Laurel to become Brea’s first magnet school
Laurel Elementary School will soon transform into Brea’s first magnet school starting in August. With new classroom furniture, paint, carpet, blacktop, and staff, Laurel will reopen in the fall as Laurel Magnet School of Innovation and Career Exploration.
A magnet school is a public school with a program that concentrates on a special area of study. Just as Orange County High School of the Arts focuses on visual and performing arts, Laurel Magnet will specialize in innovation and career exploration tailored to the S.T.E.A.M. program, which focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math subjects.
Because a different teaching style is required for a magnet school, current Laurel teachers who wish to continue teaching at Laurel must reapply. (Anne Flesher, BOUSD assistant superintendent, assures that “none of the teachers will be losing their job. It just might be that they won’t be at Laurel.”)
Kimberly Thorsen, Laurel fifth grade teacher and future Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA), believes a change in the staff is worth taking for the growth of student education.
“The teachers all love being a part of Laurel, and understand that change is inevitable if we are to prepare kids for a job that may not even exist yet. That’s a pretty big task, and we are ready for the change. It’s an exciting time for Laurel and the students of Brea,” Thorsen said. “We are a ‘family’ and as our ‘family’ changes, we will grow and develop into a new, exciting place to learn concepts in innovative ways, use technology as a regular tool in project based activities, while we work closely with local businesses.”
Classes will still follow the state curriculum, but the learning methodology will be project-based. Therefore, students will solve real world problems through collaboration and critical thinking with peers and even community business leaders.
“Our job as educators is to [bring out] the curiosity from the minds and hearts of kids and give them the space to explore, grow, and collaborate. It allows them to learn from the process of succeeding fabulously and failing fabulously,” Brad Mason, BOUSD superintendent, said.
This school’s missions include: “1:1 student technology, community business partnerships for each classroom, field trips, career fair days, project and outcome-based curriculum, and assessment programs,” according to BOUSD. Although this system has specific learning approaches, Mason assures that the transition from this magnet school to junior high will not be difficult because students will be taught the same content as other elementary schools.
According to Mason, a Brea magnet school has been planned for the past few years, with one million dollars from the sale of Brea Corporate Place allocated to support the new school. Laurel was selected to become the new magnet school because of its large student capacity compared to other schools. According to Mason, there are around 300 students in Laurel, but the campus can hold up to 500 students.
“I am very excited about the possibilities and opportunities that will be given to the students who attend Laurel. This coming year is going to be one of wonder and exploration and learning. I hope we will be able to share some amazing successes with [the community] at this time next year,” Heather Bojorquez, principal of Laurel, said.
Currently, Bojorquez and the district planning team are developing a plan to bring the magnet school’s vision to “fruition”. They are also managing the new changes that will be made to the classrooms.
“We are testing out some new furniture that will facilitate active movement in the classroom,” Bojorquez said. “We are also investigating the upgrades that each classroom will need to allow for seamless technology integration.”
In order for students to have a smooth transition into the magnet school system, Laurel teachers are already incorporating a bit of technology use, such as Google Drive, during class.
Furthermore, because Laurel students have first priority to the school, transfers will be accepted based on space availability. Students outside of intra-district transfers were submitted in March 31 while the deadline for inter-district transfers submissions is April 29. Acceptance notifications will be sent throughout April and May.
Until then, Laurel students will continue to attend the school for the remainder of the year and may attend the new magnet school next fall.
