Primary Day, Norwood, Green Acres

[Anonymous]

Does PDS still redshirt most kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does PDS still redshirt most kids?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

PDS PK parent here. There's only one redshirted kid in my DC's class and that child has an August birthday so nothing egregious. Don't believe what you read on here.

[Anonymous]

My PreK DS has a summer birthday (will turn 4) and was accepted into the PreK program...no discussion of redshirting at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very hands on is what I heard about the head at PDS but it wasn't meant in a good way. Teachers have to pass every single email through her. She is micro-managing the staff to death. One PDS parent said to me that she seems paranoid. Lots of drama. I hope it is all due to establishing herself and once she feels confident she will start to back off a bit. I will be looking next year but if things stay like they are now, I will skip - lots of other choices and don't need a place where all the adults are drama filled and forgetting to focus on the children.

Wow, I heard things were not good and there is lots of drama between the head and the staff and parents. Reading this thread is just sad about the state of affairs there. The head has been there 2 years so I'd be shocked if it changes much. Maybe there will be a leadership change before you apply, it used to be a very special place, but too many other good schools to consider and too much money to pay to deal with nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got an earful the other day from some current parents really not happy with the school head. I had no idea it had changed so much. Lots of people pulling their kids to go to Mater Dei, Norwood or other schools. Some parents just waiting it out since they only have a year or two left. It seems like it is really polarized there, some parents i guess must like the new head, but lots just biding time. Shame, shouldn't be like that.

While we haven't been there in a few years, it is hard to belive that lots of people are pulling their kids for Mater Dei. In the years we were there, 1 kid left for Mater Dei. MD starts in 1st and most of the kids seem to come from catholic schools.

As far as for other schools, unless you are applying out after Pre'K, the chances of lots of people finding spaces for 1st or 2nd grade are pretty low. Most schools just don't have a lot of open spots till 3rd.

[Anonymous]

Green Acres has open spots in every grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Forget Green Acres. THE SCHOOL IS A JOKE!

A lot of turnover?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does PDS still redshirt most kids?

Yes.

No they don't. And over the last 2 years they should have delayed a few more than they did. The only kids delayed were kids on the younger side that were not quite ready yet. They did it on a case by case basis, for what was in the best interest of the child. My child was delayed, birthday just days before the cut off, and it was the right thing to do for my kid - now a very strong student, top of his class. Their standards have changed now, which isn't necessarily best for the child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got an earful the other day from some current parents really not happy with the school head. I had no idea it had changed so much. Lots of people pulling their kids to go to Mater Dei, Norwood or other schools. Some parents just waiting it out since they only have a year or two left. It seems like it is really polarized there, some parents i guess must like the new head, but lots just biding time. Shame, shouldn't be like that.

While we haven't been there in a few years, it is hard to belive that lots of people are pulling their kids for Mater Dei. In the years we were there, 1 kid left for Mater Dei. MD starts in 1st and most of the kids seem to come from catholic schools.

As far as for other schools, unless you are applying out after Pre'K, the chances of lots of people finding spaces for 1st or 2nd grade are pretty low. Most schools just don't have a lot of open spots till 3rd.

FYI - this is not true for Norwood. They expand between K and 1st from 2 classes to 3 classes, so applying in for 1st grade is definitely an option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got an earful the other day from some current parents really not happy with the school head. I had no idea it had changed so much. Lots of people pulling their kids to go to Mater Dei, Norwood or other schools. Some parents just waiting it out since they only have a year or two left. It seems like it is really polarized there, some parents i guess must like the new head, but lots just biding time. Shame, shouldn't be like that.

While we haven't been there in a few years, it is hard to belive that lots of people are pulling their kids for Mater Dei. In the years we were there, 1 kid left for Mater Dei. MD starts in 1st and most of the kids seem to come from catholic schools.

As far as for other schools, unless you are applying out after Pre'K, the chances of lots of people finding spaces for 1st or 2nd grade are pretty low. Most schools just don't have a lot of open spots till 3rd.

FYI - this is not true for Norwood. They expand between K and 1st from 2 classes to 3 classes, so applying in for 1st grade is definitely an option.

http://www.norwoodschool.org/admissions/application_process/index.aspx

From their website:


Kindergarten: 32
1st Grade: 10-12
Second Grade: 3-5
Third Grade: 5-10
Fourth Grade: 3-5
Fifth Grade: 3-5
Sixth Grade: 5-8
Seventh Grade: 3-5
Eighth Grade: 0


10-12 spots is not a high number for "lots of kids" to leave and go to Norwood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got an earful the other day from some current parents really not happy with the school head. I had no idea it had changed so much. Lots of people pulling their kids to go to Mater Dei, Norwood or other schools. Some parents just waiting it out since they only have a year or two left. It seems like it is really polarized there, some parents i guess must like the new head, but lots just biding time. Shame, shouldn't be like that.

While we haven't been there in a few years, it is hard to belive that lots of people are pulling their kids for Mater Dei. In the years we were there, 1 kid left for Mater Dei. MD starts in 1st and most of the kids seem to come from catholic schools.

As far as for other schools, unless you are applying out after Pre'K, the chances of lots of people finding spaces for 1st or 2nd grade are pretty low. Most schools just don't have a lot of open spots till 3rd.

FYI - this is not true for Norwood. They expand between K and 1st from 2 classes to 3 classes, so applying in for 1st grade is definitely an option.

http://www.norwoodschool.org/admissions/application_process/index.aspx

From their website:


Kindergarten: 32
1st Grade: 10-12
Second Grade: 3-5
Third Grade: 5-10
Fourth Grade: 3-5
Fifth Grade: 3-5
Sixth Grade: 5-8
Seventh Grade: 3-5
Eighth Grade: 0


10-12 spots is not a high number for "lots of kids" to leave and go to Norwood.

10-12 is actually a large number "new spots" for 1st grade admission compared to other privates in the area. Believe me, I know. We applied for privates for 1st grade and this was 2x larger (or more) than spots available at other schools for 1st.

The original point was that there ARE actually spots open at Norwood to apply for first - it's not just attrition but an expansion of the grade. Which is counter to what the PP had posted by saying there were limited spots to apply at these schools for 1st.

[Anonymous]

11:03 - by the way - I was "not" saying that kids are coming in droves from PDS to Norwood. I have no idea if any kids are transferring over before their time at PDS would be over. We had some come for 3rd after completing their time at PDS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very hands on is what I heard about the head at PDS but it wasn't meant in a good way. Teachers have to pass every single email through her. She is micro-managing the staff to death. One PDS parent said to me that she seems paranoid. Lots of drama. I hope it is all due to establishing herself and once she feels confident she will start to back off a bit. I will be looking next year but if things stay like they are now, I will skip - lots of other choices and don't need a place where all the adults are drama filled and forgetting to focus on the children.

August 2015
Interesting that the micromanaging still goes on at PDS. Head has been there 3 years and is extremely contolling and plays favorites. One teacher comes and goes as she pleases and has been put in charge of EVERYTHING. Very bad morale among teachers who are terrified of volitile Head.