An Alternate Path: Waldorf
Filed under Blog · Tagged: Education, Los Altos, New York Times, Quality of Life, Waldorf
While the school teaches the children of the Valley’s Tech Titans, they have chosen an alternative path to today’s tech focused schools. This is not to say this is the new “it”, however, it does provide another educational choice for Los Altos families.
This past Saturday, Matt Richtel (New York Times) wrote an article about Waldorf School of the Peninsula. Below, is a slightly edited version of his article. Enjoy …
The chief technology officer of eBay sends his children to a nine-classroom school here. So do employees of Silicon Valley giants like Google, Apple, Yahoo and Hewlett-Packard.
But the school’s chief teaching tools are anything but high-tech: pens and paper, knitting needles and, occasionally, mud. Not a computer to be found. No screens at all. They are not allowed in the classroom, and the school even frowns on their use at home.
Schools nationwide have rushed to supply their classrooms with computers, and many policy makers say
it is foolish to do otherwise. But the contrarian point of view can be found at the epicenter of the tech economy, where some parents and educators have a message: computers and schools don’t mix.
This is the Waldorf School of the Peninsula, one of around 160 Waldorf schools in the country that subscribe to a teaching philosophy focused on physical activity and learning through creative, hands-on tasks. Those who endorse this approach say computers inhibit creative thinking, movement, human interaction and attention spans.
The Waldorf method is nearly a century old, but its foothold here among the digerati puts into sharp relief an intensifying debate about the role of computers in education.
While other schools in the region brag about their wired classrooms, the Waldorf school embraces a simple, retro look — blackboards with colorful chalk, bookshelves with encyclopedias, wooden desks filled with workbooks and No. 2 pencils.
Some education experts say that the push to equip classrooms with computers is unwarranted because studies do not clearly show that this leads to better test scores or other measurable gains.
Absent clear evidence, the debate comes down to subjectivity, parental choice and a difference of opinion over a single world: engagement. Advocates for equipping schools with technology say computers can hold students’ attention and, in fact, that young people who have been weaned on electronic devices will not tune in without them.
Ann Flynn, director of education technology for the National School Boards Association, which represents school boards nationwide, said computers were essential. “If schools have access to the tools and can afford them, but are not using the tools, they are cheating our children,” Ms. Flynn said.
Paul Thomas, a former teacher and an associate professor of education at Furman University, who has written 12 books about public educational methods, disagreed, saying that “a spare approach to technology in the classroom will always benefit learning.”
The Waldorf experience does not come cheap: annual tuition at the Silicon Valley schools is $17,750 for kindergarten through eighth grade and $24,400 for high school, though Ms. Wurtz said financial assistance was available.
Ms. Wurtz says the typical Waldorf parent, who has a range of elite private and public schools to choose from, tends to be liberal and highly educated, with strong views about education; they also have a knowledge that when they are ready to teach their children about technology they have ample access and expertise at home.
The Living Classroom Program
Filed under Blog · Tagged: Education, Los Altos, Los Altos Town Cirer, Quality of Life
The school districts in Los Altos have always been open to piloting new and innovative ways to teach their students. Essentially, the districts have established a multi-directional education experience for the students, their parents, and the broader community. As we’ve mentioned previously, the local schools are consistently mentioned as one of the primary reasons families want to live in Los Altos.
Recently, the Town Crier wrote about this program. Below you will find an edited version of the Crier’s story. Enjoy …
The Living Classroom Program, which provides garden-based science lessons in the Los Altos School District, is thriving.
The program has sustained growth rates of 50 percent per year over the past two years, providing more than 400 lessons to students in grades K-7 this school year alone.
“The teacher and student feedback from the lessons have been extremely positive, and we are thrilled that more and more students are getting this important exposure to the natural world,” said Nadia Jankovic, Living Classroom docent. “The lessons are science based and tie very well to the children’s school curriculum, helping reinforce what is being taught in the classroom with a hands-on, nature-based focus that the kids really enjoy.”
Founded in 2008, the Living Classroom operates in all seven district elementary schools and is piloting seventh-grade science lessons at Blach Junior High School this spring.
Mike Sanderson, program director, said “one of the most satisfying experiences you can have as a volunteer docent is to see the genuine excitement on children’s faces when they are really engaged, with all their senses, in learning. Seeing that sense of wonder and connection that children make, sometimes for the first time, with something living in the garden, is truly magical.”
Since its inception, private donations have funded the Living Classroom. Local foundations such as the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Los Altos Educational Foundation, the Morgan Family Foundation and the Los Altos Community Foundation Youth Philanthropy Program and other businesses and individuals have kept the program afloat for the past three years.
For more information, e-mail Mike Sanderson at msanderson@lasdschools.org, call 947-1103 or simply click here.
Community Volunteer Opportunities
Filed under Blog · Tagged: Education, Employee Relocation, Family Fun, Los Altos, Quality of Life, Volunteering
Every year, around this time, Carol & I are asked about available volunteer activities around town. As far back as we can remember, we’ve always been a part of one coordinated effort or another. Annually, we donate an average of 600 hours of volunteer time towards building a stronger community.
Not surprisingly, most residents in Los Altos volunteer. Whether it be in their children’s school, at their place of worship, or even with one of the local service clubs. There is something for everyone.
For those looking for a new volunteer opportunity, there are many organizations who would love to speak with you. Below, you will find a few of these organizations …
Los Altos History Museum: Learn about the history of the Los Altos area and help others enjoy the museum. Training provided. Flexible hours or a regularly scheduled shift. 948-9427, ext. 91; volunteer@losaltoshistory.org.
English-in-Action: Seeks people to converse in English one hour a week with Stanford’s international students, scholars or spouses. 327-7412; 498-5252; eia@ccisstanfordu.org.
American Cancer Society Discovery Shop: Downtown Los Altos. Proceeds go to cancer awareness, education and improving the comfort of cancer patients. 949-0505.
Assistance League Costume Bank: New volunteers sought for Los Altos shop. 941-2610.
Community Services Agency: Help a few hours a week to drive frail seniors to medical appointments or take home-bound seniors grocery shopping. 964-4630.
Deer Hollow Farm: Lead small groups of elementary school children as they visit farm animals, explore the wilderness preserve or discover local history and culture in a replica Ohlone village at Rancho San Antonio County Park. 903-6430; dhfarms@mountainview.gov.
Pathways Hospice: Seeks caring volunteers to help patients and their caregivers manage care at home. Volunteers provide companionship, practical help and emotional support at a crucial time. Training schedule: (408) 773-4219.
City of Los Altos: Needs handy people to work in the Senior In-Home Repair Program performing minor home repairs. Telephone greeters at City Hall are also needed. Flexible hours and basic training provided. 948-1491, ext. 229.
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District: Outdoor educational leaders needed during the week to share nature with children at Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve. 691-1200.
Visit elderly Los Altos residents: People needed for weekly one-hour visits with local seniors. 329-0888.
SAT, ACT, A.P. … I.B.?
Filed under Blog · Tagged: Andrew Hill High School, Capuchino High School, Education, International Baccalaureate, Pacific Rim International School, Private, Public, San Jose High Academy, Sequoia High School
In August 2009, I wrote a blog post about how families, who relocate to Los Altos, have already researched the strong public and private schools in town. For global families who relocate often, there are additional education considerations: continuity of a globally available educational program … the International Baccalaureate.
The New York Times just published an article about I.B., so I thought I would share an abbreviated version. As you know, it is eminently helpful to work with knowledgeable agents. Having served on the Los Altos School Board, Carol & I strive to provide a level of nuanced insight not readily duplicated by other Realtors.
While some concerns have been raised about the I.B. program in the past, there are many families who consider this an invaluable experience for their children. At the end of the day, having the type of quality educational choices available, in and around Los Altos, is important. We would be more than happy to help you navigate your available options, from schools to housing. As you begin your search, we offer to help you with your questions, when you are ready.
Enjoy …
SAT, ACT, A.P. … I.B.?
The alphabet soup of college admissions is getting more complicated as the International Baccalaureate, grows in popularity as an alternative to the better-known Advanced Placement program.
The College Board’s A.P. program, which offers a long menu of single-subject courses, is still by far the most common option for giving students a head start on college work, and a potential edge in admissions.
The lesser-known I.B., a two-year curriculum developed in the 1960s at an international school in Switzerland, first took hold in the United States in private schools. But it is now offered in more than 700 American high schools — more than 90 percent of them public schools — and almost 200 more have begun the long certification process.
Many parents, schools and students see the program as a rigorous and more internationally focused curriculum, and a way to impress college admissions officers.
To earn an I.B. diploma, students must devote their full junior and senior years to the program, which requires English and another language, math, science, social science and art, plus a course on theory of knowledge, a 4,000-word essay, oral presentations and community service.
The I.B. program is used in 139 countries, and its international focus has drawn criticism from some quarters.
Some parents say it is too closely tied to both the United Nations and environmentalism. From its start in 1968 until 1976, the program was financed partly by UNESCO. It is now associated with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and until recently it endorsed the Earth Charter, a declaration of principles of sustainability that originated at the United Nations.
Many schools, and many parents, see the I.B. partly as a way to show college admissions offices that students have chosen a rigorous program, with tests graded by I.B. examiners around the world.
“I don’t think there is anyone who does not respect the I.B.,” said Panetha Ott, an admissions officer at Brown.
Fewer colleges give credit for the I.B. than for A.P., but dozens give students with an I.B. diploma sophomore standing and some offer special scholarships.
The I.B. is also being offered now in some struggling urban schools where educators say it helps put low-income students on par with their richer peers.
Last fall, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation gave the program a three-year $2.4 million grant to prepare low-income and minority students to participate in the I.B.
As for where you can find I.B. schools, California and Florida have the most, and New England the fewest.
Another Choice – The International Baccalaureate
Filed under Blog · Tagged: Andrew Hill High School, Capuchino High School, Education, International Baccalaureate, Pacific Rim International School, Private, Public, San Jose High Academy, Sequoia High School
Through the years residents have come from all over the world, and settled into Los Altos, for a variety of reasons. Having worked with relocating families, over the years, it is interesting to note the number of factors they take into consideration to reach their decision on where to live. Clearly, one top priority item for most families, is access to quality education. Traditionally, those families relocating with children, generally look for communities with excellent educational choices.
Families, who relocate to Los Altos, have already researched the strong public and private schools in town. Their research is usually done well ahead of the actual move, and in consultation with someone versed in the local education arena. Having served on the Los Altos School Board, Carol & I strive to provide a level of nuanced insight not readily duplicated by other Realtors. On this web site, you will find a summary of public and private schools located within Los Altos, from Kindergarten to High School. Just like each neighborhood has its unique characteristics, each school site has its own unique culture. This statement holds true even when the schools produce similar API results.
However, for global families who relocate often, there are additional education considerations: continuity of a globally available educational program … the International Baccalaureate.
The International Baccalaureate (IB), is an international educational foundation founded in 1968 in Geneva, Switzerland, and offers three educational programs for children ages 3-19. According to its mission statement, “The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programs of international education and rigorous assessment. These programs encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.”
The IB governance is composed of an IB Board of Governors. The Board appoints the Director General, sets the strategic direction of the organization, adopts a mission statement, makes policy, oversees the IB’s financial management, and ensures autonomy and integrity of the IB Diploma Program examinations and other student assessment. The United States currently has the largest number of IB programs (1,029 out of 2,704) offered in both private and public schools.
Initially, the IB was designed as a Diploma Program which would provide an “internationally acceptable university admissions qualification suitable for the growing mobile population of young people whose parents were part of the world of diplomacy, international and multi-national organizations”. The program was design to offer internationally standardized courses and assessments for students ages 16 to 19. Since 1994, the IB has offered the IB Middle Years Program which is composed of eight subject areas and five areas of interaction and designed for students ages 11 to 16. In 1997, the IB added the IB Primary Years Program for children ages 3 through 10, an inquiry-based program relying on six global disciplinary themes supported by six subject areas.
Locally, the IB Diploma Program (high school degree equivalent) can be found at five regional schools, all located within a 15-30 minute drive from Los Altos. Those schools are: Sequoia High School, in Redwood City, which has been an IB World School since February 2002. Sequoia currently offers the IB Diploma Program to 450 students. Next, Pacific Rim International School, a private school located in San Mateo, has been an IB World School since February 2009 and plans to offer the IB Diploma Program to students this fall. Capuchino High School, in San Bruno, has been an IB World School since July 2003, and has 28 students enrolled in the IB Diploma Program. Andrew Hill High School, in San Jose, has been an IB World School since February 2003. This school currently offers the IB Diploma Program to 31 students. Finally, San Jose High Academy, in San Jose, has been an IB World School since July 1986. It offers both the IB Middle Years Program and the IB Diploma Program to 250 students.
While some concerns have been raised about the IB program in the past, there are many families who consider this an invaluable experience for their children. At the end of the day, having the type of quality educational choices available, in and around Los Altos, is important. We would be more than happy to help you navigate your available options, from schools to housing. As you begin your search, we offer to help you with your questions, when you are ready.
Universities & Colleges near Los Altos
Filed under Blog · Tagged: Education, Foothill College, Quality of Life, San Jose State University, Santa Clara University, Stanford University
Families move into Los Altos because of the superb quality of life, and overall stunning beauty of the Bay Area. There are opportunities to enjoy day trips to world-class snow-skiing, breathtaking scenery, local vineyards and some of the most beautiful California coastline within a short drive. However, one of the compelling aspects of Los Altos is its close proximity not only to the many of the global companies of Silicon Valley, but also to the intellectual resources found at many of the nearby education institutions.
Universities and Colleges have the ability to nurture and grow entrepreneurial talent. For the past forty years, Silicon Valley has been at the epicenter of new ideas, and new companies. With so many excellent Bay Area educational institutions, we chose to focus on a sample of those located within a short drive from Los Altos. From Nobel Prize winners to undergraduates, all members of these institutions are engaged in creating new knowledge, whether in the sciences, business, or the arts.
Stanford
The Leland Stanford Junior University commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university located just 10 minutes north of Los Altos. The university was founded in 1885 by former California governor and Senator Leland Stanford and his wife, Jane Lathrop Stanford, as a memorial to their son. To the west of the University’s 8,180-acre campus are the Santa Cruz Mountains and Pacific Ocean, and to the east San Francisco Bay.
Today, Stanford enrolls about 6,700 undergraduate and about 8,000 graduate students from the United States and around the world every year. The university is divided into a number of schools such as the Stanford Business School, Stanford Law School, Stanford School of Medicine, and Stanford School of Engineering. The university is in Silicon Valley, and its alumni have founded companies including Nike, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems, Nvidia, Yahoo!, Cisco Systems, Silicon Graphics and Google.
U.S. News and World Report ranked Stanford’s undergraduate program fourth in the nation, and Stanford is consistently ranked high in other college and university rankings. For example, the Stanford Law School is ranked third in the nation while its Education School and Business School are both ranked second. Stanford School of Medicine is currently ranked sixth in research according to U.S. News and World Report.
Of course, Stanford is more than just a wonderful to earn a degree. The University is a tax-exempt corporate trust owned and governed by a privately-appointed 35-member Board of Trustees. Trustees serve five-year terms and meet five times annually. The Stanford trustees also oversee the Stanford Research Park, the Stanford Shopping Center, the Cantor Center for Visual Arts, Stanford University Medical Center and many associated medical facilities (including the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital).
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University (SCU) is a private, co-educational Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), whose members founded the school in 1851. Santa Clara is the oldest operating institution of higher learning in California and the oldest Catholic university in the American West. It is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.
Only 15 minutes south of Los Altos, Santa Clara is civilly chartered and governed by a board of trustees, which appoints the president. Over the last century, the Santa Clara University campus, located along the famed El Camino Real in Santa Clara, has expanded to more than 104 acres. Amid its many mission style academic and residential buildings are the historic mission gardens, rose garden, and palm trees.
The University’s different academic programs are split into six different schools. The Carnegie Foundation classifies Santa Clara as a master’s level university, which denotes that the institution offers only a few, if any, PhD programs. In U.S. News & World Report’s collegiate rankings of 123 master’s universities on the West Coast, Santa Clara consistently ranks second. The same publication ranks its part-time MBA program 13th and its executive MBA program 19th in the nation. Separately, the undergraduate business program of the Leavey School of Business was ranked 27th in the nation by Business Week.
SCU maintains its Catholic and Jesuit affiliation and supports numerous initiatives intended to further its religious mission. All bachelor’s degrees require three religious studies courses as part of the academic core. An emphasis on social justice is furthered through the Pedro Arrupe Partnership and Kolvenbach Solidarity Programs, which offer service opportunities in the community and immersion opportunities throughout the world. Additionally, the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics and the Center for Science, Technology, and Society also have programs that serve the University and its broader community.
San Jose State University
San Jose State University (SJSU) was founded by the California legislature in 1862 as the California State Normal School, and is the founding campus of the California State University (CSU) system. As a member institution of the CSU System, SJSU falls under the jurisdiction of the California State University Board of Trustees and the Chancellor of the California State University.
Located just 20 minutes south of Los Altos, the university enrolls approximately 30,000 students in over 130 different bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, and is believed to be the oldest public institution of higher education on the West Coast of the United States. The main campus comprises approximately 55 buildings situated on a rectangular area in downtown San Jose. The campus is bordered by San Fernando Street to the north, San Salvador Street to the south, South 4th Street to the west, and South 10th Street to the east. The South Campus, which is home to many of the school’s athletic facilities, is located just south of the main campus
According to U.S. News and World Report, SJSU is ranked 45th among all master’s-level colleges and universities in the Western region of the United States. Among its public peer institutions, U.S. News ranked SJSU 13th in the Western region, and gave the university a top-tier academic ranking overall. On a national level, the university tied for 14th place for the best undergraduate engineering program, placed 5th for the best computer engineering program, and tied for 5th place for the best industrial/manufacturing engineering program out of over 550 master’s-level colleges and universities.
San Jose State University provides Silicon Valley firms with more graduates than any other college or university, and philanthropic support of SJSU is among the highest in the CSU system. Sports are also important to the University, which has participated in athletics since it first fielded a baseball team in 1890. SJSU sports teams are known as the Spartans, and compete in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in NCAA Division I. As of last year, SJSU had won more NCAA team championships (10) and produced more NCAA Division 1 individual champions (50) than any other school in the WAC.
Foothill College (2 Year)
Foothill College is a community college located just 5 minutes west of Los Altos, and is part of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District. It was founded on January 15, 1957 by its first Superintendent and President Dr. Calvin C. Flint. Since its founding when Time Magazine referred to the campus as a “a mountaintop among U.S. junior colleges,” Foothill has set a high standard in community college education by defining excellence in terms of quality, integrity and the success of its students. Today, Foothill continues that tradition of excellence by offering students a high quality general education curriculum, high-demand career programs, support services and state-of-the-art facilities.
Today, Foothill College is regarded as one of the most beautiful and successful community colleges in the United States. Its unique neo-Japanese architecture is well-known among architects. Traditionally, the college serves the communities of Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, and Palo Alto. Together these communities form the northwest corner of Silicon Valley.
The college sits next to Interstate 280, at the interchange with El Monte Road, and is particularly known for the quality of its teaching. The faculty has won a number of state and national awards for education. For example, Foothill has more winners of the Hayward Award for “Excellence in Education” than any other community college in the state. Foothill’s student government is recognized as one of the most influential, active and involved in decision making process out of all community colleges throughout the United States.
About Us
Moving into Los Altos? We can help! We have lived in Los Altos for the past 35 years and love helping people buy and sell homes in this great city! We bring experience, knowledge, skills and professionalism to each of our client relationships. Our clients will agree they would not have had the same positive experience, at each step of the way, if they had not had us represent them.
David Casas Cell: 650-823-8920 or Email
(DRE#01116954)
Carol Casas Cell: 650-823-1434 or Email
(DRE#01123855)
