Breakthrough Montessori: And so it begins...

[Anonymous]

How is the Breakthrough community? Have enrolled families had playdates, potlucks, field days and other activities? Eager parents hoping to enroll. WL low 10s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is the Breakthrough community? Have enrolled families had playdates, potlucks, field days and other activities? Eager parents hoping to enroll. WL low 10s.

There have been a few meetings of parents so far.

There are a variety of potlucks and play dates scheduled in June and July.

There is also a meeting to discuss volunteer opportunities coming up, along with another meeting on ways to incorporate diversity into the school.

We are a PK3 family, and also know a few other PK3/PK4 families that have enrolled. All of the families we've met at meetings seem excited and interested.

[Anonymous]

How many primary classes are they starting with this year? (I am assuming no elementary classes, correct?).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many primary classes are they starting with this year? (I am assuming no elementary classes, correct?).

3 primary. No elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many primary classes are they starting with this year? (I am assuming no elementary classes, correct?).

3 primary. No elementary.

Have they addressed the PK3/PK4 balance issue? They've gone through the PK4 list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many primary classes are they starting with this year? (I am assuming no elementary classes, correct?).

3 primary. No elementary.

I believe it is actually 5 classes.

90 kids (45 PK3/45 PK4)
9 PK3 and 9 PK4 per class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many primary classes are they starting with this year? (I am assuming no elementary classes, correct?).

3 primary. No elementary.

I believe it is actually 5 classes.

90 kids (45 PK3/45 PK4)
9 PK3 and 9 PK4 per class.

Montessori model calls for 25-30 kids per class. Are you guessing or do you know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many primary classes are they starting with this year? (I am assuming no elementary classes, correct?).

3 primary. No elementary.

I believe it is actually 5 classes.

90 kids (45 PK3/45 PK4)
9 PK3 and 9 PK4 per class.

Montessori model calls for 25-30 kids per class. Are you guessing or do you know?

This is what Breakthrough has said in the parent meetings. They will then reach 27/class when they add the next PK3 class in 2017-2018.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't trust this corporate charter. Pulling the old switcheroo/bait&switch before you even open is quite bold. But new DC families eager for Larlo to go to school "among peers" are not concerned in the least. BMCPS' leadership and Board of Directors well reflects its target student body.

How are they pulling a bait and switch? I don't see why parents should be concerned. Have you been to a community event, the entire team seems knowledgable, eager, excited, and experienced. I am not sure I understand your concern. It seems as though you may not like charters in general.

No dog and don't have an opinion whether it is a bait and switch.

But if you read their proposal it was all about bringing Montessori to poor, at risk kids that the other Montessoris don't now serve (and they took some shots at those schools). Much about locating there and having diverse leadership.

Now they are opening in already pretty gentrified Petworth with an all-white leadership team.

That's what the complaint is about.

+1. Thank you for stating facts.

If you had attended the community meeting with incoming parents, then you would have noticed that most of the people there were black. Just because the pop a school in Petworth, doesn't mean it will be all white.

Correct. We are a Latino family whose child is enrolled at Breakthrough. At the orientation we saw a couple of Latino families some AA and some white... It seemed pretty diverse to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many primary classes are they starting with this year? (I am assuming no elementary classes, correct?).

3 primary. No elementary.

I believe it is actually 5 classes.

90 kids (45 PK3/45 PK4)
9 PK3 and 9 PK4 per class.

Montessori model calls for 25-30 kids per class. Are you guessing or do you know?

Any brand new MOntessori school with only two grades in primary will have smaller classes until the class reflects the full three year age spread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many primary classes are they starting with this year? (I am assuming no elementary classes, correct?).

3 primary. No elementary.

I believe it is actually 5 classes.

90 kids (45 PK3/45 PK4)
9 PK3 and 9 PK4 per class.

Montessori model calls for 25-30 kids per class. Are you guessing or do you know?

Any brand new MOntessori school with only two grades in primary will have smaller classes until the class reflects the full three year age spread.

Montessori does very well in DC (especially among the DCUM crowd) so Breakthrough will be a success.