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Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)
Westbrook ES or Somerset ES
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Anonymous
| My sister is moving to the area from another state. She has to decide between Westbrook Elementary or Somerset Elementary in Bethesda. Any suggestions? |
Anonymous
| both are the same-great schools overcrowded |
Anonymous
| Somerset is not overcrowded. Has a brand new school facility and no portables and no future need for portables. |
Anonymous
| Westbrook is getting a major addition in the next few years; construction is on the horizon, during which there will be pretty limited play/outdoor space. |
Anonymous
|
I am very familiar with both schools and Somerset is definitely a better choice. Please read the comments that follow this WaPo article. It accurately describes the situation that persisted at Westbrook under the leadership of the past principal. The PTA takes the blame for further pitting parent against parent.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/17/AR2010051703992.html However, there is a new principal now at Westbrook. She is great is that she has been trying to put a stop to the type of behavior that has no place in our public school system. The new PTA is also trying to distance itself from the PTA of the not so distant past. Things are improving. |
Anonymous
You might want to pay attention to what is going on, it is at capacity now and will be over capacity next year-Yes portable will be there soon |
Anonymous
I read the article and am totally confused by this post. What does this article have to do with overcrowding or the quality of education? |
Anonymous
Like in any school in any state, one must look closely at the principal and teachers. I've just heard that Somerset got a new principal (the old one just 'retired' midyear) and there has been a flurry of field trips and just an overall uplifting feeling. I did visit Somerset and saw some teachers in action - a few were really really good. There were some that were so uninspiring, that I could feel the boredom from the kids. Westbrook ES just received their new principal and I've heard the jury is still out on her (she's young, lives in CC, no children) but sounded promising. It's crowded and they use portables - which unfortunately is the norm now. I visited the portables on a tour at Westbrook - very large, spacious and the children looked pretty happy and engaged. Regarding that Washington Post link about the cancellation of Westbrook's field trips -- I found that cancellation unfounded. I've visited Playseum w/ my kids and their classes and at birthday parties. Gina (the owner) has always been friendly and never (to my hearing) evangelical about her religion. In fact, religion never came up. Sounded like a witch hunt really. I can't understand why the old Westbrook ES principal would listen to a 'few' parents about the Playseum owner - I don't see anyone stopping to use the US dollar since it's got "In God We Trust" written all over it. Would they stop using it if I verbalized the words? Just sounds so uncivilized to try to destroy someone's business based on hearsay. Sounded very personal. |
Anonymous
You are ridiculous. Somerset just built out four new classrooms -- space that was planned for this purpose at the time of its design for when the need arose. One of the classrooms is not even being used, waiting for enrollment increases. While these four classrooms were being built out there was no need for portables to house any students so even with increasing enrollment, there won't be need in the future. |
Anonymous
| Westbrook is a much better place now than it was just a couple years ago. |
Anonymous
I doubt the principal heard from any parents on the issue of Playseum. In fact I have heard rumors that the lies about the business could have been posted anonymously by one of the PTA presidents from a few years back. The principal at the time was not very good. Many parents, including Gina were critical of him. Gina is a highly respected member of our community and what was posted anonymously about her may have been an effort to discredit her. The old PTA and principal engaged in witch hunts before often name calling and threatening those parents who demanded accountability. There were a few other whisper campaigns that were initiated by the PTA during those years. What surprises me most is that the Executive Editor of the Washington Post is a parent at Westbrook ES. He is well aware of a very peculiar environment that persisted in that school under the old principal. Why would he let this crap be printed? But as somebody else said here, everything is back to normal now. |
Anonymous
| Somerset is by far the better school. Westbrook's facility is really old (slated for construction, so that means a mess for the duration of the project) and has portables. It just isn't up to the level of many other Bethesda schools. Also, some really whacked-out parents there (either older out-to-lunch types or overly-neurotic-in-your-face types). A strange bunch in a bad building, that's Westbrook. Somerset would be the better option. |
Anonymous
How old do you have to be to qualify as an older out-to-lunch type? |
Anonymous
Westbrook did not have enough of the types that you refer to. Those in the positions of PTA leadership did not have the leadership skills to be effective. They did what the principal told them to do even if it was to detrimental to children. It took a couple years of this before we finally got somebody who was mature enough to know that our parents and children deserved better. Hopefully the name calling has stopped for good although one must remain vigilant. Some of the PTA leaders and activists that engaged in this type of conduct are already at Westland. |
Anonymous
| Wow, this is really surprising. I know so many smart parents there who are really invested in their kids, but maybe not in the PTA. |