Westmark Fund: CommUNITY

WHERE THE NEED IS GREATEST

Unrestricted giving allows Westmark to use your gift where it will have the most impact on our students. Area of greatest needs supports everything from light bulbs and computers, to financial aid and service learning, to athletics and the performing arts, to teacher training to diversity and inclusion. 

RESEARCH-BASED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Your Westmark Fund dollars directly impact our ability to create cutting-edge academic programs for our distinct learners. Our focus is always on individualized learning. In the past year alone, we have instituted new innovative programs including a focus on social emotional learning (SEL), expanded Lower School classes with improved teacher-to-student ratios, and flexible-ability learning groups in math and reading. 

TECHNOLOGY

Westmark is committed to being at the forefront of neurodiversity learning and utilizing technological innovation to enable our students to be supported in their distinct learning styles. These 21st century skills will more efficiently and effectively prepare students for the rigors of the modern world. Westmark Fund dollars help us to continually update and upgrade our technology resources, where students in 2nd through 12th Grade engage in projects using neuro-specific educational software, graphic design software, iPads, 3-D printers, and more.

FINANCIAL AID

Westmark continues to experience a rise in the number of applications for tuition assistance. Currently, 25% of our students receive financial assistance to attend Westmark. This allows families from a wide array of diverse socio-economic backgrounds to send their children to attend school here. Westmark continues to make it a priority to increase the amount of tuition assistance available, allowing more assistance to more families who otherwise would not be able to afford the cost of a private, specialized education.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

The Westmark Fund is always an important part of our operating budget, but the current situation stretched an already tight budget.  Never before have we had to purchase disposable face masks, hand sanitizing stations, face shields, pieces of plexiglass, three-sided desk shields and cases of disinfecting wipes.

Never before have our faculty and staff had to prepare for three different models of education—in person, hybrid and remote. And, the cost of the technology to support distance learning and social distancing learning on campus has been significant. 

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Diversity, equity and inclusion continue to be at the heart of Westmark’s mission. At Westmark, we embed diversity work into the culture of the School so that students can develop a strong self-concept by understanding and analyzing their own culture while learning to interact and relate with respect to other individuals, students, and cultural groups. Our aim is to empower our students to have the confidence and agency to be activists and change agents—to tackle injustice head on.