Good Morning Boulder Valley Board of Education,
I just wanted to take the time to let you know that the school that is in question will be a sister school to our school in Douglas County, Ascent Classical Academy. Is it needed? Most definitely! Is it different than any other charter school that is out there? You bet it is and here are the reasons why.
My oldest who is in 6th grade had no desire to learn since the 3rd grade. We were at a Charter school, where a teacher did not care enough to engage him in his work, he had a “PILE” of homework that he was expected to turn in at the end of spring break. This was a whole semester of work, classwork, homework, essays etc. He was in THIRD grade. He lost his love for learning. I was absolutely appalled at this type of teaching. He hated getting out of bed in the morning, dreading school every single day and always a fight with homework. This followed him through 4th and 5th. He had trouble focusing, doing any type of work and a little boy who dreaded school. They are suppose to love school at this age, not dread it!
Now let me tell you about what Ascent has done for this young boy. He is learning to recite poetry, learning math he has never understood before, and he is engaged in this wonderful curriculum that this Classical School has provided. This young man is excited to get up in the morning and I have not seen this since 2nd grade. He can’t wait to get to school to see what his teacher has planned for the week. Every day I ask how was your day? Guess what his answer is? “Mom it was amazing or wonderful or fantastic”. I never heard that from him EVER! I am so grateful that we have a school that can accomplish this in 1 months time. He still has issues with getting homework in, but last parent/teacher conference the 6th grade teacher devised a plan to help him. He would stay after school and help him. No other teacher has ever thought about helping my son in this matter. He is forming good homework skills because of the teachers at Ascent. I will be forever grateful.
Now let me tell you about my third graders; They are shy boys, one hates big classes, groups, and crowds. He is very timid and afraid to get up in front of the whole class and present any kind of report. He was told at his other school he doesn’t have to do it if he doesn’t want to. Ascent gave this young boy the courage to stand up in front of the class and recite his poems, he engages in the class and has many great ideas that he shares with the class. who would have thought my shy boy would come out of his shell within a months time at Ascent. WOW! I am just amazed at the progress.
My second 3rd grader was in speech therapy at his last school. Stuttered with some words and couldn’t tell a story in less than 20 minutes. He was suppose to practice these exercises during the summer months. This did not happen. In the short month, he has been at Ascent, he has been able to read an entire sentence without stuttering or saying um, or ah. He reads without delay and I know it must be the phonics they are teaching. A school that is teaching phonics the old way, how cool is that?
My kindergarten is a very bright young man. He absolutely loves school and his grades show it. Before Ascent he was homeschooled and wasn’t writing his letters well. I was astounded how his writing has improved over a months time. I never thought he could improve so fast. His number and letters are close to perfect, even his teacher has said she can’t believe the improvement. His letters would not look like this if he went to any other school. As for phonics, he knows his sounds extremely well and reads at a 3rd grade level, I am doubtful if he went to any other school, this type of advancement would not have been possible.
At Ascent Classical Academy, they care and engage the kids in a way you would never thought possible. As parents, we are community that cares about our kids and the education that they receive. No other charter has offered a classical education or ideals that Ascent has offered. A charter school who invites us into the classroom to see what is being taught, I have never been at a school that the parents are allowed to come in and just observe. There is a need for this school in every county and the want for this school is in every district. Ascent Classical Academy has been a godsend for my family and many others.
Thank you for taking the time to read my testimony.
Kathy