
Registration just started for the 2013-2014 school year. Kindergarten families and first graders register today. (I remember registering our first child before the Spanish immersion program started. We were scared!) Many people worry when they send kids to school… any school, so I thought I would post the galleries from last year’s kindergarten and first grade classes.

Here are photos of both first grade classes. Except for the photo that includes me, I took these photos in June. 2012-2013 First Grade Photo Gallery. I think a first grader took the photo of me, and I probably should give him credit and ask permission before posting it.
Here is the 2012-13 Kindergarten Photo Gallery. Did you think your kids would have this much fun by the end of kinkindergarten? Tomorrow the second through fourth graders register. On Friday August 16, the sixth through eighth graders register. Remember to click the link if you wish to view the photo gallery.… Read the rest
Aug 14, 2013 | Categories: Melrose Leadership Academy | Tags: dual immersion, Melrose Leadership Academy, Oakland Public Schools, Oakland Unified School District, registration, Spanish bilingual | 6 Comments »
My two children attend an innovative public school in Oakland. The school, Melrose Leadership Academy, is part of Oakland Unified School District. Many people believe that MLA is a charter school, but is not. Our students learn how to lead… in a district public school.

During the annual period known as the “Options Process,” families tour schools searching for an educational community for the following year (and years.) Many parents will not send their children to a charter school, so it is important that parents know our status as a district school. During tours, some parents reported that even OUSD staff have incorrectly identified our school as a charter. It has happened often enough, that I believe the reports, but I cannot confirm that it has happened.

I am not necessarily against charter schools as much as I am against the confusion. Why do so many people think we are a charter?… Read the rest
Dec 29, 2012 | Categories: Education and Technology, Melrose Leadership Academy | Tags: Oakland Public Schools, Rocketship Education, The Options Process | 8 Comments »