WISH Signature Events

Q1 EVENTS

Bands and Brews. Every fall, we welcome our WISH community members back to school with a good old-fashioned party, complete with a house band (made up of WISH families), a DJ and dance floor, games and, of course, food and brews.

Elementary School

Welcome Breakfast

To celebrate the start of a new school year, we invite families to enjoy a little morning snack and coffee together on that exciting, sometimes nerve-racking, first day of school. The WCA Leadership team is there to greet parents and caregivers, and answer any questions they may have about the upcoming school year.

Middle School

Ice Cream Social

Our Community Ed Nights also serve as an opportunity for our Middle School scholars to connect with other students. At the first meeting of the school year, we often have an Ice Cream Social where 6th-8th graders can load up on sweet treats and fun.

Academy

Homecoming

A cornerstone of any high school experience, our girls’ Volleyball game is followed by a dance, complete with a Homecoming Court and a packed dance floor.

Exhibitions

Midway through the first semester and the second, the Academy hosts Exhibitions where students showcase a project they have been working on, centered on a particular interest. It’s a unique and creative way to pursue and present their passions.

Q2 EVENTS

Elementary School

Storybook Parade

At the end of October, typically on Halloween, we celebrate our annual WISH Storybook Parade, in which students are encouraged to dress up as a character from one of their favorite books, and show off their costumes to the whole school, as each class takes a lap in the parade, carrying their book and giving high-fives to their fellow students along the way. All TK-5 families are invited to watch and participate and, of course, take pictures of their adorable kiddos. Seeing all of the creative costumes from our students, staff, and families is always a treat!

International Fair

It's a big, wide world out there, and our scholars are learning all about it. Each grade spends over a month studying a specific country and its cultures and traditions, which culminates with an International Fair in early December. Families set up booths representing their grade level’s designated country, each with crafts, games, displays and often food, all meant to illustrate the beauty of each culture. Scholars are invited to “travel” between booths, collecting stamps for their “passport,” while enjoying a music recital with songs from around the world.

Middle School

Fall Festival

Hard-working Middle Schoolers are given a well-earned celebration, with a Fall Festival that includes carnival-style games, a costume contest, a DJ and, typically, some sort of dance-off.

National History Day

Both a statewide and national competition, students explore a historical topic, and then present their research in a thoughtful, creative way. In the past, our WISH scholars have gone on to participate in the state-wide contest.

Game Night Social

While families join our Community Education talk around social-emotional well-being, Middle School scholars are invited to participate in a virtual or in-person game night with their classmates.

Academy

Presentations of Learning

In early December, our Academy scholars present on two subjects in front of a small teacher panel, demonstrating what they have learned throughout the first semester. Specific subjects are assigned to each grade level to ensure that students are showing learning achievement across a variety of academic areas throughout their 4-year experience at WISH Academy High School.

Evening of the Arts

To kick off the holiday season, our Visual and Performing Arts Departments gift our community with an evening of music and art, as well as a theater performance, showcasing the talents of our brilliant scholars.

Q3 EVENTS

Service Learning

Giving back is part of the WISH philosophy, which is why we devote an entire quarter to learning about the good works that go into helping our communities. At the elementary school, each grade studies a different cause, as well as the organizations working to remedy those issues, whether it is hunger, homelessness or the environment. In Middle School and at the Academy, students are asked to earn a certain number of service hours over the course of the year, and are ultimately asked to pick a cause they connect with and write about it.

Talent Show: Show Us Your Act

Our community is fortunate to have an abundance of shining stars, and we are always excited to see our scholars take to the stage and share their talents with all of us.

Beach Cleanup

During the third quarter of the school year, WISH’s focus is on service learning. To

kick off our community-focused lessons across our three schools, we invite all

of our families to join us for an annual beach cleanup day. All materials are supplied, and together we work as a team to make our local beaches beautiful.

WISH Gala

Our annual online auction kicks off with an elevated event, where our families and friends dress up, hit the dance floor, and enjoy drinks and dinner. We might look all fancy, but we still maintain our fun, welcoming vibe.

Walk Through Presentations

We pride ourselves on our innovative curriculum, and one of our most engaging learning opportunities are our immersive Walk Through history presentations. Our 4th grade students "walk through" California history, our 5th graders learn about the American Revolution, and our 6th graders explore ancient times.

Middle School

Winter Dance

A fun way to celebrate the chilly season, our middle school scholars have a blast at this low-key dance party.

Movie Night Social

During the third Community Ed night of the year, our middle schoolers get together to watch a favorite flick, eat some popcorn, and just chill.

High School

Exhibitions

This is round two of the Academy scholars’ bi-annual, independent projects, where students once again present a topic of interest to their community.

Q4 EVENTS

Spring Sing

There’s nothing sweeter than the voices of our young scholars singing (and playing instruments) with their classes and music troupes at these annual recitals, one for each campus. Families are always sure to keep those tissues handy.

Science Fair

Students from TK through 8th are invited to challenge their curious minds and present a science project at this annual event. Scientists and engineers from our community are asked to be judges, and engage these young, bright students on their research.

Educator Appreciation Week

WISH is nothing without our teachers, staff and paraprofessionals. So at the beginning of May, we celebrate all of their hard work with a week full of gratitude and events, from coffee deliveries to sweet notes from the students to an incredible staff luncheon.

Elementary School

Annual Project

Every spring, our young students focus on one of three cycling themes, giving them the opportunity to explore history, STEM, and their own creativity. For Living Museum, our scholars research a famous figure in history and present as that person. For Business Fair, groups of students come up with an idea, create a business plan, and execute their vision. For Invention Convention, students are tasked with building a structure and must use their engineering know-how to construct it, from blueprint to final product.

Middle School

Regatta

To celebrate the end of their Middle School career, 8th graders team up to create their own cardboard boats/rafts, usingwhatever materials their STEM-minded brains think will work. Then, the whole school takes a field trip to LMU, where the 8th graders then grab their paddles and race their boats against each other in the university pool. With the younger students cheering them on, it’s a day our culminating middle schoolers always remember.

High School

Presentations of Learning

At the end of the year, our Academy scholars once again present on two subjects in front of a small teacher panel, demonstrating what they have learned throughout the second semester.

SUMMER EVENTS

We're still a tight community, even when school is not in session. Every year, WISH participates in the Westchester July 4th Parade. In the days before, our families come together to help build the float, and then, on the 4th, sit atop our float, walk alongside it, or just cheer on our friends as they go by.

WCA MEETINGS & COMMUNITY ED NIGHTS
The WCA is like the PTA, and every member of our community is a part of it! Each quarter, the WCA hosts a Community Education night, which begins with an update from our WCA Leaders, before engaging in a larger discussion of topics affecting our families and communities. These informative and dynamic talks are offered both in person and over Zoom, and are also paired with social events for our Middle School Scholars.

WCA Meeting & Community Education Night 1 (Start of School Year)

Community members hear from WCA Leaders about important announcements and upcoming events as we return to campus, with topics that include a review of family support portals, committees, volunteer opportunities, and a variety of ways for families to support their scholars, teachers, classroom, and the school. This is immediately followed by a discussion led by all three WISH principals across TK-12, sharing academic and social-emotional data from the previous year, as well as goals for the upcoming year.

WCA Meeting and Community Education Night 2 (Fall)

Families participate in an informative discussion, led by our three amazing school counselors, on our children’s social emotional well-being, and how we can best support our kids.

WCA Meeting and Community Education Night 3 (Winter)

The focus during our third quarter meeting is on children’s development and how to best navigate our children’s changing bodies, emotions and minds.

WCA Meeting and Community Education Night 4 (Spring)

Technology plays a huge role in our children’s lives, and this meeting generally addresses our families’ concerns around social media, gaming, online interactions and more.