Website: www.berkwood.org

RE: Small schools - good or bad?

It depends on your child. For our child (as well as our family) attending a small school was a wonderful experience. He attended Berkwood Hedge School, a small private school in Berkeley, from K-5. He came away with solid academic skills, a deep awareness of social justice and lifelong friends. The staff members of small schools are well aware of the areas that can become problematic for certain kids. They are well versed and highly skilled. It's good to remember that enrolling in ANY school - big or small - requires a certain leap of faith. Best of luck to you! Small School Fan

Re: Private or Public School for 5 yr old speech delay
I'm sorry you are having a hard year. Please check out Berkwood Hedge School in Central Berkeley (www.berkwood.org). Here's a video with parents talking about their kids' experiences at the school, including the school's ability to meet kids where they are with their learning and allowing them to learn at their own pace. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sshcRSbT9M It's one of the most established, well run, highly respected by educators and not terribly well known schools in the Bay Area. My child is thriving there. Jodi

Second, it is probably best if you choose a public school -- perhaps even remaining at your own with the IEP in place. Public schools must provide any special services your child needs (e.g. speech therapy, occupational therapy, learning assistance, etc.) free of charge, based on the testing. Most private schools do not provide any such services -- you would have to provide them yourself at extra cost (on top of extremely expensive tuition). It's possible that you could still get the services from the local school district, but then you would have to shuttle the child to and fro.

My child had an IEP around handwriting issues. He received both resource help and occupational therapy. The nice part was, students went in and out of the classroom for all sorts of things -- music lessons, resource help, computer practice, etc. No one took any notice of it, and there was no stigma attached. I didn't have to take him anywhere special, it was just a regular part of his day. It helped him enormously. Karen

Re: Private schools in Berkeley
Our daughter loves her school, Berkwood Hedge. We have found a wonderful community of thoughtful, compassionate students, parents, teachers, and administrators. This is a school that really lives by its progressive mission statement to the fullest! One of the things that always inspires me is hearing the students honoring their teachers for great lesson plans or fun homework at our community meeting, which happens every Wednesday morning. Kids love coming to school, and I often hear a parent report that their child pretends they are not sick, because they don't want to miss school!

We also appreciate the small size, one class per grade level with up to 20 students in each grade, about 100 students total, because it means the students, teachers, and parents all know each other and create relationships of trust long before the child may even be in that particular teacher's class. The small size also allows for a lot more freedom and mixing of class levels, which a lot of the kids really enjoy. This school really feels like an extended family that is supporting our children as they begin their journeys in elementary school.

Since you are moving from Spain, a close-knit community might be really helpful while you get settled in Berkeley.

Berkwood Hedge is very committed to providing financial assistance, and many families receive financial aid, so it would be well-worth applying for assistance. http://www.berkwood.org/ Tamsen

I'm looking for comments on Berkwood Hedge School, there doesn't appear to be anything recent in the archives. We are considering it for our son who will be entering Kindergarten in the fall. We like how the school presents itself, but does it really walk the walk? anon

From the start, Berkwood was kind, accommodating, and had no problems with accepting our son, who has been DXed with anxiety. They got our kids in, in a matter of days. Yes, they do walk the walk, in spades. I had to put our kids in after care, because they do not want to leave at the end of the day. I can't imagine a better environment than that.

We adore it for it's wonderful social community. Our kids have dropped in and integrated in the school with ease....and it's only been a couple of weeks.

That said, remember that no school is forever, and if you find that it's not right for you, you can change schools in 1st grade. Wendy

My three kids could not be more different -- socially and academically -- and each one of them thrived/is thriving at Berkwood Hedge. The teachers really see each child as an individual and helps them along their own learning and social paths. All of my kids access the developmental curriculum with confidence at their levels -- one kid is very strong academically and she is challenged and so happy and the other has learning disabilities and he is confident and excited about learning and is making great progress.

I also can say that my oldest moved on to a big public school and is doing so well there. He has the confidence to navigate the typical tricky social situations and contributes a lot in class even though he is shy. He was very well prepared academically and handled the increased homework and test-taking with ease.

There is so much more to say, but we couldn't be happier with the teachers, the staff, the strong community, the curriculum, diversity, etc. If you want to talk more the moderator can give you my contact info. Happy Berkwood Hedge Parent

Other pleasant surprises that we've found about the school include:
- The diversity (racial, economic, family structure, etc.) among the families and teachers is amazing for such a small school.
- The ''buddies'' are great. As a new family to the school, we got a buddy family that welcomed as as soon as we arrived in Berkeley. Our Kindergartner beams when describing his time with his 5th grade play buddy, 3rd grade reading buddy, and his ''senior buddy'' from the North Berkeley Senior Center.
- All the staff (and many of the kids and parents) know our kids by name and by their interests. Wow -- no wonder they feel so comfortable!
- It takes a lot to be a Bay Area Green Business. Berkwood Hedge is conscious of, and careful with, its use of resources (water, electricity, paper, etc.) and teaches this stewardship to its students. I love that homework papers are always double-sided or printed on reused paper. My kids LOVE the reclaimed materials available for their art projects during lunchtime open studios on Mon/Fri.
- Our kindergartner is joyfully learning to read (he had no interest in even learning all the letters prior to the school year) and our 3rd grader is learning strong research skills and becoming a great writer.
- Our sport-phobic kids love P.E. at Berkwood Hedge. We appreciate that it physically demanding in a fun, supportive setting.
- Our kids are getting more Spanish in school than we expected. It is taught directly by specialists, but also woven into the day by classroom and after-school teachers.
- ''There are no mean kids.'' It seems too good to be true, but that's what our kids say. We think it speaks strongly to the proactive oversight of the teachers, the student-involved conflict resolution program, and the nature of the school community.

We know that there are lots of great school options in this area, but Berkwood Hedge really does seem outstanding. Hope we will see your family there in the fall! Sarah

Things that need improving -the social justice curriculum is a little vague to me. If you live in Berkeley your child will get a fairly large dose of that kind of curriculum in any school. I was hoping that as the kids got older they would do some service projects, get out in the community a little, but that hasn't happened. They are still sorting out the enrichment programs-there has been a different music teacher almost every year we have been at the school and at this point it is a disastrous program. Spanish as well has been unfortunate, they are trying something new now that I think has promise, but it was just instituted this year, so we shall see. BH follows a developmental model, so if your child wishes to do more academically it can be hard to get support to move at a different pace than the rest of his/her classroom community.

All that being said, the BH community is a very loving and caring group of people. We were looking for a small school that nurtured our child's individuality and valued a wide range of social and learning styles and perspectives, and that BH has done in spades. Whenever I have gone into the classroom the kids all seem to be actively participating and engaged at levels that are comfortable to them. BH mom

Now my daughter is in 4th grade, and is running into social anxieties as she wakes up to the greater world of girls' alliances and cliques. It hasn't been easy at home these past weeks; she's not sleeping well and seems to be more self-critical. It's downright painful to see her go through this. I am very impressed with the way that Erica and Vera, the two fourth grade teachers and the fifth grade teacher, Marianne, have been willing to meet with me to help me sort through what is going on and how best to deal with it.

Last year, too, there was some stuff along these same lines and when I brought it up, Seema (3rd grade teacher) was very pro-active in addressing the issue as an issue for the whole class-- not only my daughter's. Over the year she actually changed the class dynamic; the lines that divided the class blurred and everyone began to play with one another more readily.

The teaching at BH is very solid. My daughter has some trouble in math; they've identified that and separate her from the general class regularly for special attention.

And last week, for five days, one hour per day, the fourth grade students were treated to puberty class (P.C.). My daughter was nervous beforehand but by the end of the week, she'd changed enormously. She's now excited about entering puberty. Amazing. The teacher is an outside hire, Ivy Chen, and she's wonderful-- funny, accessible, tremendously informative. On Friday, my daughter came back from school and immediately sat down to send Ivy an e-mail! Yoko

Re: Elementary schools where African American boys thrive
it's just sad that parents of children of color still have to worry about these things. i had the same fears for my (dark- skinned) latino son. he's just started kindergarten at berkwood hedge and we're both happy.

the class is diverse and curriculum reflects that. the staff keeps its ear to the ground so it can address any social issues that come up among the kids and the curriculum is flexible enough that it can accomodate many learning styles and skill levels. the dedicated math teacher and art teacher are both african american, and there are other minorities on the staff.

when i went throught the process last year i remember wishing there was a school which had the kind of flexibility and great academics where all the teachers and kids looked just like him ( and where the teachers weren't demoralized becasue of the budget cuts). in the end the curriculum won out. there is also an argument to be made against keeping kids in a monoracial environment: the world just isn't that way.

anyway, it was sad to read about your friends' experiences. hope you find the right place for your son. anon

Re: Peaceful, Kind, Elementary School in Oak/Berk???
It's great that you are spending this time to consider the nuances of how the culture of a school affects the experience of your child. I am writing to suggest that you visit Berkwood Hedge School in Berkeley. We are very happy there, as are our children. We do not have a television in the house, and we also limit media, but we don't fall into the ''wooden toys only'' group. The families there are a lovely mix of caring, responsive parents with thoughtful, engaged children. It is a small school, so when a situation arises where feelings get hurt - as is bound to happen in any school - the teachers and staff are quick to respond. Even the kids pipe in, sticking up for each other. There is a lovely conflict resolution program that the kids really take pride in utilizing, and the culture of the school is truly one of kindness. One of the overarching tenants of the program is social justice, but this isn't rammed down anybody's throat - it is simply a common thread in the curriculum that shows up in age appropriate ways. Caring for each other, whether it be your friend who is having trouble listening in class, a group of people less fortunate that you, or recognizing the importance of taking care of the environment all come into play.

There are certainly families there for whom popular culture is a prevalent part of their lives, but it's my take that the majority of the families (the structure of which is quite varied) choose to keep images of violence out of the scene. We've never had a problem there. In fact, of the 9 various schools we've been involved with (we have 3 kids and have moved two times over the years), we find that Berkwood Hedge is by far the best fit for our peaceful family. Ask if you can attend one of our weekly Community Meetings - I think it gives a great sense of what the climate is like.

When you visit various schools, try to spend time talking to other families. You will always find families who aren't happy at any school you go to, so you have to really trust your own feelings about the place. I know families who have left Berkwood Hedge for various reasons, and I know families who have come to BH and have never been happier. Only you can make the best choice for your own family.

Good luck with your decision. These are important years for both you and your child.

All the best, another peaceful parent

Here's a plug for Berkwood Hedge school if you are looking for a wonderfully nurturing educational environment for your child with chronic medical conditions. There are a number of children at our school who have various syndromes and chronic conditions including type I diabetes, severe peanut and dairy allergies as well as mild disabilities. As a parent of a child with multiple medical conditions, our family has found a haven of support at Berkwood Hedge. The teachers all got on board to educate themselves, staff and students about our daughter's conditions without stigmatizing her. This experience has normalized her emotionally as well. She feels really cared for and attended to, but not coddled or infantalized because of her diagnoses. She's a normal kid at this school have a very loving and well rounded educational experience. Laine

Re: Academically strong and liberal private school
Berkwood Hedge, a K-5 school in central Berkeley, seems like an excellent fit. The academics are awesome--full of substance and creativity. For example, recently the entire school had a week-long geography ''teach-in'' during which each child carried a passport, traveled to classrooms transformed into other countries, and was challenged to think about big questions, such as how nature affects culture. The kindergartners are called ''readers'' and ''mathematicians'' and keep a ''writers' journal,'' all of which helps them believe in themselves academically right from the start. During lunch, a storyteller weaves tales for the children (it helps them sit still long enough to get some nutrition!). Although small, the school has math, science, Spanish, art, music, & P.E. specialists. Often, half the class goes to the specialist at a time, which allows both the group with the specialist and the group with the classroom teacher to get lots of attention. At a Community Meeting on a Thursday morning, you can join in songs about peace and social justice, hear announcements about community service and the ongoing efforts as a ''green'' school, and see for yourself that neither the staff nor the parents value looking like Barbie or Ken dolls. It's a loving and supportive community. We've been very pleased.
Amy (Berkwood parent)

Please share your experiences about the aftercare programs and lunch/recess times at Aurora, Berkwood Hedge and Park Day schools. Is there enough adult supervision? Is teasing or bullying noticed and adequately addressed? What happens on a rainy day? Are younger children separated from older children? What do you think about the quality of afterschool enrichment programs? Thank you for your responses to any of these questions as to any of these schools.
Grateful for Your Thoughts!

During lunch times, teachers stay with the children to make sure that children eat something before they go out to play. Many children also like to eat their lunches listening to a couple of staffers who are excellent story-tellers.

The afterschool enrichment programs are excellent. They are optional, so kids are free to just play if they wish too. The afterschool programs include Homework Club, Steel Drums, Capoeira, Spanish Club, Chess, Sport League, Crafts, Cooking, Wheel day and South American Ensemble. Most programs are included with the Afterschool fees.

The Aftercare is also offered during Spring Break, Winter Break, etc. In addition to on-site activities, there are usually some field trips to parks or museums. When my son was young, there was an all-day trip in which he got tired and fell asleep; I learned that one of the staff actually carried him during the walk back.

Younger children tend to play in the sand/play structure area; older children play mostly in the ''big yard'' area. Because of the buddy program which pairs older kids with younger ones, younger children like to hang out with their buddies at times. Because all the kids know each other, I noticed that children look out for each other wherever they are, at school or during field trips. These friendships even extend after BH years.

There's always sufficient adult supervision, In addition to the afterschool staff, teachers and the administration also keep an eye on children as they come and go. Teachers know each child in the school by name. Also, many children know who is whose parent :) Teasing and bullying are noticed and adequately addressed by the afterschool staff and/or teachers. There's an active conflict resolution program and all the staff is trained.

When it's raining during afterschool, they do activities such as crafts, cooking, board games and free play in the Multipurpose room. I believe that if it's only a light drizzle, kids with raingear are allowed to play outside. This is a great for my very active son; keeping them indoors at any sign of rain is too restrictive in my opinion.

Berkwood Hedge aftercare is a fun, safe place to leave my son. Kids enjoy it so much that they don't want to leave! If you'd like more input about Berkwood Hedge Aftercare and/or Teachers, don't hesitate to contact me.

Rosa

Re: Central Berkeley Schools
I just heard that the Bay Area's most wonderful private school- BERKWOOD HEDGE- has some openings this fall! For girls in K and first grade especially. Anyone even vaugely entertaining the idea of private school in Berkeley would be wise to jump at this opportunity and get more information! My son is a very attached, emotional child and kindergarten was a real concern for me, but we got a spot in kindergarten last year and feel it is the best (and hardest) decision we ever made. Every day when I pick Julian up from school I am amazed at how happy and peaceful he is. He is inspired to be creative and helpful and kind. The school feels like an oasis in this hectic busy world, not just for him but for us as a family. The whole staff is amazing, and we have had only positive interactions with everyone there, but I must say, the kindergarten teacher is the absolute best in the world! Berkwood Hedge has a strong focus on social justice, and I see my son internalizing this. He is compassionate in his relationships, and thoughtful about the wrongs he sees in the world. He's learned SO much more than reading and math there, his heart sings and buzzes with ideas and opportunity. What a great way to start a career in school!!! We don't know that we'll be in Berkeley forever, but I know that with each passing year that he gets to be there, he's more ready for life in the mainstream. His confidence builds every day. Berkwood Hedge is one of the most diverse schools in the community, with students from all over the world, and offers very generous financial aid to folks who qualify... Why not look into it? It could be the best decision you ever make too! Berkwood Hedge can be reached at 510-883-6990, or if you email me your phone number Id be happy to tell you more about the school and our experience there. There is hope in schooling after all! Becca

Jan 2004

Dec 2003

Nov 2003

1. Excellent, caring teachers who know our kids extremely well and inspire them to learn. Small class size (teacher and aide for 20 kids). Strong integrated curriculum, with good breadth and depth, somehow made magically creative too. For example, a unit on shoes taught our 2nd grader not only math (multiplication, estimation, measurement), but also science, social studies (which shoes from which culture, who doesn't have shoes and why), as well as writing about and drawing shoes.

2. Many specialists: music, drama, Spanish, art, great P.E.

3. Diversity and strong parent community.

4. Fun before-school and after-care programs.

Every morning, our kids greet the day with big old smiles on their faces because they can't wait to get to school. By the end of the day, they have lots to tell us (and teach us). They're excited about learning, and - best of all - they're learning how to learn for life.

Can a parent ask for anything more? Simon

Oct 2003

Berkwood Hedge School is a great place. The staff really ''walks their talk.'' The school has a long history of being committed to creating (and maintaining) diversity in the school community. I think they were actually the first integrated school in Berkeley (long, long ago, of course)! It's worth taking a serious look at. Good luck! BH Fan

Jan 2003

In terms of the academics, I feel that the education our child is getting is exactly appropriate to his age. His teachers are amazing and I can see him learning math concepts and reading because they make it FUN, something I feel is extremely important. I really didn't want him to be getting drilled on this stuff, especially not in Kindergarten, so I was very sensitive to this sort of teaching when we looked at all the schools. Berkwood Hedge also offers Spanish and art classes, with specialists and taught in smaller groups, and this part of the program has been incredible for our child. He actually told me the other day that he wants to grow up and be an artist like the art specialist at his school and teach other children. (I would not be surprised if he did end up doing that since his paternal grandmother and aunts are all artists.)

Good luck. I would be happy to discuss this further if anyone has questions.

Susan

Berkwood Hedge has helped my children: learn to trust others (adults and children), be open to all kinds of learning opportunities, make connections across artistic and academic disciplines and love asking questions and searching for answers. They both love going to school, learning and have a strong network of friends from the school. This week a child in my daughter's 1st grade class suggested they write Pres. Bush about stopping the war. The school cares deeply about social justice. The school is small and so active with many programs! Most importantly, no child will slip through the ''crack'' at BH - every child is an individual and all the kids/staff/teachers know every child. The school strikes a very good balance (for us_ between child-centered/artistic/emergent curriculum and meaningful academic learning. They were able to both challenge my boy who started Kindergarten reading, and inspire my daughter to read this year. The learning is truly individualized for every student. My son has a mild physical disability, and he has never been labeled, teased or hurt by his differences. Instead, his interests and love of reading has given him the self-esteem to create good friends and not be limited by his issues.

No school is perfect, but this school has made signifcant changes over the past 2 years to stabilize the changing administration, attract fabulous teachers, and keep the soul of this progressive urban school as a priority. We love the diversity, the strong arts orientation, and the passion for education that is shared by all of the families, teachers, staff and students. The community is small, caring and commited to so many of the values we as a family also hold. This is truly a very special school. My kids see their school community as an extention of their family. My children are very different from each other and each has unique strengths and challenges. elizabeth

Nov 2001

April 2000

We start in kindergarten teaching children to understand that we are members of a diverse community, and that all of us, no matter what, deserve to be treated fairly. No school is perfect for everyone, and I'm sorry that this child's experience was not a good one. But to suggest that the school is bad for children in the upper grades, that the environment is damaging, and to imply that this experience is the norm is unfair and does a great disservice to all the families whose children thrived here and continue to do well in middle school, high school and beyond. Again, I'm sorry this child had a hard time, but to suggest to others that their children will have the same experience is quite misleading. Carla Riemer

1997