Westridge School (Pasadena)

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Westridge School
Location
Pasadena, California, United States
Information
Type Independent Day School for College-Bound Girls
Motto "Surgere Tentamus"
Established 1913
Faculty Westridge employs 84 faculty and administrators, all of whom hold a bachelor's degree
Enrollment 524 Girls, grades 4-12[1]
Student:teacher ratio 9:1
Athletics 12 sports [1]
Mascot Tiger
Website www.westridge.org; www.westridge-alumnae.org

Westridge School is a private, independent day school for college-bound girls located in Pasadena, California, United States. Elizabeth J. McGregor became the school's 11th head of school on July 1, 2009.

Contents

[edit] Campus highlights

The Westridge campus provides an idyllic park-like setting in a residential neighborhood. The campus is distinguished not only by its welcoming beauty, but also by an unusually rich architectural heritage. The main building, designed by Marston, VanPelt & Maybury and built in 1923 on the site of the original school, houses classrooms, administrative offices, and one of the school's four state-of-the-art technology centers. The Burgess Exhibition Gallery in the main hall features student art exhibits throughout the year.

Herrick Quadrangle, behind the main building, is bordered with both historic and contemporary architecture. Adjoining the main building are the Joan Irvine Smith '36 Academic Research Center and Braun Music Center, which is home to the Howard S. Swan Choral Hall.

The Braun Music Center was designed in 1909 by architect Frederick L. Roehrig, also known for designing the Green Hotel and the Tournament of Roses House in Pasadena, as a private gymnasium and theatre for a family living on Orange Grove Boulevard. In 1958, Westridge parent Henry Dreyfuss added a larger and more functional stage to Braun Music Center.

Three other significant buildings on the Quad were designed by Pasadena architect Whitney R. Smith: the Seeley G. Mudd Science Building, with three fully-equipped Upper School laboratories and a computer technology center, the Laurie and Susan Frank Art Studio and the Hoffman Gymnasium. The Richard N. Frank Athletic Field and Ranney Lawn provide recreational spaces for all grades.

In 1997, the school began a building program to enable the campus to better serve the needs of Westridge students and the space demands of an expanded, modern curriculum. Pica & Sullivan Architects designed the Marjorie May Braun '36 Science Building and the Karsh Family Science Garden that contain science classrooms and outdoor study spaces specifically designed for Lower and Middle School students. In April 2000, Westridge dedicated the Anne F. and James F. Rothenberg Humanities Center. The three-building complex also designed by Pica & Sullivan Architects, contains humanities classrooms and faculty offices, Upper School art studios and photography labs, art and photography exhibition space, the school's largest technology lab, and the Herrick Commons dining room.

In 2004, Westridge unified the north and south campuses with the creation of Madeline Court. The following year brought the addition of the Rokus Athletic Complex where Tiger soccer and softball teams host games on new regulation fields. Dance is taught in Brown Studio and athletes take advantage of the Studenmund weight-training room. In 2005, the Fran Norris Scoble Performing Arts Center opened. The world-class facility includes a 600-seat auditorium, the Wagener Black Box Theater and the Seiter Family Amphitheater.

The oldest and most architecturally significant building sits on the southeast corner of the campus. Pitcairn House, built in 1906 by the architectural firm of Greene and Greene, is a classic example of the California Bungalow style and is often pictured in books on the architecture of that period. Pitcairn House is the location of the school's business and development offices.

In early spring/late winter, Westridge offers a Summer Opportunities Fair, open to the community, listing summer camps, volunteer programs, and day camps. Options are available for girls and boys, pre-K through 12th grade through local, national, and international programs.[2]

Main Building

Fran Norris Scoble Performing Arts Center

Pitcairn House

[edit] School traditions

Westridge has a long-standing rivalry within the school of two factions, one called the "Greeks" and the other the "Romans." Girls are placed in one or the other when they enter the school; however if a relation of theirs attended the school earlier they are placed in whichever group their relation was in. It is a lighthearted rivalry with fun and games at the beginning of the each year in a sorting ceremony. Points are awarded throughout the year through various ways and a trophy is presented at the end of the school year to whichever side has garnered the most points.

There is an annual Ring Ceremony in April in which the junior class receives their class rings and the Head of School speaks. During this ceremony, each girl's name is handed out and they go receive their ring from the Head of School and a white rose from the Upper School Director. This ceremony is seen as the junior's passage into being seniors.

Right before school gets out for Christmas break, Westridge holds a Holiday Concert in which girls from the lower school, middle school, and upper school Glee Club and orchestra perform holiday music. The fourth graders always have a special cute song to perform; they keep it a secret until the day of the concert. Upper school students perform original skits in which they make fun of each other and sometimes teachers. Santa Claus also comes and each grade decides on two wishes it wants him to grant.

Westridge also has one day of the year called All School Day. The ASB prepares a day in which the entire school relaxes and just has fun. The ASB prepares activities, food, and a movie. A theme is announced every All School Day. Previous themes were Disneyridge, All Around the World and Time Warp Westridge.

Additionally, the girls participate Big and Little Sisters where two lower school students, one middle school student, and two upper school students are assigned into a "Family." Families meet every major holiday to participate in activities to bond. This tradition is a way for younger students to have a friendship with older students. Big Sisters are seen role models for Little Sisters.

[edit] Notable alumnae

[edit] Organizations and affiliations

Westridge is a member of the following organizations:

[edit] References

  1. ^ K-12 Directory of Schools
  2. ^ Summer Opportunities Fair, Westridge School
  3. ^ Pasadena Society Of Artists: Former Artist Member: Jae Carmichael
  4. ^ Gemini G.E.L. Gallery homepage
  5. ^ Success Magazine, Driven

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westridge_School_(Pasadena)"