March 2025 Newsletter
The Art & Science of Learning at WHPS

Sunday, March 16, 2025 | 1:00-3:00 PM

Meet Camp Team | Barnyard Animals | Bounce House | Camp Activities

📢 This Month’s Focus: Cultivating Potential & Lifelong Learning

• 🌱 From the Head of School: Cultivating Each Child’s Full Potential

• 🤷 Elementary News: Cracking the Code–What “I’m Bored” Can Signal

• 🔎 Preschool News: Supporting Inquiry-Based Learning at Home

• 🐮 Barnyard News: Big Discoveries in Animal Science

• 📅 Calendar of Events: Full WHPS Calendar

We take great pride in ensuring that every lesson is a stepping stone to a thriving future—built not just on academics, but on measurable, foundational skills. Decades of research from educators, psychologists, and workforce experts—along with everyday experience—confirm that these skills are essential for children's long-term success. While there is broad consensus on their importance, effective teaching requires more: breaking down broad concepts like communication and resilience into clear, tangible milestones that guide a child’s growth.

That’s why we focus first on the bedrock of all learning—language and engagement. When there is a gap in these areas, academic progress stalls. But when these skills are on track, children are set up to reach their fullest potential.

This article explores key language and engagement milestones, offering practical tools for parents and teachers to help children stay on track with these critical skills at every stage..

Inside This Month’s Article

• ✨ How to Spot Early Signs of Developmental Gaps

• ✨ How WHPS Bridges Growth at Each Stage—from Preschool to 5th Grade

• ✨ A Look at Our 4th/5th Grade Capstone Experience—Where Foundational Skills Come Full Circle

🔗 [Read More About These Developmental Stages →]

Elementary News

Melanie Henson, Principal | Cynthia Baroudi, Dean of Students

Communication is more than words—it’s how we connect, express needs, and make sense of the world. In my 20 years in education, I’ve learned that what we say often carries unspoken emotions and deeper meaning, shaping the way we interact. I see this both in the clarity and nuance of adult conversations and in the budding voices of children learning to express themselves. Watching my own little one begin to find her words has deepened my appreciation for how communication shapes identity and confidence at every stage of life.

This is why I value being part of a small school that prioritizes helping children develop their unique voice and perspective. There is tremendous value in taking the time to unpack what children are truly trying to express—including statements that may seem simple on the surface, like “I’m bored!”

While sometimes meant literally, “I’m bored” can hold many shades of meaning. Helping children explore and articulate these feelings not only builds emotional granularity but also allows us to shape their learning journey in a more meaningful way.

As we enter the third trimester—often the most learning-rich time of the year—it’s the perfect moment to help children recognize their needs, speak up for themselves, and stay engaged in their learning.

Inside This Month’s Article

• ✨ Why do kids say “I’m bored”—and what can it really signal?
  ✨ How does today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world impact attention?
  ✨ How nurturing emotional expression fuels well-being and resilience long beyond elementary school (see Insights from Education Experts in full article).

🔗 [Decode the Meaning Behind “I’m Bored” →]

Preschool News

Robin Gee & Ailin Sacks | Collins Campus
Christine Chiché-Lopez & Roxana Mackey | Oxnard Campus

🔎 Fostering Curiosity Through Inquiry-Based Learning
Helping Children Think, Explore, and Discover

Preschoolers are born scientists—always questioning, exploring, and discovering. At WHPS, we ignite this innate curiosity with an inquiry-based approach and emergent curriculum that sparks critical thinking and invites deeper questions. More than just delivering content, we nurture a learning process that fosters curiosity across all subjects—and beyond preschool. Through hands-on experiences, outdoor adventures, and meaningful conversations, our students develop the confidence to test ideas, solve problems, and truly understand their world.

This article provides practical tools and suggestions for families to use these same techniques at home, fueling a lifelong passion for learning.

Inside This Month’s Article

• ✨ How can simple shifts in conversation inspire deeper thinking?

• ✨ Why is hands-on exploration so essential for young learners?

• ✨ How can you foster inquiry-based learning at home?

🔗 [Read More About Fostering Curiosity →]

Science & Nature Center News

🎂 March Barnyard Birthdays

Shamrock, the miniature Zebu–15 | Clipper, the goat–9 | Penelope, the rabbit–8

🐮 Fun Fact: Shamrock, our miniature Zebu, belongs to one of the world’s smallest cattle breeds! With a signature hump, floppy ears, and remarkable heat tolerance, Zebus thrive in warm climates.

Remembering Patches 🐐💙
With heavy hearts, we recently said goodbye to Patches the goat. Known for his playful spirit and gentle nature, he brought so much joy to our students. Patches lived a long, happy life, surrounded by love, and will be deeply missed. 💙

🐾 What’s Happening This Month

Students continue their animal science studies, focusing on comparative anatomy, physiological adaptations, and ecosystem dynamics. This month, they’re drawing connections between species and survival strategies!

• 🧬 4th & 5th Grade: Students are analyzing vertebrate body systems—skeletal, circulatory, respiratory, and digestive—comparing their structures and functions across species. Next, we’ll examine how homeostasis and interdependent organ systems sustain life.

• 🦜 2nd & 3rd Grade: After studying avian taxonomy and raptor adaptations, students will shift to Los Angeles’ native fauna, investigating ecological niches, trophic interactions, and apex predators.

• 🩺 1st Grade: Students explored pollination ecology and pollinators' key role in angiosperm (flowering plants) reproduction. Next, we will use on models to simulate these mutualistic relationships in biodiversity.

• 🌱 Kindergarten: After creating species-specific microhabitats, students are now distinguishing between venomous and poisonous traits and exploring their evolutionary benefits in predator-prey interactions.

• 🐾 Preschool & TK: Students learned how reptiles manage their body temperature by playing a game that mimics thermoregulation. Up next: Exploring newborn animal care and an intro to veterinary science.

[Science & Nature Center on Instagram →]

📅 Important March Dates

🎟️ Save the Date & Get Tickets!

Special events are coming to both campuses—click the images for details or tickets.

See the Full WHPS Calendar

Both Campuses

• 3: Spring Extracurriculars Begin

• 9: Daylight Saving Time Begins – Remember to ‘spring forward’ one hour!

• 16: Camp Woodland Hills Open House & Carnival at 1 PM

Oxnard Campus

• 3-7: Read Across America Week (Elementary Details)

• 4: Elementary School Tour at 10 AM

• 5: Women's History Month – Student-Moderated Panel Discussion at 1:30 PM (Families Welcome)

• 5: PAWS Meeting at 6:30 PM on Zoom

• 7: Farmer’s Market – Hosted by Rooms 4 & 6

• 11: Neurodiverse Affinity Group Meeting at 9:30 AM on Campus

• 13: Holi Celebration – Sponsored by PAWS

• 13: Preschool Mini-March for Cystic Fibrosis at 10 AM

• 14: Bagpipers at 9:30 AM – Sponsored by PAWS

• 15: Beauty & The Beast Performance at 12:30 PM

• 17: Last Day for Early Bird Pricing – Rhinestone Rodeo Gala

• 17-21: Neurodiversity Celebration Week

• 18: Elementary Best Buddies Assembly – Sponsored by PAWS

• 29: Rhinestone Rodeo Gala at Woodland Hills Country Club

Collins Campus

• 4: PAG Meeting on Zoom at 7:30 PM

• 11-13: Spring School Pictures

• 13: Preschool Mini-March for Cystic Fibrosis at 9:30 AM

• 14: Holi Celebration – Sponsored by PAG

• 19: Bagpipers – Sponsored by PAG

• 19: Restaurant Night – Habit Burger & Grill

• 26: Gardening Day