Call it a family, call it a community, or call it a high performing team — Westwood Charter School overflows with energy and purpose. Staff and parents are committed to celebrating the individuality of each child while upholding high standards for their achievement. The teaching and support staff recognize the importance of balancing social and academic growth, and strive to provide opportunities for each child to reach their full potential. We recognize that self concept and a sense of one’s place in the community have a strong influence on learning. Experiences that reinforce our interdependence with one another and the earth, as well as opportunities to serve the community, are woven throughout the curriculum.
The course of study is thematically based, starting with a Social Studies foundation that permeates other content areas in an integrated approach. We strongly believe that children bring their own experiences to the classroom and use their prior knowledge to construct new understanding through process oriented, hands-on, experiential learning. Critical thinking skills are emphasized through solving real world problems, and participating in discussions and activities that require higher order thinking skills.
Our students bring their diverse cultural experiences to their Westwood school family. We recognize the importance of creating an inclusive atmosphere that empowers children to become positive influences in the larger community and the world. By valuing the cultural backgrounds of our families, we create a climate where children learn to get along with one another and appreciate their differences.
The concept of “team” pervades the formal and informal structures at Westwood. Parents are integral to all aspects of the school program, whether serving on the School Based Management Team, supporting W.I.S.E. (our parent fundraising and service organization), volunteering in the classroom, participating in school wide events, or supporting their children in learning. Teachers plan and implement curriculum in collegial “families,” and in turn group work is an important part of every child’s classroom experience. Groups of teachers, parents and administrators work together to develop, manage and evaluate our plans to improve achievement and fulfill the goals of our charter.
The staff and I are passionately committed to giving our children the tools to be adaptable, productive individuals, respectful of the Earth and its people, and mindful of their personal responsibility as a citizen of the world.
Judy Utvich, Principal