September 03, 2004

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Publication Date: Friday, September 03, 2004

Carden West moves to Hacienda park

With the new academic year under way, private preschool and elementary school Carden West welcomed children this week to its new facility in Hacienda Business Park.

"We're moving into a 45,000-square-foot building on 5 acres," said Carden West Executive Director Cheryl Weaver of the site at 4576 Willow Road.

Counting on an expected enrollment this year of 290 students, Weaver said the new facility is ideal for the growing non-sectarian elementary school, which is known for its small student-teacher ratio.

With a maximum of 16 students per class, Carden West outgrew its facility on Black Avenue, which it had leased from Lynnewood Methodist Church since 1989.

Lynnewood has since leased the space to Quarry Lane School, which will open its doors to its second Pleasanton campus Sept. 7.

Carden West has been expanding through the years, spreading out by 4,670 square feet into nearby office space located adjacent to the church; its most recent 600-square-foot expansion was last year.

"We grew to a point where we had 205 students," Weaver said, explaining that an enrollment of 205 was the maximum the city allowed the school at its Black Avenue site.

Weaver began searching for a new site last year and undergoing the city's approval process to relocate the school in the former Quaker Oats office building in Hacienda Business Park.

To reduce the impact of the school-related traffic to the business park community, the school is offering free bussing and has staggered class schedules, Weaver said.

In the Black Avenue facility, Weaver said, "We used every inch of the available space." The building offers not only 180 parking spaces, ample classroom space and storage, but also room to expand through the next five years.

The school submitted a five-year plan to the city outlining a gradual increased enrollment of about 50 students each year up to a maximum of 440 students. Accompanying the increased enrollment, the school's expansions include adding grades 6-8 to the curriculum as well as adding additional preschool and kindergarten classes.

In addition to a new library, the Carden West facility will have a cafeteria; two computer labs, one for the upper level and younger students; a multipurpose room; a science lab; and fenced-in playground, Weaver said.

The minimum size of each classroom is 700 square feet, with most classrooms, 30 in all, about 800 square feet, Weaver said.

The school held a grand opening Tuesday for parents of children enrolled at the school and regular classes began the next day.

Projected enrollment for Carden West

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