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2023-2024 REPORT ON GIVING
TOGETHER, WE CAN DO SO MUCH​
—Helen Keller
There is a saying at Westridge: “as Westridge changes girls, so do girls change Westridge.” In this Report on Giving, we celebrate how the same is true of our broader community. In addition to students, many community members—parents, alumnae, faculty, staff, administrators, donors, and more—are instrumental in shaping the trajectory of our school. In turn, each of us is enriched by being a part of this institution, a part of one another’s lives, and a part of the great mission of educating girls to be the future leaders our world needs.
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We are a community that gives in so many ways: volunteering, supporting students and teachers, taking part in community events, and providing financial support. Your contributions encourage growth and excellence in all ways—from Lower School students playing lacrosse for the first time to Middle School students collaboratively building functional rockets; from Upper School students discovering their passions in an advanced course to alumnae learning new skills years after graduation. And, of course, your philanthropic support is more than a number; your generosity touches every student, enriches every classroom, and expands every program.
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As we continue to nurture a legacy of forward thinking, intellectual adventure, and courageous leadership, our diverse and dedicated community remains at the forefront of all we do and all that makes Westridge so special. Thank you.
Cheering on the Tigers had an even deeper meaning in the 2023-2024 school year as Upper School students took to Frank Field for a rewarding inaugural season of varsity flag football, proving that the sport is just as much a space for girls as any other. It was a historic moment in more ways than one; Westridge became not only the first school in Pasadena, but also the first girls’ school in the greater Los Angeles area to field a girls’ football team.
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COMMUNITY OF
Fans
Playing on Westridge’s inaugural flag football team was thrilling as every time we stepped on the field, we were making history.”
– Ella B. ’25
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And Tigers made big strides across many sports:
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Teia L. ’25 won the CIF-SS Division 4 Track & Field Pole Vault Championship
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Varsity Golf won the Prep League Championship for the 5th consecutive year, and broke the school record for team scoring in a single game
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Claudia Z. ’25 won the CIF-SS Northern Regional Golf Championship
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Middle School Tennis took home the Middle School Independent League Championship title
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Lacrosse, Swimming, Track & Field, and Volleyball all advanced to CIF competitions
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Want to learn more? Read or listen to "Female Athletes and Football Participation: The Final Frontier," a blog by Director of Athletics Melanie Horn.
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Curiosity
At Convocation opening the 2023-2024 school year, Head of School Andrea Kassar talked about the connection between “space,” in the numerous meanings of the word, and the spirit of openness and curiosity. While curiosity is present in every corner of our campus, here are some highlights of curiosity surrounding space in the most literal sense.
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More than 150 students, siblings, alumnae, and parents turned to the skies at our Westridge Star Party, viewing the moon and Jupiter from campus. Led by Director of Carnegie Observatories and Westridge Trustee Dr. John Mulchaey and Carnegie Staff Scientist Ana Bonaca, the evening provided an invaluable opportunity for students to ask questions of a female leader in the science field.
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STAR PARTY
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SOLAR ECLIPSE
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The Westridge community also gathered to witness the first total solar eclipse in seven years. Thanks to the science department, which organized the event, what could have been a quick and dry viewing event was transformed into a lively viewing party, with costumes and a space-themed soundtrack punctuating the scientific learning.
Our community’s focus on science does not stop at exploration of the stars. Inspired by their own daughter’s love of the program and passion for the subject, Jenny Shih & Morgan Chuang gave a multi-year gift to support the Westridge science department and enriching science opportunities outside the classroom. This generous support allows us to deepen our focus on the discipline, ensuring students have access to the resources and opportunities they need to develop a deep connection to science.
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Learning
“I feel so lucky to be in a class that strikes a perfect balance between honoring students’ individual passions and pushing students to collaborate and think beyond their conceptions of the reading.”
– Eliza Walpert ’24, on Women of the Novel
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A great example of deeper learning occurring at Westridge in the 2023-2024 school year was the update to our Upper School curriculum. Thirteen new Westridge Advanced Courses were introduced including, in the English department: Madness in Literature, which centers themes of madness in writing and includes a student-driven reading list; Women of the Novel, which explores the contributions of women to the literary world; and Banned Books and Censorship, which addresses the ongoing threat to intellectual freedom and encourages students to form their own beliefs about free speech.
And learning is lifelong at Westridge—during Alumnae Weekend in the spring, Westridge graduates spanning more than 60 graduating classes gathered to reconnect, celebrate collective accomplishments, and participate in three engaging classes led by Westridge faculty and students:
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Aerospace Engineering and Lunar Liquid Mirror Telescope
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Banned Books: A Study of Intellectual Freedom
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Hands-on Ceramics
Head of School Andrea Kassar also piloted a parent book club last year, which continues to meet several times a year to discuss nonfiction books related to girls’ development, supporting school-age students, childhood anxiety, and other relevant topics for today’s parents in their continued learning.
We are honored to hear our students reflect on the depth of learning they receive in class, and even more to hear that this love of learning resonates with community members for years to come.
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Spirit
On our inaugural Tiger Giving Days, the Westridge community came together to support the Westridge Annual Fund and all it does to bolster classroom activities, athletics, campus facilities, and much more… and to compete to slime our administrators! Head of School Andrea Kassar, Director of Lower and Middle School
Dr. Zanita Kelly, and then-Director of Upper School Gary Baldwin faced buckets of slime as a result of your 150+ generous gifts during Giving Days. Thank you to all who participated, from current parents, grandparents, and employees to many alumnae and friends!
Stay tuned for our next Tiger Giving Days in April 2025! In the meantime, explore ways to give today on our website.
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Support
We are grateful to have exceeded our Westridge Annual Fund goal, raising over $1.7 million in the 2023-2024 school year. Your contributions support student passions across campus, whether by improving our facilities, supplying new tools for learning, helping develop new opportunities for self-discovery, or one of the other countless ways the Westridge Fund fortifies our school. In the 2023-2024 school year, the fund made possible:
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Financial aid for over 100 students
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The purchase of two new vans to transport students for athletic events and field trips
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13 transformational local, domestic, and international trips during Discovery Week
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Ongoing professional development for faculty and staff
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...and much more!
