Harvard-Westlake Parents

Harvard-Westlake Parents is the parents’ association for Harvard-Westlake. All HW parents are invited to participate in HWP events and activities throughout the year, including our speaker series, blood drives, community service, and parent-hosted fundraising parties from wine tastings to museum tours.
Visit the HW Parents site >

Parent Affinity Groups

Harvard-Westlake Armenian Parent Group
Harvard-Westlake Armenian Parent Group
Harvard-Westlake Armenian Parent Group

Founded in 2021, this parent-led group strives to bring families and students together to learn, share, and connect the school community to Armenian history, culture, and traditions. The group supports the HW Parents activities with homecoming, faculty/staff appreciation events, and other activities. One of the group’s goals is to increase awareness of the history of the Armenian culture for member families and the school community. The group warmly welcomes everyone from the HW school community!


Harvard-Westlake Chinese Cultural Club (HWCCC)
Harvard-Westlake Chinese Cultural Club (HWCCC)
Harvard-Westlake Chinese Cultural Club (HWCCC)

Originally founded in 1990 at the Harvard School, the Harvard-Westlake Chinese Cultural Club (HWCCC) is a diverse and dynamic community dedicated to celebrating, sharing, and promoting Chinese culture. HWCCC promotes the goals of Harvard-Westlake, maintains a supportive network for its members, and creates learning and leadership opportunities for students. HWCCC sponsors Faculty Appreciation Days, a homecoming food booth, Party Book events, and an annual event cosponsored by HW’s other cultural affinity groups. The club also hosts various social events for members throughout the school year, including a get-acquainted party, roundtable discussions, parent socials, a Chinese New Year luncheon, Dad’s Night Out, and an end-of-year party. In addition, HWCCC’s Alpine Recreation Center Student Tutoring Program provides students with leadership and community service opportunities. Everyone from the school community is welcome to join.


Cultural Heritage & Arts of India (CHAI)
Cultural Heritage & Arts of India (CHAI)
Cultural Heritage & Arts of India (CHAI)

CHAI (Cultural Heritage & Arts of India) is an HW parent affinity group that celebrates the cultures of families of South Asian origin, including Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Nepali, and Sri Lankan heritages. The group begins the school year with a meet-and-greet get-together for families and alumni and culminates with a luncheon to welcome new students and bid farewell to the seniors. Activities also include the middle school and upper school faculty/staff appreciation lunches, the Indian food booth at homecoming, the “Day in India” Party Book event, and events celebrating a variety of Indian festivals and cultures. Anyone from the school community can join.


Harvard-Westlake French Club (HWFC)
Harvard-Westlake French Club (HWFC)
Harvard-Westlake French Club (HWFC)

The goal of the Harvard-Westlake French Club is to foster exchanges and promote bonds of friendship among people of diverse backgrounds who share an interest in French culture. The club actively supports Harvard-Westlake Parents activities: faculty/staff appreciation luncheons at the upper and middle campuses and the French crêpes booth at homecoming. In addition, HWFC helps raise funds for school scholarships by participating in the annual Party Book event. Other activities may include parent social gatherings around art life and cultural events in Los Angeles and a back-to-school luncheon to welcome new families. Member ideas are welcome along with initiatives to organize gatherings. You do not need to speak French to join!


Japanese-American Affinity Group (JAG)
Japanese-American Affinity Group (JAG)
Japanese-American Affinity Group (JAG)

The Japanese-American Affinity Group welcomes all Harvard-Westlake families who have an interest in Japanese and Japanese-American culture. Its goals include bringing members and their families together, strengthening their connection with the school, and increasing awareness of Japanese and Japanese-American culture. The group organizes activities for members and faculty to meet one another, student and parent forums, and featured speaker events. In its first year, there was a meet-and-greet for members, a Japanese conversation for Japanese language speakers (including several HW faculty members), a fireside chat with the actor Masi Oka ’92, a sake tasting, a coffee with Olympian Johnny Hooper ’15, a cooking class, and a parent roundtable.


Harvard-Westlake Jewish Family Alliance (HWJFA)
Harvard-Westlake Jewish Family Alliance (HWJFA)
Harvard-Westlake Jewish Family Alliance (HWJFA)

Founded in 2020, the Harvard-Westlake Jewish Family Alliance (HWJFA) offers many ways for families to celebrate, learn about, and connect through Jewish traditions, heritage, and identity. HWJFA welcomes anyone from Harvard-Westlake interested in Jewish culture to join the group for special events, speakers, leadership opportunities, and curated missions. HWJFA creates opportunities to connect with fellow families; HW faculty, administrators, and staff; and other parent affinity groups. Being part of an inclusive community links us to something broader than our own individual experiences, and anyone from the school community is welcome and encouraged to join.


Korean American Parents’ Association (KAPA)
Korean American Parents’ Association (KAPA)
Korean American Parents’ Association (KAPA)

Founded in 1990, the Korean American Parents’ Association (KAPA) welcomes all Harvard-Westlake families who share an interest in getting to know other parents and learning more about Korean culture. The association hosts events throughout the year, including the annual family banquet where KAPA families gather with teachers and administrators to enjoy a feast and watch student performances. In addition, KAPA organizes the popular Korean food booth at homecoming and co-hosts faculty and staff appreciation luncheons with Harvard-Westlake Parents. KAPA provides opportunities to socialize at the Middle School Moms’ Luncheons and Coffee Socials and hosts College Nights for parents to hear firsthand the experiences of other HW parents whose children have already gone through the process of applying to universities. KAPA hosts a holiday party in the winter and a welcome reception for all newly admitted Korean American students and their families in the spring. Finally, KAPA closes the year with a networking event for the upper school. Anyone from the school community can join.


Latin American Parents’ Association (LAPA)
Latin American Parents’ Association (LAPA)
Latin American Parents’ Association (LAPA)

The goal of the Latin American Parents’ Association is to provide a welcoming atmosphere to new HW families and an informal network, as well as increase the awareness of HW’s multicultural student body. Founded in 2003, the club hosts a Welcome Family Fiesta for all members and HW faculty/staff and administrators to welcome new Latin American families to the school. LAPA also contributes to two faculty/staff appreciation luncheons per year, as well as hosting the Latin American food booth at homecoming in support of Harvard-Westlake Parents. Anyone from the school community can join.


Harvard-Westlake Ohana
Harvard-Westlake Ohana
Harvard-Westlake Ohana

Founded in 2021, HW Ohana was organized to share traditions and customs from all Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) including but not limited to Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Laos, and Pacific and Polynesian Islands such as Hawaii, Samoa, Guam.

We are a cosmopolitan group and are at ease with different cultures, values, and many of us represent multiple blended races. We will be engaged in events and activities with the Harvard-Westlake Affinity Group and HW Parents Association.

Everyone is welcome to join!


Parents of African-American Harvard-Westlake Students (PAAHWS)
Parents of African-American Harvard-Westlake Students (PAAHWS)
Parents of African-American Harvard-Westlake Students (PAAHWS)

The goal of PAAHWS is to build community, offer support, and provide opportunities for families to connect and have a dialogue. The club hosts an annual back-to-school event to welcome families to the new school year. Members participate in Harvard-Westlake Parents events, which include faculty/staff appreciation luncheons, homecoming, an annual school event, and other activities. The club also organizes social events in recognition of Black History Month as well as a community service activity that brings students and parents together to make a difference in the lives of others. The culminating event of each school year is a picnic to welcome new families to our school and bid farewell to our seniors. PAAHWS also partners with and supports the BLACC student club, PSV (Private School Village), and other parent groups to bring additional enriching and community-building activities to HW. Anyone from the school community is invited to join.


Harvard-Westlake Pride
Harvard-Westlake Pride
Harvard-Westlake Pride

HW LGBTQ+ parents and parents of LGBTQ+ students will connect as an affinity group through HW Pride. The group will host panels and workshops for parents to engage in along with fun social events and activities. Parents can participate in events and activities with the HW Parents for faculty appreciation events, homecoming food/game booths, and more. Anyone interested in supporting the LGBTQ+ community at HW is welcome to attend.

Harvard-Westlake’s parent affinity groups are open to all Harvard-Westlake parents, regardless of their own cultural background or identification. If you’re a Harvard-Westlake parent and would like to join one or more of these groups (or start a new one), contact Parents’ Activities Liaison Portia Collins at pcollins@hw.com.