By TR Robertson
Vista’s Guajome Park Academy was the place to be on Saturday as the school celebrated 30 years in Vista with a Stakeholder’s Day celebration. The entire campus was full of activities as all grade levels sponsored tables, exhibits and showcased the learning experience taking place in their classrooms. Various Community Groups joined in by passing out literature and information about their organization and a variety of Clubs and Teams sold food, merchandise and hosted games in support of their group. Special events also took place in the Gym and in the Amphitheater throughout the day.
The first event held in the Gym on Sunday morning was a presentation by the High School Drama of scenes from the “Little Shop of Horrors” play/musical that is being presented at the High School. Following this was a Superintendent’s State of the School Presentation from Superintendent Kevin Humphrey. Kevin, along with Guajome Board Chairperson Anna McAfee welcomed those in attendance, presented information about the Academy’s history and information about what a charter school is and the success Guajome has had as a charter school in Vista. Charter schools were created in 1992 as a result of the California Charter Schools Act. Guajome Park Academy was established in 1994, originally sharing facilities with Vista High School. In 1997, Guajome moved to Downtown Historic Vista, moving into the “Plaza”, a storefront located next to the Avo Theatre on Main Street. In 2002, Prop O was passed, and Vista Unified School District began the building of a school site for Guajome Park Academy. In 2004, students and staff moved into their current location, 2000 N. Santa Fe Avenue.
Superintendent Humphrey introduced dignitaries in the audience and discussed the importance of Charter Schools. He said Guajome is one of 1,300 Charter Schools in California. This State Designated Community School has established Excellence and Innovation in Education as a school motto and goal. It is a K-12 school with 1.353 students, including 489 in grades 9-12 of which 129 are Seniors. Guajome Board Chairperson Anna McAfee spoke next, thanking those in attendance and expressing her excitement about the day’s activities. Kevin next introduced Vista City Council Member Corinna Contreras who spoke about the importance of Guajome Park in the community. She said she grew up in Vista and returned to Vista after her college education, living and working in Vista. She encouraged Guajome graduates to follow the same path as she did and to also get involved in the community. Contreras also pointed out the bike lanes close to the school running down N. Santa Fe Avenue as safety measures for bike riders and she also encouraged the continuance of establishing bike lanes throughout Vista. Next on the agenda was the introduction of Graydon McDermott, from State Representative Laurie Davies Office, who presented the school with a proclamation honoring their 30 years in Vista and Jessica Ramirez, from Congressman Mike Levin’s Office, with a similar proclamation. The next speaker was Myrna Castrejon, President/CEO of the Superintendent and Classified Coordinator. Myrna was a passionate speaker about the importance and growth of Charter Schools throughout the state. She pointed out that Charter Schools are 12% of all California schools and growing. She encouraged those in the audience to become supporters of Charter Schools.
The final part of the Superintendent’s presentation was the introduction of Guajome Staff Members who have worked 20 or more years at the school. Each person was introduced and given certificates of their accomplishment. Those honored included:
Geoff Birch – Science Teacher and Science Department Cahir
Brian Beld – Science Teacher
Juan Solano – Social Studies Teacher/International Baccalaureate Coordinator
Paul Canaletti – Drama Teacher
Sylvia Harper – Site Manager
Lorrie St. Amant – Guajome Learning Center Teacher
Dawn Voss – Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent and Classified Coordinator
The audience was dismissed to enjoy the Stakeholders Day festival style gathering and to take part in observing performances, interactive presentations in the classrooms and to wander around and visit the myriad of tables set up around the campus. Superintendent Humphrey had offered to take a few of us on a campus tour to see “up close and personal” the importance of the unique and different learning opportunities the school offers. We visited the Counseling Office which is also the home of the Independent Learning Center, designed for non-classroom-based learning. Flexible options are offered for high learners as well as students who are struggling with a classroom type setting. Kevin pointed out they are in an eight-year process of studying how to measure all of the skills students are learning. Issues such as critical thinking, effective communication, problem solving, becoming responsible citizens, community responsibility, self-direction and much more are just some of the concerns being evaluated as the school looks for the direction they want students to continue in their educational growth.
We moved from classroom to classroom and saw amazing displays students at different grade levels had designed. Fifth grade students were studying how to Improve the Future. Kindergarteners had projects like Sock Drives and Writing Heroes. Middle Schoolers had massive displays on water filtration systems and what is happening to both our water supply here and in the ocean. There were also 7th grade projects about Orangutans and what is happening to their habitat. There was a 6th grade project on microplastics and its effect on the environment. There were high school science projects on genetics, physics, photography and a multitude of other topics. In the gym hundreds of paintings, drawings, ceramics and other art media were on display for all grade levels. The list goes on and on. Each classroom had teachers eager to talk about the student projects and students available to explain their displays.
Wandering around the school, especially around the amphitheater, tables and tents were set up for a variety of clubs and organizations. You could purchase Guajome gear from the Athletic Department or get your face painted by the Girls’ Volleyball Team. Guajome ASB sold items like Cotton Candy and spirit items, you could make key chains or necklaces with the Pride Club, the Spanish Club has a large table of food items, the Wrestling Team sold cookies, Cross Country sold donuts. In total over 20 groups had something to sell or an activity to take part in. The Guajome Fighting Frogs school mascot, Pickles the Frog, wandered around for pictures.
Along with this there were groups that parents and students could speak to concerning what the organization does at and for Guajome Park. This included the Friends of Tadpoles Parent Group, Friends of Frogs Parent Group, Education Begins at Home, GPA Alumni Connection, GPA Family and Community Group and the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum (located just down the road from Guajome Park Academy). The AGSEM said they hope to expand their accessibility and work with students and staff in the future. On the Amphitheater Stage the Guajome String Orchestra, a Quince-Inspired Fashion Show and Guajome’s Ballet Folklorico had performances throughout the day. Across from the Amphitheatre the lines began to grow later in the morning for the Golden State Dog cart, Kona Ice, Chick-fil-A, and the Taco Tuesday Truck.
The Guajome Park Academy Stakeholders Day 30th Celebration was both a fun-filled and an educational day for all who attended. It was a great way to find out more about one of Vista’s educational institutions as well as a great way to support the students, staff and a variety of organizations on the campus. For more information on Guajome Park Academy go to www.guajome.net.
