Alpio! - The Spectrum Magazine

Summit Charter School
Hosts O’Connell
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell
got a lesson in physics yesterday when he sat down on
Summit Preparatory Charter High School junior Nik
Romano’s hovercraft while visiting the school to observe
the hands-on learning style.
The 400-student Redwood City school welcomed
O’Connell by showcasing classes and projects that help
students succeed. The campus tour took O’Connell
through classrooms to watch as students at various grade
levels gave speeches, shared projects and explained why
Summit was a fit for them.
“I’m a big proponent of rigorous education opportunities
for every student. The small size and individual learning
opportunities [are] clearly reaching each student. [Summit]
is a clear example of the three Rs of learning: rigor, relevance
and relationships. The staff is very dedicated and
committed. ... It’s a very good school,” O’Connell said
after his tour.
O’Connell watched as freshman geometry students
critiqued the various end-of-the-year projects. Freshman
Claire Wampler gave her persuasive speech, “Boycott the
bacon,” which gave an overview of the economic, environmental
and health benefits of cutting meat consumption
by 10 percent.
An outdoor physics fair got the most attention. Juniors
created projects incorporating the various elements
learned through the year.
Romano took two months building his hovercraft, inspired
by students who took on the idea last year. He wasn’t
finished until 4 a.m. Thursday. Romano had ridden it only
twice so he wasn’t sure how fast it could go.
Eighteen-year-old junior Zach Shpizner’s physics project — a small mechanical car of
sorts — was tested to see if it could pick up items such as paper clips. It took two tries
before Shpizner was successful as O’Connell watched.
Eighteen-year-old junior Zach Shpizner tests his physics
project while State Superintendent Jack O’Connell
and Diane Tavenner, Summit Preparatory Charter High
School executive director, watch.
O’Connell’s final stop was into a senior seminar class to hear the end of a discussion
on genocide. Students were given the opportunity to share their thoughts on Summit’s
teaching style with O’Connell.
At first students simply said, “It works,” and “We like it.” Senior Patrick Reneau followed
by explaining how Summit differed from his experience at Menlo-Atherton High
School, where kids were segregated.
“You can have one class without dividing people and prepare students for college,” he
said. “It’s been tricky but I think it’s worked.”
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