School gets 'A'

What is alternative education? Often I hear people in the community refer to "alternative education" as if it's for the kids who can't quite swing it in the regular schools.

I'd like to say that this is just not the case. My daughter and many of the other students at The Las Virgenes Community Learning Center in Calabasas are excellent students and could definitely "swing it" at any school. We chose this school because of the vision that Directors Brenda and Itamar Harari have and have put into practice.

Our children are not only taught academics that meet and exceed the standards, but also are educated as a whole person. Each child is valued, and is taught to express their feelings in a safe and accepting environment. Students actually support and encourage each other on a daily basis.

All the A's in the world don't provide internally what every child truly needs, which is to be loved, accepted and encouraged, not only from the teachers, but from their peers. With that kind of environment, no wonder that amazing learning can take place.

We see true teamwork and creative learning every day at this school. Thankfully, The LVUSD Board of Education has supported this school from the beginning and wanted this type of progressive education in our district.

With that kind of support, I'd love to see the community understand "alternative education" as a wonderful thing for the children who were blessed enough to have the opportunity to be at this school. Watch closely- you will see not just a rare one or two well rounded excelling student from this school, but rather many for years to come. Stacey Riggs Westlake Village