Wood Acres ES experience?

[Anonymous]

Hi! I saw another post like this so I wanted to ask. Our child is heading into Kindergarten in the fall at Wood Acres and we would love to learn about recent experiences from families. What have you liked or not liked from the school? What is the parent community like? How are the classes? Overcrowded? Overall feel? TIA!!

[Anonymous]

Busy but active parents and PTA
Not overcrowded since an addition several years ago
Each grade has a different feel based on the parent dynamics
We liked the planetarium, Space Night, Int'l Night, and 4th grade Wizard of Oz
We didn't like the IEP services

[Anonymous]

Thoughts on the new principal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Busy but active parents and PTA
Not overcrowded since an addition several years ago
Each grade has a different feel based on the parent dynamics
We liked the planetarium, Space Night, Int'l Night, and 4th grade Wizard of Oz
We didn't like the IEP services

Our DD has an IEP for speech issues and we've been happy with the SLP. I can't comment on other types of IEPs.

The various programs PP mentioned are a lot of fun and a good way for the school to bond.

[Anonymous]

Great school. Sadly it can’t secede from MCPS though, so it comes with all of the awfulness I’m sure you’ve read about here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great school. Sadly it can’t secede from MCPS though, so it comes with all of the awfulness I’m sure you’ve read about here.

Is there a school district DCUM actually likes? Everyone seems to hate every district.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great school. Sadly it can’t secede from MCPS though, so it comes with all of the awfulness I’m sure you’ve read about here.

What sort of awfulness? Genuine question.

[Anonymous]

We are a new family in a mid-elementary grade at Wood Acres. Previously attended private school. We like it a lot for the social aspects. DC needed more friend options and is now thriving. The academics are good. I wish foreign language was mandated. The class sizes range from 24-27. Parent community is great. The things that aggravate me are that homework is optional, report cards are meaningless because they come with no commentary, and I think grading is too easy. We are happy overall though.

[Anonymous]

PP one more thing that drives me crazy is the constant need for substitute teachers. It seriously seems like it’s all the time.

[Anonymous]

As a teacher who gets sick quite often (and I catch everything from my students) I find it highly offensive and incredibly rude that you’re judging teachers like myself for being out sick. You don’t know what people have going on in their personal lives- sick parents, children, appointments, etc so why don’t you come do our job for us bc clearly you seem to know better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher who gets sick quite often (and I catch everything from my students) I find it highly offensive and incredibly rude that you’re judging teachers like myself for being out sick. You don’t know what people have going on in their personal lives- sick parents, children, appointments, etc so why don’t you come do our job for us bc clearly you seem to know better.

I’m not knocking you for being sick. That is part of life. But it seems like the school can’t find substitutes so one teacher ends up trying to manage and teach a combined group of kids for the day. It’s not fair for the teacher who has to take on 2 classes at the same time and the kids don’t actually learn that day. They typically get to play on a computer or just read a book. There is no surge capacity. I get this is a system wide problem (not the teacher) but you have to admit it sucks for learning.

With any business (or government agency) that requires in-person interaction with “customers” to be successful, you can understand why a school can’t be effective without teachers. The school has to have an effective plan for when their employees can’t go to work. I’m not knocking you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher who gets sick quite often (and I catch everything from my students) I find it highly offensive and incredibly rude that you’re judging teachers like myself for being out sick. You don’t know what people have going on in their personal lives- sick parents, children, appointments, etc so why don’t you come do our job for us bc clearly you seem to know better.

You are derailing OP's thread. If the Wood Acres ES administration could stand to do a better job recruiting subs and managing teacher absences, then you should accept that and move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher who gets sick quite often (and I catch everything from my students) I find it highly offensive and incredibly rude that you’re judging teachers like myself for being out sick. You don’t know what people have going on in their personal lives- sick parents, children, appointments, etc so why don’t you come do our job for us bc clearly you seem to know better.

You are derailing OP's thread. If the Wood Acres ES administration could stand to do a better job recruiting subs and managing teacher absences, then you should accept that and move on.

Because there are so many people waiting to sub in, right ?
My goodness, people here are so out of touch with reality.
-NP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi! I saw another post like this so I wanted to ask. Our child is heading into Kindergarten in the fall at Wood Acres and we would love to learn about recent experiences from families. What have you liked or not liked from the school? What is the parent community like? How are the classes? Overcrowded? Overall feel? TIA!!

It is actually excellent. Great school and the families all live in the area. Family focused, safe, and education focused. The location is in a wonderful neighborhood. You'll be thrilled.

[Anonymous]

If I could afford it, I'd move into the Wood Acres/Pyle?Whitman district. Best in the DMV educationally.