As the sun set, streaking the sky with a brilliant blaze of pinks and violets, rock and roll music played softly in front of the School of Dreams Academy (SODA), giving bounce and rhythm to the students and staff who were finishing the final outdoor preparations for the school's fall festival open house event.

Students and staff moved into their new building on Oct. 20.

"Now that they're in the new building, it's better," said Janice Smith, mother of seventh grader, Daniel Smith.

The first and only charter school in Valencia County, SODA opened its doors this past August, starting the school year at the University of New Mexico-Valencia Campus while waiting for the completion of its school building.

"It's a state-funded charter school," said principal David Yates. The school has begun with grades seven through nine. Next year, they'll add tenth grade, the following year eleventh grade and then twelfth grade.

The event was organized with three objectives: to give parents a chance to see the new building, to have some fun and to heighten community awareness of the school.

"It's a small environment," Yates said. "The kids are known intimately, and it gives a safety and security you don't get in the large schools. I have seen a change in behavior in the at-risk kids. It goes to show what closer attention and believing in them can do."

For the open house, students and staff set up a coloring table, a face painting table and several games including ring toss, drop the coin and count the bubble gum.

October volunteer honoree Veronica Trujillo ran an inflatable slide on the south side of the building.

Sabrina Brown, a Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) volunteer at SODA, ran a popcorn machine.

Parents donated baskets of goodies they put together for a raffle, which was held at the end of the event.

The students say they like the new building and enjoy the benefits of the smaller classrooms with more intimate knowledge of their classmates and teachers.

"The school is creative and new. There's more equality among students in the smaller classrooms," says student council president Kailee Bryant.

She also likes the freedom to go at her own pace and learn in her own style.

"It's self-progressive," she said. "You go at your own speed independently."

Kaleb Brown, a seventh-grade student, says he enjoys the Education 2020 online classroom.

"I like the E-2020 computer learning program," Brown said.

There are four core areas of curriculum: math, social studies, science and language arts, that are taught online. Students wear headphones to listen to instruction, keeping the classroom quiet for concentration. If they don't understand a concept being taught, they can pause the program and replay the sequence.

Teachers are available during every class, offering help and responding to questions from the students.

"The online content is more comprehensive and thorough," explains Jennifer Noble, who teaches science to seventh, eighth and ninth graders.

"They're learning how to take ownership of their education," she says. "We're moving toward a technology future, why not start the kids on computer?"

Their tests, quizzes and homework are all online. Parents especially appreciate the accessibility of their children's performance with the online program.

"I like that I can monitor what my son is doing," said parent Sabrina Brown. "I can log on from home and see what he's doing. Homework can't get lost, either."

Roy Goforth, the father of eighth grader Roy Jr. said, "Parents can get online and go to their kid's site to see their work, how they're doing in their grades. And the smaller classes make for more one-on-one with the kids. It's more like a family. Everybody knows everybody. Mr. Yates is a pretty good guy, too."

Janice Smith likes the fluid quality in the school's scheduling.

"They've got flexibility in the school system, they make adjustments as needed," Smith said. "Last week, they rearranged the class schedule a little for art, running, and E-2020 tutoring, whereas in a larger school system they wouldn't have that."

Scheduling revolves around the E-2020 core curriculum computer based classes, with electives every other period, and two 40-minute electives at the end of the day. There are six electives including choir, book club, running club, open lab in any E-2020 course, math and reading tutorials and a new digital art program.

While the computers are all occupied, other students are in an elective course.

"If the students master this (E-2020) program, they will be well prepared for a technological future," says Noble.

Some of the students are still adjusting to the online curriculum.

"It takes a little more effort compared to public school," says Daniel Smith. "I like more hands-on stuff."

Abel Romero thinks it's hard, too.

"E-2020 is hard," Romero says, "but you're learning stuff."

Since the school encourages students to go at their own pace, some students will graduate early, others will have concurrent college enrollment.

"It actually gives you college skills, and I want to go to college. I think you can graduate early if you can," says seventh grader Kyle Wheeler.

"I chose to go to this school because it has a higher curriculum and it's art based," said seventh grader Clara Sims.

Margaret Vander Heyden teaches painting and drawing. She loves the format of the school and its personalized instruction.

"I think the instruction is more individualized," Vander Heyden says. "And now, we're picking up on other interests. We're going to start speech and drama. The kids are really enthused. We plan to do commercials and plays."

Vander Heyden is a retired Belen High School teacher, and an artist. She paints as well as works in glass art.

"It's a French form of stained glass art called Vitri-Fusaille," she explains, "using pigments mixed with clove oil."

There is a community service component to the school, with an environmental focus. It involves a lot of environmental clean up, learning ecology and offers outdoor learning.

"I like going to the bosque for our community service projects," said seventh grader Zack Daniels. "We get to see all the trees out there. We pick up trash."

"Miss Greenly is the true definition of a global citizen," claims Bryant. "We have lots of community service learning projects to regain the natural ecology. We don't want our state to be known as the land of 'entrashment'," she asserts, "we want to keep it the Land of Enchantment."

There isn't a school gym for physical education, but arrangements have been made for physical fitness and ball games taught by P.E. coach Mario Tapia.

"We're using the TNT boxing gym for our physical fitness program," Tapia said. "Our exercises are based on the USA boxing curriculum, but we do basketball, kickball, football, volleyball and dance competitions. And these kids do have some talent."

Joann Blystone is happy with the school and the progress her son, Garrett, is making.

"We wanted our son to have a quality education in a smaller environment," Garrett said. "His grades have improved. We really like the new school."

"They don't have a lunch program yet," interjects Garrett's father, Jim. "And I think it's something they should really look at."`

For now, students bring lunches from home, but for a 4-month-old school, there is a lot in the works yet.

Application for accreditation has been submitted, for example.

"The first year is really a self-assessment," Yates explained. "Next year, we'll have an actual visit by an accreditation team. We have a lot of positive things going on, and we've got a lot of work to do, too."