The History of Westside School
Westside School is a place where our students experience the joy of learning, are challenged and inspired and are part of a caring community. This has been the mission, ever since our beginning in a classroom and storage room in a West Seattle Church. Now our program occupies a three-story building, complete with a gymnasium and auditorium, making use of 48,000 square feet. The vision of those founding members, who opened in September, 1981, with eleven kindergarten students, has been affirmed through the hard work and talents of all who have been involved.
In 1987, founding Director Alice Howell could no longer combine her full work schedule with the growing demands of Westside. Two Westside teachers, Claudia Ross-Weston and Docia Reed took over as co-directors. Enrollment continued to grow at a steady pace, and in 1993, the co-directors and members of the board went to the Highline School District and negotiated a one-year lease for the boarded-up North Shorewood School building on 10015 28th Ave. SW. Two weeks before school opened, Westside relocated. As Westside didn’t need the entire space, some rooms and gym were sublet. The next year, Westside renewed the lease for five years.
In the spring of 1995-1996, Westside was accepted as a member of PNAIS becoming an accredited independent school, and the following year, expanded its program through the fifth grade, graduating five students. Westside signed a 50-year lease on the Highline building together with Explorer West Middle School, who had been a tenant. In addition, Westside began the preparations for a new Early Childhood Education Center to be located in a new portable building on the school grounds.
With the school growing so rapidly, in 1999, it was time for the school to hire a Head of School. George Edwards was hired as Interim Head until Christie Brown was selected. Westside welcomed Christie Brown in 2001-2002 school year. However, Brown resigned in January, 2003. This initiated another Head search. In July, 2003, Jo Ann Yockey came to Westside as Head of School.
The same year, the school conducted a self-study to renew PNAIS accreditation, and in 2005, the Trustees adopted a new Strategic Plan and Strategic Financial Plan for Westside School: develop a strategic board focus; increase the student body to two classes per grade to provide a larger base for social interaction and to build a stronger school, emphasize a global perspective of education in the curriculum (adding instruction in both of Spanish and Mandarin Chinese), ensure the effectiveness of instructional design and curriculum, (realized through participation in the ERB standardized testing program and memberships in professional organizations), develop a master facilities plan to support short and long-term growth. The Board of Trustees took the school through master facility planning which presented a 7-year expansion process. In 2004, Westside School purchased an adjoining house on 30th Street, which was later remodeled to provide administrative office spaces and meeting rooms.
In 2005-2006, Westside School obtained licensing to restructure the early school program from multiple partial-day options to offer a full five-day pre-kindergarten class and a five-day multi-age class of PK with a half-day preschool. These early school students would be allowed to re-enroll into kindergarten rather than re-apply through an admission process. This change was the impetus for Westside School to realize its strategic goal to grow Westside School. In 2006-2007, a second section was offered in kindergarten with complete growth to two sections at each grade level through fifth grade realized by 2011-2012.
In May, 2008, a second adjoining property on 30th Street was purchased, and became a rental property. Even with the addition of the portable classrooms, the Highline site did not have enough square feet to meet the school’s program’s needs. In January, 2010, the Board President, Mollie Jensen, attended a meeting held by Seattle School District where the district discussed its plans to lease 14 buildings, if they could find amenable tenants, noting that “The school district is very open to offers.” Trustees and the Head of School toured three West Seattle public school lease options. E.C. Hughes, 7740 34th Avenue SW and SW Holden, was the most logical fit. The Board of Trustees saw this as a great opportunity to get the needed space for classrooms and enrichment along with a large gymnasium, two covered outdoor play areas, a multi-purpose room with a stage, and abundant parking – all in one building. In May, 2010, Westside School signed a ten-year lease with Seattle School District.
In September, 2010, Westside School started the school year in its new home. We have started the next five-year strategic plan and begun creating a new vision to take Westside School into the future. Westside School is expanding to include the middle school years. This expansion is beginning in 2011-2012 with the addition of sixth grade. This is the logical progression in the growth of the school, and is supportive of our mission and values to help children develop essential skills for the 21st Century: critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity and character.