Woodroe’s New Beginning: A community’s effort to save a school

Education
13

WW Logo
In a quiet residential neighborhood surrounded by majestic eucalyptus trees, the sound of children’s laughter permeates through the air. Listening more closely, you can also hear the clink of a playground swing, the patter of small feet running, the bleat of goats. When searching for the source of these sounds, you’ll discover Woodroe Woods School nestled next to Don Castro Regional Park.

Since 1974, Woodroe Woods School has provided preschool through 2nd grade programs for more than 5,000 students and families. Over the years, Woodroe became renown for its rural setting, play-based philosophy, and acceptance of all children. Woodroe teachers became known for their empathy and compassion, leveraging their ~300 years of experience to instill a strong foundation for learning and integrity in the children. Woodroe students became known for having self-confidence and self-respect, understanding that there are different ways to achieve, and exceed, the standards expected to be met. Woodroe alumni became known for being successful in their academic and business careers, some returning to Woodroe to teach, to enroll their own children, or both. In June 2016, due to retirement and selling of the property, Woodroe Woods will need a new home.

We, Woodroe teachers, parents, students, and alumni, have banded together to form Woodroe’s New Beginning, a group dedicated to this effort of keeping our 41-year-old school open. We have been gifted the 501(c)(3) school status, existing supplies, and the teachers and staff are ready to carry on. We need assistance in finding a new location for Woodroe Woods School, so we can continue to provide quality early education in the Hayward and Castro Valley communities and keep the Woodroe Woods legacy alive.

As it currently stands, there is already a shortage of early education and childcare options in the Castro Valley area. In a 2014 report, the Alameda County Early Care and Education Planning Council listed Castro Valley as priority one of needing care for preschool-aged children, given a shortage of 83% children not serviced. Compound that with existing schools being at capacity, approximately 160 current Woodroe students enrolled, 140 families recently impacted by another nearby school closure – if we are unable to keep Woodroe open, approximately 300 families will have their children displaced in the space of a year. All of these families will be looking for new preschool and childcare, only to discover the lack of available options. The Castro Valley region will be in dire straits. Property values will decline, thriving neighborhoods will stagnate, and our communities will lose their appeal. Both young families and out-of-work teachers will leave the area in search of premiere preschools and childcare elsewhere. In hopes of preventing this crisis from becoming reality, we have been working tirelessly to find a new home for the school, and the search continues.

The challenges are many. Being a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, it is difficult for Woodroe’s
New Beginnings to compete with developers when looking to purchase or lease land, despite that a high demand for housing is accompanied by a high demand for quality schools and childcare services. We have limited resources, as all volunteers are balancing full-time jobs and personal family obligations in addition to making Woodroe’s New Beginnings a priority.

We are working under a tight time constraint, as we would like Woodroe to move into its new home in June 2016 – which is only six months away. Even after a new location is secured, it will take months to finalize contracts, acquire permits/licenses, purchase equipment, prepare the classrooms, and so on.

In the spirit of the “Every Student Succeeds Act” recently signed by President Obama into legislation, please help us provide more children access to high-quality preschool and childcare services. Any form of support will be appreciated, from a monetary donation to land acquisition or business services or any type of referral that would help our cause.

Please, help us save our school.

Stephanie Fry, on behalf of Woodroe’s New Beginnings

22502 Woodroe Ave.
Hayward, CA 94541
510-990-0193

Email: info@woodroesnewbeginning.org

Woodroe’s New Beginning FaceBook

Woodroe’s New Beginning GoFundMe

My kids (now in high school) got a great start thanks to Woodroe Woods. The teachers and staff were phenomenal and it was clear they loved the place and our kids. I hope CVM readers will consider a donation for quality local early childhood education Here’s hoping we can keep this gem.

As a dual working family, we put our daughter in this school 2 years ago mostly because everybody we spoke to and everything we read online talked about what a great and unique school this is. I have never seen so much passion and care from a group of teachers towards the well being and development of every child unconditionally, nor a school where at the end of the day, our daughter chooses to give her teachers a hug before leaving because of the attachment created. The play based time is very impactful in teaching our kids a well-rounded balance between educational development and socialization as well. We love their summer and swim camps as well, and would be devastated to see this school not find a new home in the next 7 months. With all the recent (or potential upcoming) nearby school closures, it’s very important for us to have a great place for our daughter to consider home each week. With such a large base of students and a huge additional waiting list, I trust that the right people will help us connect the dots with a new location, funding, and support to make this move seamless prior to their closing in 7 months! We appreciate any support!!

Todd – our experience is very much the same with our three children who have attended / are attending Woodroe Woods. When asking the kids “Who did you play with today?”, it’s refreshing to hear them rattle off their teachers’ names as well as their friends. It’s also astonishing to come home from work one day and watch your 3-year-old write her own name. Woodroe really is one-of-a-kind, which is why our family is dedicated to helping find Woodroe a new home.

I have two children at Woodroe Woods and am very hopeful the community will help keep the school active. As a working parent, I don’t know what I will do this June when school closes. My younger brother used to live in the area and moved to Danville which has more childcare options. I am now regretting not looking at other areas before buying in Castro Valley.

Nidhi – thanks for sharing your concerns and sentiment. I understand where you’re coming from. A large part of why we chose to purchase a home in Castro Valley was not only for its small town appeal, but also for the quality of its public schools. I fear that if Woodroe is unable to continue and other quality preschool/childcare options do not arise, there will be a ripple effect causing the quality of the public schools will be negatively impacted as well.

It is so sad to see this school displaced. I really hope we can find a way to keep it going somewhere else..
One of my kids attended all the way through second grade, and the other one is still there. We love the school and its people and can’t think of losing this gem. There are so many things we love about Woodroe: from the warmth of its teachers to the low-tech approach to play time, from the enrichment opportunities to the gentle push to express yourself and be thoughtful but fearless, from the winter days decorating the classrooms with quirky artwork to the long and amazing summer days frolicking under the majestic trees and splashing in the pool. There is so much to this school, it’ impossible to sum it up in just a couple of words.
The old Camelot site in Castro Valley is for sale and the request for proposal is due soon (mid January). The site is sitting sad and empty. It even has toys left in it! The place is ready to host a new school, and it is even bigger than the current Woodroe location, which would allow to accept more preschoolers and potentially even expand through 5th grade.
If anybody knows of a foundation that could possibly help us put together a down payment, please email info@woodroesnewbeginning.org and let them know. Any connection could help. Please spread the news.

It would be great if Woodroe Woods could move into the old Camelot school site. It is large enough that Woodroe Woods could expand there into a bigger preschool and even add 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade to the K-2nd program. We need to prevent this site from being demolished and converted to houses. Or even being sold to another school that is not within our local area. How do we get the capital to bid for the site?

Woodroe Woods is by far the best preschool. It would be a community loss for this school to close. Both my children went here and I RESEARCHED every school in the area.

This is the time people need to speak up and make sure this gem remains open.

My boys attended this school. I can recall how well cared and happy they were at Woodroe Woods.. We began with preschool before we shifted into the Red Apple program. I regret that my community will not experience the love and peace of mind my wife and I cherished. We support the staff continuing on and wish them well. I will financially contribute to the cause.

Will – A sincere thank you for your support. If you have any questions on how to submit your contribution, please send an email to info@woodroesnewbeginning.org. We are dedicated to continuing the Woodroe legacy, and your assistance will help further our cause.

My oldest daughter has been attending this wonderful school for 3 years. I remain hopeful that my youngest daughter will still be able to attend as well… at a new location. I researched every school in the area and knew I had made the right decision the minute I set foot on the campus. My daughter was welcomed with open arms and smiling faces and we’ve never looked back.

We need community support to move this school to a new location. Our community NEEDS Woodroe Woods to continue on. If readers to this post can help in any way, please email info@woodroesnewbeginning.org.

I am so grateful my daughter had the opportunity to attend Woodroe Woods and cannot speak highly enough of the loving teachers who work there. They are the heart and soul of our community and their passion for teaching and caring for children is evident to anyone who has had the privilege to meet them!

As an update, a private investment company has submitted a bid for the El Portal / Camelot site, with the intent of leasing it for Woodroe’s new home. While this bid is in the running, there are other proposals on the table. We help to spreading the word to encourage San Lorenzo Unified School District to give this bid favorable consideration.

Should you have a few minutes to show your support, please sign the petition at http://ow.ly/X9UQv.

Please, help us save this school.

Community
The Right to a Smoke-Free Environment

In Castro Valley, 27% of homes are considered multi-unit housing and are part of the 15,367 multi-unit housing homes in Unincorporated Alameda County that are at risk of being exposed to secondhand smoke. Castro Valley is part of Unincorporated Alameda County, where a resident’s best bet for living in a …

Featured Story
1
Walking in Castro Valley: “She hit me and didn’t stop”

For the last few years, I have been a committed pedestrian, taking time to walk, exercise my husky Juneau and avoiding driving for nearby errands.

Community
Community signs, Safe Routes to School on Monday’s MAC agenda

The Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council meets tonight at 6:00 and will receive updates from Alameda County staff about “The Eden Area Signage Plan” and the Safe Routes to Schools Program. Safe Routes to School Safe Routes to School encourages walking, biking, carpooling, and public transit use in an effort …