I always think it’s dumb when I hear people say something is “the new” something else. Like, “Pink is the new black,” or “30 is the new 40.” It never makes any sense to me. However, I will concede that while I don’t believe in re-naming things that still exist … there is a trend in education to recycle old ideas and call them new. One of the biggest fads is called “Makerspace.” It is the idea of creating a communal space where people are able to use: tools, materials, education and technology to create projects. Forgive me, but isn’t that just called school?
American author Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “We are students of words: we are shut up in schools, and colleges, and recitation -rooms, for ten or fifteen years, and come out at last with a bag of wind, a memory of words, and do not know a thing.” And you know what? In some schools, in some classrooms, I would agree. But not here at Westlake. From my experience (both inside and outside) I have observed that Westlake is not a bandwagon school, but a branch of Christ-centered, wholistic, deep-thinking, problem-solving educators, educating with hands-on, minds-active, multi-intelligent-driven activities and lessons. Technology is infused applicably, and crayons, scissors, and paper-based projects are equally balanced to reach every learner, every day. This is not a buzz-word, fad-forward place of learning … this is an institution dedicated to expressing Christ through wisdom, action, and intelligence.
Just a few weeks ago, Mrs. Ptasienski, the 4th grade teacher here, had her students create an animal-themed book report that took the shape of their creature. Besides the hands-on element, there was study they were required to research, there were verbal speech deliveries, written-facts of various categories, and question and answer sessions that prompted higher level thinking. Mrs. Ptasienski herself said, “I couldn’t believe how much I learned!” Students needed to literally tap into almost every facet of what might now be needed in a Makerspace situation. I think Westlake is famous for this. For joining old and new ideas, blending and forming them into something beautiful for your child’s educational experience.
So I ask you to consider telling your friends, your church, your neighbors all about Westlake, about the kind of one-on-one quality projects and lessons that infuse Biblical understanding into real-world application of knowledge. What might it take to have Westlake make more space for more kids to enjoy this kind of quality education? Who knows? Maybe we can even start our own new buzz phrase … Westlake is the new School of choice.
Raquel Harris
5th Grade Teacher
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