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Kindergarten through 5
Wagon Wheel Elementary School opened its
doors in September 1997. It is situated
in Wagon Wheel Canyon, a part of Coto
de Caza. With beautiful vistas stretching
south and eastward into Cleveland National
Forest, our school sits in the shadow
of Santiago Peak and is adjacent to the
General Thomas Riley Wilderness Park.
Children from nearby neighborhoods enjoy
our state-of-the-art campus and participate
in an academic program carefully blended
with studies of the natural world.
Our teaching
staff at Wagon Wheel Elementary has adopted a strong basic instructional
component and utilizes natural science themes to make learning relevant
and exciting for students. Reading instruction at each grade level
is aimed at skill development. Teachers use phonics, literature
and basic texts to teach students in small groups. Every student
is expected to develop a proficiency in reading by grade 3 or sooner.
Active learning strategies are utilized in classrooms enabling students
to respond to instruction in a wide variety of ways.
Students and
staff at Wagon Wheel Elementary use technology in every aspect of
teaching and learning. Computers are used for communication, research,
efficiency, presentations, projects, publishing and participation
in technology projects with other schools.
We have a computer
lab for student use which contains the latest in
iMac Apple technology. Wagon Wheel Elementary also
makes television applications available
throughout the school. A weekly campus television
show highlights student achievement and school activities
sponsored, in part, by
the Student Council.
Basic studies
in the Capistrano Objectives for Reaching Excellence (CORE) curriculum
are of primary importance at school. In addition,
our students do participate in studies and activities
designed to enrich their
knowledge of science, social science and the world
around them. Students in grade 5 participate in the
Disneyland Environmental Challenge each
year. Their award-winning student projects focus
on the natural environment or ways to conserve and
protect the neighborhood. Fifth
graders also attend the Orange County Outdoor Science School
for one week each year. Students in grades 4 and 5 tackle the challenges
of the countywide Math Field Day and the Destination Imagination
competition. Teachers and parents support a variety of other
academic competitions and activities.
At Wagon Wheel
Elementary, natural science takes on real meaning for our students
as they venture with their teachers into the neighboring wilderness
park for hands-on science explorations, lessons with the park ranger,
nature walks or simply reading under the shade of an old oak tree.
Classroom academics, natural sciences and modern technologies promise
to make education an adventure with a lasting impact on each student.
Parent involvement
and an emphasis on family activities are also important components
of the Wagon Wheel experience. There is no better way for parents
to develop an understanding of what teachers are doing than to assist
with schooling. Parents become better able to support the instructional
program at home. Our school, with the PTA, hosts family activities
at the campus which provide great opportunities to socialize and
enjoy some good family fun. Our school staff believes that whenever
parents come to school, children better understand that school is
an important place and that education is valued.
- Project
GLOBE
- Natural science and technology focus
- Wilderness park partnership
- Outdoor garden-science center
- “Wagon Wheel Live” TV show
- High
academic standards
- Natural science instruction integrated throughout the
curriculum
- Emphasis on basic skills instruction in reading, writing
and calculating
- Wide use of technology for communication, presentation,
research and efficiency
- Intensive parent involvement
- Family Activity Nights, including Friday Night Social Program
- Worldwide communications via Internet
- Music instruction for all students
- Science instruction in the classrooms and field trips
- Computer/science lab
- A campus fully networked for technology
- YMCA child care program
- Interactive website on the Internet
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