Vineville Academy

I have never been more pleased with a school as I am with Vineville. The teacher and faculty are wonderful on a personal as well as educational basis!
--Submitted by a parent

Both of my daughters have attended Vineville Academy and as my youngest gets ready to graduate from 5th grade and start middle school I know that I will miss it. The school was still undergoing renovation when my oldest started; while I wasn't wild about the temporary location, I knew the things that would attract my daughter's interest could be found in the environment Vineville attempts to encourage. We have taken advantage of all of the opportunities offered in chorus, strings, art, dance and drama and the girls have had a great time. Now, there has been some disgruntlement about not having a playground at the school. Frankly, while unfortunate, I have never viewed it as the end of the world. Different priorities I suppose. You quickly get to know the staff if you invest the time. It s been a great way to start my daughter s educational journey.
--Submitted by a parent

I have worked at Vineville Academy for the past 4 years and I can honestly say that I look forward to coming to work each and everyday. The school has a warm and caring climate which visitors say you experience from the moment you walk through the doors. Classrooms rich in dialogue and active engagement create happy students. The exposure to the fine arts provides students with opportunities to explore, develop and refine existing talents, as well as giving them a creative outlet for expression. The principal is supportive and inviting...always available to teachers, parents and students.I have seen her on countless occassions go out of her way to make sure the needs of all children are met.It is obvious looking at the positive staff retention rate that Vineville Academy is a wonderful place to teach.
--Submitted by a teacher

I agree the kids need to have some play time during the day. There has been no physical education or activity for the kids unless they are in the after school program. I really think a better principal and a better school system could really make this school excel. My daughter is in 3rd grade and will go to a private school next year. My only wish is to find a private school with music, arts and physical education. I wish the teachers well. They all have been great. In the three years there, i wish there was a new principal who looked like she cares. Ms. Winters may care, but you never see it and that is demoralizing to the kids and parents. Wish the school had a play ground. The school system dropped the ball on that.
--Submitted by a parent

The concept of the school was excellent. Unfortunately, it was disappointing to be one of the parents who for years fought to get a reasonable playground for ALL students, which was not a priority to the principal. I even submitted research regarding the importance of free play and physical activity on learning. My daughter was consistently bullied, and the incidents were not written up or reported according to policy. There was an inconsistent policy for requesting certain teachers or having your child removed from a class. At the time it happened, you would be told about policies, but find out later, the policies were overlooked for others. In my opinion, the administration was too focused on appearances rather than coherent and consistent policies and procedures. She may have been an artist, but she did not have, in my opinion, qualities of a good 'manager.'
--Submitted by a parent

The Vineville kids are well mannered. They are exposed to numerous aspects of the Arts and Drama on a daily basis. My girls are very happy there and look forward to each day at school.
--Submitted by a parent

My son has been at Vineville Academy for two years and he loves it! He is doing great academically and socially, and the way the teachers incorporate the arts into readin', writin' & 'rithmetic is a wonderful approach to education. The REACH program is a bonus as well, providing further stimulation for inquisitive minds. There are a good many extra projects that the kids do, so parent involvement is required for the child's success, especially in earlier grades. However, the guidelines are clear and easy to follow, and the expectations are both age-appropriate and challenging. My two suggestions for improvement would be to have recess for all grades, and add a Pre-K program.
--Submitted by a parent

The academcis here are outstanding, and the teachers educate us in such a way that we're always begging for more. They have all the fine arts; music, dance, art and creative writing. Dance is a much better substitute for P.E. since it is much more interactive, and we honestly get a much better workout here and just love to dance to our favorite music! Our parents couldn't be any more involved, thanks to interesting groups like the new Dessert Club, where they have official meetings... over dessert! As a part-time volunteer (afterhours and for P.T.O meetings and helping set up for stuff;my mom is the P.T.O. president here) who is there every Monday-Friday, I wouldn't be any happier anywhere else!
--Submitted by a student

I think this is a wonderful school to attend. The teachers and staff are very friendly and encourages the parent to get involved. The academic programs are very challenging and rewarding. My child knows every teacher and principal and they know her. The principal is very strict about the way the kids are dress. The teachers are willing to work with the child and parent if anything comes up. The kids are also very thoughtful and helpful in any kind of situation. They would pull together if another child and their family have lost everything in a fire, etc. I still would like to see more sports equipment at the school.
--Submitted by a parent

This is a wonderful school. Not only is it beautiful to look at, but the teachers and staff have a warmness within them that they display to the students. The announcements are one of the things that really awed me. They have a 'television studio' in the office where the morning and afternoon 'news' is reported. They focus on fine arts and have programs for students to learn strings, visual arts; painting and clay, and computer graphics. The school features photos and paintings of influential times and people. The library and library staff have created a relaxing and gorgeous scene for reading and study. This school is awesome. Its focus is art but they teach math and science because art cannot even exist without that part. My daughter loves her school. And so do I.
--Submitted by a parent