Encinitas, Carlsbad schools earn "distinguished" honor Lisa Humphrey and Timothy O'Hara Four schools in Carlsbad and Encinitas are among the 225 California Distinguished Schools, one of the top honors awarded by the state. The state announced Wednesday that Magnolia Elementary School in the Carlsbad Unified School District, and La Costa Heights, Olivenhain Pioneer and Paul Ecke Central/Pacific View elementary schools in the Encinitas Union School District are distinguished. The local schools were among 19 selected for the honor in San Diego County - from the 55 county schools that applied. Statewide, 666 schools applied for the award. Elsewhere in North County, Poway had four winning schools. Escondido and Ramona each had one. Distinguished schools exemplify successful teaching and learning, high standards for students, community involvement, partnerships with businesses, safe and clean school environments and modern technology, state Superintendent of Schools Delaine Eastin said. "In California, our schools are asked to do more with less," she said. "They are doing so and achieving remarkable results." After Magnolia Principal James Boone confirmed his school's distinguished status Wednesday morning, he said he immediately turned to the intercom and boasted the good news over the loudspeakers to all 720 students. "We've been waiting to bear every day," said Boone, who has led the 40-year-old Magnolia school for 15 years. "I feel great. There are so many things that go on here on a daily basis. This just validates everything." Nearly 15 people, including teachers and parents filled out the 15-page application required to be considered for the award. In the document, the authors mention Magnolia's strong program for the hearing-impaired and ability to mainstream special-needs students into regular classes, as well as its active Parent Teacher Association. "It's really special today," Carlsbad Unified School District Superintendent Cheryl Ernst said. "We get to celebrate a particular team. It doesn't take a show to win the award. You can't do it all by a strong application. It has to go deeper than that. Magnolia has taken that extra leap into excellence." In Encinitas, educators were just as elated about their distinguished honor. "We knew we were a distinguished school. Now it is validated for everyone," said Nancy Cunningham, principal for Paul Ecke Central/Pacific View. "Our schools meet the needs of our diverse community. Our motto is 'children come first.' We accept nothing less than excellence." Prior to 1994, both Paul Ecke and Pacific View served kindergarten through sixth grades. Pacific View earned the recognition as a Distinguished School in 1985, 1989 and 1993. Paul Ecke Central was awarded the title in l987 1993 Cunningham said. Paul Ecke is now a K-4 school with 477 students, and Pacific View serves 160 fifth- and sixth- graders. Paul Ecke Central, built in the mid-1940s, and Pacific View, built in the 1950s, are situated in old downtown Encinitas and over- look the Pacific Ocean. Olivenhain Pioneer, which serves about 650 fifth- and sixth- graders, was recognized as a Distinguished -School in its second academic year. "The school has a lot of technology, and teachers make it an integral part of the curriculum," Principal Emily Andrade said. "What has also made this school such a success is the partnership between the school and the parents." In addition to the application, judges spend a day visiting the schools and observing daily activities before naming distinguished schools. The schools will be honored at a ceremony May 22 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. The California Distinguished Schools Program started in 1985. The state awards elementary schools every other year, and junior and high schools during the alternate years. |
