The teachers here are wonderful. My child has been lucky and consistently gets very supportive teachers. There is a light IEP plan and they get some unofficial 1:1 time with the teaching assistant. I love the regular events throughout the year like the Multicultural Festival, holiday gatherings, and many more book fairs than the "old days". It was fun to see dancers, martial artists, we enjoy the events with crafting and cocoa and it's encouraging for students to preview their potential teachers end of year and do a day-before Meet and Greet with their official teacher the day before school starts. Very solid idea.
I do think that it was unfortunate the clothing donation was run so vaguely compared to the crisp, regular, and direct communication at Canyon Oaks through the ParentSquare app; we lost two very warm coats to the donation program for Napa Moms or thieves at a time when I was out of work and winter was setting in. The principal told me to check the racks and the secretary told me to buy one at a thrift store. I used my last dollars on a credit card to get a half warm coat and the kid was cold that winter, so we added hoodies. Napa Moms Director Hanh Randall did not offer a coat for the situation as the principal hopefully suggested. Falling in the cracks is no fun, but it is what it is. When we could afford it, we installed trackers in the coats, they'll be found one way or the other next time.
They are better about proactively communicating about IEP issues quickly here and offer a bit more support than at Canyon Oaks Elementary. At Canyon Oaks, I sat with a woman who said "they call me the Gatekeeper" and she tried to get me to sign away the IEP request only for other staff to contact me and ask me to keep it and approve more services. Just keep an eye on whoever you get and what they say at any school.
I do feel that a monthly or bimonthly check in would be good with the teacher, just to connect and improve support and coordination since focus is a big challenge for my child. I get the feeling it will be easier to coordinate with the teacher this year though, this teacher is incredibly intuitive and adept and radiates positivity, calm, deep experience and understanding.
Admin seems to be solid here, efficient school.
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