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It’s not just what you learn but how.
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We’re all students, we’re all teachers.
Read MoreA vibrant, intellectual home. A warm inclusive community. A dynamic liberal arts education for grades 6-12 that prepares students to think critically, act compassionately and discover their place in the world.
Welcome to The Northwest School
Spotlight
Standout Athletes Look Back at the Lessons They Learned at Northwest
Two of the Class of ’22’s standout athletes, Owen G. and Shoshana R., offer insights on the unique lessons The Northwest School taught them about teamwork, community and never giving up.
Once Upon a Mattress Musical Comedy
If the title—Once Upon a Mattress—of this year’s musical doesn’t grab you, then perhaps the fact that it’s a humorous adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea” will delight you.
NWS Celebrates Three New Hires
Please join us in welcoming three talented individuals – two of whom are current members of the NWS community – into new leadership positions. Congratulations to Amina Loftin, Julie Lombardo, and Risa De Gorgue!
Amina Loftin (shown on left) has been named Northwest’s first Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Julie Lombardo (shown on right) is Northwest’s Director of Development. And, we are also delighted to welcome Risa De Gorgue (shown in center) as Northwest’s new Director of Communications and Marketing.
Alumni Conversations: A Visual and Performing Arts Discussion on April 18
Please join us for an engaging discussion about art, creativity, and becoming an artist with three exceptional NWS alumni artists. Our speakers include:
• Aaron Loux ’05, company dancer with the Mark Morris Dance Group
• Rose Nestler ’01, visual/sculpture artist
• Kenzan Tsutakawa-Chinn ’98, LED lighting sculpture/composition artist
9th Grader is Latest Northwest Student in National Ceramics Exhibition
Aviva L-L.’s “Tri-Rainbow Trizzle” is one of only 150 student works in this prestigious exhibition, but she recalls it started out as the ugliest of three bowls in ceramics class.
Aviva's artwork appeared this past week in a Sacramento, Calif., gallery as part of the K-12 Ceramic Exhibition — "nationals" for aspiring ceramics students — one of only 150 pieces of exquisite student art selected out of thousands by a jury for the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts.
She is the latest in a long line of students of Northwest ceramics teacher Randy Silver to be so honored.
7th Grader’s Folk Song Gives Voice to Plight of Seattle’s Homeless
This winter, Northwest seventh-graders didn't just learn about legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie. Thanks to Humanities teachers Tamara Bunnell and Jenna Gareis, students got the opportunity to walk a mile in the shoes of the beloved songwriter.
Their students were asked to write and perform a folk song inspired by Guthrie's work that explores the same themes that inspired him.
Saumya P. (’27), a student in Tamara’s class, approached the assignment with particular care and sensitivity, paying homage to the folk singer’s legacy by writing and recording a video of her original song, “Home.”
Working to Increase BIPOC Representation in Independent Schools
People of color interested in working at independent schools are invited to attend the Pacific Northwest Regional Independent School Diversity Career Fair on Saturday, March 12, 2022 from 9 am until 1 pm.
This virtual career fair is offered through the collaborative effort of 24 regional schools.
3 NWS Ultimate Players Get a Shot at World Competition
Naomi F. (’22), Jonah T. (’22) and Cal P. (’23) have been invited to try out for the USA Ultimate U20 National Teams with a view to competing at the world championships in Poland this summer.
The tryouts continue The Northwest School's strong history of representation on the under-20 national boys’ and girls’ teams. Since 2006, 17 of our students have competed in the world championships, some for two consecutive cycles.
Naomi, Jonah, and Cal are exceptionally dedicated players and teammates known for their sportsmanship, kindness, and integrity, both on and off the field.
Film Series Examines Racial Justice Amid Access to Outdoor Spaces
The latest installment of the Northwest School's "Movies with a Mission" begins January 20-February 2, with two films, Black Ice and Spirit of the Peaks, that explore racial justice, access to outdoor spaces, the role of community and our responsibilities to planet Earth.
Filmmaker Malik Martin and skier-adventurer Connor Ryan are joined by author Tasheea Nicholson in a special live panel via Zoom on February 2 at 7 p.m. Tasheea's book is Camping Noire: The Black Girls Guide to Surviving a Weekend Unplugged.
Black Ice follows the adventures of a group of aspiring ice climbers from Memphis as they brave the frozen wilds of Montana. Spirit of the Peaks centers on Lakota skier Connor Ryan as he works to connect his love of the sport with his respect for the lands of indigenous peoples.
NWS Band Director Finds Special Source of Inspiration for Original Concert Band Composition
Musician and conductor Erin Keeton-Howard found a way to cure the blues during the early stages of the pandemic. She created and published an original piece of concert band music titled "Wanderlust." Her inspiration for the piece’s dramatic opening came from a very special source – her 14-year-old English Pointer mix, Tucker.
The Equity and Inclusion Virtual Speaker Series Presents Dr. Beverly Tatum on January 13
The ongoing senseless killing of Black men and women has prompted much-needed and long-overdue conversations about race and racism. Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, president emerita of Spelman College, an award-winning clinical psychologist, a national authority on racial issues in America, and a thought leader in higher education, joins us to look at why these conversations are so difficult and share her insights on how to talk with kids and each other about race and racism and how to be actively anti-racist. Join Dr. Tatum on January 13, 2022 from 5:30-6:30 pm for a virtual conversation about race and racism. This will be recorded.
Winterfest 2021 Brings STEM to Life for NWS Students
One of the most highly anticipated annual events, Winterfest, held on Friday, December 17, brings The Northwest School community together for a lively and engaging celebration of math and science. Students spent the day rotating throughout the school and participating in presentations on topics including data (how to tell stories with data), paper airplanes (engineering), coding, and projectile motion (physics).
An Investment in NWS Students’ Futures: Introducing Youth to the Real-World Applications of Mathematics
At Northwest, mathematics teachers are helping students understand how math permeates our everyday living and can inform not only our financial health, but our quality of life. This fall, Maddy Huggins invited CPA Lucas Matson to her Math Modeling Class to teach students about investing and how to set financial goals. He presented an informative financial literacy overview touching on investment strategies and rules of thumb, good and bad debt, and hot topics such as cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens. What did students learn? See for yourself.
NWS New Faculty Spotlight: Meet Upper School Visual Arts Teacher Claire Cowie
We're delighted to introduce you to visual arts teacher Claire Cowie. This prestigious local artist is known for multi-media sculptures and works-on-paper that address loss, community, ambiguities in perception, shifting landscapes, and the fragmentation of memory. Discover what Claire loves about teaching at NWS, and learn about her current "Niche Audience" installation and Artist Residency at MadArt in South Lake Union.
Alex Halladay Hired as Director of Admissions and Enrollment
We are thrilled to welcome Alex Halladay as our next Director of Admissions and Enrollment effective December 6. She comes to Northwest as an experienced leader in independent school admissions and higher education.
Theatre and Dance Teacher Jordan Rosin Publishes Storytelling on Screen: An Online Playback Theatre Archive and Guidebook
Jordan is a director/choreographer, actor/creator, and researcher/teacher, specializing in applied and ensemble-devised physical theatres. This Seattle native recently returned to the Emerald City and has just published Storytelling on Screen: An Online Playback Archive and Guidebook, his year-long labor of love.
Imagining a City: Ninth Grade Humanities Students Design Walled Cities Using Maps and Minecraft
This week, ninth grade Humanities students were invited to design imaginative walled cities that incorporate elements of urban design such as streets, green spaces, residential, commercial, and industrial, and/or mixed-use zones. The projects invited them to consider how urban design reflects the values of its inhabitants, what forces shape communities, and how design can impact quality of life.
Northwest School to Host Virtual Open Houses in October and November
Join us for our upcoming Open House on November 7 (Grades 6-8) to learn more about our wonderful school and community. If you're seeking a dynamic and rewarding college preparatory education within a diverse, small, and supportive community, The Northwest School may be for you! Learn more and register here.
Bringing Language to Life: Upper School Students Demonstrate Proficiency and the Five C's
This week, 11th and 12th grade students in Annette Galindo’s Advanced Spanish class enjoyed a special opportunity to present their findings on themes such as world challenges, families and communities, science and technology, personal identities, and more.
NWS Teacher Releases Book of Poetry and Translates Robert Nash Collection
The Northwest School's Françoise Besnard Canter is a French language and Humanities teacher who also writes and translates poetry. Most recently, she authored Winter Leaves / Feuilles d’hiver, an illustrated book of poetry that chronicles her trip to Vietnam. Learn about the book and about her forthcoming translation of a collection of poetry by Robert Nash entitled When the Blue Goes.
Equity & Inclusion Virtual Speaker Series
We hope you will join us for this virtual speaker series focused on Equity and Inclusion. Next up: Dr. Erika Lee, who will discuss Asian Americans in America's History: A Look to Xenophobia and Racism. This lecture and discussion will offer new insights into the Asian American experience and what it means to be an American today.
Learn more, and RSVP here: https://sites.google.com/merid...
Independent Spirit: Head of School Ray Wilson Featured in Fall NAIS Magazine
Head of School Ray Wilson reflects on the summer he discovered his calling to be an educator and the critical lessons that laid the foundation for his career in the latest NAIS magazine. Read more about this caring and conscientious leader.
NWS Movies with a Mission Series 2021-22
This October, you're invited to a two-part series: a Coded Bias movie screening followed by a community discussion. Open to parents/guardians, students, faculty, and alumni, the movie screening and discussion aim to build community and belonging by creating spaces for a shared experience to pique curiosity and inspire informed action within The Northwest School community.
A Speech in Honor of NWS Founder Ellen Taussig
"What I have valued about the education at Northwest is that it cares more about who you are as a human in community than what you are, where you go to college, or what accomplishments you list." In this recent speech, Dean of Students, Kevin Alexander honors founder Ellen Taussig.
A Speech in Honor of NWS Founder Mark Terry
"As we all know, there is something magic about Northwest....When you distill down what makes Northwest so exceptional, it is the culture, the values, that underlie the institution. I believe those values came directly from the founders, Ellen, Paul, and Mark."
In this recent speech, Philip Benjamin ‘05 honors founder Mark Terry.
Learning about Learning: A New Classroom-Based Research Project May Inform Pedagogy and Help Students Learn
Inspired by the work of scientists before him, Zach Groshell, Director of Educational Technology at the Northwest School, is preparing an experiment that will shed light on how students learn and problem-solve online. Read more about Zach's Ph.D. research to understand how it may help students learn.
Students Initiate School Plan for Carbon Neutrality
Upper School students from the Environmental Interest Group believe The Northwest School can be leader in climate action and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. With support from that committee and school Administration, the students created the NWS Carbon Neutrality Task Force to develop recommendations and assess the feasibility of the carbon neutrality goal.
