Wildwood School's Partnership Programs
Palms Elementary School
Systems thinking is an approach to learning that encourages children to see how things (systems) influence one another within a whole. This approach allows children to explore all of the systems, human and natural, that connect us and to develop a unique approach to problem solving. This is the basis of the elementary school curriculum at Wildwood School.
This year Wildwood Schools begins a three-year partnership with Palms Elementary School, a PK-5 elementary school in the LA Unified School District, to share and enhance the use of systems thinking in both schools. A generous grant and support from the Wildwood Outreach Center makes this professional development partnership possible. Led by Dr. Barbara Moreno, an independent educational consultant with decades of experience as a classroom teacher at LA’s Open Magnet Charter School, teachers from both schools will work together learning how to apply systems thinking to their classroom as well as how to strengthen their practice.
Throughout this time, researchers from Chapman University in Orange, California and The University of Memphis will also be studying the implementation of the approach at both schools in order to document and validate the systems approach.
Click here for more information.
Wondrous Happenstance
In her 19 years at Wildwood, Monique Marshall has worn many hats. She started as a 4th grade teacher, did a two-year stint as assistant librarian, taught in the Pods, and is currently teaching 5th grade. She is also an integral member of Wildwood’s Multicultural Leadership Team and has been a Wildwood parent for most of her tenure here, with both of her daughters attending Wildwood.
If that’s not enough service to our Wildwood community, Monique is also the creator and champion of the Buddy Partnership program between Wildwood elementary school classes and Central High School. Central High is a Los Angeles Unified School District public continuation school that is housed in one room at the Mar Vista Gardens housing development. It’s a school for kids who have not been served by the system, a “last chance” place for kids who have struggled but still have a drive to get their high school diploma