Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2008 14:02:16 -0400
From: Rita Marley-McKenzie
Subject: ONS response to post
I received this email regarding my post about ONS. I felt it needed to
be addressed, because if one person is compelled to email, maybe there
are more who feel the same way:
—–Original Message—–
From: gonavy1.1
Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2008 12:28 PM
To: Rita Marley-McKenzie
Perhaps if Our Neighborhood School didn’t charge so much money and the teacher spent more time in the classroom and less in the kitchen she wouldn’t have to keep sending people out to beg for students to come to her school! If it is so wonderful, how come week after week you are soliciting business for her. Last I heard she still only had three students. Maybe she needs to decide on pizza or school–apparently she cannot do both!
Here is my response:
Thank you for your email. Donna does not ask me to advertise for her. I do it because I believe in what she does and for the success my son has found at ONS. Donna is not in the classroom. There is a separate teacher in the classroom with the children teaching them. Donna is the principal of the school, and she works closely with the teacher on lesson planning each week. I think she is doing an excellent job balancing the school and pizzeria. I commend her on her perserverance and dedication to the children in creating a place of learning where they can feel accepted and excel.
As for the cost of the school, I think it is extremely reasonable, especially after paying $35,500 for one year of boarding school. The school only costs $5,000 out of pocket, and the other half is earned through volunteer work.
I’m not saying the school is for everyone, but it was heaven-sent for us and for the other families whose children are thriving there. I do hope that other families who have found themselves in similar situations consider ONS as an option, though.
I never post my experiences on the chatlist unsolicited, either. I only respond to other posts as the issues arise. I for one know that many of us lose information from the chatlist and have to ask again (ie. any good builders, carpenters, grading companies, etc.. out there? What was the name of that service again? I know I should have kept the info, but…?) Much information is repeated on the chatlist–perhaps because we don’t need that particular information at the time but later find ourselves looking for just that service. Also, new people are added every day to the chatlist that may have never had the opportunity to read about this wonderful opportunity available in Chatham County. That’s why I choose to post.
Thank you again for your comments. I wish you had at least signed your email so I would have an actual person to thank rather than an anonymous email address.
Rita Marley-McKenzie
Proud ONS Parent
I apologize if I have offended anyone by posting about ONS. I honestly feel like it is an incredible opportunity for students who need to feel loved, supported, accomplished, intelligent, capable, challenged,
encouraged, and most of all, welcomed. I for one would love to see more families take advantage of this rare opportunity we have right here in the heart of Pittsboro. I wish she had been here a year sooner; I wouldn’t have had to send my son all the way to Virginia to boarding school. I couldn’t find anything closer that would meet his needs then.
Lastly, in response to the person’s comments ” Maybe she needs to decide on pizza or school–apparently she cannot do both”, maybe the school system should decide on education or thrift stores, because, apparently, they can’t do both, either.
Thank you for reading. Rita.
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