FALL 2026
Neighborhood Newsletter A dynamic, engaging education. A nurturing, inclusive community.
COMMUNITY GATHERING PLAZA
MAR VISTA
COMMUNITY COUNCIL
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE:
AT WINDWARD (ROOM 410)
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www.windwardschool.org
11350 Palms Boulevard Los Angeles, California 90066
PERMIT NO.32365
LOS ANGELES, CA
U.S. POSTAGE PAID ORGANIZATION NON-PROFIT
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITMENT
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s a school within a residential community, we are dedicated to doing our part in remaining a good neighbor. Our continued commitment to road safety and campus etiquette reflects our effort to strengthen the positive relationship we share with our neighbors. If you have any questions or concerns regarding traffic, parking, or security, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Dawn Barrett, Associate Head of School for Advancement, Finance, & Operations dbarrett@windwardschool.org Direct Line (424) 289-1015 Lindsay Gonzales Director of Infrastructure & Risk Management lgonzales@windwardschool.org
Raul Villa, Facilities Manager rvilla@windwardschool.org Direct Line (424) 289-1018
Uriel Aguirre, Director of Security, Plant, & Facilities uaguirre@windwardschool.org Direct Line (424) 289-1171
Greg Moreno, Security Manager gmoreno@windwardschool.org Direct Line (424) 289-1171 Hiliana Gomez, Community Engagement and Advancement Liaison hgomez@windwardschool.org Direct Line (424) 289-1000
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Windward is proud to host the Mar Vista Community Council Meetings. Providing accessible spaces is just one of the many ways we can benefit our local community, and we enjoy having the committees utilize our facilities. Please visit www.marvista.org/calendar for more information. OUTREACH COMMITTEE ELECTIONS AND BYLAWS COMMITTEE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING & LAND USE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE EDUCATION ART & CULTURE COMMITTEE
Work on the Milken Family Community Gathering Plaza, in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has continued to make steady progress throughout the summer. We remain optimistic that the majority of the construction will be completed before the start of the school year, helping to minimize traffic impacts and disruption to both our campus and the surrounding neighborhood. We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding throughout this construction process. While we make every effort to minimize the impact on our neighbors, we recognize that some disruption is unavoidable, and we are grateful for your continued support as we complete this important project. As a reminder, if you would like to schedule a tour of the new DeGeorge Family Innovation & Arts Center, please contact Dawn Barrett at dbarrett@windwardschool.org. We will also continue to share opportunities to visit the new space and attend upcoming events as they become available.
2027-28 ADMISSIONS APPLICATIONS The 2027-28 Admissions season is officially underway! Windward School is excited to welcome prospective families and is now accepting applications for entry into Grades 7 through 9.
PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY & HOMELESS COMMITTEE EXECUTIVE & FINANCE COMMITTEE
Our Admissions Team is here to guide you through every step of the process and answer any questions along the way. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at admissions@windwardschool. org—we’re happy to help.
MAR VISTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING (Academic Hub - Room 20) For questions, please contact Hiliana Gomez at hgomez@windwardschool.org
2026-27 CALENDAR AUGUST 2026 24: 9th Grade Parent/Guardian Orientation and Reception, 6:00 p.m. 25: 7th Grade Parent/Guardian Meeting, 6:30 p.m. 26: 10th Grade Parent/Guardian Orientation and Reception, 6:00 p.m. 27: 8th Grade Parent/Guardian Meeting, 6:30 p.m. 31: First Day of School
SEPTEMBER 2026 1: 12th Grade Parent/Guardian Night, 5:30 p.m.
We look forward to getting to know your family and sharing what makes the Windward community such a special place to learn and grow. 3: 11th Grade Parent/Guardian Night, 5:30 p.m. 7: Labor Day/No School 21: Yom Kippur/No School 23: Back To School Night, 5:30 p.m. 24: W!T Faculty Match, 4:00 p.m. 29: College Arts Night, 5:30 p.m.
14: Junior College Counseling Night, 5:30 p.m. 15: All Parent/Guardian Affinity Groups Meeting, 6:00 p.m. 19: No School/Office Closed 22: Fall Spotlight Performance (grades 7-9), 7:00 p.m. 30: W!T Match, 4:00 p.m
OCTOBER 2026
NOVEMBER 2026
1: Parent Evening with Eric Hudson - AI, 6:00 p.m. 5: State of the School Evening Session, 6:30 p.m. 8: VMA Exhibition Opening #1, 3:30 p.m. (open to our neighbors) 13: Prospective Parent Open House #1, 6:00 p.m.
5: Prospective Parent Open House #2, 6:00 p.m. 6: Faculty In-Service, (No School/Office Open) 7: Grandparents & Friends Brunch, 10:00 a.m. 9: Tales at the Table, 6:00 p.m. 12: W!T Match, 4:00 p.m. 12: VMA Exhibition Opening #2, 5:00 p.m. (open to our neighbors) 23-27: Thanksgiving Break
SERVICE LEARNING AT WINDWARD We are excited for the upcoming school year and look forward to expanding our service-learning partnerships across the Westside of Los Angeles. Through tutoring, meal preparation, assembling supply kits, leading educational classes, and more, we will continue serving diverse communities and populations in need. Our students are eager to make a meaningful impact through service. We are especially proud of our dedicated student leaders, who will lead service clubs throughout the year that reflect their individual passions, interests, and commitment to helping others.
CAMP WINDWARD
SUMMER CAMP SUCCESS! This Summer, Windward welcomed students from across the community for another season of camps in Athletics, Academics, and the Arts. From developing new skills and exploring creative interests to building confidence and making new friends, campers enjoyed a wide range of engaging experiences led by Windward faculty and staff. Thank you to everyone whose enthusiasm and dedication made this Summer’s camp program such a success. We look forward to welcoming campers back next year! For questions, please contact summercamps@windwardschool.org.
MAR VISTA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ANNUAL PICNIC On June 13, Windward School proudly hosted the Mar Vista Neighborhood Association’s Annual Picnic on Foley Field. The event was a tremendous success, bringing together friends, families, and neighbors for an afternoon filled with fun, laughter, and community spirit. Our friends and neighbors came together to enjoy food, sweet treats, creative craft activities for the kids, lively music, and classic games. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect, celebrate, and strengthen the sense of community that makes Mar Vista so special. We are proud to continue this cherished annual tradition and look forward to welcoming everyone back next year!
LOOKING AHEAD: STRENGTHENING TRAFFIC MITIGATION FOR 2026-27
As we prepare for the 2026-27 school year, we are excited to share that more than 50% of our students are now enrolled in Windward’s bus program. With this remarkable increase in participation, we are optimistic that our new transportation model will significantly reduce traffic to and from campus. In addition to the expanded bus program, we continue to maintain enhanced carpool requirements for all parent/guardian-driven and senior student-driven vehicles to further support our traffic mitigation efforts. Together, our bus program and carpool requirements are designed to reduce daily vehicle trips, ease congestion during drop-off and pick-up, and improve traffic flow throughout the surrounding neighborhood. Our Security Team will also continue to actively monitor the local area to help ensure community safety and adherence to school parking and traffic protocols. We are deeply grateful for the continued support and partnership of the Mar Vista community. If you have any questions or concerns regarding transportation, please contact transportation@windwardschool.org.
Please Note:
While we communicate our parking and carpool expectations clearly to our community and have additional security personnel monitoring the surrounding streets during peak traffic times, there are occasionally a small number of individuals who require additional reminders. If you observe community members who are not complying with the School’s parking or traffic guidelines, please do not hesitate to contact Greg Moreno at gmoreno@windwardschool.org. We appreciate your assistance and will address reported concerns promptly.
This Summer, we welcomed our newest Windwardians to campus for Camp Windward, a weeklong experience designed to help incoming 7th Grade students build connections and get to know their future classmates. On the final day of each camp session, students participated in a morning of service activities, introducing them to the important role that service plays in student life at Windward. Across the three camp sessions, students heard from representatives from The Mar Vista Family Center and Allies for Every Child, learning about the meaningful work these organizations do to support children and families in our community. Students then assembled back-to-school backpacks filled with essential supplies for students who need them, helping ensure they begin the 2026–27 school year prepared and confident.
CITY OF SANTA MONICA WELL WORK
As we’ve previously shared, the City of Santa Monica manages a series of municipal water wells located on or near Windward’s campus. At times, the City is required to conduct maintenance or infrastructure work on these wells, which can occasionally create noise or other temporary disruptions. While we understand and share the community’s frustration when this happens, please note that Windward has no control over the timing, scope, or schedule of this City-managed work. The City is currently working on two new well sites as part of its ongoing water infrastructure improvements: one located in the Sawtelle Parking Lot and another near the channel by the Athletic Field. This project is managed entirely by the City’s Water Division and is expected to be completed by Summer 2026. We will continue to share updates as we receive them from the City of Santa Monica. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Dawn Barrett for more information.
10TH GRADE AUGUST SERVICE RETREAT On August 24, we will welcome our 10th Grade students for orientation, with much of the day dedicated to a service and leadership experiential retreat. Students will select a partner organization based on their interests and spend the day immersed in the organization through hands-on activities and learning experiences. Through these partnerships, students will gain a deeper understanding of the needs of the greater Los Angeles community and what it means to be an engaged and compassionate community member. Students will visit Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles (OBKLA), Boys & Girls Club of Santa Monica, Mar Vista Family Center, Westside Food Bank, Baby2Baby, and Hope in a Suitcase. Santa Monica, Mar Vista Family Center, Westside Food Bank, Baby2Baby, and Hope in a Suitcase.
SCHEDULED ANNUAL FIRE ALARM TESTING THURSDAY, AUGUST 6: Please be advised that our required, campuswide Regulation 4 Annual Fire Alarm Testing is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 6. Testing will begin at 7:30 a.m. and is expected to conclude by no later than 4 p.m.
WHAT TO EXPECT: • Alarms will be activated intermittently across campus throughout the day.
• There is no emergency during these activities; they are part of the routine inspection process.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we complete this important safety requirement. If there are any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Lindsay Gonzales, Director of Infrastructure and Risk Management.