Guajome Park Academy
Encyclopedia
Guajome Park Academy commonly referred to as Guajome 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.
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.
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, facilities the school had not had in any of its previous locations. 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, 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. In 2005, a former teacher created the message board Guajome Underground to criticize the administration and discuss educational changes at the school.
, 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 used to have a ropes course, the latter of which is also rented out to other organizations.
(High School Musical
and Disney Channel
star) attended this school for sixth and seventh grade in 2001.
All of the businesses are either open to the public or on their way to be open for the public.
honors as teams, with numerous individual athletes also earning recognition. The school also participates annually in the North County Academic League and has had some very limited participation in Science Olympiad
.
In addition to its athletic teams, the school also has a growing theatre program (with numerous hit plays directed by the talented and popular Paul Canaletti); as well as chapters of the International Thespian Society
, Key Club International (with students assuming leadership roles Division and District-wide), California Scholarship Federation
and a large and active Associated Student Body (ASB). Notably, the Guajome Park Academy Yearbook has won 1st (2008), 2nd (2006, 2010, 2011) and 3rd (2007) place ribbons at the San Diego County Fair.
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. This is an exchange program that allows students to thrive in languages. Most of these trips consist with a 3 week stay over summer offered for students in 10th grade or above and then the option of staying for a whole semester.
was partially filmed at Guajome Park Academy. The school's exterior was used for exterior shots, while the interior shots were of oceanside high.
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
and high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Vista, California
Vista, California
Vista is a city in north San Diego County, California. It was incorporated January 28, 1963 and became a charter city on June 13, 2007. Located just seven miles inland from the Pacific Ocean in northern San Diego County, the City of Vista has a Mediterranean climate...
. It is a charter school
Charter school
Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
and was founded in 1994. It offers the IB Middle Years Programme
IB Middle Years Programme
The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme is an educational programme intended for students aged approximately 11 to 16 . Thus, in the United States the programme is often taught throughout the middle school years and the first two years of high school...
for students grades six through ten, and the IB Diploma Programme
IB Diploma Programme
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two-year educational programme for students aged 16–19that provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education, and is recognised by universities worldwide. It was developed in the early to mid-1960s in Geneva by...
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.
The school is named after nearby Guajome County Park. The name "Guajome" comes from the Luiseño
Luiseño language
The Luiseño language is an Uto-Aztecan language of California spoken by the Luiseño, a Native American people who at the time of the first contacts with the Spanish in the 16th century inhabited the coastal area of southern California, ranging 50 miles from the southern part of Los Angeles County,...
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 parents and educators 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. Although only barely established, Guajome was in fact, one of the first charter schools in California, a distinction it proudly holds to this day. The following year, a campus in northern Vista was opened, featuring temporary buildings, the much-loved "trailers." 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 educationAlternative education
Alternative education, also known as non-traditional education or educational alternative, includes a number of approaches to teaching and learning other than mainstream or traditional education. Educational alternatives are often rooted in various philosophies that are fundamentally different...
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, facilities the school had not had in any of its previous locations. 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, 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. In 2005, a former teacher created the message board Guajome Underground to criticize the administration and discuss educational changes at the school.
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 MuseumAntique Gas and Steam Engine Museum
The Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum is a living-history museum founded in 1969 located on of county-owned land on the outskirts of Vista, California. The Museum is a non-profit 501c organization. It is located at 2040 N Santa Fe Ave. in Vista...
, Rancho Guajome Adobe
Rancho Guajome Adobe
Rancho Guajome Adobe, listed in the National Register of Historic Places as Guajome Ranch House, is an adobe house in Vista, California...
, 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 used to have a ropes course, the latter of which is also rented out to other organizations.
Famous alumni
Vanessa Anne HudgensVanessa Anne Hudgens
Vanessa Anne Hudgens is an American actress and singer, who is best known for her portrayal of the character Gabriella Montez in the High School Musical series...
(High School Musical
High School Musical
High School Musical is a 2006 American television film, first in the High School Musical film franchise. Upon its release on January 20, 2006, it became the most successful film that Disney Channel Original Movie ever produced, with a television sequel High School Musical 2 released in 2007 and...
and Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
star) attended this school for sixth and seventh grade in 2001.
Student 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.- Guajome no longer runs the Challenge course. It is run by Adventure Resources
- The Wellness Center, is no longer run by students.
- AudioFrog Studio, started and run by a team of trained students on the ability to record and edit audio. It is no longer running.
- GPA Juice is located in the office, they offer drinks and snacks. It is currently run by the Associated Student Body, and various students. It is no longer running.
All of the businesses are either open to the public or on their way to be open for the public.
Extracurricular activities
Guajome's athletic teams include cheerleading, soccer, cross country, track, softball, baseball, basketball, volleyball, wrestling, and golf. The soccer, cross country and wrestling teams have received high awards, performing competitively in League and CIFCalifornia Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation is the governing body for high school sports in the state of California. It mirrors similar governing bodies in other states; however, it differs from some of the others in that it covers most high schools in the state of California, both public and...
honors as teams, with numerous individual athletes also earning recognition. The school also participates annually in the North County Academic League and has had some very limited participation in Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad is an American elementary, middle, or high school team competition which tests knowledge of various science topics and engineering ability. Over 6,200 teams from 49 U.S. states compete each year. Most teams compete in three levels of competition: regionals, states, and nationals...
.
In addition to its athletic teams, the school also has a growing theatre program (with numerous hit plays directed by the talented and popular Paul Canaletti); as well as chapters of the International Thespian Society
International Thespian Society
The International Thespian Society is an honorary organization for high-school and middle-school theatre students located at more than 3,600 affiliated secondary schools across the United States, Canada, and abroad. The International Thespian Society was founded in Fairmont, West Virginia...
, Key Club International (with students assuming leadership roles Division and District-wide), California Scholarship Federation
California Scholarship Federation
The California Scholarship Federation, or CSF, started in 1921 by Charles F. Seymour, seeks to recognize students living in the state of California who possess high standards in academic scholarship, community service and citizenship....
and a large and active Associated Student Body (ASB). Notably, the Guajome Park Academy Yearbook has won 1st (2008), 2nd (2006, 2010, 2011) and 3rd (2007) place ribbons at the San Diego County Fair.
Guajome is a member of the German American Partnership Program
German American Partnership Program
The German American Partnership Program , is a high school exchange program between schools in the United States and Germany, sponsored by the US State Department and the German Foreign Office. Organizational support is provided by the Goethe-Institut. The program was started in 1977...
and has been partnered with its sister school, Gymnasium Ulricianum Aurich, in Aurich, Lower Saxony, Germany since 1995. This is an exchange program that allows students to thrive in languages. Most of these trips consist with a 3 week stay over summer offered for students in 10th grade or above and then the option of staying for a whole semester.
Filming on Campus
The film To Save a LifeTo Save a Life
To Save a Life is a 2010 Christian drama film directed by Brian Baugh. The film was released theatrically in the United States on January 22, 2010, and was written by Jim Britts. It stars Randy Wayne, Deja Kreutzberg, Robert Bailey Jr., Steven Crowder and Sean Michael Afable...
was partially filmed at Guajome Park Academy. The school's exterior was used for exterior shots, while the interior shots were of oceanside high.
External links
- Guajome.net – the school's official website