Josh Berenbaum

Staff Writer

Joining Mr. Tyler and Mr. Kates, Ms. Claire LaPolt is the new member of the library staff this year. LaPolt comes to Milken from Windward School, another independent school in Los Angeles. Besides her library duties, she will also be a ninth grade advisor along with Ms. Kathryn Sampson, Chair of the World Languages Department.

LaPolt has many goals for the library this year, but her first priority is including more middle schoolers in the library community. She says that the middle schoolers do not have their own library or convenient access to the Upper School Library, so she wants to create a program that makes it easier for the middle schoolers to use the library. The program would include a preview of recommended books that students can check out over winter break.

LaPolt says Milken is very similar to Windward because both schools served 7th-12th grades in an independent school environment.  She is enjoying her first weeks at Milken, and feels that everyone has been incredibly welcoming so far. Milken also serves as a place where she can learn about Jewish culture, a new experience for her.

Born in San Diego, Ms. LaPolt plays the violin and does yoga outside of school. Other interests include theater and improv, and she used to be on the ComedySportz team in high school. In the future, Ms. LaPolt hopes to plant her own vegetable garden.