T.T.
L.
I have a K and 5th grader at Nelson this year, my oldest was given the option to stay at Ryan with all her friends since most all Oakmont2 kids continued at Ryan for their last year, but she wanted to be there for her little sister.
My husband and I had our issues, and addressed them and have become known as "those" parents ( The school nurse told my husband) We are okay with that. The school lacks "the personal" touch from the administration. Something I hope they will continue to work on. In their minds trivial things, however as a parent huge things. (example- my daughter was injured at school and they did everything right fix her injuries, console her, find out what happened..But, no one called me to tell me my daughter was coming home with a black eye, the personal touch they lack.
We always take into consideration, that it is a new school and things are already changing for the better, the PTA is getting more established.
The school counselor is WONDERFUL. I had a morning a month ago, the newborn was sick, I was exhausted, my husband was out of town and we were running late and after the girls left I just hated the feeling they must have starting the day with, I called her and explained what had happened and to tell my girls I loved them, and she did, right after I got off the phone with her and took 5 to 10 minutes with each of them just talking with them about how they were feeling.
Also, we couldn't have asked for a better K teacher. Zetta Smith was such a blessing. I was nerveous about sending Alexie to school, she is such a young 5 year old and she is a mommas girl, but Ms. Smith has been amazing with her, she's been teaching for 20 years, she has the patience of a saint. She is the Kindergartner teacher every mother dreams of for their child.
Bullies, they are in every school, even Ryan. It was a big problem when my daughter was at Ryan for 4TH grade, and Yes Ryan was an amazing school, it does have that personal touch, But it's also had a rough year with the rezoning and now with the principal retiring this year more changes are in store.
The best advice I can give is be "that" parent, if you don't like something or have that feeling, take care of it.
I hope that helps.