tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12554338.post114422745013262067..comments2011-09-15T11:52:15.849-07:00Jeremiahnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12554338.post-1146105121150737112006-04-26T19:32:00.000-07:002006-04-26T19:32:00.000-07:00I have worked at Noyes Elementary for 22 years. In that time, our campus has changed dramatically. When I was first hired, many of the students came from the Noyes neighborhood and their parents were extremely active in PTA. It was a very special, dynamic school. We had monthly sing-a-longs, dedicated PTA families, and a wonderful reputation. When our popular and extremely well-liked principal, Mr. Bill Rosecrans, was transferred to Sierra Madre School and a new principal replaced him, the school began to lose families due to the change in leadership. When that principal moved on, the district made the wise decision to hire Dr. Isaac Hammond. This principal, like Mr. Rosecrans, was highly popular among families and the school began to flourish again. After Isaac left, a series of other principals were brought in, but they lacked the leadership skills that attracted families to the school. It is my feeling that we need to encourage the district to carefully choose principals, teachers, and programs that would make schools attractive to families. Noyes could be the wonderful school it once was if the families in this community were vocal about the kind of a school they want to see for their children. Perhaps Noyes could be reopened in the near future as an elementary site if we can communicate our ideas and visions for its future to this district.<BR/><BR/>Denise JohnsonDenise Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01535859242169173724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12554338.post-1144290855360362032006-04-05T19:34:00.000-07:002006-04-05T19:34:00.000-07:00Having spent a lot of time at Noyes in the past (I went to school there) and also some time there recently, (one of my best friends teaches at Noyes), I would have to say that I am pretty familiar with the campus. I find it laughable that PUSD would even suggest that they could put 600-700 10th to 12th grade students at that site. It currently houses less than 300 students and on any given day there are about 25 staff members and they already have parking problems. The campus is designed to be an elementary school and I don't see how a financially strapped district can spend the money which would surely be in the 10s of thousands to make the campus ready for high school students. How can that cost be justified when the largest high school campus in the district, John Muir, has an enrollment (according to a 2006 PUSD publication) of only 1290 students vs. the 2787 at PHS. The Pasadena Star News states that one of the reasons that the Rose City campus is not suitable for high school students is that it has no athletic fields, labs or meeting spaces - neither does Noyes. Why not move these students to an appropriate location where they can have access to all of these things, plus vocational programs and extracurricular activities which just might pull these students out of their "struggling" status.<BR/><BR/>There are so many reasons beyond the strictly NIMBY ones for why this is a really bad idea. I plan to email these reasons not only to each and every Town Council member (including Justing Chapman who heads the education subcommittee of the Altadena Town Council) but also to Percy Clark, the superintendent of PUSD. I hope that everyone in the neighborhood who is against this plan does the same.<BR/><BR/>Norah Small<BR/>2870 Stonehill Dr.<BR/>norah@stonehillnews.comNorah Smallnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12554338.post-1144260945336890732006-04-05T11:15:00.000-07:002006-04-05T11:15:00.000-07:00I've already emailed my Town Council representatives. <BR/><BR/>I am guilty of NIMBY and proud of it. <BR/><BR/>My family and I moved to this particular area of Altadena to avoid the inner city, not to get closer to it. <BR/><BR/>Consider me a VERY STRONG advocate AGAINST this proposition and I plan on being very vocal on this issue!<BR/><BR/>Isaac Garcia<BR/>1537 E. Loma Alta Drive<BR/>garciahouse@gmail.comIsaac Garcianoreply@blogger.com