Bonsall Unified School District

Bonsall Unified School District works hard to make sure its students know who they are and how they fit into the community in Bonsall and beyond. A particular strength of the work Bonsall does is connecting this learning back to the community it serves, particularly when it comes to Native Learners.

At the secondary level, grades 6-12, there are a variety of ways this happens at school. One key system they have is symposium, an advisory-like period that lasts 20 minutes for middle school students and 55 minutes for high school students. While the focus is on students building connections with each other and trusted adults on campus, they leverage this time in slightly different ways based on student grades. At the middle school, students follow a daily structured routine throughout the week that includes explicit PBIS instruction, academic support, organizational routines, and reflection. At the high school, the 4-day per week routine is organized around the four student academies: Computer Science & Engineering, Arts & Media, Law & Leadership, and Medical Sciences.

Students channel their academic and symposium learning into student-led portfolios, which the middle schoolers present at the end of semester 1 and high school students at the end of the year. While students have autonomy over their portfolio, they do use a guiding framework with accompanying scoring guide. Portfolios are developed based on the District's Framework for the Future and accompanying Learner Profile.

Bonsall has been intentional about addressing the experience of all students in the district. Two examples are through the implementation of Boys to Men and the work done with our Native American community. Speaking to the latter, BUSD gives its students the opportunity to speak on panels and share their creativity and traditions with the broader community.