Our Wildwood, Summer 2016, Volume 39

Upcoming Events

Our Wildwood is published twice a year by Wildwood School’s Office of Advancement. Alan Ball Director of Institutional Advancement Sharon Fagen Director of Strategic Partnerships

AUGUST 18: 6th Grade Student and Parent Orientation New 7th-12th Grade Student and Parent Orientation AUGUST 21: Families of Children of Color Back to School Gathering AUGUST 22: First Day of School for Middle and Upper Students Middle and Upper Wildwood Parent Organization (WWPO) Parent Welcome Coffee AUGUST 24: Orientation for Parents of New Elementary Students AUGUST 29: First Half Day of School for New Elementary Students AUGUST 30: First Half Day of School for All Elementary Students

Josh Fawcett Raiser’s Edge Database Director

Janet Keller Director of Communications

Doreen Leddy Alumni Parent Liasion

Courtney O’Connor Communications and Design Manager

Aimee Richer Director of Development Diana Sevastyanova Advancement Associate for Alumni Relations

Chay Thaopaset Associate Director of Communications Managing Editor: Janet Keller Editor: Chay Thaopaset Copy Editor: Jeannine Santiago Book Shelf Editor: Michelle Simon Designer: Elizabeth Burrill Photography for this issue: Alexander Photography, Steve Barrett, Maria Beistegui, Vanessa Biddle (Wildwood parent), Kathy Nagler Bobrow (Wildwood parent), Anna Boucher, Alberto Duarte, Janet Keller, Kourosh Khajavi (Wildwood parent), Courtney O’Connor, Ivette Osorio (Wildwood parent), Mia Renaud (Wildwood parent), Lela S. ’18, Isaac Simpson, Jenn Solomon (Wildwood parent), Lori M. Strauss, Chay Thaopaset, Vince Bucci Photography

SEPTEMBER 2: Elementary WWPO Parent Welcome Coffee

SEPTEMBER 7: College Night for Seniors

SEPTEMBER 15: Upper School Back to School Night SEPTEMBER 19: Middle School Back to School Night SEPTEMBER 29: Elementary School Back to School Night

DEFINE NORMAL by Julie Anne Peters

NOVEMBER 3: WWPO Fall Summit

Reviewed by Angie Oropeza, MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL LIBRARIAN

NOVEMBER 7: Wildwood Institute for STEM Research and Development (WISRD) Community Speaker

Define Normal , by Julie Anne Peters, is recommended for children in grades 7 to 10. The story captures the lives of two young girls, Antonia Dillon and Jazz Luther, who are paired up in their peer-mentoring program. Antonia is smart, her teachers love her, and she seems “normal.” Jazz is a spunky Goth with a bit of an attitude. As the story develops, readers learn that Antonia is going through a rough transition. Her father has abandoned her family, and Antonia feels pressured to take care of her mother and younger brother, keep up with her schoolwork, and mentor Jazzwho comes from a well-to- do family with loving parents and a beautiful home. As the girls spend more time together, Antonia realizes that Jazz’s life also is complicated. Despite their differences, the girls develop a friendship that gives them the strength to tackle the Please send address updates to: Wildwood School Attention: Adv ncement Office 11811 Olympic Boulevard L s Angeles, CA 90064 310.806.4517 oww@wildwood.org

NOVEMBER 15-19: Middle and Upper School Shakespeare Production

DECEMBER 2: Elementary School Jog-a-Thon DECEMBER 2-8: Elementary School Book Fair

CORRECTION The Winter issue of Our Wildwood listed Kendra Elstad as a grade three associate teacher in the Backwards Glance section. Kendra has also been a head teacher for visual arts for 3 years.

JANUARY 4: Alumni Visit Day