Guajome Park Academy

Infobox School2
name = Guajome Park Academy
established = 1994
type = public charter
grades = 6–12
city = Vista
state = California
country = United States
students = 1,238
school_colors = Teal, black, silver
mascot = Frog
website = http://www.guajome.net/

Guajome Park Academy, commonly referred to as Guajome (/gwəˈhomi/) or GPA, is a middle school and high school in Vista, California. It is a charter school and was founded in 1994. It offers the IB Middle Years Programme for students grades six through ten, and the IB Diploma Programme for eleventh- and twelfth-graders. During the 2004-2005 school year, 1,238 students were enrolled: 530 in the middle school and 708 in the high school.ref|student_pop

The school is named after nearby Guajome County Park. The name "Guajome" comes from the Luiseño Indian word "wakhavumi" meaning "frog pond". In the Luiseño story of creation, Wahawut was one of the "First People" who took on the appearance of a frog to cast a spell over the god Oiyot; consequently, the school's mascot is a frog.

History

Guajome Park Academy was founded in 1994 by a group of teachers and parents, and was headed by "C.E.O." (Chief Educational Officer) Sandra Williamson (later Sandra Williamson-Angle). In its first year, Guajome had no campus of its own, and met at a nearby middle school as well as at Vista High School. The following year, a campus in northern Vista was opened, featuring temporary buildings. In 1997, the school opened a secondary campus in downtown Vista called the Vista Village Learning Plaza, which at various times has housed the high school program and an alternative education program called the Expeditionary Learning Center (ELC). In 2004, after nearly ten years of waiting, a permanent campus opened at the main campus site, with two-story buildings, a gymnasium, and an amphitheater, none of which the school had ever had.ref|campus Soon after, the Vista Village Learning Plaza was closed and the ELC was relocated to the main campus.

Although Guajome has never been a private school, in its early years prospective students and their parents were required to interview with the dean. As the school's population increased, such interviews became less feasible and were eventually discontinued. In recent years, especially following administrative changes in 2003 (the internet forum Guajome Underground was started mid 2004), there has been increasing controversy surrounding what some critics say is a break from the school's original vision of small classroom sizes and a project-based, integrated curriculum.

Campus

The current campus is located near the northern border of Vista, at the intersection of North Santa Fe and Museum Way. It is within walking distance of the Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum, Rancho Guajome Adobe, and Guajome County Park; students often take field trips to these locations, and the high school graduations were held at the adobe until the completion of the current campus. The school itself has three two-story buildings, a one-story building, a gymnasium, an amphitheater, and a ropes course, the latter of which is also rented out to other organizations.

Famous Alumni

Vanessa Anne Hudgens (High School Musical 1 and 2 and Disney Channel star) attended this school for sixth grade in 2001.

tudent Run Businesses

Guajome Park Academy offers a unique approach to real world learning, one of those provided by the Business and Leadership house is the opportunity to run a business, so far there are four currently in operation.

*The [http://www.guajome.net/east/cc Challenge Course] , a program built on teamwork and cooperation.

*The [http://www.guajome.net/east/wc Wellness Center] , basically a fitness and wellness center run by students including personal training programs and workout equipment along with, AED, First Aid, and food handling training.

*AudioFrog Studio, started and run by a team of trained students on the ability to record and edit audio.

*GPA Juice is located in the office, they offer drinks and snacks. It is currently run by the Business Math class.

All of the businesses are either open to the public or on their way to be open for the public.

Extracurricular activities

Guajome's sports teams compete in soccer, cross country, track, softball, baseball, basketball, volleyball, wrestling, and golf. The school also participates in the Science Olympiad and academic competition.

In addition to its competitive teams, the school also has a choir, a growing theater program, a yearbook committee, as well as chapters of the International Thespian Society, Key Club, and the National Honors Society.

Guajome is a member of the German American Partnership Program and has been partnered with its sister school, Gymnasium Ulricianum Aurich, in Aurich, Lower Saxony, Germany since 1995.

References

* [http://data1.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/SchEnr.asp?TheName=guajome&cSelect=GUAJOME%5EPARK%5EACADEMY--VISTA%5EUNIFIED%5E%5E--3768452-3730942&cChoice=SchEnrGr&cYear=2004-05&cLevel=School&cTopic=Enrollment&myTimeFrame=S&submit1=Submit California Department of Education] student enrollment report
* [http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/01/06/news/community/19_23_591_5_06.txt "Guajome Park Academy lauded for campus design"] by Stacy Brandt, "North County Times", January 5, 2006, retrieved January 24, 2006

External links

* [http://www.guajome.net/ Guajome.net] – the school's official website