Crib to College 2020

San Clemente Times August 27-September 2, 2020

Page 11

sanclementetimes.com

Resources for Students Learning English As the education model transitions toward distance learning, educators adapt their resources for students who are learning English as a second language.

Students are identified as English learners upon taking the English Learner Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC). Programs include Structured English Immersion (SEI), which allow for English language development support, as well as either integrated or designated English language development, depending on the student’s proficiency.

For more information on English Learner (EL) support, visit dhhs.schoolloop.com/ elsupport.

Presentations in English, Spanish, Farsi and Mandarin are available for parents at els-capousd-ca.schoolloop.com. Students and families can also find more information on bilingual community service liaisons (BCSLs).

WELCOME TO CRIB TO COLLEGE The COVID-19 pandemic has created plenty of challenges when it comes to education. Children and families, though, are rising to the occasion and still working to ensure the younger generation is getting the best learning experience possible. In this edition of our annual education guide, “Crib to College,” we have information to help guide parents through the tough but rewarding educational journey. The following articles look at what will happen with SATs, services offered by local tutoring centers and other relevant resources. No matter what, a child’s curiosity is a powerful force. We hope this guide helps as you watch them go from an infant in your arms to an adult who makes you proud.

Dual Immersion Programs Capistrano Unified School District has incorporated language immersion instruction since 1992 and currently offers programs in Spanish and Mandarin. The Two Way Immersion program in Spanish is offered at four elementary sites, including at R.H. Dana Elementary School in Dana Point, while the One Way Immersion program in Mandarin is offered at Marian Bergeson Elementary School in Laguna Niguel.

Students from both programs matriculate into middle and high school programs that support them with further study in each of the target languages.

Additional Resources Resources from the California Department of Education (CDE) English Learner Support Division are available to local educational agencies as they support English learner, immigrant, newcomer, and migratory students during distance learning and the transition to schools reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The webpage for Alaz y Voz (californianstogether.com/alaz-y-voz) provides resources to families in Spanish, including home learning resources and information about physical and mental health during times of crisis.

The Future of SAT Testing I

BY COLLIN BREAUX

n the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, what will happen to SAT testing, once a common prerequisite for students applying for college?

The College Board, a nonprofit organization that administers the SAT, will continue to do so. But the University of California Board of Regents recently voted to do away with requiring the SAT in student applications, a move that was in the works for years.

“The August 29 administration is scheduled to proceed as planned. There is limited testing capacity in certain areas due to public health restrictions and high demand,” The College Board said in a statement.

“While the College Board cannot directly San Clemente Times August 27-September 2, 2020

control test center capacity and availability, we’re working to ensure as many students as possible are able to test safely.”

Local schools and test centers make individual decisions about whether to administer the SAT, and the College Board is asking test centers to report closures as soon as possible. Students are advised to check directly with their test center, including the test center’s website, on the morning of the test.

It is also recommended that students check college websites for the most current information on application requirements.

The College Board will support higher education members as they transition back to requiring test scores or implement permanent new policies in the long-term as the admission process takes shape postpandemic.

The UC Board of Regents unanimously

voted in May to suspend standardized test requirements, which includes the ACT and SAT, for all California freshman applicants until the fall of 2024. UC will work to come up with a new test in the interim that more adequately reflects the material incoming students are expected to know.

However, UC will eliminate the standardized testing requirement altogether for California students if a new test does not meet specified criteria in time for fall 2025 admission, a press release said.

In March, current standardized test requirements for fall 2021 UC applicants were suspended due to the ongoing health crisis. Tests will be optional through 2022 and test scores from applicants will not be considered in admissions for fall 2023 and fall 2024.

The May vote “marks the culmination of a two-year, research-based effort by UC to

Page 12

evaluate the value and use of standardized tests in admissions,” a press release said.

A report in February by the UC Academic Senate discussed numerous aspects of standardized test scores and admission processes, including how African American, Latino, and Native American students are underrepresented.

“Concern has grown in recent months and years that the consideration of standardized test scores in UC’s admissions process might be a contributing cause of underrepresentation in particular of African American and Latino students,” the report said.

Despite many California students coming from Spanish-speaking homes, research has shown that standardized tests “likely underestimate these students’ capabilities because of lack of sensitivity of the tests to issues of language difference,” the report said. sanclementetimes.com

San Clemente Times August 27-September 2, 2020

Page 13

sanclementetimes.com

g n i r o t u T e h t g n i Dur c i m e d Pan

T

BY COLLIN BREAUX

he COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted just about every aspect of daily life and education. What about tutoring?

Local tutoring centers vary on how exactly they’re operating during the ongoing health crisis, but they are continuing to help students. Education has entered uncharted territory as everyone learns on the fly while face-to-face gatherings are discouraged, people communicate remotely and details seemingly change by the day.

Under Pressure Homework Help helps students in all grades and almost all subjects.

They offer in-person tutoring from their Dana Point studio, as well as virtual tutoring.

For the school year, they are also offering homeschool (K-5th grades) and a homework club. They have many tutors ready to help students, and parents, be successful with all of the changes this school year.

In response to the pandemic, Dana Point’s Mathnasium is offering their services inCenter or online with Mathnasium@Home.

Mathnasium@home learning offers flexibil-

San Clemente Times August 27-September 2, 2020

ity with a student’s schedule and is available anywhere. Mathnasium works to assure that each child advances in their math learning journey at the pace they need to maximize their growth—helping kids stay on grade level and even get ahead through this crisis.

In addition, Mathnasium will be introducing Prime Study Space, a comfortable workspace with a private desk, fast Internet, and power outlet so students can focus on remote classroom learning. Students will be kept safe through strict social distancing, disinfecting protocols, and mask and temperature checks. The program is offered Monday through Friday mornings for four hours, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. Prime Study Space is month-to-month; no long-term contract required. Mathnasium’s background-checked facilitators keep them on task, so parents can focus on their day.

Tutoring at the Huntington Learning Center in Laguna Niguel has been surprisingly smooth, said Assistant Director Melissa Ogdon. The franchise location has launched Zoom tutoring and implemented safety

guidelines while staying open for in-person instruction. They never offered virtual learning before the pandemic.

A “good number” of students have stayed with them during the transition, and the center has even had some new students.

Ogdon said the changes were initially challenging, but they got up and running once they figured out the logistics.

“It worked out well,” Ogdon said.

Some of their regular students have been with the Huntington Learning Center for years and normally need extra support.

Students may deal with learning gaps caused by a lack of in-person instruction.

One-on-one help incorporating social distancing is being provided to children.

Huntington Learning Center is open from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily and primarily focuses on reading, math, writing, study skills and test preparation.

Most of the students they help are still utilizing in-person services and may otherwise get distracted at home if attempting virtual learning, Ogdon said. The center

Page 14

was servicing approximately 15 families, as of press time. Students are productive and tend to make progress, Ogdon said.

Meanwhile, the Kumon Math and Reading Center of Aliso Viejo has started to offer in-center classes with limited availability while continuing their online classes, after previously offering only online learning.

Kumon is defined as a supplemental enrichment program, which is a bit different than tutoring. In the words of Center Director Angel Ko, “Instead of waiting until children fall behind, families enroll their kids in the program to get ahead.” Kumon’s programs cover math and reading.

“During the time the center has been closed to visitors, we have invested in numerous safety measures, such as the installation of plexiglass dividers, sanitization stations and more,” Ko said.

The Kumon Center has remained busy during the pandemic, with staff putting in many hours to adapt to the new normal.

Very little in terms of processes has reportedly changed—generally, a student would come to the center and do work, staff would observe and grade the work and then students would leave.

“This stayed the same with virtual classes, besides commuting to and from the center,” Ko said. “Our goal is to keep the experience as consistent as possible for the student.”

Consistency is important for children during this unusual period, Ko said. Parents can count on Kumon activities being something their child is doing every day, since it is so routine-based, Ko said.

In addition, Kumon can be a light for kids during a time when they may be physically separated from their teachers and friends, and away from familiar classroom surroundings.

“It’s important to keep children on track right now because of our efforts to combat the ‘COVID Slide’,” Ko said. “A report released by the NWEA suggests that because of the break from the classroom caused by COVID-19, there’s a risk for some students returning to school in the fall with only 70% of the reading knowledge they acquired from the previous school year, and just half of what they learned in math.”

Incorporating consistent academic enrichment into a child’s education is also crucial due to the uncertainty surrounding what school will be like this year, Ko said.

Editor’s note: These details may change as conditions develop.

sanclementetimes.com

The JuCo Route Community colleges have gained popularity with those looking to save on costs

A

BY ZACH CAVANAGH

s a college education becomes more important and more expensive, and college admissions become more competitive, a prudent option for graduating high school seniors—or anyone getting back into higher education—is the junior college route.

The route is also becoming a popular one.

Freshman applications dropped 5.4% from 2018 to 2019 across the nine campuses of the University of California system, with the declines coming at UCLA, UC Davis, UC Merced, UC Santa Barbara and UC Santa Cruz. However, the system also saw a 4.8% increase in transfer applications, with UCLA receiving a 12.5% increase in transfer applications from Californian students, according to the Los Angeles Times.

California’s community college system is the largest system of higher education in the country, with nine colleges in Orange County. Saddleback College in Mission Viejo and Irvine Valley College in Irvine make up the two local options in the South Orange County Community College District.

Saddleback College boasts a robust amount of resources for its more than 3,500 students who transfer to four-year universities every year.

Students who choose the junior college route will find two major benefits: significant tuition costs saved and transfer admission guarantees and partnerships with many major universities.

Cost has been seen by many as the biggest contributing factor to the growth in popularity of the transfer route.

According to Saddleback College, students who complete two years at Saddleback save thousands of dollars in tuition at Southern California’s biggest universities.

Based on 2018-19 tuition and fees, Saddleback says those who complete four-year degrees at Cal State Fullerton save more than $11,000, more than $24,000 at UC Irvine and more than $100,000 at USC.

San Clemente Times August 27-September 2, 2020

Page 15

One of Saddleback’s main goals is to help facilitate those transfers, to make sure the hard hours of effort aren’t wasted in the competitive race for college admissions.

The biggest way the college has done this is with the development of articulation agreements with Cal State and University of California campuses, as well as many major out-of-state and private schools. These agreements assure that the courses taken at Saddleback will transfer to the student’s school of choice, and that the courses will satisfy degree requirements at the chosen institution. Students at Saddleback can earn special Associate Degrees for Transfer in more than 25 majors of varying disciplines.

Beyond just making sure the classes will count at the next school, Saddleback has agreements with several in-state schools, as well as out-of-state and private universities.

Saddleback offers Transfer Admission Guarantees with six UC campuses—Davis, Irvine, Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz—as well as transfer partnerships with 11 institutions, some in only particular programs.

Saddleback has partnerships with Arizona State University, Cal Baptist and Chapman University for Health Services and with Pepperdine University for the Graziadio School of Business and Management, among others.

To assist students with fulfilling their requirements and taking advantage of those guarantees, the Saddleback College Transfer Center offers plenty of resources and counselors that can help through any step of the transfer process.

In the COVID-19 era, even Saddleback College’s transfer center has had to adapt.

In addition to phone and email, students can virtually contact the transfer center via Zoom video calls, and Saddleback and Irvine Valley College will join to host a virtual transfer college fair on Sept. 15.

For more information about transferring through Saddleback College, call 949.582.4328, email sctransfer@saddleback.edu or visit saddleback.edu/transfer. sanclementetimes.com

Ranking

Local Schools

A

BY COSTA BEAVIN-PAPPAS

s the beginning of a new school year begins for many local South Orange County residents, many start their academic careers in first grade while others go off to middle school and high school. It is often difficult to decide where to send your child. The following are the rankings for public elementary, middle and high schools in the region.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS • Moulton Elementary School, located in Laguna Niguel, has 603 students and is ranked #408 in Best Public Elementary School in California.

• Hidden Hills Elementary, located in Laguna Niguel, has 366 students with a student-toteacher ratio of 28 to 1. The school is ranked #529 among Los Angeles area schools.

• Clarence Lobo Elementary, located in San Clemente, has 366 students with a studentteacher ratio of 26 to 1. The school is ranked #603.

• Marblehead Elementary School, located in San Clemente, has 354 students with a student-teacher ratio of 27 to 1. The school is ranked #728 in Best Public Schools in the Los Angeles area.

28 to 1. The school is ranked #739 in Best Schools in California.

• Concordia Elementary School, located in San Clemente, has 575 students in grades K-5 with a student-teacher ratio of 34 to 1.

The school is ranked #494 in Best Schools in California.

• Las Palmas Elementary School, located in San Clemente, has 889 students in grades K-5 with a student-teacher ratio of 30 to 1.

The school is ranked #591 in Best Schools in Los Angeles area.

• Harold Ambuehl Elementary School, located in San Juan Capistrano, has 358 students in grades K-5 with a student-teacher ratio of 28 to 1. The school is ranked #616 in Best Schools in Los Angeles area.

• Kinoshita Elementary School, located in San Juan Capistrano, has 534 students in grades K-5 and a student-teacher ratio of 27 to 1. The school is not listed in any ranking according to Niche.com.

• Esencia Elementary School, located in Rancho Mission Viejo, has 449 students in grades K-5 and a student-teacher ratio of 28 to 1. There are no available rankings for this school according to Niche.com.

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

• San Juan Elementary School, located in San Juan Capistrano, has 785 students in grades K-5 with a student-teacher ratio of 27 to 1. The school is ranked #852 in Best Public Schools in the Los Angeles area.

• Vista Del Mar Middle School, located in San Clemente, has 683 students with a student-teacher ratio of 24 to 1. It is ranked #4 among schools in the district and #144 among statewide middle schools.

• Palisades Elementary School, located in Capistrano Beach, has 445 students in grades K-5 with a student-teacher ratio of 28 to 1. The school is ranked #648 in Best Public Schools in the Los Angeles area.

• Niguel Hills Middle School, located in Laguna Niguel, is ranked #9 out of 12 middle schools in the district and #324 out of 2,155 middle schools in the state.

• RH Dana Elementary School, located in Dana Point, has students in grades with a student-teacher ratio of. The school is ranked #3,222 out of 5,288 California elementary schools.

• Truman Benedict Elementary School, located in San Clemente, has 671 students in grades K-5 with a student-teacher ratio of San Clemente Times August 27-September 2, 2020

• Bernice Ayer Middle School, located in San Clemente, has 929 students with a studentteacher ratio of 24 to 1. The school is ranked #10 out of the 12 middle schools in the district and #328 out of middle schools statewide.

• Shorecliffs Middle School, located in San Clemente, has 929 students with a studentteacher ratio of of 25 to 1. It is ranked #11 out of 12 middle schools in the district and

#362 out of 2,155 middle schools statewide.

California high schools.

• Marco Forster Middle School, located in San Juan Capistrano, has 1,403 students and is ranked #666 of 2,155 California public schools. The middle school is ranked #12 among middle schools in the district and #666 of the 2,155 middle schools in California.

• San Clemente High School is ranked #5 out of the nine high schools in the district and # 209 out of 1,727 California high schools.

HIGH SCHOOL • San Juan Hills High, located in in San Juan Capistrano, is ranked #3 among the nine high schools in the district and #159 of 1,727 California high schools.

• Dana Hills High, located in Dana Point, is ranked #4 out of the nine high schools in the district and #201 out of the 1,727

Page 16

• Junipero Serra High School is an above average, public, alternative school located in San Juan Capistrano. It has 161 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1. It ranks #237 in Best High Schools for the Arts in America.

The rankings were compiled through Niche.com and SchoolDigger, websites that use test scores, district boundaries, student/teacher ratios and scores to help parents evaluate the performance and quality of education for schools around the United States.

sanclementetimes.com

Y

BY GINA COUSINEAU

YOU ARE YOUR CHILD’S

NUTRITION INFLUENCER

ou can’t deny that we parents are the ones who control what our children eat the majority of the time, especially in the midst of a pandemic, when we are together 24/7. While I am an evidence- and sciencebased practitioner, when it comes to nutrition and our food choices, there are a whole host of emotions attached to those decisions. And I am not talking about the tantrum your toddler throws when wanting one more cookie, or even your teenager, who has decided to be a vegan this week, when you put chicken on their plate.

If we, the parents, have no idea how to feed ourselves— let’s face it, folks, we were sitting in the midst of an obesity pandemic before COVID-19 hit—how in the world can we feed our kids? I am utterly dismayed by the amount of attention paid to breast/bottle feeding infants in that first year of life, compared to how little care is given to the food we feed our toddlers and Instagram and Facebook: beyond. @mamagslifestyle So, as you are inundated @kids.eat.in.color with trying to keep house, @healthy.mom.healthy.kids homeschool your kids, work, @feedinglittles exercise, and more, I am go@foodsciencebabe ing to suggest you use social @babyledweanteam media to help guide your way with feeding your kids more Podcasts: wholesome food. In all cases, The Nourished Child you really should look to a Liz’s Healthy Table registered dietitian-nutritionist, or a nutritionist like myself, who has a Master of Science in nutrition, to guide your way. Your fitness guru, the author with an MD after their name, or your favorite celebrity, chef, designer or blogger does not have the extensive education and training in the field of nutrition needed to make real-life decisions on what you should consider feeding your family, regardless of the credentials they throw your way.

Resources

TAKE THE ROLE SERIOUSLY

San Clemente Times August 27-September 2, 2020

Page 17

I also believe we must bring the family back around the kitchen table, and it should really start with gathering in the kitchen to prepare a meal. Back in the day, we had Home Economics in school teaching us the basics of running a home.

Today, the ease of grabbing take-away food, paired with our crazy schedules, makes the kitchen obsolete. Here are a few tips to move toward improving your family’s nutrition: 1. Start by including a shopping/cooking lesson to your homeschool routine at least once a week. Great lessons in math, nutrition, economics, planning, dexterity, patience and more are waiting for you here—all critical life skills.

2. Find a family-friendly cooking show to watch together or, better yet, join “Mama G LIVE” for complimentary cooking classes via Zoom. Allow everyone to participate in making a meal plan for the week, choosing their favorite meals, with theme nights leading the way, such as Taco Tuesday and Friday Pizza Night.

3. Eat more plants, choosing minimally processed options, with fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, beans, and whole grains leading the way. Adding in a variety of dairy will help get the much-needed protein and calcium humans of all ages need for optimum health.

4. And if you need direction, consider hiring one of the professionals I spoke of above to help guide your way.

Variety is the spice of life; it is also the precursor to a balanced diet, which will drive the health of your family.

Gina Cousineau sees clients virtually out of her San Clemente office. Her extensive education (a BS in dietetics and MS in integrative and functional nutrition), chef training, and 30-plus years as a fitness professional allow her to help clients lose weight and improve their health. You can reach her at mamag@mamagslifestyle.com, 949.842.9975, and on Instagram/Facebook @mamagslifestyle. Sign up for complimentary Zoom cooking classes on her website.

sanclementetimes.com

no longer acceptable. Parents are demanding more from their schools. They are considering all options. They are looking to schools for real solutions that address students’ needs right now and make it possible for children to continue learning, growing and thriving in the midst of present challenges.

A globally recognized private school with a new preschool-through-grade-12 campus in San Juan Capistrano, Fairmont offers many programs to meet a wide range of educational needs. Fairmont starts with the student—meeting children where they are—and prepares an educational pathway that takes them farther than they imagined possible.

S PEC I A L A DVE RT IS ING S ECT IO N

Great Opportunities

Imagine What’s Possible.

Expect the Extraordinary.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced educators into uncharted waters. But thinking outside of the box is nothing new for Fairmont. Since its inception in 1953, Fairmont has weathered many storms that have impacted the landscape of education.

Its staying power speaks to the strength of its tried and tested methods, as well as its relentless pursuit of innovation.

prepared for life and leadership.

Schedule a tour today by contacting admissions@cvcs.org, by calling 949.493.5683 or by visiting our website at cvcs.org.

Capistrano Valley Christian Schools The dreams we have for our children are based on hopes for a lifetime of success, happiness, and purpose. At Capistrano Valley Christian Schools, we believe the foundations of those dreams are built on a rich academic program coupled with an emphasis on spiritual and moral development. Our students learn through a program that values and develops critical thinking, innovation, creativity and foundational skills to prepare them for life after graduation.

Though academic success is important to us, it is meaningless unless we also develop students who are positive contributors to our society’s moral fabric. We instill Christian faith, virtue, and character in our children by weaving Biblical principles into every component of our program. The outstanding CVCS staff authentically cares for the students who grace our halls, which creates a deeply connected sense of community, setting us apart from other schools in South Orange County.

In addition to academic rigor and spiritual development, CVCS maintains an athletic program that has won multiple CIF championships while teaching athletes integrity and discipline, and maintains award-winning fine arts and performing arts departments.

Capistrano Valley Christian Schools, founded in 1973, is a nonprofit Christian, college-preparatory, co-ed school serving Junior Kindergarten through 12th grade located in San Juan Capistrano, California.

CVCS provides educational excellence in a Christ-centered environment. The result of a CVCS education is a student who is truly San Clemente Times August 27-September 2, 2020

Capistrano Unified School District Welcome Back to the 2020-21 School Year!

By Kirsten Vital, Superintendent, Capistrano Unified School District The start of a new school year is always an exciting time! And, although we opened very differently than what we were all used to, I want to assure you that we remain committed to supporting our students, families, and staff as we begin this adventure together.

This school year will truly be like no other.

However, our promise to provide an extraordinary teaching and learning experience to our 47,000 young people remains the same, whether online or in the classroom.

We are committed to supporting our working families while providing engaging and flexible learning options for all students.

Our rigorous and engaging curriculum will initially be delivered online, and later, as guidelines allow, in the classroom.

We will continue to place a strong emphasis and integration on mental health, emotional support, and social emotional learning, while continuing to foster cultural diversity. Our school counselors will be providing webinars and other resources for our students and families who may be experiencing anxieties or stresses through these challenging times.

We will continue to take proactive and re-

sponsive measures to ensure the health and safety of our students, families and staff, and we will continue to align ourselves with the California Department of Public Health and the Orange County Health Care Agency to ensure our schools and classrooms follow all safety protocols.

And, we will continue to innovate our oncampus learning models to be implemented once Orange County meets the California Department of Public Health criteria for reopening.

Thank you for entrusting your child’s education to our CUSD family of educators. We thank you for your patience, support and understanding as we navigate this journey together.

Stay safe and healthy and welcome back!

Fairmont Schools Meeting the Moment: Fairmont Answers Demand for Student-Centered Learning Back to school 2020 is unlike anything we’ve ever experienced. As teachers, students and parents come to terms with our “new normal,” questions remain over what is best for kids. Are children falling behind?

Are remote programs rigorous enough? Will our children suffer long-term consequences from this unprecedented disruption to their education?

These are the questions Fairmont’s team of educators has been wrestling with for months. While the harsh realities are clear enough, the solutions are less obvious.

What is clear is that children can’t wait.

This school year matters.

We also know that “education as usual” is

Page 18

Empowering Students and Their Parents Parents have an intuitive understanding of what works best for their child. Fairmont honors parent involvement and comes alongside families to offer guidance in identifying strengths and suggesting programs that maximize student success. Education is not a “one-size-fits-all” proposition. That’s why Fairmont focuses on providing a variety of programs to meet the needs of students: • Traditional School Day Program— Fairmont’s reopening plan offers two options for parents: remote learning via livestreamed classrooms or a fully on-campus alternative. County health authorities recently granted the school a waiver (a testament to its safety protocols), allowing students in grades K-6 to return for on-campus, in-person instruction. For families who have opted to learn from home, the school offers a remote option that balances academic needs with social-emotional learning.

• Fairmont Select Academy—This home education program provides a solution for parents who want the flexibility of a traditional “homeschool” platform, but need the additional support of highly trained educators. Instead of parents and students struggling to navigate educational excellence on their own, they have a team of educators with years of experience at their side, leading the way.

• Fairmont Athletic Academy—What if your elite athlete could receive both academic instruction and athletic training all within their regular school day?

Students enrolled in this innovative program at the San Juan Capistrano campus benefit from Fairmont’s acclaimed faculty and curriculum, while receiving world-class athletic training through its partner, The Treigning Lab. • Fairmont Music & Dance Academy— This program embodies the intersection between the arts and academics.

Students spend half the day receiving a premier Fairmont education and the sanclementetimes.com

other half receiving instruction at OC Music & Dance, a renowned conservatory in Irvine.

• Academic Learning Assistance—One of the core tenets of a Fairmont education is “meeting students where they are.”

The Academic Learning Assistance program empowers, encourages, and enhances student achievement, and promotes success of students who need extra attention.

• Foundations—Foundations is a groundbreaking Fairmont partner school for students with learning challenges, such as dyslexia, ADD, auditory processing, and comprehension difficulties. It is grounded in 30 years of cognitive brain research and moves past traditional symptom management to addressing the root cause.

Fairmont is now enrolling P-12th grade students across its family of schools in Anaheim, Anaheim Hills, North Tustin and San Juan Capistrano. To learn more, visit fairmontschools. com or call 714.790.3989

Kidcreate Studio

Kidcreate Studio is an art studio just for kids. We specialize in classes, camps and parties for children ages 18 months to 12 years. We offer classes in our bright, beautiful studio in Dana Point, as well as live virtual classes, and classes and events on-

San Clemente Times August 27-September 2, 2020

the-go through our mobile studio.

Kidcreate is a great way to introduce your child to the wonderful world of art.

We provide a positive, self-esteem-building environment for children to explore the visual arts. Kidcreate’s curriculum was designed by art education professionals and offers projects and classes tailored to match the developmental needs of kids at different ages. Toddler classes are fast-moving, energized, playful; preschool classes begin to build in basic art concepts and encourage kids’ growing independence; and schoolaged classes encourage self-confidence and creativity, while taking projects in more sophisticated directions with more advanced materials and techniques. Our age groupings are flexible and allow us to meet the individual needs of children and sibling groupings.

At all of our classes, camps and even birthday parties, kids learn about the elements of art and explore a wide range of artistic styles and lots of different materials.

Some classes are more classical in nature, while others explore fun themes from kids’ popular culture. Children create with paint, clay, and so much more. We love to give little ones the opportunity to get messy with things such as plaster, tie-dye, and slime, which maybe aren’t for every family to try at home.

Exploring art, feeling free to make some messes, and having fun—that’s basically what Kidcreate Studio is all about.

34255 Pacific Coast Hwy, Suite 113, Dana Point, 949.370.9509, kidcreate.com/dana-point.

South Coast Conservatory’s All-New Kids Club Since COVID has impacted our collective communities, South Coast Conservatory (SCC) has expanded its offerings to include a comprehensive online training program, outdoor classrooms, virtual performances and an all-new “Kids Club.” This exciting program offers tutoring, arts enrichment, physical education and stress management classes to children of students of essential workers starting in September.

949.367.0099, scconservatory.com

St. Margaret’s Episcopal School Academic Excellence | Culture of Innovation | Transformative Tartan Experience We believe in our students—their natural curiosity, talents, interests and intellectual vitality. St. Margaret’s surrounds students with a vibrant and engaging learning environ-

Page 19

ment that guides their individual development, character, well-being and intellectual pursuits. St. Margaret’s is active and alive with students who are motivated and excited to be here, learning and growing together. From Early Childhood to Upper School, our everyday leaves a lifetime impact on our students.

A vigorous liberal arts academic program and expert faculty challenge and inspire students to discover, learn, grow and excel to their fullest potential. Opportunities abound in arts, athletics, STEAM, experiential and service learning, and leadership.

We advance our academic program with a student-centered innovation process. We invest in new curriculum and teaching strategies, modern technologies, world-class learning environments, community partnerships and collaborations that pave exciting and rewarding paths for students.

St. Margaret’s students are known for their character, poise, thoughtfulness and integrity.

An inclusive, loving community rooted in shared values and our Episcopal identity is the foundation for a transformative student life program that fosters belonging, life skills, purpose and well-being, instills a strong moral compass and inspires responsibility, leadership and service to the world.

St. Margaret’s is a premier, independent school educating 1,245 students, preschool through grade 12. The school’s reputation for the depth and quality of its education brings more than 150 colleges and universities to campus annually to recruit its graduates.

31641 La Novia San Juan Capistrano, 949.661.0108, smes.org. sanclementetimes.com

Local Foundation Funds Educational Programs The San Clemente High School Education Foundation, an academic booster club and all-volunteer organization, works to fund a handful of various programs and services through the local high school that are designed to support high-achieving students and ensure they reach their maximum potential.

Through donations and the philanthropic efforts of the local community, the SCEF has funded after-school tutoring sessions and field trip support, as well as hosting seminars for college applications and curriculums, college and career planning, to name a few. Here are just some of the other services SCEF funds: Freshman Focus Freshman students and their parents can meet with a San Clemente High teacher to develop an educational path toward their college goals.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Test Prep These after-school seminars, held in April, help to prepare students for national and international testing in two dozen advanced subjects.

Academic Decathlon Funding Support SCEF subsidizes expenses for this program, which gives San Clemente High students an opportunity to compete in an academic competition against other high schools.

Classroom Chromebooks Fundraising drives have allowed the SCEF to provide hundreds of students with Chromebooks, providing them access to 21st century technology for learning.

College Essay and Application Workshop Students who need help with drafting their college essays and applications can meet with counselors, advisors and AP English teachers for guidance.

The SCEF is regularly in need of volunteers interested in supporting the academic programs at San Clemente High. To learn more on how to volunteer with the organization, contact info@schsef.org.

San Clemente Times August 27-September 2, 2020

FINANCIAL PLANNERS:

I

INVEST AND SAVE EARLY FOR COLLEGE EXPENSES

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO

t’s never too early to start planning and saving for your child’s college education, according to a couple of the area’s top financial advisors.

“The best way (to save and invest) would be the sooner, the better,” said Corrine LaFollette, a certified retirement counselor and director of Financial Operations for Arlon Enmeier in San Clemente.

Ryan Krause, a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Dana Point, echoes that sentiment, stating that “starting early is paramount.”

“So, realistically, when the child is born, you have 18 years” to save, he said, adding that “the biggest determinant of an investment’s success is your time horizon, as each year has a compounding interest.”

According to the University of California school system, the cost of tuition for an instate undergraduate student attending a UC school in the 2020-2021 school year is $14,100. That’s not factoring in other costs such as books and supplies, room and board and transportation.

When factoring in all of those anticipated expenses for the single year, UC officials estimate the total average cost ranging from $34,100 to $36,700, depending on whether the student is living on or off campus. And the price, of course, nearly doubles for non-California residents.

If those prices are perceived to be steep now, imagine what new parents today will be expected to pay by the time their child becomes an undergrad.

“College prices continue to rise faster than inflation, averaging 5% per year,” Krause said. “While no one can predict if this pace will continue, parents need to understand and incorporate these rising cost estimates into their savings strategies.”

That’s why, Krause stresses, it’s important to start early, even if it’s just by putting in about $50 every month to start.

The next step for parents, he says, is to also make sure they

Page 20

know what investment plans are available.

Both Krause and LaFollette agree that a 529 college savings plan is the best investment option, as it’s the most flexible and tax-free as long as the funds are used toward a beneficiary’s qualified educational expenses.

LaFollette explains that anyone—whether it’s the accountholder, a parent, a grandparent, relative or family friend—can each contribute up to $15,000 a year toward the account.

It’s also flexible in that the accountholder can designate the funds to go to a new beneficiary, such as another child or relative for their schooling, if per se, the first child didn’t need to use all of the money or opted not to pursue a higher degree at all.

“It’s so flexible you can move (the 529) over to any sibling, any family member,” she said. “Also, it doesn’t have to be for a four-year college; it can be a vocational school, any institution that accepts federal scholarships like Pell grants,” as an example.

Such qualifying expenses include tuition and fees, supplies, equipment such as computers and laptops, as well as room and board, or rent.

Should an accountholder withdraw funds for non-education expenses, they’d be hit with a 10% tax penalty.

LaFollette and Krause also advise that parents should make sure to find the right balance in their investments, not putting aside all of their savings into their child’s education while neglecting their own plan for retirement.

Parents are “dealing with current expenses, but they’re also trying to fund their own retirements, they’re trying to save for long-term goals, and they know their child’s college is looming; it’s getting closer and closer,” LaFollette said. “So we use the bucket analogy a bit, to make sure you’re contributing into each of the buckets.”

For Krause, what he often sees are parents dealing with regret for not planning ahead of time.

“The biggest thing I see across the board is the regret of (parents) not starting something sooner and not educating or becoming aware of what’s available,” Krause said.

sanclementetimes.com

San Clemente Times August 27-September 2, 2020

Page 21

sanclementetimes.com

San Clemente Times August 27-September 2, 2020

Page 22

sanclementetimes.com