Berkeley Parents Network: John Muir Elementary

Berkeley Parents Network

John Muir Elementary

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > K-12 Schools > Berkeley Public Schools > John Muir Elementary

John Muir's website: http://johnmuir.berkeleypta.org/index.html

Jan 2008

My daughter will be entering kindergarten Fall, 2008 and we are interested in John Muir Elementary School in Berkeley. I would love to hear from current parents about the school. Thanks. Laura

We currently have a second-grade daughter at John Muir School, and our son will start in Kindergarten there next fall. John Muir was our first choice school within our BUSD zone, as well as our choice over several private schools to which our daughter was accepted, and we have been very happy with our daughter's experience there. We have been impressed with the dedication of the JMS teachers, and especially with their skill in engaging all students, bringing along those who need extra help while offering new challenges to those who are at the front of the pack. The schoolms strong academic focus is enriched by well-integrated programs in gardening and cooking, science and music, dance and sports. There is a real feeling of community here, of teachers working together with parents, both individually and through the PTA, to create a caring, learning environment in which self-respect and consideration for others go hand-in-hand. Come see for yourself: tour the school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30-10:30 am, and come to our Kindergarten Night on January 31 at 7 pm. ks

We have a 2nd and 5th grader at John Muir and we feel so lucky. For the 2nd grade Winter Gathering, the children told ''Families Stories to Pass Down'', a story they retold after interviewing learned a relative. The 2nd grade Dance Assembly featured the students dancing to a rap version of Mr. Morton. Inspired by her creative and committed teacher, my daughter loves to write ''with juicy details''. My 5th grader's teacher is passionate and visionary with special emphasis on science and math. He instills leadership and decorum as well as academic success with 5th graders working as Junior coaches, Cooking and Gardening Apprentices, literacy tutors for younger grades. During the December Science Fair, the students were so articulate presenting their projects, it brought tears to my eyes. The School Lunch Initiative, nutrition, health, and fitness are all important at Muir so be prepared to have your child read cereal box labels. We love the redwoods and creek on campus, the Monday morning assemblies, and the dedicated and diverse community. Tracy

Nov 2007

Re: Choosing between public schools in southeast zone
My son is currently attending Kindergarten at John Muir School. He is having a wonderful year, learning to read and write while also having time to play and making lots of new friends. He loves his teacher and is excited about his new school. He has also been enjoying the many extracurricular activities at John Muir, including biweekly assemblies with student performances (dancing and reciting poetry) and special guests (such as the Red Panda Acrobats and a performance about the school's namesake -- John Muir); dancing with a fabulous dance teacher who has had all the kids performing at the assemblies; gardening with Farmer Jasper, PE with Coach Victoria, and cooking with Chef Carrie; visits and a performance from the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra; and a field trip to Tilden Park. As his mom, I am enjoying the John Muir community, which has lovely families and an active PTA. We have enjoyed the community activities, including a barbecue at the beginning of the school year and MayFaire in the spring. We are thrilled with our choice of John Muir and would definitely recommend the school. Happy John Muir Parent

Jan 2006

Hi, We live near John Muir and are looking for the best school for our daughter who will start Kindergarten Sept 06. Would like current information on John Muir, and experiences. Would also like to know why you chose this school over other public and/or private schools in the area. interested parent

Hi, I am a Realtor in the area and refer my clients to Greatschools.net. It will give comparative scores for both the public and private schools in the area. Good Luck, Mary

Jan 2003

Does anyone have kids at John Muir? We live in the area and will be looking at schools next year. Thanks. A Mom

My daughter is in Kindergarten at John Muir, and it's been a great experience. Pluses: small size ( only 220 kids), great principal, mostly wonderful teachers (you can request teachers, requests honored if possible), a fantastic garden program that includes a creek on campus (being rehabbed by the school community) a program for deaf students -- the whole school learns sign language -- and a Lifeskills curriculum which has kids focusing on atttributes like problem solving, responsibility, courage, etc. PTA helps the school, and is becoming more active. This is a community that seems very inclusive, supportive, and accepting of all students. Minuses: no arts programs outside what individual teachers do, the usual lack of money/ resources that public schools face, especially given the big differences in background/needs of the students they serve. these differences are another big plus, as we see it, to public schools in general. The way Muir addresses the differences directly is great. Valerie

Reply to question @ John Muir: My daughter is a 5th grader at John Muir. She moved there in October after spending all of her elementary years at another Berkeley public school. She is very happy at JMS, back to feeling like school is a place to learn, be engaged, & have fun. There is one 5th grade and a 4/5 split. Both have EXCELLENT teachers. The 4/5 teacher makes this ''split'' experience great (a friend, a bright gate child, is in this class). My child's teacher couples his 20 years of experience with true enhusiasm/energy - is wonderful. The school is in a lovely setting & has a great creek - used for science. The school & grounds are tidy. The student population is @250. Our experience with the principal has been positive. She holds assemblies Monday mornings, presenting a program called ''Life Skills''. All children are recognized for these skills throughout the year. Before JMS, besides being a teacher, she was a motivational speaker, and it shows. She knows the names of all the children, is outside every morning talking to them and sees them off at the end of the day. She is a strong presence, and speaks of herself as a ''lead teacher'' for the school. When my daughter was unhappy at her other school, I finally asked her if she'd like to look at the other schools in our zone. She saw three other schools. After meeting JMS's principal & seeing part of an assembly, she declared that this was the school. Still reticent about moving her anywhere during her last year in elementary school, we went back to see the 5th grade in action. There was no doubt in her mind after that. Deborah

My 4th grader is at John Muir for his second year. Having come from Marin school, in Albany, I had my concerns regarding what to expect from the Berkeley schools. John Muir is great. The population is much more diverse than it was at Marin, which I find to be a good thing, and the teachers and principles are absolutely wonderful. The school serves several deaf students the assemblies are presented also in sign language which provides additional diversity; the school has received awards for their life learning skills program; it is one of the smaller Berkeley schools, if not the smallest, which provides a nice community. I highly recommend it. Good luck. -John Muir Mom

Nov 2002

Re: Respectful behavior at school
My 5 year old attends John Muir Elementary School in Berkeley. They have a schoolwide ''Lifeskills'' curriculum that has received national recognition; it focuses the whole school on things like respect, integrity, responsibility, caring, etc. I was very skeptical of the whole thing on my first visit after we were assigned to the school last year -- I am a big supporter of it, and of the school, now. My daughter is having an excellent kindergarten year, with a wonderful teacher and a really great community. At the weekly assembly, children are singled out by name and cited for their successful use of lifeskills; even the fourth graders (usually the age most prone to nasty stuff because they are all so uncomfortable with themselves) sit quietly and with nary an eyeroll, and stand proudly when called upon. John Muir is small (220+ kids), and size can be a factor at times in the springing up of (and lack of dealing with) bullies. I think what happens is that with fewer kids, all the kids are more visible. In a community where respect is encouraged and embraced, lack of respect is immediately dealt with -- and if there are fewer kids, there are fewer places to sneak around. This is not to say that small schools don't have bullies: they do. It's what the culture of the place tolerates that makes the difference. There is a large program for deaf children at John Muir, and the whole school learns sign language as a result. Many of the deaf kids have other physical issues as well; I have never seen anyone treated disrespectfully in any way. Valerie

The opinions and statements expressed on this website are those of parents who subscribe to the Berkeley Parents Network. Please see Disclaimer & Usage for information about using content on this website.