Wave of Enthusiasm Greets Principal for a Day

Since 2015, Capistrano Unified School District has invited local city officials and other community members to experience a typical school day up close as part of their annual “Principal for a Day” program. As founder of local advocacy group, Capo Cares, I was delighted to be asked to visit our only public school within Capistrano Beach, Palisades Elementary.

Founded in 1961, Palisades is old enough to be on Dana Point’s historic registry and somehow exudes the particular smell and feel of the elementary school I attended decades ago. This rambling little school is home to 500 preschoolers to 5th graders who have the privilege of attending a school very much like the one (and in some cases, the one) their parents, or even grandparents attended. It has “old school” (literally) solid wood cabinets, bright orange counters, large classrooms, vintage plumbing and unusual nooks and crannies, juxtaposed with modern elements like a well stocked computer room and classroom charging stands for the Google chrome books available to every child in 4th and 5th grades.

My day began with a routine that is unique to Palisades – the “Wave Morning Show”. The “wave” theme is all over the school. It stands for We Are Very Enthusiastic Students” – and indeed they are. The morning show is the brain child of Principal Curt Visca, in his 32nd year with CUSD and 25th year as a principal. Mr. Visca came to education through a circuitous route, starting in communications and advertising with Disney and later Cox Communications. A talented cartoonist, he hosted a popular show called “It’s Curtoon Time” which has been on TV for over 25 years and has won 5 awards, including a “Telly” for kids’ programming. Somewhere along the line he was asked to help teach elementary kids to draw; discovered a passion for teaching; pursued a masters’ degree; and ended up, in short order, in the Principal’s office.

Last Friday, the “morning show” started with a student led Pledge of Allegiance followed by a weather and surf report (Palisades is within walking distance of the shore at Capistrano Beach). Next, to my delight, was a joke: Why did the teacher have to wear sunglasses? Because her students were so bright! This was followed by a song, Aretha Franklin's “R-E-S-P-E-C-T, followed by a little play starring several 5th grade Student Council members as part of the school’s current focus on the “3 Rs” – be respectful, responsible and ready to learn. The student performers were charmingly at ease and enthusiastic – testament to the positive, “don’t give up”, “go the extra mile”, “change our mindset” philosophy Mr. Visca shared with me before we left on classroom rounds.

Each classroom held about 30 students, with the exception of pre-school and several other classes for kids on the autism spectrum or with other learning challenges, where the student/teacher ratio was much lower. The school offers speech therapy on site and develops specialized programs to meet the needs of kids with special challenges. Most impressive was the sense of calm and order which pervaded every classroom. How a single teacher manages this with 30 unique students, a rigorous curriculum and a million details to juggle every day is both mysterious and awe-inspiring. The students uniformly looked engaged, happy and focused on various tasks while the teachers calmly worked in small groups, monitored art projects, taught science lessons or flipped reading readiness cards to test the prowess of eager students.

From the adorable little preschoolers who greeted us with big smiles and index-fingered “micro-waves”, to the older students who happily explained their haikus; how they made a substance called “goop”; why it’s so comfortable to sit on giant balls instead of chairs; or how they made an animal out of brightly colored paper hexagons and trapezoids, I encountered children who clearly felt safe, were thoroughly engaged and best of all – were having fun. Most impressive was the fact that the energetic teachers looked, amazingly, like they were having fun too.

The school has a large succulent garden, several playground areas and large blacktop areas decorated with hopscotch stencils and chalk drawing. Playground supervisors wheeled board games around – contributions by the community that teach sharing, cooperation and the fun of winning or losing a game of “Hungry, Hungry, Hippo” at recess. The walls are peppered with murals and student designed tiles with lots of dolphin, wave or other sea-themed art. Principal Visca even sports a colorful, student designed tie – one of many.

Creativity was evident in every classroom, from the keyboards in the music room to wonderful interpretations of Degas paintings, watercolor shamrocks, Eskimos with coffee-filter “fur collars” and cotton ball mittens.

It was a delight and a privilege serving as Principal for a Day at Palisades Elementary. The experience evoked school day memories mixed with pride and hope for the enthusiastic kids I met in this well run, happy place. While I wasn’t quite able to produce the ice cream and extra recess I jokingly promised on the “Wave Morning Show”, I can promise this: I’ll work hard to encourage community support for this wonderful little school in Capo Beach. Go WAVES!