Julia Butler Hansen Elementary

My child and I were subject to what I felt was economic segregation at this school, as were many other children. We were not able to attend most of their events, such as the movie nights, fairs, etc. because of the high prices charged to attend these events; until I brought it to the attention of the school board, principle, and the president of the HCC (All at the same time).

Things changed as far as fees not being mandatory to attend these events, and there was a new proofreader for flyers assigned. However, my child and I no longer felt safe or welcome there.

I had also sent my child's teacher a couple of emails prior to all of this, stating that I was not happy that my child was left alone in the classroom after returning from special ed reading, when everyone else had left for an assembly. She was frightened, and had to look for her class on her own.

And again when she was put on a broken chair and fell, with an already sprained ankle. (The chair was known to have been broken, by other staff members, but was never removed)

Additionally, my child was being told by the teacher, that she needed to get off of her crutches when she had a sprained ankle, and the children in her class were not to help her carry books, etc. (The sprain happened in the playground at their school, and was recorded at the nurses office).

A few weeks later my daughter suffered a concussion from being hit over the head with a chunk of ice at the hands of another child in our neighborhood. The teacher knew what had happened to my child, and she was also checked by the school nurse, etc. The nurse suggested a visit to the Doctor, which we did.

A day later the police show up at our door, saying that her teacher reported multiple injuries and that my child had vanished from school for 2 days. A lie; I had called the absence line, had the Doctor fax over a note to the school, and my child had been at that school for 4 years prior to this with no other injuries.

It was checked out and of course dismissed by the police, but not before it caused damage to our family.

My brother (A Lawyer) told me that I was in a silent war with the school, and to take my child out of there immediately, which I did.

However, my child paid the price; she doesn't understand why she can't be with her friends at school, and she misses her teachers, and home school environment. It is a pity that some people feel the need to treat others this way. I would never recommend to anyone that they send their child to Hansen Elementary School if they can help it.

It's a sad shame, what they did to our little family. Shame on you Hansen Elementary.

I'm not too happy with this school at all. They may be above average for the requirements for the State of Washington, but they seem below average for everywhere else. We moved here from an American military post in Germany, where the schools were wonderful. My children were learning art, english, science, math, and Spanish, along with music and athletics. My son learned how to read at a 3rd grade level by the time he was halfway through with kindergarten. However, here, he feels he is "dumbing down" due to the fact that he isn't offered near as much academically as he was in Germany.

My children aren't offered science as part of their regular daily school schedule, nor are they offered art or a foreign language. There is an option that we could pay for the children to take these courses after school hours, but that is not in our means right now financially. Plus, courses such as these should be something they are given anyhow!

My daughter suffers from ADHD, and was getting great support at her old school. Here, the teachers and staff simply don't seem to know what to do to help her. Her grades are lacking, no matter how hard we try at home, because she isn't getting the help she needs at school.

We've also recently had problems with bullies at the designated school bus stop, and the school did nothing to help discipline them. Also, there were times my children had gotten hurt at the school, and I hadn't received as much as a phone call from the school nurse or a teacher.

If you are given an option of what school to have your children attend in Olympia, I highly suggest a school other than Hansen Elementary.