Orcutt Winslow
John S McCain III

CASE STUDY: John S McCain III Elementary School

The Buckeye Elementary School District #33 is a K-8 school district that serves the historic and fast-growing community of Buckeye in western Maricopa County.

Buckeye Elementary School District envisioned the new John S McCain III Elementary School as an opportunity to create a tightly integrated learning environment that serves a ubiquitous learning model consistent with the district’s mission, vision and value pillars. The future being both uncertain and unwritten, how can learners be prepared to participate in a new economy that increasingly trades in information, data, and skill sets that have not yet even been clearly defined? By focusing not only on the technology of today, but also by developing the universally applicable skills and thinking that will drive whatever emerges tomorrow. Explicit instruction on computational thinking provides students with a future-proofed learning profile and allows them greater ability to adapt to the tools of tomorrow. Or, better yet, to simply create those tools, themselves.

 

John-S-McCain-III-Elementary-School

  • John-S-McCain-III-Elementary-School

    John-S-McCain-III-Elementary-School

  • John-S-McCain-III-Elementary-School

    John-S-McCain-III-Elementary-School

  • John-S-McCain-III-Elementary-School

    John-S-McCain-III-Elementary-School

  • COMMUNITY

    SCHOOL + COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

    The John S. McCain III project addresses the community’s need for innovative learning spaces, providing a conducive environment for various age groups and facilitating engagement for both students and the broader community. The Buckeye Elementary School District (BESD), dedicated to fostering diversity and bridging cultural gaps, particularly within the predominantly Hispanic community, focuses on engaging students in future economic opportunities. The district leverages active partnerships with various organizations, including Arizona State University and local community groups, contributing to the betterment of students. The project faced significant challenges, notably the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring a shift to online design efforts in 2020 while ensuring a holistic, community-driven process amid safety concerns. Additionally, the project contended with pandemic-induced supply chain and labor shortages, leading to increased costs and a three-month construction delay. Despite these obstacles, construction had to be completed in under eight months.

    Buckeye Elementary School District #33, serving around 5800 students in nine Title-1 schools, is committed to equipping students with future-ready skills, emphasizing critical thinking, design, collaboration, and problem-solving to prepare them for a dynamic and changing world.

STRATEGIC GOALS

  • Address the need of growth and educational variety
  • Valued as Community Hub
  • Innovative, accelerated C-STEM experience for the students
  • Create a school with ubiquitous learning infrastructures
  • Give students heightened access to resources for learning
  • Effective collaborative learning spaces that allow for supervision and support
  • Flexible spaces
  • Learner centered physical environment
  • Building as a teaching tool
  • Create a space where learning is visible

  • HONORING A LEGACY

    Before his legendary political career, Senator McCain served as a Navy fighter pilot, and the school’s design draws inspiration from the A-4 Skyhawk fighter jet he flew in the Vietnam War and the aircraft carrier from which it took flight.

    Nothing characterized Senator John S. McCain III’s legacy more than his commitment to public service, character, and honor. He was famous for his ability to disagree, but treat others with dignity and respect.

    • At JSM III, students will learn the powerful importance of character and how to engage with others in productive and positive ways.
    • They will learn how to debate, discuss, and potentially fiercely disagree, without attacking the integrity of others.
    • They will learn the importance of taking interest in their school, neighborhood, city, state, nation, and world, at large.
    • They understand that they matter. That they can make a difference.
    • That “Character,” as the senator once said, “and character alone, will make your life happy or unhappy.”
    • They will learn that they are responsible for who they are to become and that they can depend on their experience at JSM III to provide them the tools necessary to live up to their own high standards.

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