West Creek Academy
Mrs. NickelDime attended one of the informational meetings on West Creek Academy tonight. The meeting was held at Bridgeport Elementary; both the attendance and content validated the buzz surrounding this unique school.
Principal Cory Pak spoke to a standing room only crowd of 150-200 parents; he gave a 30 minute PowerPoint presentation entitled “West Creek Academy – Gateway to the World.” The talk was followed by a solid hour of Q&A with Mr. Pak and SUSD Superintendent Dr. Judy Fish.
Mr. Pak, who is currently serving as Principal of Rosedell Elementary, gave a heartfelt presentation that revealed more details on the program than we’ve seen to date.
Early in his discussion Mr. Pak showed this video to provide insight on his vision for the West Creek Academy cirriculum:
Mr. Pak, a first generation immigrant and US Citizen, attended elementary school in his native Korea (more about this later). He shared that this school has been a personal dream for him for the past 9 years. His aim is to make WCA a “premier music academy.”
Here are the details on the cirriculum:
General
- Textbooks, cirriculum will meet the standards of SUSD
- Reading / Writing / Arithmetic will not be sacrificed for the innovative aspects – in fact, learning in these subjects will be enhanced
- No special needs students on campus despite 2 rooms that were built for that purpose
- No preschool offered initially; but before and afterschool will be offered
- Computer lab room will be converted to a music room; instead, they will have a “mobile computer lab”
- Mr. Pak is currently the only guaranteed staff member at WCA; SUSD is actively recruiting teachers within the district
Music
- Music will be a required subject, similar to math/reading/science etc., all grades
- All students will learn to read music, starting in kindergarten
- Grades K – 2 students/parents can choose between violin and the cello
- Grades 4 - 6 will have the option to continue with their instrument, or focus on voice or performing arts. The students will also have a choice of a brass or percussion instrument in the upper grades in place of string.
- Parents have to provide instruments — rent or buy
- School orchestra for grades 4-6; auditions will be held
- Possible “Music Concours” – a voluntary music competition held annually
Language/International
- The world is getting smaller – it is important to teach our children about the awareness of other cultures and use technology to engage them
- Mr. Pak has reached out to his elementary school alma mater in Korea to partner with them as the first connection to WCA. He expects other schools in other countries will be connected, as well. Korea is only a starting point, not the end game.
- Mr. Pak gave an example of a class writing a play about an American holiday, send the costumes and script to their foreign counterparts, who would translate the play into their native language and stream the vid of the performance to WCA students. WCA students would reciprocate with the foreign school play.
- Another example, integrating music/technology/international, having a concert simulcast with the sister international school – the sister school will join via video conference, and WCA with their concert via video conference
- Foreign language will be more conversational than formal – proficiency reserved for high school
- 5 minute oral language practice in the morning – with the principal, “over the loudspeaker”
Enrollment & Logistics
- Targeting 450-500 kids
- No pre-test involved, no fees
- Priority to West Creek and West Hills communities (approx 80 students)
- Also priority: Emblem and Bouquet Canyon — polling revealed only one third expressed interest in the academy, the rest will likely attend the next closest school
- All other students – including outside the district and the valley – are welcome to apply, provided they have a district transfer
- Once a student is enrolled, they are guaranteed in subsequent years
- As West Creek/Hills is built out, allotment for students outside the area will be reduced accordingly
- Bring your tents: signups start February 22 9am at the SUSD district office, though Bouquet/Emblem/Tesoro schools will have the forms on site for the convenience of those with priority status
- Signup period runs through 3/12
- All signups will be date and time stamped
- It was not clear if this would be lottery or first come/first served – it sounded like there was a desire to wait to gauge demand
- SUSD web site would be updated with a WCA-specific section, FAQs
I was particularly keen on my wife’s opinion given this information. Mrs. NickelDime, who has a BS in Child and Adolescent Studies–and more importantly–a highly accurate BS detector, has been part skeptical, part excited thus far to have our little ones attend the school that would be a 5 minute walk from our abode.
Her take:
“This is fundamentally a different way to think about public school education. Music and the arts are just as important as math, reading, writing — it will enhance the way the kids learn the basics. I don’t think it will work for every student, but if parents that are excited about it and interested in this way of learning, their kids will succeed. If you want a traditional approach, this is not the school for you.”
My opinion? It’s bold, aggressive and different. I fully expect the more ambitious, blue sky aspects of Mr. Pak’s dream will take many years to fully materialize. West Creek Academy has the potential to be best elementary school in our valley, or one of the biggest educational debacles in SCV history.
Since we’re sending our little guys, we’re counting on the former.
Note: The next West Creek Academy informational session will be held Tuesday February 16 at 6 PM at Rosedell Elementary (map). On-site tours will be held March 3. If you can’t wait until March, SCVTalk did its own on-site tour late last month.
I, also, was impressed. My little one won’t be ready until next year, so I’m content to sit and watch how the first year unfolds. And how the registration process goes this year.
I couldn’t help but think that some of the more “Minutemen” types in the SCV may have a problem with the school……
In any case, looking forward to hearing how it all goes for your little guys NickelDime. Good luck!
Thanks GangFang. Our oldest will start as a first grader. You can count on an update, sans “my kid is smarter than yours” rhetoric.
Besides the horde of (often ridiculous and smug) questions, did I miss anything?
Your insight will be invaluable, thanks in advance!!
Don’t think you missed much. I had to leave after about 20 minutes of the Q&A. I captured a nice chunk of the meeting on my I Phone, let me know if you want to hear it (seems a tad overboard, but I was in a noisy section so I just laid my phone in front of one of the speakers and hit record).
Some of the questions where indeed smug, I had to stifle laughter more than once…..
Bold indeed. I’m impressed.
Cory Pak was the principal at Rosedell while my children attended that school. Petz was not aware that he was going to this academy.
Mr Pak was an outstanding principal at Rosedell and Petz wishes him “Gut Gluck” ! Petz kann Deutsch-the forgotten language !
Pingback: SCVTalk.com » Blog Archive » 2/10/2010 – Daily Brief
Thanks for the great summary! I forgot to bring a pen so I was typing everything on my lil cell phone. Anyways, one thing not menioned here – they talked about having altered start-end time to give parents enough time to commute. Also possibility of full day kinder. That’s great for me as I work full time. Less money to spend on afterschool care.
So bring a tent?!?!? You think? Even for kinder roundup? I’m excited about this school. This would be my first “encounter” with any school district as my oldest is entering Kinder so I really don’t know what to expect. Will see!
Great additions – thanks Ally.
I tend to be a bit snarky and the ‘tent’ comment reflects that.
With the economy being what it is, folks are looking for ways to cut back. WCA is ‘having your cake and eating it too’ with regards to getting a premium, innovative education without going private + having continuity to the Hart District with friends etc.
SCVi has been carrying that flag thus far, and WCA is a direct competitor. I’d argue WCA beats SCVi’s locale for most – especially since it’s so close to VHS and Rio Norte.
In the last 2 weeks, I’ve overheard buzz from Gumball Alley to the supermarkets to the Tae Kwon Do class. We know parents who live near Tesoro Elem. who are considering WCA – and their kid is already in a 900+ API school !!!
The info meetings had a lot of parents from all over the valley, incl SR, asking some in-depth questions, staying to the very end. Even when you offset the velocity/newness factor of the school, I have a feeling they’re going to meet their quota and then some.
So, yes, I’d wager the registration day is going to be chaotic. And I think kindergarten is in the same line as everyone else !
Ally, if they do offer all day K, be sure to bring tent. I’m sure that will be a VERY popular option.
ND, just to make sure I’m understanding correctly, SUSD (aside from WC/Bouquet/Emblem) students won’t get priority over out of district transfers?
NickelDime:
Lame question here: If my youngin’ isn’t kindergarten age until next year, do you know if there anything I needor can do this year? Pre-register or something?
Doesn’t seem so, but I may have missed something.
My daughter is just approaching one years old, four years away from Kinder, and I am so excited about the announcement of this school that I think I may be stressed out unnecessarily until the day she gets the okay to attend. This is exactly the kind of curriculum I was hoping that she would receive in school. It almost sounds too good to be true.
I am told that more info about enrollment, etc. and the Power Point presentation from the information sessions will be available on the SUSD website after 2/16.
I will definitely be keeping a close eye on things as they unfold over the next few years. Thanks for the updates!
ally,
All day kinder you say? Goodness. Will they at least swap the teachers out half way through the day or give them a nap time? I’m not sure how any teacher could legitimately handle that job.
I say this as the husband of a former kindergarten teacher who has since switched grades.
Sounds like a dream school. Children should graduate elementary school speaking a second language fluently.
Did we ever find out if registration was first come first serve or lottery style? Do SUSD students get priority over out of district transfers?
Hi Walker-
Mrs. NickelDime’s recollection is in the event of a lottery situation that SUSD students would get priority, behind non-WC, BCE, Emblem kids as you said. But please don’t quote me: that was the sense she got coming out of the meeting.
There was some intentional ambiguity on how it would be done in the event of interest that exceeded the capacity of 500 kids, perhaps to encourage all who are interested to enroll.
HTH.
Thanks ND! It seems reasonable that SUSD students would get first dibs, but I kind of doubt from what I’ve heard so far. I’m also interested if displaced students (WC and for now Emblem) will have priority this year alone, or for future students as well (specifically thinking of new students to the WC boundries). If I recall correctly, WC was rezoned for Tesoro, right? Or just portions? Will the screw with the WC area boundries again when the neighborhood is built out?
is there any talk on bus transportaion?
Not that I’ve heard. On their site and in the information I’ve seen, they are pretty clear that transportation to/from the WC is the parents responsibility.
Just got an email that my girlies got in to West Creek. I’m certain the SCVi-er won’t want to go, but I’ve got a week to decide for the little one……
Anyone else apply/hear back?