The Harborside Program at Washington Elementary is a go!

Yes, our Preschool and K-5 teachers have gotten their job offers!

Diana De la Pena, Antionette Crivello, Erika Witham, Cindy Moser, Kristen Bernert and Suanne Pearson have gotten calls to confirm their employment status! And there are more to come!

And shockers! Back from North Carolina is Lori Korovec, who is awaiting word on enrollment numbers. If we come through with enough, she's back to teach our kids too!

The teachers have had a long, long wait. But they're SO excited to move forward with the new evolution of this school. Evolution is the key word here. It isn't going to be the same. This is a public school. And the teachers and parents on the Action Committee have seen and felt that— we're dealing with a large bureaucratic entity, a public school district. But we're also here to tell you that everyone we've encountered at this District has been thoughtful, responsive, communicative, excited and very willing to engage in positive conversations and productive discussions over the immense possibilities.

So now for the next MEETING
Thursday, August 2, 6 PM.
The Moran's Office in the Spreckels Building
121 Broadway suite 302 San Diego,CA 92101

On the table to discuss:

* The Enrichment Teachers: Erin Pennell (visual arts), Ginny Foleta (spanish), Colleen Marble (PE) and Graham's Pacific Children's Theater (performing arts)
* The Foundation and how other public schools get the "extras"
* The upcoming OPEN HOUSE where you can meet Principal Nestor Suarez
* Enrollment: Preschool and K-5

Several of us have put together a marketing plan in an attempt to attract students and families that have similar desires for their children's education. The bottom line is we need more kids— more kids to bring Ms. Korovec on, more kids to ensure the funding of our enrichment teachers, more kids and parents to experience this with us.

There are on-going daily discussions over funding the enrichment programs and the program is constantly evolving into the school we know it can be. Both Nestor Suarez, the Principal and Dr. Aleman, the superintendent, have been forthright and available for the on-going discussions of how to do this. There has also been a lot of movement on the Foundation side, which will be the money-raising arm of the school, that can also contribute to funding our enrichment programs, much like public schools such as Grant, La Jolla Elementary, Bird Rock and Green do. We were so saddened and disappointed there simply wasn't the enrollment numbers to support the middle school this year, but we are happy to report it is this Principal and Superintendent's intention to add a 6th grade next year, for 08, and then a 7th and 8th to follow. This will ultimately be a PK-8 school and that is why we want to particularly get our enrollment numbers up in 4th and 5th grade.

Our school was no longer able to survive and it wasn't because we had fancy digs or were living the high life— unfortunately, it couldn't support the low enrollment in some grades and all of our programs that we loved so much. New strategies must be put into place. But with the core of our school being supported and funded by the District, it allows us the parents to fill in the gaps, be involved like never before, have our concerns and desires addressed, and ensure the very best education for our children—one that we and the District can support together.

Also very soon we will be posting dates and times to come register your child for this school if you choose to do so. This will happen in the next two weeks. We urge you to talk to your previous or future teacher about the possibilities— they are truly excited. We still have a few bumps along the road ahead to navigate, but it's an exciting journey!