General Information
GENERAL INFORMATION
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
Review important dates for the 2022–2023 school year, including dates for students' return to school in August, school breaks, holidays, and Non-Pupil Days designated for Westmark faculty and staff professional development. Please note that this list is subject to change; additional days may be added. For the most of up-to-date information, visit our online Calendar.
ATTENDANCE
ATTENDANCE
Regular daily attendance is integral to and directly related to a student's success in school; it helps children feel better about school—and themselves. To fully benefit from their education, it is important for all students to start building this habit now, so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is critical to their success both in and out of the classroom. By being present at school, your child learns valuable social skills and has the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with other students and school staff. Consistent attendance will help children do well in school, college, and at work.
- Absences and Tardiness
Students are allowed sixteen (16) absences and five (5) tardies per school year.
Lower, Middle, and Upper School classes begin promptly at 8:30 am (9:00 am on Thursdays). All students who arrive late must check in at the Main Office and obtain a tardy slip. Students will not be admitted to class until they have checked in at the Main Office.
Parents and guardians are asked to call the Main Office at (818) 986-5045 by 9:00 am each day when a child is absent. Teachers will be informed of student absences. If a student is not in class by 9:00 am and the school does not have a reported absence, parents or guardians will receive a call from the school.
UNIFORM GUIDELINES AND DRESS CODE
UNIFORM GUIDELINES AND DRESS CODE
The Westmark School uniform policy and dress code are designed to support an environment in which learning is the highest priority and clothing does not serve as a distraction.
Westmark School requires families to purchase school uniforms. Uniform items can be purchased from the Lands' End online store for Westmark School, Target, The Children’s Place, or other retailers that carry the items specified below. Gently used uniform items are also sold at sales events organized by the Westmark Parent Association throughout the year, as supplies allow.
DOWNLOAD UNIFORM GUIDELINES AND DRESS CODE, 2022–2023
Click here for information about PE uniforms.
LUNCH PROGRAM
LUNCH PROGRAM
Proper nutrition is critical to student health and well-being, as well as academic performance. At Westmark, students have a daily nutrition period and lunch period.
For the nutrition period, students are encouraged to bring a healthy snack, preferably a combination of protein and fruit.
Lunches may be brought from home or pre-selected and purchased through Freshlunches. Current parents and guardians, information about the Freshlunches program for 2022–2023 is available in the myWM Parent Portal.
Lunch deliveries of any kind to the campus are not permitted.
TRANSPORTATION
Bus Transportation
BUS TRANSPORTATION
Westmark School is pleased to offer bus transportation for various routes throughout Los Angeles to accommodate our families.
Bus transportation is available via our agreement with Tumbleweed Transportation. Details about the Pasadena / Valley, Sunset Express, Rancho Park / Beverly Glen, and Windsor Hills / L.A. routes for the 2022–2023 school year are included in the Family Information Packet on on the myWM Parent Portal.
Carpools
CARPOOLS
We require all families who wish to drive their students to school to have at least two Westmark students in the car. Carpool drop off begins at 8:00 am each day (8:30 on late start Thursdays); carpool pickup begins at 3:00 pm for Lower School students and at 3:10 pm for Middle and Upper School students.
SINGLE RIDER CARS: For those families who cannot carpool or use the bus transportation provided, single rider students must be dropped off before 7:30 am and be picked up at 3:20 pm.
CHANGES IN NORMAL PICK-UP ROUTINE: It is imperative that the school is notified as early in the day as possible if your student is going home with another student, Uber or other ride-sharing service, or anyone other than the scheduled routine pickup. WE CANNOT RELEASE YOUR STUDENT to anyone other than those listed on your Authorization for Release on file at school without proper written / email notification. WE HAVE SET UP THE SPECIAL EMAIL BELOW FOR THIS PURPOSE so that all necessary parties are aware of any change in plans.
EMAIL: carpool@westmarkschool.org
Drop off & Pick Up
DROP-OFF & PICK-UP
In consideration of our neighbors and to promote student safety, all students will be required to be dropped off and/or picked up on campus. This will include ALL divisions of the school (i.e. Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools). Students may not park or be dropped off on surrounding streets and walk onto campus.
FOR THOSE FAMILIES WHO ARE UNABLE TO USE BUS TRANSPORTATION OR CARPOOL, STUDENTS MUST ARRIVE BEFORE 7:30 AM OR AFTER 8:00 AM. IN THE AFTERNOON, PICKUP IS AT 3:20 PM.
SINGLE STUDENT DROP-OFF & PICK-UP
For those families who cannot carpool or use the bus transportation provided, we will accommodate individual drop-offs and pickups with staggered drop-off and pickup times. Individual students can be dropped off before 7:30 a.m. and be picked up at 3:20 p.m.
FAMILY IDENTIFICATION PLACARD
Family Identification Placards provided to each family by the school must be placed on the right side of the dashboard prior to entering campus each day and should remain visible while on campus to assist our traffic moderators during carpool pickup. If you need a replacement placard, please contact Viviana at the front desk.