With the dawn of a new school year and a farewell to the summer whose warm weather never really emerged, area children are once again waking up early, preparing lunches and turning their thoughts to the classroom. Local campuses renewed classes Tuesday, welcoming students with changes in staffing, facilities, activities and offerings. As a result, many students will not want to leave home this school year without their Smart Boards or Mandarin language homework. Smart Boards, which are mini-laptop computers used to facilitate learning and efficiency in the classrooms, continue to be added within the Point Loma Cluster of schools — as is the Mandarin language offerings. “Our principals are trying to work together so we offer similar experiences and academic offerings,” said Christy Scadden, president of the Point Loma Cluster Foundation (PLCF). Small to large, changes abound on local campuses this new school year. Here are some examples. CORREIA MIDDLE Hailing from China, Xiaoning Yao is a new teacher at Correia Middle School. Yao will instruct language classes in beginning and advanced Mandarin. The Armstrong family of Point Loma will host Yao for the duration of her year in San Diego. “She’s going to be here with her enthusiasm to help us build a program that we can sustain,” said Correia Principal Patricia K. Ladd. While Yao will be primarily teaching at Correia, she will also serve as an ambassador throughout the region, speaking to students and parents on topics of culture and language. “What we are trying really hard to do is strengthen the K-12 Mandarin for the cluster,” Ladd said. Yao’s time here is the result of a grant awarded by the U.S. State Department. Only two California schools were the recipients this year. She has taught English in China for 11 years. The growing emphasis on the Mandarin Chinese language — spurred in part because of China’s dominant economic influence internationally — is not limited to the lower grades. PUNTO LOMA ALTO “We are only one of three high schools in the San Diego Unified School District that teaches Mandarin Chinese,” said Point Loma High School (PLHS) Principal Barbara Samilson. But shifting language offerings are not the only changes in store for PLHS. “The major changes are in the facilities,” Samilson said. Sports medicine classes will be offered this winter once the second story addition of a new athletic training facility is completed at the end of the first semester. The high school will also offer multi-media video production classes in a new music center, which will most likely be open in the spring. PLHS is expected to boast a student population of 2,000 — and some pupils remain on a waiting list. “We are just taking students who live in our geographic region,” Samilson said. CABRILLO ELEMENTARY Cabrillo Elementary School Principal Nestor Suarez said he wants the community to take a closer look at his campus and the potential it offers to new students, despite being situated so close to two very strong elementary schools. “We are asking them to consider the small school,” said Suarez. Cabrillo will continue to be competitive by adding the use of Smart Boards to the fourth grade repertoire, in addition to their continued use at the third-grade level. Among the other unique program offerings at Cabrillo is one that was started last spring. “We implemented a tutorial service by the Navy,” said Suarez. “We have them deployed into our classrooms.” Navy servicemembers tutor children in math, reading and even stay and support the school during recess. What does Suarez enjoy most about the beginning of the school year? “It’s just the smiles on the kids’ faces,” said Suarez. LOMA PORTAL ELEMENTARY Glenda Gerde, principal of Loma Portal Elementary School, said the school will continue making strides among students for whom English is a second language. She noted that her school recently became a California Distinguished School, having raised standardized test scores among all learners. “We are working very hard to close the achievement gap so all students can be achievers,” Gerde said. The school attracts students from all over the district and Gerde boasts that school pride is high. Loma Portal also uses the Smart Boards and will continue with the next grade level of implementation as well. Educators said Smart Boards facilitate stronger and more efficient learning in the classroom. Teachers are able to immediately see on their Smart Board which student answers correctly or incorrectly. Loma Portal, along with other schools from the cluster, will also be working more closely with art offerings in Liberty Station. “The main thing this year is that our budget has been severely cut and we are looking forward to creatively working with community partners,” Gerde said.