Upward of 70 TIDE students toured M-A on Tuesday. They joined shadow hosts for two periods before taking a guided tour with Leadership. Students experienced different classes, got a sense of the M-A community at brunch, and walked around campus.
“Our goal was to try and make sure they can make an informed decision if this is the right place for them,” math teacher and M-A Shadowing Coordinator Michele Breen said.
Following the Board’s decision to close TIDE at the end of this school year and recommendation that current students go to Woodside, students have begun exploring various school options for next year, ultimately getting to decide where they want to transfer on an individual basis. Last Wednesday, TIDE students took a field trip to Sequoia during the school day. On Saturday, Woodside hosted an event to welcome students and show off their academic and extracurricular programs.
Most TIDE students plan on transferring to schools within the district, a choice influenced by already closed private school application windows and the soon approaching Cañada Middle College high school program deadline.
There’s a high probability that many TIDE students will opt to move to M-A, given its closer proximity to TIDE than Woodside. TIDE also has preexisting connections with M-A sports and Drama, where TIDE students can try out for any M-A sports team or production.
Students explained that they will miss the clubs, the computer science career track, and the small size of TIDE—the feeling that everybody knows everyone. Many TIDE students came to M-A looking for a similar close-knit community. “A kind community, [where] everybody is there for each other,” is how TIDE freshman Katherine Fernandez described her criteria for her school search.
“I want to see connection. I want people to be connected, to know each other, to know each other’s boundaries, to respect each other,” TIDE sophomore Dylan Lima said.
Students also cited class sizes, course offerings, and academic support as playing a role in their decision, since most of their TIDE classes have 15-20 people, whereas most M-A classes have 25-30 students.
“I feel like the electives here are pretty good compared to our school, cause we only have two electives for each year, so I think that’s a pretty big thing for us. Since we don’t have that at our school, I think it’s something that we are looking for,” TIDE sophomore Airam Zamora said.
On the Leadership-led tour, TIDE students were guided through all the wings, hearing about M-A classes and programs, including AVID and the Computer Academy. Students looped around the sports fields and pool to learn about M-A athletics. Afterwards, Leadership students shared about mental health support programming at PAWS and TIDE students met M-A’s service dog, Ginger. Leadership students also highlighted the counseling offices and club opportunities.
Throughout the day, students gathered a generally positive impression of M-A. “At first glance, I was kind of overwhelmed, but I feel like I’m kind of getting used to it now,” Fernandez said.
“The teachers are really nice, and the work that [students] do isn’t hard, but it’s a good amount of work,” freshman Selene Vera-Avalos said.
Many students have friends or family at M-A who make the potential transition feel more familiar and less daunting.
“I like big schools. I like meeting new people. And some of my friends go here, too. And people just seem kind of cheerful. Everyone I’ve met so far, they’re kind of chill,” freshman Alexa Benitez Rodriguez said.
“I’m actually really happy about the environment. I don’t know anyone. Therefore, I can make new connections. So, it’s new experiences. And [learning] to adapt is also a big perk. When I do go to college, it’s gonna be a lot simpler for me,” Lima said.
TIDE students are still in the midst of making their decisions where to transfer next year. KIPP Esperanza and Carlmont are on a few students’ lists. Later this week, TIDE students will also visit EPAA on Thursday and Woodside on Friday during the school day.
