The 75 special students were beaming, and their world-class new building on formerly out-of-the-way Landmark Street was gleaming.
With so many radiating reflections to choose from, proud parents basked in the golden afterglow.
They filled every chair in the monster-sized new gymnasium to accent their feelings and to salute the designers and donors who made the vision of an exponentially larger, showcase-worthy campus, miles from their original home, come true.
On the sunniest morning in its 26-year history on the Westside, Park Century School — serving learning disabled students of average to superior intellectual potential — officially was welcomed to Culver City several hours ago in a snappy, colorful 50-minute program.
As of Sept. 8, the decidedly upscale Park Century community had formally moved from a thimble-sized crackerbox campus on Stoner Avenue in West L.A. to a classy, airy, two-story campus on Landmark.
For the architecturally fashion-conscious, the huggingly comfortable color scheme scheme is white and white, with a dash of white mixed in.
Landmark, a bending one-block cul-de-sac street, historically has been so obscure that it was reputed to be where candidates for the government’s witness-protection program were covertly stashed.
Formerly the property was a warehouse, but the eyes of the old owners would have popped out if they had been in the audience this morning to witness the titanic transformation.
No wonder, in a way.
Frank Gehry, one of the great architects in this section of the earth and the father of a graduated Park Century student, Alejandro, contributed strongly to the configuration.
A Child Shall Lead
As their third week of occupation in Culver City neared its close, the magnificently motivated parent-type leaders celebrated their dazzling handiwork by turning over the community meeting to their children.
The setting was the huge, vanilla-flavored gymnasium whose single hue was powerful enough to make any other colors blush. If a speck of dust had dared to enter the room, everyone in attendance would have noticed. And flicked it away.
After Student Council President Jake Harris led the large and buzzing crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance, the show began.
Class by class, from the second grade through the eighth, spanning the student body, all 75 of them paraded onto the stage.
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Who Were They?
They came from Jennie Maguire’s class, from Arpi Tanzarian’s class, from Meryl Kesten’s class, from Jon Podgur’s class, from Erika Briks’s class, from Marjo Maisterra’s class, from Kalpana Sarathy’s class and from Nora Rentt’s class.
Every single child enjoyed his or her own separate, and succinct, speaking role, thanking the builders and shakers.
[In the four student photos accompanying this story, the only grownup portrayed is Ms. Maguire, who teaches the youngest students, second-graders.]
Upon the imperatively presented advice of emcee Paul Jennings, the Vice President of the Board of Trustees, all 75 students went home this afternoon and gave their parents a hug and a kiss to thank them for being introduced to the relentlessly upbeat and innovative universe of Park Century School.
Any event that has the concept of “celebration “ attached, usually means enough awards will be handed out to pack the Coliseum down by USC and its namesake in Rome.
This morning’s roster of recipients was a tad more abbreviated, but there were several exceptional interludes, recognizing persons whose perspicacity brought multiple creative visions to life.
By gliding rather than stomping through the awards portion, the aforementioned Mr. Jennings made the ceremony not only tolerable but entertaining.
Of all honorees, only two were accorded standing ovations, architect Chris Ward and Park Century School Business Manager Fred Landau.
Demonstrating a fashionable appreciation for the value of services rendered, Mr. Jennings presented Bulova watches to the most special of the recognized:
Attorney Steve Siemens, banker Al Jones, public relations specialist Geoff Maleman, John Tabb of Centre Realty, who found the property for Park Century, Building Committee members Rob Jernigan and Udi Rosha, Joe Kaplan, acting as the owner’s representative in overseeing construction, construction company officials Ed Grush and Bob Grush, site superintendent Bob Karr, co-directors of the school Genny Shain and Gail K. Spindler, and the previously noted Mr. Landau and Mr. Ward.
Next: A tour of the most unusual educational institution in Culver City history followed by a separate visit with Arts Program Coordinator Sharon McCawley. Ms. McCawley will explain, among deeper topics, why she serves tea to the students who visit her special Reading Room.