Lottery Swami Checking in for MSDC Season

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The true Swami doesn't emerge until after the application deadline. She makes crystal ball predictions.

Then why did she start this thread in Dec?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:hi Swami!

Would you look at my Kindergarten list? Currently Prek4 at Seaton and loving it, but worried about the higher grades and also about attrition of all his friends this year. Would be open to staying, though.

1. ITS
2. Eaton (we would move to be closer if we got in)
3. Mundo Verde - P Street (but honestly I have a lot of reservations about the school (teachers/rigor/playground) and I don't know if I would accept.

Thanks!

We left ITS for MV. Hands down would recommend ITS over MV for its communication with parents, the overall consistency of the quality of teachers, and the active, engaged school community.

We have friends still at MV- who would consider moving if they didn't mortgages and homes. Some issues have improved, but with the new campus introduction, expect and brace yourself for chaos.

If you prioritize immersion, consider moving into Woodley Park or Mt. Pleasant.

Thanks so much for this! This matches what I have gleaned from parents at both ITS and MV (the ITS parents are much more unambiguously positive).

We are also very strongly considering moving to mount p to attend Bancroft.

The priority we placed on spanish immersion had us accept an offer at MV after the lottery. The teachers and community at IT had great things to say, and indicated that they had heard MV had the same cultural aspects we enjoyed with the added benefit of the languge. Unfortunately for us the discipline issues with unprepared teachers led us to leave. (DC was bullied, and suffering from it.) The administration did not instill confidence in their ability to communicate or handle the concerns of multiple families.

All of the teachers we encountered at MV had great hearts, but not all were equipped to the challenge of language learners + behavior issues.

Very happy in our DCPS spanish immersion program. Our adored IT fellow went on to teach at Bancroft, where there was a strong principle and community of likeminded teachers. Really impressed, and the school community is really thriving, and growing. (The teacher we loved at Bancroft left to go back to school, so isn't there any longer.)

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The true Swami doesn't emerge until after the application deadline. She makes crystal ball predictions.

Then why did she start this thread in Dec?

I don't think she did. Even the phrasing in the subject line is off -- no one, especially someone who's around for a while -- calls it "MSDC season."

Also last year all sorts of other people were chiming in on the threads she did start, and it got confusing. I think she just stopped swami-ing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The true Swami doesn't emerge until after the application deadline. She makes crystal ball predictions.

Then why did she start this thread in Dec?

I don't think she did. Even the phrasing in the subject line is off -- no one, especially someone who's around for a while -- calls it "MSDC season."

Also last year all sorts of other people were chiming in on the threads she did start, and it got confusing. I think she just stopped swami-ing.

The opening thread said "Lottery Swami is here, lurking in the background, and way better than hiring a consultant. I swami for free."

I don't think anyone has ever posed as swami.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The true Swami doesn't emerge until after the application deadline. She makes crystal ball predictions.

Then why did she start this thread in Dec?

I don't think she did. Even the phrasing in the subject line is off -- no one, especially someone who's around for a while -- calls it "MSDC season."

Also last year all sorts of other people were chiming in on the threads she did start, and it got confusing. I think she just stopped swami-ing.

The opening thread said "Lottery Swami is here, lurking in the background, and way better than hiring a consultant. I swami for free."

I don't think anyone has ever posed as swami.

Oh I'm pretty sure people have posed as swami. I wish she would come back though. She kind of vanished last summer.

[Anonymous]

Can't resist! Even if Swami is swami-ing elsewhere right now, would be v. interested in thoughts on my Brookland-centric PK3 list.

1. Stokes Spanish
2. Stokes French
3. Inspired Teaching
4. Lee Montessori
5. Mundo Verde Brookland
6. Yu Ying
7. Shining Stars
8. Burroughs (IB, early action)

Obviously 1-6 are total moon shots, but nothing lost by listing them, I guess! We're conflicted about whether to rank Shining Stars--looks like it's been a contentious year with the board and the parents, and good friends whose daughter goes there have not been impressed and are considering switching her to their IB school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can't resist! Even if Swami is swami-ing elsewhere right now, would be v. interested in thoughts on my Brookland-centric PK3 list.

1. Stokes Spanish
2. Stokes French
3. Inspired Teaching
4. Lee Montessori
5. Mundo Verde Brookland
6. Yu Ying
7. Shining Stars
8. Burroughs (IB, early action)

Obviously 1-6 are total moon shots, but nothing lost by listing them, I guess! We're conflicted about whether to rank Shining Stars--looks like it's been a contentious year with the board and the parents, and good friends whose daughter goes there have not been impressed and are considering switching her to their IB school.

Your list looks good. I would also be hesitant about SSMA, but honestly also hesitant about Burroughs. I'd suggest if you're interested in Spanish, why not DCB - but it's another moonshot.

Posing as swami: You'll get into Shining Stars, and be disappointed. You'll move on in PK4 to something higher on your list, so this year doesn't matter so much.

[Anonymous]

@Swami-will Lee East End cause waitlist shuffling like Stokes EE did last year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PK3 (no sibling preferences). We are going for Spanish immersion as DD is with Spanish-only speaking nanny and I speak to her in both Spanish and English (although still wouldn't list as Spanish dominant). Thoughts?

1. Mundo Verde P St
2. Mundo Verde Brookland
3. DC Bilingual
4. Stokes Brookland - Spanish
5. Cleveland - Spanish - English Dominant (OOB)
6. Shining Stars (would only accept Spanish track)
7. Bethune 16th St
8. Bethune Brookland
9. Stokes East End - Spanish
10. Langley (IB)

Not Swami, but Cleveland Spanish fills up with inbound English dominant kids. No point in trying.

I would take Shining Stars off your list. That school is falling apart (both literally and metaphorically). And Bethune Brookland is terrible. Maybe add Burroughs and Langley?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:@Swami-will Lee East End cause waitlist shuffling like Stokes EE did last year?

Pretty sure the large number of seats at Mundo will have more of an effect, but yeah, there will be shuffling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:@Swami-will Lee East End cause waitlist shuffling like Stokes EE did last year?

Fake Swami: Yes, it will, but much less because nobody is even talking about Lee EE on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PK3 (no sibling preferences). We are going for Spanish immersion as DD is with Spanish-only speaking nanny and I speak to her in both Spanish and English (although still wouldn't list as Spanish dominant). Thoughts?

1. Mundo Verde P St
2. Mundo Verde Brookland
3. DC Bilingual
4. Stokes Brookland - Spanish
5. Cleveland - Spanish - English Dominant (OOB)
6. Shining Stars (would only accept Spanish track)
7. Bethune 16th St
8. Bethune Brookland
9. Stokes East End - Spanish
10. Langley (IB)

Not Swami, but Cleveland Spanish fills up with inbound English dominant kids. No point in trying.

I would take Shining Stars off your list. That school is falling apart (both literally and metaphorically). And Bethune Brookland is terrible. Maybe add Burroughs and Langley?

She already has Langley. Burroughs is pretty far, and we turned down an offer from Bethune in favor of staying at Langley. Come on over, neighbor!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PK3 (no sibling preferences). We are going for Spanish immersion as DD is with Spanish-only speaking nanny and I speak to her in both Spanish and English (although still wouldn't list as Spanish dominant). Thoughts?

1. Mundo Verde P St
2. Mundo Verde Brookland
3. DC Bilingual
4. Stokes Brookland - Spanish
5. Cleveland - Spanish - English Dominant (OOB)
6. Shining Stars (would only accept Spanish track)
7. Bethune 16th St
8. Bethune Brookland
9. Stokes East End - Spanish
10. Langley (IB)

Not Swami, but Cleveland Spanish fills up with inbound English dominant kids. No point in trying.

I would take Shining Stars off your list. That school is falling apart (both literally and metaphorically). And Bethune Brookland is terrible. Maybe add Burroughs and Langley?

She already has Langley. Burroughs is pretty far, and we turned down an offer from Bethune in favor of staying at Langley. Come on over, neighbor!

(Also) not swami, but if you're considering Stokes Brookland, it would be worth it to enter the LAMB lottery, just to have another option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't resist! Even if Swami is swami-ing elsewhere right now, would be v. interested in thoughts on my Brookland-centric PK3 list.

1. Stokes Spanish
2. Stokes French
3. Inspired Teaching
4. Lee Montessori
5. Mundo Verde Brookland
6. Yu Ying
7. Shining Stars
8. Burroughs (IB, early action)

Obviously 1-6 are total moon shots, but nothing lost by listing them, I guess! We're conflicted about whether to rank Shining Stars--looks like it's been a contentious year with the board and the parents, and good friends whose daughter goes there have not been impressed and are considering switching her to their IB school.

Your list looks good. I would also be hesitant about SSMA, but honestly also hesitant about Burroughs. I'd suggest if you're interested in Spanish, why not DCB - but it's another moonshot.

Posing as swami: You'll get into Shining Stars, and be disappointed. You'll move on in PK4 to something higher on your list, so this year doesn't matter so much.

Thanks! I've heard great things about DCB but it's sadly in the exact wrong direction for both of our work commutes. Maybe I'll tour and see if the awesomeness of the school defeats my anti-commuting prejudices!

Toured Burroughs this morning and I was favorably impressed (especially compared to SSMA). Think we may drop SSMA.

If I can Fake Swami for myself: "You will get into Burroughs and almost, but not quite, get off the wait list at Mundo Verde. Your PK4 lottery number will be dismal, but in K you'll be offered a late spot at one of the others and you'll agonize over it before accepting."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't resist! Even if Swami is swami-ing elsewhere right now, would be v. interested in thoughts on my Brookland-centric PK3 list.

1. Stokes Spanish
2. Stokes French
3. Inspired Teaching
4. Lee Montessori
5. Mundo Verde Brookland
6. Yu Ying
7. Shining Stars
8. Burroughs (IB, early action)

Obviously 1-6 are total moon shots, but nothing lost by listing them, I guess! We're conflicted about whether to rank Shining Stars--looks like it's been a contentious year with the board and the parents, and good friends whose daughter goes there have not been impressed and are considering switching her to their IB school.

Your list looks good. I would also be hesitant about SSMA, but honestly also hesitant about Burroughs. I'd suggest if you're interested in Spanish, why not DCB - but it's another moonshot.

Posing as swami: You'll get into Shining Stars, and be disappointed. You'll move on in PK4 to something higher on your list, so this year doesn't matter so much.

Thanks! I've heard great things about DCB but it's sadly in the exact wrong direction for both of our work commutes. Maybe I'll tour and see if the awesomeness of the school defeats my anti-commuting prejudices!

Toured Burroughs this morning and I was favorably impressed (especially compared to SSMA). Think we may drop SSMA.

If I can Fake Swami for myself: "You will get into Burroughs and almost, but not quite, get off the wait list at Mundo Verde. Your PK4 lottery number will be dismal, but in K you'll be offered a late spot at one of the others and you'll agonize over it before accepting."

FYI not sure where you’re commuting from but we pass DCI on way to Yu Ying and it takes about 3 minutes.