So how many IB are going to really be at Hardy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Principal Pride regularly talks about the feeder numbers & they've been posted in this thread already - 18 students from Hyde, 13 from Stoddert, 6 from Mann, 5 from Key, 1 from Eaton. 43 out of the 130 kids (33%). It's likely of course a portion of these kids are OOB. So, as an exercise - if 30% of the 43 are OOB, that would mean 30 kids IB (23%) - or if 40 percent are OOB, that would mean 25 kids IB (19%). Of course, those watching intently could ask why not just give the IB numbers, but for many pretty obvious reasons they are focusing on the feeders cohorts - which is important to many parents making decisions about where to send their kids (are they going to be with other kids with similar academic experience and are friends).

Of the other children - 10 kids were from Thompson, 10 from Brent. (ie. growing numbers of kids coming from schools with improving test scores).

Of note for watching trends: Stoddert has added a full additional 5th grade class (& more families choosing to remain in Glover Park) - and as a cohort represent a higher chance of more IB kids going to Hardy - as one 'bellweather'.

DCPS official count days at schools aren't until Nov/Dec often - so the actual lag in the process of reporting IB students isn't actually taking that long.

The problem with those numbers is there is no basis for comparison. They were never released in previous years, so there's no way of knowing if these numbers are better, worse or unchanged.

The only number that has been consistently released is the overall IB percentage of the school, and that's the one number that Hardy seems reluctant to produce.

Count day was in early October. Enrollment records are computerized. I'm sure DCPS has the numbers, they just aren't ready to release them yet.

Our elementary schools count day was not until late November (an IB for Hardy school BTW) - they aren't going to release some school's data before others.

[Anonymous]

100 pages and counting! Way more than the number of IB students at Hardy BTW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hardy's limits to the use of the Jelleff field are less stringent than those applied by private schools.

Even at the most expensive and fancy private schools, sports facilities are available to students during restricted hours. Since maintenance costs are high (and many schools are operated on a for profit basis) ALL private schools lease out to private users and teams their fields and facilities, including during school hours.

For instance, the Field School, St Albans/National Cathedral, Burke etc lease their school swimming pool to private swim teams (see NCAP website under training hours and facilities), or for individual club members on a fee basis. For a fee of about $120/month , you can have access to the St Alban pool or Field School pool, everyday at set times. Of course pool is off-limits to students during those hours.

The limits of Hardy's access to Jelleff is a false argument, given that it only applies to 2 hours/day and 6 months/year, and that the fields are for Hardy students during all school hours, everyday.

Moreover, students at all schools, even the most expensive ones, do not have 100% availability of theirs sport fields and facilities, as these are leased out for several hours a day to private users, to make up for mainteinance costs and profits.

Burke doesn't have a swimming pool. The Burke listed there is not the private school, it is Burke Racket and Swim in Burke, VA. Neither St. Albans nor Field is listed on the NCAP website. Burke (the school), Field and St. Albans all have zoning orders limiting their ability to rent to outside groups, it's on the DC Office of Zoning website.

If Hardy chooses not to use the Jelleff field -- and they don't -- why does it matter what their reason is? As a practical matter the students don't get to use the field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm not the PP, but you said "Jelleff is off-limits for Hardy team use," which is patently untrue.

Not the other PP, but as a practical matter it is true. During the times that sports teams would use it -- after school during the spring and fall -- it is off limits.

Theoretically, Hardy could use the field during the day for PE. But they have never applied to do that. Currently days it is used by the British School of Washington for their PE.

Untrue. You can often see the school football team crossing Wisconsin to the Jelleff fields.

What time of day? I'm down there all the time and I've never seen them on Jelleff. On the Ellington Field, yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hardy's limits to the use of the Jelleff field are less stringent than those applied by private schools.

Even at the most expensive and fancy private schools, sports facilities are available to students during restricted hours. Since maintenance costs are high (and many schools are operated on a for profit basis) ALL private schools lease out to private users and teams their fields and facilities, including during school hours.

For instance, the Field School, St Albans/National Cathedral, Burke etc lease their school swimming pool to private swim teams (see NCAP website under training hours and facilities), or for individual club members on a fee basis. For a fee of about $120/month , you can have access to the St Alban pool or Field School pool, everyday at set times. Of course pool is off-limits to students during those hours.

The limits of Hardy's access to Jelleff is a false argument, given that it only applies to 2 hours/day and 6 months/year, and that the fields are for Hardy students during all school hours, everyday.

Moreover, students at all schools, even the most expensive ones, do not have 100% availability of theirs sport fields and facilities, as these are leased out for several hours a day to private users, to make up for mainteinance costs and profits.

Burke doesn't have a swimming pool. The Burke listed there is not the private school, it is Burke Racket and Swim in Burke, VA. Neither St. Albans nor Field is listed on the NCAP website. Burke (the school), Field and St. Albans all have zoning orders limiting their ability to rent to outside groups, it's on the DC Office of Zoning website.

If Hardy chooses not to use the Jelleff field -- and they don't -- why does it matter what their reason is? As a practical matter the students don't get to use the field.

St Albans / National Cathedral pool is reserved for swimming classes and private club access for outsiders (non-students) for several hours a day. During these hours, students cannot access the pool.

http://www.stalbansschool.org/swimclub


I do not know why PP is challenging this argument. Private school sports facilities are known to be available to students on a limited schedule.

The kids of the family next door, National Cathedral + St Albans students and member of the school swimming clubs, complains all the time about the young kids private swimming lessons in the early afternoon, the mess they leave in the changing rooms and restrooms, the overcrowding in the changing rooms around 3:00, when the private outsiders have to leave, and the students finally get to use the pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm not the PP, but you said "Jelleff is off-limits for Hardy team use," which is patently untrue.

Not the other PP, but as a practical matter it is true. During the times that sports teams would use it -- after school during the spring and fall -- it is off limits.

Theoretically, Hardy could use the field during the day for PE. But they have never applied to do that. Currently days it is used by the British School of Washington for their PE.

Untrue. You can often see the school football team crossing Wisconsin to the Jelleff fields.

What time of day? I'm down there all the time and I've never seen them on Jelleff. On the Ellington Field, yes.

So you are down all the time at Jelleff and down all the time at Ellington Field. Mah..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm not the PP, but you said "Jelleff is off-limits for Hardy team use," which is patently untrue.

Not the other PP, but as a practical matter it is true. During the times that sports teams would use it -- after school during the spring and fall -- it is off limits.

Theoretically, Hardy could use the field during the day for PE. But they have never applied to do that. Currently days it is used by the British School of Washington for their PE.

Untrue. You can often see the school football team crossing Wisconsin to the Jelleff fields.

What time of day? I'm down there all the time and I've never seen them on Jelleff. On the Ellington Field, yes.

So you are down all the time at Jelleff and down all the time at Ellington Field. Mah..

PP sounds creepy... he/she seems to track Hardy students whereabouts in the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm not the PP, but you said "Jelleff is off-limits for Hardy team use," which is patently untrue.

Not the other PP, but as a practical matter it is true. During the times that sports teams would use it -- after school during the spring and fall -- it is off limits.

Theoretically, Hardy could use the field during the day for PE. But they have never applied to do that. Currently days it is used by the British School of Washington for their PE.

That mames sense. I've also noticed that the British School parks its school buses in the Jelleff lot. Presumably the British school pays DPR for its day time use rights and the parking privileges. As we all know, in the DC government money talks. If someone is woing to pay extra for use of a taxpayer supported facility, they will get priority. Because Hardy has no fields of its own to speak of, the admin needs to figure out how to get DPR to give its teams use rights once the Maret and British school agreements expire. This will probably require getting the mayors office involved so that DPR listens. But for now, the situation for Hardy is still unfavorable.

[Anonymous]

PP typo alert: "Makes sense" and "going", not "woing"

[Anonymous]

Hardy already has some honors classes but perhaps what they need to attract significantly more IB students is to create a separate, full-fledged honors program, a dedicated academy within the school. Make it entirely merit-based, test-in, supplemented by transcripts and teacher recommendation and take only the top applicants. Provide extra enrichment, dedicated faculty and advisors for the honors program. Have the honors program start at sixth grade with an additional on-ramp admission opportunity at the beginning of seventh for other high-performing students. Once the honors program is up and running at Hardy, many IB parents would be flocking to get their kids in to a relatively small, elite academic program. And junk the Hardy uniforms.... at a minimum get rid of them for the honors program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm not the PP, but you said "Jelleff is off-limits for Hardy team use," which is patently untrue.

Not the other PP, but as a practical matter it is true. During the times that sports teams would use it -- after school during the spring and fall -- it is off limits.

Theoretically, Hardy could use the field during the day for PE. But they have never applied to do that. Currently days it is used by the British School of Washington for their PE.

That mames sense. I've also noticed that the British School parks its school buses in the Jelleff lot. Presumably the British school pays DPR for its day time use rights and the parking privileges. As we all know, in the DC government money talks. If someone is woing to pay extra for use of a taxpayer supported facility, they will get priority. Because Hardy has no fields of its own to speak of, the admin needs to figure out how to get DPR to give its teams use rights once the Maret and British school agreements expire. This will probably require getting the mayors office involved so that DPR listens. But for now, the situation for Hardy is still unfavorable.

Why, why, why do you speak, uninformed parent!!

Hardy can access the field at PE as much as they like during the school hours. Sometimes the coaches do, some other times they don't, because they have a huge indoor facility and gym,which is so large that it can be simultaneously host two basketball games (4 teams), 3 volleyball games (6 teams). At this huge and exclusive space caters to a population of less than 400 kids.

370 kids divided by 8 time periods at school, means that at each period you only have about 45 Hardy students doing PE... Only 45 !!! These 45 kids have for their exclusive use a huge indoor gym. All for themselves. Plus a smaller but new and perfectly functional outdoor field, and a tennis court... Why should these 45 kids leave the school and use the Jelleff fields? They only do it on special occasions (football & baseball team practice and games) .
British school has ridiculous indoor facilities (and only for younger kids). That's why they are bused elsewhere and that's why you can see them on the Jelleff fields.

Let me repeat it: 370 Hardy students divided by 8 time periods/day, means that at each period, and each day, you have only about 45 students at PE. Each of these students has an exclusive per capita sqf sport space availability which is larger than any of the other public/private schools in NW DC. And they have it each and every day (not only for one semester/year as at Deal). They have it in house (no need to take buses like the British School). No need to share with private outsiders (St Albans).

And on top of this, if this was not enough, if the coaches wish , they can also go to Jelleff fields during school hours.

Go and see the Hardy indoor gym and check my math if you wish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hardy already has some honors classes but perhaps what they need to attract significantly more IB students is to create a separate, full-fledged honors program, a dedicated academy within the school. Make it entirely merit-based, test-in, supplemented by transcripts and teacher recommendation and take only the top applicants. Provide extra enrichment, dedicated faculty and advisors for the honors program. Have the honors program start at sixth grade with an additional on-ramp admission opportunity at the beginning of seventh for other high-performing students. Once the honors program is up and running at Hardy, many IB parents would be flocking to get their kids in to a relatively small, elite academic program. And junk the Hardy uniforms.... at a minimum get rid of them for the honors program.

That's the most stupid idea of the day.

Pedagogical studies show that more than 50% of middle school kids possess honors talents in one or more subjects, but not in all of them. Hardy's modular approach allows students who are honors in English (but no in Math, and viceversa) to be challenged at their level in those subjects where they show talent and commitment. With your suggestion, you would leave out of honors teaching 50% of students, including several IBs.

Hardy is a peaceful, inclusive school, which has found an incredible harmony and integration despite the huge SES disparities.

Ms Pride was appointed just two years ago (after a managerial void of 5 years). The IB families are coming and will come in increasing numbers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hardy already has some honors classes but perhaps what they need to attract significantly more IB students is to create a separate, full-fledged honors program, a dedicated academy within the school. Make it entirely merit-based, test-in, supplemented by transcripts and teacher recommendation and take only the top applicants. Provide extra enrichment, dedicated faculty and advisors for the honors program. Have the honors program start at sixth grade with an additional on-ramp admission opportunity at the beginning of seventh for other high-performing students. Once the honors program is up and running at Hardy, many IB parents would be flocking to get their kids in to a relatively small, elite academic program. And junk the Hardy uniforms.... at a minimum get rid of them for the honors program.

That's the most stupid idea of the day.

Pedagogical studies show that more than 50% of middle school kids possess honors talents in one or more subjects, but not in all of them. Hardy's modular approach allows students who are honors in English (but no in Math, and viceversa) to be challenged at their level in those subjects where they show talent and commitment. With your suggestion, you would leave out of honors teaching 50% of students, including several IBs.

Hardy is a peaceful, inclusive school, which has found an incredible harmony and integration despite the huge SES disparities.

Ms Pride was appointed just two years ago (after a managerial void of 5 years). The IB families are coming and will come in increasing numbers.

So say the Hardy boosters but the evidence that the school is getting traction in its intended IB community is not there yet.

[Anonymous]

I'm really looking forward to this thread surpassing the "Peabody to Watkins" one. Has anything new been said (really) in the last 50 pages?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm really looking forward to this thread surpassing the "Peabody to Watkins" one. Has anything new been said (really) in the last 50 pages?

Yes. As an IB school parent still at ES, I have learned a lot about the school through the last 50 pages. Mainly positive things. I have now a much clearer idea, and have identified 2-3 key areas I want to check with my eyes and ears in the near future (I have a 4th grader and one more year to decide). Hardy seems at the moment the strongest option.

There's a huge wealth of information in the past 50 pages, for those who want to read and understand the school, beyond the prejudices. Huge wealth of information, even at the level of single teachers .

Wow.