THE ORCHARD OWLS OF ORCHARD ELEMENTARY

Yesterday I visited the local elementary school to discover some of the similarities and differences in education in CA and NC.  Orchard, like EO Young, is a great school.  Review the chart to see how the schools compare.

EO YOUNG ELEMENTARY	ORCHARD ELEMENTARY
Enrollment:  300-325	Enrollment: 490
Grades: Pre-K to 5	Grades:  K-5
Average # of students in each class:    20-24	Average # of students in each class:  30
School Time:  8:00-3:00	School Time:  8:10-2:30
PE Teacher:  Mrs. Lee	PE Teacher: None, taught by each teacher
Primary Transportation:  Buses	Primary Transportation:  Walk and Car Ride
School Year:  August - June	School Year: August - June
Computers:  A lab and several in the classroom	Computers:  A lab and every 5th grader has an assigned laptop for use in school; 3rd and 4th graders share laptops in school

Main Entrance, Offices and Media Center

One major difference between the schools is the physical structure of the school.  E.O. Young is one building with all the classrooms, cafeteria, media center and gym contained inside and located off two main hallways.  Orchard Elementary is a series of pods or buildings connected by walkways.  Each grade has its own building, so all the Kindergarten classes are in one building, 1^st grade in another, 2^nd in another, and so on.  The Media Center and the Offices are in the front pod or building, and the cafeteria or multi-purpose room is in another.  If I counted correctly there are 8 pods and 4 modular buildings.  They have a very large playground and courtyard area where they often gather on Fridays to jam:  listen to music, dance and generally burn energy. 

Orchard Commom Area and Classroom Buildings



Center Media Center;
To the Right: Multi-purpose Room and Cafeteria

Media Center

All the teachers and staff with whom I spoke loved their school, as did the students.  One girl told me, “This was the best school; it was fun.”  I hope you feel the same way about E.O. Young.  One teacher, the 5^th grade math teacher, answered the phone with this greeting, “  Hello, you are calling the best school in Stanislaus County.”  Do you think Mrs. Pulley should try this when she answers the phone?  J    

     

Have you ever had a PENPAL?  Can you define penpal?  Wikipedia describes pen pal as, “A relationship often used to practice reading and writing in a foreign language, to improve literacy, to learn more about other countries and life-styles, and to make friendships.”  In this case, you might be writing to others in English, and you would be learning about another state, California, instead of another country.  Some of the students at Orchard would be interested in having a penpal from EO Young.  Would you be interested in having a penpal from Orchard?  Something to think about.

Principal, Mrs. Price

Meet two of my new friends, Mrs. Price, the principal at Orchard, and Mrs. Nelson, one of the two Kindergarten teachers.  Mrs. Price gave me a tour of her school and told me about the teachers, students and classrooms.  She is very proud of her school.  Mrs. Price is originally from Los Angeles, CA.  She now lives near Modesto.  See if you can find Los Angeles on the map.   

Ms. Melson, Kindergarten Teacher

Ms. Nelson is from Modesto.  She loves her job and her students.  She would like to meet the kindergarten students from EO Young.  This is Ms. Nelson's classroom.  BIG!



Ms. Nelson's Kindergarten Classroom

When you see this note, your weekend will have passed.  Hope you had a great weekend and a great Monday morning!