Harvard-Westlake School

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Harvard-Westlake School
Possunt Quia Posse Videntur
trans. They can because they think they can.
lit. They are able because they are seen to be able.
Established Harvard: 1900
Westlake: 1904
Fully Merged: 1991
School type Independent
Religious affiliation None, formerly Episcopal (Harvard)
Administration Thomas C. Hudnut, President
Jeanne Huybrechts, Head
Harry Salamandra, Head of Upper School
Ronnie Codrington-Cazeau, Head of Middle School
Location Middle School: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Upper School: North Hollywood, CA, USA
Campus Suburban
Middle School: 12 acres (5 ha)
Upper School: 22 acres (9 ha)
Enrollment Middle School: 730
Upper School: 830
Faculty 214
Student:teacher
ratio		 7:1
Average SAT
scores (2006)		 681 verbal
705 math
Athletics 22 CIF Varsity teams
Color(s) Red, Black, White
Mascot The Wolverine; formerly the Saracen (Harvard), and the Bird of Pardise (Westlake)

The Harvard-Westlake School is a secular, independent, coeducational college preparatory day school located in Los Angeles, California with approximately 1,600 students enrolled in grades 7 through 12. The school is known for its strong academic program, selective admissions, high college matriculation, and well-known parents and alumni. It is 1 of the 4 U.S members in G20, an elite group of 22 independent secondary schools across the English speaking world.


Contents

[edit] Mission Statement (verbatim)

Harvard-Westlake is a school whose curriculum and programs create an educational environment designed for students who possess both the motivation and the ability to pursue a rigorous college preparatory course of study.

The school strives to provide an education that enables and empowers its diverse students to develop their intellectual, spiritual, emotional, and physical gifts; to understand and respect the similarities and differences among themselves and others in their local and world communities; and to learn the habits of mind and self-discipline necessary to live with integrity and purpose as contributing members of society.

[edit] Goals

Harvard-Westlake will endeavor to fulfill this mission by:

  • promoting an abiding regard for truth and excellence among its students;
  • recognizing that respect for other people, honesty, and courtesy are fundamental standards expected of everyone in the school community;
  • emphasizing logical analysis, clear language, and critical thinking throughout the curriculum;
  • fostering participation in a wide range of useful activities at school and in the larger community designed both to strengthen the self and to respond to the needs and feelings of others;
  • encouraging in its students the development of the self-reliance, independence, and moral strength that are requisites for the responsible exercise of freedom in the world that awaits them after they graduate.[1]


[edit] History

Harvard-Westlake is the product of the 1991 merger between the Harvard School for Boys and the Westlake School for Girls.

[edit] Harvard School

The Harvard School for Boys was established in 1900 by Grenville C. Emery as a military academy, located at the corner of Western Avenue and Venice Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. In 1911 it secured endorsement from the Episcopal Church and became a non-profit organization. In 1937 the school moved to its present-day campus on Coldwater Canyon in North Hollywood after receiving a loan from Donald Douglas of the Douglas Aviation Company. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, the Harvard School gradually discontinued both boarding and its standing as a military academy, while expanding its enrollment and curriculum.[2]

[edit] Westlake School

The Westlake School was established in 1904 by Jessica Smith Vance and Frederica de Laguna in what is now downtown Los Angeles, California as an exclusively female institution offering both elementary and secondary education. It moved to its present-day campus located in Holmby Hills, California in 1927. In the late 1960’s Westlake became exclusively a secondary school.[3]

[edit] The Merger

Ted Slavin Field, Upper School
Enlarge
Ted Slavin Field, Upper School

As both schools continued to grow in size towards the late 1980’s, and as gender-exclusivity became less and less of a factor both in the schools’ reputations and desirability, the trustees of both Harvard and Westlake effectuated a merger in 1989. The two institutions had long been de facto sister schools and interacted socially. Complete integration and coeducation began in 1991.[4]

[edit] Campus

At this time the school is split between the two campuses, with grades 7-9 located at the former Westlake campus in Holmby Hills, colloquially referred to as the Middle School, and grades 10-12 located at the former Harvard campus in North Hollywood, colloquially referred to as the Upper School.[5]

The Middle School is currently undergoing almost complete renovation and modernization, replacing six structures, including the original administration building.[6]As of November 2006, fundraising has begun for the modernization of the Upper School.

[edit] Academics

The academic program at Harvard-Westlake is regarded as one of the most rigorous in the country. However, this reputation is somewhat misrepresented; while the school does offer a veritable plethora of classes, especially in the junior and senior years, many of which are College Board Advanced Placement, the school’s requirements for graduation are relatively lenient. For various reasons, though, most students at Harvard-Westlake take any number of advanced courses in the upper grades.

The Administration Building, Middle School
Enlarge
The Administration Building, Middle School

Diploma Requirements for Grades 10-12 in 2005-2006:[7]

  • English—three years
  • History and Social Studies—two years
  • Foreign Language—completion through Level III in a modern language or two years of Latin and two years of a modern language
  • Science—two years of a laboratory science
  • Fine [or Performing] Arts—any two semesters
  • Physical Education—five trimesters
  • Community Service—required each year, usually twelve hours or one collaborative project

[edit] Advanced Placement

Starting in the tenth grade, Harvard-Westlake offers a wide array of College Board Advanced Placement preparation courses, the tests for which are administered by the school in May of each school year. In the 2005/2006 school year, 35 Advanced Placement preparation classes were offered. Of these, the English Language, English Literature, Physics B, and Spanish Literature courses were cited by the College Board as the best in the world among high schools with an enrollment of more than 800 students. Approximately 90% of students score above a 3 on the AP exams. [8][9]

[edit] National Merit

112 students in the Class of 2005 received National Merit Recognition, with 49 National Merit Finalists among 52 National Merit Semifinalists, placing Harvard-Westlake among the top ten schools in the nation for National Merit qualification.[10]

[edit] Student Life

Harvard-Westlake is often perceived as a community that fosters academic growth only. However, students invariably find time for many extracurricular activities, from student government to a strong athletics program.

[edit] Clubs

In the 2005/2006 school year, Harvard-Westlake had 43 registered and sponsored clubs and organizations across both campuses, among which were both serious concerns such as the Upper School's chapter of Amnesty International and more light-hearted gatherings such as the Middle School's Will and Grace Club.

[edit] The Chronicle

Harvard-Westlake's mascot, the Wolverine
Enlarge
Harvard-Westlake's mascot, the Wolverine

Harvard-Westlake's school newspaper, the Chronicle, is published monthly during the school year. Run completely by students, from the editor-in-chief to the opinion columns, the Chronicle is a member of the Quill & Scroll International Journalism Honorary, which has awarded it 15 consecutive George Gallup Awards; the National Scholastic Press Association, which has awarded it two National Pacemakers; and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, which has awarded it four Gold Crowns and four Silver Crowns. The California Newspaper Publishers Association named the Chronicle as California’s best high school newspaper yearly since 2003.[11][12] The Chronicle is one of very few high school newspapers availible online.

[edit] Mock Trial

Harvard-Westlake's mock trial team, coached by former District Attorney and Federal Prosecutor David Hinden is one of the many extra-curricular activities offered at the school. The team has a strong competitive record and recently won first place in the Los Angeles County Mock Trial Competition, conducted by the Constitutional Rights Foundation.[13]

[edit] Performing Arts

Programs in the illustrious Performing Arts department include:

[edit] At the middle school level exclusively

  • Beginning and intermediate ensembles for both strings and band, as well as a symphonic orchestra,
  • A large jazz ensemble,
  • Classes for electronic music production,
  • Classes offered in production, drama, acting, and contemporary dance,
  • Grade-specific choral groups.

Each class or ensemble is given the opportunity to perform at least once a year.

[edit] At the upper school exclusively

  • Two orchestras,
  • Two large jazz groups, along with worshops for trios, quartets, and quintets,
  • Four choral groups,
  • Two synthesizer classes,
  • An annual film festival,
  • An annual student written and (mostly) run Playwrights Festival,
  • Several dance classes, with productions completely student-choreographed.

[edit] Cross-campus Performing Arts opportunities

  • Two annual stage productions, one a drama and one a musical,
  • Various other opportunities for collaboration, including the Upper School Concerto Concert and the Middle School Chamber Music Concert.

[edit] Athletics

Harvard-Westlake fields 22 Varsity teams in the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section, as well as many teams on the Junior Varsity, Club, and Junior High levels.

[edit] Philosophy (verbatim)

  • We believe that participation, play, and the joy of physical activity should be at the heart of our athletic program.
  • We will teach habits of body and mind that contribute to a healthy and happy life.
  • We will encourage our student-athletes to challenge themselves through honest competition and to learn lifelong lessons of responsibility, commitment, and initiative.
  • We will practice and teach teamwork and good sportsmanship.
  • We will respect our student-athletes and their commitments beyond athletics.
  • We expect all members of our community to respect the athletes and support the officials who join us in competition.
  • We recognize that our athletic program is an integral part of the Harvard-Westlake community and complements the academic mission which is central to the life of our school.

[edit] College Matriculation

Approximately 99% of graduating seniors enter a four-year college or university within two years of graduation, well above the national average and among the best in the country. In the 2005/2006 school year, Harvard-Westlake sent approximately 70 graduates to Ivy League colleges and universities.[14] Over 14% (36 students) of the 2006 graduating class matriculated to Harvard, Princeton, Yale or Stanford. [15]

[edit] Accreditation and Membership

Harvard-Westlake is accredited by and/or affiliated with the following organizations:

[edit] Notable Alumni

Notable Harvard School for Boys, Westlake School for Girls, and Harvard-Westlake School alumni include:

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../h/a/r/Harvard-Westlake_School_5256.html"