1633 Chestnut Ave., Long Beach, CA 90813

Lafayette Elementary is like the beginnings of a promising food forest. It’s nowhere near its potential, because growth in some areas takes time. The school relies heavily on parent involvement (parents are watering the garden). The counselor pulls the weeds. But there are many areas where the weeds have taken over and we need 3-4 counselors for the heavy workload. Children do well here because there’s a real sense of “community”. If we see every child like our own (and not as a competitor which sadly is the nature of this country) then we become willing to activate our schools as community centers designed by the community for the community. A space where real education, empathy, and compassion take place. Your children and my children are in this world together. It is our responsibility as parents to become truly our child’s first teacher (you decide what seeds you want to plant) and hold schools, staff, and teachers accountable for planting the seeds of real education and compassion. In hopes that school staff are efficient at pulling the weeds. Parents do a lot of talking with our students (the counseling and teaching) at home. And that’s why resources for parents by the school and the school district are important. Parents need support. If you work full time and cannot volunteer your time, make time to ask questions. Make time for after work hour involvement. Children grow fast! How they grow is up to you (us). Don’t expect your child to be at grade level or proficient in reading, writing or math if you drop your child off at Lafayette for Kindergarten, then pick them up at 5th grade graduation without never having read to them, talked to them or participated in any school event! Parents, you decide how successful you want this school to be. Parents with education and resources (who live in the neighborhood) often choose other schools because they don’t think the school is “good enough” for their petunias. But research shows that students (without that advantage) in the classroom do better when peers (with educated parents) learn along side them.It’s not about competition. It’s about cooperation. And community building. For the success of our children and our community.