The Learning Castle and La Cañada Prep Prepare for a New School Year

The Learning Castle and La Cañada Preparatory will begin their 13th year in La Cañada on Sept. 9.

The Learning Castle, founded in 1992 by Terry Villanueva, and La Cañada Preparatory, added in 2002, are schools that focus on each student’s needs through an individualized curriculum. Low teacher-to-student ratios, coupled with curricula developed by and for the TLC and LCP style of teaching, have led to outstanding results with students learning at an accelerated pace.

Classroom work is accompanied by enrichment programs that include, but are definitely not limited to art, music, Spanish, French, computer science, physical education and the performing arts.

“This year we are happy to welcome back Jonathan Bysura and Rachel Zmuda as our science lab instructors,” said TLC-LCP director Villanueva. “They have added a whole new dimension to our science department by conducting hands-on science experimentation with every student in the school from 4 years old to 14.”

Bysura and Zmuda were added to the staff last January and look forward to moving into their new science lab in the fall.

Field trips are also an important teaching tool at The Learning Castle and La Cañada Preparatory. Last year, students attended field trips to Camp C.I.M.I. on Catalina Island, the Long Beach Aquarium, Astrocamp in Idyllwild, the House of Blue’s Blues Schoolhouse, Pali Mountain in Arrowhead, the Pasadena Symphony, the Chinese Golden Acrobats, “Shakespearience” at The Glendale Center Theatre, and Washington, D.C. to name but a few.

Parent participation is also an important aspect of the TLC-LCP experience. The Parent Association organizes several fund-raisers throughout the year concluding with A Night in the Garden, the annual parent dinner and silent auction. Last May’s party auctioned off items ranging from VIP passes to the “Warped Tour” to “School Director for the Day” for a lucky student.

“We actually had two ‘Directors for a Day’ last year,” added Villanueva, laughing, “Christian Henn and Eric Schock. They both did a fantastic job running the school.”

Henn declared a free dress day for the entire student body and rented a rock climbing wall for his fellow classmates to enjoy. Schock also ordered a free dress day, instituted a school-wide nap and organized a water-balloon fight for his day in the spotlight.

“I think they had a lot of fun while hopefully gaining a little insight into the workings of a school,” said Scott Albright, the head computer administrator. “And, it also raised money for the school.”

Last year, fund-raising projects contributed funds to the remodeling of La Cañada Preparatory’s new campus and paid for the installation of a new playground on The Learning Castle campus.

“This is my dream education,” says Beverly Roberts, the business administrator for both schools. “My child attends this school, and I can’t imagine her going anywhere else.”

The Learning Castle and La Cañada Preparatory are located at 4490 Cornishon Ave., at the corner of Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information about The Learning Castle, call 952-8008.

For more information about La Cañada Preparatory, call 952-8099. Both schools can also be reached via e-mail at tlc@thelearningcastle.com or visit their Web site at www.theIearningcastle.com.