Letter from the Head of School
by Ilene reinfeld
The 2024-2025 school year was guided by a renewed sense of wonderment and curiosity in the natural world — which was no coincidence that it also happened to be the school-wide theme. As we began the school year with an all-school field trip to the California Science Center, we were reminded that the natural world continues to surprise and inspire us by looking deeper, asking good questions, and listening closely to the ecosystems we strive to protect.
The entire school began the year with a
field trip to the California Science Center!
Our community engagement projects emphasized not just observation, but active inquiry. In science, students formed hypotheses and shared unexpected findings. In math, real-world examples allowed us to calculate fuel usage and distance travelled. Above all, we learned that cultivating a sense of wonder is essential to expansive learning.
Yet, alongside nature’s beauty, we also confronted its power and unpredictability. We experienced unprecedented wildfires in January that swept through neighborhoods, leaving behind landscapes stark and charred. We saw firsthand how fire can both destroy and renew, and how communities like ours come together powerfully in the wake of disaster. These lessons humbled us, reminding us that while nature can inspire with its breathtaking wonders, it also demands respect and care, never to be taken for granted.
Posing with the banner for our first responders
that will hang on the fence facing Ventura Blvd.
It reads, “We are grateful for our brave firefighters, police, and first responders!”
Something else I try not to take for granted is our Board of Trustees who have given us another year of unwavering support. A special thanks to David ZeBrack for his years of service and innovation. While his term as Chair of the Board is coming to an end, I am grateful that he will remain on board as a trustee to share his wisdom and guidance. We welcome Angie Shellow who takes the helm in 2025. It’s appropriate to note that both of these devoted leaders are alumni parents whose children graduated years ago. Their dedication and energy is a testament to the strength of our community and the love fostered by the school, evidence that “you might leave LES, but LES never leaves you!”
I am endlessly grateful to our incredible faculty and staff who bring our mission to life every day by keeping students at the heart of all they do. And, of course, a special thanks to my “work partner,” Assistant Head of School Jonathan Beckmann, and to our amazing administrative team for their care, precision, and steady leadership in keeping our campus safe, welcoming, and running smoothly.
Please enjoy this review of the previous year as we look ahead to celebrating more joys and – inevitably- facing and overcoming new challenges together in 2025-2026.
With sincere appreciation,
Ilene Reinfeld
Head of School