Castilleja School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for: Castilleja School's tuition is approximately $49,900 for private students. courtesy, character, courage, and charity - which set the standard After graduation, 100% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college. Here, however, the split occurred between the five board members, who were charged with further refining the building's faade. "Other saw it differently and emphasized the project's impact on everything from groundwater pumping to carbon emissions. It's short-sighted, selfish, and embarrassing. Finding the right school for your child is a major project. Books & Uniforms (new or used): $650 - 1,100 Andie Reed, one of the group's co-founders, noted that even the revised project includes elements that residents have consistently deemed to be problematic namely, an underground garage that many believe is incompatible with the neighborhood. I doubt these families are rushing to downsize into cheaper homes on much smaller lots and give up their staff, cars and other amenities so their daughters can bike to school. Castilleja School Photo #7 - Our multi-story athletics center includes spinning, a yoga studio, rock climbing wall, cardio room, and dance studio in addition to two full-size gymnasiums. Embarcadero Media Their enrollment cap since 2000 is 415 students, but they've exceeded that number since 2002. Castilleja School 5.00 (1 review) 1310 Bryant St Palo Alto, CA 94301 Tel: (650) 328-3160 www.castilleja.org REQUEST INFO SAVE SCHOOL Castilleja School educates motivated young women to become confident thinkers and compassionate leaders with a sense of purpose to effect change in the world. did Castie ever comply with existing CUP and enrollment numbers? Castilleja School offers 11 interscholastic sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball and Water Polo. [12], In 2007, Castilleja celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding. You judge: 5. It also includes measures that require Castilleja to prove that its transportation measures are effective before it can gradually increase enrollment from the current level of 422 students to 540.But as two recent public hearings on the Castilleja project showed, these moves have done little to make Castilleja's project less polarizing. Kauffman said Castilleja has followed the citys process every step of the way and been working with staff for quite a long time. She said there appears to be a lack of trust between the council and staff and wondered whether this process would be a lot less challenging if there were more trust to the work that has been done.. Rob Levitsky, who lives near Castilleja, sees the situation differently. Not recognizing the impact to traffic, safety issues for bike boulevard, taking old trees out, and not even thinking about the impact of this project with the Churchill proposal. of students and parents agree that clubs and organizations get the funding they need. All rights reserved. Vandermade, a graduate of Mater Dei-Santa Ana and the . This project is worth fighting for. excellence in educating young women to lead in a changing Castilleja School Photo #6 - Sophomores tackle chemistry class. My life is forever changed and I will bring the lessons you have taught me throughout the rest of my life. Neighbors would love to support a less massive project and reasonable enrollment increase. But as two recent public hearings on the Castilleja project showed, these moves have done little to make Castilleja's project less polarizing. During C, you can go to teachers and ask for help, and they help you. As uncomfortable as it might be to tell Castilleja NO to the garage, that is the only way to move forward in a way that aligns with the Citys S-CAP goals. Two board members, Chair Osma Thompson and Grace Lee said that the previously approved project remains perfectly acceptable. To sfvalley: AND the additional enrollment. Isn't Palo Alto already funding and developing a teacher's housing project? Visitor Info, Send News Tips Otherwise, they would have to build a smaller structure and pay hundreds of thousands to redesign it to comply with the codes. Embarcadero Media file photo by Magali Gauthier. Mobile site. Founded in 1907 by educator Mary Lockey, Castilleja is the only The school's "transportation management plan" includes, among other features, shuttles, carpool programs and a 2015 policy that requires staff to rely on alternative modes of transportation at least three times per week. I recently started as a 6th grader, and so far, my school experience has been..out of this world. Staff's preferred design combines these underground spaces with 11 new at-grade spaces and 26 existing ones for a total of 89 spaces. My LGBTQ+ sexual orientation and more gender-nonconforming presentation also were received extremely positively. Laptop: $1,000 - $2,000 "There's a lot of breaks happening in its faade, there's a lot of void. If Churchill is closed, the situation will deteriorate. Responding to city feedback and community criticism, Castilleja School has revised its plan to rebuild its Bryant Street campus in Palo Alto so that it now features a smaller garage, enhanced tree protection and additional measures to encourage alternatives to driving.It includes five different designs for the garage, as well as new restrictions on the number of school events a source of consternation for some of the school's neighbors. Niche requires Javascript to work correctly. I felt known and loved by the small community, pursued new interests, and was challenged and supported academically. And more opportunity, This needs to be approved. He and others suggested that Castilleja's project is being unfairly held up by a small but vocal group of opponents who are continuously moving the goal posts. From left to right, standing: Castilleja Chief Financial and Operating Officer Kathy Layendecker, Head of School Nanci Kauffman, Board of Trustees Chair Ken Hirsch and Robert Eckols, senior associate at Fehr & Peers, a transportation, engineering and planning firm working with the school. "If Castilleja really wants 500 to 600 students, it's time to move or open another campus like so many others do. Almost three years of construction-related traffic will jam Embarcadero, already a clogged artery at key times of the day. Large parking structures are not environmentally friendly. Were really digging to see how we could get to yes, but I fear the conclusion may be no. National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), top 20% of private schools in California for most sports offered, private school tuition across the country, Editorial: Veenker, Lauing, Lythcott-Haims for Palo Alto City Council (2022), Castilleja School claims Palo Alto's move to reduce proposed garage is illegal (2022), On the eve of graduation, high school seniors celebrate with a car parade (2021). "I feel strongly that no modifications or adjustments are needed," Lee said. Embarcadero Media file photo by Sinead Chang. "Castilleja, for its part, has consistently rejected the notion that it is looking to "expand." Downtown parking garage. I fail to understand why Castilleja school advocates insist on keeping the location on a busy thoroughfare of Embarcadero when like other schools, they could relocate to another, safer location where they could expand. Thompson also suggested that the building, in its current iteration, "has a design intent. "The length and complexity of the approval process has not discouraged the school, Kauffman said, given the improvements in the project. Become a Member $3.3 million in Tuition Assistance per year to 22% of student body. Science evolves. The revised proposal includes five garage designs, though only three of them meet the council's March direction of the underground facility to include no more than 50% of the required on-site parking, which amounts to 52 spaces. @Online Name - I get that this school targets higher income families who may be less responsive to housing prices, but fair to assume the teachers and support staff aren't paid enough to live in Palo Alto (at least at current prices). Become a Member Here's a roadmap to finding the school you want. "We think a 30% increase in enrollment excessive," Reed said in an interview. remains true to its mission to give each young woman an "educated It sounds like this time they have given city boards different choices, and I have to believe that this time there must be one that will finally suffice. Nanci Kauffman, Castilleja's head of school, assured both panels in recent meetings that the school has already made many compromises with neighbors and urged them to approve the project and allow the school to increase enrollment. "But Mary Sylvester, co-founder of PNQLNow, argued at the architectural board meeting that the revised design particularly, the garage continues to clash with the surrounding context. Castilleja supporters far outnumbered the critics. Place a Legal Notice So, I asked ChatGPT to explain itself. Education | To assuage the community's fears about the traffic impacts of its expansion, a key area of concern for council members and project opponents alike, Castilleja is now proposing several new policies to discourage driving near the campus. While its plans call for increasing student enrollment, the project would actually constitute a reduction in total building area, according to planning staff. Home The City Council, ARB & PTC members have had YEARS to consider the schools many proposals, each of which has sought to compromise in ways that responded to neighbors concerns. Castilleja is the only non-sectarian all-girls middle and high school in the San Francisco Bay Area. Castilleja School is an independent school for girls in grades six through twelve, located in Palo Alto, California. Bill Burch fell squarely in the latter camp. Elizabeth Hughes, a consultant who developed the transportation-demand-management plan for Castilleja, assured the commission and the public that the programs in the plan will keep traffic levels steady. "We are looking at a successful program that has every advantage to perform and every element was reviewed: bicycle, walking, transit, carpool, the outreach, the monitoring and the penalty aspects," Hughes said. Neither can be avoided 100%, but why add whats not really needed? The school's new plans include five garage designs, though only three comply with the council's request that underground parking make up no more than 50% of the total spaces on campus. "They just want to have less parking on-site so that they can have a bigger more massive building. Despite all that, deep pockets, and an army of experts, repeated trips to the drawing board are not resulting in a viable expansion plan. If the project is approved, DuBois said it would be one of the densest private school expansions in the Bay Area. Likely that is why Planning chose not to include the actual report only a link ARB's or PTC's packet. Global Investigator trip for all 11th graders. Castilleja has 75% of the students coming from outside of Palo Alto and I continue to be so confused as to why they cannot move somewhere where this is much more space for them to continue to expand. [15] In June of 2022, the Palo Alto City Council approved the school's permit to expand the school's enrollment, renovate its campus, and build a parking garage. As such, it is "anticipated to have fewer impacts on protected trees and construction-related disturbances," according to a new report from the Department of Planning and Community Environment. "It's often called an 'expansion,' but the footprint would be smaller.". The other, known as Scheme A, creates 104 spaces but it does so by utilizing space on an athletic field, an option that both staff and Castilleja are hoping to avoid. While this would require a 14% reduction in the parking requirement, Planning Director Jonathan Lait suggested in a report that staff would be amenable to adjusting the parking requirements, given Castilleja's suite of measures that discourage driving to school. What do YOU think is in this community's best interests? Yes there will be construction inconveniences, but it's called progress. Niche users from this school are most interested in the following colleges. of students agree that they like their school and feel happy there. On page 1 this report indicated Alternative 4, the Disbursed Circulation/ No Garage Alternative-would meet the Citys Municipal Code requirements providing 104 parking spaces, which is based on the number of teaching stations. Stay informed on important city government news. Provides auto-suggestions when entering text. HEAD OF SCHOOL Dear Castilleja Community, This summer, I reignited my fascination with a remarkable womanEleanor Roosevelta true woman learning, woman leading. of students and parents agree that the teachers genuinely care about the students. "Every year spent in process negotiation and compromise has resulted in scores of young women being shut out of joining the Castilleja community," Burch said. California high school scheme used fake documents to get basketball players on team, report says IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? That should be the baseline for discussion and is the baseline for the school's new proposal. @Rita Vrhel, Contact Us and variances that the general public wouldn't receive; Sign up for the Peninsula Foodist newsletter. Tuition is $56,500 for the highest grade offered. With sixty girls in one grade, it would seem that competition would be prevalent, especially during the college process. The surface parking would be created by shifting the school's swimming pool eastward, moving the pool stairs and eliminating the below-grade ramp that was intended for deliveries and trash pickup. News Recently, 2 extremely important reports were released to the public: Fehr & Peers 7/23/21 Castilleja Parking Study commissioned by Castilleja School "They must take into account the impact they make in the health, welfare and quiet enjoyment of their neighbors.". of our extraordinary faculty and staff, we are dedicated to It includes five different designs for the garage, as well as new restrictions on the number of school events a source of consternation for some of the school's neighbors. placed on academic development, Castilleja is just as committed to Another area Casti lacks in is advanced songwriting or music production offerings, though a student wanting to pursue these would surely be supported in trying to get that class made. ", "It's doing something that is really powerful and I want to emphasize that," Thompson said. The school has made compromises many of them and it begins to feel like (it) will never be enough. The 34-year-old got his wish . "The other two members, Peter Baltay and Alex Lew, found themselves between the two camps, with Baltay suggesting that Castilleja should modify the buildings' cornice line and the middle portion of the building, as well add more variability to its window locations.With its split verdict, the board gave Castilleja a somewhat confusing message, which was made more so when Lew declined to articulate what exactly he wants the school to change (the middle of the building, he said, is a "little bit muddled"). It may be limited to public school teachers. Uploaded: Wed, Dec 1, 2021, 3:03 pm Independent Teacher. Stockton elementary school teacher arrested on charge of being intoxicated on campus "The TDM plan has been further enhanced and is expected to result in reduced parking demand.". Tuition is $56,500 for the highest grade offered. It is time to send this back to the Council for their final approval. The only reason anyone knew that Castilleja had surpassed their enrollment is because Castilleja got a new head who reported it. But, Castilleja has so many fun events and traditions. Education | Our teachers prioritize experiential and project-based learning that is engaging and relevant to girls. It has 416 students in grades 6-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 7 to 1. PR MediaRelease Average SAT composite score out of 1600, as reported by Niche users from this school. It is calculated using the reported number of students and full-time equivalent teachers. Now back to the Casti specifics. Any proposal that has a garage entrance or exit on Bryant should be immediately discarded. Castilleja School would see its floor area reduce to 128,687 square feet under its revised modernization plan at its Palo Alto campus. "If they were to request a 10% enrollment increase, we'd be looking at about 450 students and there's there's sufficient parking on-site for 450. My question is: WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF PALO ALTO? "We just want to be educating girls," Kauffman said. Other duties as assigned by either the Head of School, Head of Middle School, or Director of Athletics. Now, Castilleja has slashed the size of the garage - and in so doing is saving trees and green space, and avoiding disturbing the neighborhood with the sights and sounds of street level parking. In 1907, Mary Lockey opened the doors to Castilleja School to pursue a revolutionary ideato provide young women with the educational opportunities needed to seek a college education. The school keeps changing and improving and compromising, and with every improvement they recommend, PNQL still asserts the improvements are far from sufficient. Education changes. Casti is a bubble that feels very, very wealthy, and very liberal. I challenge those folks to say that Castilleja's traffic and/or parking impact on the neighborhood right now is even measurable. @midtownmadness: I call BS that this issue is due to Palo Alto housing problem. Your contribution matters. "The review process has gone on for long enough" is perhaps the worst argument for approval I've ever seen. A North Texas high school is mourning the loss of a beloved wrestling coach. Help sustain the local news you depend on. The planning commission, which had already reviewed and approved an earlier version of this plan, is expected to dive into the details of the current one at its upcoming meeting. It speaks volumes that your tactic is to accuse someone who disagrees with you of not living here - rather than make a logical argument for your position. As Castilleja's land use attorney, my role has been two-fold: (i) to advise the school on the complex legal parameters within which Castilleja's goals for sustainable growth must be contained; and (ii) to counsel the school as they received feedback from and sought compromise with stakeholders. "We don't need a CO2-belching industrial concrete garage in our neighborhood," Levinsky told the commission. This has taken way too long to resolve, and has cost the school way too much money. Us 6th graders won the tug of war for Spirit Week, and I'm so excited for the Haunted House on Monday! So far, planning staff is leaning toward what's known as "Scheme E," which combines a 52-space underground garage with 11 new at-grade parking spaces. If I were a Republican I would not feel safe voicing that aspect of my identity. Now they're offering to cut back on them even more or enforce a kiss and ride and a "ride home" program? They do not want to grow enrollment for profit sake; they want to educate more young women leaders without negatively impacting the neighborhood. The city council landed on around 89 parking spaces required, which already exists on campus. Why can't the students park in the Baylands and shuttle in just like their teachers rather than inflicting all the construction disruption and what will be ongoing traffic problems on Palo Alto? A shuttle would then bring them to the campus.While project critics, including members of the group PNQLNow, have advocated for such a program, the revised plans are unlikely to satisfy all their concerns. Who is trustworthy in this process? It would occupy about 24,294 square feet, which is 8,186 square feet less than in the original proposal. Design intent independent teacher gender-nonconforming presentation also were received extremely positively what castilleja head of school. The conclusion may be no avoided 100 %, but they 've exceeded number... 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Ask for help, and was challenged and supported academically love to a. High school is mourning the loss of a beloved wrestling coach at-grade spaces and 26 existing ones for total...
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