Dana El Center

Though both of my kids are doing well in school, I don't feel they are getting enough homework. My kids are done in about 20 minutes. My 5th grader should be getting some book reports and learning to take notes for next year.. They both like the teachers and seem very motivated .I hope it pays off and she is prepared for the middle school.. We shall see, and I will let you know!
--Submitted by a parent

I have mixed feeling about this school. Some teachers are great and will go the extra mile while other are obviously just there for a pay check. The princalpal does the best he can with what he has available in my opinion, however it is way overcrowded and the school board wont spend the nessisarry money needed for expansion.
--Submitted by a parent

This school is what an elementary school should be. The teachers have a common goal and they are a close knit group which gives students a sense of belonging. I have witnessed for myself how this faculity works together for the good of the sturdents and the district. I was also impressed by the clean appearance of the building.
--Submitted by a parent

I recently attended the Open House at Dana St. Elementary school and found it to be enjoying and informative. It was very heart-warming to see so many children with their parents and grandparents sharing in their progress.
--Submitted by a parent

When my children started school here I thought it was going to be a fulfilling experience. Four years later, my children are enrolled elsewhere. Not only is the principal incompetent, but the the school's PTO is a disgrace. It's difficult to have a parent-teacher relationship when the parents hate the teachers and treat them like the 'enemy'. The PTO members do not care about the children or what their mission as a parent group should be. The principal allows this type of atmosphere to exist. She plays both sides of the street and will not make a decision. She is also the principal of two other schools. These schools need leadership not incompetence. Dana is not a school where a student can thrive.
--Submitted by a parent

It's been a great experience so far (we are only in kindergarten). They move at a good pace, although my son is a little bored, I know they have to think of everyone in the class. We have been blessed with a good teacher who clearly knows what she is doing. My son has music, art, gym, and computer class once a week. I do wish those could be integrated more often (twice a week--for music, art, and gym would be better). Parents are pretty involved, although it does seem to be somewhat cliquish.
--Submitted by a parent

Great School, My kids Loved it.
--Submitted by a parent

All of my children have gone through Dana and unfortunately I feel that the the morale is at an all time low. There are some great teachers there but there are some who really shouldn't be there anymore if they really don't want to be. The workload during class seems heavy but my children have not had one book report for two years - and they want to increase the PSAT reading scores? Parental involvement has become minimal and the PTO has lost sight of their role -partly because there is no longer any teacher involvement. The school lacks consistent leadership and has very few teachers willing to get involved after school hours. There are no more spelling bees and school field trips seem like an inconvenience to the teachers. Some things need to be done to get the morale at Dana like it used to be. It's affecting the students.
--Submitted by a parent

I think the school principle is doing a great job at Dana. I have a daughter in 1st and one in 7th who went to Dana. If I ever have a problem I can always call the school and they do what they can to help me and my child. Most of the teachers are great with the kids. The school puts the kids first, and thats the way it should be. These kids are our future. There are many times when I'm at the school I see the principle walking around the halls making sure kids are where they are suppose to be.
--Submitted by HEIDI JONES, a parent

The comments made by another parent in April of 2003 are no longer entirely correct. Parents, through the Parent-Teacher Organization, made their feelings known regarding the potential change to self-contained classes for grades 4 and 5. For the 2003-2004 school year, students in grades 4 and 5 do rotate classes as they had done in previous years. This is not to say that things at Dana Elementary do not need improvement, however. My current issue deals with the lack on consistency among teachers in the same grade levels. For example, my son's teacher only sends home corrected tests and homework assignments, and a weekly spelling and vocabulary list. Other teachers in the same grade level provide their students with reading lists and a schedule of tests for each week. This is an issue that will most certainly be discussed at an upcoming parent-teacher conference, however, an older child of mine has had the same teacher and the problem was evident at that time as well.
--Submitted by a parent