Holmes Elementary School

I have a Kindergarten and 2nd grader at Holmes. LOVE this school, the teachers and lots of parent involvement and programs. My kids are very happy here!
--Submitted by a parent

Before I started my Kindergartner here last year I had heard all kinds of things about Holmes, mostly good but a few negative comments. I toured probably 5 other magnet & charter schools and picked Holmes above them all. It truly is a great school--I felt it then and I feel it now. It isn't perfect but the parents and principal go above & beyond to make it the best school it can be with the massive siphoning of funds from the public school system. And there are FANTASTIC things on the horizon for this school!! RE some of the sour comments: there are observations and there are emotionally loaded opinions. What I have found being an involved parent is that--like anything--it is what you make it! Bitter commentary comes from bitter mouths.
--Submitted by a parent

We are a new family to Holmes and we are impressed. Sure there are some problems. No school is perfect. Mr Saipe is wonderful. Any measures that he has instituted are for the safety and well being of the children. As a parent volunteer, I am glad for the changes. I want my children to learn how to read well (and enjoy literature), write (stories of the imagination), think well (and creatively) and enjoy math. I really don t care if they do that on a computer or not. Frankly the fanaticism that I see in some parents about the issue of technology is a bit scary to me. I want my children to unplug from the screen, not be zoned out by it. I want my children to learn how to be a good friend and develop character. Some of the parents at Holmes are not very friendly, but that is okay. The good people find each other. Holmes is a good school. It is not a perfect school, but a good school. It has good faculty (who really care about the kids), good staff (who are efficient), good principal (go Mr. Saipe!) and a good parental (go PTA) involvement. The PTA at Holmes provides so much for the school. Yes, it is run by imperfect people, but look to the good. We are fortunate.
--Submitted by a parent

This is top school that is just beginning to incorporate high tech technology. The entire district is implementing Promethean Boards and laptops for every student in each classroom. All teachers will be trained and a few parents last year were a bunch of whiners always complaining, impatient and very aggressive in attempting to get their way and they became part of the PROBLEM, not the solution. Holmes is a great school for teaching lifelong skills such as writing, spelling, math and reading. We have a 911 API also! For our students to be prepared in the 21st century they need a solid grasp of the basics to utilize technology to the fullest!
--Submitted by a teacher

Good BASIC public school but they are way behind on technology and project based learning. If you are ok with your kids memorizing worksheet after worksheet, then this is the school for your child. Everything is based on test scores and the kids that are above average get very little push to do better. Holmes is stuck in the past and needs to be brought into the future ..... allow children to have an opinion and let them know that there is more than one way to get to an answer. They need a fresh outlook on teaching! Maybe the new Principal can turn things around.
--Submitted by a parent

I have children attending this school for the past four years. The PTA is the best in the area and goes above and beyond. Not only do they pay for music, art, PE and other wonderful things that help inrich our childrens education experience they are also a huge support to our teachers and staff. The teachers have always been wonderful and we look forward to many more great years at holmes.
--Submitted by a parent

On paper, this school looks amazing..but the reality is far different. My child experienced multiple teachers and bullying, all while in Kindergarten! This is not the experience I anticipated. The PTA raises funds to provide for a Music and PE teacher and has a very large voice in this school and the parents seem to be overly involved. The principal is amazing; however she is retiring at the end of the year. We will be choosing another school to attend.
--Submitted by a parent

the PTA runs this school...idle hands while Husbands are on deployment. my child will not be returning. Principal is leaving at the end of the year and we are getting voice mails for replacement votes...no, thanks.
--Submitted by a parent

We love Holmes! The teachers are wonderful and the students are learning everyday. One issue I have noticed is that a small group of parents try to interfere with the classroom teaching too much. These parents are always taking the time of the principal and the teachers complaining, criticizing and trying to cause drama. This group of parents try to run the school and I hope the new principal is learning to take the reins and be the boss.
--Submitted by a parent

Holmes is a jewel. Wonderful sense of community as shown at each event and through the amazing efforts of the PTA, teachers are stellar, new principal is fabulous. Holmes is where the heart is:)
--Submitted by a parent