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You are here: Home / Archives for schools

schools

21st Century Classroom Opens at Twin Lakes

April 18, 2016 by Seb Frey

The School at Twin Lakes
The School at Twin Lakes
Twin Lakes Christian School
Twin Lakes Christian School 3.5 star rating 7 reviews Yelp logo

The first 21st Century Classroom in Santa Cruz County has opened at Twin Lakes Church in Aptos. The building, constructed at a cost of $12.1 million is an impressive 40,500 square feet built in three levels and features 12 classrooms, a computer lab, science lab, several rooms for church programs, and an amphitheater.

The new school building has long been on the campus master plan, but the current vision for the project began to take shape about eight years ago. One of the key leaders in the effort was executive pastor Mark Spurlock, who kindly made himself available for a guided tour of the facility.

It features a wide array of high-tech touches, including LED lighting systems throughout the facility that recognize when people enter a room, and when they leave so the lights can be shut off. What’s more, there are ambient light sensors that adjust the lighting level to be well balanced with natural light from the windows.

The building is climate controlled to keep the indoor temperature at an even 70 degrees Fahrenheit, which has been determined to be the best temperature for students to learn in. What’s more, rooms which are unoccupied can be left cold or hot while rooms which are occupied will have their temperatures maintained at optimal levels.

Each classroom features a long whiteboard, onto which can be projected the output from AppleTVs, Chrome Casts, or a scanner on the teacher’s desk for projecting old-fashioned printed material. Teachers can write all over the white board with old fashioned dry erase markers as well, combining the best of “old school” and new technologies.

The structure was designed by long-time parishioner Rich Ifland of Ifland Engineers (designers of the iconic Santa Cruz Lighthouse). Mr. Ifland studied the latest in school and classroom designs from around the country, but in particular in the Seattle area where they have opened dozens of new schools in the past 20 years.

The structure was built by local firm Bogard Construction, which has built most of the buildings on the Twin Lakes Campus. They broke ground in 2014 and were able to finish the whole project on time and on budget. Funding for the project came completely from donations within the church.

The school serves primarily students from Kindergarten through 5th Grade, with middle-school aged children coming in to use the science and computer labs. With the expanded capacity, the school has more space to accept a few dozen new and lucky students and they are currently accepting applications for enrollment.

See also: KSBW News Article, Twin Lakes Christian School web site, Facebook Page, Reviews on GreatSchools.net, RateMyTeachers.com

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Filed Under: News, Schools Tagged With: schools, twin lakes

Mar Vista School Needs Your Support!

December 2, 2015 by Seb Frey

Read-a-Thon Logo
Sponsor the Mar Vista Read-a-thon!

Mar Vista School Needs Your Support with their 2015 Read-a-thon! This is the second year that Mar Vista Elementary School in Aptos is running a read-a-thon fundraiser. With only a few days left to go, the school is well short of it’s $35,000 fundraising goal.

Mar Vista is a California Distinguished School and is renown in the community for its amazing community – just like Aptos itself. Hundreds of Aptos kids attend the school, and thousands of Aptosians themselves attended Mar Vista Elementary school at some time in their lives.

If you know a child at Mar Vista Elementary School, you can go to this web page to look them up and make a donation and become that child’s supporter in the fundraiser.

Even if you don’t have a child currently enrolled at Mar Vista, won’t you consider making a donation to the read-a-thon, to help them reach their fundraising goal? You can make a donation either as an individual, or make a donation as a business to have your business featured on the fundraising page! It’s a great way to log in a tax-deductible expense before the end of the year.

We thank you for your support!

Filed Under: News, Schools Tagged With: fundraising, mar vista elementary, schools

Mar Vista Elementary School 2015 Auction

March 6, 2015 by Seb Frey

Mar Vista Fundraiser Auction
Support Mar Vista Elementary School!

The Mar Vista Elementary School 2015 Auction needs your support! This is their biggest fundraiser of the year. This fundraiser directly benefits our kids by enhancing technology, dance, and art funds – things that the school district simply does not pay for but which greatly enhance a child’s education, and therefore our community.

This year’s auction has two components, both on-line and off-line. The Online Auction will be held March 13-23, and you can register at www.biddingforgood.com – just click the “Bidder” link on that page to sign up and get ready to bid.

This year there are some exciting new donors and many fun adventures, as well as very practical useful items. When the auction goes “live” you can invite family and friends to check it out as well. There are many interesting and exciting items and tickets for our community to bid on.

Please check out the Event created on Facebook, and take a moment to invite all your Facebook friends – even those who don’t live in our area – to register for the on-line auction, and attend the live event if they’re local. Let’s really show some love to one of California’s Distinguished Schools, and help it to continue to earn this coveted distinction.

The live, silent auction component will be held on Saturday, March 21 from 2:00 to 5:30 PM at the fabulous Cantine Wine Pub in Aptos Village Plaza. The live auction is the only place to bid on class projects and prize baskets – and a few choice adventures will be up for bid as well.

Come out and meet other members of our community, including fellow Mar Vista parents, and enjoy a light dinner fare and delicious wine. Tickets are $20 per person, and are sold in the Mar Vista Elementary School office, or online at EventBrite. But hurry – ticket prices will go up on March 14th and will be $25 at the door.

Mar Vista Elementary School 2015 Auction Item Donors

O’Neill Yacht Charters
Otterbox
S.F. 49ers
San Jose Sharks
Chardonnay II
Costanoa
Disneyland
Freedom Bakery
Gilroy Gardens
Hearst Castle
Kayak Connection
Lake Tahoe Cruise
Monterey Bay Aquarium
……and more

Local Restaurants are:
Betty’s Burgers
Cafe Rio
Cruz Cafe
Bittersweet Bistro
Britain Arms
Shadowbrook/Crow’s Nest
Cafe Sparrow
Chill Out Cafe
Discretion Brewing
Kianti’s
Pizza My Heart
….and more

In addition, there are 7 vineyard tasting & tours, a couple of dozen museums from around California. There are over 300 items on the website so far, and growing each day! So register today and get ready to bid!

Mar Vista Elementary School
Mar Vista Elementary School

Filed Under: Events, News Tagged With: auction, cantine, fundraiser, mar vista elementary, schools

Mar Vista Read-a-Thon 2014 Kickoff

October 29, 2014 by Seb Frey

My son Aiden is a kindergartner at Mar Vista Elementary School, and we’re doing a read-a-thon fundraiser, and it’s now time for the Mar Vista Read-a-Thon 2014 Kickoff. The Mar Vista library is in sad shape, and half the funds we raise will go to buy new books for the library. The other half of the money will go to the Mar Vista Parent’s Club general fund, which goes to support music, art, and technology, teacher training, and much more.

We will be starting on:
Monday Nov. 3rd
by www.read-a-thon.com

Donations are 100% tax deductible, because the Mar Vista Parents Club is an IRS 501c3 Non-Profit Organization.

Business Sponsorships

Do you have a business, or know someone who does that would like to market to the beautiful people who make up the Mar Vista Community? Consider sponsoring the Read-a-thon, check this out:

http://www.read-a-thon.com/school/donate.php?q=3051

Thank you so much for your support! And also (shameless plug) – Aiden would love your sponsorship!

Filed Under: Lifestyle, Schools Tagged With: mar vista elementary, read-a-thon, schools

Mar Vista Elementary Harvest Festival October 25th

October 13, 2014 by Seb Frey

Mar Vista Harvest Festival 2014
Mar Vista Harvest Festival 2014

The Mar Vista Elementary Harvest Festival is scheduled for October 25th, from 11 AM until 4 PM. This is a annual event is public and all are welcome to come and celebrate the harvest season and help feed those less fortunate in our community.

The organizers have lined up some amazing food, entertainment and events, including:

  • Law Enforcement K-9 Demonstrations
  • Costume Parade
  • Raffle
  • Surfing Magician
  • PAC Dance Performances
  • Mad Scientist Movie Special Effects Spectacular
  • Bounce Houses
  • Obstacle Courses
  • Face Painting
  • Glow in the Dark Scavenger Hunt
  • Aptos Fire Truck
  • Santa Cruz Sheriff Swat Truck and Robot
  • Photo Booth
  • Lots of Games, Music, Food, and the Sugar Shack!

This year they are partnering with the Santa Cruz County Deputy Sheriffs Association, along with Second Harvest Food Bank and Grind Out Hunger to kick off the Holiday Food Drive at the Harvest Festival! Please join us in supporting some amazing causes and Mar Vista Elementary! Bring a can of food to receive a raffle ticket and a chance to win some amazing prizes!

See also: Mar Vista Elementary Harvest Festival Facebook Page

Filed Under: Events, News Tagged With: harvest festival, mar vista elementary, schools

Aptos Sports Foundation Poker Tournament October 10

September 14, 2014 by Seb Frey

The Aptos Sports Foundation is having a Poker Tournament Fundraiser on Friday, October 10 at 6:30 PM at the Seascape Resort. 100% of the tournament proceeds are to be donated to Aptos schools for sports programs, and improvements in equipment and facilities. A $150 buy-in includes a sandwich and snack buffet provided by the Seascape Resort, and a no-host bar. If you don’t play poker, sponsorships are available for $300.

The Aptos Sports Foundation is an IRS Code 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created over 30 years ago for the purpose of improving the sports facilities and programs at Aptos High School. Over the years the Foundation has donated more than $2.5M toward those improvements, helping keep kids involved in a healthy environment while instilling pride in community.

Poker
Aptos Sports Foundation Poker Tournament

Filed Under: Events, News Tagged With: fundraising, poker, schools, sports

Aptos Kids Fight Bullying with Kindness

March 15, 2014 by Seb Frey

The children at Rio del Mar Elementary School in Aptos have made it into the news, and for a good reason! The kids are fighting bullying by being kind, according to a new report by KION TV. Students and faculty are participating in a 21 day challenge which is being supported by the Random Acts of Kindness Club.

The Club was formed this past December by Justina Bryant, the parent of a Rio del Mar elementary school student, who was moved to do something when she saw another student taunted and bullied by other kids at the school. While the club is small, they’ve already had an impact by having anti-bullying posters and by getting teachers to show 1-minute anti-bullying videos in class.

Hats off to Justina Bryant, members of the Random Acts of Kindness Club, and the other kids and faculty at Rio del Mar Elementary School. School bullying isn’t cool, and it’s gratifying to see a grassroots effort by members of the community to stamp it out.

See also:  KION Central Coast News, Santa Cruz Sentinel article

Rio del Mar Elementary School
Rio del Mar Elementary School

Filed Under: News Tagged With: bullying, rio del mar elementary, schools

Aptos High teacher wins Educator of the Year

December 11, 2013 by Seb Frey

Aptos High School teacher Deb Tracy has won Educator of the Year! Deb was one of 11 local area teachers who were nominated for this award, granted by the California League of High Schools. Congratulations are in order to Deb – keep up the good work, and thanks for being a part of our community!

Read all about it in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: academics, aptos high school, schools, teachers

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