Special Edition | Seth Pozzi -  Head of School

Building Independence in Preschoolers
An Investment in Their Future Success

I can do it myself! For young children, learning to do things on their own can provide a sense of accomplishment and pride. Unfortunately, in today’s hurried lifestyle it can be hard to allow children the time they need to complete tasks independently. In fact, many parents and teachers find it much easier to do things for children rather than wait for them to try on their own. We may also underestimate just how much children are capable of.

Preschool is a really critical time to set your child up for success and independence. First, be sure you know what your child is (or should be) capable of doing independently by reviewing Developmental Milestones for your child's age. Second, give clear, yet simple instructions. Last, give lots of praise and encouragement, even when they don’t get it entirely right (celebrate approximations toward independence).

A great place to start is by helping your child master their self-care routines. This includes getting dressed and undressed (taking off/putting on clothes, zippers, buttons; putting on shoes even if they can’t yet tie them), washing hands, and brushing their teeth and hair.

As the summer approaches, now is a great time to slow down and give your child the opportunity to show you just how much he is capable of.

By preschool age, here are some things your child should be doing for him/herself every day!

• Carry lunch box and/or backpack into and out of school
• Put on and take off socks and shoes
• Feed him/herself
• Fill own water bottle, pour juice, cereal, etc.
• Put away toys
• Put dirty clothes in hamper  

Graduate Preparedness
What it means at WHPS

As the school year winds down, graduate preparedness tends to be at the forefront of parents’ minds. What does the next year hold for your child (or your family)? How do you know that your student is prepared for what comes next? At WHPS, there are a wide variety of ways we evaluate graduate preparedness. Our unique program harnesses the balance between both traditional graduate preparedness as well as our own philosophical approach.

One more unique way we measure graduate preparedness actually links to our WASC accreditation. As part of our accreditation, our school has established ESLRS (Expected Schoolwide Learning Results), a set of learning expectations that undergird the curriculum at every grade and age level. By the time children graduate from WHPS, these ESLRs are very much instilled in them. In fact, many of students actually reference one or more of the ESLRs in their graduation speech (join us June 4 for Culmination-and bring some extra Kleenex).

Our program instills these tenets with our students so that when they [unfortunately] have to leave us, they are truly prepared for not only middle school, but also have a set of foundational skills to grow into well-rounded good human beings. Graduate preparedness is not a once-and-done or one-size-fits-all process. We carefully scaffold children's journeys in our program to further enhance each child’s strengths and build-up areas that are trickier.

Some examples of this intentional process:

• TK & Kindergarten - Students are learning independence (no more parents doing anything the child can do for him/herself), academic SMART goal setting, and leading SLCs.
• 1st grade - Students are learning perspective-taking, disagreeing respectfully, problem-solving, and effective communication through STEM & Engineering Challenges.
• 2nd grade - Students transition to Upper Elementary, taking on more independence through a Project-Based Learning approach. 
• 3rd grade - Students refine their independent skills, taking on more academic rigor, participating in technology bootcamp, and taking ERBs for the first time.
• 4th grade - Students exercise their independent skills, participating in their first overnight trip (Astrocamp or Catalina Island), and also their critical thinking and problem solving skills as they begin Robotics.
• 5th grade - All our students' hard work comes together, as they become the leaders of the WHPS student community. Students learn to manage complex projects/deadlines, take on unique leadership opportunities, and run and host our special events.

We are excited to see our graduates move on to some of the top schools in LA, but for us it's bittersweet. We are proud to share that one of our 5th graders has been recognized with a coveted award and scholarship for academic excellence. Mira Sume received Chaminade’s Eagle Excellence Award, which is given to a very small percentage of applicants. We could not be more proud of ALL our BEARS. We wish these bright, resilient leaders and problem-solvers a lifetime of success...and the grit and perseverance to overcome life's inevitable hurdles.

Hi Barnyard Friends!

It’s been an exciting month here at our Our Barnyard. Some of you may have noticed our Reptile Room looks different. That’s because we built a new insulated building with all that we need to keep all the reptiles happy during the upcoming hot summer. The new Reptile Room is also bigger and brighter on the inside, which students can enjoy during their unique lessons inside the room. Come by and check it out!

Our Preschool classes have had a little extra fun this month hanging out with the kittens. A couple weeks ago, our friends from Room 10 found a big surprise outside their classroom. A stray cat had made a “nest” in one one of their flower beds and gave birth to five little kittens. Ms. Cindy found them and quickly went to get Mr. Matthew for help. Mr. Matthew has been taking the kittens home to bottle raise them. The preschool children were especially intrigued about why the kittens still had their eyes closed. We learned that puppies and kittens are born with their eyes shut and ear canals closed off because they need extra time after birth for these senses to fully develop.  

The kittens are getting big enough to adopt out, and they will make amazing pets very soon. There’s Dutchess, a gray and white female, who is super sweet and was the first to cuddle and purr. Next we have Rumor, an all gray male, who is feisty and full of energy. Figaro, the black and white kitten, loves to do everything first, like the first to drink from the bottle and the first to open her eyes. Last, we have the twin black kittens Binx, a boy, and Lucy, a girl. They love to hang out together and roughhouse. So far, three of our kittens already have homes. If you're interested in adopting one or just helping out, please talk to Mr. Matthew (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Elementary classes are culminating with some end of year projects. Evolution classes will be doing a “day in the life of my creature.” This includes writing a short story outlining a typical day in their creature’s life. In Ecology, we have been working in small groups studying different biomes. Each group will be presenting what they have learned about their biome. Finally, in Animal Husbandry, we have been working in small groups researching the needs of various animals. The children will present to the class how they would properly care for that animal in captivity.

-Mr. Matthew and Mrs. Tanja.

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