The Woodside School campus swarmed like a beehive the day before school opened Aug. 27.
It was crunch time. Heavy equipment was still working at the site of the school’s $12 million construction project last weekend. Crews of workers cleared construction debris, washed down paved areas, installed plants and grass areas in courtyards, and took down the familiar construction barriers. A field crew rolled out and installed the new artificial turf field in just a day.
Almost every staff member, the school board president, trustees, and about 100 parent volunteers, some with children in tow, rallied to set up the new classrooms. They helped the Woodside and Portola Valley school districts’ maintenance teams and professional crews get the “new school campus” ready for opening day.
“Call it the extreme 48-hour make-over,” said Dan Vinson, superintendent/principal. “Once again this unbelievable community and staff came together and made it happen.”
Students and parents arrived Monday morning to a clean campus and classrooms ready to go.
“It took only 22 months from the passage of the bond issue (to replace portables with permanent classrooms) to near completion” of this major construction project, said Mr. Vinson.
Construction continues with the completion of the music rooms and middle school restrooms scheduled in the next two weeks. It probably will be late November before the office staff can move out of the portable into the new administration building. All except one of the old portable classrooms have been removed. Work is moving ahead on the new grass field near the primary classrooms.
The new classroom buildings reflect the architectural style of the wooden two-room schoolhouse, built in 1877 and renovated several years ago as the Rosekrans Library. The cluster of new buildings is reminiscent of the early California style of architecture.
Portola Valley architect Carter Warr and his team designed the buildings. Classrooms have crown moldings, plenty of cabinet space, counters, high windows, carpeting, sliding whiteboards, and furniture.
The Woodside School Foundation office has moved out of its trailer to the new “Wildcats” community room. School board meetings also will be held in this room, and the cast of the Woodside Community Theatre’s November production of “The Music Man” will begin rehearsals there.
Following is the report on Woodside School, where classes started Monday, Aug. 27.
WOODSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
3195 Woodside RoadWoodside
Phone: 851-1571
Dan Vinson, superintendent/principal
Grades: K-8
Enrollment: 469, up 17 students from last year
Class sizes. 20 or fewer students in K-2; and 21-22 in grades 3, 4 and 5; the goal is to keep upper grade classes at 25 or under.
New teachers. Joining Woodside’s kindergarten team are Tracy Reilly and Stacy Corsiglia, who will job-share with returning teacher Sonja Virgallito. More new teachers are: Lisa Brown, fourth grade; Debra Campbell, fifth grade; Maggie Mark da Silva, seventh-grade language arts; Pamela Coccary, seventh-eighth grade math; Marie “Chris” Gray, health for sixth- through eighth-graders through March; Pamela Heyda, art, part-time; Beth Dameron, instrumental music; and Jennifer Mitchell, speech therapy.
Technology update. Woodside continues to focus on improving technology in the classroom so that students and teacher will more easily integrate technology into the curriculum. Now in the second year of the district’s technology plan, the school moves closer to the goal of one computer per student in middle school, says Harlin Hansen, director of instructional technology. This year middle school classes in language arts and social studies classes will have their own set of computers that can be accessed daily. Other middle school classes will use a laptop cart. The plan calls for increasing K-3 student access to computers from two per room to five.
Hands-on science. Teachers will use two new hands-on science programs. Kindergarteners through fifth-graders will use an updated version of the California FOSS program. Middle school students will use CPO (Cambridge Physics Outlet) Science that was field-tested last year and recommended by the science teachers. The programs meet the California state science standards.
Life Skills. One of the cornerstones at Woodside School is developing the whole child and building up a student’s character. The Life Skills program focuses each month on one character trait from “respect” in September through “adventurous” in June, says Janai Bryan, school counselor.
Field trips. Students will be going on various field trips this year, including to Washington, D.C, Yosemite, Marin Headlands, Catalina Island and the Gold Country. Some are more expensive than others and require parents to pay for the cost. The PTA has set aside scholarship funds to help families that need assistance.
Electives. This year middle school students will be able to choose from a wide range of elective classes, held during the last period. They include art, environmental science, band, string instruments, poetry, yearbook, peer counseling, and a study hall to get a jump start on homework.
Homework Club. Starting this week, Homework Club provides a place for students wishing to stay after school to work on their homework.
Back-to-school barbecue. This annual get-together for parents, kids, teachers and neighbors starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept 7. Food will be available for purchase at this event, sponsored by the PTA.
Back-to school nights. Parents of kindergartners through fifth-graders will return to school Tuesday, Sept. 11, at 6:30 p.m. to meet teachers and learn about programs. For parents of sixth- through eighth-graders, the date is Thursday, Sept. 19, also at 6:30 p.m.
Preschool. The fee-based preschool offered on the school campus is filled. Classes are for two days, three days and five days for children, ages 2 years, 9 months, and up. For information, call Cathy Stienstra at 851-1571, ext. 194.
WOODSIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT
3195 Woodside Road, WoodsideSuperintendent/Principal: Dan Vinson
Call 851-1571.
www.woodside.k12.ca.us
