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Camping to Register at School: Parents Already Lineup in Campers Outside School to Register Their Children May 1

Posted on: Wednesday, 26 April 2006, 12:00 CDT

By Tracie Troha, Daily Press, Victorville, Calif.

Apr. 26--VICTORVILLE -- Some parents will do anything to ensure their children get a good education. Even if that means camping out in front of school for a week.

It is exactly what nearly 25 parents are doing in front of the Academy School of Performing Arts and Foreign Languages in Victorville.

School registration does not begin until May 1, but these parents are not taking any chances to ensure their children are enrolled in what they consider the best school in the Victor Elementary School District.

Dana Hubbard, who wants to enroll a first-grader at the Academy, was the first parent to arrive. Hubbard took a week of vacation from work and has been living out of her car since 8:30 a.m. Monday morning. She is only allowed 20-minute breaks to get something to eat or take a shower.

"I know children who have graduated (from the Academy) and are doing amazing," she said. "I can see the difference. This is really worth it."

Hubbard said she has a portable DVD player, jazz music and lots of literature to pass the time.

The Academy is a parent-choice school that places a strong emphasis on music and performing arts. It accepts students on a first-come, first-served basis depending on availability.

Principal Patricia Ceska said pri- ority is given to students in the Victor Elementary School District and students with siblings who already attend the school.

"It's a compliment for the school," Ceska said of the parents camping out. "I wish we had enough places for everybody."

Ceska said camping out in front of the school is an annual event for parents.

Since the school has a very low turnover rate, Ceska said, some grades have only one spot available, while there are at least 60 spots available for kindergarten.

Tyesha Rochell has a daughter in fifth grade at the Academy and is such a supporter of the school that she tries to help friends get their children enrolled. She has been standing in line for a friend periodically since Monday.

"I do this every year for friends," Rochell said. "It's the number one school out here. Every parent wants their kids to be here."

Parents Shawna Whittingslow and Kristina Haresky have been staying in campers as they wait for registration day.

"I like that the school is always doing something for families, like family skate night," Whittingslow said. "They really encourage parent involvement."

"It's worth it if it means a better oppor tunity for my k i d s, " s a i d H a re s k y.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Daily Press, Victorville, Calif.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: Daily Press - Victorville, California

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