Rocketship Alma Academy

Rocketship School is a great school I give 5 starThe founder is so genuis, this is really a child centered, focused in every aspect of learning. The school really brought the kids to their highest potential despite their status or being less fortunate. Parents shouldnt complain of work load for their children because in the long run they are not behind and they are competitive as compared to fortunate kids. I love the FOUNDER of Rocketship Education. He has given equal opportunities that priviledge kids could only have. Thanks so much. I give 5 stars to all the young and hard working teachers of Rocketship Alma but I give one star for the present and new Principal MRS. MARTINEZ. I do not understand the logic for the first time… the new Principal Mrs. Martinez let the children who did not dance correctly or did not do the RIGHT DANCE or MOVES for WHIPPED/​NAE NAE a specific LAUNCH music got a class of 5^th grader and all 4^th graders stayed after the LAUNCH in the morning JUST SO TO PRACTICE HOW TO DO THE MOVES CORRECTLY. REALLY??? SERIOUSLY??? And she wanted the children to go do the NAE NAE GOING DOWN AS LOW AS THEY CAN THE BETTER. Also, my concern is WHO CHOOSES THE MUSIC NOW FOR LAUNCH? The LAUNCH MUSIC FROM PREVIOUS PRINCIPAL ARE ALL HAPPY SONGS, ABOUT FRIENDSHIPS, WORKING HARD, DOING THE BEST, MORE OF ENCOURAGING SONGS. NOW ITS ROCK AND ROLL BABY FROM NEW PRINCIPAL… ITS CLUB SONGS. Does the Principal really think that the school has a spacious outdoor and enough space for children to dance comfortably. The children is squished on their class line? Where is the Principal sense of space and common sense? I know the Launch songs is to fire up the kids for the work for the day. I do understand but having them seriously do moves correctly in the Principals satisfaction is not right. As long as they can do the moves its ok. She was there showing all these kids the PROPER WAY how to do the whipped and Nae Nae like YOU GO BEND YOUR KNEES ALL THE WAY DOWN AS LOW AS THEY CAN. C’mon very unecessary. I think if the principal is trying to score points as a good Principal, she has to show off on how to bring Rocketship Alma more specifically in
daughters said Mrs. Martinez would get upset if they dont do the dancing correctly during LAUNCH. And this is not right. This new Principal might be forgeting ROCKETSHIP SCHOOL is not to perfect the moves or dance in a specific songs during launch… She is WASTING ENOUGH TIME FOR LEARNING TIMES OR MORE meaningful ways how our children should spend their time. THIS IS NOT THE MESSAGE YOU WANTED TO CONVEY SPECIALLY AS A PRINCIPAL. I guess she has to know which is more of a priority and dancing correctly at LAUNCH is not one of them or not on a high list of Rocketship Education. We are not raising our children to be good at DANCING. whatever dancing they did during LAUNCH should just be enough especially in the morning also now that winter time is around the corner… too much emphasis on how to dance correctly is I think the Principal is TRIPPING and abusing her role as a Principal. Children should not be forced to DANCE correctly or against their will or have to go through being held back after launch just so to practice the MOVES. My daughter joked that her Principal thinks they need dancing lessons too. This has never happened even to the very best Principal Mrs. Kim. The children SO missed Mrs. Kim and how she handles all children and parents professionally. Also, there is a true and real GEM that Board of Directors of Rocketship or CEO has to take a real good look at. this teacher has been with Rocketship for long time and she is MS. CAROLINA VILLAGRANA. She has all what it takes to be a real leader, a true kind, respectful, so humble, sweet, very strong teacher/​assistant principal most of all she has the depth of a true smart and professional leader. She has grace, class and a very fine qualities no matter who she is talking to. I strongly believe she will go high and beyond for the qualities she has. MS. VILLAGRANA presents herself with professionalism and class that can deal with people with all walks of life. I highly recommend her and children loves her so dearly. Rocketship Education should also maintain a high quality Principal who make sense in every way. They should also do assestment of their Principal. This time I think Rocketship Alma does’nt have that kind of Principal as compared to Mrs. Kim who was always there in the morning greeting parents and kids always upbeat and positive, encouraging, sweet, helpful, so involved and engaging. You can feel her presence (Mrs. Kim) in every day to day life of Rocketeer parents and children. And Mrs. Kim always make time in any circumstances to answer my emails or call even how busy she gets within 3 days. And that is what is missing right now the spirit or presence of a good principal.

Rocketship Alma has just been a pain this school year. There is no stability what so ever at this school teachers and staff are constantly changing. The front office receptionist Marisol is the rudest person. She hung up on me twice. By them I was furious. Mrs. Martinez who is supposedly the principal is unprofessional. I’ve emailed her several times and not once has she called me or emailed me. Instead someone by the name of Hanna Bass is emailing and never even mention who she was. Unprofessioal!!! I’ve contacted CEO Preston Smith and called and left messages as well and no one has contacted me back! The rules to this school have changed to where my child no longer wants to go to school. They treat kids like if they are in military school. The fact that kids have to use clear back packs is just crazy. These kids are in elementary school. Not mention these back packs are heavy plastic, which makes the back pack heavy and they also have to carry a binder full of class work. Then you have the all black shoe poilcy. Shoes have to be all black, if they are not they would get an infraction. Had a meeting with Mrs. Martinez in the begining of the school because they didn’t want my daughter wearing her converse which had a white on the trim. She, Mrs. Martinez suggested I sharpie in the white trim. Keep in mind the rules to this school is to be professinal and presentable. How is sharpieing in the white trim of a shoe proffessinal??? It’s like telling a CEO to Sharpie in a tie. Once again UNPROFESSIONAL!!! Then we got the rule that if you forget to sign your childs homework, the child will get detention… Like really!!! Detinition, who makes these stupid rules!!! My child did her homework and I forgot to sign her homework. I get a call telling me my child has detention because of a stupid signature. The school is so unreasonable with kids now and my daughter does not need this unnessary stress. The school has changed for the worse and they forgot that these are just kids. They talk about getting them ready for college. How about start getting them ready for middle school. Which is the next big step. I wish someone can do something to make this school the way it was before. Ms. Kim was great sad to have seen her go. Ms. Erika was also great. These new staff need a lot more training. Teachers need to stop treating kids like they are in military school. Except for Mr. R and Miss. Nguyen. Great teachers and my daughter loved them. I wouldn’t recommend Rocketship Alma to any parent.

Love Rocketship Alma they give lots of encouragement positive support from staff teachers and parents everyone works as a team. I love how education is priority to the school and they always go the extra mile for their students. my experience has been great.
GO ROCKETSHIP ALMA