Curriculum Update
What a fabulous fall we've had! Our journey through social entrepreneurship, local non-profits, discovering our passions, and more has been enlightening. In the second semester, we're excited to delve deeper into design thinking, networking, marketing, value propositions, pitching, and business modeling.
Our classroom isn't just about learning; it's about fun too! We understand the importance of a positive and connected learning environment. Mrs. Gannon ensures this by incorporating fun brain breaks into our daily routine. Whether it's a quick round of charades, a collaborative puzzle-solving challenge, or a lively group discussion, these activities serve as a mental breather and strengthen our class bonds. They also foster a supportive atmosphere, making us feel connected, energized, and ready to tackle our next academic challenge together.
Check out our fall adventures and class activities!
Scholar Spotlights
In every issue, we highlight student projects. Most PSP students are currently in the discerning and defining phase of their projects. However, some students have already started making progress.
Ruby Hannely • Preloved Proms
Ruby's project, Preloved Proms, is collecting and redistributing prom and formal attire to students in need. With 25 dresses collected, she's partnered with Alta Vista High School to distribute them. Ruby is now focusing on the wider Los Altos community for more attire donations. Reach out to Ruby at 25rhannely@pinewood.edu to donate and support this cause.
Kathleen Xie • RoboboxEd
Kathleen's project, RoboboxEd, aims to introduce robotics to underprivileged youth. Robotics education is often inaccessible in underserved areas. She's created a customized robotics program for local after-school programs and recently prototyped her idea at the St. Francis Center in Redwood City. Her next steps include creating a website and gathering more resources for these students.
Explore all of our Scholars' projects →
Events
Practice Pitch Presentations
Our PSP junior and senior students honed their presentation skills in Molly Peterson's history class by pitching their projects. This experience allowed them to refine their communication skills and present their ideas to a real audience. Special thanks to Rob Bergenstock for capturing these moments, which showcase the students' hard work and creativity. Check out the presentations here →
Collaborative Sweatshirt Design
The students engaged in an exciting sweatshirt-designing activity that fostered creativity and collaboration. The process began with a lively brainstorming session where students shared and explored their personal visions for the sweatshirts. Following this activity, they worked in their “brainstorming pods” to collaboratively refine and present their design concepts to the larger group. The activity embraced a dynamic, iterative approach, with numerous rounds of revisions and discussions, allowing the students to fine-tune their ideas collectively. The culmination of this creative journey resulted in the creation of a fabulous sweatshirt design that not only reflected the diverse perspectives of the students but also highlighted the power of teamwork in bringing ideas to life.
Guest Speakers
Carolyn Wang Kong, President & Executive Director of the Asian Pacific Fund • Carolyn Wang Kong shared her experiences and innovative approaches to systemic change in her organization. Her insights provided our students with unique perspectives on navigating challenges and fostering positive community transformation.
Rob Meinhardt, CEO of Furious Collective • Rob Meinhardt, Pinewood parent of an alum and Pinewood Scholar, began his speaker series with us, offering practical insights into starting a business or a social entrepreneurship-minded organization. With his extensive entrepreneurial background, he engages our students with real-life stories.
A Trip to the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford
Our senior students organized a visit to the Ronald McDonald House, where they learned about the organization's support for families with children facing health challenges. This was a day filled with inspiration, empathy, and learning about the power of compassion.
Alumni News
Peyton Meinhardt
Class of 2023, Current Freshman at Villanova University
“When I was a student in PSP, I knew that it was teaching me valuable skills for my college business courses, but I didn’t know to what extent. Last semester, I took a course called Business Dynamics, which required various formal presentations throughout the semester. In PSP, on-the-spot presentations and elevator pitches were a part of everyday class, so these formal presentations felt like nothing! I was very confident, while many other students appeared nervous during their presentations. PSP made me not only a more assured presenter but also exposed me to business terms that my professors commonly use.”
Join PSP
The Pinewood Scholars Program (PSP) is our signature initiative for juniors and seniors focused on social entrepreneurship. It spans one and a half years, equipping students with the skills to become socially responsible entrepreneurs.
Junior Year: Focuses on understanding social entrepreneurship and its impact, along with an introduction to design thinking.
Senior Year: Delves into more complex topics like ethical considerations and inclusive business practices, building on the junior year experience.
10th Graders: Apply Today
There are two ways for students to apply:
- Interview in person between April 8th and 12th (sign up for an interview slot here)
- Fill out a written application here (by April 12th)
Want to Know More?
Explore our past newsletters to get a feel for program experiences, speakers, and projects • Follow our latest adventures on Instagram!
Questions about the program? Have a fabulous speaker to recommend, or an impactful organization that our class should visit? Please contact Michelle Gannon at mgannon@pinewood.edu.
2023-24 Pinewood Scholars
Lacey Armistead, Jamie Burton, Jane Butler, Cole Chatterjee, Annabelle Eaton, Zach Galbraith, Katherine Garr, Ruby Hannely, Alakh Kapadia, Arnav Karandikar, Jake Kleiman, Elena Magliaro, Anika Nambisan, Violet Negrette, Vishesh Ranganathan, Leo Shang, Michael Shtrom, Christina Tanase, Koh Taradash, Avery Wilson, Kathleen Xie