New Students

Thank you for being a valued member of the Willows Preparatory School community! We’re thrilled to have you as part of our family.

Rich Stearns
Head of School
EMAIL

Mary Ewart, Ed.D
Director of Curriculum
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Margaret Marks
Director of Admissions
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Kenta Sueyoshi
Educational Technology Lead
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Corey Lowell
Director of Operations
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Kia duNann
Director of Student Life
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Welcome Wildcats!

Welcome to Willows Prep. As the head of school, I am delighted at the prospect of having you join our school for the 2026-2027 school year. At Willows Prep, we are committed to supporting each of our students to reach their full potential. With a challenging curriculum, and a growing list of clubs, activities, and teams, we believe there is a place at our school for each student to thrive and make a significant impact. Our dedicated faculty and staff as well as our leadership team are here to support you and challenge you throughout your educational journey. We are especially excited to see what talents, interests, and perspectives you bring to our school. In the coming weeks, you will receive more information about course registration, future gatherings and events, as well as expectations for the upcoming school year. We all hope you are as thrilled as we are for you to join us at Willows Prep. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

With gratitude,

Rich Stearns

New student ACTION ITEMS:

To ensure a smooth transition into the new school year, please fill out the required form below:

2026-27 Student Contact Data Form

Please Note: This initial form focuses on primary contact details, emergency permissions, and household information. Closer to the start of the 2026-27 school year, you will be able to securely enter detailed health, medical history, and allergy information into your child’s iSAMS account to ensure our staff are fully prepared to support them.

New student faq’s:

How Can I Get Involved Now?

There are so many wonderful ways to begin connecting with the Willows Preparatory community!

As a new member of the WPS family, we invite you to get involved by joining our Family Association, following us on social media for the latest updates, and keeping an eye on our Weekly Newsletter, delivered every Friday at 3:00 PM. You can also stay up to date on upcoming events—such as theater performances, athletic games, and schoolwide competitions—by visiting our website. Many of these are open to newly enrolled families and offer great opportunities to experience the Willows spirit firsthand.

Be sure to mark your calendar for important welcome events, including our Student and Family Orientation at the end of summer and our back-to-school celebrations. We’ll share more details about these gatherings via email in the coming months.

To connect with our Family Association, you can find more information on our Parent Portal page here.

When is Student and Family Orientation?

Welcome to the community! Our required student and family orientation sessions are designed to ensure you and your learner are fully prepared for a successful year ahead. These interactive sessions are a “one-stop shop” to handle logistics and get a feel for campus life.

What to Expect

Please plan to attend with your learner. You should expect to be on campus for approximately 90 minutes to complete all necessary tasks, including:

Schedules & Logistics: Receive your learner’s class schedule and the full academic calendar.
Student Services: Get school photos taken and receive official student ID cards.
Tech & Tools: Learn about laptop/device expectations and get a preview of our learning and family applications.
Trip Details: Get the inside scoop on upcoming overnight trip dates and itineraries.
Community Connection: Meet staff and explore the campus!

2026–2027 Schedule (Coming Soon)

We are currently finalizing the calendar for the next academic year. While specific dates will be posted here in the coming months, you can expect orientation to take place during the last week of August, similar to previous years.

For your reference, you can view last year’s schedule below to help with your general planning:

Past 2025–2026 Orientation Reference:

All sessions were held in the School Gym.

Date	Time	Grade Level
Tuesday, Aug 26	10:00 AM	7th Grade
	1:00 PM	8th Grade
Wednesday, Aug 27	10:00 AM	9th–12th Grade
Thursday, Aug 28	10:00 AM	5th Grade
	1:00 PM	6th Grade

When Will Supplies and Textbook Lists be Available?

Supply lists and textbook lists for the 2026–27 school year will be published at the end of the 2025–26 school year, and all families will be notified once they are available. For a preview of what to expect, you can view the current 2025–26 Supply and Textbook Lists here.

All items on the lists are required for classes and can be conveniently purchased through the links provided for each title, or from any other preferred retailer.

How Will I Hear About School Events and Updates?

To ensure you stay informed and connected, we have a clear communication plan for our new families:

The Willows Weekly: During the final months of the current school year, we will subscribe you to our community newsletter. This is a great way to begin familiarizing yourself with our school culture, student happenings, and upcoming events.
New Student Prep: Closer to the end of the school year (May and June), we will send out specific communications regarding 2026–2027 school year preparation and any “must-know” details for the summer.
Portal Access: Information regarding your school portal logins will be sent as we get closer to the new term. This will provide you with the necessary access to manage student information and school forms.

By the time the new year begins, you’ll have all the tools and information you need for a smooth transition!

Who's Our Mascot?

Meet Whiskers the Wildcat! Whether he’s cheering at events, welcoming new students, or spreading Wildcat energy around campus, Whiskers reminds us that we’re all part of a supportive, spirited, and close-knit community. Get ready to join the tradition, wear your green proudly, and embrace the Wildcat way!

What are House Competitions?

At Willows, every student becomes part of one of our four Houses—Oni, Phoenix, Wyvern, or Leviathan. Houses are an exciting tradition that welcomes students into a team of peers who will cheer them on, challenge them, and celebrate their successes throughout the year.

Students earn House Points every day through simple acts—like following directions, showing kindness in the halls, or helping others—as well as during our larger House Competition assemblies and games. These friendly competitions build school spirit, strengthen community, and encourage everyone to represent their House with pride.

To keep the excitement going, we track points in real time using rcahousepoints.com, so students can follow the leaderboard and stay motivated. Get ready to join your House, support your teammates, and embrace the Wildcat spirit!