Meadows Arts and Technology Elementary School (MATES), the first charter school in the Conejo Valley, opened its doors last week, beginning with a ribbon-cutting before students flooded the campus Aug. 27.

MATES is housed at what was formerly a Conejo Valley Unified School District school, Meadows Elementary. MATES was created when the CVUSD school board voted to close Meadows, along with University Elementary, in an effort to save money.

Parents and students gathered at the campus the weekend before the school opened to meet new executive director Julie Antilla-Garza, a former Pleasant Valley School District principal, as well as their teachers and classmates.

“I’m definitely excited about the start of the new school year,” Antilla-Garza said. “It’s been an unbelievable preparation period. I’m so impressed with the amount of hard work the board members and the teachers have put in.”

There are about 315 students enrolled at MATES, and AntillaGarza said they added two additional classes before the start of school.

“There’s been such a high level of parent interest in MATES,” she said. “We’re finding that being a small school district in and of ourselves, and being a charter that’s focusing on arts and technology, we seem to be an easy transition for parents and students from private schools. We are providing something extra for their kids. We hope that we’re able to provide that place in the community.”

The orientation on Aug. 23 featured a performance by last year’s student choir and introductions of the school’s board and staff.

Students met their new instructors, including third-grade teacher Kristi Castellano, who was hired the previous Monday.

“It’s been great—really exciting,” said Castellano, who moved to the area from Orange County at the end of August. “The parents have been so supportive. Everyone I’ve talked to sounds so relieved, like ‘Wow, we really did it.’ It’s such a positive feeling.”

Kids ran all over the blacktop and played on the jungle gym while their parents signed up for volunteer committees and joined the school’s new parent-teacher association. Students could vote on their new mascot and consider proposed after-school offerings such as robotics, dance and ceramics classes.

MATES has also been planning family activities that include an astronomy night on Dec. 3 and an upcoming international night.

Sandra Volantis has a daughter in first grade who attended Meadows last year.

“The orientation was nice and sweet,” Volantis said. “We haven’t noticed any big changes. We know the campus and we love it. And we love the uniforms. It’s great.”

For more information, visit www.meadowscharter.org.