Orion Alternative School

Orion is wonderful small tight knit community. Community events include camping trip ice skating night holiday craft fair author/illustrator fair. My daughter entered 2nd grade as a new to Orion student and has been welcomed by all the children. There is a very respectful feeling between all the students and between the students and teachers. I love that they call their teachers by their first names seting a tone of mutual respect to the learning environment. Orion requires parent hours to be fulfilled but it is fairly easy to do so. I work part time and my husband works full time but we are able to fulfill our house pretty easily. There are weekend at home and evening opportunities to volunteer. If each of us takes two mornings off per school year we can drive on 4 field trips where we get double hours going a long way toward our hours and its fun too! Too bad there may only be one kindergarten class next year that will be almost filled with all siblings. Don't let this deter you apply anyway they may open another class you never know. If you don't get in tell the district you want more spaces open for this program they need the feedback from the community.

I feel very blessed to see my grandson Andre attend Orion! The teachers are wonderful & work so well w/ the family. We have been very disappointed in many other schools in Redwood City that my other grandchildren went to. Thank-you teachers assistants & volunteers! You have made a great healthy learning environment for our children. My 5 yr. old grandson loves the school! This is so important for his outlook of schools & his learning interest for the future.

This is a wonderful schoool my daughter gortin a san carlos district school but we choose Orion over it because of the feel of community and the parent participation make this school feel like the kids are learning from physics to sewing to art Thank you all the parents for enriching my daughters life

Orion is such a wonderful elementary school. Enthusiastic skilled and respectful teachers warm and efficient staff plus great parents all foster an environment where our children become happy confident learners.

It's a charter school that focuses on teaching the whole child; tolerance conflict resolution respect charity responsibility with top notch academics.

I love Orion because it gives my beautiful Emeline the opportunity to be the best that she can be!

I love Orion Alternative School because it is a school that helps make learning a joy for my granddaughter.

Great head of school great teachers mandatory parent volunteer hours open philosophy

passionate students teachers administrators and parent participation

I love Orion because of its small nurturing environment- there is definitely a community not just a school! The staff parents and students all make Orion a very special place.

learn through play the kids have fun every day at school and are excited to tell me every thing they have learned!

Orion provides a wonderful opportunity for parents to participate in their child's education in a meaningful way.

I love the fact that so many parents are involved and that the teachers and staff are very dedicated. It's such a warm and friendly atmosphere.

I just joined the Orion school and my daughter loves it . It a great environment. The teachers are great and the parents are amazing

The parents are so involved here that the school has become a community - not just a place the kids go but a place we all love to be!

Orion is an extraordinary school. It is truly a 'gem'. This is small school where everyone knows each other with incredible teachers an amazing and giving parent community and has very bright children eager to learn. Orion should be a model everywhere of what a school should be. My daughter can not wait to go to school every morning!

Orion is about teaching the whole child. The parents and teachers make this a special place for learning by expanding the standard curriculum to include multi-cultural events student clubs and activities and school-wide events ranging from hosting an annual author/illustrator fair to a family open invitation campout. The small school atmosphere definitely makes a connected community where parents can help out in various ways. From my experience the more you put in the more you and your child get back.

I have sent two children through this school and the great teachers sense of community and parent participation help the students to thrive and give them the skills to suceed well as they continue into middle school. The small number of students and the closeness of the community nourish the student and build their confidence creating a strong ethic which allows them to rise to the challenges becoming active in other schools as they proceed to higher learning.

As parents of a new Kindergartner we couldn't be happier with the environment teaching or focus of the school. In every way our expectations have been exceeded. We appreciate the opportunity to help in the classroom and the grassroots atmosphere of taking ownership of our child's education. Seeing Orion's test scores rocket to 870 (one of the best in Redwood City) is only proff of our perception.

Orion is a very small school with a lot of parent participation. In fact you are required to participate a certain number of hours each year. The classes seem to be okay. There are about 2 grades per class level for the K-2 grade levels. There are limited extracurricular activities. Art and music are done inside the class day as most RWC schools do.