Welcome to the High School!

Dear Blacksmiths,

Welcome to Westlake Academy and our High School!

We are delighted to have you join our vibrant and academically rigorous learning community. The high school comprises the final two years of the International Baccalaureate’s Middle Years Programme and the two-year Diploma Programme, which prepare students for success at university and beyond. Through a balanced curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, research, and global awareness, students are empowered to become knowledgeable, reflective, and principled leaders.

At Westlake Academy, we are committed to supporting each student as they navigate the demands of the MYP and DP. Our dedicated faculty and staff work closely with students to foster resilience, independence, and a strong sense of purpose. We are especially proud that all our 11th and 12th grade students are full Diploma Programme candidates. Moreover, from the Personal Project to the Extended Essay, and from Service as Action to Theory of Knowledge, students engage in meaningful experiences that extend learning far beyond the classroom.

We value the partnership between school and home and encourage open communication throughout this important stage of your child’s education.

Thank you for being part of our community. We look forward to a successful and inspiring year ahead.

Warm regards,
Dr. James Owen

High School Principal

The High School Experience

2026-2027 Calendar

Uniform Guidelines

Ivy uniform provider

Back to School Night Coming Soon!

High School Resources

Important Dates

New Family Meeting

August 11, 4:15pm in the Multipurpose Hall

Back to School Night/Meet the Teacher

August 11

5:00-6:00pm Families with Last Names A-M

6:15-7:15pm Families with Last Names N-Z

This is a time to meet your classroom teacher(s), drop off school supplies, reconnect with friends or make new ones and say hello! You will also receive your car tag for dismissal during this time. Please ensure to have that ready for the first day of school pick up line.

First Day of School

August 13

Lunches

Dining at Westlake Academy

Westlake Academy offers a healthy and delicious hot lunch program. Food is prepared on campus by our food service company, Westlake Cafe. Lunches are served in the dining hall and Multi-Purpose Hall (MPH) on grade level schedules. The lunch period is supervised by faculty and staff members.

Hot Lunch
Hot Lunch is provided daily by the Westlake Cafe. Current monthly menus are posted on their website. Lunches are purchased with cash or with a lunch account. The Westlake Cafe uses a dedicated system for your student's lunch accounts. For initial set-up, please email Walter@westlakecafe.com. Walter Bermudez, our Catering Manager, will contact you to set up a new account.

Once you have set up your accounts, it is easy to manage your student's accounts, add funds, and see how your lunch money is being spent all from one location. You can even transfer funds from one student to another within your family account. If you have any questions please email Walter Bermudez at Walter@westlakecafe.com

Homemade Lunch
As an alternative to our catered cafeteria, Westlake Academy students are allowed to bring lunch from home. We ask that you send your child with packages and containers they can open themselves. Microwaves are available for students if used to warm items, not cook a meal, which could delay other students in line.

Beverages and Snacks

Choice of beverages and snacks are available through the caterer for cash or lunch account deductions.

Student IDs

Dress Code 2026-2027

Senior EE Summer Update

Dear Seniors,

First, congratulations on all the progress that you made on your extended essay during the first year of DP!

The summer is a great opportunity to return to your extended essay when you are rested and clear-headed. You can revise and improve your essay with more focus and intention. Whether your supervisor was able to provide feedback before the end of the school year or they are sending it to you via email this summer, the exercises below can help you make the most of the time.

Summer Revision Exercises for Extended Essay

These exercises can be done individually or in combination with one another. Pick and choose the exercises and the order that works best for you.

Reread key resources before returning to your essay, especially the assessment criteria and the subject-specific guidance.
- Using the EE Criteria to Inform Writing - This is a great practical resource created by IB for students.
- Extended Essay Guide
  - Assessment criteria and grade descriptors (pdf pages 118-123)
  - Subject-specific guidance (pdf pages 49-86)
- Extended Essay Support Material
  - Final checklist (pdf page 55)
  - Writing your essay, Assessment criteria, and ATLs (pdf pages 43-54)
Print out the essay so you can mark it up by hand as you read. Look for opportunities to clarify and elaborate.
Focus on the essay’s line of argument by reviewing and strengthening the key structural elements: research question, thesis statement, topic sentences/ anchor sentences for each section, conclusion. Ensure that the headers & table of contents are specific and align with the line of argument.
Review the essay by section. Treat each section like its own mini essay with the structural elements to give it coherence: introduction, thesis, paragraphs with topic sentences, conclusions. Then, look at how these mini “essays” fit together to make the coherent full essay.
Review for effective use of evidence (including data, if applicable). Make sure that you introduce/ evaluate sources, provide context, explain the connection to your argument, acknowledge the strengths and limitations of the evidence, cite the source. Are there connections that can be made to other sources and evidence? What conclusions can you draw by synthesizing ideas from multiple sources?
Conduct additional research. Take the time to read and engage with additional sources that can be used to develop your knowledge and understanding of the topic and to strengthen your argument. Be sure to properly cite any additional content that you add to the essay based upon your additional research.

As you revise and finalize your extended essay, continue to maintain transparency with your supervisor by working in the document that is shared with him or her. Maintain academic integrity by properly citing all sources and by ensuring that the extended essay reflects your own work, not the work of others or of AI.

If you have any questions about your extended essay over the summer, you may email Mrs. Estrada and your supervisor.