Look at what people are saying about us:

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Kelly Kane was one of a handful of speakers at the LAUSD sponsored Parent to Parent night, two years in a row! WPEF is now mentoring other new parent groups to help public schools throughout LAUSD and California. For more information on the blueprint of how to get started, visit: partfoundation.org

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Marie Murphy and WPEF are instrumental in the planning to create a shared-use park on the corner of the Orville Wright Middle School campus, along with Mayor Villaraigosa’s office.

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Susan Way-Smith and Forouzan Faridian of WPEF led the charge to apply for AND RECEIVE a million dollar federal grant for the planning and implementation of Small Learning Communities (SLCs) at Westchester High School.

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WPEF is assisting with grantwriting in the areas of enrichment, curriculum, professional development and beautification for all of our family of 7 schools.

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GATES DONATES $1.3 MILLION TO LAUSD TO IMPROVE MATH CLASSES, Associated Press, Thu, Sep. 14, 2006 - LOS ANGELES - The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pledged $1.3 million to the Los Angeles Unified School District to improve algebra classes and other courses that prepare students for college. The grant will help all high schools in the district next year but for its first year, it will fund pilot programs in 17 high schools and provide 120 math teachers with more training and resources. The campuses include Arleta, Crenshaw, Dorsey, Francis Polytechnic, Grant, Hamilton, Los Angeles, North Hollywood, San Fernando, Sylmar, University, Van Nuys, Venice, Verdugo Hills and Westchester high schools. "The investments we make to improve instruction in our schools are investments in our children's future," Superintendent Roy Romer said. The foundation has invested more than $24.3 million in the Los Angeles region to open new high schools and strengthen existing ones.

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Meeting of the Minds at WHS 7/31/06. In Attendance were: Roy Romer, LAUSD Superintendent (first time ever at WHS), Marlene Canter, LAUSD School Board President and Representative for our district (and Allison Bajracharya and Dan), Anita Barner, Eric Davidson and Dachelle Byrd, Dr. Shane Martin and Dr. Irene Oliver & Clarence, Terry Marcellus and Kelly Kane. Discussions were focused on how to best partner with LMU to immediately affect change to all our schools with special focus on the middle (retention of local families) and high schools (SLC’s). We openly discussed autonomy and creating a board that consists of two members of each of the following: LMU, LAUSD/WHS, Neighborhood Council, and WPEF.

* WPEF met with LAUSD and assisted in getting the proposed charter school removed from Orville Wright Middle School Campus as well as an additional assistant principal back to Orville Wright that was to slated to be removed due to declining numbers.

* SLC’s (Small learning Committees) committees have begun at Westchester High School. Every other Tuesday at 7:15 at WHS there is a growing number of stakeholders meeting to discuss the development and support of our SLC’s.

* Kelly Kane, WPEF President, was invited to the annual Rotarians of greater LA breakfast by the Playa Sunrise Rotary on 7/18. The Guest Speaker was Dan Isaacs, CFO of LAUSD.

* Also on the 18th of July, Grace Strauther, Local District 3 Superintendent and Doug Waybright, Director of High Schools came to WHS to discuss with us the replacement of our high school assistant principals that will be leaving.

* Public School Expo April 2006 was a huge success with over 800 visitors. More on the expo...

* Playa Vista, Steve Soboroff and Sybil Buchanan have pledged to donate $10,000 to WPEF in September.

Plans are underway for the Sandra Tsing Loh event targeted for October. We need a committee to pull this together.

* Announcements were made that Neighborhood Council has created a committee for education (local public schools) whose sole purpose is to discuss autonomy (our own district). Terry Marcellus is the contact.

* Our July 2006 meeting was the first ever WPEF/PTA/Booster Summit, to work more cohesively together, and what can be coordinated through WPEF. This resulted in the different groups working to assemble email lists for each of our schools. These are set up as announcement lists through Yahoo, we also gathered all of the school Wish lists, Current school PR materials, and Calendars.

* Participated in Cowan Nature Center celebration

* Sponsored a table at the Grand Opening of Fire Station #5

* Participate in the 4th of July Parade – 2 years