Why I love McKinley

Author: Patricia McFadden, parent of a 2nd grader and kindergartener

 

I love McKinley Elementary because it is a great community! It’s on the small side for the public elementary schools and while far from perfect, there is a wonderful combination of teachers, parents, school staff, and community members that support EVERY child.

Parents are involved in the school through class projects, tutoring, and other volunteer opportunities. The teachers are experienced, patient, and compassionate and, most importantly, love their work. My sons see a broad section of cultures, economic income levels, and learning levels, and learn everyday about the value of each person, without a specific lesson on the subject.

My sons are challenged to learn new things and I am pleased and amazed to see their growth. They learn the subjects and they learn respect for others and common values.

 

Most importantly, my kids love their school too. McKinley rocks!

 

Why I love Fairmount

Author: Lauretta Komlos, parent of a 2nd grader and incoming kindergartner

First and foremost, it is a place where my child is getting an excellent education, AND is learning a second language. I am amazed at the level of instruction she has received. The teachers are smart, loving, devoted, and motivated. My kid is a science and spelling nut and she has gotten her fill of these. She may know animals and their genus in Spanish, but she knows them. Yes, I never really thought about what makes a mammal a mammal, but you will get an earful of these and many other wonderful facts if your child gets lucky enough to enroll at Fairmount.

Secondly, the school has an amazing shadow support team. I was approached by teachers and the school social worker to enroll my daughter in several programs that I didn’t even know existed and that have assisted her greatly in her parallel social development.

Lastly, I love the potential of Fairmount. Fairmount has not yet “arrived” on the public school scene. There is a lot of work to be done, and I see that as an opportunity to shape my Children’s education and to be involved in the community. All hands are invited to participate, and no ideas will be turned away.

Why I love Alice Fong Yu

Author: Tom McVey, parent of a kindergartener

TD McVey and his kindergarten teacher May Ng at Alice Fong Yu’s Halloween parade.

I love this school. The academics are stellar, and the opportunity to learn two dialects of Chinese is exciting.

I was surprised how rapidly my kid started to absorb the language – singing songs, counting numbers, and pointing out the characters he knows when we pass by a sign using Chinese pictographs. I think learning a new language has added to his confidence and pride. We feel fortunate to be in a district and school that has taken a real lead in immersion education.

The school is *very* well organized. The teachers are hardworking and highly trained. I’ve been impressed with the simple, elegant, understated way discipline is handled in the kinder classes, and have learned a lot on how to work with my own kid. The principal, Liana Szeto runs a tight ship, and had the vision to create the nation’s first school that was wholly Chinese Immersion.

Expectations are high not only for the kids but also for parents. Homework starts early: there’s a fair amount given to the kindergarteners, and this ramps up substantially in the higher grades. So expect a lot of wrangling as you get your kid to knuckle down. I love that there’s a workshop for parents who aren’t familiar with Chinese to help them help their kids with their homework!

Do you love your public school? Share your story with us, and learn how you can take action to support SF public schools in the face of state budget cuts.