By Lynne Wainfan
Eighth grader Teddy Watler wasn’t even alive when Westerly School opened. As keynote speaker for the school’s groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday, he personified the type of student envisioned by founding Headmaster Raymond Bizjack- poised, articulate and inspirational. “Although I’ll be graduating this year and won’t be here to be the beneficiary of the Raymond F. Bizjack Arts Village, I look forward to coming back and seeing the facility used to its full potential,” Watler said.
Westerly School, at 2950 E. 29th Street, is an independent K-8 school which opened in 1993 under the leadership of Bizjack. At the groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday, founding Board President Sonja Berggren Seaver spoke of Bizjack’s love of children and the arts and commitment to the school’s mission: To develop each child’s full potential, intellectually, emotionally, morally, and physically.
Guests on hand to celebrate the start of construction of the first phase of the campus master plan included the late headmaster’s wife Carmen Bizjack, his son Pablo and his grandson Parker.
Buildings and Grounds Committee Chair Byron Pinckert described the Arts Village, consisting of the Senn Family Music Studio, the Pinckert Family Art Studio, and the Seaver Family Arts Plaza. The new construction includes state-of-the-art digital recording equipment, an outdoor workroom and stage. Pinckert described design innovations that make Westerly a model for a sustainable campus: native landscaping to reduce water consumption, bio-swales to recharge ground water, and special mirror array skylights to reduce energy consumption.
Long Beach Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske spoke of the importance of education and the city’s gratitude to the school. Later, she noted that “this campus is beautiful, more like going to camp than going to school.”
The groundbreaking was performed by Westerly student representatives, along with Parker. The ceremony featured vocal and instrumental performances by the entire student body. “If these musicians are any indication of the arts program at Westerly,” Schipske said, “Long Beach is lucky to have this school in the community.”
Photos:
Eighth Grader Teddy Watler Kicks off the Groundbreaking Ceremony
Westerly Student Representatives and Parker Bizjack Break Ground
