Fall / Winter 2019

8TH GRADE TRIP TO BOSTON
8th Grade students traveled to Boston in October and got to experience their history lessons come to life as they explored the quintessential Boston landmarks Faneuil Hall, Orchard House, Kenmore Square, and House of Seven Gables. Their sightseeing excursions included a Boston Duck Tour, the Plimouth Plantation, and a Ghost Tour and Witch Activity in Salem! It was a jam packed 4 days filled with enlightening travel activities, good food, great memories with their classmates, and the beautiful colors of East Coast fall foliage!

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE: ENGAGING STUDENTS WITH HANDS-ON FUN
At Westmark, our Middle School scientists get practice using lab tools and applying scientific concepts through fun projects and surprises!

AREA 51: ALIENS AND EVIDENCE AND REASONING, OH MY!
Our students donned their tinfoil hats and scientific thinking skills and ‘traveled’ to Area 51, using evidence and reasoning to identify ‘alien’ specimens.

STARBUCKS TO CELL-BUCKS
It’s not everyday that you get to learn about cells and their functions while sipping on a grande latte! Students were immersed in “Cell-bucks” activity when their classroom was transformed into a Starbucks coffee shop. The students compared organelles and their functions to various items and employee positions at Starbucks. Now that’s not just the same old grind!

VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY
Despite limited numbers, the Cross-Country team had a successful season. Freshman sensation Christian Wilkerson finished 10th in league, garnering 2nd team all-league honors and was the top freshman in the Omega League. He was recognized as the team’s MVP while 1st time harrier sophomore Jason Sraberg earned the Coach’s Award for impressive effort and great improvement over the course of the season. Coach Sean Magee is excited for Westmark's XC Team future!

VARSITY FLAG FOOTBALL
Football returned to Westmark this fall, and this time it was of the Flag Football variety... and it was a highly successful campaign. Led by the inspired coaching of Juette Bush and an incredible senior class, the Lions claimed the league title! The leadership and mentorship of the seniors – Zach Faggen, Andy Klachin, Cole McNeill, Brandon Owen, Jake Rose and Marius Van Rooijen have set the standard that will allow this program to flourish! Team MVP Brandon Owen also claimed 1st team all-league honors while Coaches’ Award winner Jake Rose was named honorable mention all-league. Four other Lions were named to the All-League team, with Zach Faggen being named to the 1st team, Cole McNeill and Junior Jonah Krane making the 2nd team, and Marius Van Rooijen garnering honorable mention. With ten underclassmen returning, Westmark Football has a strong future ahead!

LUCAS ELLIN, GRADE 12, PUTS HIS EXPERIENCE INTO ACTION

12th Grader Lucas Ellin is putting his experience as a Cadet Explorer with the Beverly Hills Police Department into action. As part of his Government class, Lucas gave a special presentation connecting what they were learning in class about the Bill of Rights and its importance as part of our Constitution to how the 4th amendment applies to law enforcement from the perspective of law enforcement officers. Lucas’s presentation helped students understand the protocols of law enforcement officers, as well as the dynamic of power and authority between citizens and law enforcement.

Through Lucas’s involvement with the BHPD, Lucas also arranged for a friend from the BHPD to come to campus during Red Ribbon Week to speak with fellow Upper School Classmates about the importance of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug and violence awareness and prevention. Kudos to Lucas for his commitment to community service and leadership.

CONNOR KALOPSIS BALANCES HIS ROLES

For 11th Grader Connor Kalopsis, keeping a balance between his academic career and acting career is a priority. When he started acting, he was only 8 years old and living in Canada. But when his family moved to Los Angeles, the roles started pouring in. He had recurring roles on The Grinder and Days of Our Lives. It soon became more difficult to balance school and his time on set. When the pilot for his latest project, Outmatched, got picked up, he knew he would have to put his organization and time management skills to the test. While he admits balancing it all can be challenging at times, Connor tells us that it ‘pays off because he loves both of his jobs’, as an actor and as a student. Watch for Connor when Outmatched premieres on Fox on January 23, 2020 and check out his site!

CONNOR KALOPSIS WEBSITE

EARLY COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES
Our first acceptances came in from University of Arizona and Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM). Early action applications were sent to Chapman, Loyola Marymount, University of Oregon, University of Colorado Boulder, Emerson, DePaul, Whitman University, Pacific University, Cal Lutheran, University of Indiana, University of the Pacific, University of LaVerne, Westmont, University of Delaware, University of Miami, Miami University, University of the Pacific, and others.

COLLEGE TRIP TO CHICAGO
It was a whirlwind college tour of the Windy City. Our 11th Grade students got to experience some Chicago style college life at DePaul University, Lake Forest College, University of Illinois, Columbia College of Chicago, and Loyola University Chicago. They learned so much about all of the options that are out there for finding the right college for each student...and had some fun along the way, enjoying authentic Chicago Style pizza, an historic German Restaurant at Berghoff’s, and Hamilton the Musical. Reconnecting with a Class of 2019 Westmark Alum was an added bonus!