Sandcastle Studies Part of New Curriculum at Mar Vista Academy

Originally published 12:55 p.m. July 24.

Imperial Beach and South Bay middle school students who returned to class Wednesday have a new subject to study: sandcastles.

Capitalizing on the city's iconic event, the studies will be part of new curriculum being introduced this school year, according to Mar Vista Academy of Problem Based Learning Principal Thomas Winters.

Each quarter students will study important topics in their community, starting with the political, economic and social impacts of Imperial Beach sandcastle competitions.

Imperial Beach hosted the largest sandcastle competition in the world until the U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition came to an end in 2011. Sandcastles returned in June, now known as the Sun & Sea Festival.

Pollution in the Tijuana River watershed will be studied in the second quarter and public health and a lack of fresh produce in San Diego's South Bay in the third quarter. Students will be asked to pick their own topic in the fourth quarter. 

Problem-based learning is meant to teach students "all the skills they're learning are required for the work you do in the real world" and "provide relevance to what they're studying," Winters said. 

Formerly Mar Vista Middle School, following 10 consecutive years of failing to meet more than 20 different No Child Left Behind academic requirements, last April the Sweetwater Union High School District Board of Trustees voted to close, rename and reform the school. Several other Sweetwater schools have failed to meet similar requirements.

Common Core, new federal standards, will be implemented next year.

A restructure was recommended by the District Site Leadership Team (DSLT), a group of teachers, parents and administrative staff formed in January to review the school's academic performance.

"We took a look at what our students need across the board and what we determined is that 50 percent of our students come in not ready for English, language arts and math," Winters said. "So to get them ready for the A-G requirements we have to do a lot more work around developing academic literacy."

The effort to change the school's approach to teaching students was led by Winters. The new approach was formed following meetings with parents and teachers before and after the restructure vote and will include the emphasis of 21st century skills to encourage creativity, communication, collaboration, literacy and technological skills.

Teachers will practice SpringBoard curriculum from College Board so students are prepared to take Advanced Placement (AP) courses in high school.

"It's not like there's one silver bullet and were just going to do it that way," Winters said. "And that's what the research says–one thing doesn't fix it. You have to take a multifaceted approach."

Among other changes at Mar Vista Academy:

• The school will operate on a block schedule instead of a traditional seven period schedule.
• Students will still be asked to wear uniforms but can now wear blue shirts instead of white only.
• Before and after school programs may change.
• Band and choir programs will be taught by instructors from Mar Vista High School. 
• The school's colors and mascot may change. Students are now taking an online survey to decide whether to become Mantas or Marlins instead of Vikings.

As part of the restructure, half of the school's teachers were relocated to different positions with the district and new teachers were brought in to fill their place. Interviews were conducted with district staff, Winters and a panel of some teachers and parents during part of the interview process.

"So every teacher had the opportunity to apply for the positions and about half did and stayed," Winters said.

The restructure was not without controversy. Some parents felt teachers were part of the problem while some teachers said restructuring the school over the course of a couple of months was rushed and that the school was set up to fail.

The DSLT will continue to meet and evaluate the student achievement. If reform efforts don't succeed, additional changes may be made in the future, Winters said. 

"Personally I'm not looking at it from the perspective of if or that if it won't work. It's going to work, and its going to be successful," he said.

Aside from curriculum changes, a cohesive school culture and parent involvement may also be keys to success, he said.

Parent's Center, a place at the school where parents can stop by, get to know the new system and track their student's performance online, will open in the coming weeks.

"We want to get as many parents involved as possible," Winters said. "I want their feedback and input. The more they're here doing that i think the stronger we are as a school and a community 

A PTSA group does not currently exist at the school but may be formed in the future.