Concordia Elementary School

I had the pleasure of working with Virginia Wimer ; a first grade school teacher at Concordia, dating back to the 1950's. She's still alive and well today while in her 90's and has a home in The Riviera that I leased for her and family. The number of adults from all generations that stopped to ask how was she? They remembered when and stories of her teachings. It shows the integrity of this school and it's graduates as well as the quality of San Clemente people. Located next to the State Camp Ground, this school enjoys an amazing location filled with ocean breezes , historical Western White House proximity and a Blue Ribbon distinction.

There are pros and cons here as with most schools. PROS: -There are amazing programs in place like the butterfly gardens, the fossil project, and weekly art. -Many fantastic teachers. -High parent involvement. CONS: -Student culture values "being cool" over character and academic performance. -A few teachers (as in any union environment) that aren't that great. Whereas the majority of the teachers we had were amazing, we did have a few not so great teachers. We had one in particular who put kids down in the classroom and forced students to rat out other friends. She is still teaching at the school. We had two kids go through Concordia. Overall the school is great. The primary grades have many excellent teachers. We were not as impressed with the calibur of teachers in the upper grades. We noticed our kids stopped trying academically in the upper grades as a result of classroom and school culture.

Not only did I go to this school from 2nd to 6th grade (I graduated high school in 1999), my son had the amazing privilege to go here K-1. All the teachers are astounding, including the ones that are *still* there from when I was young. The principle is amazing, he has created a paleontology park with a real prehistoric whale skeleton for the kids to excavate! He has also created an amazing library with fossil models, including a life size triceratops skull! The library was a tiny little closet when I went there compared to what it is now. The office is helpful, personable, and will probably remember your name if you have to go in there more than once. I have since moved to the bay area to attend UC Berkeley and am saddened that there are no public schools as amazing as Concordia.

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