Does anyone have any experience with this school? Hubby is checking out different apartments and one of them is zoned for Terwilliger. I went to greatschools.com and the greatschools rating doesn't seem very good, but the parent ratings seem to be pretty good. I would love any input you might have. Thanks!

My daughter grad of 5th grade there last year and my son is going into 5th this year, he has been there 2 yrs now. We have not had any problems with the school, but nothing to write home about either. They do have really good fieldtrips, (my son & I just went to seaworld). Their safety patrol program is good too. As far as the teachers. My daughter's was great and my son has had one that we liked and one that we did not. Good luck!!

Thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately I'm finding that most of our schools are far from spectacular any more. With budget cuts and the "All children left behind" act as I call it. I just want to know that my child is going to be as safe as possible and learn as much as possible along the way.

The best I can say is take all the opportunities you can to teach your child at home. The school can only do so much, as you stated, budget cuts, etc.
Do all those little things, teaching them math at the store, science in the kitchen, get kits and show them art, take them to museums, etc.
So far, I don't think there is a perfect or favorite school in this county. I could be wrong though, as this is my experience and what I have seen. Unless you count PK Younge, which isn't easy to get into.

Hubby has a couple of cousins that attended PK. We may try to get my son in when the time comes. However, you go to greatschools.com and you'll see from parent comments that even PK has it's issues. You are right, parent involvement at home. I can't wait to get settled and get out from underneath the mortgage so that I can again afford all of the extra activities for the kids...art, gymnastics, museums etc.

My children attended Terwilliger for two years and we had great experiences there. They get my recommendation

My advice, as a seasoned parent of children who went through the Alachua County school system is to be as involved as you can afford to be at your child's school. It's not enough just to do the at-home educational things. Be visible. Be involved. Make sure the teachers and principal and secretaries know who you are, and which child belongs to you.

Be in the classroom on a regular basis, volunteering. Don't just be the room mother who brings cupcakes. Be the room mother who can be counted on to help that teacher in the classroom - organizing supplies, grading papers/tests, reading one-on-one with children who are having a hard time, helping with projects, calling parents with reminders - whatever that teacher needs and wants you to do. If you can't do it during school time, ask if there's something you can do from home.

You'll learn tons about your school that way, your child will be so proud that her/his mother is involved, and you'll make a positive difference in that classroom, believe me. Teachers have their hands full - most all of them will sincerely appreciate your assistance.

And,treat your "volunteering" as a job - not just something to do when you don't have anything better to do. Honor your commitment to that teacher and classroom full of children. You will make great things happen for your child when you truly partner with the school. Don't just "send" your child to school - be a partner with the school in the educational process.

The public school experience in this county is what you make of it. Both of my children graduated from the system, both have graduated from UF in professional programs, and both are successful adults. While we as parents can't take all the credit for that success, I do feel that our very visible partnerships with their schools made a difference - especially with communication between the school and us. When things needed attention, the schools knew they could talk to us and we would be supportive of their authority and recommendations - they knew us. We weren't there everyday, and wanted our children to have as much automony as they could handle - but we were ultimately the responsible persons, and the schools were aware that we took that responsibility seriously, in part because we were involved.

So, volunteer volunteer volunteer at your child's school - it will really pay off for everyone, no matter which school your child is enrolled in.

Kluber,
Thank you for your input and for sharing your own experiences with us regarding our school system. What is your advice to parents who work full time? Many parents don't have the option of volunteering on a consistent basis. I do not because I work full time. I do things at home for teachers, but can never make it to the school because of my work hours.

And my husband, who stays home with our two small babies, cannot go to the school with the two children.

Having said that, we always help out with events that are not during school hours. We chaperone and we have lunch with the kids routinely. Their teachers definitely know us, but I don't think the receptionist or anyone else would.

That's a great step in the right direction Suzy! You can't believe how many parents opt not to help out at all, during school hours or otherwise. (I do recognize that there is a very small portion that truly can't help for one reason or another.) I was very involved with the parent group at my child's school. The school has approximately 550 students, the parent's group had an average attendance of about 8 parents. I realize that parent groups aren't for everyone, but if your schools are anything like ours, you would be surprised what activities and events your child would miss out on if the parent group didn't fund and organize it.

Other than what you and your husband are already doing, I would make a point of introducing yourselves to the secretaries and principal. Maybe compliment them on the good job they are doing and explain to them that they should never be afraid to contact you if there is any trouble. I used email occasionally whenever I had a question or comment for the principal.

In response to Suzy's question re: what to do if you work full time and can't go to the school. I think doing your work-at-home projects are great - making phone calls to organize volunteers, trips, donations, etc is a super way to donate meaningful time - and it also lets you talk to other parents on the phone, share experiences, compare notes, etc.

I put together and edited the PTA newsletter at one of my children's schools for a year - that was a really interactive year, and something I could mostly do from home.

Many workplaces have policies in place that allow employees to take time off to do volunteering activities - check to see if you work in one of those places. Don't be afraid to ask your boss - even if it's not a workplace policy, you might get lucky and s/he'll say yes - and maybe even be willing to be a sponsor for your school!

Schools are open much earlier than the time that school actually starts - perhaps stopping at the school in the morning for a half hour regularly to do some focused activity (grading multiple choice quizzes, alphabetizing papers, checking in library books, sorting crayons, cutting paper for art projects, etc.) before you head to the full time job would work.

I used to routinely take my three year old son with me when I was a room mother and volunteer coordinator at my daughter's middle school - I had just moved here and didn't know a soul who could babysit. I always brought books, colored pencils and tablets, and small toys for him to entertain himself, and was able to get everything done the teachers asked of me. School staff welcomed both of us - they always told me they were so grateful for the things I did for them, and if bringing my son along was the only way I could manage, well, that worked for them. A bonus was - when he got old enough and attended the same school, many of the long-term staff remembered him fondly from our volunteer days.

What about sharing volunteer and child care time - if two parents, both with little ones at home, could switch off and one do the volunteering while the other one did the babysitting - and the next time, switch jobs - that might work too.

I'll admit - it was easier for me because I only worked outside the home part time till the youngest was in 8th grade. But even as a full time worker, I was able to participate fully in his schools. As kids get older, their teachers don't need "room mothers" so much as special project people - organizing the science fair or fund raisers or dances or band excursions, for instance. Many of these activities can organized from home - they don't require a presence at the school during the daytime.

There are probably a ton of things I've forgotten - just remember that you are your child's first teacher, and s/he will learn from watching you. If you are enthusiastic about finding a way to be involved, that enthusiasm will be contagious - your child will be fired up to be an involved citizen too.

Good luck!

kluber-you make an excellant point and one I had forgotten to point out as well. I am so involved with my kids that I tend to over look some of the things I do.
I am raising my kids by myself right now & working in a job without benefits. So when I volunteer for the school I have to rearrange my work hours, and sometimes even sacrifice some of my hours (=pay) to do these things with my kids.
The staff knows me, even the teachers that teach the older grades know who I am. And I occasionally mention my younger child to my older child's teachers.
You are so right about being involved with the school as well...I complete overlooked that advice when posting. I am really glad you mentioned it!