Schools

What Are Community Schools and Why They Need Your Help

Community schools give students who have been expelled, or who cannot attend traditional school, a second chance at a solid education. They're hosting an online fundraiser to purchase sets of novels for the English classes.

By Lori McBride, the Court and Community Schools Liaison for the 17th District PTA, which is comprised of all the PTAs and PTSAs in San Mateo County

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In November 2011, students from the Community School located at the Redwood City Boys and Girls Club arrived in a limo to cheering crowds who were awaiting the debut of the short film “Angel in My Sky.” The coming of age story was written, produced, filmed and edited by these students who initially had been suspended or expelled from their traditional schools.  

Find out what's happening in South San Franciscowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Without the community schools program, these students would not have had this opportunity or the chance to fly to Washington, D.C., in 2006 and perform at the White House.

Yet these students have no PTA, so they need our help.

Find out what's happening in South San Franciscowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The 17th District PTA is conducting a Follett Titlewish on-line book fair fundraiser to help purchase sets of novels for the English classes and paperback books for the libraries.  They specifically would like sets (140 copies, with a cost of about $1,000) of Pete Nelson’s novel, Left for Dead:  A Young Man’s Search for Justice to the USS Indianapolis.

Donations can be made by going to http://www.titlewish.com/101169 and click on “Help Your Kids, Donate Today”.   Follett will provide a printable donation receipt with each donation.

What is the Community Schools Program?

The Community Schools Program is an alternative education program for students who are expelled from their school or are on probation.   The Community Schools may also serve homeless students and students referred by their local school district with parent consent.  There are four Community School locations:

  1. North:  South San Francisco Boys and Girls Club
  2. Gateway:  3 teachers middle school through high school (Tower Rd. in San Mateo)
  3. Central:  Redwood City Boys and Girls Club
  4. South:  EPA Boys and Girls Club

Each school has a teacher, an aide, a group supervisor from the Probation Dept., and Special Education services.  There are about 20-30 students per class. 

The Community Schools Program utilizes best practices for alternative education that promote positive student engagement and investment in their education and a culture of caring and respect.   Strong relationships and rapport with staff and peers leads to changes in student attitudes.  Most of the students attend for 1-2 semesters and then return to their district to a different high school.

Below is information about where the 441 who attended the Community Schools program in 2011-2012 came from: 

 – 192

 – 9

Jefferson High School District– 21

Menlo Park – 1

Millbrae - 1

Ravenswood – 9

San Bruno Park – 1

San Mateo/Foster City – 4

San Mateo Union High School District – 188

South San Francisco Unified School District – 12

The Court School (Hillcrest) is at the San Mateo Youth Services Center. Hillcrest is a lock down residential facility for students who are either waiting for a court hearing or have been placed there by the court as a result of their hearing.  There are eight teachers who teach English, Math, Social Studies, Science, PE, Special Day Class (SDC), Resource Specialist Program (RSP), and GED (General Education Development)  for 8th through 12th graders. 

There are four paraprofessionals and probation officers.  There also are special education services.  There is a computer lab where students can do word processing (no internet is available), and a small library.  

About 1,300 girls and boys go through Hillcrest in a year, and up to 120 can be there at a time.  Those who are at Camp Glenwood have drug or alcohol problems and those at Canyon Oaks have therapeutic needs.

These students need our support. 

There also was a request for:

  1. Art instruction
  2. Restorative Justice Training

All the schools are working towards Restorative Justice processes such as Restorative Circles which are facilitated community meetings attended by offenders, victims, friends, family, community members, and representatives of the justice system.

The 17th District PTA has asked the PTAs/PTSAs to help support these requests, but any donations from the public are also very much welcome and appreciated!  It would cost $2,000 for these two requests.

Any questions?  Contact  Lori McBride, Community Schools Liaison at:communityschools@17thdistrictpta.org


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