Wildwood School Viewbook: Brave Learners, Thinkers, and Doers

When Emmett arrived at Wildwood School in the 7th grade, he didn’t know anyone. But he heard there were 3D printers in WISRD, the Wildwood Institute for STEM Research and Development, and so, he recalls, “I flew upstairs to the lab.” There he found lots of high-tech tools—a place he could apply his multilingual coding skills—and he found new friends. Within a few weeks, Emmett was staying overnight for a “Hackathon,” part of InnovatEd.LA, hosted by Wildwood. It was the creative, stimulating environment he’d been seeking. At his prior school, Emmett felt ready for more than the “tradition-based learning system,” he says, where “you only had to memorize something and spit it back.” In his

first few months at Wildwood, he realized his teachers were studying him. “They learned who I was, where I was strong, and where I was struggling,” he says. One of his first stretches was a pesky unit on viruses and bacteria. With some extra help, he conquered it. At Wildwood, each student is seen as an individual and is encouraged to pursue his or her passions. “They just want you to do you,” Emmett says. “They give you the resources you need to grow.“ He’s already working on an app to help students, parents, and school officials track bus schedules and safety. It may be the subject of his “Into the Wild” independent study in 8th grade, but he isn’t sure. “There are so many opportunities to choose from.” In the meantime, he’s found another place to explore and make friends as a member of the stage crew. He assists at plays, concerts, and open houses. Already a talented programmer and passionate theater tech, Emmett is busy gathering, he says, “all these cool experiences.”

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