Marengo Elementary School

I attended Marengo Grammar School from 1944 (3rde grade) until 1947/48 sixth grade). In 1947/48 we were the first grammar school in South Pasadena to win championships in all inter-school athletics, including football, soccer, baseball and track. Our leader was Ron Wheatcroft, the best athlete to ever come out of the South Pasadena school system. When we were in the 6th grade the school board decided that basketball was too hard on young hearts so they substituted soccer in place of basketball. When that happened we were afraid we would not win the soccer because no one knew how to play soccer.. This was right after WWII and fortunately for us a transfer student came in from Germany (Rolf) and with his leadership we won the soccer championship which helped us complete a sweep of all 4 intermural sports that year.

Our family was at Marengo for six years between kids and it was a mixed experience. Of the 10 teachers my children had, 3 were exceptional, and 6 were excellent. And they gave my children really wonderful experiences with learning and socialization. But 1 of them - Tiffany Wong - was abysmal and her treatment of my child was so bad it took my child over a year to recover. Wong failed to teach lessons (and would tell the kids to read the lessons by themselves), and was extremely disorganized so that kids were confused about due dates and test dates. When we emailed and called her for clarification she would avoid any responsibility and tell us to refer to her classroom website. Wong also had obvious favorites whom she allowed to bully other children, and used humiliation as a way to discipline kids in front of the whole class. She was also vindictive to kids who challenged her. She kind of traumatized my child. My child eventually recovered but I think it is due to the other teachers who really cared about learning and nurture. Unfortunately the good teachers are not allowed to do even better because they have to compensate for terrible personalities like Wong. I'm also disappointed that the school principal and district would hire someone like her.

My child started kindergarten at Marengo in the fall. We had our doubts because it is a public school education and had heard horror stories about the budget cuts, etc. We are happy to report that Marengo is AWESOME! My child comes home so happy from his fun-filled day at school. The teachers are incredibly caring, the parents are super involved (and incredibly smart and accomplished), and the campus and classrooms are beautiful. We love living in South Pasadena and we love our schools!

I am very disapointed in this school, I move my child here from Montery Hills and I regret it. My son is in K and I was already call into a meeting with my sons teacher. It was a horrible meeting, not one possitive thing to say about my son and ontop of that I was told he mite need speech therapy and maybe special education. I left the meeting crying. The teacher was very serious and heartless about the whole cituation. But the worst part is that for some reason I felt discriminated, I can't explain it but almost as if both teachers look down on me. I am going to wait a little longer before I report the cituation and not only to the principle but to all higher authority. i never want another parent to feel the way I did.