Love Notes
Send your own note about Park Maitland School to mmbowen@parkmaitland.org
or to Mrs. Mary M. Bowen, Vice President of Student and Family Affairs,
Park Maitland School, 1450 South Orlando Avenue, Maitland, FL 32751.
We would love to hear from you!
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Maria Suero, Parent
I have two children currently attending Park Maitland, and we have been a Park Maitland “Family” for approximately four years. I use the word “family” because that is the best word to describe the Park Maitland experience. I remember being extremely impressed during my first days at the school and continue to this day to be impressed with the number of teachers, care givers, administrators, and parents that are constantly watching over our children all day every day.
I was further impressed the first time I ever looked at my child’s weekly schedule and saw the extensive and broad curriculum offered him, not just math and reading, but drama, art, swimming, computers, foreign language, social studies, science, mentoring class…on and on. Along with this broad exposure to subject matter came exposure to many, different teachers. My children do not sit in one classroom being taught by one or two teachers every day for every subject. My children are exposed to different teaching professionals with different teaching methods who are teaching in their area of specialization. Remarkably, the children adjust very well and learn to interact with their teachers and their varying styles of teaching.
Discipline matters are handled professionally by caring individuals who present the issues and discuss solutions with the children and parents. Although discipline matters are never easy for a parent to hear, it is an essential element of growing up and learning responsibility. Along with providing a good education, it is one of the reasons why we put our children in private school. We want our children to become well mannered, well adjusted adults, which leads me to speak about the social development of children at Park Maitland. It brings me back to the word “family.” Concepts such as caring, mentoring, and character development are introduced in ingenious ways. In first grade, for example, a special relationship is created and encouraged by a program called “Jelly Fudge Friends.” A sixth grade child is introduced as a mentor/friend to a beginning elementary child in first grade. Throughout the entire year, at specially designated times, these sixth graders do projects with their Jelly Fudge Friends. They write letters, take an interest in those things that interest the first grader, read to them, etc. I was so touched by this and my son received such benefit from this experience that I know it made the transition from kindergarten to first grade an easier ride.
The children are also taught responsibility from the very beginning by having “jobs” occasionally assigned to them. It makes them feel very important, for instance, to be the “box carrier” for the day in kindergarten, or the one who holds the door open for the “box carrier,” or the one who brings in the lunch cart, etc. The caring of other living things is fostered by the “Critter Cottage” experience. At a certain age, the children become “animal ambassadors” and are taught to care for and look after the critters in the “Critter Cottage.” These are just a few examples of how values are introduced.
Academically, much emphasis is put on the obvious core subjects. The children at Park Maitland are very prepared and there is room for academic growth at various levels, as well. If your child happens to excel in certain areas, he/she is worked with at their level of advancement. Aside from academics, there are various after-school programs and sports teams. Advancement in the arts is also given much emphasis at Park Maitland. The school is well known for its remarkable drama productions. Each class performs musicals each year, and everyone is a star. I do not know how they do it, but the children are not even aware of the little concept known as stage fright! They all magically transform into well-tuned performers.
Parent involvement is also incredible at this school. As a parent, you are encouraged and many avenues of involvement are made available to you. You can get to know your child’s friends, teachers, administrators, the other moms and dads involved…everyone! You are not just a face, you have a name and you become a member of the family. I know that I will look back at all of this one day and be really thankful for the opportunity to be a “reading buddy” to both my children. This is a parent conducted reading program in K-4 and K-5. I will be thankful to have had the opportunity to be an “Artyology” presenter and see the curiosity and wonder in the children’s faces at the different artists’ works and backgrounds presented in these classes.
I get asked if I am happy with this school all the time. I would summarize it by saying that this school is a gem, and to stumble upon this gem and confuse it for just another private school would be a missed opportunity for a very unique and special experience in your child’s life.