Is touring schools (elementary in our case) a thing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a great preliminary exercise for the OP in trust. Depending on the size of the school, there are anywhere from about 50 to about 200 incoming kindergartners. It would be impossible to give personal tours to every family, so instead the schools have developed systems for orienting new kids to the school.

You were going to hand your child over for 7 hours a day to these folks, every day, starting in less than 6 months. You have to trust that they know what they are doing, at least until you have reason to believe otherwise. Without at least extending that benefit of the doubt, you are in for a very long public school adventure.

Thanks. DD goes to daycare every day for about 8 hours, so we do have experience with trusting others with our child, who does have special needs. Just trying to figure out how to implement a recommendation from a psychologist. It sounds like a school tour is not a good approach.

Okay, this is valuable information that probably should have come in the OP. Is your child coming in with an IEP? If so, you should have a chance to discuss how the IEP will transition to ES, and you can ask for some additional orientation in that meeting.

[Anonymous]

I did a tour of our very small MCPS elementary. I was unsure I wanted to send my child to a public school (I am a huge proponent of private school) but had heard amazing things about ours. I did request a tour and they kindly accommodated once I registered (registration is no commitment or obligation so no big deal). And I loved the school, at the time each grade had just 36-40 children, two classes of each 18-20, and it was a wonderful choice. Our children have thrived there and I am happy i got to do a little preview. Don’t hesitate to ask. Worst you can hear is no!

[Anonymous]

Just call and ask!!! If not, attend an event open to the public. And our school has grown a ton since that first year but we have grown with it and it has handled the change as well as expected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a great preliminary exercise for the OP in trust. Depending on the size of the school, there are anywhere from about 50 to about 200 incoming kindergartners. It would be impossible to give personal tours to every family, so instead the schools have developed systems for orienting new kids to the school.

You were going to hand your child over for 7 hours a day to these folks, every day, starting in less than 6 months. You have to trust that they know what they are doing, at least until you have reason to believe otherwise. Without at least extending that benefit of the doubt, you are in for a very long public school adventure.

Thanks. DD goes to daycare every day for about 8 hours, so we do have experience with trusting others with our child, who does have special needs. Just trying to figure out how to implement a recommendation from a psychologist. It sounds like a school tour is not a good approach.

Okay, this is valuable information that probably should have come in the OP. Is your child coming in with an IEP? If so, you should have a chance to discuss how the IEP will transition to ES, and you can ask for some additional orientation in that meeting.

Many families have trouble getting the IEP in place before school starts. Either because they missed the Child Find cutoff or because Child Find doesn't recognize the need (a child can do great in the screening but struggle in the classroom).

It's helpful to know some schools offer tours and others do not.

[Anonymous]

We played on the small playground at our ES over the summer, so at least the physical grounds would be familiar. And our PTA planned a playdate in August to start meeting families, so that was a help too.

[Anonymous]

Schools will generally offer a scheduled tour but you will need to call the office. If you have a Special needs student and recommendation from a psychologist I would ask to speak with the Principal and Special Education coordinator as they will have the best information about how best to proceed with you specific child and their needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a great preliminary exercise for the OP in trust. Depending on the size of the school, there are anywhere from about 50 to about 200 incoming kindergartners. It would be impossible to give personal tours to every family, so instead the schools have developed systems for orienting new kids to the school.

You were going to hand your child over for 7 hours a day to these folks, every day, starting in less than 6 months. You have to trust that they know what they are doing, at least until you have reason to believe otherwise. Without at least extending that benefit of the doubt, you are in for a very long public school adventure.

Thanks. DD goes to daycare every day for about 8 hours, so we do have experience with trusting others with our child, who does have special needs. Just trying to figure out how to implement a recommendation from a psychologist. It sounds like a school tour is not a good approach.

What kid of special needs? Not sure what you are looking for but accommodations and this kind of thing need an IEP or 504.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be wary of a school that did allow tours except in special circumstances (special needs student enrolling, etc.). Its a security concern.

Really? A staff member is supervising the tour group the whole time.

My school offers tours on request especially if kids are transferring into the school mid year

[Anonymous]

You go to the school you are districted for. You really don’t have a choice in MCPS. So we did not need to tour the school. We were going there no matter what. But if your child has special needs, you way want to tour for what ever reason to feel more comfortable.

[Anonymous]

MCPS Elementary schools can differ, but I doubt it. It's not private school where they have an admissions office that can be deployed to show prospective parents around.

But nothing stopping you from taking your kid to play at the school playground, and depending on the school, they may have a meet the teacher day where they can view the classroom right before school starts. My kids did for K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS Elementary schools can differ, but I doubt it. It's not private school where they have an admissions office that can be deployed to show prospective parents around.

But nothing stopping you from taking your kid to play at the school playground, and depending on the school, they may have a meet the teacher day where they can view the classroom right before school starts. My kids did for K.

Our school hosts a tour during Kindergarten Orientation. Even though the county canceled the daytime one, our school held it after school and the tour was still given which was co-led by a PTA member and school administrator.

Schools are busy places. If every prospective family expected a personal tour, the current student body wouldn't get the attention they deserve.

[Anonymous]

How silly this all is. MCPS is opt IN! You do t have to go to your assigned school, you can go private, file a cosa, and more. Yes contact the school and explain you’d like a brief tour! If they say no then visit the playground during off hours or attend an event there if they hold them. The tour is brief and you’re accompanied by a staff member the whole time. Just call and ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a great preliminary exercise for the OP in trust. Depending on the size of the school, there are anywhere from about 50 to about 200 incoming kindergartners. It would be impossible to give personal tours to every family, so instead the schools have developed systems for orienting new kids to the school.

You were going to hand your child over for 7 hours a day to these folks, every day, starting in less than 6 months. You have to trust that they know what they are doing, at least until you have reason to believe otherwise. Without at least extending that benefit of the doubt, you are in for a very long public school adventure.

Thanks. DD goes to daycare every day for about 8 hours, so we do have experience with trusting others with our child, who does have special needs. Just trying to figure out how to implement a recommendation from a psychologist. It sounds like a school tour is not a good approach.

What kid of special needs? Not sure what you are looking for but accommodations and this kind of thing need an IEP or 504.

If you don't understand the process for 504s and IEPs (esp for incoming kindergarteners) then don't try to offer advice about it and especially don't demand information about a child. You don't need that information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How silly this all is. MCPS is opt IN! You do t have to go to your assigned school, you can go private, file a cosa, and more. Yes contact the school and explain you’d like a brief tour! If they say no then visit the playground during off hours or attend an event there if they hold them. The tour is brief and you’re accompanied by a staff member the whole time. Just call and ask.

COSAs are not easily approved. It depends on the situation and availability of spots. Some schools are overcrowded. COSA also does not include transportation. You are also not attending the same school as the kids in your neighborhood. You lose that connection. Your playdates are out of area also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a great preliminary exercise for the OP in trust. Depending on the size of the school, there are anywhere from about 50 to about 200 incoming kindergartners. It would be impossible to give personal tours to every family, so instead the schools have developed systems for orienting new kids to the school.

You were going to hand your child over for 7 hours a day to these folks, every day, starting in less than 6 months. You have to trust that they know what they are doing, at least until you have reason to believe otherwise. Without at least extending that benefit of the doubt, you are in for a very long public school adventure.

Yeah except it’s highly unlikely the school does, in fact, know what it’s doing, in my experience.