San Francisco, CA
Alta Plaza Preschool

Home-School Connection

OVERALL RATING (4.1)
Conducts an open house at start of school year
Conducts a parent-teacher meeting at start of school year
Conducts regular parent teacher conferences
Provides summary of child’s learning at end of year
Provides guidance on developmental goals for the following year
Provides guidance on best Kindergarten and elementary schools

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Director's Comments

Open house/meeting at beginning of school year with specific learning goals and explanation of how struggling children will be helped and how children who are advanced will be challenged. Individual parent-teacher meetings at the beginning of the year. Notes, phone calls, voicemail, email, special meetings, regular conferences, drop-off, pick-up and regular newsletter are all ways that we communicate with parents.

Parent Community

COHESIVENESS RATING (4.2)

Parents:

- Hold social events at the school to build community

- Fundraise

- Are able to visit the school anytime we want

- Go on field trips

- Volunteer in the classroom

- Receive newsletters

- Hold social events outside of the school (with and/or without children)

- Encourage play dates out of school

- Shares information on matter related to our children (e.g. babysitter lists, pediatricians, extracurriculuar classes, etc.)

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Parents' Comments

Parent #1
Only 2 parents are allowed to go on field trips and it doesn't matter how early you ask if you can go on one, you won't get to go unless you are 'favored' by the director or by a teacher who sets up the field trip. About volunteering, a few times a year some parents are allowed to come and give a presentation/demonstration about a subject they know.....(carpentry, phillipino culture, etc.) There is no board of trustees......the director makes all decisions and doesn't want parental involvement, unless it's for fundraising or to substitute teach to save the school the cost.

Parent #2
This is a fantastic school filled with terrific kids and VERY involved parents (despite being largely comprised of parents who both work).

Parent #3
Our parent committee encourages any and all parents to be involved. We have monthly meetings and plan many activities for both kids and parents. We fundraise for the school and provide support for the teachers and directors through bonus programs, conference sponsorships etc.

Parent #4
Is one that is wonderful and extremely supportive.

Parent #5
Friendly, down-to-earth, inviting, welcoming...I like all of the other parents and we've gained some wonderful new friendships through Alta Plaza.

Parent #6
There is a Parent Committee that was started in about year 2000, in order to facilitate communication between the 3 or 4 teachers and the director. Apparently the working relationship was so bad that they weren't speaking much and the parents didn't want the teachers to quit since they were so talented and had been there many years. Besides fundraising, the Parent Committee created a teacher bonus as incentive to get them to stay, gave them a fund to buy supplies, etc. and generally worked hard to help the teachers with what was needed at the school. However, 3 out of the 3 full-time teachers left in 2004, and two of the new teachers left within a few months of being hired.

Parent #7
Pairs old parents with new parents

Montessori? Waldorf? Play-based?

What school type is right for your child? Is one model better than another? What does the research say?

View an example from the Savvy Source guide to learn more.

Trace around your child's foot, with shoe on, on a piece of white construction paper or card stock. Have child cut out the shoe print and add a spooky face. Glue it to a popsicle stick and you have a ghost stick puppet!

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