It was another great Kindergarten Night with a lot of valuable information. In two hours, we were able to put some meaning behind a process that can seem very daunting. Tanya Anton, founder of GoMamaGuide.com and author of “Westside Guide to Public Elementary Schools,” is an expert in the research, and was here to begin our dialogue, to answer questions, and to guide our way. We covered not only the “how tos” of choosing a Kindergarten, but also defined the various types of public school options such as Charters, Magnets, out of area Permits, Language Immersion, their respective lottery systems, and more.
Tanya’s first advice is… …to go and visit your own local school to set a benchmark. So often we hear information that may influence our opinions, but as many of our schools are changing for the better, it’s important to see first hand and have a direct experience from which to base our decisions. Knowing that it took me two years to get anyone from the neighborhood to come to NSW speaks to the power of fighting a bad reputation. She reassured us that many parents are actively putting energy into revitalizing their neighborhood schools and she is seeing positive things happening all around us. She also reminded us that as taxpayers, even if we miss the tours, we have the right to visit the classrooms for 20 minutes, so call to make appointments (kindly), or you can participate in school events, or attend the monthly booster club (Friends of) or PTA meetings to find out what’s happening. If you are wondering what your home school assignment is, in L.A.
you can call (213) 241-1000 or pull up the www.lausd.net<http://www.lausd.net/> school finder. To find out about Culver City Schools, call (310) 842-4220 Ext. 4237 or pull up www.ccusd.org/<http://www.ccusd.org/> and for Santa Monica Schools, call (310) 450-8338 Ext. 208 or pull up www.smmusd.org<http://www.smmusd.org/>. (Direct links to these school districts and other resources, as well as a color-coded map of all Westside public elementary schools are also available on Tanya’s GoMamaGuide.com website.)
Remember, if you are considering private schools for the fall of 2012, applications must be in by September/October of this year. Some schools only accept the first 100 applications and the age cut-off dates vary so call each school to find out their process. If private school might be an option for you, there is a Kindergarten Information Fair at Curtis School on Wednesday, May 11th from 6:30 to 8:00. This is an evening where over 45 independent elementary schools will be represented and a good way to get a peek at the whole picture. There is a flyer about this on the Parent Board in the alley.
This is not an easy process. Long gone are the days when you can just assume that the best school for your child is within walking distance from your home. It just might be, but the time it takes to satisfy your questions is important. Remember, too, the research for you working parents includes after school options. It’s important to find out about those programs, as well.
Just know, you’re not alone. Lots of NSW parents are “out there” willing to share their experiences. If you have any questions, ask. If I don’t know the answers, more than likely I know someone who does. And, of course, there’s Tanya. She’s been through it and is happy to share her expertise or create a personalized public school action plan for you based on where you live. Be sure to visit her website for more info. Roleen