Dear Laker Community,

We’re in the final stretch! It’s celebration season at WPS, and across our campus we are preparing to honor the many milestones that define a Windermere Preparatory School journey. These Rites of Passage are among the most meaningful traditions we share, bringing our community together to reflect, to celebrate, and to look ahead.

In the days ahead, our Kindergarten students will Start Their Story the morning of May 20, our 5th graders will Cross the Bridge to middle school the afternoon of May 20, and our 8th graders will Turn the Page to high school on May 21. Each ceremony is a powerful reminder of growth and transition, capturing both where our students have been and the exciting path that lies ahead.

For our seniors, we celebrate their wondrous journey with Walk Down Laker Lane, a uniquely WPS tradition that invites them to revisit the people, places, and moments that have shaped their time here. It is a time to reflect with gratitude and pride before culminating in our Senior Commencement on May 22 at 7 PM at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

As we celebrate these milestones, we also recognize this month’s IB Learner Profile trait: Knowledgeable. At WPS, being knowledgeable goes beyond the accumulation of facts. It reflects a deep understanding of ideas, a curiosity about the world, and the ability to apply learning with purpose. Our students demonstrate this every day, and especially in moments like these, where their growth is on full display.

Lakers, take it all in. Celebrate the big moments and the small ones. These are the experiences that stay with us.

Thank you for being part of a community that lives out Virtus, Veritas, Unitas each day. It is truly an honor to Live Like a Laker.

Alex Birchenall

Head of School