The Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) hosted the official dedication ceremony for its newest K-8 school, Cadence Park. The District’s fourth K-8 and 40th school opened in August of this year and serves the Great Park Neighborhoods, including Cadence Park and Parasol Park.
Superintendent Terry L. Walker led the ceremony with brief remarks from IUSD Board of Education President Sharon Wallin, Principal Carlo Grasso, FivePoint Co-Chief Operating Officer Lynn Jochim, and City of Irvine Planning Commissioner Anthony Kuo. Attendees included the Board of Education Members Paul Bokota, Lauren Brooks, Betty Carroll and Ira Glasky, parents, students, teachers, staff, the District’s development partner FivePoint, City of Irvine officials, PTA representatives, the Irvine Public Schools Foundation, and other community partners and dignitaries. All participants had the opportunity to tour the school site and experience the innovative features, such as design labs, science labs, high-tech and flexible-design classrooms, dedicated music and performing arts spaces, and collaborative workspaces.
“Just over a year ago, we stood here in a dirt field with construction equipment and imagined the bright future of students who would attend this new state-of-the-art education facility,” said Superintendent Terry L. Walker. “As we stand here today, that future has come to life and is brighter than ever. Similar to all IUSD schools, Cadence Park was built in accordance with IUSD’s award winning Education Specifications, which detail the features needed to support instruction and 21st century learning at the highest levels and are the result of collaboration with our teachers, administrators, facilities staff and architects."
Cadence Park’s state-of-the-art campus includes the latest educational technologies and a variety of amenities including:
- A next generation innovation lab that includes a makers space with an attached video production room. This space is also be equipped with sinks and a roll up door to the exterior to create a flexible learning space.
- A library with several windows for natural light that includes a dedicated story telling space, which also doubles as a small group work area.
- All classrooms in grades 1-5 have a direct connection to the interior student collaboration spaces.
- The 6-8 quad includes an outdoor amphitheater, covered small group instruction areas, space for outdoor science activities and a garden.
- Outdoor collaboration spaces throughout the campus for all grade levels.
- A Gymnasium with attached fitness lab.
“While the Cadence Park campus is state-of-the-art, we also know that innovation does not come from the building and its features alone but from the teachers and staff who put their hearts, souls and pride into this school,” said Board of Education President Sharon Wallin. “They have worked collaboratively and with excitement not only to open this school but to make it a home for current and future generations of students and families. You can feel the passion and excitement the minute you set foot on this campus.”
Click here to watch a video of the dedication event.
For a photo gallery of the dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting, click here.