It was mid-August, two weeks before school started, and no little Panthers were pouncing around on the playground. All was quiet on the Poinsettia Elementary School grounds, but inside a bevy of activity flourished.
At the front desk, Principal Steve Ahle discussed golf with Jeff Perry, general manager of The Crossings at Carlsbad. Perry's wife, Kelly, was requesting Late Owl Kindergarten for their daughter, Jordan, who likes to sleep in and prefers a later “tee time.”
As she unpacked, Health Technician Diana Kotzebue sniffed in the wonderful new school smells.
“I'm very excited. Poinsettia is beautiful. I can't wait to hear little footsteps,” Kotzebue said.
Soon, the sounds of 418 pairs of kindergarten through fifth-grade feet would echo throughout the Carlsbad Unified School District's ninth and newest elementary school, a 49,000-square-foot campus with the capacity for 720 students. But on this day, Ahle, who worked throughout the summer (he thanks his wife, Debi, for her patience) took a moment to extol the school's new features.
Marking his third stint as opening principal in his 26 years with the district, Ahle heralds Poinsettia, CUSD's first wireless school, as “a technological marvel that promises to be a model for elementary schools around the region, and the country.” Poinsettia's technology advances personalized learning that begins at school and continues at home.
Have StarBoard, will travel
Each teacher's Hitachi StarBoard digital scratchboard promotes classroom fluidity. The teacher uses an electronic pen to write on the StarBoard, which links to a laptop. As opposed to having their back to the classroom, teachers can sit next to students.
Teacher Nicole Kistler calls the system “classroom management by walking around.”
Technology abounds as each classroom has at least three computers; every wing offers a mini computer lab. In addition, students can visit a school-wide Compass Learning Lab with 37 computers. Research access is provided via World Book and Grolier's encyclopedia databases.
Local businesses have played a role. Viasat donated $6,200 for a weather station and a parent representing Invitrogen wanted to donate $15,000 worth of science materials.
Technology connects parents
Parents can log onto their classroom's site to interact with the teacher and access research tools. Individualized enrichment and remedial instruction fosters a seamless supportive system constantly operating in each student's behalf.
Will Poinsettia Elementary be turning out little computerized nerds? “No way,” says Ahle, who holds a black belt in karate and knows the value of holistic education.
“We want to develop the whole child. That includes such qualities as citizenship and character,” Ahle said.
It also includes a host of after-school opportunities; everything from jewelry-making to Jazzercise and chess to martial arts. Poinsettia's teaching team believes that high-tech plus high-touch equals a dynamic environment in which students will thrive.
“Technology is a tool that allows us to make learning transparent,” Ahle said. “We want the kids to feel that each day they can do a little more. They are the workforce of tomorrow.”
At Poinsettia Elementary, tomorrow's workforce is getting a great workout in many well-rounded ways.
Train tomorrow's workforce
As a business professional, you know it takes perseverance to succeed. By devoting just one to 1 1/2 hours a week, you can help second-grade students flourish through Poinsettia's Literacy Clinic reading intervention program. You will gain the satisfaction of knowing you have made a positive difference in their remaining school years and throughout their lives.
To find out how you can turn a page in students' lives, call Literacy Clinic Coordinator Melissa Gilbert at (760) 331-6500.
At the front desk, Principal Steve Ahle discussed golf with Jeff Perry, general manager of The Crossings at Carlsbad. Perry's wife, Kelly, was requesting Late Owl Kindergarten for their daughter, Jordan, who likes to sleep in and prefers a later “tee time.”
As she unpacked, Health Technician Diana Kotzebue sniffed in the wonderful new school smells.
“I'm very excited. Poinsettia is beautiful. I can't wait to hear little footsteps,” Kotzebue said.
Soon, the sounds of 418 pairs of kindergarten through fifth-grade feet would echo throughout the Carlsbad Unified School District's ninth and newest elementary school, a 49,000-square-foot campus with the capacity for 720 students. But on this day, Ahle, who worked throughout the summer (he thanks his wife, Debi, for her patience) took a moment to extol the school's new features.
Marking his third stint as opening principal in his 26 years with the district, Ahle heralds Poinsettia, CUSD's first wireless school, as “a technological marvel that promises to be a model for elementary schools around the region, and the country.” Poinsettia's technology advances personalized learning that begins at school and continues at home.
Have StarBoard, will travel
Each teacher's Hitachi StarBoard digital scratchboard promotes classroom fluidity. The teacher uses an electronic pen to write on the StarBoard, which links to a laptop. As opposed to having their back to the classroom, teachers can sit next to students.
Teacher Nicole Kistler calls the system “classroom management by walking around.”
Technology abounds as each classroom has at least three computers; every wing offers a mini computer lab. In addition, students can visit a school-wide Compass Learning Lab with 37 computers. Research access is provided via World Book and Grolier's encyclopedia databases.
Local businesses have played a role. Viasat donated $6,200 for a weather station and a parent representing Invitrogen wanted to donate $15,000 worth of science materials.
Technology connects parents
Parents can log onto their classroom's site to interact with the teacher and access research tools. Individualized enrichment and remedial instruction fosters a seamless supportive system constantly operating in each student's behalf.
Will Poinsettia Elementary be turning out little computerized nerds? “No way,” says Ahle, who holds a black belt in karate and knows the value of holistic education.
“We want to develop the whole child. That includes such qualities as citizenship and character,” Ahle said.
It also includes a host of after-school opportunities; everything from jewelry-making to Jazzercise and chess to martial arts. Poinsettia's teaching team believes that high-tech plus high-touch equals a dynamic environment in which students will thrive.
“Technology is a tool that allows us to make learning transparent,” Ahle said. “We want the kids to feel that each day they can do a little more. They are the workforce of tomorrow.”
At Poinsettia Elementary, tomorrow's workforce is getting a great workout in many well-rounded ways.
Train tomorrow's workforce
As a business professional, you know it takes perseverance to succeed. By devoting just one to 1 1/2 hours a week, you can help second-grade students flourish through Poinsettia's Literacy Clinic reading intervention program. You will gain the satisfaction of knowing you have made a positive difference in their remaining school years and throughout their lives.
To find out how you can turn a page in students' lives, call Literacy Clinic Coordinator Melissa Gilbert at (760) 331-6500.