Maret or GDS (US)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We haven't found bringing lunch in HS to be a problem at GDS. I thought it would be a hassle but it just hasn't turned out to be an issue.

Love the school but the only niggle is the lunch for US. I know that it has been a factor for some when choosing a school. It's such an easy fix.

Exactly! Just make the change. Be competitive

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS provides delicious lunches for PK-8. I agree it would be nice to provide them for high school, but seems silly to choose a school based on whether or not they provide a lunch. The tuition is also less than other highly regarded schools in the area, which I’d prefer over having lunch included.

The tuition may be less but it's still a significant amount of money to pay to not lunch. My kid attends. I love the school. I just wish lunch was an option. For some of us it does matter. In my view, GDS would become the undisputed No. 1 school with the addition of lunch and the continued ramping up of its sports programs. The work hard/play hard vibe of the school sets it apart from the others.

Really you think GDS is the only school with a work hard/play hard vibe?

Yes, I will think that, particularly when your reply doesn't offer an alternate example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS provides delicious lunches for PK-8. I agree it would be nice to provide them for high school, but seems silly to choose a school based on whether or not they provide a lunch. The tuition is also less than other highly regarded schools in the area, which I’d prefer over having lunch included.

The tuition may be less but it's still a significant amount of money to pay to not lunch. My kid attends. I love the school. I just wish lunch was an option. For some of us it does matter. In my view, GDS would become the undisputed No. 1 school with the addition of lunch and the continued ramping up of its sports programs. The work hard/play hard vibe of the school sets it apart from the others.

Really you think GDS is the only school with a work hard/play hard vibe?

Yes, I will think that, particularly when your reply doesn't offer an alternate example.

Ok, I'll offer alternatives: Sidwell, St. Albans, Georgetown Prep. I have nothing against GDS and I'll take your word for it that they work hard/play hard. But that's hardly what sets them apart.

[Anonymous]

By play hard, there's a sense of fun, joy and silliness intentionally peppered into the rigor. What other school is crazy enough to lock up all their 9th graders for an overnight sleepover in the school (not a camp)? It's about a vibe that for certain Sidwell, repeatedly described as a pressure cooker, does not have. St. Albans might have more of a balance -- but I don't think it has the same intentional effort to infuse fun for a lack of better description. It's more the brotherhood vibe and that certainly can help to alleviate academic pressure. Can't speak to GP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The food in Maret cafeteria is so bad that I wouldn’t see a problem if it’s like in GDS without cafeteria. If you have a cafeteria there should be a minimum quality control.

Interesting. My middle schoolers really like it. There’s always a man dish like spaghetti bolognaise or a curry, then something at the Bowl’d station which could be another man dish or a fun smoothie, house made hummus and pita, rotating daily hot sandwich/panini, rotating daily cold sandwich and a salad bar with lots of protein options, dressings etc. Plenty for all to find something they like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The food in Maret cafeteria is so bad that I wouldn’t see a problem if it’s like in GDS without cafeteria. If you have a cafeteria there should be a minimum quality control.

Interesting. My middle schoolers really like it. There’s always a man dish like spaghetti bolognaise or a curry, then something at the Bowl’d station which could be another man dish or a fun smoothie, house made hummus and pita, rotating daily hot sandwich/panini, rotating daily cold sandwich and a salad bar with lots of protein options, dressings etc. Plenty for all to find something they like.

I was also confused by that comment. I check out the menu weekly and there is a really good variety. My kid has no complaints.

[Anonymous]

I think we just found the two kids at Maret who like the food!

It used to be incredibly good, but when they changed vendors about five years ago, it went really far downhill. I’m not even sure if they’re working ovens right now?

It used to come from Ridgewells, and the salad bar was incredibly good. I don’t know Ridgewell stopped doing school food, or ask Maret just got too cheap to use them anymore, but it’s a really big step down. And no one complains about it more than the faculty… so it’s not just picky kids, it’s adults with actual taste buds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think we just found the two kids at Maret who like the food!

It used to be incredibly good, but when they changed vendors about five years ago, it went really far downhill. I’m not even sure if they’re working ovens right now?

It used to come from Ridgewells, and the salad bar was incredibly good. I don’t know Ridgewell stopped doing school food, or ask Maret just got too cheap to use them anymore, but it’s a really big step down. And no one complains about it more than the faculty… so it’s not just picky kids, it’s adults with actual taste buds

Well GDS doesn’t have any food to complain about so your kid can go there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We haven't found bringing lunch in HS to be a problem at GDS. I thought it would be a hassle but it just hasn't turned out to be an issue.

What about the social stigma that others have mentioned in this thread? Does your DC mind that they’re bringing lunch when others can go off and buy?

We told our DC they could eat out once a week. Most families I know don't let their kids go out all the time. I think there have been times when my DC joins others who are eating out for the day (on a different day than when they normally go out - they have picked a specific day to repeat each week) On those occasions DC joins and brings their own lunch along (heat it first and put lid back on).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any idea why Meg Goldner Rabinowitz’ left GDS? Out of nowhere she gets a job at Maret for, what I believe was, a newly created position—one that was not advertised.

From what I understand - she worked with Maret HOS in prior job. I assume the Maret HOS asked her to come join him to work together again. This is not out of the ordinary in professional life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:By play hard, there's a sense of fun, joy and silliness intentionally peppered into the rigor. What other school is crazy enough to lock up all their 9th graders for an overnight sleepover in the school (not a camp)? It's about a vibe that for certain Sidwell, repeatedly described as a pressure cooker, does not have. St. Albans might have more of a balance -- but I don't think it has the same intentional effort to infuse fun for a lack of better description. It's more the brotherhood vibe and that certainly can help to alleviate academic pressure. Can't speak to GP.

NP to this tangent - but I think the typical "work hard play hard" doesn't describe this GDS joy factor that you are trying to convey. As a parent of a GDS student, the joy factor is real and I greatly appreciate it compared to culture at our other child's Big 3. That said - to each their own. My other DC didn't feel like either GDS or Maret was a fit for them. I would say that the "joy and silliness" component of "play" found at GDS isn't at other Big 5-ish schools but I'd also say that STA's "brotherhood and camaraderie" component of "play" is unique among that Big 5-ish group too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any idea why Meg Goldner Rabinowitz’ left GDS? Out of nowhere she gets a job at Maret for, what I believe was, a newly created position—one that was not advertised.

From what I understand - she worked with Maret HOS in prior job. I assume the Maret HOS asked her to come join him to work together again. This is not out of the ordinary in professional life.

+ 1. I’m in HR and it’s expected with executive hires and we plan for it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any idea why Meg Goldner Rabinowitz’ left GDS? Out of nowhere she gets a job at Maret for, what I believe was, a newly created position—one that was not advertised.

From what I understand - she worked with Maret HOS in prior job. I assume the Maret HOS asked her to come join him to work together again. This is not out of the ordinary in professional life.

+ 1. I’m in HR and it’s expected with executive hires and we plan for it

Here is what is not normal. Allowing the HOS who has struggled across various metrics choose his Associate Head. He has lost the respect of the faculty (it’s bad) and teachers have no idea why the board would allow him to select a friend to come take over a senior role that he created. Why not do a real search and find someone who can actually help the school, the most qualified person? Especially since he continues to flounder in so many public and private ways. It really is hard to witness from the faculty side. This type of “appointment” is not normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any idea why Meg Goldner Rabinowitz’ left GDS? Out of nowhere she gets a job at Maret for, what I believe was, a newly created position—one that was not advertised.

From what I understand - she worked with Maret HOS in prior job. I assume the Maret HOS asked her to come join him to work together again. This is not out of the ordinary in professional life.

+ 1. I’m in HR and it’s expected with executive hires and we plan for it

Here is what is not normal. Allowing the HOS who has struggled across various metrics choose his Associate Head. He has lost the respect of the faculty (it’s bad) and teachers have no idea why the board would allow him to select a friend to come take over a senior role that he created. Why not do a real search and find someone who can actually help the school, the most qualified person? Especially since he continues to flounder in so many public and private ways. It really is hard to witness from the faculty side. This type of “appointment” is not normal.

Shouldn’t you be blaming the board who OK’d it then? I don’t blame him for wanting to bring on someone he trusts- ante executive would try to do this in any job. But the board could have said no.

Let’s get real: The board is not getting rid of this guy after three years. Because it would mean yet another search. Learn to love him- and her for that matter. You’re stuck with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any idea why Meg Goldner Rabinowitz’ left GDS? Out of nowhere she gets a job at Maret for, what I believe was, a newly created position—one that was not advertised.

From what I understand - she worked with Maret HOS in prior job. I assume the Maret HOS asked her to come join him to work together again. This is not out of the ordinary in professional life.

+ 1. I’m in HR and it’s expected with executive hires and we plan for it

Here is what is not normal. Allowing the HOS who has struggled across various metrics choose his Associate Head. He has lost the respect of the faculty (it’s bad) and teachers have no idea why the board would allow him to select a friend to come take over a senior role that he created. Why not do a real search and find someone who can actually help the school, the most qualified person? Especially since he continues to flounder in so many public and private ways. It really is hard to witness from the faculty side. This type of “appointment” is not normal.

Shouldn’t you be blaming the board who OK’d it then? I don’t blame him for wanting to bring on someone he trusts- ante executive would try to do this in any job. But the board could have said no.

Let’s get real: The board is not getting rid of this guy after three years. Because it would mean yet another search. Learn to love him- and her for that matter. You’re stuck with them.

This.

Plus, if you are unhappy as a faculty member, you can be proactive and 1) talk to the admin directly or 2) explore other opportunities instead of spending your time bashing the school you work at in an online forum