When I was asked to write an article describing the Alderwood Difference I realized this article should be only one sentence long. The Alderwood Difference is, simply put, the parents. Because Alderwood Basics Plus School is an alternative school/program in the Irvine Unified School District every one of our students' parents has chosen to send their child to this school. This choice manifests itself into an extremely high level of support for all aspects of the school. Not only do you, the Alderwood parents, support the school's tenets and rules but that support extends to the incredibly talented staff members and the educational program(s) that reside at the school. Annually, every parent and student is required to recommit and support Alderwood's tenets and school rules. This commitment is documented in a signed, by both parent and student, contract. This contract commits both staff and parents jointly to the concept that each student has the right to learn without interference from others and the intent to maintain high standards of discipline and to encourage responsible citizens.

The most visible aspect of the Alderwood Difference is the support our parents give through the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), the Alderwood Foundation (AEF), and/or the classroom volunteers. While many parents cross over and participate in two or more of these volunteer efforts, they are inherently different activities. This year our classroom volunteers easily exceeded 175 different parents. These parents volunteered as chaperones for field trips, grading student work, tutoring individual students and small groups, answering phones in the office, planning and assisting with classroom social functions, working in the library/media center, and so many more activities that this limited space does not allow us to list them all. This support is vital to the success of the programs here at Alderwood. The PTA officers and other leaders have planned and implemented countless fundraising activities and programs that have both raised money and enhanced the school's programs. The PTA has donated over $130,000 to different programs and for the purchase of equipment here at Alderwood for the current school year. This money has been used to support the personnel in the media center and computer lab, office supplies, instructional supplies, copier maintenance contract, sixth grade science camp, books for the library, computers for the school, and so much more. The PTA has also sponsored programs such as Guy Stuff, Mother-Daughter Tea, Family Fun Night, Star Night and different Family Education Nights. The AEF has donated in excess of $30,000 this current school year to cover the cost of art classes in the primary grades, monthly science lessons/assemblies from Life Song, Meet the Masters Program, and new globes for each classroom. An unbelievable effort from the parents of one of the smallest schools in the district.