By Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman
Class is back in session at Sunburst Youth Academy as teachers welcomed a new group of high school students to the school, Monday, Aug. 5, on Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos.
Sunburst’s back to school day arrived two weeks after more than 210 Southern California students moved onto the base, July 21, for the academy’s Class 34 acclimation and team building to kickstart their five month stay for the residential alternative high school program run in partnership between the California National Guard and the Orange County Department of Education.
“Having students back on campus feels energizing and fulfilling,” said principal Dinah Ismail. “Each cadet brings a unique energy, and seeing them engage with the program’s challenges, embrace new learning opportunities, and build their confidence is inspiring.”
Between now and mid-December, the 15.5 to 18 year old teens will live and go to school on the military base while working through a year’s worth of high school curriculum in half the time.
“This part of the cycle marks the beginning of new journeys for them, and we are excited to support them every step of the way,” Ismail said.
The academy’s small class sizes and residential environment coupled with military-style structure and discipline fosters an environment for students to work at an accelerated pace and earn up to 65 credits – more than a year’s worth – in five months.
“This is probably one of the best choices I’ve made so far,” said Cadet Caleb Cortez, who came to the academy from the Inland Empire. “ It’s definitely a life changing experience, and I think it’s a really good program for anyone who wants to learn structure in their life for the future.”
After three weeks on campus, Cortez is soaking up different opportunities to learn and grow at academy beyond just the classroom.
“I think I get a lot more out of this program than just the credits,” he said. “I feel like I get tools to utilize in my life later on and the credits are an added bonus.”
The teens arrived a little more than a month after Sunburst lauded its 33rd graduating class and celebrated crossing a milestone of 5,000 program graduates and are the beneficiaries of construction and renovation projects completed during the break.
Between classes, the academy’s school building received a $400,000 interior renovation to replace and update the building’s original carpet, countertops, paint, tile flooring and bathroom stalls.
Construction crews also made headway on the academy’s new outdoor learning center by leveling the ground, pouring concrete and placing footings for shade structures. When complete, the outdoor learning center will provide Sunburst teachers a venue to hold classes outdoors and provide additional meeting space for club meetings and one on one sessions for students to talk with counselors or staff.
Sunburst is a voluntary and tuition-free residential alternative high school focused on credit recovery, life coping skills, and leadership. The academy runs two classes per year and will begin accepting applications for its January to June class later this month.