Can anyone shed light on what is likely to change at Norwood with new leadership?

[Anonymous]

Norwood family here. I am unaware of Singapore Math being used at Norwood in middle or lower school. The school switched a few years ago to using Common Core as a basis for math instruction. Most of the current MS students had a different LS math curriculum than what current LS students see today.

[Anonymous]

My hope is that they will go to Singapore math. The new head just made that transition at his old school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My hope is that they will go to Singapore math. The new head just made that transition at his old school.

where is he coming from?

[Anonymous]

anyway, assuming the new head can change 60% of what I believe is wrong with the school, it will take at least 2-3 years to see an improvement.

[Anonymous]

This is his bio

Matthew Gould - Head of School
Matthew holds a Ph.D. in education from the University of Chicago and a B.A. from Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana. Prior to being appointed Head of Community School in 2004, Matthew was the Assistant Headmaster and Head of Lower School at Far Brook School in Short Hills, New Jersey. Matthew has extensive classroom teaching experience, both in public and independent schools. Matthew has also coached middle school soccer and track & field, and directed summer camps for elementary-aged children in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Matthew is an active member of the Independent Schools of St. Louis (ISSL), the Independent Schools of the Central States (ISACS), the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), and the Elementary School Heads Association (ESHA). He is on the boards of the Field School in Washington, D.C., the Elementary School Heads Association, and the ISACS Evaluation Review Committee.




This is from the school he currently is head of called Community School. I was impressed to see that he actually provides some info on academic performance of the school


Academic Excellence


Community School's reputation is built on academic excellence. The source of that excellence is the unique way Community School provides learning experiences in which children make discoveries about both their surroundings and themselves. Small class size further supports academic excellence allowing each student to grow and develop at his or her own pace. Going beyond mastering the facts, Community School produces avid readers, curious learners, and independent thinkers.

Community’s focus has never been on test scores. Good test scores are not our goal; they are not what we aspire to be as a school. However, these scores do validate that our philosophy of education – hands-on learning, creativity, group process, collaboration, and emphasis on the Arts – works. Below is the chart of the last 5 years (average median scores) of Community School as compared to independent school norms and national norms.


http://www.communityschool.com/academics/academic-excellence


Not only do Community School classes outscore other independent schools, the gap between Community School and other schools increases over time— meaning as students move through the grades, their work and achievement accelerates or improves relative to their peers in other schools. In other words, Community School students are extremely well-prepared for secondary school and beyond.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:anyway, assuming the new head can change 60% of what I believe is wrong with the school, it will take at least 2-3 years to see an improvement.

Are you a current family or a former family? What do you believe is most problematic with the school that it will take 2-3 years to notice change?

[Anonymous]

What I don't get is why the school has zero tolerance for mediocrity in the area of music, but that does not apply to academics areas.
Their plays and shows are almost at the professional level. Last year the Music Man was done so well, they could have charged admission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:anyway, assuming the new head can change 60% of what I believe is wrong with the school, it will take at least 2-3 years to see an improvement.

Are you a current family or a former family? What do you believe is most problematic with the school that it will take 2-3 years to notice change?

The teaching and administration in the LS.
The low expectations in the MS. If kids do poorly, it is OK. That is not acceptable at Landon, and most definitely not at Holton.

[Anonymous]

I am willing to wager that things will turn around for the positive. The new head will have to ask the parents to trust him. He will have to bravely ignore some individuals. If a child takes a K spot now, by third grade it will be a top suburban school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am willing to wager that things will turn around for the positive. The new head will have to ask the parents to trust him. He will have to bravely ignore some individuals. If a child takes a K spot now, by third grade it will be a top suburban school.

But why take a K spot now @Norwood and endure three wasted years with the hope that your wager is a good one rather than go to a solid school that isn't in disarray?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am willing to wager that things will turn around for the positive. The new head will have to ask the parents to trust him. He will have to bravely ignore some individuals. If a child takes a K spot now, by third grade it will be a top suburban school.

But why take a K spot now @Norwood and endure three wasted years with the hope that your wager is a good one rather than go to a solid school that isn't in disarray?

The premise of this and several other comments here is completely off base. Norwood is an excellent school and is hardly in disarray.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am willing to wager that things will turn around for the positive. The new head will have to ask the parents to trust him. He will have to bravely ignore some individuals. If a child takes a K spot now, by third grade it will be a top suburban school.

But why take a K spot now @Norwood and endure three wasted years with the hope that your wager is a good one rather than go to a solid school that isn't in disarray?

It is not in complete disarray. The new head will likely fix some things quickly, some issues will probably be ironed out this summer, before the school year starts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am willing to wager that things will turn around for the positive. The new head will have to ask the parents to trust him. He will have to bravely ignore some individuals. If a child takes a K spot now, by third grade it will be a top suburban school.

But why take a K spot now @Norwood and endure three wasted years with the hope that your wager is a good one rather than go to a solid school that isn't in disarray?

Pp, what "solid school"do you recommend as an alternative?

[Anonymous]

I'll take a stab at that: Wayside, Maret, Cold Spring, Sidwell, Lakewood, Beauvoir to name a few...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll take a stab at that: Wayside, Maret, Cold Spring, Sidwell, Lakewood, Beauvoir to name a few...

This is funny. Norwood seems to have a better reputation than all but sidwell and maret. I know 4 families there, and all are very happy. What's with the "sky is falling"mentality re norwood?