Education Spotlight 2020

Who we are…
As an independent Catholic school, St. Anne School in Laguna Niguel encourages students from preschool through grade 8 to expand their world and discover their passions. Walk through the halls and you’ll see students holding doors open for guests, collaborating on projects, and high-fiving teachers and administrators. St. Anne School is a friendly and nurturing learning environment, focused on educating the whole child. St. Anne students are happy, respectful, and engaged learners, who are ready to discover what kind of great they want to be.

What we do…
St. Anne School partners with parents to ensure every child achieves an education that supports their needs, talents, and interests while forming their character and spiritual development. The exceptional teachers at St. Anne inspire students to develop independence, discover their love of learning, and push themselves to unlock their potential. Students are empowered further by using state-of-the-art technology to develop their academic strengths.

St. Anne families come from a variety of faith backgrounds. Students are taught to treasure their faith and are encouraged to develop their spirituality as they participate in weekly Mass, daily prayer, and community outreach.

Exceptional core academics are enriched by a variety of elective classes and after-school programs starting as young as Kindergarten. Some of these electives and programs include Future Problem Solvers, Garage Rock Band, Food and Fitness, Show Choir, Create and Innovate, and Navigating Our World. Students have the opportunity to grow in virtue by participating in St. Anne School’s 21 sports teams and award-winning performing arts program.

What we achieve…
A St. Anne graduate is a well-rounded, compassionate, creative, and curious young adult, well-equipped for a challenging high school experience and ready to live out their own greatness.

Discover St. Anne School. Our doors are open and we welcome you.

To schedule a private tour or learn more about St. Anne School, please contact the Office of Admissions at 949.371.9932.

St. Anne School
32451 Bear Brand Road
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
www.st-anne.org

Santa Margarita Catholic High School develops students who are people of faith, skilled lifelong learners, healthy individuals and involved citizens of the world. Ranked as the No. 1 Catholic High School in the county by Niche.com, the school’s 42-acre campus is nestled against the picturesque Saddleback Valley Mountains in Rancho Santa Margarita.

Individualized Learning

• Academic tracks tailored to meet the needs of varied learners
• 107 higher-level courses
• Only Catholic high school in the county to offer the globally-recognized International Baccalaureate program
• Auxiliary Studies Program supports students with specialized learning needs
• Students attend mock meetings of the UN close to home and abroad through the Model United Nations program
• Award-winning arts program with 61 visual and performing arts courses
• Nine counselors provide academic, college and personal counseling
• 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio
• One of 41 schools in the nation recognized as a Microsoft Showcase School for transforming the educational experience through student-centered immersive learning

College Preparedness

• 99 percent of graduates in the Class of 2019 attend college; the class received $41.9 million in scholarship offers
• Director of college relations dedicated to building strong partnerships with universities across the nation
• 100 percent acceptance rate at 184 schools (class of 2019)
• Comprehensive college counseling and college relations programs
• Approximately 155 college representatives visit campus annually

Building Champions for Life

• 71 CIF championships, 217 league championships and eight state championships
• 29 CIF and club sports programs
• Ten-time recipient of the CIF Commissioners Cup, recognizing the top athletic program in the 570-member CIF Southern Section

Campus and Faith Life

• Faith-based education and culture of compassion
• 90 percent of the student body participates in more than 85 campus clubs and activities developing leadership skills
• Eagles Edge program develops “real-world” lifelong skills and provides networking opportunities
• Award-winning robotics program, three-time world championship qualifier
• Retreats, fellowship, school Masses and service-learning
• Link Crew and dynamic SOARientation program eases the transition into high school
• One in four students receives tuition assistance
• Bus transportation serving Orange County

Santa Margarita Catholic High School
22062 Antonio Parkway
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
949.766.6076 • www.smhs.org

At Stratford School, high expectations lead to extraordinary results. The school’s advanced, innovative, and intentionally balanced curriculum inspires, challenges, and nurtures the minds and hearts of every student. It also produces impressive results. Stratford students outscore independent school students, are recognized for academic achievement, and contribute to their communities.

The curriculum is created in a thoughtful and deliberate way to provoke curiosity, nurture exploration, and encourage inquiry. Students develop a love of learning, study above grade level, and prepare themselves for the future.

Stratford infuses its broad liberal arts curriculum with Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). It combines traditional teaching styles with 21st century learning principles, integrating technology with careful intention. The school provides a variety of extracurricular pursuits, personal development activities, physical education, and play-time. The teachers cultivate a physically and emotionally secure classroom environment. The staff both welcome and listen to the feedback of students’ parents.

The result is a rich spectrum of hands-on learning opportunities — provided in an energized classroom atmosphere where students are mentally focused and highly engaged — that enable students to learn, question, collaborate, and develop the diverse skills and talents they need to compete in today’s world.

Harnessing the collective power of over 6,000 students, 800 teachers, 100 administrators, and 300 classrooms, Stratford School is able to explore and rapidly implement new teaching practices to achieve the ultimate goal of preparing students to become the next generation of creative problem-solvers, imaginative innovators, and confident, insightful leaders.

To learn more, visit: www.StratfordSchools.com/mission-viejo

Stratford School
24741 Chrisanta Drive
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
www.StratfordSchools.com

Always learning, The Parish School graduates are confident and compassionate young men and women who will make a difference. Faithful to Catholic values, The Parish School at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church sustains a dynamic schoolwide learning environment that inspires each learner to achieve his or her God-given potential inside and outside the classroom.

ALWAYS LEARNING
The Parish School is #AlwaysLearning. Learners don’t just memorize math equations or recite spelling words. They ask questions. They explore. They love not just school – but the process of learning. And learning comes not just through doing things right, but through doing things wrong. The Parish School develops resilient, innovative learners who try, grow and achieve.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
The Parish School utilizes a standard-based curriculum aligned to the Roman Catholic Church teachings which prepares learners for high school and beyond. The faculty and staff continually expose learners to meaningful hands-on experiences, resulting in thoughtful risk-taking, problem solving and collaboration.

SMALLER CLASSES – IN-DEPTH LEARNING
Not only does the school boast a low instructor-to-student ratio, but it has a unique classroom format. First through fifth grade is one of the only schools in the Orange Catholic Diocese to use Departmentalized Platooning. Each class moves as a unit between three classrooms, with a teacher focused on just two subjects. The result – a richer learning experience and expert teachers.

In the Upper School, each learner has eight periods daily on a waterfall schedule, the standard for many high schools. The classes are integrated, yet small groups and individualized instruction ensures learners’ needs are met and challenged.

CREATIVITY
Through art and music classes and after-school activities like chorus, The Parish School builds creative and confident leaders. And, it’s one of the only elementary schools to offer Makerspace – a hands-on studio that integrates technology, engineering and creativity with project-based solutions to real-world situations.

FAITH DEVELOPMENT
Each day, the school community prays, serves and grows in their relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is present in the books they read, the history they teach, and the music they sing. Learners attend weekly Mass, participate in monthly hands-on service projects, and provide mentorship through Prayer Partners.

The Parish School | St. Edward The Confessor Catholic Church
33866 Calle La Primavera
Dana Point, CA 92629
949.496.1241 • www.StEdSchool.org

Conveniently located on the South end of San Clemente, Our Savior’s Lutheran School (OSLS) is a developmental, play-based, Reggio-inspired, Christian Preschool and Infant Center (soon to open). Our Savior’s is a close-knit family that understands and values exceptional education, equipping children to be positive members of their community.

OSLS is committed to excellence through a creative and energizing curriculum, with a strong social, emotional, and Christ-centered foundation. Curriculum is modeled around Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. The school’s highly qualified and inspirational staff provides a quality educational experience. All OSLS families receive constant communication regarding their child’s growth, supported by assessments and progress reports along with parent-teacher conferences. This partnership facilitates an extension of the child’s day into the home and bridges the learning opportunities both at school and beyond.

Our Savior’s Lutheran School provides a unique opportunity for children to be engaged in a developmentally appropriate environment with a child-centered approach. The preschool team designs their curriculum and lesson plans starting with the California Preschool Learning Foundations, customizing instruction based on the child’s individualized goals and needs. These developmentally appropriate practices and classroom experiences intentionally foster exposure to the world around the child and capture the many moments of curiosity. Throughout the day, OSLS teachers guide student learning individually and in groups to explain, educate, and empower the children, encouraging them to ask questions and explore their learning environment. They understand that every child develops at their own pace while being committed to continuous growth and excellence in all levels of early childhood education. With a long-term education in mind, OSLS’s most important goal is to foster and encourage a love of learning.

To find out more about Our Savior’s Lutheran School and the new Infant Center opening soon, please call the school at 949.492.6165 or email the Director, Joan Lundbohm, at j.lundbohm@oursaviorsschool.net to schedule a tour.

Our Savior’s Lutheran School
200 Avenida San Pablo
San Clemente, CA 92672
949.492.6165 • OurSaviorsSchool.net

Temple Beth El’s acclaimed Early Childhood Center has been enlightening children for over 19 illustrious years. The school has forged a strong reputation within the local community for its loving, experienced and long-term staff who are dedicated to each and every child in the program.

Temple Beth El offers a multitude of classes including Parent/Toddler classes for 7-24 months, Preschool for 2-4 years and a TK program. In addition, Temple Beth El offers dynamic after school enrichment classes and before and after school care.

Each year, Temple Beth El has been able to provide early education for children with varying special needs in a traditional classroom setting. For example, a child in need of a support facilitator would be welcomed and immersed in the program. Temple Beth El’s preschool curriculum is built with a balance between academic and developmental philosophies of education, with an emphasis on the whole child. It is designed to create an environment that encourages a love for learning, with a focus on the social, emotional, cognitive and physical development of each child.

TK students prepare for Kindergarten by utilizing the “Get Set for School/Handwriting Without Tears” curriculum. All TK teachers have been trained in this program to best implement the curriculum.

The Temple Beth El facility is clean, bright and cheerful and has large playground-facing windows in each room. The school goes the extra mile to help create not just a vivid and cheerful atmosphere, but a splendid learning environment.

Check the Temple Beth El website at tbesoc.org in February for registration forms and to learn all about programs being offered. Registration will begin in February 2020. The school welcomes prospective families to schedule a tour of Temple Beth El in January and February. You can contact the admissions office at 949.362.3999 ext. 317 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Temple Beth El
2A Liberty
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
(949) 362-3999
www.tbesoc.org

At Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts (OCASA), students learn by doing. They are encouraged to ask questions, take risks, make discoveries, observe patterns, exhibit creativity, and reflect on their own work. OCASA offers two unique and innovative campuses designed to help your student launch their bright future.

OCASA Charter School is a tuition-free, public K-8 charter school specializing in individual learning and small group instruction. With an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, students apply real-world experiences to understand new concepts and gain knowledge. According to the California State Dashboard, OCASA students attained tremendous growth in 2018 with a 29.7 point increase in Math and an 18.5 point increase in English Language Arts. The campus features multiple hands-on labs, including a Science Lab, Maker Lab, Audio/Visual Lab with Music, Arts Lab, Resource Lab, and a Practical Life Studio, which encourage exploration and experimentation under the guidance of OCASA’s credentialed teachers and experienced staff.

OCASA College Prep will meet the evolving needs of students in South Orange County and ensure that every child in attendance receives a rich, individualized, rigorous and joyful education that will prepare him or her to thrive. OCASA College Prep, currently enrolling Grades 6-9, will be the only classroom-based, tuition-free public charter high school in South Orange County. The school’s curriculum places an emphasis on the academic, social and physical development of young adults in the areas of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. OCASA College Prep was approved by Capistrano Unified School District in September 2019, in a unanimous 7-0 decision, and will host 6th – 12th graders once fully enrolled.

Both OCASA campuses are now enrolling for 2020-21 and will be hosting several Parent Information Sessions, school tours and interactive activities for students at Super STEAM Saturday events. Visit OCASAcharter.org/EnrollNow to RSVP for an upcoming event or to fill out an admission application.

Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts
29292 Crown Valley Parkway
Laguna Niguel
949.269.3290 • OCASAcharter.org

Our Lady of Fatima Academy is a TK-8th grade Catholic elementary school. Its mission is to nurture individuals to discover their God-given gifts, to encourage them to use these gifts in the service of others and to empower them to be models of integrity and peacemakers who work for justice. Parents, school staff, and parish community collaborate in striving for educational excellence.

Faith-Filled Catholics

• Educating students’ spiritual and academic growth for 53 years
• A welcoming learning environment that incorporates the value of “family”
• Strong Community Service Program ensures that students develop faith-based values
• Student-led weekly school Mass, monthly Sunday Masses and May Crowning
• Choir group
• Weekly Family Assistance Ministries food drives
• Annual Passion Play and the Knights of Columbus’ Writing contest
• Academy/Parish community building events

Life-long Learners

• WECA/WASC accredited
• Staffed by a team of outstanding, credentialed, nurturing professionals
• Transitional Kindergarten — the first year of a two-year academic kindergarten program
• 1:1 integrated technology learning and programs
• Blended and differentiated learning opportunities
• Enrichment programs: Spanish, STEM, music, piano, art, drama, technology, and PE
• Yearly Science Fair
• Accelerated and Advanced Mathematics offered
• After School fee-based programs

Effective Communicators

• K-2, 3-6 and junior high Musical Productions
• Participation in local and regional academic competitions
• Fall, Winter and Spring PAL Athletics
• Kindness Counts Week
• Community Appreciation Day
• Annual Art, Writing and Technology Night

Globally Responsible Citizens

• Amazing Field Studies and Day Field Trips
• Weekly Fine Arts: music, piano, art, drama, choir, advanced technology
• Annual International Day
• Leadership opportunities
• Participation in San Clemente’s Red Ribbon Week Parade

Our Lady of Fatima Academy
105 N. La Esperanza
San Clemente, CA 92672
949.492.7320 • www.olfschool.net

Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) is preparing students from transitional kindergarten through high school to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world. CUSD is steadfast in its goal of providing all students with meaningful, challenging, and innovative educational experiences to increase post-secondary options.

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) programs offer social, emotional, behavioral and academic foundation to ensure that every learner can be successful. Counselors provide academic, college and personal counseling. Tools and resources enable principals, teachers, and staff to collaborate to ensure students will be college and career ready. CUSD schools received four of seven designations by the American School Counselor Association as Recognized Model Programs (RAMP).

The Family Resource Center provides information about interventions, reference materials, online and in-person resources to support the individual needs of every student.

PUBLIC EDUCATION EXCELLENCE

• Rigorous curriculum and collaborative learning ensures every student thrives
• California Distinguished and National Blue Ribbon Schools
• Best Communities for Music Education Designation from the NAMM Foundation for outstanding commitment to music education
• Visual & Performing Arts dedicated to artistic excellence
• Championship caliber Athletic programs

ELEMENTARY

• Seven #CapoForward schools: STEM/STEAM, Environmental Studies, Arts & Communication, Next-Generation Learning, Technology, College & Career Prep, Language & Science
• Full-day Kindergarten
• Spanish & Mandarin Language Immersion
• Gifted & Advanced Learners (GATE)

SECONDARY

• College & Career Advantage: 28 career pathways and over 500 partnerships
• High School Academies: Health and Medical Occupations, South OC School of the Arts, Monarch Beach Resort Culinary Arts, STEM, Automotive Technology, and Biotechnology
• Futureology helps students navigate the college and career track by providing 1:1 counseling, workshops, webinars and a resource library
• Annual College Fair with 150+ colleges & universities, technical & trade schools, art & film programs and military academies
• International Baccalaureate Programs
• Advanced Placement Courses in multiple subjects

Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD)
33122 Valle Road
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
949.234.9200 • www.CAPOUSD.org