Mark Twain Elementary School

I am a past student of NCS, and while I did form a few deep and meaningful relationships at Northside, those relationships were the only real support system I had while attending. Without them, my mental health would have been significantly worse. The school lacked meaningful social-emotional support for students, and there were very few resources available for those who were struggling.When I tried to reach out to a trusted teacher, I often felt that my concerns were not handled with proper confidentiality. At times, it seemed like personal issues were shared with others without my permission, which made it difficult to trust the support system that was supposed to be there for students.Academically, the school does provide education, and I did learn things during my time there. However, some teachers’ teaching styles did not accommodate different learning styles, which made it harder for certain students to succeed. In some cases, it also felt like teachers were not always teaching in areas they were properly trained in.Another issue was the culture surrounding school involvement. If your child was not involved in sports, it often felt like families were less valued or less engaged within the school community. Additionally, the social atmosphere seemed heavily centered around members of Calvary Bible Church. Students and families who attended other churches, or who were not part of that community, could find it difficult to truly fit in.Overall, my experience at Northside left me wishing the school had placed a greater emphasis on mental health awareness, student support, inclusivity, and qualified instruction. These are areas that I believe the school needs to seriously improve in order to better support all students, not just those who naturally fit into the existing culture.