Warren-Walker Middle School returns to Ocean Beach
Warren-Walker Middle School is back in Ocean Beach and wants to get word out about it.
"Happiness is within reach in Ocean Beach," joked Paul Saunders, head of Warren-Walker's Middle School, who has been with the school for over 18 years.
The homegrown Ocean Beach school is one big extended family. "I began my academic journey as a kindergartner on this campus in the '80s," noted Saunders.
The lower- and middle-school campuses of Ocean Beach's homegrown independent Warren-Walker School are once again reunited for the 2024-25 academic year and beyond. Previously in Mission Valley, Warren-Walker Middle School for sixth through eighth grades has returned to the Peninsula. The school's staff is excited to have all of its PK-eighth-grade students this school year at its main campus at 4605 Point Loma Ave.
The school's main campus is composed of four converted homes. "We wanted that comfortable bungalow feel, that's part of the charm," pointed out Saunders. "We wanted to lean into our beach and education vibe."
Saunders noted each school department is in a room, with kids rotating and moving around through the rooms. He added the middle school doesn't have class sizes over 16 students. "We're keeping it small and embracing getting to know our students," he said.
Warren-Walker has a liberal educational philosophy with students studying either art, music, or drama daily. "And every middle schooler is in the band, that's part of our curriculum along with industrial arts," pointed out Saunders. He added, "We want to activate different elements of kids' minds by looking at the whole student so they have their moments to shine."
Saunders discussed why Warren-Walker's Middle School in Mission Valley has returned to OB. "The timing was right, the lease was up and we said, 'Let's embrace our smallness,' he said. "And we had more kids in the beach areas and thought we could attract possibly more Ocean Beach, Point Loma, and Pacific Beach families."
Warren-Walker is not affiliated with any faith and its students can reside outside the community. Discussing the qualifications the school seeks in its students, Saunders said: "We look for well-rounded students who want to learn, and parents who are involved in their kid's education; there's teamwork there we (school) can only do so much. We want parents who are invested in their kid's education."
Why send your kids to Warren-Walker? "You want that personal connection," answered Saunders. "You want your kid to be 'known' and 'recognized,' not just 'seen.'"
Added Saunders, "And it's our goal to get the student ready to go to any high school that they want. Here, you learn the skills that are your foundation. You get to try them out, perfect them, and then when they go up to high school: They're ready, no matter where they go."
Above all else, Saunders said of Warren-Walker: "We want to develop good people who are kind and nice and want to learn. We want good citizens."
Warren-Walker School was founded in 1932 by Nellie Warren-Walker, an experienced educator who believed young children should be challenged with a multifaceted program that included music, foreign language, and the hands-on study of the world around them. Her first class was held above Senator Kraft's drugstore at 1891 Bacon St. in Ocean Beach.
The students excelled and the school's positive reputation grew quickly, necessitating a move in 1934 to larger quarters with a beach cottage at 4867 Santa Cruz Ave. In 1939, Walker purchased the current school site used for the Lower School at 4605 Point Loma Ave. and moved the cottage to the property. A new building was planned and built and still stands on the corner.
Walker retired in 1980, leaving the direction of the school to Ruth Sweeney, her daughter, who joined the school as an administrative assistant.
In 1983, Sweeney was joined by Raymond J. Volker who became the school's first headmaster. Sweeney retired in June of 1988, and Volker was joined by Janet H. Smith and Pamela L. Volker, who together made up the board of administration of Warren-Walker Schools.
Smith died in 2021and the Volkers continued as the heads of school. Over the last 40 years, the school has experienced significant growth on the Point Loma campus by adding six structures. Twenty-five years ago a middle school was created and has been operating in Mission Valley for the last 22 years, until returning this year to the school's Point Loma campus.
The Warren-Walker experience begins at the Early Learning Center with a program specifically designed for infants and toddlers. From there, students go on to PK-fifth grade. After promotion, students migrate to the middle school campus, now in Point Loma, to combine for PK-eighth grade educational experience. The three campuses accommodate about 375 students.
