Colona Grade School

The teachers are working hard to make Colona a high quality school. Extra curricular activities are top level. We need more parents at Colona to make their child's education a priority! Join the PTA. Talk to your child's teacher. Help your child with their homework!! We are their parents. We can not expect a school to raise our children. THAT IS OUR JOB!!
—Submitted by a parent

I have had 6 kids go through this school and my daughter is moving back to Colona this summer so my grandson can start here!! We love the small class sizes, low turn over staff, and all the extra curricular activities that the children get here at Colona. My children hated to leave when it was their time to move to UTHS. They get a lot of one on one attention at Colona. The only draw back is the high number of parents that don't raise their own children!! There are way to many students who come to school who don't know simple manners or have good behavior. It is NOT THE SCHOOLS JOB!!! Parents need to teach their children at home also! So I feel sometimes the school has to spend too much teaching time with discipline issues that the parents should be taking care of.
—Submitted by a parent

The unfortunate thing about Colona Grade School is the high number of children with behavioral problems. My daughter went there for one year before we put her in another school. She was so stressed everyday because all the teacher did was yell at the other kids who were out of control. Some of the behavior we witnessed from grade school children was appalling. The root of the problem lies with the parents and the children's home environment. If a child is not taught proper manners and discipline at home, there is only so much a teacher can do at school. Unfortunately, the learning of other children is affected.
—Submitted by a parent

As a past parent and now a grandparent of a child in Colona Grade School, I can honestly say that I feel it is a terrific school! Parents need to realize that manners, responsibility, respect and the will to learn and excell begin before a child ever reaches school age. The teachers at Colona School are there to nurture and advance those traits in each student. Most parents don't get involved or volunteer but they're there to complain. THAT'S SAD! Children learn what they live - and it begins at home. I love Colona School!!

I am very pleased with our school. I love knowing almost all of the teachers, and I really like how the teachers interact with the children
—Submitted by a parent

I think that Colona School is great. The teachers are wonderful!
—Submitted by a parent

I don't feel like this is a good school. The focus of learning is not present in this school. Communication is horrible, the principal is not attentive to problems and does not make good changes. As a parent I will never be so happy to get my children out of this school.
—Submitted by a parent

I have three children that attend this school and I think it is a great place for children to grow and learn. The teachers ,for the most part, are good caring people. The school has a GREAT band that always scores high in state compitions and send many students up to the high school band. I think the bad thing about Colona school is that so many parents expect others to raise their children. Instead of working with their children at home they expect others to do all their parenting work for them. Parents need to discipline their own kids then the school wouldn't have to!!
—Submitted by a parent

There are definitely some things we are working on here at Colona School. We do have an initiative in the elementary wing that teaches responsibility, and caring. Every morning we say the pledge of allegiance and the school pledge. I urge you to read that pledge. While it is a bit unorthodox for a parent to 'sit' in on classes, I welcome you to mine pending principal approval. Be ready to take notes please. Nick Danek 7th-8th grade Math Teacher Colona Grade School
—Submitted by Nick Danek, a teacher

The staff doesn't ever want to sit down and discuss how to help the children deal with issues they are having. I am a very active parent and have spent countless hours sitting in the classroom with my oldest child to make sure he is attentive and quiet, but since he has attended Colona Grade School, I haven't been able to go in to the classroom and help out with his behavioral problems. I wouldn't recommend this school to anyone with a child that isn't 'perfect'.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter went to this school for 2nd and 3rd grades. She excelled. I never witnessed anything bad and she didn't talk about any swearing or 'terror'. The worst she talked about was some clicqueish behaviour amongst a few girls and some puppy love teasing from some boys. They'd chase her around, tug on her hair or say she had cooties. She loved school. My son just started pre-k and he loves going. I drop him off and stay with him in the mornings and I have yet to witness one bad thing. If you have problems, join the PTA and do something about it. Don't just complain about the school, do something. Don't be lazy and expect the world to raise your kids for you. Nothing is more important than our kids. If you don't make them a priority it's your own fault, not a teacher or the government. Yours.
—Submitted by Bill, a parent

My poor nephew was the 'new kid in school'. Parents and the school ought to be ashamed of themselves. The terror they put such a wonderful twelve-year old through is ridiculous. It is scary how disrespectful young children can be. Swearing at new students, name calling, and few other things I can't even write. If this message even helps one family discuss with their children how wrong it is to torment others, this message has been worth it. I pray for this school and it's staff because it is not a school I would ever dream of putting my child in.
—Submitted by a parent

I have 2 daughters in this school, the oldest since 1997. Overall I have found this school to be somewhat disappointing. In general, I believe the staff looks down at our community due to the low-income numbers. Extracarricular activities are being eliminated (mostly due to low taxes). Test scores are low. School points the finger at parents. But when parents ask teachers to work with them to help the student, they don't. Teachers and administration do not do a good job of trying to communicate and 'work with' the parents. I want my kids out.
—Submitted by a parent

I feel that this school has poor extracurricular activities, students should not have to pay any money just to attend activities at the school. Academically, I feel that there should be more special education help for those who need it rather than send them off to silvis school district. I feel that there are not enough opportunities for parents to become involved with their childs education. I also think that there is lack of communication between school personel and contact of parents on issues pertaining to reduced lunch help and financial aid assistance.
—Submitted by a parent

I think that colona grade school is an amasing school. Many parents get involved with projects the school dose. They don't have as many sports now as when they did when I went there though. The kids get pretty good test scores.
—Submitted by Holli Yarrington, a former student

I used to go to this school. I went there in 4th grade.i also attended this school and was a cheerleader in 6th and 7th. This school is great, but after 6th grade, Mr. Bjork retired,he was the coolest. Good-bye Colona, hello memories.
—Submitted by Courtney Watson, a former student