Developing Valencia: The End of an Era—”Elementary, My Dear Claritan”

By Venturan — John B.

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Main entrance at West Creek Music Academy

Part three of a Seven-Part SCVTalk Series, chronicling Valencia’s Final Residential Developments.

After a dramatic, almost comical series of starts and stops, the school formerly known as West Creek Elementary is set to open this fall as West Creek Academy.

It is SCV’s most ambitious, expensive elementary school yet. The $35 million campus, developed by Newhall Land / Lennar, is likely to be the last new public school in Valencia for the foreseeable future. Its branding as a Music Academy marks a significant change in Saugus Union School District’s strategy for attracting and keeping the district’s best and brightest in the public system. SCVTalk’s Timothy Myers discussed the impact of home schools and private schools on demographics; by opening the school to the entire district, SUSD also resolves the question of attendance for soon-to-be-shuttered Bouquet Canyon Elementary and the temporary closing of Emblem.

Tammy Marashlian of The Signal has more in today’s edition:

The West Creek Music Academy would be unlike any other school in the Saugus Union School District.

“I believe public education is at a crossroads,” Superintendent Judy Fish said. “West Creek is the beginning of an opportunity to refocus ourselves and respond to the challenges we’re facing.”

Parents criticized the district for closing two schools and shuffling students while opening West Creek.

The district hopes to open the school with about 500 students next year. More details about the school’s curriculum will be made public during a Feb. 2 board meeting.

I toured the campus on a recent Sunday morning; here’s an inside look at the campus Superintendent Fish called “the most beautiful school in the valley.”

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Facing north toward the quad area.

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The use of multi-story structures allows for plenty of play areas at West Creek.

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Inside one of the rooms - note the interior improvements completed.

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Elevator allows for disabled access to the second floor of the campus.

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Two park-scale jungle gyms await the little ones at West Creek.

Next, an in-depth look at storied West Creek residential community, the largest in West Creek / West Hills.

Comments (12)

PetzJanuary 28, 2010 at 10:11 am

IMHO Nickeldime should not write with a sceename on the front page.

Drive66January 28, 2010 at 10:36 am

Jeff just goes by Jeff, what’s the diff.

Timothy MyersJanuary 28, 2010 at 10:38 am

A music academcy? Two things come to mind: “FAME!!! I’m gonna live forever! I’m gonna learn how to fly! HIGH!!!!!” And for the younger crowd: “High school musical, Who said we had to let it go!….”

mike cJanuary 28, 2010 at 1:27 pm

Petz, Haven’t you ever seen Fletch??? Of course you don’t have to use your real name when writing something for publication…as a matter check with Benjamin Franklin!

WalkerJanuary 28, 2010 at 1:59 pm

Yup. I don’t understand why they went w/’music’ and not the broader ‘fine arts’ which I would think would be simplier and less expensive to implement effectively, in addition to drawing a larger potential student body.

KevFebruary 3, 2010 at 5:40 pm

I’ve recently learned that the school will open with programs that focus on instrumental music, performing arts, and beginning Korean. Korean? How does that fit with the arts, and of all of the foreign languages available,Korean?

We need to get madFebruary 10, 2010 at 1:52 pm

Of all languages Korean? How does this benefit anyone that is not Korean? Exactly – it doesn’t! Spanish, Chinese, even Latin would have been a better choice. Are we just going to hand over this state of the art facility and not voice our opinions? People – it’s time to have your voice heard! Why do the students at West Creek get 3 new pilot programs (Performing Arts, Language, and Music) while the rest of our kids are getting nothing?

KevFebruary 10, 2010 at 5:01 pm

NickelDime, while you are correct in your statement that Korean will be the 1st language you either haven’t realized or don’t want to admit the repercussions of this type of announcement. 1st, announcing that the school will start with a Korean language focus (instead of foreign language)will obviously attract a larger number of Korean speaking students. Which would lower the number of students who aren’t interested in Korean, which would limit the number of available language choices. 2nd, how will the Korean be introduced/taught. Where are they going to find the time during the regular school day? What part of the curriculum will be manipulated to allow the time for music, performing arts, & Korean? 3rd, and I hate to be this guy, but have any of you seen the billboards advertising Santa Clarita as the place to be, that are located in downtown L.A., particularly around Korean town?

We need to get madFebruary 10, 2010 at 5:17 pm

NickelDime- Do you really think it is that hard to connect with a elementary school in another country? Mr. Pak cannot be the only person in our school district that has “ties” to another country. The school board picked Korean because that is what they were directed to do. If they want to get re-elected they have to go to where the money is. This school will drive away people who do not want to speak Korean and only attract people who want to speak Korean or already do. It’s as simple as that. As soon as the time comes where they are to introduce another language that was promised the funds will dry up and they will not be able to. Just think how many Korean speaking teachers are excited because they will get to keep their jobs or get a job when other teachers are being laid off because the other 2 schools are closing. THINK ABOUT IT!

KevFebruary 10, 2010 at 6:41 pm

NickelDime, I too spent most of my childhood in places that were predominantly non-white. It does bother me that Korean will be the platform. Can you seriously tel me that in Southern California, there aren’t languages that would be more useful for our children to learn? On your response to point 2, I can only guess that you were at the meeting on Tuesday, yes? I spoke with Mr. Pak last week during the meeting at Rosedell. I asked specifically regarding the method in which Korean would be introduced. I was told that it would start as exposure, possibly a few words during his addresses to the school in the mornings, etc. It would then turn into a weekly session, 30-45 mins. a week, as per Mr. Pak. This isn’t about being xenophic, this is about being blindsided. This is about not being given a chance to be involved in the decisions that are going to mold our children. And, the simple response of, “if you don’t want to take advantage of the offers, you don’t have to attend West Creek” just won’t cut it. My taxes will be supporting that school, along with the tax dollars of everyone else in the area. I know I don’t want my taxes being spent on things that I don’t see as beneficial, specially when it comes to my children.

We need to get madFebruary 10, 2010 at 9:06 pm

Xenophobia has nothing to do with it. How in the world could Korean be our only option? We live in California where most of the people who do not speak English speak Spanish. It would be the most logical choice and one that would benefit the most students in our community. Oh, and I forgot to state in my first post that everyone is welcome to attend this PUBLIC school. That is unless you are special needs. Please see below: General Textbooks, cirriculum will meet the standards of SUSD Reading / Writing / Arithmetic will not be sacrificed for the innovative aspects – in fact, learning in these subjects will be enhanced *********************************** No special needs students on campus despite 2 rooms that were built for that purpose *********************************** No preschool offered initially; but before and afterschool will be offered Computer lab room will be converted to a music room; instead, they will have a “mobile computer lab” Mr. Pak is currently the only guaranteed staff member at WCA; SUSD is actively recruiting teachers within the district

KevFebruary 11, 2010 at 5:13 am

NiceklDime, There are other options that would have allowed for the opening of the school without focusing on Korean or any other language for that matter. In fact they did a few things that would help them achieve that goal directly, like announcing focus programs on instrumental music & performing arts. Is there really a need to introduce any foreign language to our kids in elementary school, where many kids don’t even know how to speak English? We aren’t in the minority here, we are part of the silent majority. I don’t know that many people know about this site to begin with. It would be very interesting to see what kind of responses would be posted if the school board placed this blog on their site, similar to the one they had regarding the school closures.

PetzJanuary 28, 2010 at 10:11 am
IMHO Nickeldime should not write with a sceename on the front page.
Drive66January 28, 2010 at 10:36 am
Jeff just goes by Jeff, what’s the diff.
Timothy MyersJanuary 28, 2010 at 10:38 am
A music academcy? Two things come to mind: “FAME!!! I’m gonna live forever! I’m gonna learn how to fly! HIGH!!!!!” And for the younger crowd: “High school musical, Who said we had to let it go!….”
mike cJanuary 28, 2010 at 1:27 pm
Petz, Haven’t you ever seen Fletch??? Of course you don’t have to use your real name when writing something for publication…as a matter check with Benjamin Franklin!
WalkerJanuary 28, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Yup. I don’t understand why they went w/’music’ and not the broader ‘fine arts’ which I would think would be simplier and less expensive to implement effectively, in addition to drawing a larger potential student body.
KevFebruary 3, 2010 at 5:40 pm
I’ve recently learned that the school will open with programs that focus on instrumental music, performing arts, and beginning Korean. Korean? How does that fit with the arts, and of all of the foreign languages available,Korean?
We need to get madFebruary 10, 2010 at 1:52 pm
Of all languages Korean? How does this benefit anyone that is not Korean? Exactly – it doesn’t! Spanish, Chinese, even Latin would have been a better choice. Are we just going to hand over this state of the art facility and not voice our opinions? People – it’s time to have your voice heard! Why do the students at West Creek get 3 new pilot programs (Performing Arts, Language, and Music) while the rest of our kids are getting nothing?
KevFebruary 10, 2010 at 5:01 pm
NickelDime, while you are correct in your statement that Korean will be the 1st language you either haven’t realized or don’t want to admit the repercussions of this type of announcement. 1st, announcing that the school will start with a Korean language focus (instead of foreign language)will obviously attract a larger number of Korean speaking students. Which would lower the number of students who aren’t interested in Korean, which would limit the number of available language choices. 2nd, how will the Korean be introduced/taught. Where are they going to find the time during the regular school day? What part of the curriculum will be manipulated to allow the time for music, performing arts, & Korean? 3rd, and I hate to be this guy, but have any of you seen the billboards advertising Santa Clarita as the place to be, that are located in downtown L.A., particularly around Korean town?
We need to get madFebruary 10, 2010 at 5:17 pm
NickelDime- Do you really think it is that hard to connect with a elementary school in another country? Mr. Pak cannot be the only person in our school district that has “ties” to another country. The school board picked Korean because that is what they were directed to do. If they want to get re-elected they have to go to where the money is. This school will drive away people who do not want to speak Korean and only attract people who want to speak Korean or already do. It’s as simple as that. As soon as the time comes where they are to introduce another language that was promised the funds will dry up and they will not be able to. Just think how many Korean speaking teachers are excited because they will get to keep their jobs or get a job when other teachers are being laid off because the other 2 schools are closing. THINK ABOUT IT!
KevFebruary 10, 2010 at 6:41 pm
NickelDime, I too spent most of my childhood in places that were predominantly non-white. It does bother me that Korean will be the platform. Can you seriously tel me that in Southern California, there aren’t languages that would be more useful for our children to learn? On your response to point 2, I can only guess that you were at the meeting on Tuesday, yes? I spoke with Mr. Pak last week during the meeting at Rosedell. I asked specifically regarding the method in which Korean would be introduced. I was told that it would start as exposure, possibly a few words during his addresses to the school in the mornings, etc. It would then turn into a weekly session, 30-45 mins. a week, as per Mr. Pak. This isn’t about being xenophic, this is about being blindsided. This is about not being given a chance to be involved in the decisions that are going to mold our children. And, the simple response of, “if you don’t want to take advantage of the offers, you don’t have to attend West Creek” just won’t cut it. My taxes will be supporting that school, along with the tax dollars of everyone else in the area. I know I don’t want my taxes being spent on things that I don’t see as beneficial, specially when it comes to my children.
We need to get madFebruary 10, 2010 at 9:06 pm
Xenophobia has nothing to do with it. How in the world could Korean be our only option? We live in California where most of the people who do not speak English speak Spanish. It would be the most logical choice and one that would benefit the most students in our community. Oh, and I forgot to state in my first post that everyone is welcome to attend this PUBLIC school. That is unless you are special needs. Please see below: General Textbooks, cirriculum will meet the standards of SUSD Reading / Writing / Arithmetic will not be sacrificed for the innovative aspects – in fact, learning in these subjects will be enhanced *********************************** No special needs students on campus despite 2 rooms that were built for that purpose *********************************** No preschool offered initially; but before and afterschool will be offered Computer lab room will be converted to a music room; instead, they will have a “mobile computer lab” Mr. Pak is currently the only guaranteed staff member at WCA; SUSD is actively recruiting teachers within the district
KevFebruary 11, 2010 at 5:13 am
NiceklDime, There are other options that would have allowed for the opening of the school without focusing on Korean or any other language for that matter. In fact they did a few things that would help them achieve that goal directly, like announcing focus programs on instrumental music & performing arts. Is there really a need to introduce any foreign language to our kids in elementary school, where many kids don’t even know how to speak English? We aren’t in the minority here, we are part of the silent majority. I don’t know that many people know about this site to begin with. It would be very interesting to see what kind of responses would be posted if the school board placed this blog on their site, similar to the one they had regarding the school closures.