Weathering the Holidays
Christmas week was hectic. The flu flew into our home and took a stronghold in each of us, one at a time. Los Angeles is notorious for having non-Holiday weather during December, sometimes causing confusion in out of state guests as to how anyone can celebrate Christmas on a 70-degree day.
This year however, it was cold, windy and even rained in the days preceding. My younger daughter and I were the first victims to fever, cough and an awful cold. Just as we were getting better, my younger daughter and my 30 year-old baby (or so he seemed while he was sick) got the flu. Throw in some infected wisdom teeth on my part and stressful planning of two family celebrations and you get our happy but tired family.
The nausea and dizziness that I feel just typing away is not from the overeating I did on Christmas Eve and the days following. I had to have my wisdom teeth removed, making me look like a tottering chipmunk. Although we weren’t in the best health I didn’t allow that to damper our Holiday cheer.
Christmas Eve we went to my family’s home to have dinner, exchange gifts and enjoy each others company. My family is Hispanic, but ironically we did not have traditional cuisine. We opted instead to make a mixed greens salad (thank you Tom for the recipe!), pizza, and pasta. The only thing we had that was Latino-ish was flan, but I confess that came from Flan-king.
Luckily our families celebrate on different days so we don’t have to rush from one place to another to split Christmas dinner. Christmas morning with the other side of the family was an endless parade of gifts that came passing through everyone’s hands, a train of clothing, toys, and books that took several bags to take home. I’m not sure that this is what Christmas is supposed to be about but it seems that we all did our part to better the slow sales at department stores.
That night for dinner we had (which is what I consider ironic) enchiladas, beans, rice, and flan. It’s a reminder of what a melting pot Los Angeles is: you go to a Hispanic's home and eat pizza and pasta and then to an American home to get Mexican food.
Saturday was the big day, my planned play date! As we headed over I felt a pang of excitement and nervousness. What was I doing? I didn’t know anyone there and had only communicated by email, but I restrained my nervous habit and marched on.
The day was great. I met a kind, hospitable neighbor and her lovely daughter. Ten kids showed up and made perfect company for the girls. They looked like board members of a Fortune 500 company, discussing the newest invention of glitter markers and play-do.
As I spoke to the other moms, the same concern resonated in the room: Where are you taking your kid to elementary school? No one had a concrete answer; it’s such a difficult task to undertake. Should you shell out the extra cash and send them to private school, find a magnet school, or take your chances with the neighborhood school?
Unfortunately for anyone in Downtown, the neighborhood school is run down, has a low API score, low test scores, and is in an unsafe area.
I would like to see the parent community of Downtown come together and go before LAUSD and the city to see how they plan to educate our children. New high schools have been built around Downtown, but where is the new elementary school right in Downtown, not in Westlake or the Industrial area? Everyone paying property taxes should strongly consider writing a letter to the school district and the city demanding the amenities that any decent neighborhood enjoys.
I hope all of you were able to use the holidays to relax and spend time with your loved ones. Maybe while your tots are playing you can jot down notes on what you would like to see in our neighborhood as far as quality education.
Have any plans? Feel free to share! Moving out is not constructive; please share ideas or rumors concerning the education of Downtown Kids! We were able to weather the flu, wisdom teeth removal and lots of extended family visits, hopefully that prepares me for navigating LAUSD.
This Week's Kid-Friendly Downtown Picks
Pershing Square
Downtown On Ice ends January 11th. Hurry out for some skating in the center of our metropolis.
Lunch time Concerts (12pm-2pm): Jan 2 - Taste Thieves / Jan 6 - Airplay Top 40 / Jan 8 Soul Dogs
Prepare a late snack and head out for Friday night Concerts (8-10pm): Jan 2 - Bella Donna and Petty Theft / Jan 9 - The Undercover Girls
Park Starved?
Alpine Recreation Center is 2 miles away and offers plenty of activities ranging from table tennis to Chinese Martial Arts. Hour of operation are Monday - Friday 8am-10pm, Saturday 9am-10pm and Sunday 9am-8pm.
Vista Hermosa Park: Let’s not forget the beautiful park opened and operated by the Santa Monica Conservancy group just west of the 110 freeway. It offers trails for children to hike, park rangers on site as guides, a huge soccer field and a kid-friendly play area at the top of the hill. This is where you can let the views of Downtown inspire you for you school building planning!
Franklin Canyon Park: A little further out, Beverly Hills that is, you can find movie events, hiking, and park rangers giving tours and talks on wildlife in a park! 2600 Franklin Canyon Drive / Beverly Hills CA 90210 / 310-858-7272 / January Activity List
Ginny-Marie Case on January 02, 2009, at 04:53PM – #1
The preschool and elementary school issue is front of mind for Alex and I. In talking with a couple of parents, there is a strong sense of we need to do something now in preparation for when our children attend.
DLANC does have an education committee, there are two Downtown Rotary clubs (with a local focus on literacy), and a couple of other volunteer organizations...I'm sure there's a critical mass of people who want to do something.
The question is how do we start? Maybe the PTA at 9th Street Elementary?
SeanYodaRouse on January 02, 2009, at 04:56PM – #2
Downtown on Ice concludes on the 19th (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)
http://www.laparks.org/pershingsquare/doi.html
Li on January 02, 2009, at 06:22PM – #3
Ginny, I've been talking to Sandra Tsing-Loh about working to organize local parents around improving the local schools. Check out the conversation here: http://askamagnetyenta.wordpress.com/downtown/.
We plan on visiting 9th Street Elementary (the school zoned for most of downtown) within the next few weeks to get a sense of what the school is like and whether there's any potential for improvement. Also, I plan to contact Richard Alonzo, the Local District 4 Superintendent. He is supposed to be amazing and very responsive to parents.
Creating a downtown charter school is also a possibility, though that would obviously be a multi-year project. There are already several good charters near downtown, but nothing that is right in the heart of the neighborhood.
It would be great if other parents joined me on both the school visit and in setting up time to meet with Dr. Alonzo. I's also like to hear more about the DLANC education committee and to get the Downtown BID involved as well.
A strong elementary school would be such a huge asset to the neighborhood. I really hope that parents are willing to throw time and energy into creating a great local school.
Ginny-Marie Case on January 02, 2009, at 10:43PM – #4
Two things: Let me know if you have any trouble getting time with Richard. He's a good friend of our church. He's an awesome guy and I don't care what people say about the schools that have been designed during his tenure...they are awesome!
Second: there is a Charter School in the planning stages in the Pico-Union area and they'll be looking for prospective parents to get involved. With Oscar's school leaving downtown (And, I'm sad about that...) there's classroom space probably already set up.
Susana Benavidez on January 03, 2009, at 08:47AM – #5
Ginny-
The Oscar De La Hoya school space could be a great idea. I know that is where the headquarters for the charter school is.
Li-
Please let me know what day you plan to meet with Richard. I was thinking of going to the next school board meeting this month and ask what is in the plans for Downtown. I would not feel comfortable with my girls going to the school on 9th St. It's an unsafe area and it's the area I grew up in as a kid myself. I don't have any positive memories concerning safety so I would be very skeptical about sending my girls there since they will be going to Kinder in less than 2 years.
I'm glad there are several concerned and I will be sure to make phone calls to all of the contacts mentioned above.
Susana Benavidez on January 03, 2009, at 08:52AM – #6
Sorry about the error, seems I looked at the 2007 calendar. There you go, no excuses for not enjoying the ice rink! :)
Li on January 03, 2009, at 12:47PM – #7
Susana, I hear you on 9th Street Elementary. I'm skeptical too but Sandra offered to come out and take a look at it and she's an amazing advocate for LA public schools. She and the other parents on the Magnet Yenta website will be a fantastic resource if we want to pursue a downtown charter or magnet school (I'd personally love it if there were an arts magnet working with the LA Phil, MOCA and other downtown arts institutions).
Sandie Richards on January 03, 2009, at 05:04PM – #8
Re: The 9th St School: It has the reputation for having the most children who are homeless registered there than any other school. It could be beneficial to see how the school could become a great place for all the children downtown.
Any discussions about the school could include both Centenary United Methodist Church and Inner City Arts, both nearby the school and both institutions that have done work with the school. I think that the LAPD/Central has also done some outreach with 9th St school in terms of holiday parties and sports opportunities for the kids there.I'll check with the folks I know, and Ginny, I'll stay in touch with you as to how to connect with the DTLA parents who are working on this!
Edward (Ted) Morris on January 05, 2009, at 10:37AM – #9
Susana and All,
I am in the process of opening a charter elementary school in Boyle Heights. Although not downtown, it may be a reasonable option for you. I also have a colleague who is proposing an elementary school for Pico Union and would be happy to put you in touch with her.
We anticipate opening in August 2009 with kindergarten and 1st grade, and then will add a grade each subsequent year until we serve K-5.
I should note that we have not secured a building, yet, and our current search has expanded to include a possible site in the Little Tokyo neighborhood.
I would be happy to discuss our plans with you and share more details about our program if this sounds of interest.
Ted Morris, Lead Founder Futuro College Preparatory Elementary School emorris@futuroprep.org (310) 600-8876