August 27 & 29
Below are comments from our Community Information Meetings from August 27 & 29. We appreciate your participation in our design process as we create the programs and structures for this new learning environment.
August 27, 2013
Changes the community wants to see…
more subject offerings
smaller classes
less politics
opportunity for parent involvement
better nutrition
more student interaction
more teamwork
no more grade level limits
school is exciting and fun
focus on learning rather than test scores
less state level testing
less standardized testing
clear admission processes
small classrooms
one-on-one interactions
more technology with instruction (software, programs)
more hands-on learning
excited teachers who want to change learning
changes
individualized learning for each child
teaching to the child not just the class
kids collaborating
balancing student body with different academic levels
tapping into each child’s potential
lots of music and art
limited homework
more hi tech
kids learning coding
experimenting
questioning everything
more access to technology
push their thinking
more communication
let teachers be teachers
more interactions with teachers
less structure
more creativity
more art
options for foreign language
options for music
Better chance to find my daughter’s passion
structed P.E.
School preparing our kids for real life
less homework!
open up space to let students explore their unique talents
limit homework
individualized lesson plans or paths based on strengths
opportunities for independent learning
freedom for principal to hire and fire teachers
less union control in the classroom
a place for introverts, detail oriented, creative thinkers, abstract thinking children
Lab time - hands on learning
August 29, 2013
Changes the community wants to see…
New ways of thinking, planning, and executive learning and development
more individual attention
more personalization
a good fit between, student, teacher, and school
smaller class sizes
more attention with kids that need it
more attention to kid’s learning levels
smaller class sizes
more practical, real life solutions and examples
wanting my child to have more time and attention on areas that are their need
stop focusing on passing state testing
More hands-on/practice better technology
kids thinking for themselves
Applied learning taking it beyond memorization
more interesting
better nutrition
less homework/busywork
early interventions for problems...don’t wait for kids to fail
connection with nature and the outside world
less busywork and monotonous learning
environmentally conscious campus (solar/rain barrels) trashless lunches
kids prepared for the future
depth and application over regurgitation and memorization
school fits child vs. child fits school
keyboarding skills
What excites you?
innovation
using different methods to learn subjects
celebrating culture and diversity
tapping into right brain
no middle school
assessing each child’s strength
my child not having to fit the mold of “sitting smart and being quiet” all of the time
having both kids in the same place for a while
student empowerment
unique strengths are valued
using more technology like laptops and iPads
having a wide variety of learning tools
new learning opportunities
being involved in creating a new school environment
new traditions that don’t follow the old paths
kids get to think outside the box
What don’t you want to see…
kids sitting all day with the same teacher
workbooks all day
Large class sizes
Teachers just do “a job”
Don’t want to see a lack in social skills due to increase in technology
New Opportunities you would like to see…
kids being challenged
art and enrichment classes will be offered
Exploration of child’s unique talents
No holding back based on age / grade level
Using play & imagination to solve problems
Leadership
More foreign languages / exposure to other cultures.
Field trips centered around learning: i.e. Yosemite week: geology, biology, writing, etc.
Solve real-world problems
Experiencing different unique (new) ways to learn (old) subjects
Speech programs
Adaptive learning
New Programs - sports, electives, language; let children explore (hands-on).
Give each child a voice
Special ed. opportunities
What scares you?
Leaving friends
Will they be ready for HS and college?
No homework
Too much homework
Transitional impact from this school to a “regular” high school
Parking/Drop-off and Pick-up (solution 10 min early for kinder)
Classroom discipline
Target lurkers
My kids not getting in
In 5 years, can you still transfer in if not in from Kindergarten?
Can an overpass be put in over Camino Del Norte? 2 School = a lot of foot traffic
Still want structured learning - for kids not as self motivated/driven
I don’t want to see all project curriculum and then not how to do “the basics” (ex. write an essay)
What kind of security?
Uncertainty
Leaving friends
Separating siblings
Kids with high test scores will be the only one in
School will turn into more of a GATE school
Not prepared for high school
What excites you?
My kid will be prepared for the future!
Some interaction of different in ages in class setting
To be creative
Challenged academically
Be able to have their voice heard
Child drive needs of an individual
More opportunities for activities outside of traditional classroom teaching
to have the opportunity for my daughter to go to a new school that is innovative in it’s approaches
The ability for our kids to grow with technology - not just playing catch up
The opportunity to grow beyond traditional boundaries and reach his full potential in ways he may not in traditional
Learning at his own pace
New experience
Upcoming for the future
Creativity
Forward thinking
New ideas
Energy
This emulates the real engineering world which I came from. This is how problems are solved.
Kudos to teaching this before their first job
What don’t you want to see…
no odd/even days
no more soul crushing doldrums
Kids must fail before they get individualized help or formality of 504, etc.
Don’t want to be a year where everything is being figured out
I don’t want to see children getting lost, falling behind
Large class sizes
Repetition and rote
Agenda based teaching
Test-driven school
Big class sizes and less individualized attention
Reversing course - going back to traditional STAR test focus
Too great a focus on testing / test prep without application
Teaching to state tests!
New Opportunities you would like to see…
For my child to reach her highest potential and to love learning
Environmentally conscious campus and missions
Better nutrition = less garbage
individual friendly
child friendly
not standards friendly
at a new school the tech
new school new environment
new/more advanced technology
Moving forward with technology and learning
Creativity
New ideas
change in the way of teaching
The opportunity to do things differently in better ways
Opportunities
Deal Breakers…
No ESS before or after school.
Too many kids per teacher that students get left behind or they don’t do enough work on their own and rely on group work too much.
No grades
No 6th grade (15 parents out of 18 attending concurred)
More homework
Homework with no application to life.
Too much tech and not enough social lessons.
No vocational ed.
As an incoming 6th grader, not having upper classmen.
What scares you?
Don’t want my child to be a guinea pig in a failed experiment
Will my child be able to pick up on the new format?
If we don’t change school
Can we project accurately at what will be needed for our kids to succeed in their adult life
If my child will not be able to adapt to a new way
Changing for the first time - still working the bugs out
My child adapting to a different way of learning
Will they be prepared for SAT - test taking
The unknown of how things will work
That we won’t get it
That it may not be successful for my child
Go back to old ways