West Sound Academy

Specialties

West Sound Academy is an International Baccalaureate World School offering a college preparatory curriculum for grades 6 – 12 on the Kitsap Peninsula in Poulsbo, Washington.

Providing a rigorous academic and art curriculum to prepare students for college, West Sound Academy is an IB World School, authorized to deliver the International Baccalaureate Degree Programme (IBDP) for students in Grades 11 – 12. The curriculum for Grades 6– 9 is centered on a pre-​IBDP course of study, while Grades 10 – 12 have a selection of challenging college preparatory courses in the six academic areas of the Diploma Programme.

The curriculum stresses critical and disciplined thinking, effective communication and scientific analysis, and creative problem solving. Skills introduced and reinforced in the classroom, including critical reading, critical writing, and document analysis and evaluation, will prepare students for the rigors of the Diploma Programme and for success in college after their years at WSA.

History

Established in 1998.

West Sound Academy was founded in 1998 with a single mission: to graduate confident, intellectually curious, and open-​minded young adults who are prepared to contribute responsibly to their world with creativity, character, courage, and compassion. The school follows the vision of our founders, Dr. Ed. Frodel and Dr. Gordon Parke. Although from different backgrounds, both men recognized the need for a college preparatory community that cultivates a high level of scholarship and artistic expression.

This shared vision, created from two disparate perspectives, came to life when West Sound Academy opened in 1998, in space leased from the Methodist Church Camp in Indianola, WA. Quickly outgrowing the space, the next year the school moved to a cleverly renovated hardware store in the Karsten Suquamish shopping center. In 2005 faculty, staff, and students moved to the new 20-​acre campus, designed for the school, near Poulsbo, Washington.

Meet the Manager

Barrie H.

Manager

Barrie Hillman joined West Sound Academy’s faculty in the fall of 2008, and accepted the appointment as Head of School in 2011. Barrie serves as IB Coordinator for the school and is guiding WSA’s first International Baccalaureate Diploma class through to graduation in 2013. Barrie brings over eighteen years experience as a teacher, parent, and administrator. Prior to taking on the leadership of West Sound Academy she served as the Associate Head of School and member of the teaching faculty, responsible for Middle School English and History. Barrie was also an instructor for West Sound’s summer program enrichment classes. In addition to teaching and administrative roles, she has been very active in extra-​curricular activities, organizing opportunities for sports activities and instrumental in maintaining the West Sound Academy Garden. Barrie holds a Master’s of Education degree from John Carroll University and a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Boston College.