Norwood: What do you love? Not Love?

[Anonymous]

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Pros and Cons of Norwood:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/71028.page#524977

WES vs Norwood:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/45048.page

Feedback on Norwood (although it veers strangely off course):

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/112.page

And others in the archives. If you have specific questions or concerns it might help people answer rather than asking for an essay (I know that sounds a little snarky but I don't mean it that way; an essay is beyond me on Friday afternoon).

[Anonymous]

Not love ---->>$$$$
Love...the rest.

[Anonymous]

Tell you what - we had very odd neighbors (or at least the mom was) who coveted our home-- but we contracted first -- so they then built a similar one (moving from DC to burbs) sot hat , as DW said, their kids could go to a very highly ranked (GT) public school. DW said she found it like "Lord of the Flies" because kids of different grades ate lunch together (at separate tables, mind you)... her youngest -- a toddler -- also got into Country Day, and she did not like that because they did not require enough time spent sitting at a desk and just learning. So, what did she do? Put all the kids back at Norwood. I suppose they would not need to see older peers or worry about time away from a desk there. Sad - haven't looked at Norwood and never would after that "recommendation."

[Anonymous]

Thank you, PP @00:10. You were such a great help, since you have had so many children attend and have such vast personal experience with the school.

(In case you are not bright enough to tell, which seems likely, that was sarcasm. Go back to worrying about what country clubs your neighbors with inferior house plans have been invited to join that you have not. Love and kisses, a GT mom.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell you what - we had very odd neighbors (or at least the mom was) who coveted our home-- but we contracted first -- so they then built a similar one (moving from DC to burbs) sot hat , as DW said, their kids could go to a very highly ranked (GT) public school. DW said she found it like "Lord of the Flies" because kids of different grades ate lunch together (at separate tables, mind you)... her youngest -- a toddler -- also got into Country Day, and she did not like that because they did not require enough time spent sitting at a desk and just learning. So, what did she do? Put all the kids back at Norwood. I suppose they would not need to see older peers or worry about time away from a desk there. Sad - haven't looked at Norwood and never would after that "recommendation."

Huh?

[Anonymous]

My daughter attends Norwood.

What I don't like: Nothing that really stands out; they could do away with the Lord's Prayer in the morning and replace it with something non-denominational. But I do not feel very strongly about it. Morning chapel is still, after all, a good way for the kids to pause and reflect (on a given topic - patience; how to be good citizens etc) before the school day starts in earnest.

What I like: Many, many things. Among them:

1. Emphasis on strong academics
2. Dedicated and caring teachers, with room for them to grow
3. Small class sizes, e.g. first grade is 15-16 kids with 2 full time teachers
4. Break-out into even smaller groups for reading and math
5. Differentiation for reading starting from K and math starting from first grade
6. Beautiful campus and great facilities, with exciting expansion plans afoot
7. Many enrichment activities
8. Bus for DC residents
9. Management that listens (both lower and middle school and Head of School)
10. Excellent community of parents and children

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell you what - we had very odd neighbors (or at least the mom was) who coveted our home-- but we contracted first -- so they then built a similar one (moving from DC to burbs) sot hat , as DW said, their kids could go to a very highly ranked (GT) public school. DW said she found it like "Lord of the Flies" because kids of different grades ate lunch together (at separate tables, mind you)... her youngest -- a toddler -- also got into Country Day, and she did not like that because they did not require enough time spent sitting at a desk and just learning. So, what did she do? Put all the kids back at Norwood. I suppose they would not need to see older peers or worry about time away from a desk there. Sad - haven't looked at Norwood and never would after that "recommendation."

are you drunk?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not love ---->>$$$$
Love...the rest.

Ditto

[Anonymous]

I agree generally with 10:09 but would add two things I love about the school:

1. The K-8 model: It provides continuity while allowing students to reinvent themselves in high school; it keeps the focus on the needs of younger children; it eases the transition from elementary school to middle school; it allows the 8th graders to be school leaders and insulates them to some degree from the pressure to behave more like older kids.

2. The administration's willingness to listen and change: There are a handful of students in 2nd grade who speak Spanish at home; parents voiced their opinion that they were not learning enough in the regular Spanish classes; the administration responded by creating an advanced Spanish class just for them. I feel that administrators are constantly trying to do things better instead of resting on their laurels or saying, "This is how we've always done things; if it was good enough before, it's good enough now."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree generally with 10:09 but would add two things I love about the school:

1. The K-8 model: It provides continuity while allowing students to reinvent themselves in high school; it keeps the focus on the needs of younger children; it eases the transition from elementary school to middle school; it allows the 8th graders to be school leaders and insulates them to some degree from the pressure to behave more like older kids.

2. The administration's willingness to listen and change: There are a handful of students in 2nd grade who speak Spanish at home; parents voiced their opinion that they were not learning enough in the regular Spanish classes; the administration responded by creating an advanced Spanish class just for them. I feel that administrators are constantly trying to do things better instead of resting on their laurels or saying, "This is how we've always done things; if it was good enough before, it's good enough now."

This sounds like "All of the children are equal some are just more equal" to me. Preferential treatment based on squeaky wheel approach. Sooo very private schoolish.

[Anonymous]

No. Different treatment based on different needs.

[Anonymous]

The new head of lower school seems nice.
Great campus.
Caring professional staff.
Great music and art.
Sports OK, not great,... but I'm OK with that.
Math so so to not so hot.
Language arts very good.
Faculty development OK.
Science OK.
Enrichment good.

[Anonymous]

One thing I don't love: I think the school could be more proactive about preventing and dealing with bullying. I think the new head of lower school may make progress in this area. The first presentation to the parents association this year will be a discussion of bullying with the heads of the lower and middle schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing I don't love: I think the school could be more proactive about preventing and dealing with bullying. I think the new head of lower school may make progress in this area. The first presentation to the parents association this year will be a discussion of bullying with the heads of the lower and middle schools.

Agree, I don't even know if the parents of the kids accused of bullying know that their kids are "the ones". It is strange, seems like NOTHING is ever done.