The 2025-2026 Admissions Season is Now Open!
2024-2025 School Year: Westside currently has seats available in select grades, including kindergarten and preschool. Please email admissions@westsideschool.org for more information.
Dear Westside Community,
The 2022-2023 school year was the first ‘normal’ year we had in the last four – where children attended school free from almost all COVID restrictions. Our teachers took advantage of every moment to create exceptional hands-on, in-person learning experiences, and our students soared.
It was a milestone year for Westside as we saw our school’s enrollment top 400 students for the first time in our 42-year history. In order to give optimal support to our students, we increased the size of our teaching faculty significantly. We hired a second full-time counselor, and we increased our learning support staff from one dedicated professional to five. We grew our arts department, adding a second full-time music teacher, we added a librarian, and we increased the number of instructional assistants in Early Learning.
We had to do some internal construction to house our bigger program. As we began the school year, we put the finishing touches on three new student support learning spaces upstairs and created Westside’s ‘Living Room’ in the under-used gallery. We built a new counseling office in the Lower School and added an enclosed faculty workspace in the Preschool Building, which was in its second year. We made dramatic enhancements, thanks to the Childcare Stabilization Grant (Federal American Rescue Plan), to the Preschool playground, including new turf and a new play structure, perfect for 3 and 4-year-old bodies!
The 2022-2023 school year was also a significant year for Westside as we undertook a rigorous re-accreditation process with NWAIS – for the first time since the school was initially accredited in 2011, and now including the Middle School as that was not in existence the first time around. Westside remains accredited, and the Visiting Team gave the school much kudos for the great work that is happening here. The team also gave the school helpful recommendations for how we can continue to improve. The re-accreditation process was engaging, uniting, and overall, very successful. There were no surprises, which pointed to the honesty and integrity of our self-reflection process.
I am most proud of the comments made on the first page of the Visiting Team’s report commending Westside for “a visible, consistent, coherent, and deeply appreciated sense of community culture, informed by the values of the school and infused with joyful learning.” They also called out our “beautiful, mission-appropriate, student-friendly school facilities, which are impeccably maintained by the facilities staff.”
The school’s finance committee and Board of Trustees worked tirelessly over the course of the year to examine our school’s compensation for both teachers and staff. We announced a significant tuition raise for the following year, which goes directly to increasing teacher and staff pay, closing the gap with competitor schools. The increase also directly funds more tuition assistance for our families, increased professional development for our faculty, and funds a new essential position for next year: Westside’s inaugural Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging.
Our Board and leadership teams remain committed to the health and sustainability of our school while continuing to position Westside as one of the more affordable independent schools in the Seattle market.
Throughout the entire year, we worked together to create a school where children are challenged to know themselves, where creative and critical thinking and children’s natural curiosity are celebrated, where we all become an integral part of a caring community, and where everyone is honored in a lifelong journey of learning.
We played in the playoffs in volleyball, soccer, and basketball; we sang our hearts out and performed numerous theatrical productions; we traveled as near as Mt. Rainier and as far as Taiwan on our outdoor education and experiential learning program; we showed off our academic accomplishments at frequent exhibitions of learning, and so much more.
In February, Westside School received fantastic news - we are on our way to re-accreditation for another eight years. Back in 2012, we underwent a rigorous accreditation process with the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS). In October, we hosted a Visiting Team of school leaders from various states for accreditation.
We also received helpful recommendations that will guide us in creating a new strategic plan. Recommendations include focusing on our mission, values, finances, and Diversity, Equity, and Belonging (DEB) work.
Accreditation reaffirms Westside's commitment to excellence, aligning with NWAIS standards that are essential for outstanding schools to thrive in the present and future.
We are thrilled to introduce Chay Dixon as Westside's inaugural Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Chay, who pronounces their name as 'Shay' and uses both she/her and they/them pronouns, brings a wealth of experience to this vital role.
Chay's journey as an educator includes serving as a division head, classroom teacher, middle school culture leader, curriculum and instruction director, and a certified mentor teacher. They have a track record of driving positive change in educational settings. Since 2021, Chay has held the role of Director of K-5 Lower School at the Academy of Precision Learning, where they have made a significant impact. Chay initially joined APL in 2019 as a 4th and 5th-grade teacher and rapidly rose to become the Director of Curriculum and Instruction. Before that, they were an English teacher and founder at Destiny Charter Middle School, part of the Green Dot Public School system in Tacoma. Chay's teaching experience spans both elementary and middle school levels.
Chay holds a Bachelor of Science in English, Editing, Writing, and Media from Florida State University and a Master of Science in Education in Teacher Leadership from Walden University.
Westside takes great pride in celebrating the outstanding achievements of our alums, and today, we shine the spotlight on Lena Meyer, a member of the Class of 2019. Lena's journey since her time at Westside has been nothing short of exceptional.
Lena was honored as the Valedictorian at Holy Names Academy, a prestigious recognition reserved for students who have demonstrated unparalleled academic excellence and exceptional character throughout their years at Holy Names Academy. Her commitment to excellence has been truly remarkable.
Currently, Lena is embarking on her collegiate adventure at the University of Notre Dame, where she is pursuing her passion for chemical engineering. She considers Notre Dame the perfect fit for her, and her enthusiasm for this new chapter in her life is infectious.
Reflecting on her time at Westside, Lena fondly recalls the unforgettable camping trips that created enduring bonds within her class. Rock climbing and backpacking adventures fostered a unique sense of community that sets Westside apart. Some of her closest friends from her Westside days remain her best friends today.
Having been a part of Westside from preschool through 8th grade, Lena deeply appreciates the dedicated teachers and faculty who enriched her life inside and outside the classroom. While she may not know which of her teachers are still with us at Westside, she extends her heartfelt gratitude to them for the invaluable lessons they imparted.
Lena's journey is a testament to Westside's spirit of excellence and community. We are immensely proud of her achievements and look forward to witnessing her continued success at Notre Dame and beyond. Lena, you make us proud, and we thank you for inspiring us all.
At Westside, we take immense pride in the journey of our graduates, and every year, we come together to host a special reunion for our alumni who are embarking on the exciting path of high school graduation. It's a time of reflection, joy, and inspiration as we catch up with these incredible individuals who once lived and learned in our halls.
During these reunions, we have a cherished tradition of collecting "Next Steps" from our alumni. We eagerly inquire about their future plans, and it warms our hearts to see where life is taking them after their time at Westside and beyond post-secondary education.
These "Next Steps" are a testament to the resilience, determination, and growth of our students. They are a celebration of their dreams, aspirations, and the incredible potential within each of them. As we learn about their pursuits, we are reminded of the bright futures that lie ahead and the lasting impact Westside has had on their lives.
We are immensely grateful to our donors and the entire Westside community for their unwavering support, which enables us to continue nurturing the dreams of our students. Together, we create a legacy of achievement, and our Class of 2019 is a shining example of the possibilities that await every Westside student.
Thank you for being a part of their journey and for helping us build a community where dreams take flight.
Members of the Class of 2019 are embarking on their next journeys after high school.
Universities include: University of Portland, Gonzaga, Notre Dame, Northeastern, Colorado State, Santa Clara, NYU, Smith College, San Diego State, University of Colorado Boulder, California Lutheran University, Boston College, Western Washington, Occidental College, and more.
In the face of numerous challenges, including an unprecedented tuition increase and a 9% inflation rate that forced us to change the date and venue of our fundraiser event, our school's dedicated trustees and leadership decided to roll up our sleeves and get creative. We all agreed that keeping the event close to home and reducing costs was the way to go to ensure our fundraising success. It's funny how adversity can spark innovation, and in our case, it brought an outpouring of support from our community.
We were incredibly fortunate to have Megan Lemley as our Chair and Steven Hilliard, a French Chef, right here in our community. They generously volunteered to create a stunning charcuterie board paired with signature drinks. There was plenty of time for socializing, and our amazing faculty and staff volunteered to host engaging games. The grand finale took place in the theater, where we rallied together for a quick and direct paddle raise to meet our tuition assistance goal.
Westside Together: This year, our focus was exclusively on raising funds for Westside's Tuition Assistance Program, ensuring every student can access a Westside education.
Every autumn, the Westside community, including families, faculty, staff, friends, and alums, comes together to support our school through the Westside School Fund. These contributions are crucial in providing a joyful and community-oriented Westside education grounded in a strong academic foundation for all our students.
Whether it's a $10, $100, $15,000 gift, or even more, donations of any size directly impact our educational program and our students' lives. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our donors who gave from their hearts and resources. Our gifts ranged from $10 to $25,000, and together, we achieved our goals, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to Westside's mission.
Amount Raised: $251,481
Westside’s Board of Trustees and senior leadership take seriously the responsibility of stewarding the community resources to meet the needs and goals of the school and community. We actively manage costs and optimize the use of school resources. As you can see, the vast majority of Westside’s revenue supports the salaries and benefits of our staff as well as our program and buildings & grounds, with enough to fund reserves for the sustainability of the school. The school is financially stable, appreciates the support of all our donors, and takes pride in our fiscal responsibility.
Total: $9,089,526.99
Total: $9,105,456.20
Our journey, our capacity to fulfill our commitments, and the myriad opportunities we offer our students owe a debt of gratitude to our current and former parents and trustees who hold Westside dear. When we reflect on the individuals who have championed our cause, we are humbled and profoundly appreciative. From the depths of our hearts, we extend our heartfelt thanks for your unwavering support.
Zakia Aliy and Hassan Ahmed |
Meredith Alexander |
Sara and Bertan Altuntas |
Catherine and Dr. Richard Ancheta |
Laura Anderson |
Jaime Anongos |
Anonymous |
Heidi and Nathan Appleton |
Julie Martiniello and Akash Arora |
Shelby and Tom Aura |
Dr. Elizabeth and Guy Bacci |
Michelle McKenzie and Chip Baker |
Colleen Montoya-Barbano and Paul Barbano |
Eva Farkas and Adam Barley |
Michelle and Edward Barry |
Radhika Makhija and Vikram Baskaran |
Stacey Kaplan and Asher Bearman |
Anita Bennett |
Crissa and Jason Bennett |
Lauren Richardson-Berg and Bryan Berg |
Vinita Bapna and Ash Bhoopathy |
Monique Chatterjee and Gabe Biller |
Charlie Bolinger |
Mandy and James Bottorff |
Andy LaBadie and Dan Brelsford |
John Brelsford |
Marcia Brelsford |
Tiffany Tessada and Aaron Briggs |
Dr. Kendall and Tim Browne |
Sigrid Brunet |
Stacy and Steve Bryerton |
Janet and Bill Busey |
Kathleen Conner and Steve Butler |
Dr. Cassia Cearley and Dr. Evan Byer |
Nicole Caden |
Marnie Sweat and Yovany Camacho |
Kristina Campbell |
Christine Scarlis-Carey and Joel Carey |
Rachel and Kjiel Carlson |
Elizabeth Chambers |
Jeraldine and Josh Clothier |
Teresa Colell |
Lisa Hadley and Angel Colmenares |
Jen Pham-Corbett and Andy Corbett |
Aimee and Joe Corr |
Jennifer Cortez |
Stephanie and Jeffrey Couture |
Erin McPhee and Brent Crossley |
Kelly and Jesse Crowder |
Mary June and Jeff Curtis |
Lindsay and Sevrin Daniels |
Tori and Jaron Danioth |
Krista and Charlie Davis |
Susan Shyne and Kirk Dawson |
Jenny Zwick and Dan Dean |
Steph Bruno and Steve de Beer |
Andrew DeLappe |
Danielle DeLappe |
Naomi and Robert Dent |
Adrienne and Michael Dewey |
Tatiana Leon and Eduardo Diaz |
Dr. Naomi and Matt Diggs |
Deb and Dennis Driscoll |
Dr. Alena and Brent Droze |
Holly Brauchli and Jonah Dunham |
Mallary and Julien Duplant |
Denise Dyette |
Carl Edwards |
Adam Elder |
Sheri and Dr. Mark Emery |
Riley McCormick and Chris Emond |
Alison Walker and Kevin Eustice |
Carolina Morales and Christian Fattoruso |
Jenn Devenyns and Andrew Finley |
Liz Vivian and Graham Ford |
Jennifer Childs and Paul Francis |
Shani and Scott Frayo |
Gina and Mike Frazzini |
Mary Ellen Fullhart |
Andrea and Alex Gamoran |
Rebecca Ponzio and Andrew Gendaszek |
Crescent and Sonu Gill |
Jess and Greg Gilman |
Nestor Guzman |
Olga Guzman |
Laura Newcomer and Robert Hadley |
Hallidie and Donald Haid |
Emily and Kevin Halverson |
Ariana and Chris Hannemann |
Courtney and Zach Hansen |
Sarah and Ryan Harkins |
Meghan Harshman |
Mara and Craig Haveson |
Kathryn and Conor Heathcote |
Danielle and Court Heeter |
Andi Zakharoff and Gordon Hempton |
Scott Herman |
DJ and Steve Hilliard |
Shoshannah Hoffman |
Ted Holmes |
Jackie Hopkins |
Jen and Chris Howe |
Domenica Bailey and Lars Isaksaetre |
Mindy and Garrett Jones |
Dorothy Lemoult and Jeremy Kahn |
Tuney Kannapell |
Debi Cushman-Kaplan and Ryan Kaplan |
Karen's Family Foundation |
Erin and Adam Karnofski |
Michael Karnofski |
Maia and Dr. Andrew Kaz |
Cathy and Tim Kerns |
Amie and Amir Khosravi |
Veena Prasad and Andri Kofmehl |
Maria Phillips and Josh Kornfeld |
Mary and Adam Kratz |
Laura LaBadie |
Leo Lai |
Shannon McGuire and Jesse Lakes |
Nora Menkin and Nicholas Lauris |
Michael Le |
Kelsi and Aaron Leitz |
Megan and Will Lemley |
Heidi Lennstrom |
Yousim and Daan Lindhout |
Kelly Liu |
Shelley Sutton and Neil Livingstone |
Aaron Loehr |
Angela Farina and Lisa Luebeck |
Nathan Nguyen and Kevin Ly |
Mary Madigan |
Elyse and John Maffeo |
Jodie and Blake Marks-Dias |
Ariel Martin |
Alysse Mastrude |
Meg and Ben Mathes |
Amy and Nash McBride |
Rebecca McBride |
Kerry Meade and Jeff McCord |
Colleen McCullagh |
Sara and Jim McDougall |
Noreen and Shaun McInnis |
Jess and Tim McKay |
Debby Barrau and Jon McMillan |
Stacia Servos and Karl Mejia |
Wendy Curtis and Sam Melancon |
Erin and Matt Meredith |
Katie and Matt Meyers |
Susan Goodwin and Rich Millard |
Kristy Hollinger and Cory Moderhak |
Remya Narayanaswami and Ashwin Moodithaya |
Antoinette Contreras-Morel and Dom Morel |
Brooke Leary and Mike Morita |
Mary Paik and Dwight Morita |
Tina Morris |
Christina Miyamasu and Peter Mullenix |
Danny Finkel and Graham Murphy |
Johanna Hanft and Ryan Murphy |
Tami Elwin and Mark Netherland |
Kim and Dan Nicholson |
Claire and Charlie Nordloh |
Gina Griffiths and Jens Norman |
Ashley and Fred Northup |
Nth Degree CPA's |
Charissa Young and Ryan Olsen |
Julia and Brian Ondich |
Kitty and Woody Parker |
Afsi Mozaffarian and Eugene Parnell |
Kristopher Pattison |
Anika Pauling |
Rebecca Henry and Kevin Peterson |
Kerry and Bradley Pihlstrom |
Juliette Pinsky |
Tia Pollard |
Joleen and Kelan Potucek |
Jessica and Darren Poznick |
Chris Reardon |
Amy and John Richards |
Roger Robertson |
Eva De Jesus Morales and Jorge Castro Rodriguez |
Catey Roe |
Jenny and Kurt Romischer |
JoAnn Romischer |
William Romischer |
Holly Finn and Robert Rufh |
Merridy and Michael Ruggiero |
Quentin Sabatka |
Lauren and Eric Salazar |
Denise and John Schack |
Liz and Mark Schiltz |
Cabrelle Abel and Stephen Schoenfelder |
Corrie Greene and Matthew Segal |
Francisco Segura |
Suhani Jain and Tushaar Sethi |
Torri Canda and Drew Sheriff |
Christina Siddall |
Karyn Johnson and Chad Siegel |
Deep Kaur and Avi Singh |
Elyse and Steve Slotnick |
Laura Smith |
Heidi and Mark Snell |
Pamela Sobotka |
Allison and Dan Sogn |
Dr. Katy and Dr. Mike Stanfill |
Sarah and Merle Stephey |
Nicole Sleiers and Iosefatu Sua |
Desiree Loughlin and Joe Sullivan |
Ngoc-Diep Pham and Aaron Swerdlin |
Kendra Sippel-Theodore and Jeremy Theodore |
Mike Thomas |
Megan and Dean Timmermann |
Marie and Rory Tipton |
Stella and Michael Tong |
Amanda Dawson and Kevin Tongue |
Gretchen Gerhardt and Courtney Totten |
Dr. Hayley Quinn and Michael Towbin |
Nicole and Chris Travis |
Kaci Clot and Josh Utt |
Adrienne Krefft and Jesse Van Nostrand |
Gabe and Adam Verdugo |
Dr. Sarah Laing and Ben Wallis |
Cathy Walton |
Dr. Courtney Johnson and Peter Waxman |
Courtney Flora and Ted Webber |
Erika Pearson and Roger Wesley |
Cathy and Marc Wetter |
Whitney Winn |
Molly and John Woodruff |
Cuijin Zheng and Zheng Xie |
Ena and Bobby Yang |
Dr. Greg Yen |
Abeba Milka and Feleke Yeshebru |
Dr. Valerie Olson and Dr. Cyrus Zabetian |
Laura Anderson |
Anonymous |
Julie Martiniello and Akash Arora |
Shelby and Tom Aura |
Heather and Garrett Bandy |
Colleen Montoya-Barbano and Paul Barbano |
Eva Farkas and Adam Barley |
Radhika Makhija and Vikram Baskaran |
Sue and Joe Belcher |
Anita Bennett |
Crissa and Jason Bennett |
Lauren Richardson-Berg and Bryan Berg |
Emily Boyce |
Andy LaBadie and Dan Brelsford |
Dr. Kendall and Tim Browne |
Sigrid and Mike Brunet |
Stacy and Steve Bryerton |
Leslie and Brian Buckley |
Dr. Cassia Cearley and Dr. Evan Byer |
Marnie and Yovany Camacho |
Dr. Lauren and Rob Campbell |
Aurora Carlon and David Cardadeiro |
Rachel and Kjiel Carlson |
Jeanne Cavenaugh |
Sonja Hagen-Cole and Magnus Cole |
Lisa Hadley and Angel Colmenares |
Laura MacGregor and Eric Cook |
Jen Pham-Corbett and Andy Corbett |
Aimee and Joe Corr |
Dr. Elizabeth Paesch and Nathan Corvino |
Rachel and Adam Cox |
Lindsay and Sevrin Daniels |
Tori and Jaron Danioth |
Jamee Fields and Marty Davidson |
Krista and Charlie Davis |
Jenny Zwick and Dan Dean |
Steph Bruno and Steve de Beer |
Jennifer Cortez and Andrew DeLappe |
Dr. Larissa and Paul Del Piero |
Ashley and Chad Dierickx |
Dr. Naomi and Matt Diggs |
Chay Dixon |
Dr. Alena and Brent Droze |
Holly Brauchli and Jonah Dunham |
Mallary and Julien Duplant |
Josie and Adam Ekberg |
Nikki Ozaki-Simpson and Adam Elder |
Sheri and Dr. Mark Emery |
Alison Walker and Kevin Eustice |
Jae Chung and Andrew Farjo |
Shani and Scott Frayo |
Stacey Balagot and Sean Fridkin |
Mary Ellen Fullhart |
Saul Gamoran |
Arianna and Matt Gervasio |
Crescent and Sonu Gill |
Lily Gillespie |
Jess and Greg Gilman |
Erin and Eric Haber |
Laura Newcomer and Robert Hadley |
Hallidie and Donald Haid |
Emily Halley |
Evelyn Sanchez and John Hardie |
Meghan Harshman |
Shasta and Curt Hayes |
Kathryn and Conor Heathcote |
Andi Zakharoff and Gordon Hempton |
Kate Knappert and Scott Herman |
DJ and Steve Hilliard |
Shoshannah Hoffman |
Ted Holmes |
Jen and Chris Howe |
Sara Brin and Matt Jedreski |
Dorothy Lemoult and Jeremy Kahn |
Tuney Kannapell |
Debi Cushman-Kaplan and Ryan Kaplan |
Karen's Family Foundation |
Cathy and Tim Kerns |
Veena Prasad and Andri Kofmehl |
Jade and Grant Kondo |
Maria Phillips and Josh Kornfeld |
Mary and Adam Kratz |
Deb and Jeff Ladwig |
Leo Lai |
Shannon McGuire and Jesse Lakes |
Nora Menkin and Nicholas Lauris |
Megan and Will Lemley |
Heidi Lennstrom |
Yousim and Daan Lindhout |
Kelly Liu |
Shelley Sutton and Neil Livingstone |
Angela Farina and Lisa Luebeck |
Ubah Abdi and Thomas Lyche |
Simon Mangiaracina |
Ariel Martin |
Julie and Luis Martinez |
Meg and Ben Mathes |
Amy and Nash McBride |
Kerry Meade and Jeff McCord |
Jess and Tim McKay |
Stacia Servos and Karl Mejia |
Michelle and Erich Mele |
Kam Sahota-Middleton and Nevin Middleton |
Susan Goodwin and Rich Millard |
Rudi and Carlos Mondragon |
Remya Narayanaswami and Ashwin Moodithaya |
Antoinette Contreras-Morel and Dom Morel |
Craig Morris |
Danny Finkel and Graham Murphy |
Johanna Hanft and Ryan Murphy |
Tami Elwin and Mark Netherland |
Kim and Dan Nicholson |
Nth Degree CPA's |
Moji and Anthony Obiako |
Colleen McCullagh and Derek Ohlgren |
Meg Erb and Matthew Ohmstede |
Becky, Maryanne, and Lee Olstead |
Jennifer and Ron Ordell |
Anika Pauling |
Rebecca Henry and Kevin Peterson |
Michael Mattmiller and Jay Petterson |
Kerry and Brad Pihlstrom |
Lisa and Peter Renn |
Catey Roe |
Jenny and Kurt Romischer |
Quentin Sabatka |
Jonah Sahota |
Denise and John Schack |
Liz and Mark Schiltz |
Suhani Jain and Tushaar Sethi |
Torri Canda and Drew Sheriff |
Karyn Johnson and Chad Siegel |
Amber Hallet and Ben Smith |
Laura and Jeremy Smith |
Heidi and Mark Snell |
Pamela Sobotka |
Seth Sobotka |
Allison and Dan Sogn |
Dr. Katy and Dr. Mike Stanfill |
Nicole Sleiers and Iosefatu Sua |
Desiree Loughlin and Joe Sullivan |
Nichole Seepersad and Justin Swanson |
Kendra Sippel-Theodore and Jeremy Theodore |
Colleen Barry and Mike Thomas |
Marie and Rory Tipton |
Amanda Dawson and Kevin Tongue |
Dr. Hayley Quinn and Michael Towbin |
Petra Townsend |
Nicole and Chris Travis |
Kaci Clot and Josh Utt |
Ashley Sands and Tony Valcarcel |
Michelle and Joel VandenBrink |
Adrienne Krefft and Jesse Van Nostrand |
Christie VanSkike |
Brenda Lavis and Dr. Jack Vo |
Cathy Walton |
Dr. Courtney Johnson and Peter Waxman |
Courtney Flora and Ted Webber |
Angela and Noah Wecker |
Whitney Winn |
Carrie and Robert Wood |
Ena and Bobby Yang |
Sahara Bailey and Jason Yen |
April and Matt Zito |
2024-2025 School Year: Westside currently has seats available in select grades, including kindergarten and preschool. Please email admissions@westsideschool.org for more information.