December 13, 2012 Page 3 Plans for Wiseburn High School Mattel Brings Snow to Continue to Move Forward Washington Elementary By Cristian Vasquez and additional arts programs. By Dylan Little time,” she said. “We made a deal. If they Curriculum, student enrollment, sports and “What has limited our ability to do that The holiday season in the South Bay is do all their work they would get an hour to arts programs were just some of the issues add sports and arts programs thus far with more likely to include a backyard cookout play. We’re very clear that our instructional addressed by members of the Wiseburn School the Da Vinci Science and Da Vinci Design and walks on the windswept beaches than minutes are very important at this school.” Board and Da Vinci Board of Trustees during has been facilities and funding,” Dr. Jones snowball fights and sled runs, but thanks Mattel has been a longtime partner with their December 5 special meeting. Members said. “Those two have not allowed us to to the efforts of Mattel the students at Washington Elementary and has had three of both boards met for a little more than two move forward and that is in essence the Washington Elementary School got to previous holiday-themed events at the school. hours and addressed details with regards to reason for the new facility. Through these enjoy a snow day. As part of Mattel’s 12 The toy company’s involvement with the the future Wiseburn High School campus facilities we’re going to create the space Days of Play, the company transformed school goes beyond playtime activities for and how the existing Da Vinci School of that will allow for those things to flourish. Washington Elementary’s playground into students. Ortiz said she and the entire school Science and Da Vinci School of Design will There will be space for sports, practices, a winter wonderland with a sled run and are thankful for Mattel’s support over the be integrated. games and gym space within a building. In a snow field for snowball throwing, along course of their seven-year partnership. “We “We are in the process of hiring an architect addition we are looking to provide music with activities based around popular Mattel are just so fortunate we have such a dedicated right now, so we are starting to create the rooms, expand on the arts. Around the table community partner in Mattel,” said Ortiz. physical and philosophical underpinnings it is the interest of everybody that we expand Deidre Lind, Director, Corporate Affairs of Wiseburn High School,” Wiseburn those opportunities so that Wiseburn residents and Executive Director, Mattel Children’s Superintendent Dr. Tom Johnstone said. have a wide selection of opportunities for a Foundation, was in charge of the company’s “We want to walk away with the finest high positive high school experience.” role in the day of play. She said that Mattel school in the South Bay that the community An important part of the effort to build the thinks that play is important for kids to completely and fully embraces. Like we said new high school is creating support and an mature and grow into healthy adults. “We in a conversation before, we would really like understanding about what the Wiseburn School get to give the gift of play,” said Lind. “We to make it extremely difficult for families in District does and how the Da Vinci schools at Mattel believe that play is essential for the Wiseburn community to go anywhere operate through effective marketing. “After the growth and development of children.” else for high school because they have the hammering the message about the Wiseburn For some children, playtime is hard to best high school that they could ever ask School District and answering the question come by. Many neighborhoods lack safe open for right here.” 3,000 times of what is it and where is it, I spaces or proper supervision for children to Current Wiseburn School District students am amazed that in just five years the name play. So instead of being outdoors and active, graduate from the eighth grade and have Da Vinci and Da Vinci schools’ reputation is these children are cooped up indoors. Lind the option of attending one of the two Da much better known than Wiseburn,” Da Vinci noted that events like this one are Mattel’s Vinci schools that operate within the district. Board Vice President Donald Brann said. “It way of giving them a chance to play. “Too However, for several reasons a portion of just has that brand name wherever I go in the many kids don’t have access to safe places those students transitioning out of middle state, so we have got to get the word out there to play,” she said. “This is our way of giving school choose to go outside of the district on Da Vinci very, very effectively. Everyone them an opportunity to play.” for their high school experience. Some of the thinks positively about it. I was not able to Mattel hosted a series of philanthropic events at Mattel Another concern of Lind’s is that for reasons cited include a lack of CIF sports and crack through with the big corporations that headquarters and elementary schools throughout Los Angeles, some children, the adults in their lives are certain arts programs. Yet the Wiseburn and are inside our district. They did not get it in bringing unique play experiences featuring more than 390 total too busy to take a break and have fun with Da Vinci officials are working hard to address general about Wiseburn being a public school Photo courtesy of Mattel. them. She pointed out that when she talkedtons of snow and hands-on activities to underserved children. both needs to provide such options when the district. People just don’t get the difference with children at Mattel’s Winter Wonderland new Wiseburn High School campus opens. between city boundaries and school district toys like Hot Wheels, Barbie, Monster High events, many of them were happy to have “What we have going on at Dana Middle boundaries.” and Angry Birds. adults take the time to play games and lead School right now is very much influenced by However, with the strong academic numbers Hawthorne School District Superintendent them in activities. “I talked to a bunch of the community--we have 13 different sports and reputations of both the Wiseburn School Helen Morgan thought the break from studies kids and they are overwhelmed,” said Lind. teams over there and they are extremely District and the Da Vinci schools, officials made a fun diversion for Washington students. “One of the things they are most overwhelmed competitive,” Dr. Johnstone said. “If we for both entities are confident, yet are being “When you look at the faces of these kids, by is the adults who are there to play with are able to keep that group of kids together very thorough in their endeavor and in the they are just so excited,” she said. “It’s a them. So many children don’t have enough and maybe supplemented with some other chances for success. fun day for them, which is okay every once playful interactions with adults.” academic-minded kids that might also be very “I believe we have built trust in the in a while.” Lind hopes that by making school a good athletes, you could have competitive community that we’re going to do this and The event gave students some time to place not just for educational, but also fun, programs here. If we are going to do we’re going to do it wisely. We are going to exercise creative and social muscles in a way experiences will keep students motivated in something, we don’t do anything halfway put money where kids are,” Dr. Jones said. that can’t always happen in a teacher-led class and in life in general. “One girl said and we don’t do anything with the intent of “What we want to do is build on what has environment. Washington Principal Angela to me, ‘We are so lucky to be here at school just being average or okay. We would like to already been started by the Wiseburn School Ortiz said that play is important for students today,’’” said Lind. “If we can change kids’ have outstanding programs no matter what it Board back in 2009 when they created the and helps them express their originality. “They perceptions about school and play and make is. Whether it is a music program, a drama Da Vincis. We have a head start because get time to play,” she said. “It’s a good way school something fun, it’s powerful for us.” program or boys and girls soccer, we want we are not starting from square one. That for them to use their creativity and exercise Before the Winter Wonderland event at to be the best.” was back in 2009 and we have learned a the creative parts of their minds.” Washington, Mattel brought snow and festive Other challenges being tackled by both few things along the way, but I think the In order for all the students to have a activities to 112th Street Elementary in Watts boards include the creation of a curriculum successes that they have, we want to build chance to take part in the event, the school’s and will do so for Grape Street Elementary that will address the needs of both Da Vinci upon and create a model of cooperation that daily schedule was modified so that recess in Watts, Jefferson Elementary in Lennox, schools and of Wiseburn High School, all while other communities can look at--a model of and lunch were combined into one hour- 10th Street Elementary in Downtown Los addressing the overlapping needs of students cooperation between districts and charter long playtime. While this kind of change is Angeles and Figueroa Elementary in Watts. attending the same campus. “It is still very schools that maybe doesn’t exist in many typically disruptive, Ortiz emphasized that The company will also hold an event at Mattel preliminary, so we don’t know what it will other places, if anywhere.” the students knew that if they didn’t stay Headquarters in El Segundo where it will exactly look like--however, what we do want Dr. Jones continued, “There are definitely focused on class work they would miss the attempt to break the Guinness World Record to do is to build on what has been going on some things that we’re going to have to sort snow-filled activities. “We adjusted the school for most snowmen built in one hour with since 2009 with the Da Vinci Design and Da out with our community, but if we can get schedule so they don’t miss any instructional the help of WWE stars The Miz and Eve. • Vinci Science schools,” Wiseburn Director of our things done I think they’re going to be Curriculum, Instruction and Technology Dr. fine. We believe in just laying out the cards Chris Jones said. “I think that we have not on the table, especially with this progress. communicated well enough exactly what is We have been dancing around for a while going on at those schools. They Da Vinci and it is time to stop dancing around and put Design and Da Vinci Science are not narrow- the cards on the table. I think most people focus schools. The schools that exist right appreciate that.” now are college preparatory. One-hundred For now, Wiseburn officials hope to be able percent of the kids that graduate will have to open the doors of the new campus by the passed A through G requirements for the Cal 2014-2015 school year. “That is ambitious States and UCs.” and it is going to take really continuing to The Holly Glen, Wiseburn and Del Aire push on every front, but it is doable. We neighborhoods are united by the Wiseburn have a very aggressive, yet responsible and School District and the board members reasonable CEQA California Environmental have been working hard to deliver on their Quality Act timeline,” Dr. Johnstone said. promise of providing 21st Century schools “That has been our biggest obstacle to this from the ground up. So far, the process point and if we are able to get through has been successful at the K-8 grade level that hurdle and obtain approval on our EIR and the high school would complete that Environmental Impact Report in March, commitment. With the new high school close escrow on the building, we would have campus, all three neighborhoods can have a an architect by January. There are definitely common location and build a stronger sense some things that we’re going to have to sort of community while providing students with out with our community, but if we can get our more education options, including CIF sports things done I think they’re going to be fine.” •
Lawndale 12_13_12
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