Watkins Parents: How pleased are you? How optimistic?

[Anonymous]

I have to say that this is disheartening to read. We left the hill and had the same concerns about Watkins - 11 years ago! I can't understand how so many schools have improved but this school continues to struggle.

[Anonymous]

We have a first grader in Watkins and also have had a positive experience with the school. We are staying for second grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have to say that this is disheartening to read. We left the hill and had the same concerns about Watkins - 11 years ago! I can't understand how so many schools have improved but this school continues to struggle.

That's odd. I thought this thread was very heartening to read! The few actual Watkins parents who have responded all say that they are pleased with the school. It also seems that more IB families are committed to going to the school. All in all, things look on the upswing for Watkins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have to say that this is disheartening to read. We left the hill and had the same concerns about Watkins - 11 years ago! I can't understand how so many schools have improved but this school continues to struggle.

Maybe Watkins struggled to improve because parents kept leaving instead of sticking around and trying to improve the school like the Brent parents did. Thank goodness for the new parents who are sticking around and banding together to improve Watkins.

[Anonymous]

I'm the OP who started this thread, and this chain makes me inclined to decline the charter school spot my rising 1st grader received and send my child to Watkins.

[Anonymous]

Watkins suffers from its past. And if there's anything DCUM posters know its how to get stuck in the past. The WOTP families who left the Hill more than a few years ago don't have any idea what the Hill is like today. People who bought near Eastern Market after that but more than a few years ago don't have any idea what the areas north of H look like today. But history is hard to overcome when those people live in the past. Great to hear of current experiences. Every post that talks generally about the wars of the Cluster Schools and past issues is dubious as to its applicability to present day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have to say that this is disheartening to read. We left the hill and had the same concerns about Watkins - 11 years ago! I can't understand how so many schools have improved but this school continues to struggle.

Maybe Watkins struggled to improve because parents kept leaving instead of sticking around and trying to improve the school like the Brent parents did. Thank goodness for the new parents who are sticking around and banding together to improve Watkins.

For the record, a number of families IB for the Cluster/Watkins headed off to greener pastires at Brent and were part of the common effort among IB and OOB families to improve Brent.

[Anonymous]

Is comparing Watkins to Brent apples to apples? I thought Watkins was really big so it 'crowded out' IB kids with tons out OOB kids, whose parents also comprised the parent leadership.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Watkins suffers from its past. And if there's anything DCUM posters know its how to get stuck in the past. The WOTP families who left the Hill more than a few years ago don't have any idea what the Hill is like today. People who bought near Eastern Market after that but more than a few years ago don't have any idea what the areas north of H look like today. But history is hard to overcome when those people live in the past. Great to hear of current experiences. Every post that talks generally about the wars of the Cluster Schools and past issues is dubious as to its applicability to present day.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
George Santayana - The Life of Reason Vol. 1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is comparing Watkins to Brent apples to apples? I thought Watkins was really big so it 'crowded out' IB kids with tons out OOB kids, whose parents also comprised the parent leadership.

Watkins has 200 more kids than Brent and I think the size disparity is even greater because Watkins doesn't start until 1st whereas Brent starts in PK3. Not sure how many classrooms the schools have in each grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the OP who started this thread, and this chain makes me inclined to decline the charter school spot my rising 1st grader received and send my child to Watkins.

Go with God. Most charters suck anyhow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Watkins suffers from its past. And if there's anything DCUM posters know its how to get stuck in the past. The WOTP families who left the Hill more than a few years ago don't have any idea what the Hill is like today. People who bought near Eastern Market after that but more than a few years ago don't have any idea what the areas north of H look like today. But history is hard to overcome when those people live in the past. Great to hear of current experiences. Every post that talks generally about the wars of the Cluster Schools and past issues is dubious as to its applicability to present day.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
George Santayana - The Life of Reason Vol. 1

"Modern War, as we have seen, is all about fixed fortifications and entrenchments, therefore the Maginot Line will keep France safe"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is comparing Watkins to Brent apples to apples? I thought Watkins was really big so it 'crowded out' IB kids with tons out OOB kids, whose parents also comprised the parent leadership.

Can someone familiar with the current Watkins explain the number of classes for each grade, how Watkins is right-sizing itself to better accommodate a feed from Peabody, etc? I'd like to know myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is comparing Watkins to Brent apples to apples? I thought Watkins was really big so it 'crowded out' IB kids with tons out OOB kids, whose parents also comprised the parent leadership.

Can someone familiar with the current Watkins explain the number of classes for each grade, how Watkins is right-sizing itself to better accommodate a feed from Peabody, etc? I'd like to know myself.

I'm a K peabody parent. A few weeks/months ago there was a K/1st grade meet up for parents, and a 1st grade parent explained to me that there are 4 1st grade rooms. Kids do either math/science or english in the morning, then they switch teachers and subjects in the afternoon. (Like the Dorsey/White set up at Peabody) So, four teachers, 2 math, 2 english, who have 2 classes of kids each.

I assume this is also the plan for next year, but don't know for sure. The meet-up was great btw, met a lot of engaged, thoughtful parents who were happy to talk about the pros & cons. We are going to Watkins next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is comparing Watkins to Brent apples to apples? I thought Watkins was really big so it 'crowded out' IB kids with tons out OOB kids, whose parents also comprised the parent leadership.

Can someone familiar with the current Watkins explain the number of classes for each grade, how Watkins is right-sizing itself to better accommodate a feed from Peabody, etc? I'd like to know myself.

Disclaimer: I'm not quite sure about this, as I can't find it where I read it, so hopefully someone else will either confirm or correct, but I believe that there are currently four classes in most grades and five classes in a few grades. I also think that the plan is to shrink the number of classrooms as part of the renovations, so that there would be four classes in all five grades. And yes (at least in first grade), there are two sets of two classrooms, with one teacher specializing in math/science and the other in reading/humanities; the kids switch classrooms for a few hours each day.