San Clemente Christian School

San Clemente Christian School
By Shelley Hudson

Parents and students in South Orange County will soon have another option for private education—right in their own backyards! Capo Beach Christian School is expanding and moving to a brand new campus in the heart of San Clemente, filling the need for a rigorously academic and spiritually-grounded curriculum that spans TK through 12. The school will be renamed San Clemente Christian School and will remain a small, family-based private school dedicated to motivating and nurturing each and every child.

Founded in 2009 by parents, the school’s first enrollment was 41 students. In a few short years, that number has tripled; many grade levels are operating at maximum capacity and the demand for the type of programming offered is increasing. “Moving to San Clemente is such an exciting development,” says Principal Dr. Nicky Magnuson, “So many indicators confirm that this move is part of God’s plan. We received a generous donation in inventory from Southern California Edison, including essential equipment for a complete school. Since 70% of our families live in San Clemente, it’s an ideal scenario. We’ve had an unbelievable response—we have a waiting list for a few grades already!”

The 2015-2016 academic year will open the new campus. Each year a new grade level will be added, culminating with the first high school graduating class in 2018. As the only private school offering kindergarten through high school in the city, San Clemente Christian will become a fundamental part of the infrastructure for this rapidly-growing area. The school’s plan will roll out in three phases. Phase I will involve relocating all existing classes and programs from transitional kindergarten through 9th grade to the new facility; Phase II will be implemented as high school classes are added over the next three years; Phase III will include a full build-out of the playground and outfitting of outdoor athletic training grounds. “It’s a privilege and an honor to be a part of this organization every day,” enthuses Dr. Magnuson, “We have so much to offer this community.”

San Clemente Christian’s philosophy brings the “boutique school” concept to life. Offering only one small class of students for each grade level and a student-to-staff ratio of 1:3 ensures that each child’s needs are recognized. Dr. Magnuson explains, “We meet each student at his or her level; we don’t believe in ‘one size fits all,’ and we don’t let kids fall through the cracks. Our focus is to nurture our pupils spiritually and academically and imbue a strong sense of leadership within each child. One of my favorite comments from a parent was that every student gets to be a star here—that’s exactly the point!”

Magnuson summarizes San Clemente Christian’s academic approach as “full STEAM ahead—science, technology, engineering, arts and math.” The school promises a rich, balanced experience with weekly student-led chapel services, a surf team, field trips to Science Camp, Catalina Island and Washington, D.C. and mission trips for all middle and high schoolers. In addition, the whole student body is exposed to Greek, Latin and Spanish language classes, starting in kindergarten. Dr. Magnuson asserts, “We are part of an academic movement. We are committed to the Common Core initiative, from the ACSI standpoint of using Common Core as our floor not the ceiling. This provides building blocks for learning—it’s not just about test-taking and memorizing facts; it’s about meeting every student where they are.”

The leadership component is a key principle built into the curriculum at every level as well. The school provides project-based, age-appropriate opportunities for students to demonstrate organizational leadership, with many off-site options. “We’ve had a student-initiated recycling program, a sustainable garden, and so much more,” gushes Magnuson, “The creativity of the students is boundless.”

The future of San Clemente Christian School includes “smart boards” in every classroom, video editing and computer graphics capabilities, a university-level chemistry lab, an aquaponics cultivation program and a hands-on internship program for all seniors. “Our previous expansion was made possible through the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and many donations,” relates Magnuson, “We hope to repeat this collaboration on a larger scale and develop a close partnership with our new community.”

Learn more about San Clemente Christian School’s mission, staff, academic curriculum and programs at CapoBeachChristianSchool.org.

San Clemente Christian School
180 Avenida La Pata, San Clemente
949.496.3513
CapoBeachChristianSchool.org

Check out our May 2015 Cover Shoot of San Clemente Christian School!