Re: Lonely 2nd grader is the only African American in her class
Consider Aurora School! We strive for diversity and I think it shows, not only in the colors of the children's faces, but also in the way we teach the kids and parents to approach the multi-faceted world around us. I think that you and your daughter would feel welcome in our community. Long-time parent

Re: Individualized instruction for advanced student?
Our academically gifted child has thrived at Aurora School. Aurora designs the curriculum to challenge kids of different abilities. Check it out. www.auroraschool.org Aurora parent

I would like to get updated information on how parents with children at Aurora or Black Pine Circle are finding things with the (relatively) new Heads of School in place. Thanks

Our 8 year old son is in sec ond grade at Aurora - he loves it and so do we. What we love most about the school is the emphasis on encouraging children’s natural love of learning. Having an enthusiastic boy who is curious about everything, we looked hard to find a school that would embrace this, and we have found it with Aurora.

Although Aurora is not into testing and rote learning, you don’t have to worry about your kid getting plenty of learning – math, reading, writing – it is just done in innovative and fun ways. Aurora is very strong academically. They also have a terrific integrated arts program. Aurora puts a high premium on emotional and social development and you see it in the friendly, inclusive and socially responsible students. I remember one field trip to a science center where the guide made the comment, “we have hundreds of classes come through here and I can’t remember ever leading such an enj oyable and well-behaved group of kids!” It is not too late for a tour. Go to www.auroraschool.org or call Lisa Piccone, Admissions Director, 428-2606 x204 if you are interested.
Susan

Re: Kids of GLBT: Where do they go to School?
Well, my son's school -- indeed, his classroom -- has a lot of same-sex parents. In his class of 24 kids, there are 4 who are the children of people in same-sex relationships. I think this is more, on average, than other classrooms at the school, but certainly there are plenty of similar families to feel at home among. He's at Aurora, a place we find very welcoming to all kinds of families. Aurora parent

Re: Gay Friendly Private Schools
Our child is a kindergardener at Aurora. Aurora has struck me as a very gay-friendly school. Though I am in a straight family, so there's only so much that I can speak to. Four of the 23 kids in her class are in gay families. It is not a closeted place at all. Families are very involved in school and classroom. In kindergarden the kids did a unit on families, and learned that there are all different kinds of families (including two-mom and two-dad families). There are pictures of the kids and their families up on the wall. There is an active diversity committee which has sponsored occassional gay/lesbian family get-togethers. Aurora, in all it does, promotes an ethic of being who you are, of kindness and respect for others, and an appreciation of diversity. The gay-friendly atmoshpere has been great for my child, who takes gay parents for granted, and has never asked why certain kids have two moms or two dads. It feels like there really has been social change! Aurora Mom

I'm interested in sending my daughter to Aurora School, but have heard very mixed feedback about the school. Would appreciate feedback from families that currently attend or previously attended the school. In particular, I'm wondering about:

- teacher turnover and how that affects classroom experience,
- leadership and direction at the school
- how rigorous the curriculum is,
- the financial stability of the school, and
- future prospects for buying its own space and developing a 
middle school.

**Her teachers are superb. The right combination of kindness, warmth, enthusiasm, setting limits, respect for all of the kids, communication with parents, attention to the kids abilities, making learning interesting, a really rich and rigorous curriculum.

**The structure of the school: a lead teacher and full time teaching assistant with about 23 kids/class half K's half 1st graders (and in later years 2nd and 3rd grade, and 4th and 5th grade) allows for lots of individual attention, and can accommodate wide diferences in abilities, and is great for the kids socially (my daughter is friends with both K and 1st graders). Because Aurora welcomes parental involvement, in our daughter's class there is almost always one parent in the classroom and often two. This gives an amazing adult-child ratio. Being in the class for 2 years allows the teachers to really know the kid and their family.

**Allows for differences in abilities. Does assignments that kids can reach at different levels.

**It is a warm, joyous, place which works hard at developing an envrionment and community in which kids feel safe to learn, explore, make mistakes.

**They learn SOOOO much--academically, socially, creatively. This isn't kindergarden like when I was a kid.

OK, your questions. Some of these came up at a Town hall meeting this week, so I'll try to answer them as best I can, given that we're new at the school.

Teacher turnover. There was a spate of turnover due to several pregnancies. Less than average for independent schools. Also, I would think that because there are 2 teachers in a classroom, that there is less disruption for the kids when one teacher leaves. (This is a plus for when teachers are absent. Class continues like normal.)

Leadership. I think the director is outstanding. Has a clear vision of what Aurora is and is not. Very supportive of teachers. I find myself nodding my head in agreement when he speaks.

Rigor of Curriculum: The best way I can speak to this is to explain that my kid is academically way ahead. She has stayed challenged and engaged. For example, since she can read almost anything, the teachers are now focusing on reading comprehension and story elements with her. She LOVES school. She is growing and thriving. We chose Aurora because we felt that they had the best chance of keeping her challenged and engaged without being isolated. This was after looking at many schools including more ''academic'' and competitive schools. Aurora has not disappointed.

Financial Stability. I think it is financially stable but not rich. I know we'd like to be able to offer more financial aid. Aurora is 15 years old, so there is not a large pool of grown-up alumni to tap into for donations.

Future prospects for buying a site and developing a middle school. these are inter-related issues. According to the new strategic plan for 2005-2010, during this time period we will decide if a middle school is desired and viable. (I don't know if this will be resolved earlier or later in that time period. Hopefully more knowledgable people will write in.) We have a fund that we have been developing for the purchase of a site. Don't know the timeline for that. Thrilled with Aurora

My child loves to be there, and is growing both academically and socially. As far as rigor of the curriculum, I share AuroraÂ’s philosophy that hands-on, applied class lessons that work with the interests and needs of the students end up teaching life-long learning skills. Although they certainly cover a lot of academic ground, and at a depth that sometimes surprises me, I guess it depends on what you mean by a rigorous curriculum. For us it has been more important how teachers teach than exactly what they teach. That said, Aurora is a very particular school with a particular pedagogical approach and school culture. ItÂ’s a school full of great energy and enthusiasm for learning that does sometimes border on chaotic, and I think different teachers handle that differently. We are happier with the school in general than we are with how the teachers we have this year handle that in particular. But all in all, itÂ’s a good fit for our child. Also, as far as your other concerns go, Lisa Piccione, the admissions director was incredibly helpful in many ways when we were trying to decide. She knows the school very well, is straightforward and great to talk to. Good luck with your decision. an Aurora parent

Regarding your specific questions:

1. There has been some teacher turnover during the time we have been there, as there is at every school. There are also many staff members that have been there five or ten years or more. My daughter has had the same teachers for two years each (two years in k/1 and two years in grades 2 /3) and it has been a wonderful experience. When teachers leave it is usually because of something personal (starting a family, moving, etc.) One benefit to having two classes per grade is that the other lead teacher can mentor a new teacher. Also since every classroom has two teachers (a lead teacher and an assistant teacher) even if one teacher leaves the other one is still there. Actually, I think we have less turnover than many of the private schools in the area. Teachers really like teaching at Aurora.

2. Different parents will always have differing views about leadership at a given school, and all administrations have their strengths and weaknesses. My personal feeling is that the school is in very capable hands and is very well led.

3. Regarding curriculum, I’m not sure what you mean by “rigorous.” Learning is challenging, stimulating and also fun at Aurora. It looks different from what you see in the public schools or at more traditional schools. My daughter is doing really well academically. There is a clear curriculum guide that parents can read. Aurora kids get accepted at most of their first choice middle schools and do really well academically in later years. In fact, middle schools love Aurora kids because they are still excited and interested in school, they aren’t afraid to speak up and ask questions and they see teachers as a natural allies.

4. Aurora is secure financially. It is a goal of the school to own itÂ’s own site (we have a long term lease currently) and fundraising for that is ongoing. The issue of adding a middle school has been talked about for years. It is being looked at as part of the current strategic plan to decide if it will happen or not. While parents looking at schools like the idea of schools that go through middle school I have liked that at Aurora the focus is firmly on elementary school. I think kids benefit from having a school that specializes in and focuses solely on the younger grades. Our students are ready for a bigger pond at 6th grade.

Our experience at Aurora has been fabulous and if you are looking for a school where your child will feel cared about and known, will stay excited about learning and where you as a parent can be very involved, I think youÂ’ll be happy. ItÂ’s a really great community! Nancy

The question of whether to add a middle school will be decided one way or another this year by the board. While I was looking at schools a middle school attached to an elementary school was important to me. Now that I am at Aurora I am just so happy my son is getting such a great start to his academic career I donÂ’t mind at all weÂ’ll need to look again years down the road. From what I have observed the kids like getting a chance to try their wings in a new environment and they all seem to do really well in whatever schools they have chosen.

The school has a stable home and we just renegotiated our lease. At the same time Aurora does want to own itÂ’s own building and we are raising money for that. We just hired a new development director who is amazing and I have complete faith she will help us reach our goal.

The administration at Aurora is amazing. As a parent you will be able to have extraordinary access to teachers and other staff people. When I compare notes with friends I realize how unusual it is to be able to talk with teachers whenever you need to. We can grab teachers in the morning or afternoon, we can call, we can email. That is along with our twice yearly individual meetings with our teachers. The other staff are equally accessible and our directorÂ’s door is always open. I feel very free to bring up whatever is on my mind and I feel really listened to. That is one of the things that makes Aurora special, the respectful way children and parents are listened to and taken seriously. IÂ’ve never seen anything like it.

Academically, Aurora’s curriculum is creative, innovative and I think quite “rigorous” but not in a traditional way. Aurora does not administer standardized tests and you won’t find rote memorization. It is arts rich (music, art and drama being well integrated into classrooms) and very hands on. For example, children in kindergarten do a lot with patterns to introduce them to math. Rather than just memorize equations they learn the underlying concepts of math and how it works. And key to this is that it is fun and interesting. I love how they teach science too. Our teachers are fabulous - warm and wonderful and engaging. My son cries if he misses a day of school.

It is a great place to go to school. Hope that answers your questions. Call our admissions director Lisa Piccione at 428-2606 if you need more info. You can also email me if you want. Susan

Staff turnover- There has been what seems like a somewhat more than usual amount of staff turnover, but some of it has been circumstances beyond their control (major illness; spouse relocating out of the area, etc). There was 1 teacher last year who came from a pub sch and left at the end of the yr, realizing this wasn't a good fit, but she was right -- it wasn't a good fit and the replacement has been very good from all reports I'm aware of. Since the kids are with the same 2 teachers for 2 years, turnover will have some impact on the class, but overall I don't think it's been a huge issue. In the eg I just mentioned, the ''bad'' part was the struggles that year with a teacher who couldn't adjust to a nonpublic school way of doing things. Parents, and I believe kids, are much happier now that there is a better fit.

Leadership- In my opinion (of course) the director of the school is a great educator and has wonderful ideas about the ''right ways'' to help kids learn. He is well-liked by the kids and (I think) the staff. He is a competent administrator, but, I do believe he also has a hard time sometimes being tough when he ought to be. I have stayed out of Board politics for the most part thus far, but am also aware the the Bd composition now is better than just a year ago.

Curriculum- Generally, I have found the staff to be very good teachers who also care tremendously about the kids and their work. They work very hard and come up with what seems like an interesting (for the kids), well-integrated curriculum. When I first came to the schoool a few yrs ago, I'd heard about some previous complaints that the 4-5 classes weren't rigorous enough, but they seem to have done a lot of work on that and I haven't heard much (negative) since. Their 5th graders certainly get into a wide range of middle schools -- Julia Morgan, Redwood Day, St Paul's, Black Pine Circle. So they can't be doing it too badly. I firmly believe that what they teach is not nearly so important as that they teach how to learn, and that they instill a love of learning in these kids, and it seems they do that well.

Financial stability and future prospects- I can't profess to be completely in the know here. Many private schools have seen a bit of declining enrollment, including Aurora. I personally think some of that has to do with their marketing techniques. I think they're fairly stable right now, but esp if they continue with plans for a middle school, it will get tougher. Related to that, I am not sure how far along they are in the search and I don't know all the details of what a middle school would ''look'' like in terms of curriculum (and Bob would hate me for saying this), but I am not sure I'd send my son (or esp) daughter there for middle school anyway. My first choice for middle school for a girl would be Julia Morgan (I have my daughter there now and we both love it), and if there were a male counterpart, that's where I'd put my son. I think Aurora's philosophy and curriculum is great for elementary school and I am not at all sure it's the best thing for middle school. By then, you do want less touchie feelie, more rigor, more clarity about what the world is really like...if that's the kind of middle school they would develop, then that'd be great, but it would be at least a partial divergence from their current curriculum/philosophy. Tough to say, but the other thing to consider is that 8 years in one spot for you might be easier, but it might not be the best thing for your child anyway. Sometimes, esp at that juncture, a change is good.

Good luck in your decision. Overall, I think it's a great place for a young child. nas

Can anyone tell me about diversity at Aurora? I went to their open house and really liked the creative atmosphere there. It seemed a great match for our family, except for one thing: aside from the parent giving the diversity presentation and two classroom aides, everyone in the room - - prospective parents and faculty -- was white. While I believe that ''diversity'' is integrated into the curriculum, you need a diversity of people to be truly diverse. We are a white family, but we live in multicultural Oakland and I want true diversity that to be part of my child's educational experience. Can anyone tell me about the school's recruitment efforts or give me any statistics about racial diversity at the school? nelly

When we looked at schools, what drew us to Aurora was the educational philosophy, sense of community, lack of pretense, and the organic approach to issues of diversity that we felt Aurora embodied. We have been at the school for 5 years and are very pleased on all these counts and more.

Looking at diversity is a complex issue. Aurora strives to not only maintain, but increase the diversity of both staff and students. The current population is quite diverse. There is an awareness at Aurora that people come in all different shapes, sizes, colors, family structures, etc., and that is acknowledged and honored. With that established, there is a welcoming of diversity not just of color, but of outlook as well.

Each year staff development focuses on one or two topics. This year the Lead Teachers' focus is on mathematics and Race is the focus for the whole staff's professional development topic.

The entire staff read three books over the summer, ''White Teacher,'' by Vivian Gussin Paley and ''Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?'' And ''Other Conversations About Race,'' by Beverly Daniel Tatum. The staff is using Tatum?s book as the backbone of their study and staff discussions. It will also be used as a catalyst for a community parent ed. discussion sponsored by the Diversity Committee this January.

Every year Aurora sponsors a number of staff members, parents, and Board members to attend a fabulous workshop titled ''Beyond Diversity,'' which is presented by Glen Singleton. I was able to attend the workshop last year and highly recommend it. It is inspiring, eye opening, personally challenging, and very practical.

There is a real and active effort at Aurora to move beyond what has often been referred to as the ''tourist approach'' to Diversity. Different perspectives are presented through story books, history books, class discusiions and activities. Aurora families are invited to share their family traditions as well.

The Director of the school is a white male who uses a wheelchair. He has two daughters, one biological and one adopted who is part Latina. This gives him a very personal perspective on diversity, which informs the school. Additionally, his position before coming to Aurora was in an equity and education program at the Lawrence Hall of Science.

Here are some specific statistics:

Staff Diversity:
1 African American 
1 French African 
1 Chinese American 
1 Mexican American 
1 Chilean 
2 Lesbians 
5 Bi racial families 
2 adoptive parents  
14 Caucasian

Families of Color in our community:
10% African American 
7% Asian 
3% Hispanic 
3% Middle Eastern 
62% Caucasian
6% European
9% Bi racial families 

Lauri
Aurora Mom

I believe the original question was raised by someone who was at the information night and who saw me give a presentation at Aurora School. The faculty and staff (plus me) made presentations about the school to the parents who came to information night.

Of the people giving presentations (all faculty and staff save myself), there were: two African-American, one French- African, two Latinas, one Asian-American and the director of the school who is in a wheelchair.

“Hidden” diversity of the staff and faculty includes 5 bi- racial families, two adoptive families, and two lesbians.

Regarding the students, the “diversity” count is as follows:

10% African American 
7% Asian American
3% Hispanic American 
3% Middle Eastern 
62% European American 
6% European 
9% Multi- or bi-racial families

Hope this helps give a good picture of the diversity of Aurora.

On a side note, I believe that the writer called the assistant teachers “class room aides”, which they are not, they are teachers.

There of course are different, less visible varieties of diversity, including learning styles and family structures etc. What Aurora has is a sensitivity to the needs of children who ultimately are all unique and diverse no matter what background. At Aurora diversity is neither a tourist excursion nor an examination of the “Other”. Rather, at Aurora Diversity is integral to the curriculum. Diversity is a vital part of the children’s lives and learning, where families are encouraged to share their traditions in the school(and do!). Diversity is lighting Kwanzaa candles and making latka's in the classroom.

Finally as a member of the Board of the school, I can say that the school actively seeks diverse families and employees.

Nick

Aurora School, a diverse community honoring the heart, mind and imagination of every learner, is a K-5 elementary school located in Oakland. Please call Lisa Piccione at 428-2606x204 if you would like to schedule a tour of Aurora School. Lisa Piccione lisa at auroraschool.org

Because of how they treat students - as active and motivated learners - the classroom vibrates with the enthusiasm and interest of the students. Teachers are just fabulous. They are so enthusiastic and work so hard to make things interesting. I am amazed at how much they put into the classroom, the dedication they demonstrate is extraordinary. There is a teacher and aide in every classroom and lots of terrific ''specialists''. The school excels at pulling together different topics into an integrated whole. A class project may include math, science, and english all at the same time. The quality of the academics is very good.

Communication is big at Aurora and as a parent you will never feel shut out. Teachers are accessible by phone, email and in person. The Director of the school met with us personally before school even began. Parents volunteer in every aspect of the school. I volunteer in the classroom and love it.

There are a lot of wonderful schools out there...I think what makes Aurora special is it's wonderful atmosphere. Children thrive here and leave the school full of confidence, enthusiasm and a true love of learning.

You can email me or call Aurora's admission director Lisa Piccone at 428-2606. Tours are going on now.

Susan