community-building always driving us, we are committed to helping our students grow as learners, leaders, and
contributors in the communities to which they belong. Pinewood's core philosophy centers around unwavering dedication to holistic development. Our focus on learning and growing within an uplifting community molds our students into well-rounded individuals. With a robust foundation beneath them, our students are not only ready to face challenges but are also driven to create meaningful changes and enrich communities wherever they go.
With a robust foundation beneath them, our students are not only ready to face challenges but are also driven to create meaningful changes and enrich communities wherever they go.
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Leading With Joy What Our Educators Love Most About Teaching at Pinewood
“Teaching at Pinewood is extremely special for me! We work as a team to support each other and our students. The excitement of seeing a child’s face light up illuminates my day!”
“Just so you know, it’s real. The sense of community and family I feel here is real and it’s unlike anywhere else I’ve ever worked.”
Jeanne Bates
Jordan Maliksi
1st-GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS
LOWER CAMPUS ART
“The support I’ve gotten since day one... I feel it all around at Pinewood. I feel fortunate to be a Panther.” Mónica Llagaria UPPER CAMPUS SPANISH
“One small thing that happens at Pinewood is the helping and kind attitude that students display. It can be simple things like holding open a door, types of actions that are missing so much in the world today. It’s refreshing to see it on campus between our students.”
“I love it when my current and former studens yell out, ‘Hi, Mr. Schreiber!’ across the quad. It makes me feel connected to them as a teacher and as a human being.”
Elaina Tyson
Eric Schreiber
JUNIOR HIGH SCIENCE
HIGH SCHOOL LITERATURE
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THE PATH OF THE PANTHER Pinewood equips students to contribute to their communities wherever they venture. Check out where some of our graduates are leaving their mark today!
ELIZABETH WILLIAMSON LIZ ALTMAIER AND JASON RAFFIN CLASS OF 2006 CLASSES OF 2006 + 2008 Elizabeth and Jason volunteered in September, delivering 650 meals to West Maui families affected by wildfires. Collaborating with Hua Momona Farms and related organizations, they demonstrated commitment to Maui's food sustainability. Want to help? Support Hua Momona Farms.
Liz and her family have relocated to the Netherlands for three years. Living near the beach, they've embraced the Dutch lifestyle, biking extensively. Liz's hunt for the finest pain au chocolat in Den Haag is ongoing, and she's enjoying biking everywhere and playing pickup basketball with the locals.
NATASHA KHAN CLASS OF 2014 Natasha recently enrolled at Columbia Business School, earning prestigious fellowships such as Columbia, Consortium, and Forte. Passionate about promoting diversity in business education and leadership, she emphasizes empowering underrepresented groups. In her MBA journey, she's specializing in Finance, Real Estate, and Entrepreneurship.
All alumni features come from Pinewood’s Panther Tracks Alumni Newsletter, produced by Anne Wong, Director of Alumni Relations and Community Engagement.
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Subscribe to Roots & Branches: The Pinewood Alumni Podcast! Available wherever you find your podcasts.
This summer, 15 Pinewood alumni returned to our campuses to teach at Summer Festival of Learning. Hearing their life updates and accomplishments, shared on @ourpinewood with #pinewoodpanthertracks, was as inspirational as their teaching.
The Alumni Games on November 25, 2023 were – as always – a fiercely fun competition between our current athletes and alumni Panthers.
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EDUCATION
How Pinewood Encourages Well-Roundedness
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The 616 educational journeys currently underway at Pinewood School are each as unique as the students who set out on them. Beyond the measurable scholarly achievements of our remarkable students and alumni, we know that a truly successful academic experience is one that produces confident, flexible thinkers who aren’t afraid to try something new. Education is about exploration, self-discovery, empowerment, and personal growth.
We see this foundation laid early in the K-6 years. Even our youngest students have academic classes, with a specialized teacher for each subject. Small class sizes allow students to deeply connect with their instructors and with one another.
when 6th-graders leap at their first opportunity to participate in student government.
This unique K-6 academic experience is foundational to building the well-rounded young people who will one day leave Pinewood for other communities – colleges, Teamwork is exercised daily in workplaces, organizations, and physical education classes, filled their future neighborhoods. with inventive and inclusive games. Comfort zones are stretched and new talents are The journey continues at discovered through full-class Upper Campus, where 7th-12th musicals, complete with grade students are encouraged costumes, choreography, and a to explore all facets of their deepening mastery of the visual identities in a supportive and arts. And leaders are forged inclusive environment.
Academics and extra-curricular activities offer boundless opportunity for growth. In an intentionally small community, faculty members and administrators truly get to know the students, recognizing their blossoming talents and frequently nudging them to try something new. With an uplifting community behind them, junior high and high school students are wellequipped to dig into different interests. Taking a leap is scary! But Pinewood’s Upper Campus students prove every day that doing so can be transformative.
Pinewood Panthers are scholars, artists, actors, athletes, activists, leaders, and friends. The nine students featured ahead are representative of a truly remarkable student body. Get to know them through their own words.
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8th grade
“I was once the student who was scared to be part of a community. Now...I’m the student trying to bring people into it.”
Arjun Ari JUNIOR I’ll admit it. I used to think football was for dumb jocks and choir was for loud theater kids. Now look at me! I love being part of Pinewood Singers. It has become a different way for me to learn to express myself. I’m also passionate about learning Spanish. Every new phrase gets me closer to participating in the abundant hispanic culture around me. As I trudge down the football field with my “brain-squeezing” helmet, I realize that it’s the pressure that gets me through all four quarters. Pressure shows me how important it is to set high standards for myself. I was once the student who was scared to be part of a community. Now with more passion and experience, I’m the student trying to bring people into it.
8th grade
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“I can now see how risk-taking has widened my skill set and surrounded me with talented people.”
Emma Hwang SENIOR As an artist, I love experimenting with new creative outlets, whether painting portraits, designing logos, or using my voice as a vessel for poems. This year, I joined The Perennial staff as creative director because I wanted to dip my toe into different facets of art. It’s a new kind of leadership experience. I can now see how risktaking has widened my skill set and surrounded me with talented people. I strive to approach my academics and extracurriculars with a healthy mindset, like setting reasonable goals and acknowledging my efforts. I hope to continue developing my passions and to use my skills to benefit my community.
8th grade
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8th grade
“After all, who knows what great experiences I’ll gain from trying something new?”
Rachel Jiang 8TH GRADE Creating art lets me escape from the stress of assignments and deadlines, and dive into an abstract world of my own. That’s what I love most about art — that it gives me freedom. Even though math wasn’t a subject I particularly enjoyed, I joined Mathletes, just for fun. I never expected that some of my favorite memories would be made there. It wasn’t just about winning contests, but a place to bond with my classmates through teamwork. This year, I decided to join the swim team. Stepping out of my comfort zone isn’t something to be afraid of, but something to look forward to. After all, who knows what great experiences I’ll gain from trying something new?
8th grade
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8th grade
“Making decisions about how to prioritize the activities I love required a lot of trust in myself and the independence to make my own choices.”
Aadya Kumar 8TH GRADE With music, exploration is unlimited. Pinewood takes the performing arts seriously, and it’s so exciting to play a leading role this year. I’ll have an amazing opportunity to learn about how to carry myself while being onstage for the majority of the show. Making decisions about how to prioritize the activities I love (music, running, and synchronized swimming) required a lot of trust in myself and the independence to make my own choices. As I practice each one, I begin to understand my strengths. If you’re nervous about trying something new, remember that many people around you are also doing it for the first time. Putting yourself out there can lead to amazing experiences!
8th grade
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8th grade
“...there is no right or wrong way to go about a challenge.”
Joey Makower SENIOR I’m a maker, a musician, and a science nerd. I love the collaborative and creative aspects of robotics — one of the only true “free-thinking” clubs on campus, where there is no right or wrong way to go about a challenge. This year, I’m trying choir and the school play for the first time. My band has played music for the choir before, and I have worked backstage for a number of shows, but I’m not used to singing in front of other people. This experience will make me a more confident performer. There is so much I want to squeeze in before I graduate. Through new experiences, I am becoming more sure of myself, and becoming more invested in activities around campus.
8th grade
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8th grade
“Pushing through the initial discomfort of an unfamiliar challenge can be super rewarding.”
Rohan Parasnis SENIOR I am someone who is always willing to try new things. Once I get involved, I have to see it through. Last year, my friend and I founded Pinewood’s Business Club. Pushing through the initial discomfort of an unfamiliar challenge can be super rewarding. I’m glad I could help create something really cool and long-lasting at Pinewood. This club enables students to have a real impact on communities around the world, and with a variety of projects running concurrently, there’s something for everyone to do. The athletics, academics, and activities I’m involved in have all made me a more well-rounded person.
8th grade
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8th grade
“This has allowed me to be more involved in the community, and has sweetened my experience on campus.”
Alan Skelley SOPHOMORE I enjoy robotics because of the nature of problem-solving and building a viable creation that can be put to use. Stepping out of my comfort zone has grown my confidence. When I first joined a debate tournament in 7th grade, I was very nervous to speak, but I ended up competing in several more tournaments that year. This year, I’m trying student council. I enjoy being a leader and listening to the thoughts and needs of my classmates. A widening variety of classes and clubs has vastly increased the number of people I see and talk to on a daily basis. This has allowed me to be more involved in the community, and has sweetened my experience on campus.
8th grade
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8th grade
“Finding something that you’re passionate about, something that ignites that spark, is so important...”
Christina Tanase JUNIOR On the girls’ varsity basketball team, we value being a selfless teammate, a hard worker, resilient, organized, prompt, and sharp. These are skills that I’ll use for the rest of my life. I’m a motivated, diligent student. After three years as a writer for The Perennial, I took on a new role as a news section editor. I’m also channeling my desire to make a difference in people’s lives through social entrepreneurship, the Pinewood Scholars Program, and student council. Finding something that you’re passionate about, something that ignites that spark, is so important. It gives you purpose. Pinewood encourages curiosity, and I’m always learning new things about myself and others.
8th grade
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8th grade
“Today, I feel much more confident and in control of who I am.”
Mailey Wang SOPHOMORE My favorite extracurricular activity is volleyball — it helps me to feel free and forget all my worries. I’m proud to see progress in my play. I also recently signed up for two competitions through the Business Club. I knew very little about it when I signed up, but I see that the skills I once lacked are already developing. Every meeting, my points get more concise and better developed. I have changed in a hundred different ways since last year. Today, I feel much more confident and in control of who I am.
8th grade
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“With my photography, I hope to share with others the beauty, grace, and perfection contained within every single organism...”
Makena Matula '24 What I love about nature photography is that it proves that science and art are not separate, but rather coexist, especially in the natural world. For me, nature photography is a way in which I delve into my passion for biology and also capture and display to others the astonishing beauty of life on this planet.
Explore Makena’s nature photography @moth.m.r
My pictures are a log of where I’ve been and what I’ve seen as well as a way for me to get a closer look at the details of an organism. For example, it’s hard to see with the naked eye the rhinophores on a sea slug that’s the size of a grain of rice, but in my macro shots, I am able to clearly see every detail of the organism and identify the minuscule features that are key to distinguishing the species.
Pinewood has provided me with so much support in developing my passion for biology and nature photography, from incredible experiential field trips in marine biology and Ms. Ventrice’s willingness to share her expertise for my extracurricular dissections during free periods, to journalism where Mr. Jezak, (an incredible photographer himself), shows staff photographers like me skills such as composition and how to use our cameras to get the most out of every shot. With my photography, I hope to share with others the beauty, grace, and perfection contained within every single organism — from a tiny nudibranch to a grand, majestic eagle — and introduce them to a new way of looking at nature: as art.
Makena’s photographs are featured in the October issue of The Perennial, Pinewood’s award-winning student newspaper.
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INSIDE/OUT
Kaelyn Smith '24 Last summer, I went on a threeweek trip to Udon, Thailand with an organization called HXP (Humanitarian Experience). I signed up for the trip because I was really interested in going to a new place and meeting new people while making a positive impact on the community. While we were there, my group helped build a schoolhouse. We mixed cement, plastered the walls, and painted the building. This was honestly one of the best trips I’ve ever been on! The people in my group are now some of my closest friends, and everyone I met on the trip was so loving and amazing! We got to feed and bathe elephants, go kayaking around islands, go to night markets, teach English classes, visit Buddhist temples, and so much more! I got to see and experience so much in such a small amount of time, and I just loved it so, so much!!
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Simon Braun '24 Let me tell you about the two experiences I had over last summer that were absolutely incredible. First, I performed with Ragazzi Boys Choir. The group alternates between national and international tours, and this year, we performed in three locations in the Pacific Northwest. I also volunteered to help run my local debate camp. There, I taught younger kids how to debate in congress style by helping them practice researching, speaking, and speechwriting.
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INSIDE/OUT
Kathleen Xie '25 Last summer, I presented a paper titled “Gear Design Techniques to Achieve Optimized Movement” at GCER (Global Conference on Educational Robotics), which takes place at the international Botball tournament in July. It won the “Outstanding Paper” award. In my research paper, I described how gears work, different types of gears, design considerations, and their applications in Botball. Since the season’s game design had many tasks that required precise joint movements, my team found that the choice of gear type and design could significantly improve the accuracy and reliability of a motion. This inspired me to write the research paper and share it with a larger audience. My hope is that teams around the world gained some insights from my paper on ways to optimize gear usage for their own robots. Pinewood's supportive environment has encouraged me to challenge myself and grow in this aspect. Through class presentations and extracurriculars such as journalism, Pinewood has helped me learn how to better articulate my ideas and improve as a communicator. To me, educational robotics represents a hands-on opportunity to both learn building/coding skills and apply them toward creating innovative solutions. Pinewood’s CS curriculum has definitely honed my problem solving skills, which is an important skill I need when a robot isn’t working – something that happens quite often! The exercises and projects we do in the classes especially helped expand my coding abilities.
Above: Kathleen holds her “Outstanding Paper” award from GCER. Below: Kathleen competes for Pinewood in the CIF-CCS tournament on Tuesday, October 31st at Laguna Seca Golf Ranch.
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PARENTS SPEAK
Our parent community is a wonderfully diverse group of people who are united by their belief in Pinewood’s promise.
ROOPA SIROHI PARENT OF AARYAN (4) AND RYANNA (2) Our son, Aaryan, started Pinewood in fall 2019. He was in kindergarten at the start of the pandemic. With schools taking various approaches to remote learning, Pinewood pivoted rapidly and followed data and science to ensure our children’s safety. As a physician, I respected Pinewood’s approach and trusted them with my child. Aaryan is now in 4th grade and has grown and matured tremendously. He has gained confidence and knows he has support from his teachers and friends. He is an athlete who enjoys the many sports offered at Pinewood. Our daughter, Ryanna (2nd grade), has also been at Pinewood since kindergarten. Her friendly and jovial personality is a perfect match for Pinewood’s culture of community and warmth. She brightens up when performing on stage in musicals and plays. We are proud parents of our little Panthers and look forward to watching them build their confidence with the support of their Pinewood family. Left: The Sirohi family: Aman, Roopa, Aaryan, and Ryanna Middle: Ryanna engages in science class at Lower Campus. Right: Aaryan (second from right) takes a moment to pose with friends on the 4th-grade San Juan Bautista field trip.
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Don’t miss a moment. @ourpinewood Pinewood School 327 Fremont Avenue, Los Altos, California 94024 www.pinewood.edu