 |
Business Directory |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coupons |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Classifieds |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| | Author | Messages | |
luv the copa
Posts:171
 | | 02/07/2008 4:48 PM |
 Alert | DBD~
Thank you. I think that is all the original poster was probably looking for. Just our opinions of the school. It is obvious that some think it's fabulous, some just think it's the best option in Maricopa and some think it's "just fine". This gives those who are researching it something to help them make a decision. Don't feel so beat up on. It's ok if you are not overly impressed...at least there is an option in Maricopa. Now you have tried it and you can choose next year where you want your kids to go.
I don't think we all have to be cheer leaders. You are right, my kids are not brilliant, most kids aren't. Some children are brilliant, and if yours fall in that category then I don't blame you for wanting more. I will say that I do think my kids are excelling because of the curriculum and I will make no excuses for the fact that I am happy with Legacy. Like I said before, every family and every need is different. I have MANY friends who stayed in MUSD and I am glad they found their fit and I have some in Kyrene and some at Horizon and some in private schools. We all deserve to feel our kids are in the best school possible and I hope you too will one day find a school for your kids that makes you happy enough to want to pin a gold star it. | |
Changing lives one diaper at a time since 1993.
Trecia Estes | |
|
| | *rikimaru*
Posts:388
| | 02/10/2008 10:41 AM |
Alert | | hope the lawsuit between the city&developer of the legacy permanent site gets resolved, wouldnt want that hanging over the summer causing further delay of the promised permanent site. another yr for the kids in the prison yard that is the temp site isnt a pleasing thought | |
listened for, they cannot be heard;looked for, they cannot be seen; felt for, they cannot be touched: old ninja proverb | |
|
| | janedo
Posts:74
| | 02/13/2008 2:48 PM |
Alert | I don't have kids in Legacy, I have 1 in MHS, and I do not work for Legacy or MUSD.
I think the bottom line is that ALL schools have good and bad points.
I have heard lots of good and negative things about Legacy. The negative are mostly relating to the amount of homework/classwork that is expected and the lack of facilities. The positive is that children are doing well.
I have heard these same praises and complaints about MUSD schools and schools from every other district I've lived in.
Arizona has allowed us to choose charter schools, public schools, private schools, and home schooling options because there is no one option that will make everyone happy. Not every state has these options available.
If Legacy works for you and your children, then GREAT!! And if it doesn't... GREAT! We have many choices available.
We all just need to agree to disagree. No one is right or wrong. It's about making the best choice for your child. | | | |
|
| | cmfitness
Posts:121
| | 02/17/2008 12:26 PM |
Alert | | I have been here for 6 years. My children have gone through the MUSD system, from the original elementary school over by the high school, to Santa Rosa, to the mess when the middle school was in the middle of the high school and so on and so forth. When the option came for a charter school, I jumped at the chance for my daughter to enroll there. She was able to get into the Pre-K program. Everyone in her class was born Oct-Nov-Dec, after the official "cut off" date. I am thrilled with her progress in reading and writing, and also the entire staff has been wonderful. I saw what my sons suffered through first hand, with the overcrowding at the MUSD schools, and how theynever got the individualized attention when needed because the teachers were just too overworked, short staffed, etc. A couple years ago we received letters from Santa Rosa stating that some teachers weren't even certified to BE teachers. That's how shorthanded they were. And that's how a lot of children got cheated. If I could, and if Legacy had grades higher then 6th, I would put all my children there, even in portables. Just my opinion. | | | |
|
| | sjtrim
Posts:387
| | 02/21/2008 4:08 PM |
Alert | I'm more than happy to pin a gold star on Legacy! We love it there. It works best for my family, that's for sure. Last year Santa Cruz was so crowded that I know my kindergartner suffered because of it. This year he's in 1st grade at Legacy and has come so far since the end of last year! He's reading on his own and his writing is so good for a 1st grader. The curriculum far exceeds MUSD's too. They have an aide in every class too, which I know really helps the teachers. They are supposed to go to 8th grade next year, so my kids will stay there until High School. We have no problem with the portables. I don't mind them at all and I know my kids don't care either. They love it there! They have lots of friends and they adore their teachers. If they can add a trailer to use as a larger cafeteria, that would be really nice. I hear that they are thinking about it.
I volunteer to do Art masterpiece down there for both of my kids, and they love art! I enjoy teaching it too. They didn't have art like that last year, so it's quite a treat for them. 
I'm shocked that parents have pulled their kids out of there, but it doesn't work for every family and that's fine. You just have to find the right school for your kids and make the best decision for your family. For our family, Legacy is the best! | |
Member
Joined: Apr 2007
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." Charlie Chaplin | |
|
| | Acapella75
Posts:3
| | 04/14/2008 9:53 AM |
Alert | I thought I would chime in late and give my opinion of Legacy. Compared to Santa Cruz Elemantary school, it is like night and day. I just bought a house out here in December. I moved from Mesa, where my children attended Franklin West. That school uses a very advanced and accelerated cirriculum. Santa Cruz didnt expect kids to be reading until 3rd grade. All my kids learned to read before kindergarten. Long story short, my kids were on the average 2 grades ahead of the curriculum of Santa Cruz. The came home from school the first day and said they were bored out of their mind and wanted to go back to Franklin. We inquired about Legacy and to my suprise, they used the same curriculum as Franklin. All in all, If it were not for Legacy, my kids would be in the Kyrene School district. | | | |
|
|  | *rikimaru*
Posts:388
| | 04/14/2008 1:58 PM |
Alert | | its a good school, i think though for me the luster has worn off some. i may be stretching it abit, but it seems like the kids are expected to write a thesis in kinder&quite frankly, my kids are worn out from the amount of work they do in classroom&the 1-2 pages of homework a night plus book reports&poem recitations in kinder!! i have come to the conclusion that curriculum should not be the only measure of a school, but should be used as a part when measuring a schools merits. for instance while the curriculum is accelerated, the facilities are below par (yes i know the permanent site will be better, but who knows really when thats going to get done?) no cafeteria, no library, no computer time, no field trips(and no i dont want to take my kids on field trips when other districts have them regularly) no transportation etc etc etc. good luck trying to get in&out on honeycutt next yr when butterfield,LTS&santa cruz get out ALL AT THE SAME TIME!! its going to be a mad house for sure. no thanks, the kids can go to kyrene where the amenities&curriculum exceed MUSD<S plus i save on gas&time every day which is important to me. just my 2 cents.... | |
listened for, they cannot be heard;looked for, they cannot be seen; felt for, they cannot be touched: old ninja proverb | |
|
| | DaybyDay
Posts:216
| | 04/14/2008 2:36 PM |
Alert | | I would agree. That I would like to see Legacy become more balanced. School should she fun. If I do another phonogram I am going to pull my hair out. If your kid doesn't know their phonograms past (lets say first grade) you might need to seek out some help. Additionally, I would like to have some field trips. There is no reason why they can't have field trips, whether they are in a portable or not. Oh, and I would pay if it meant a computer lab and library. If Legacy asked (like Horizona asks) for each parent to kick in $100-$150 per child just for supplies, whatever, this would be fine with me. I have paid much more at private school and I think it gives a since of "buy in" to parents-students. etc.. | | | |
|
| | D-Dub
Posts:65
| | 04/14/2008 4:37 PM |
Alert | Regarding Field Trips I was told by my 1st graders teacher they are having one to the science center the first week of May. My 6th graders teacher told me they are having one in May as well. As far as a computer lab I was told next year there will be one but instead of going to an actual room they will bring in laptops to the classroom and that would be at both locations. As far as a cafeteria at the location now, they are looking into a building to add to the existing site that would be an actual Portable Cafeteria. I do not know how many of you actually ask questions but if you don't you need to and not just go by what your neighbor says they heard. If you do ask questions you need to ask them every so often because things change. I know because I ask questions frequently because until they are in a permanent site nothing is ever set is stone ( so to speak ) ;-)
| | | |
|
| | Go Eagles
Posts:0
| | 04/14/2008 4:59 PM |
Alert | | Why has Bill gregory and Alan hale failed to annouce the new site to its staff or its parent population. Because there is nothing to announce. Last year they were having meetings and sending out monthly news letters to everyone. There hasn't been a newsletter since the beginning of the school year. There has been no site preparation for this proposed new school site, No annoucements at all. As a matter of fact the last public annoucement they have made was the new school would be ready by Jan of 08. It didn't happen. Bill and Greg read this forum often. Why don't you guys just let the parents and your staff know about the proposed new school. This is easy fellows. Either it will be built or not. Its that simple. What's the answer fellows???? |
| | |
|
| | sjtrim
Posts:387
| | 04/14/2008 5:39 PM |
Alert | Go Eagles, The reason why they haven't sent any info out about it yet, is because they are waiting on the city, as usual. The building is done. It was built off site somewhere so now they are just waiting on their final permits from the city to start prepping the land. They are planning on having it done before next year and Bill has been interviewing teachers a lot lately. They can't prep the site until the city gives the okay. They haven't been very easy to work with, of course.
D-Dub's right. Have you asked questions? I'm in there a lot volunteering and I always ask questions and things change often. She's right about the field trip for the 1st graders. My son is in 1st grade and I was told the same thing about the Science museum. Keep in mind that this is their 1st year and I for one did not expect everything to be perfect right away. I also heard that next year there will be a library. PALS is having a Spring carnival in May that is meant to earn funds specifically for the library. I also heard that about the portable cafeteria.
I'm sure that by next year things will be a lot better. Bigger cafeteria, library, computer time, more field trips. The teachers are the ones who arrange the field trips, so maybe ask your kids teacher if they have anything planned. I need to ask my 3rd graders teacher about that myself. D-Dub, I think I know who you are. Your 1st name starts with a D, right and your daughter is in Fuller's class?
Compared to Santa Cruz, my kids are doing WAY better. I LOVE the curriculum. They are learning, which is way more important to me than anything else. They have lots of time for fun. They have lots of friends there that they play with at Recess and they have lots more time for fun when they get home too. I didn't put my kids in Legacy to have fun, I put them there to improve their minds and it's working. I also don't mind the uniforms. It makes it so easy in the mornings when they get ready. Sometimes the outfits that they put together on the weekends are horrifying. I wouldn't want them wearing that to school, but of course they don't let me dress them anymore either so they get away with wearing stuff that is so far off from matching on the weekends. I have two boys though, so uniforms are fine for them.
They haven't came out and asked for money from the parents, but that's why they have had all of the family events at the school this year. We've been to every one and so I know that the donations I've made to those are going towards the library. I'm doing my part as much as I can, and I don't mind helping with that at all. This is the best school for my family. The alternative, Santa Cruz just isn't an option for me anymore. I don't want Kyrene to have to be an option either. Having my kids travel by bus along the 347 without seatbelts or AC, just doesn't sound appealing to me at all. Having to drive them to Kyrene everyday wouldn't be good either. What gas money are you spending driving them to Legacy? I carpool so I only drop off in the morning and my neighbor brings home. It's not that far, so I don't spend much on gas at all. I'd spend way more taking them to Kyrene everyday. As far as Honeycutt being busy next year, I have heard that a light is going up there at Porter and Honeycutt, so that will be a huge help. I take Whisker road in the morning though, so I completely avoid that intersection altogether. I also like the fact that they have friends in town and play sports with the kids they know from school and have friends over after school without them having to drive all the way from Tempe. Legacy may not be for everyone, but it works for my family, and we couldn't be happier, portables and all! | |
Member
Joined: Apr 2007
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." Charlie Chaplin | |
|
| | MommyMac
Posts:43
| | 04/14/2008 6:12 PM |
Alert | Having my kids travel by bus along the 347 without seatbelts or AC, just doesn't sound appealing to me at all. Having to drive them to Kyrene everyday wouldn't be good either.
Just FYI - most busses are air conditioned now - not sure if you have been on one for a while, but they are really nice - not like when we were kids. I know the one my son takes to and from Lagos is air conditioned. | | | |
|
| | sjtrim
Posts:387
| | 04/14/2008 6:15 PM |
Alert | | Still not an option cause I'm not comfortable with them being on the 347 without seatbelts. | |
Member
Joined: Apr 2007
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." Charlie Chaplin | |
|
| | MommyMac
Posts:43
| | 04/14/2008 6:18 PM |
Alert | Still not an option cause I'm not comfortable with them being on the 347 without seatbelts.
But to go on a field trip, riding in a bus without seatbelts would be ok with you?!?! | | | |
|
| | *rikimaru*
Posts:388
| | 04/14/2008 6:21 PM |
Alert | i would wager kyrene has equal if not better standards plus they are not saddled with outrageous amounts of homework each night. i told my kinders who wont be there next yr, to try their best&next yr wont be as taxing as this yr has been. btw the kyrene bus does in fact have AC. it saves me gas because a) i dont have to drive 3-4 miles every morning plus b) i wont have to idle the truck in the afternoon for the AC while waiting for school to get out and c) it saves me time because i can get the kids off to school at 630am in the morning&get them at the bus stop at 320ish. thats a 2 1/2 hour savings in time plus the cost of gas, win win for me but maybe not for everyone. as far as unis go, a) there isnt a battle at our house because they are accustomed to having me get their clothes for them since they are 6&5 yrs old plus if they cant decide then i will decide for them yes thats old school parenting and b) i spend a whole lot less on clothes if i dont have to buy ridiculous uniforms. bet 100 degree whether when kids start back up in august is more bearable in cotton shorts&a t shirt vs kacki shorts&a polo
we know how the city can drag things out, so even with this new settlement on the table, i seriously doubt that an august opening is realistic for the school yr to start with the new building in place. the debacle with the lunch vendor this yr does not give me much confidence that it wont happen again. a portable cafeteria is not acceptable either, but the main thing is reliability&quite frankly i wonder if a lot of the stuff needed to get a school up&running smoothly might have been a little over their heads. not to say i dont commend them for their efforts, it takes a lot of courage&fortitude to undertake such an endeavor, but nonetheless it has not gone as smoothly as it should. also the light thing as porter is going to be quite quite a ways away from happening, look at how long the MC/CG highway to get completed plus with ADOT having to be involved it looks like its going to be awhile. even then the lines are going to be insane in all directions.
last but not least, at what point is "improving their minds" with a pretty heavy work load at LTS, worth more than maybe a slower paced yet more manageable&enjoyable school experience for both parents&their kids? i think that is why i have decided LTS is not the right choice, i am impressed with what they have learned this yr but at the same time i know they are so darn tired after school that they dont have much if any energy for homework&quite frankly i dont even make them do it anymore. kinder kids do not need 1-2 pages of homework a night imo. last but not least, i cant speak for other parents out there, but for me the continuity&tradition that KSD enjoys, is its biggest asset. not having to sort things on the fly like having the lunch vendor flake out thus making parents pack the kids lunches is appealing to me. one last thing about lunch, LTS is a charter school&apparently charter schools do not participate in the governments free or reduced lunch program&so my DD who qualifys at MUSD or KSD would not get free lunch at LTS next yr even in their new facility so while its not a whole lot of money (probably 280 a yr in lunches) its still 280 that i would have to spend which i wouldnt at a traditional school district.
| |
listened for, they cannot be heard;looked for, they cannot be seen; felt for, they cannot be touched: old ninja proverb | |
|
| | karen
Posts:0
| | 04/14/2008 6:51 PM |
Alert | I must be the only one in the world not jazzed about field trips. I've liked that there haven't been any. But then again I'm a control freak and I spaz out when anyone but me drives them on the 347. I really would need to be medicated to put my kid on a bus (with or without a/c and or seatbelts) on the 347 with some stranger driving them.
But that's just me | | | |
|
| | tynees mom
Posts:5
| | 04/14/2008 7:09 PM |
Alert | Everyone says how much better Legacy is than MUSD. I pulled my son out of Legacy in January . He was in Kinder there and the homework was in my opinion over the top. He is at Santa Rosa and reading now. He has excelled where he wasn't before. I think it is a great school for some but not for everyone. My son cares more about playing with his friends than school work right now. He is a young kinder and I think that is why. He is learning so much more now at santa Rosa because he loves it there. I think kids can excel at any school with the right motivation and parenting. | | | |
|
| | DaybyDay
Posts:216
| | 04/14/2008 7:19 PM |
Alert | Rikamaru--Thanks for your candor. I can appreciate where you are coming from.
While i have not made any decisions regarding what to do next year We tried to get into Horizon, but we were way down on the waiting list for that! We thought about private school- however, really very expensive! If we could pull it off, that is what we would do for sure. I may look into home schooling this summer- although I worry that I may not have the best "personality" for that kind of work.
I have heard from many parents that the work load was just too much for their child and in that, their child began to doubt their own ability and worth at school. That is really terrible and should not happen in a school setting. There needs to be a balance. I am afraid in their haste to prove themselves as a superior school, some of the "softness" has been left behind. School should be challening AND fun after all.
I am concerned that the CITY is always being blamed for Legacy's unpreparedness. Its not like they just thought of this last summer. They have actually had quite a while to get this ball rolling. And I agree, there hasn't been much information about what is to come for next year. I know people who are banking on having their children attend Legacy for Jr. High. I hope that is not putting too many eggs in this already unwieldy basket.
I wish they would just ask for a stipend for each child...sort of like a mella roose (sorry, I don't know how to spell it) to get the things going that need to get going (library...whatever). Like I said, I wouldn't mind paying it because it was necessary. | | | |
|
| | sjtrim
Posts:387
| | 04/14/2008 7:52 PM |
Alert | Still not an option cause I'm not comfortable with them being on the 347 without seatbelts.
But to go on a field trip, riding in a bus without seatbelts would be ok with you?!?! Um, no I never said that field trips on a bus were okay, I just said that they are planning on having one. I don't want my child to be the only one who doesn't go, which means that I will be going with him, riding right next to him on the bus. That is the only way that he is going to go. I'm with Karen, I freak out when anyone but me or my husband drives them on the 347. If they went to Kyrene school I would have to have my oldest carry a cell phone and call me from it the minute he gets to school just so I know there are okay. Are you serious that the bus comes for the Kyrene kids at 6:30 and they don't get home until 3:20? Wow, they don't even have to get up now until 7am and we are out the door by 7:30. My oldest has a lot going on after school so 3:20 is way too late for him. He has scouts at 4pm once a week and has baseball practice at 5:30 a couple nights a week. That wouldn't work for us at all. Obviously we can agree that Legacy works for some families and not for others. I like it and my kids like it. I wouldn't be happy with them going to Kyrene, but obviously that choice works for some of you. On days that I have been asked to pick the kids up after school, I don't wait in that line. I drive in and park and then get out and walk up there to get them. That is so much faster then sitting there waiting and I don't use gas by doing that either. As far as lunches go, KSD and MUSD do charge. Maybe not as much, but they do charge. When they went to Santa Cruz last year, I still made them lunches a few times a week. They were allowed to eat a school lunch twice a week and I made them lunch 3 times a week. That just saved us money. I will do the same when they serve hot lunches at LTS next year. The Polos are cotton and so are the khaki shorts so I don't think that they are much hotter then if they wore t-shirts either. The homework may be a bit much for kindergartners, but mine aren't in Kinder. They are 1st and 3rd graders and they seem to finish their homework pretty quickly. My 1st grader never complains. He is usually done by 3:45 and he usually gets home around 2:55-3:00. He has a snack first and then starts in on it. He's gotten faster since the beginning of the year too. I think that they have done a great job starting this school considering all of the obstacles they've had to get past. It's been an enjoyable year for us. I'm sure it will only get better. I've loved being able to volunteer down there and have gotten to know the staff. I know that if they were at KSD, I wouldn't be able to volunteer as much cause it's just not up the road for me. This is my opinion about Legacy, and like I said, it's not for everyone, but it works for my family. We are happy and my kids are excelling way more then they were at Santa Cruz last year! | |
Member
Joined: Apr 2007
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." Charlie Chaplin | |
|
| | wildcats
Posts:31
| | 04/14/2008 7:58 PM |
Alert | | We've been impressed with the academic progress our student at Legacy has made this year as well, but I must say I agree with many on here that there must be more of a balance in the future with academics, fun, and the amount of extra work is at times overwhelming. I think that Bill and Aaron would really benefit from letting parents know what is going on with the future site even if it's still up in the air with the city. It often feels like we're being kept in the dark about many issues. I also volunteer at the school and ask many questions, but I don't get a lot of answers. So we'll see what happens over the next several weeks. | | | |
|
| |
| | You are not authorized to post a reply. |
|
| |
ActiveForums 3.6 |
|
|
|