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Magnolia Science Academy
By Krista Carlson
The Valley Magnolia Science Academy is the second charter school in the Los Angeles area opened by the Magnolia Foundation. Founded in 1997, all of the board members were teaching at USC, UCLA and Caltech. The president of the foundation was teaching physics at UCLA and realized students were not ready for high-level science education upon arriving at the universities. Their mission is to create schools that are math, science and technology oriented, small schools with small class sizes and college prep schools.
Currently, the school teaches sixth through eight grades, with plans to teach up to 12th grade by adding one grade each year.
Valley Scene Magazine: What is the MSA Curriculum?
Joseph Hurmali: We apply Technology Integrated Education. That's not technology assisted education. There are many schools that use technology assisted education, but they are not fully integrated. We integrate math, science, language and social science with technology. When our students graduate, they receive the International Computer Driving license, which is valid in 146 countries all over the world.
VSM: How long does it take the get ICDL certification?
JH: Three years. This part is the most important part because they learn how to integrate computer classes with core classes. They learn how to use PowerPoint in 6th grade-if they are studying Greek history, they produce a PowerPoint presentation about Greek mythology.
VSM: What does the Magnolia Foundation hope to accomplish?
JH: We try to inspire kids to choose a career kids to choose a career path in math science and technology. We want to encourage kids to be self-learners. We have high expectations for students.
VSM: How was the curriculum for the academies developed?
JH: We cover all the state standards, but we integrate those standards with the technology standards. Unfortunately there are no state [computer] standards, so we've accepted national standards. We've also adopted ICDL standards to use for our curriculum and we integrate them with the core class standards.
VSM: Where are the IDCL standards from?
JH: They started in Europe. They began as European computer standards and then were adopted by more countries and eventually became international standards, which are now accepted in 146 countries.
VSM: What outstanding qualities does the faculty have?
JH: In Jim Collins' book "Good to Great" he says If we get the right people on the bus, the right people in the right seats, and the wrong people off the bus, then we'll figure out how to take it someplace great." One of the differences between and district and chart school is we have the hiring & firing power in-house. In district schools, the principal doesn't have that power.
VSM: How big are the classes?
JH: At most 25. The average is about 22.
VSM: What are the advantages to being in a small school with small classes?
JH: You can give individual attention to the kids and you don't have classroom management problems. The average LAUSD class is 46. We are like a family. All of our teachers make a home visit to their students before the school starts, and during the year they are required to make another visit to encourage the parents to be involved in their kids' education.
VSM: What are some examples of the need for your program?
JH: Right now the world is changing; realize that 50 yrs ago there wasn't any internet. The world is moving toward the technology side more than the agricultural side each year. In 2005, National Academies released a report called "Rising above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future," and basically they are recommending specialty high schools like we've developed.
VSM: What should families know about the Magnolia academies?
JH: One of our students received the international gold medal for math & science. It's a very big deal. It's the first time a California student made the national team and the first time a California student won the international gold medal in the International Math Olympiad. He's a graduate of our school, and he now attends Caltech. Also, our schools are WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) accredited. We have also received more than 60 awards in 6 years among numerous math and science competitions across the state and country.
VSM: What are the biggest benefits for students?
JH: We provide high quality education to the kids, and it's for free. We are offering probably more than a private school can offer. 100% Of our graduating classes are attending universities.
Tall Ships
The Eagle Has Landed...er...Docked
By Alan Haskvitz
Billowing sails, graceful schooners, and gunfire? Yep, the tall ships are coming to San Diego and they are recreating cannon battles as well as bringing with them the opportunity to step back in time for Valley dwellers from August 20 to the 24th. The festival kicks off with a majestic parade of tall ships entering San Diego Bay on Wednesday, August 20 at 10 a.m.
The Parade of Sail is sponsored by Sponsored by the Maritime Museum of San Diego with scheduled visits by such Class A sailing vessels as a replica of the HMS Bounty, and the Gloria from Columbia among others. The Museum has even landed the Coast Guard's Eagle. The festival kicks off with a parade of tall ships entering San Diego Bay on Wednesday, August 20 at 10 a.m. There will be re-enactments of sea battles, a pirate camp, tours and educational programs. The ships will be open for visitors beginning Friday, the 23rd. The Festival of Sail will stretch along Harbor Drive on the embarcadero in downtown San Diego.
Every day of the event will offer attendees the opportunities to walk the decks of these stately vessels once they purchase a Festival of Sail Passport, that runs $20 for adults,
$15 for seniors over 61years-old, active Military with ID, and children age 6 to 17 years. Tickets can be purchased online or at dockside.
More than twenty tall ships and other vessels are taking part in the festival including the famous America's Cup yachts, the Stars and Stripes and Abracadabra, as well as the B- 39 Soviet attack submarine, the Medea steam yacht that served in World War II as a barrage balloon vessel at the mouth of the River Thames, the steam ferryboat Berkeley that carried thousands of survivors from the San Francisco earthquake, and the Pilot that served as San Diego Bay's official pilot boat for 82 years.
Significant tall ships include the Curfew, which was nearly sunk in an Atlantic hurricane and had to be abandoned only to be found drifting three days later. Joining the Curfew is California's official Tall Ship, appropriately named, Californian. This is a replica of the 1847 Revenue Cutter C.W. Lawrence that patrolled the coast of California enforcing federal law during the gold rush. Ultimately it was one of the first vessels when United States Coast Guard was created in 1915.
At the start of the War of 1812, the Navy only had 17 ships and so the government gave letters of permission to the owners of private vessels to engage enemy shipping. Among these was the schooner, Lynx. The success of these privateers resulted in the British going after ship building centers around Baltimore. As such, the British had to sail past Ft. McHenry, which protected the entrance to Baltimore's inner harbor. The British heavily bombarded the fort, but were unsuccessful. Francis Scott Key observed this battle and later wrote the "Star Spangled Banner." The Lynx is a recreation of this privateer.
Other noteworthy ships are the HMS Surprise, which was used in the filming of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World featuring Russell Crowe as Captain. It is a replica of an 18th century Royal Navy frigate. Also taking part in the festival is The Star of India, the world's oldest active ship dating back to 1863. This vessel has experienced a collision and a mutiny, survived a cyclone, had her captain die on board and was nearly sold for scrap only to be saved by San Diego residents. Another tall ship to tour is the Pilgrim, which is a replica of the brig immortalized by Richard Henry Dana, Jr. in Two Years Before the Mast. The original was lost at sea in the mid-1800's
Perhaps the most imposing of the tall ships is the Coast Guard's Eagle. This three-masted sailing barque with 21,350 square feet of sail is the only active commissioned sailing vessel in the U.S. maritime services. Originally a German vessel, it was commissioned into U.S. Coast Guard service as the Eagle. On her voyage to the United States she followed Columbus's route across the mid-Atlantic. The Eagle serves as a seagoing classroom for approximately 175 cadets and instructors from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. She has over five miles of rigging and her weather decks are three-inch-thick teak over steel.
There are sunset cruises planned as well as the battles with the latter being scheduled at 11 am and 3 pm. For more information call 619-234-9153 ext. 101 or online at http://www.sdmaritime.org/ContentPage.asp?ContentID=542