I have a fifth-grader in the open classroom program at Conejo Elementary School.

One of the many things that convinced me to enroll my son there was the diversity of the children and families that participate in the program.

As a parent with a Mexican background, it’s always been important to me that our culture, as well as that of all cultures, be accepted, valued and nurtured in a school setting. I’ve found that my son has been surrounded with children from places such as France, Denmark, Africa, India and so many other countries that the classrooms are a wonderful collage of ideas, accents and perspectives.

I’m excited that Bridges Charter School is embracing this same concept, of valuing all individuals and encouraging families of all different backgrounds to be a part of their school.

When I have attended meetings at Conejo Valley Unified School District and the Ventura County Board of Education where parents have spoken in support of Bridges, I’ve noticed the same diversity of parents, from many different parts of the world, all interested in having their children attend a school where a variety of cultures will be represented.

I believe it’s important for families to be given the option of enrolling their children in schools that are microcosms of the world we live in.

Bridges Charter School offers our children one more critical opportunity to learn together, and from one another, about the contributions every group makes to society.
Hilda Salas
Thousand Oaks