Westside Reader December 2015

December 2015
Reader Education
THE Reader • 17
legaCy aCademy
Humble beginnings started path to National Blue Ribbon award
By patti Rasmussen
Staff Writer
It could be said that the idea of Legacy
Christian Academy began in the mid-
1980s when two public school teachers,
Tim and Donna Borruel, opened Sunshine
Day Camp for kids at a local church in
Newhall. Soon after, the Borruels expanded
Sunshine Day Camp and placed preschools
on several elementary school campuses.
Parents convinced the Borruels to offer
kindergarten classes, which led to the creation
of Legacy as a private kindergarten in
1995. Soon, fourth through sixth grade were
added and, in 2008, Legacy Christian Academy
welcomed its first group of middle
school students.
Located near Valencia High School with
slightly over 400 students, and a strong emphasis
on academic achievement, Legacy
Christian Academy was recently named a
2015 National Blue Ribbon School.
The school’s mission statement promises
a comprehensive, rigorous and well-rounded
preparatory education within a Christian,
family-oriented and safe environment. The
curriculum focuses on language arts, mathematics,
science and technology, with advanced
college-preparatory skills and
concepts. Students are also taught Spanish
and Mandarin Chinese.
The school’s teacher-to-student ratio is
aCademy oF the Canyonsvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
High school students earn college credit
By patti Rasmussen
Staff Writer
Xxxx
1:13 with two teachers in every classroom.
On a recent Monday, Donna Borruel gave a
tour of the school to several prospective parents.
She explained how the teachers teach to
the top of the class.
“Your children are never going to be bored
because it’s too easy or exasperated because
class is too hard,” she said. “There is a joy in
learning because (instruction) should be
slightly beyond the student’s grasp.”
Eighty-five percent of Legacy Middle
School graduates enroll in honors and advanced
placement classes in local high
schools. Legacy students traditionally score
One unique high school in Santa
Clarita is providing teens with the
opportunity to earn college credits
while working toward their high school
diploma.
Academy of the Canyons, part of the
William S. Hart Union High School District,
gives its high school students the opportunity
to experience college life and, upon graduation,
complete one year of transferable college-level
courses.
This year, AOC earned the distinguished
title of a National Blue Ribbon School.
AOC was established in the year 2000 to
provide education to 11th and 12th grade
students. The school expanded in 2009 to include
the 9th and 10th grades as well.
Located on the Valencia campus at College
of the Canyons, students at AOC dual enroll
at the college to meet educational goals that
include high school graduation, college freshman
admission, college transfer, an associate’s
degree and career certification.
“It’s a very dynamic environment,” Principal
Pete Getz said. “We help our students
transition into the college environment and
they learn what is expected and how to survive.”
With just 400 students, AOC provides a
more flexible and smaller learning environment,
and an opportunity to explore individual
interests with a wider selection of classes,
Getz said.
Ninth and 10th grade students are introduced
to the college atmosphere by taking
physical education classes at COC. Juniors
and seniors can take a maximum of 11 college
units per semester, as per California
state law. All AOC students have complete access
to the college library, computer labs,
gym and tutoring center.
While AOC has no team sports, Getz said
students are exposed to more traditional high
school activities through numerous clubs and
a very active student government on campus.
Additionally, AOC students may attend proms
at other high schools.
Getz said the success of AOC is due to the
quality relationships among the staff, students,
parents and its partner, College of the
Canyons.
With its new National Blue Ribbon status,
the school is already experiencing an increased
level of interest from students who
would like to attend for the 2016/17 school
year.
“There are 500 to 600 applicants and we
take barely a quarter of those who apply,”
Getz said. “We have very few students leave
once they get here.”
He added: “Academy of the Canyons is a serious
educational environment where students
can take control of their own learning.
I am very proud of our students and our
staff.” R
nationally in the top 6 percent in mathematics,
top 10 percent in reading and top 8 percent
in language in SAT scores.
Drama, art, music and physical education
round out the student’s educational day.
After-school tutoring and enrichment classes
are available.
Leadership skills and character education
play a big role at Legacy. Each classroom assigns
a student to welcome adults entering
the room. Once a month students and their
parents work together on “Heartwork,” an assignment
that corresponds with a character
trait.
Many Legacy graduates go on to become
student body presidents at their high school
and earn college scholarships in academics,
art and sports. A Wall of Fame is located in
the hallway that displays photographs of numerous
graduates, offering inspiration to the
younger students.
Legacy, AOC win Blue Ribbon Award
By patti Rasmussen
Staff Writer
Volunteer and parent Kellie Davenport
said she has been pleased with her decision
to enroll her children in Legacy.
“It’s been wonderful,” she said. “Seeing the
children in the classrooms and how well-balanced
the curriculum is. My kids are very motivated
and incentive driven.”
Sixth grader Joshua Reyes, 11, said he liked
coming to school because the teachers are
fun.
“Every day they do fun activities to get us
to learn,” he said. “I’m learning a lot more
than I did before.”
While an emphasis is placed on a solid
Christian education, as well as Bible lessons
and chapel service, Legacy is not affiliated
with any specific church and students of all
religious and ethnic backgrounds are enrolled
in the school.
Co-founder and Superintendent Tim Borruel
said, “Our open admissions policy allows
us to take students from all backgrounds. Our
Statement of Faith, though, is distinctly Christian
and all families admitted understand
that their students will be learning about
Christ and the Gospel.”
Interested families are welcome to tour the
campus. An online application form needs to
be completed as well as a scheduled interview
and academic assessment.
Tuition fees start at $10,000 for kindergarten
and are up to $13,000 for upper
grades. Sibling discounts and scholarships
are available.
“Parents who do not invest in the early
years of their child’s education make a grave
mistake,” Borruel said. “The foundations and
the joy of learning must be established before
one can be equipped for advanced secondary
and post-secondary schooling.” R
Two local schools have been awarded
the prestigious National Blue Ribbon
School Award, which recognizes
the nation’s top-performing schools for
their efforts in providing excellence in education.
Legacy Christian Academy (a private
school) and Academy of the Canyons (a
middle college high school in the William
S. Hart Union High School District) were
the only two schools in the Santa Clarita
Valley to receive the award this year.
The National Blue Ribbon School Program
recognizes outstanding public and
non-public schools. Started by Terrell H.
Bell, secretary of education under President
Ronald Reagan, the program celebrates
the most skilled and effective
educators in the country.
All schools are eligible for this award –
public, charter, magnet, private and Title 1.
The Department of Education honors highperforming
schools and schools that are
making great strides in closing any
achievement gaps among student groups.
Both public and private schools are recognized
as “Exemplary High Performing”
if their student achievement in English and
mathematics is among the highest in the
country (the top 15 percent), measured by
state assessments or nationally normed
tests.
”Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing”
schools are recognized for having made the
greatest advances in closing subgroup
achievement gaps in English and mathematics
over the past five years.
Individual schools apply for the title of
National Blue Ribbon School. The application
process is rigorous and requires
schools to quantify categories of excellence
and achievement. All data is checked and
double-checked.
One perk of being named as a National
Blue Ribbon School, says the Education Department,
is that those schools find they attract
new business partners, financial
assistance and volunteers. In addition, they
see a spike in applications.
It’s common for the principals and
teachers at the winning schools to share
best practices of their innovative education
techniques for students and faculty, and
they’re expected to become models in leadership
and instructional strategies. R