moving into public high schools

[Anonymous]

My daughter is in a private in 8th and will be going to public next year. Starting to think about what she will need and the transition....Her school provides laptops for the students. Do high school kids needs laptops and if so, what do most kids use? She'll be at WJ

[Anonymous]

She will be issued a Chromebook by the school.

[Anonymous]

WJ is a great school! Try not to be shocked at the overcrowding, the kids get used to it. I don't know if the old AP Calc BC teacher has retired yet, but he's strict. Watch out for him. MCPS will issue her a chromebook and password. You don't need to provide her with anything much beyond a pencil case and a TI-84 plus graphing calculator, since teachers usually tell kids what their preferred system is on the first day of school (binder, notebook, etc). Maybe a planner, if she likes paper planners.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! She will need more supports as she’ll have an IEP but we’ll deal with that. I’ve heard some good things so I hope they’re true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks! She will need more supports as she’ll have an IEP but we’ll deal with that. I’ve heard some good things so I hope they’re true.

My son had an IEP at WJ. His case manager was really nice, and all the teachers except one complied with his IEP accommodations (we had to negotiate with that one).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks! She will need more supports as she’ll have an IEP but we’ll deal with that. I’ve heard some good things so I hope they’re true.

My student is a recent WJ grad, also on an IEP. Agree on all above, super crowded awaiting the Woodward opening, but a wonderful school. Unfortunately our terrific Coordinator in the Academic Support Center has retired otherwise I would suggest reaching out to her. My son was able to take a wide range of courses that aligned with his strengths/weaknesses and importantly, his academic profile. These courses ranged from self-contained classrooms, to regular, honors, and also AP. My son scheduled the resource class which met at the end of each day. This provided an opportunity to complete any exams where extended time had been approved, review the homework and assignment deadlines, and get into the rhythm of other useful executive function skills. Karen Onley was terrific in this regard.

[Anonymous]

If budget allows, get her the least expensive MacBook Air. Runs all MCPS apps Chrome is running, with much longer battery life. She will thank you for it

[Anonymous]

Get the IEP started now. Don’t let them make you wait- show current levels by bringing good data from private to the table.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If budget allows, get her the least expensive MacBook Air. Runs all MCPS apps Chrome is running, with much longer battery life. She will thank you for it

My senior had a nice MacBook Air, and still uses her MCPS Chromebook for school. She just found it easier than messing with all the apps and permissions and stuff, especially for in-class testing.

Last year she was issued a newer Chromebook with a touch screen that flips back to act like a tablet. Given that so much of the reading material they get is electronic, she finds that mode much more convenient for reading long texts where she’s also taking handwritten notes.

In other words, I think it depends on the kid and how they use it. I wouldn’t buy a computer until you see how the school one works out.

[Anonymous]

Mcps and Bcps have issues with safety, fights, and gangs. I would suggest a martial arts class as many staff are dissuaded from reporting and punishing incidents thus the negative behavior is rampant and quite honestly disgustingly frightening for law abiding citizens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mcps and Bcps have issues with safety, fights, and gangs. I would suggest a martial arts class as many staff are dissuaded from reporting and punishing incidents thus the negative behavior is rampant and quite honestly disgustingly frightening for law abiding citizens.

Where are you posting from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mcps and Bcps have issues with safety, fights, and gangs. I would suggest a martial arts class as many staff are dissuaded from reporting and punishing incidents thus the negative behavior is rampant and quite honestly disgustingly frightening for law abiding citizens.

You're wrong.

1. OP's kid is going to WJ, which is one of the safest MCPS high schools. There have been some fights, especially right after the pandemic where the kids go out for lunch at the Wildwood center, but not as many as in other high schools. My son spent 4 years there and he didn't witness a single fight, or any other concerns (vaping in bathrooms, etc). My daughter, on the other hand, has had two lockdowns this year at at BCC in downtown Bethesda, for a fight with weapon discharge outside the school, and for suspicion of a weapon inside the school.

2. If your kid starts fighting, they have an equal chance of being punished as the perp as the person who attacked them. Moreover, suggesting a martial arts class as self-defense proves you know nothing about martial arts. I think what you mean is taking a self-defense class. NOT the same thing. But again, physicality is to be used wisely in the school system (as in, not used).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If budget allows, get her the least expensive MacBook Air. Runs all MCPS apps Chrome is running, with much longer battery life. She will thank you for it

No need for that. I've had two kids in MCPS (one still in high school), and they only use their MCPS-issued chromebook for schoolwork. Otherwise it's a hassle. We gave our oldest a Macbook Air for college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks! She will need more supports as she’ll have an IEP but we’ll deal with that. I’ve heard some good things so I hope they’re true.

Contact WJ right now and ask for an IEP meeting to get the ball rolling (over the summer works too, if they can the team together).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mcps and Bcps have issues with safety, fights, and gangs. I would suggest a martial arts class as many staff are dissuaded from reporting and punishing incidents thus the negative behavior is rampant and quite honestly disgustingly frightening for law abiding citizens.

You're wrong.

1. OP's kid is going to WJ, which is one of the safest MCPS high schools. There have been some fights, especially right after the pandemic where the kids go out for lunch at the Wildwood center, but not as many as in other high schools. My son spent 4 years there and he didn't witness a single fight, or any other concerns (vaping in bathrooms, etc). My daughter, on the other hand, has had two lockdowns this year at at BCC in downtown Bethesda, for a fight with weapon discharge outside the school, and for suspicion of a weapon inside the school.

2. If your kid starts fighting, they have an equal chance of being punished as the perp as the person who attacked them. Moreover, suggesting a martial arts class as self-defense proves you know nothing about martial arts. I think what you mean is taking a self-defense class. NOT the same thing. But again, physicality is to be used wisely in the school system (as in, not used).

Its not one of the safest anymore. There have been multiple incidents and more in the community including Montgomery mall.