October 26, 2002, Hawthorne, CA - Juan de Anza Elementary School hosted a grand opening ceremony on Saturday, October 26 to commemorate the opening of the new Anza School. Festivities began at 12:30 p.m. with the Beach Cities Swing Band, followed by a dedication ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Community members, alumni and former employees were invited to attend. The grand opening ceremony took place in the Walter P. Guerrero Multi-Purpose Center and included music, docent-led building tours, student entertainment and refreshments. "The dedication ceremony is a chance for community members to see the state-of-the-art school they supported with the approval of Proposition W and Measure E," said Wiseburn Superintendent Dr. Don Brann. One of the unique challenges for architects Flewelling & Moody and general contractor W.D. Gott was building a new school on the same site as the existing school facility, without the use of interim facilities. The original Juan de Anza Elementary School was more than 50-years-old and the demands of increased technology needs and aging facility infrastructure issues made it more cost effective to build a new school, rather than modernize the old one. The new 62,000 square foot facility is nearly a 70 percent increase in floor area. The school's U-shape layout creates smaller communities of learning, while encouraging both indoor and outdoor student activities. The new school entrance was relocated to a street with less traffic, allowing for a safer drop off and pick up point for the children. With a pre-K center, two daycare rooms, 28 K-5 classrooms, kitchen, library/media center and multi-purpose center, the new building is a learning facility and a community resource. The multi-purpose center is designed for after hours use. The center-including a stage, kitchen, restrooms and Eagle Center room-can be closed off from the main part of the school, making it convenient and safe for community use. A lighted soccer/softball field will also be available, by permit from the District, in the future. A 21st century technology package has been created for the school's students, teachers and staff. The package includes 20 desktop computers and four look-up stations in the library/media center, six desktop computers in each classroom and 30 wireless laptops (available to reduce student-to-computer ratio during class projects). An extensive video and computer network, with a hub in the library/media center, allows synchronized video capability across all classrooms, as well as Internet and Intranet resources. In addition to DirecTV access, teachers also have access to a Safari digital video content system, allowing them access to video content for all curricular areas and the ability to digitize video from VHS format. Energy efficient measures put into place at Anza contribute to an enjoyable environment and a potential cost savings for the District. Anza's design maximizes indirect daylight through the use of clerestory windows with "pop ups" in the hallways, as well as the tinted (Solar Green) double glazed windows in the classrooms. T-8 lighting, single-ply roofing, R-19 and R-30 insulation are some of the energy efficient materials used at Anza. Anza even has an emergency generator to keep the school operating during electricity blackouts. Juan de Anza Elementary School's construction is one of three new construction projects for the Wiseburn School District. Plans are currently being discussed for the construction of a new Dana Middle School and a new Cabrillo Elementary School, with an estimated construction completion date in 2006.