Haynes Elementary School

My child was only there from Kindergarten to half of 2nd grade. So I can only give a review on my experience for those limited amount of years. He started in the 2006-2007 year. We started with my favorite teacher Mrs. Levine in Kindergarten. I truly mean we. She has a way of making the vast majority of the parents participate. She was a truly wonderful teacher and I believe my child learned more in that year than in any year since. She is a one in a thousand teacher at the least. I regretfully can't remember the first grade teachers name but we really did like her and we really enjoyed Mrs. Black as the second grade teacher. Both teachers seemed to really care. The school was a small school and I believed that helped. I really felt that the parents where active and concerned about the school.
--Submitted by a parent

This is a great school. The environment is very homely. Teachers and school staff are very good and really helpful. Teachers pay attention to every kid in their class room.
--Submitted by a parent

This school will be much better if there was a certain pile of people not attending, its a shame that the children have better maturity then all the adults at this school so sad, my child attended haynes from kinder to third grade it was peer depression the bullying that goes on, the teachers favoritism, the principal lack of help, it was just a complete waste to stay at this school, and don't get me started with the PTO the first PTO from when I came to haynes was great that was in 2006 THE PTO that was called TEAM HAYNES was awesome, they did so much for the school and never got appreciated not ONCE, I wish I could of helped more but me as a working parent I couldn't participate as much as I desired, there were only two ladies on the board who made the school great, I know one was the schools dj and forgot the other but school was getting what it deserved and I for one was very pleased from what I was hearing, with nothing improved my family was still not happy because of the principal not doing nothing and the teachers were getting worse, very happy that we are not dealing with haynes street anymore in our lives
--Submitted by a parent

This year at Haynes has started out with such a positive note, The Ice Cream social was back to normal. Free ice cream for all!!! The 2011-2012 board is surprisingly made up of 4 Dads and one Mom..... Its always been a Great little school. I cant wait to see what this board has in store as far as events, unfortunatly there wasn't much for our family to participate in last year, we really had a great time volunteering the year before. I enjoyed reading all the posts related to the board 2 years ago, they were nice people who disclosed every expense, had tons of fun family events, and made a huge difference in our child's school experience outside the classroom. I can't say the same about 2010-2011 board, I never got to know any of them mainly because my husband and I felt like they had it all covered and didn't need outside help from others. Plus they seem to have some tension among themselfs something we didn't want to get caught up in. It can only get better, great school great teachers!
--Submitted by a parent

Lets just say THANK GOODNESS the 2010-2011 board is OUT! They made decisions based on their wants & needs without ever asking the parent population what THEY would like to see for their children. They were manipulative, brash, and hurtful to others... not roll models I want for my children. There were 3 board meetings last year and each one resulted in hurtful allegations to previous board members... not at all what I expected from the parents who are supposed to be representing our school. Very sad. Needless to say, the school is a good one regardless of the PTA drama.
--Submitted by a parent

The fact that the PTA does not have to follow any guidelines says it all about this school and its principal. This past year was atrocious with parents pushing each other on campus during a school event. The 2010-2011 PTA was the best and did a lot of great things for the kids and it was really nice to see that. I do not look forward to next year since they are bringing back the people who caused all the problems this year as the PTA President. Power hungry parents are always a problem. They won't get anything from me since they have been very unaccountable for where the money has been spent in the past. I will give my money directly to the teachers and steer clear of all of these people who seem to think they "own" the school.
--Submitted by a parent

Our second child to go through the school is going into 5th Grade. A+ Teachers, A+ School. CST scores high so something is being done right. As you can read, there were PTO problems last year and old voted out board seems to be posting low stars in protest. There were exactly 3 PTO meetings last year (should be monthly), absolutely no decisions were voted on by the parents and teachers, and the majority fo the fundraising was from selling ice cream and pizza after school every single week which only hurts the LAUSD Cafe and in my opinion leads to childhood obesity. Enough anger, we have been first hand volunteers at the school over the years and it is time to move on and make the Parent Experience as great as it has been in the prior 8 years that we have been involved with this great neighborhood school. If you come to the school, please get involved, it really helps!
--Submitted by a parent

I have been a Haynes St. School Parent since kindergarten. I am a volunteer and very involved in the school. We have great teachers, the parents are very dedicated to their children and the result is a happy smart learning environment. We have 2 major problems -- Our Principal is led by a group of parent volunteers that have an obsessive need for power and status. I call them the "cheerleading and jock" group their behavior is High School. The Principal allows them to be rude, catty, non-supportive and extremely discriminatory against others ideas and efforts. It's not sad -- they're pathetic. But it's a small group that does not affect the greater Haynes St. community.
--Submitted by a parent

I have had 3 chilkdren at Haynes with two in middle school now. My son will be finishing 5th grade this year. I've seen PTO people come and go, but this year the new PTO Team Haynes ROCKED!! Its too bad not ebough people had the voice to stand up and say we want them to stay. Ive always supported the fundraising at any school i've been at so thats not the thing here. Im usually keep my opinions to myself, but it's almost funny to see the SUDDEN posting on here right when the PTO Board is changing BACK to many from the old board FOH. Jealousy is what it's all about. A new board came did things different & kids and a lot of the parents loved the change. Things got done and theyre buying things for the school and the kids that Ive always wanted to see. We're going to finally have PE again next year after so long because they raised enough money and are making sure that money is going to go where they told the parents it would. So dont worry about all tbhe stuff the jealous ones are posting on here. Haynes is a decent school. Not great but its decent. If its your home school your kids will do fine.But yea its time for the principal to retiire and let Haynes move into the future.
--Submitted by a parent

This has to be one of the worst run schools in the Valley! there are a few teachers that really care about their kids, most of the teachers are just biding their time til retirement. The principal follows the rules when it suits her and shows her favortism for certain kids and parents.There is no discipline at this school and the kids and there nasty parents do as they like. Its disgusting how she sits in her office and does nothing for the school. weve had our daughter at one other school and switched here because of test scores. what a mistake! I think all this talk about the PTA is put on here by the people who brought it downin past years never putting money back to the school.The events by the new PTA were so much better this year not the same old tired stuff. The principal has thepeople who ran it before coming back next year to run the PTA again. I wish we had done open enrollment now to get out of this place. But we're stuck. If you dont have to come here, dont. There are way better schools bearby.
--Submitted by a parent