San Marcos Welcomes Newest School – Double Peak K-8 School

The excitement is starting to build as San Marcos prepares to welcome its newest school slated to open in August 2015. Double Peak K-8 School is currently under construction on San Elijo Road right at the edge of San Elijo Hills.

If you frequently drive along San Elijo Road, you’ve witnessed the transformation of the land these
last several months as they prepared the lot for construction.

Now, the project shifts into construction-mode and everything starts to move from concept to form – not just for the campus itself, but for the entire school community.

Double Peak K-8 School will be a two-story school with a library, multi-purpose room, gym, locker rooms, band room, K5 music room, science labs, art room, flex lab and collaborative spaces for students to work together. And, if you’ve seen the lot, the views are sure to be breathtaking. There will be KOC (Kids on Campus) for K-5 and Kindergarten will be half-day.

Built for 1200 students, Double Peak School will be the first K-8 school in our district. When San Elijo Middle School opened in 2004, it opened as a K-8 school for the first two years until San Elijo Elementary was built. Double Peak School, however, will be a true K-8 school – from the design of the campus to the articulated curriculum.

The first class of Kindergarteners will stay in the same school all the way through 8th grade. And, while 6th, 7th and 8th grade classes will be structured like other middle schools in the district, changing classes, etc. in this K-8 environment, there will be unique opportunities to foster connections between all the grade levels and to provide leadership opportunities for the older students. A K-8 campus definitely lends itself to a more community/family feel and it is this family that is beginning to take shape.

The Principal of Double Peak School, Steve Baum, has already stepped into his role and is busy reaching out to the community, meeting families, hiring the leadership team, and managing his role related to campus construction. Mr. Baum began his career at San Marcos High School as a Biology and Human Physiology teacher and a basketball and football coach. For the last 11 years, he has served as a Principal at both Knob Hill Elementary and Twin Oaks Elementary. Now, Mr. Baum has the privilege to help form a new school community from the ground up and he welcomes your support.

In November, Mr. Baum began hosting Principal’s Coffees around the community. Parents and other community members interested in information about the new K-8 school were invited to come get the latest information and ask any questions. In addition, the first Parent Information meeting was held. Mr. Baum was happy to see a great turnout for these events and such a positive and engaged culture even in these early months.

The next Principal’s Coffee will be on December 12 from 9:15 to 10:30AM at Cafe Stoked in San Elijo Hills. It’s a great opportunity to visit with Mr. Baum and hear the latest in a very relaxed setting.

Part of the vision Mr. Baum brings to Double Peak School is a school that fosters a strong sense of community and that provides plenty of opportunity for students to not only achieve academic success, but to also discover their own interests.

Double Peak School will offer a focus on music, arts and innovation. Mr. Charlie McGhee will be joining the staff at Double Peak School to develop and implement a dynamic music program. Mr. McGhee, currently at San Elijo Middle School, is well-known and highly-regarded in our district for his role in developing successful music programs.

At Double Peak School an articulated curriculum with music will be offered twice a week to every student from K-8. Kindergarteners will start with learning rhythm, matching pitch and singing songs. They will build on these skills in first grade, adding complexity to the curriculum of the older children. By the time they reach third grade, students will be playing string instruments. In fourth grade, they will be playing wind instruments and reading music. By the time they reach sixth grade, students will have the opportunity to be in band or orchestra.

In addition to the music program, there will be a focus on visual and performing arts and innovation. Students will have exposure to engineering, coding and robotics. “We are lucky to be in a district with wonderful teachers and to be able to provide a strong academic program where students can also be exposed to a variety of interests that foster a true sense of excitement about learning on a daily basis.” Mr. Baum shared.

Double Peak School boundaries include areas that are now within Discovery Elementary, San Elijo Elementary, San Elijo Middle and Woodland Park boundaries. Students currently in 4th, 6th and 7th grades will have the option to stay at their current school. Of course, it’s also an incredibly exciting time to take part in something completely new. Over the next few weeks, Mr. Baum will be visiting all four of the campuses to meet with students and to get them involved in choosing school colors and a school mascot.

A lot of firsts are underway now. It is the perfect time to get involved and be part of the vision as it unfolds.

The next Parent Information meeting will be held on December 1 from 6-7:30PM.

In this meeting, there will be discussions around the development of a Mission, Vision and Core Values. It’s a great way to get engaged, meet other families and help form the direction the school will take. The meeting will be held at the North County Regional Education Center (SMUSD’s District Office) at 255 Pico Avenue.

There will also be a PTO Information meeting sometime in December. Keep an eye on the district website for details. Just go to www.smusd.org and search for Double Peak K8 School. Check the website frequently for updates in the weeks ahead: www.smusd.org.

INTRA-DISTRICT TRANSFERS
If you have a student that is not inside the boundaries for Double Peak K-8 School and you would like the option of sending your child there, you will need to complete an Intra-District Transfer Form at the District Office. Intra-District Transfer Forms can be submitted from January 5 through March 27.