Friends Western School

Our daughter has really made leaps and bounds in her reading skills in just 6 months this year and has been enjoying Kenpo club, she just got her yellow belt. I enjoy watching the students eat fresh food from the garden as they play and run around listening to the yard supervisor play songs on his guitar. Or her and a friend just picking up some chopsticks to eat with the other day after their Japanese immersion semester. Too good to be true, I know. I feel so lucky. With the work involved in a co op, it really makes it all worth while with memories like these.

We are new parents to FWS this year with a son in K and a daughter in 3rd grade. The school is a co-op and can be hard work but the payoff is incredibly happy kids. Our son had a few tough experiences in his short life and always complained about be separated from the family, he didn’t like pre-school he even complained about going to summer camps. He’s a happy little guy now. Loves going to school, loves his teacher and new friends. The variety in the weekly schedule keeps our son engaged: theater, music, yoga, clubs, trips to the local park, monthly hikes and field trips. The small class size (8) mean he gets lots of attention and he is developing a love of learning and is excited about the world around him. Our daughter is very bright and loves to learn but got bored at her well regarded public school last year as they “taught to the test” and extracurricular activities were limited. She is challenged and energized by FWS. We are very happy so far!

We just started at FWS, with a son in kindergarten and a daughter in the third grade. While we understood that it was a co-op, I don't think my husband and I realized how much work would be involved. But all the hard work is so worth it, with the payoff being incredibly happy and engaged kids. Our ultra academically-inclined daughter found herself bored in her previous LAUSD school, which serviced thousands of kids. Still, we were worried that the size of FWS (with about 50 students total, across four classrooms) would be a huge culture shock for her. As it turns out, she loves the new environment, where bullying is non-existent thanks to the school's social-emotional curriculum that involves productive conflict resolution. And individualized, inquiry-based learning means she's never bored. She explores, creates and has fun doing it. Our son is different - not as precocious as his sister. And, typical of a baby of the family, he can experience separation anxiety. Yet he's so happy at FWS, in a loving environment where he is encouraged and supported. Both kids are more aware of the world around them, and are developing true compassion (which is hard to cultivate these days). I love the small class sizes, the creative focus (art, theater and music classes) and physical and outdoor learning (yoga, field trips, park days). And you know what? We as parents are finding that it's pretty awesome to work hard with like-minded (and, dare I say it, cool) parents toward the common goal of creating this incredible learning environment for our kids. In case you couldn't tell, we couldn't be happier so far.

This is our first year at Friends Western School (FWS). We are so greatful to have found the school after being on so many school tours and open houses. We made this decision after visiting the school during a regular school day. We spoke to some of the children during their morning break. I remember feeling this a sense of well being in all of the childen that I met here. They were so happy,confident, and polite. When I asked them about FWS, they spoke of the school as if they own the place, and they are truly a part of the school. My son and I followed into the classroom, the teachers really took time to listen and let the children express themselves and ask questions. That was when I knew I want my child to be a part of this wonderful educational experience. Being at FWS for almost a year, I am proud to be a FWS parent. I can say that I don't see or know too many children that loves learning as enthusiastic about coming to school as much as my child. In the beginning of the school year, he started out slower. I remember him resisting learning the alphabets and numbers when I try teaching him at home, but the teacher at FWS has such way of listening and incorporating so many activities to make learning fun for him. He has grown so much in this past year. Activities and lessons during the afternoon "in-sessions" have triggerd curiosity about the world around him, environment, history, etc. All of these activities seem to sharpen his critical thinking skills while he gets to have fun like kids should. We love Yoga, hiking, field trips, school play, art camps, and even afterschool care. When you see a child wanting to spend more time at school, you know that something must be going right. When it comes down to it, what makes FWS exceptional is the dedication that teachers and parents of this school has toward the children and the school. We love FWS!