Many avenues created for parents to learn about future K-8 Del Sur campus

By Elizabeth Marie Himchak

Parents of future Design 39 Campus students have several ways to learn more about the curriculum and other plans for Poway Unified’s only K-8 school.

The

www.design39campus.com

website is updated almost daily, with sections devoted to the school’s mission, guiding principles, curriculum and other components. A Facebook page has been created — look for “Poway Unified School District New K-8” — and there is a Twitter account and blog. For links go to the school’s website.

Principal Sonya Wrisley said all have been created to share with parents what the seven-member team is thinking about when redesigning “the way we do school” at the Del Sur campus next door to Del Norte High School. It is on track to open next August with kindergartners through fifth-graders and most likely sixth-graders living in 4S Ranch, Del Sur and The Lakes, the latter a neighborhood just north of Del Sur.

Wrisley said Design 39 Campus will be a school of choice for these students since their families pay Mello-Roos. Whether other students in nearby areas will be able to attend is yet to be determined.

She said the campus for up to 1,000 kindergartners to fifth-graders and 500 sixth- to eighth-graders will alleviate overcrowding at Stone Ranch and Monterey Ridge elementary schools and Oak Valley Middle School in 4S Ranch and the near-capacity Del Sur Elementary.

The school’s name is a departure from Poway Unified’s 38 other campuses, reflective of the faculty’s goal to redesign the way students are taught, with an increased focus on collaboration. This includes teams of teachers instructing students, rather than an individual teacher at traditional elementary schools.

In addition, Wrisley said by learning the skills needed for teamwork early, students will be better prepared for the future. These include letting all voices be heard, sharing the workload so one student does not end up with most of the work while another slacks off, and learning how to value everyone’s contributions.

Because the curriculum and method of instruction will be different from PUSD’s other campuses — though elements exist at some — students within its boundaries will not automatically be assigned to the school.

So parents can make an educated decision about sending their children to Design 39 Campus, the team is holding meetings with small groups of interested parents at local homes and Del Norte High School.

The next parent meeting will be 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27 at Del Norte, 16601 Nighthawk Lane. It is limited to the first 25 who register, with future meetings planned for those unable to attend. To RSVP, call 858-676-6639 or kpeterson@powayusd.com. A meeting focused on developing a computer coding curriculum is also in the works and community members with expertise are being sought for this too.

Wrisley said not just the curriculum, but entire layout of the 156,000-square-foot-school on 22 acres at 17050 Del Sur Ridge will reflect the non-traditional teaching method. While students will have a homeroom, teachers will not have an assigned classroom. Instead, 12 teachers’ work areas will be in a shared space to facilitate collaboration. A team of teachers will work with students for three years, breaking them up into small groups for various subjects in order to better address the needs of accelerated and struggling students.

While the academic content will be very similar to that at other campuses, Wrisley said the delivery will be drastically different. Teachers will instruct with the mind-set that every student can learn everything by tapping into their curiosity. This and other guiding principles are explained in-depth on the campus’ website.