Loma Elementary School is nestled in the beautiful hills below Mount Miguel, just across the street from Monte Vista High School. A program targeted at inspiring students to learn about themselves, to become motivated and to achieve their dreams, goals and aspirations has been gaining traction at Loma Elementary School under the leadership of principal, Beth Rackliffe. Ms. Rackliffe and her team of forward-thinking teachers at Loma Elementary School have crafted a unique College and Career Readiness Program that has been a huge success. Video showcasing this great event is below.
For many students at Loma, they may know and love a particular university or have an aspiration of a certain career goal. For other students, college and career may seem daunting or unknown. Through the creative approach of the Loma Elementary School Team, teachers serve as “dean” of particular universities, which include San Diego State University, University of California, Los Angeles and Stanford. Students, in a special beginning of the year kick-off assembly, listened to a special keynote speaker, LMSV Schools Assistant Superintendent, Guido Magliato, who shared about the power of grit and a growth mindset. After this, there was a pep rally of sorts where students learned from student leaders about what college they were selected to “attend.” The assembly was full of positive energy and promise for the future.
The College and Career Readiness Program not only serves to inspire and motivate students to think about their future and picture themselves in college, but it also helps to create an individualized approach to instruction. As Principal Rackliffe describes, “This is about so much more than just a fun assembly. Students get excited about their future and it also gives us the opportunity to create a personalized plan for their schedule and instruction each day that is tailored around their unique needs, interests and strengths.” After the assembly, two students new to the campus were begging Principal Rackliffe for their updated personalized schedules for the new year. As one student described, “This is the coolest day of the year. I love being a Triton!”
The program has only just begun with this first assembly. Throughout the year, students will enjoy a personalized schedule that helps them with motivation, engagement and gaining the skills they need to make their dreams come true.
