Inspired teaching question

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So IT didn't want to share their VIP with their lowly tenants?

I second this.

IT parent here (and new - parent of a PS-3 student). Not invited to any VIP event or even informed what it is or who is coming. We were told though to pick up from aftercare at 5pm but not given a reason why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ITS parent here --

Lee parents, you are obviously new to the charter school experience, and with all due respect, you have a lot to learn. There are all KINDS of inconveniences you will have to deal with as a result of not yet having your own building, and as a result of being a charter school.

In ITS's location for the last 2 years we were next to high school and had to ask them to give up their parking lot to provide us with playspace for our kids. The high school power-washed the space, ITS parent volunteers painted playspaces, ITS/IFA pooled resources to provide big soft playground blocks and other playground equipment, and we shared that space with the high schoolers, whose language and sometimes actions were often not the kind of thing you would want young kids to hear. Our admin and staff also worked over the summer to prepare our previous location/building for our kids, which was not at all configured in any way as a school. Some spaces could not be optimally adapted at all, so we worked with them as best we could.

Yes, you are paying to lease a space, but quite frankly you are LUCKY to be leasing a space that is being adapted so quickly to our kids' needs. You are LUCKY to be leasing a space that has been outfitted as a proper school on another school's dime. You are LUCKY to be starting off in an environment where so many of your needs are already met that you have the time and energy to spend entire threads discussing whether or not your kids should be eating pizza or lentils and quinoa for lunch. You are LUCKY to be inconvenienced by an event that will benefit your kids for the rest of the school year.

If you're not happy as a leasing tenant about the inconvenience of what it takes for another school to build a playground on its home property that your kids will actually get to use, discuss it with your admin. See if you can raise the funds amongst yourselves to move early and/or find a better temporary location for your kids. Good luck with both of those efforts.

In the meantime, despite all your complaining here, welcome to our building. We're happy to have your kids as our neighbors. Not sure how we feel about the parents yet ...

Luck may have had a little to do with it but the fact is Lee's founding team worked hard for everything you'd like to attribute to luck. Do you think shaed was the only space they considered? Doubtful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ITS parent here --

Lee parents, you are obviously new to the charter school experience, and with all due respect, you have a lot to learn. There are all KINDS of inconveniences you will have to deal with as a result of not yet having your own building, and as a result of being a charter school.

In ITS's location for the last 2 years we were next to high school and had to ask them to give up their parking lot to provide us with playspace for our kids. The high school power-washed the space, ITS parent volunteers painted playspaces, ITS/IFA pooled resources to provide big soft playground blocks and other playground equipment, and we shared that space with the high schoolers, whose language and sometimes actions were often not the kind of thing you would want young kids to hear. Our admin and staff also worked over the summer to prepare our previous location/building for our kids, which was not at all configured in any way as a school. Some spaces could not be optimally adapted at all, so we worked with them as best we could.

Yes, you are paying to lease a space, but quite frankly you are LUCKY to be leasing a space that is being adapted so quickly to our kids' needs. You are LUCKY to be leasing a space that has been outfitted as a proper school on another school's dime. You are LUCKY to be starting off in an environment where so many of your needs are already met that you have the time and energy to spend entire threads discussing whether or not your kids should be eating pizza or lentils and quinoa for lunch. You are LUCKY to be inconvenienced by an event that will benefit your kids for the rest of the school year.

If you're not happy as a leasing tenant about the inconvenience of what it takes for another school to build a playground on its home property that your kids will actually get to use, discuss it with your admin. See if you can raise the funds amongst yourselves to move early and/or find a better temporary location for your kids. Good luck with both of those efforts.

In the meantime, despite all your complaining here, welcome to our building. We're happy to have your kids as our neighbors. Not sure how we feel about the parents yet ...

Luck may have had a little to do with it but the fact is Lee's founding team worked hard for everything you'd like to attribute to luck. Do you think shaed was the only space they considered? Doubtful.

Either way- it is clear IT did not want any participation by Lee. I doubt they will even mention Lee. They wanted this to be their event- I guess we should feel lucky we are even ALLOWED on the playground. All I will say is that karma is real and when you choose your own interest over kids (of any school) having a chance to meet someone very important, it comes back twice as hard. Lucky to have such a warm and welcoming group to share space with. YAY for ITS and its very very kind parents!!!

[Anonymous]

Nobody is "sharing" anything. We are paying rent. I don't feel gratitude to IT for renting their building and future playground to us, and I do expect to be able to send my child to school in the building we pay rent for. If we can't us the building we pay rent for one day, I expect the reason to be a good one (construction, malfunction etc).

[Anonymous]

No one is entitled to descend into this level of conversation.

C'mon Lee parents- you are friend with IT parents. We are all trying to find the best educational opportunity for our children. Common denominator is that we all feel that IT or Lee is a better offer than the local DCPS.

My presumption, like most parents, was that dismissal today was due to construction as the kids were told they were not allowed to start playing until Monday. I for one told my little one that the concrete would have to settle.

Even if Kaboom! or the National Volunteers Corps is using our school building as a backdrop, fine. They gave us expertise, funds, and energetic people to provide a scarce resource. Work went into the grant submission and we will all reap the rewards as our kids will have a chance to play without having to go round the block (or down the street etc.)

Lee parents (as should IT parents of PS3/PK4) should remember that most communities don't offer free education, let alone the 179.5 days of the year we are benefiting from. (Yes, I subtracted the 1/2 day for Lee families.)

More constructive conversation should be focused on how to improve all schools, find viable middle and high schools where are children can eventually go into should they outgrow their current environment.

[Anonymous]

What does the Lee admin have to say? What is the reasoning for Lee kids having to leave so much earlier than the IT kids? I'm not that familiar with the layout of the school, but it must have something to do with security needs. Which, jeez, if it's the president of the United States on 9-11, must be incredibly strict.

[Anonymous]

For those not familiar with the school layout, Lee's entrance is at the East end of the building on the basement/lower level. All of their classrooms are there.

The IT entrance is on the south side, towards the north end of the building. Their classrooms are on the main, 1st and 2nd floors.

The playground construction runs alongside the building with the entrance being the exact same as that used by Lee families. As of this morning for drop off, there was no access from the IT entrance. (Boarded up/no stairs.)

This whole thread could be conjecture. There could be a photo op and STILL the playground could require "curing" for the posts in the slides and climbing areas before kids are allowed to play. IT families were told the playground would not be accessible for kids until Monday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those not familiar with the school layout, Lee's entrance is at the East end of the building on the basement/lower level. All of their classrooms are there.

The IT entrance is on the south side, towards the north end of the building. Their classrooms are on the main, 1st and 2nd floors.

The playground construction runs alongside the building with the entrance being the exact same as that used by Lee families. As of this morning for drop off, there was no access from the IT entrance. (Boarded up/no stairs.)

This whole thread could be conjecture. There could be a photo op and STILL the playground could require "curing" for the posts in the slides and climbing areas before kids are allowed to play. IT families were told the playground would not be accessible for kids until Monday.

Lee classrooms are on main and second floor (so three floors up for second floor classrooms since it is somewhat of a basement entrance).

[Anonymous]

Lee parent here and I agree this conversation is devolving. (And I've participated in it with much complaint). There just isn't much left to say. Somewhere a decision was made to advertise a non-profit/school at the cost of another school's school day. It is what it is. How you feel about it depends on which school your kid is enrolled in

[Anonymous]

Oh my. Lee parents need to chill.

This is ITs third building in four years and its permanent home. Let them celebrate this success without being so nasty! The closure, if it's due to a VIP, is not in IT's hands. It would happen in any space you were in - gorgeous playground or not - if a VIP like Obama were to visit.

You have a long road ahead as new charter. Take a deep breath for all our sakes.

[Anonymous]

The article said it all - you just had to say Winuk and I knew it was going to be a bunch of pushy publicity jerks.

Both schools would be best to clear out ASAP, you don't want any part of his drama.

[Anonymous]

I think for the IT parents telling Lee parents to "chill" is crass and simply adding insult to injury. IT is obviously a great school that is established and will be staying in that location. I think many Lee parents would, if answering honestly, prefer to have their kid at IT, and the IT parents know this, so maybe IT parents who feel compelled to make incendiary comments about the frustrating Lee cancellation today could also "chill" a bit. (Looks out window.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one is entitled to descend into this level of conversation.

C'mon Lee parents- you are friend with IT parents. We are all trying to find the best educational opportunity for our children. Common denominator is that we all feel that IT or Lee is a better offer than the local DCPS.

My presumption, like most parents, was that dismissal today was due to construction as the kids were told they were not allowed to start playing until Monday. I for one told my little one that the concrete would have to settle.

Even if Kaboom! or the National Volunteers Corps is using our school building as a backdrop, fine. They gave us expertise, funds, and energetic people to provide a scarce resource. Work went into the grant submission and we will all reap the rewards as our kids will have a chance to play without having to go round the block (or down the street etc.)

Lee parents (as should IT parents of PS3/PK4) should remember that most communities don't offer free education, let alone the 179.5 days of the year we are benefiting from. (Yes, I subtracted the 1/2 day for Lee families.)

More constructive conversation should be focused on how to improve all schools, find viable middle and high schools where are children can eventually go into should they outgrow their current environment.

My Kindergarten age kid is certainly entitled to a free public education in most of the country as well as at Lee -- Lee currently goes to first grade.

All the media I've seen so far has used the Lee end as the backdrop with Lee kids in the windows.

I don't really think any Lee parents blame IT, and if they do that blame is misplaced. This is what happens when POTUS comes to visit. But communication so far has been vague and some are frustrated about why this has happened, and how they are able to take the afternoon off or find child care at short notice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think for the IT parents telling Lee parents to "chill" is crass and simply adding insult to injury. IT is obviously a great school that is established and will be staying in that location. I think many Lee parents would, if answering honestly, prefer to have their kid at IT, and the IT parents know this, so maybe IT parents who feel compelled to make incendiary comments about the frustrating Lee cancellation today could also "chill" a bit. (Looks out window.)

The patronizing comments about the "long road ahead" are particularly uncalled for. We know exactly what we signed up for. (And, many of us chose Lee over IT.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think for the IT parents telling Lee parents to "chill" is crass and simply adding insult to injury. IT is obviously a great school that is established and will be staying in that location. I think many Lee parents would, if answering honestly, prefer to have their kid at IT, and the IT parents know this, so maybe IT parents who feel compelled to make incendiary comments about the frustrating Lee cancellation today could also "chill" a bit. (Looks out window.)

FWIW, I ranked Lee one spot ahead of IT in the common lottery. Lee 4, IT 5.