FAQ

Q: Who will be going to D39C? What are the boundaries?

A: Design39Campus will be a school of optional enrollment for the communities that have contributed Mello Roos money for its construction. Please see the letter under Enrollment and on the district webpage at www.powayusd.com for an explanation of eligible areas.

Q: Love what D39C is all about and I want to put my child on a waiting list right now! How can I do this?

A: Enrollment procedures have not been defined yet and there are no interest lists for any grade. Right now we are meeting with parents and community members to communicate and ask questions to help us design a new learning ecosystem. We are working with the district office to plan enrollment procedures and we will clearly communicate our next steps when we have a plan in place.

We will notify all parents who live in the boundaries when enrollment procedures begin and the process will not be first come first served. So there is no need to stress. We plan on being very transparent about this process.

Q: Will students need an interview to attend D39C?

A: No. Enrollment will NOT involve student interviews. This really made us laugh. Design39Campus will not be interviewing children or families. We want all community members to feel welcome.

Q: How will the typical day look?

A: We have an initial plan of what a typical day might be at this point. We are designing the program this year and will share more soon. For our most recent work, watch this video: Possible Schedule

Q: How will the learning experiences be like at D39C?

A: For more information on the engaging learning experiences that will be happening at Design39Campus, please view this video: Learning Experiences

Q: How much input/choice will students have in their own learning? How can you ensure he/she is getting that creative time to explore his/her passions?

A: Student voice and choice is a theme for us. At D39C, choice will be embedded throughout the entire learning process. Students will be encouraged to explore their passions and we are currently thinking of ways to incorporate time throughout the day so students have a way to express themselves creatively.

We also see the opportunity for students to incorporate creative thinking in our content areas like Math, Science, Language Arts, and Social Studies. We are working on systems that will create the space for students to do this and make it the norm, rather than the exception.

Q: How many teachers will my child have?

A: Our plan is for all students to have one teacher who will act as their main teacher and that teacher will be part of a small team of teachers of 5-6 who will collaborate together and plan integration of curriculum and learning experiences. This is true K-8. We have curriculum specialists at all levels who will be part of the team process. But we will not be rotating classes through expert classrooms. That is an old model of schooling that does not lead to deep learning. We will have specialty curriculum opportunities for children to go deeper.

Q: Are my kids going to be constantly switching classrooms and teachers?

A: No. Children will have a core group of teachers who will be there for them. We believe the best learning happens in a trusting relationship where children know they can trust their teachers.

Q: I've heard there is going to be multi-age classes. Is that true?

A: The best answer is, yes and no. All children will be in grade level type homerooms and will most likely spend their day with similar aged children. We do, however, have plans for students to self-select into challenging projects and curriculum which may include multiple grade learning time. If a child is ready for advanced learning tasks, we aren't going to stop them from advancing. It is important to unthink the traditional one classroom one teacher all day paradigm of elementary school. Small teams of teachers will work with your child and different age children may join for classes when appropriate. Think multi-age moments.

Q: How will you utilize the large and small spaces on campus?

A: We are planning on having some flexible learning spaces and we will need the rest of the staff to design what that looks like. So we don't have a plan in place right now, but we have concepts to explore. For more information on learning spaces at D39C, watch this video: Learning Spaces

Q: Will the class sizes be smaller?

A: We are funded the same way as all of the other schools in our district. We are looking for ways to help the student to teacher ratio but we don't have any extra money to do this. So we are working only many possible solutions within the budget boundary.

Q: Do you mean my seven year-old will be in a class with a thirteen year old?

A: Most likely, that will not happen. Again, the idea ISN'T to mix kids just because we can. We want students to be working at their level of challenge in purposeful groupings. We have students who are gifted in subject areas and want to move on and not be forced to sit in a class where they aren't learning simply because they are a certain age. And in the event your child wants the challenge but is terrified of a setting with older students, of course they will not be forced. We are here to meet their needs and be sensitive to the individual. Your child will not only be in environments where they can be most successful, they will be also be encouraged to explore and discover different ways/styles of learning so they can discover HOW they learn best.

Q: I've heard that K-8 will all have lunch and recess together. Is this true?

A: D39C is fully conscious of the developmental differences between the various ages of students that will be attending our school. With this in mind, lunches and recess times will vary for different age groups in order to ensure the safety and comfort of our students. At this time, we are considering three different lunch times in order to accommodate K-2, 3-5, and 6-8 students' needs.

Q: Will children have enough time to eat?

A: Yes. Nutrition is vital to learning and we are not putting schedules before student needs.

Q: What about discipline and safety?

A: Safety is our first priority so we are planning around that all the time, including during the construction phase. We will be using a positive behavior support design to help students learn how to manage their behavior and provide targeted support for when they need help. The punitive systems of yesteryear, detentions, sign-ins, chill chairs, etc. do not work to change behavior and promote an atmosphere of learning. We have many years of success in PUSD using positive behavior support and we will build on this at D39C. Of course extremes of behavior have consequences through school board policy and those will be enforced.

Q: What about social skills?

A: Social skills and interpersonal communication are vital to a collaborative learning environment and will be a focus of our work.

Q: Will there be collaboration with high school? Will students have opportunities for tutoring from high school?

A: We are working on offering an option for high school students to work on campus as teaching interns and possibly have them use their off roll class time to volunteer. We already have a list of kids ready to join us!

Q: How will children use technology? And how will technology play a part at school?

A: Being a 1:1 campus means we are going to use technology as a tool for learning. We will be a Bring Your Own Device campus. Some students will bring the devices they already have, other families may elect to use a school provided device. We will be as device agnostic as possible so families will have many choices.

As children progress in skills and age, electronic writing, creating, blogging, etc. will be used more to facilitate deeper learning and preparing students for the real world and career readiness.

Q: So are children going to be working by themselves in front of an electronic device all day?

A: No. Children will be using technology as a learning tool daily, but children will not be glued to electronic screens doing tasks all day long by themselves. Collaboration with teachers and other students is too important. Students and teachers will use electronic devices when appropriate for a given situation - we don't just use technology because it's there, we use it to make learning meaningful and real in our different learning environments.

Q: What will math and science look like at D39C?

A: For more information on the integration between math, science, and coding, please watch this video: Math and Science

Q: I don't get the name of the school. What does Design39Campus mean?

A: Visit this link

Q: Has D39C always been planned to be progressive?

A: Yes. Our superintendent, John Collins, articulated a vision of a school that would be a type of lab school where innovation would be part of the norm with the goal of best practices spreading throughout the district. This is why it is a school of choice. He has asked us to "Change the way we do school."

Q: I've heard D39C is going to have open classrooms like in the seventies. Is that true?

A: No. We have traditional and non traditional classroom spaces and there are walls and doors. We are not recycling fads from the past. Our goal is adjust what we do and how we do it to meet the needs of all students.

Q: Is this an engineering school?

A: We are not an engineering school. We will be infusing engineering in science instruction and science will be important K-8.

Q: Is this an art school?

A: "Design" does not mean we are doing art all day long. We are comprehensive in our approach and we want to nurture creativity. We will teach design thinking and use the design process to create learning experiences. Check out the Stanford d.school for more information on design thinking.

Q: So is this a Montessori school?

A: No. There are great ideas in Montessori schools and we are not planning on mimicking that approach.

Q: So is this just like High Tech High?

A: No. HTH has a brand that offers one option for schooling and we are not replicating their plan. Some ideas will be similar, but our vision for D39C isn't being done, to our knowledge...and we have been looking!

Q: How will grading work?

A: We are focusing on how to measure progress rather than computing a grade which can be meaningless. We all know students who earn A's and don't know what they need to and others who are denied B's or A's simply because they didn't complete paperwork and yet they get nearly 100% on tests. Progress and personal challenge is our goal and that is being designed this year.

Q: Will there be accountability for all students doing projects?

A: Yes. That is the goal for all learners to be doing there part in all settings and we will be monitoring those situations.

Q: I have heard this school will be paperless. How do you expect kids to learn if they don't write?

A: This rumor is not true. Paper, writing, drawing are all cheap ways to work quickly when creating. At D39C we intend to use paper. Of course children need to draw, write, and use lined paper. They don't need stacks of paperwork to drag home to complete at night just because we have always done that. They don't need fill in the blank paperwork in piles to learn either. We intend to do what is developmentally appropriate and that also means switching to digital work as children move through their years at D39C. So over the course of their education they will use the tools that are most appropriate. Come by and check out our workspace at Del Norte High School in A144 to see us using paper!

Q: I like what Design39Campus is about but I'm worried about my child's transition from your school to a traditional High School. Will she/he be prepared for high school?

A: The real question is going to be are the high schools ready for your kids. At D39C, we will focus on educating the whole child as they prepare themselves for their 21st century future, whatever that looks like to them. Students will develop a natural curiosity about the world as they seek out challenging problems and become connected, critical thinkers. Also, rest assured, our staff will be equipped with what we like to call content and curriculum "specialists" that know all about the Common Core and specific content standards. One of our mantras is "the Common Core is the floor" so we plan on going way beyond what is expected of them by the state. A graduate of D39C will have the skills necessary to navigate new learning environments and adapt as needed. The real world, beyond school, demands adaptability and agility so we will be teaching students in ways that grow their capacity to change.

Q: How will you help struggling learners with early intervention and the special education process?

A: We will be working with our special education team to design the intervention process for special education and create a way to help struggling learners. This is an important area of concern for all of us as we don't like the current process where kids have to show they are failing before the system can intervene. We may be limited by legal constraints from the State of California on this and our intent is to find a way to help students.

Q: Will there be time for kids who need help?

A: Yes and also kids who need acceleration.

Q: How will GATE work?

A: GATE students will be challenged to grow as our model is designed around accelerating kids in areas of strengths and challenging them in areas they are not as proficient. We will not be offering the traditional homogeneous GATE program at the middle level. There are many ways to challenge gifted students in a flexible learning environment and this will also be true for the gifted children not officially identified who are in our system.

Q: Will you need parent volunteers?

A: Absolutely! We plan to utilize parents with instruction which will mean a parent training program will be created in the spring. We would love to have parents share their superpowers (areas of expertise) with D39C students.

Q: Will there be a PTSA and foundation forming?

A: Yes! We need to wait until the first of March so we know who our parents and students will be so those processes can start. In the meantime, we are looking for volunteers, who are not potential parents, to help begin the paperwork for the foundation.

Q: Will the school have a focus on sustainability and being green?

A: This is part of the plan generally. The entire project is working toward many green goals currently. As is true everywhere else, choices made by parents, teachers, and students will contribute to a lighter footprint on our environment.

Q: Will there be space for a school garden?

A: Yes and we will need people who have that as a passion to help plan, implement, and maintain it.

Q: Will the arts be part of the plan?

A: That's an enthusiastic yes! The arts will be critical to creating an atmosphere of innovation and the focus will be on exploring the arts and making art, music, etc.

Q: What about PE?

A: We will have PE and we are looking at doing fitness in a way that engages children in physical activity that they enjoy. Traditional PE classes, where running is the focus, is not the best fit for all kids. We want to work in new ways to enhance the elementary experience while giving more creative options too.

Q: What kind of library resources will be available?

A: We are working on this detail still. There will not be a central library as the future is going digital. While this may cause some people to recoil in horror and others to celebrate, the reality is reading is going digital. There will be paper readers in primary, most likely, but upper grades will be digital as often as possible. This is already happening in many PUSD schools in small pockets and it works!

Q: Will there be an ESS program?

A: Yes. TK-5 for sure and there are ongoing discussions about 6-8 with NO decision right now.

Q: What about sixth grade camp?

A: That will be a discussion we will need to have. There is no plan against it, we just have larger issues to address right now. We certainly like outdoor education as many of us have been involved for years.

Q: Will you teach keyboarding?

A: This is an interesting question as the concept of students sitting at keyboards is not a reality at young ages. While most students keyboard with their thumbs on phones by 6th grade, we also know they do need some keyboarding skills. This is a discussion we will need to have.

Q: Will my child be coming home with a ton of homework every night?

A: No. Our kids will be encountering many challenging learning experiences during the school day and we believe that much of their learning will happen in a collaborative environment with other students and staff. Our hope and dream is that kids become so passionate about topics that they choose to continue their own learning at home just because they want to gain new knowledge. It will be more common for students to work on longer term items writing and researching as well as prepping for their projects at school.

Q: How much will NCLB be considered?

A: We will have to work with the requirements of NCLB to be in compliance. As long as it exists, we have to comply with the rules and guidelines.

Q: Does D39C have budget constraints?

A: Absolutely. All PUSD schools have budget guidelines to work with each year.

Q: Traffic may be a nightmare. What are you going to do about that?

A: We plan on coordinating start and end times with local schools to prevent, as much as possible, major congestion.

Q: It was a shock for us to attend another school that tried something different and my older children have learning issues as a result. How are you deciding what you are doing and how will we know?

A: First, it is our goal to be completely transparent with our planning and we want community members involved from day one. Since D39C is a school of optional enrollment, we want you to know exactly what we are about. Second, we are designing a learning environment that will be different in order to meet the needs of today's learners so they are ready for the world they will inherit. Sitting silently in rows, reading textbooks, answering textbook questions, etc. are not what we are about. We are working with schools across the country, people involved in pushing the educational boundaries, industry leaders, and experts in the field of education to create the best learning environment for children. Yes, your children will learn phonics, write on lined paper, and learn how to read and do math. It is our plan to make those learning opportunities engaging and interesting for them so they never lose the joy of learning. Filling out stacks of homework packets is not what we are about.