Bulldozers, cement trucks, and work crews have been the norm on campus these past few months at Westmark School. In mid-June an old bungalow style building was demolished and quickly rising out of its ruins is a new 7,015 square foot classroom building. This new facility will provide six state of the art classrooms for our staff and students. Equipped with new Smart Boards and furniture, it is expected to be completed by November 30, 2011. Other projects completed this past summer include the remodeling of ten classrooms, improvements to our property along Louise Avenue, a new computer network with increased broadband capacity, implementation of a one-to-one iPad program, Smart Boards for all elementary classrooms, and exterior facelifts for two of our older buildings, which are still in process.

 

 

This past school year, Westmark piloted an iPad program for its newly created third grade class. Westmark has been expanding its grade levels over the past few years, currently serving grades 3-12, with hopes of eventually extending its program down to kindergarten.  

 

Westmark serves students with language-based learning differences, including dyslexia and dysgraphia, as well as attention difficulties. The use of technology caters to students’ specific educational needs and has inspired Westmark’s youngest group, motivating them to engage in lessons day in and day out. The iPads have been key in helping teachers provide individual attention and programming. With the extensive variety of educational applications available, students are able to work at their own pace and level.  

 

The iPad pilot program was so successful that at the school’s spring fundraiser event, 152 iPads were purchased, to be distributed at the start of the school year across all grade levels. The remaining number of iPads needed to ensure all Westmark students receive an iPad, have been purchased via private donations. Westmark looks to start the school year with an enrollment of 215 and students, parents, and faculty alike are looking forward to Westmark becoming the first all iPad school in Los Angeles.