Stand-out students who may not fit in at the typical elementary school come together at Redwood City’s North Star Academy, which recently won prestigious national recognition for academic excellence.
The U.S. Department of Education earlier this month named the school serving third- through eighth-graders a National Blue Ribbon School, honoring its reputation for scholastic achievement.
While administrators, parents, teachers and students basked in the glow of the honor, most pointed the school’s unique culture and welcoming environment for the academically gifted as the foundation for its success.
“Everyone fits in. It doesn’t matter who you are. You are automatically accepted,” said Leslie Stafford, mother of a fourth-grader at the school and a ranking member of the school’s PTO.
Stafford, whose son is in his second year at the school, said her family was impressed by the way the North Star Academy community immediately embraced newcomers.
Students identified such a willingness, combined with sustained support by all parts of the school community, as a key part of their ability to succeed under the pressure of being surrounded by other high achievers.
“I like the community among all the different grade levels,” said O’Connor, an eighth-grader at the school, who said the focus on collaboration and group work is part of the reason she so enjoys North Star Academy.
That relationship is built intentionally, as each newcomer to the school is paired with a sixth-grader, who mentors them through their formative years and helps them blend into the school’s culture.
The partnership spans through the older student’s graduation, by which time the former newcomer has enough experience to begin sharing their knowledge with someone once in their shoes.
Familiarity is also built through a focus on group work, in which students are assigned projects and then allowed to delineate tasks according the specific skills of each member.
O’Connor said the responsibility assigned to students breeds camaraderie, trust, as well as comfort since students are able to shape their projects and roles according to their field of interest.
Niketh Keshavan, also an eighth-grader at the school, said tailoring assignments in a group setting also allows him to expand the limits of his own ability, as he attempts to apply his passion in a fashion which best benefits his project teammates.
“I love it because it is challenging,” said Keshavan, who admitted at his previous school he would get bored easily because he was not challenged academically.
The authority handed over to students is part of a program carefully crafted by administrators and educators who recognize their unique student population requires constant academic stimulation. They must balance that desire to press the boundaries against their obligation to meet elementary state curriculum standards though, since the school is a public institution and part of the Redwood City Elementary School District.
Teacher Stephanie Vance said those two efforts blend well with the state’s Common Core curriculum, which focuses on analysis and collaboration — both foundational pieces of North Star Academy’s approach.
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While those points of emphasis push students, they also provide opportunities for teachers to learn as well, said Vance, who added the moments of inspiration generated by group work have improved her capabilities as a teacher.
“I learn from them as much as they learn from me,” said Vance, who works to establish learning environments designed to emphasize her lessons. To that end, this month Vance’s classroom decoration is inspired by Edgar Allen Poe. She also syncs her wardrobe with her theme, and was dressed in all black Thursday, Oct. 11, to remain in character.
Vance recognizes the unconventional approach may not resonate with students in a more traditional environment, but suggested the culture at North Star Academy is designed to embrace such expression.
“It’s a very accepting environment to allow people to be quirky,” she said.
Ruth Snyder, a fourth-grade teacher, agreed and pointed to the frequency with which students can be found reading books during their free time on a playground as perhaps more subtle evidence of the unique campus.
After roughly two decades at the school, Snyder said she especially appreciates the focus on social and emotional support for students who may face the threat of faltering in highly-competitive academic environment.
Julie Lanz, who has two children at the school, credited Principal Sara Shackel for spearheading the effort to nurture the special abilities of students while also taking time to get to know their families.
She pointed to Shackel’s commitment to greeting students at the morning drop-off area each day — rain or shine — as one small example of the lengths administration and staff will go to make students feel welcome.
“Kids feel very safe here because it is a very diverse and strong community,” she said.
Shackel, meanwhile, deferred school staff and students in their ability to make the North Star Academy environment one deserving of a national award. The all-hands-on-deck approach helps create a place where those who may otherwise struggle to fit in are offered a chance to thrive, she said.
“They are able to find their people here,” she said.
(650) 344-5200 ext. 105
Note to readers: this article has been amended to correctly identify the grades served as the school, as well as O'Connor's gender.
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