Why I Love My Public School
by YourSFPublicSchools Team ~ January 28th, 2010
By Amy Graff, author of The Mommy Files blog on sfgate.com and parent at Jose Ortega Elementary School.
I love Jose Ortega because it sits on a hill that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. On a clear day you can see the Farallon Islands from the play ground, and when the sun sets in the evening the sky turns soft pinks and purples, and my daughter says, "Oh mom, I wish I could have a dress in those colors."
I love the Friday morning sing-alongs when all the children and teachers and many parents gather in the auditorium. It's loud and chaotic and the children are distracted as they sing through a medley of songs. And then Ms. Young starts pounding the school song on the piano and the children sit up straight and proudly sing: "It's Jose Ortega on the hill we love..."
I love that my daughter is learning to write and speak in Mandarin.
I love that my daughter learned to read—and to love books—at Jose Ortega.
I love that the principal knows every child and parent by name.
I love the parents because they support one another. They're the sort who invite you over for dinner when your spouse is out of town and who put hot casseroles on your doorstep after you have a baby.
I love Jose Ortega because it's small. The school has 260 students so after awhile you really do recognize every face.
I love that our PTA raised money to pay for tutoring kids who were falling behind.
I love our greening committee that pulls weeds on weekends. Its members have big dreams of converting our blacktop area into a lush sea of green where children can climb trees and get their hands dirty pulling carrots from the earth. I love that ideas such as "We should get goats and chickens" are tossed out at our meetings.
I love Ms. Ginny who works in the office. I love that she puts band-aids on boo-boos that children are certain exist--but really aren't there.
I love our art teacher, Aiko, who is teaching the kids to paint. The school hallways are full of vibrant artwork.
I love that when you walk into the teacher lounge at lunchtime, the teachers are talking and laughing. They all get along--setting a tone for the rest of the school.
I love that my daughter came home and said, “I need to tell you about Rosa Parks and how everyone is equal no matter their skin color.” She talked about race comfortably and openly.
I love the gorgeous Chinese characters that my daughter draws on everything--restaurant place mats, birthday cards, notepads.
I love that a group of schoolchildren lead their fellow classmates in the "Pledge of Allegiance" every day. And I'll never forget the morning when our principal announced that the child leading the "Pledge" had just become a citizen.
Do you love your SF public school? Post a comment and tell us why?
If you care about public schools in our city, come to a town hall meeting on February 25 to learn about the budget cuts facing our public education system and how you can help. The discussion will be moderated by KQED’s Michael Krasny. For more information, visit http://fundingourfuturesf.com/.
January 29th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
I love Monroe Elementary School because my kids learned there how not everyone is like them and understanding differences is enriching and helps us all be more human and humble.
I love Monroe Elementary School because my kids learned how to tell jokes in Spanish and can make fun of me behind my back.
I love it that whenever I cross the Monroe playground to help in my son's classroom I see a teacher like Lisa Greenhill laughing and playing PE games with her kids, and it is clear to everyone she is having a great time.
I love Monroe Elementary School because Elvia Diaz's photo honoring her as a parent volunteer hangs in the front hallway, and she is just one of many parent volunteers week in and week out working hard for all our kids.
I love Monroe Elementary School because when I receive emails from Tanya de la Jara about how my son is doing, I can see that she was up at her computer at 4:30am thinking about my kid and others and I really do feel as if I am not alone.
I love it that our principal, Jen Steiner, leads by example, challenging us to work as hard as she does to reach goals that benefit all Monroe kids. Jen mixes loving good humor with straight forward honesty about what still remains be to accomplished: I love it that she never backs down!
I love Monroe Elementary School because when I pick up my son from the after school program there are always numerous teachers still working even though it is dark and cold out.
I love Monroe Elementary School because it is filled with artwork and music and many languages and feels like the best part of the world has converged in our little corner proving that peace, harmony and respect are not just lofty principles, but tangible realities.
I love Monroe Elementary School because community members actively appreciate each other everyday.
I love the front office staff at Monroe (Midie, Lorena, and any other folks who happen to be using the xerox machine) who always treat parents w/ respect and kindness.
I I love Monroe Elementary School because teachers like Mark Rosenberg, Cristina Moreno, Annie Agvanian, Tracy Miller, and many others truly love their students and their jobs, and it feels like a group effort.
I love the way Monroe Elementary School parents have taken an equal role in raising money to support the school programs and have been influential in making sure we have arts, and a garden, and PE.
I love the way Winnie, our librarian, and teachers like Sara Dunn wirite grants and proposals to Donor's Choose to get resources for the school.
I love that even with the looming budget cuts and the not-so-funny humor at once again being told to do more with less, the teachers and staff at Monroe are more determined than ever to provide our kids with the best education possible.
If the fate of the world rests in the hands of our children, then we are lucky they are shaped by the teachers and staff at Monroe: good-humored, hard-working, stubborn idealists who hold all of us to a higher standard.
They honor us and our children everyday by their presence, and if I could snap my fingers so that those who deserve it were the most well-rewarded, we wouldn't be facing this budget crisis. But in the days and months ahead, I promise to do my best to ensure that it doesn't get worse, and that someday California will again lead the country in support for education. And I thank all of the teachers and folks who work for our kids in daunting situations. We owe you everything.