Archive for July, 2011
30
Jul
Posted by californian in Charter schools, Education, Magnolia Science Academy, School activities, Testimonials. Tagged: Charter school, Education, Learning Theories, Magnolia, Methods and Theories, Parent. Leave a Comment
It is obvious that children’s education is a primary concern of all parents. There are 15-20 schools around my neighborhood, and most of them are great quality schools. But why Magnolia?
First, why I chose this great charter school is that the school environment is very warm and friendly for all – for students, parents, and even for one-time school visitors.. Yes, and that’s also briefly how I learned about this charter school.
I was driving by and I saw this “Open House” banner on the school building. I walked in and just loved the school site at my very first visit.
Unfortunately, the open house was already over, but the school administrators generously offered me a guided tour, and answered all my questions. I saw almost all the labs, classrooms, and school auditoriums that day. They invited me for another open house session after the tour. What impressed me at that school site visit was this warm welcome. I wasn’t just “an another parent”.
I was told about the teachers’ “home visit program”, which I found very unique for this charter school. I didn’t know about these visits before, and think they are very notable.
I’ll write on Magnolia’s home visits later, and will share other reasons (or let’s say this charter school’s differences) that lead me to choose this charter school.
28
Jul
Posted by msabell in Charter schools, Diversity, Education, Gulen charter schools, Teachers, Testimonials. Tagged: Charter school, Education, Gulen, Gulen charter schools, Learning Theories, Magnolia. Leave a Comment
Students in our neighborhood charter school come from diverse socioeconomic strata, diverse backgrounds and assorted cultures.
Magnolia does a good job, not only fostering an academic medium for this immensely diverse population, but also crafting a sense of a large family on the school grounds.
The teachers and the principal provide a nurturing environment, and in return, the API scores keep increasing.
It is surprising to see people with an agenda to harm this successful school. I’d heard about Gulen charter schools stuff before our enrollment, yet some other parents that I know very well assured me that there is nothing to worry about. That is also what I observed throughout our experience with the school.
Now, after our first year, I cannot say anything but “Thank you!” to people in Magnolia.
26
Jul
Posted by Angel1965 in Charter schools, Education, Magnolia Science Academy, STEM Education, Testimonials. Tagged: Charter school, Education, Magnolia, Math, Mathcounts, Mathematics, Science fair. Leave a Comment
I find Magnolia’s approach very valuable. Mathcounts, project competitions and science fairs are amazing ways to motivate kids for technology-focused career paths.
It is no secret that the quality of our math and science education lags behind many other nations, and it could only be resolved by grassroots-level efforts like these.
Good job.
23
Jul
Posted by theworldofmine in Charter schools, Education, Gulen charter schools, Jealous bloggers, Teachers, Testimonials. Tagged: California, Charter school, Education, Gulen, Gulen charter schools, Learning Theories, Methods and Theories, Teacher. 1 Comment
I finally found a charter school that indeed values education, innovation, and growth. Why would someone try to mislead people about this great school with their fictions like Gulen charter schools anyway?
I take this as normal. Not everyone will celebrate your achievements; you should always save some room for jealousy too.
Teachers here take their jobs very serious, and they are impatient to see the days their pupils go out into our communities and work to make them better. They plan individual learning paths student by student, and visit their families to inform them about their children’s progress.
As a parent, I am happy to see that the priority is and has always been our children. That is what I all care about.
21
Jul
Posted by Admin in Charter schools, Education, Magnolia Science Academy, School activities, Testimonials. Tagged: Charter school, Education, Student. Leave a Comment
Parent Testimonial:
My son couldn’t quite make it in his previous school. Frankly, he was not very successful and he had only a few friends. Thanks to the club activities Magnolia offer, he is much more social now.
He always has so much to tell me when I pick him up after the school. Doing homework became fun for him, and I try my best to spare some time for reading together. And yes, he is improving his scores recently.
It is very rewarding as a father to see your little one blossom. I’m grateful to all his teachers for all they do for him.
19
Jul
Posted by Anonymous in Charter schools, Education, Gulen charter schools, Jealous bloggers, Magnolia Science Academy, Success. Tagged: California, Charter school, Education, Gulen, Gulen charter schools, Magnolia Science Academy, United States. Leave a Comment
Recently, I was reading an article about the top ten public schools in California.
On the comments section, I wanted to congratulate those schools for their success. Then I saw this comment which stated “Magnolia Science Academy (MSA) couldn’t make the top ten in California”. He/she was also trying to associate MSA with what he/she calls Gulen charter schools. There can be two reasons to post such a funny comment that I can think of:
First, this Gulen charter schools crier might be expecting MSA among the top ten schools. If this is the case, I want to thank him/her for sharing MSA parents’ feelings. And I would like to remind him/her that it was a near miss, MSA did pretty well this year by ranking the 13th in California.
If not appreciation, the other reason to make such a comment could be hatred or jealousy to the extent that he or she solely thinks to defame MSA. I think, these feelings make those Gulen charter schools bloggers loud such baseless and funny comments on this successful charter school.
They try hard not to miss any chance, even if it’s the success of any other public school. When they don’t see their target school in the top ten list, they just write “Oh, this Gulen charter school didn’t make top ten”. But, they ignore the fact that the charter school has ranked 13th in California.
I’m glad that these few individuals posting Gulen charter schools junk all around do follow MSA and it’s achievements closely. However, I have two objections: One, MSA is not a Gulen charter school, and two, it has proven it’s success in the national level a couple of times. Simple huh?..
17
Jul
Posted by Admin in Charter schools, Diversity, Education, Gulen charter schools, Jealous bloggers, STEM Education, Success, Testimonials. Tagged: Charter school, CHARTERSCHOOL, Education, Gulen, Gulen charter schools, United States. Leave a Comment
I have a son whose brain was “jumbled” for the first three years of his education sitting in public schools that were so focused on “average” students; he had nothing challenging educationally, no role models before him.
I moved him to this charter school, and immediately started to see a spark of enthusiasm. Thanks to the science projects, he’s now much more excited to learn. And, I think, diverse student population is something he benefits more than anything he could ever experience in public schools.
I wonder, on what basis a few people are trying to defame this charter school? Have they ever made a single visit to the school? Did they talk to anyone from the school or any of us, parents? It’s always easy to talk and blame, but increasing a charter school’s success and generating positive outcomes day by day require real solid effort..
Now, almost two years following our enrollment, I know that I made the right decision, no matter what those self-contradicting Gulen charter schools arguments suggest.
15
Jul
Posted by Admin in Charter schools, Education, Magnolia Science Academy, Teachers, Testimonials. Tagged: California, Charter school, Education, Magnolia Science Academy, School choice, Teacher. Leave a Comment
Parent Testimonial:
My son attends Magnolia Science Academy for the last two years and this is the best choice we’ve made. Teachers at the charter school are really successful at what they do: no bullying, no drugs, and no dropouts. All these look like a good value for public funds.
I was looking for a school that motivates kids to college degrees and professional careers. My son is quite intelligent and I don’t want a school that doesn’t care about his quality of education. We’re very happy with this school, it has a very high education standard, and the discipline is perfect.
Good job on ranking 13th in California!
13
Jul
Posted by msabell in Charter schools, Diversity, Education, Gulen charter schools, Magnolia Science Academy, School activities, Teachers, Testimonials. Tagged: Charter school, Education, Gulen, Gulen charter schools, Methods and Theories, School. Leave a Comment
Magnolia Science Academy in Bell embraces many cultures in my neighborhood, and fosters a productive learning environment. All students are given individual instruction on the knowledge and skills they need. Teachers spend many hours by tutoring them for free, and all the students’ homes are visited to create the needed bridge between the parents and the school. In our charter school, students acquire lifelong learning tools, not just information to pass their tests.
I applaud the school for this unbelievable hard-work in handling diverse group of students and parents effectively. Some marginal people with Gulen charter schools argument are not bringing out this accomplishment, and prefer to ignore appreciation parents and school districts with their made-up stories. At the end of the day, everyone is free to express their thoughts, yet hate speech differs from the freedom of speech and prejudice is something beyond pure ignorance.
I suggest everyone come and visit our school and see this success by themselves.
11
Jul
Posted by Admin in Charter schools, Education, Magnolia Science Academy, Success, Teachers, Testimonials. Tagged: Charter school, Education, Magnolia, Teacher. Leave a Comment
Parent Testimonial:
Our charter school is doing great job. I have never known a school so focused on education as Magnolia! Teachers are college driven and my children are so motivated that I am proud being part of this school.
The school staff at Magnolia is dedicated to educate our children and to inspire them to go to the best university possible! This dedication has been recognized by the state authorities and the national media a couple of times by means of several proclamations, medals and trophies.
Magnolia is nothing but the BEST charter school in our county.
